SUBSTANCE // WORLD TOUR // 2024

“It still amazes me how enjoyable it is to play the Substance LPs. The contrast between Joy Division and New Order is very apparent but both complement each other very well. My only frustration is not being able to play more of our records each night. I am totally looking forward to the next phase. So, let’s enjoy some Substance and get ready for the future. Lots of love, Hooky.” [PETER HOOK]

PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT have announced a mammoth run of dates for 2024 taking in full tours of Australia and New Zealand, North America and the UK and Ireland. The live dates will see the band play the Substance albums by Joy Division and New Order in full, including a date at the iconic De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill

Peter Hook first revisited the seminal Joy Division album Unknown Pleasures back in May 2010 for a commemorative charity concert and has followed it each year by performing subsequent albums from the repertoire of his bands, Joy Division and New Order. Peter Hook & The Light have since moved through each of those albums, culminating in the Factory Records Substance compilations, and recently 

Celebrated over four decades of the continuing influence of Joy Division and Ian Curtis with the Joy Division: A Celebration concerts where both of the band’s albums were played in full

In October this year, the band then played the Substance albums at the biggest ever London concert at the 5300 capacity Eventim Apollo

Tickets On Sale Friday 17th November 2023 at 10am

Peter Hook’s dedication to his back catalogue has seen him move through Unknown Pleasures, Closer, Still, Movement, Power Corruption & Lies, Low Life, Brotherhood, Technique and Republic to arrive at the point. Having toured these albums extensively, the band have now amassed over 600 concerts.

Among the many highlights since he reintroduced his early repertoire to a legion of new audiences across the world have been appearances at Benicassim, Primavera Sound, Bestival, Kendal Calling, Victorious and Rebellion, alongside sold out gigs and extensive touring in Europe, North and South America, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand to great acclaim from fans and critics alike

Impossible though it may seem, it’s been twenty years since Busted bounced into the charts with the irrepressible pop-punk energy of their debut single ‘What I Go To School For’. It kickstarted a succession of hits for the trio, including the #1 smashes ‘Crashed The Wedding’, ‘Who’s David’, ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’, ‘You Said No’ and the Top 3 singles ‘Year 3000’, ‘Air Hostess’ and ‘Sleeping WIth The Light On’

Now the band will be taking to the seafront stage for a one-day outdoor spectacular. Taking place on Friday 23rd August, tickets go on general sale Thursday 26th October at 10am...

Busted’s many successes spread far beyond the singles charts. Three of their four studio albums also peaked at #2, with 4.5 million sales leading to eight Platinum certifications as well as a total of 25 weeks in the Top 10 and two 5x Platinum selling albums. They have won two BRIT Awards - Best Pop Act and Best British Breakthrough - while multiple sold-out arena tours have seen them sell more than 2 million tickets

Busted’s 2023 20th anniversary tour followed Charlie Simpson’s recent triumph as the winner of 2023’s 'The Masked Singer’, adding to his other projects which have included four solo albums and four albums with the rock band Fightstar. James Bourne is a renowned songwriter, with credits including McFly, The Jonas Brothers, 5 Seconds of Summer and The Vamps, as well as his band Son of Dork and two recent solo albums ‘Safe Journey Home’ (2020) and ‘Sugar Beach’ (2022). After releasing his debut solo album, Matt Willis famously won ‘I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here’ leading to a successful television career as well as acting roles which have included the recent West End hit ‘2:22 A Ghost Story’, don’t miss out…

The South return to Worthing in 2024 following their Sold Out show in May, don’t miss out…

When great British pop institution, The Beautiful South split in 2007, most members of the band didn’t feel ready to hang up their microphones or instruments just yet…

The South feature former members of The Beautiful South including singer Alison Wheeler and lifelong sax player Gaz Birtles. Since Dave Hemingway the original singer, left the group at the end of 2016, Gaz has moved across to front the band with Alison and taken on vocal duties. They play the songs made famous by The Beautiful South and bring back the full flavour and excitement with the nine piece live band.

After a successful year of touring the country doing the theatre and festival circuit, the rejuvenated South are keeping alive all those timeless songs - A Little Time (the number one single), Perfect 10, Rotterdam, Old Red Eyes Is Back, Good as Gold, Don't Marry Her plus many more singles and album tracks, as well as a few choice South originals. All performed again live, these songs span an impressive 20 year career starting way back in 1989!

Come on! Let’s Carry On… Regardless!

The South are: Alison Wheeler (Vocals), Gaz Birtles (Vocals), Phil Barton (Guitars), Steve Nutter (Bass), Dave Anderson (Drums), Karl Brown (Percussion), Gareth John (Trumpet), Su Robinson (Sax), Andy Price (Keys).

The Doors Alive recreate the sound, look, presence and magic of a real 1960s Doors concert, perfectly and effortlessly transporting audiences back in time with classic hits such as Light My Fire, When The Music’s Over, Riders On The Storm, The End, and many more.

Frontman Mike Griffioen captures the look, attitude, and rich baritone voice of the late great Jim Morrison with ease while his compadres Barrington Meyer on guitar, Buzz Allan on drums, and Norbert Varga on keyboards showcase the musical chops of original Doors members Robby Krieger, John Densmore and Ray Manzarek with finesse and authenticity.

The band take pride in using the same vintage equipment to achieve an authentic Doors sound, including Rhodes piano bass, Gibson G101 organ, Gibson SG, and Ludwig Mod Orange drum kit.

Formed in 2005, The Doors Alive have now performed over 1000 shows. With authentic improvisations and a changing setlist, each show is unique. They have toured and performed worldwide, consistently attracting capacity crowds.

This will be an unmissable experience for any Doors fan.

“To call The Doors Alive merely a tribute act would be a huge disservice… They are high priests who allow us to worship at the altar of The Doors by continuing the word and gospel of Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger, and John Densmore.” ~ Pure Magazine Ireland

Please note, this is an all standing event.

Age guidance: 16+

Chat to Steve Mason about his fifth solo album – the stirring and stunning Brothers & Sisters– and all manner of musical touchpoints crop up. From Wu-Tang Clan and LTJ Bukem to Adam & The Ants and Public Image Limited by way of Mahalia Jackson and The Cramps, Mason not only knows his musical onions, but remains resolutely a fan. However, when it came to looking for guidance and inspiration for the best album of his career – no mean feat when you consider his back catalogue – his cultural lodestar was expertly chosen.

“David Bowie said that artists should push themselves to a point where they felt slightly out of their depth,” he explains. “Because that’s where the magic happens. And there were a lot of times during the making of this record that I felt like that. And I quite enjoyed that. Because I haven’t felt like that for quite a long time. It’s felt quite safe over the last few albums. It’s that thing… the fear of failure, it’s then when you realise the failure could be spectacular. It’s what drives you to make this thing work. To keep pushing forward.”

In the wake of his fourth album, About The Light, Mason, one of British music’s true 21st Century renegades, with a back catalogue that has taken in electro, dub, indie rock, electronica, hip hop, folk and everything in-between, felt creatively bereft. Allied to this was the weight of adult responsibility that was starting to bear down heavily on him. In the space of a year he’d got married, had a child and bought a house. The spectre of making a safe, radio-friendly record – a sensation he felt he had already encroached upon with About The Light – didn’t sit easily.

So in order to become an artist again, the erstwhile Beta Band frontman knew he had to demolish what he had become. Or was in danger of becoming. He had to become a child again. Which, funnily enough, was what being in The Beta Band – that wondrously electrifying, infuriatingly magical Anglo-Scottish four-piece – resembled.

In 2020 then, at a time when the world seemed to be falling apart, Mason went on his own destructive crusade. To completely cleanse himself of any radio-friendly, formulaic mediocrity and rediscover his artistic calling wasn’t an easy process. Experimenting with various approaches enabled him to shed some layers, but it wasn’t until he realised that everything he’s most proud of starts with a song that things really began to positively unravel – as it were.

The finished album is arguably the most open, honest and vibrant record of Mason’s career. Like many of his previous records it marries the personal and the political but does so in an emotive and uplifting manner. Written against a backdrop of fear and uncertainty, and at a time when those in charge lurched from one disaster to the next mismanagement with increasing regularity, Brothers & Sisters is in fact an incredibly joyous, even spiritual, listen.

For Mason, writing and recording the album was a fun, experimental affair with producer Tev'n and musician Susumu ‘Zongamin’ Mukai encouraging this fertile creative process. A spiritual and pleasingly rhythmical record, with musical contributions from feted Pakistani singer Javed Bashir, British gospel singers Jayando Cole, Keshia Smith, Connie McCall & Adrian Blake and Kaviraj Singh on the santoor it’s a real collision of cultures.

“To me, this record is a massive ‘Fuck you’ to Brexit,” he says, barely bothering to disguise his disgust at the events of 2016 and beyond. “And a giant ‘Fuck you’ to anyone that is terrified of immigration because there is nothing that immigration has brought to this country that isn’t to be applauded. Can you imagine what this place would be like without that [immigration]? I mean what would it be like? Cornish pasties and morris dancing?.”

“Our generation,” he sighs. “I guess we… I naively thought that we’d dealt with racism. I naively thought we’d dealt with homophobia. I thought we’d sorted all that out – with the help of a little bit of E. But it turns out we were wrong.”

Brothers & Sisters then is a record about bringing people together through art, music and culture. A lofty aim, no doubt, but one that Mason has achieved – through a lot of perspiration and a little demolition – on the best album of his 25-year career in sonic wanderlust.

“That’s always been the aim,” he concludes. “To change the world through music. I still don’t know what that means. But I’ll never stop trying. Because that’s why I’m here.”

Or, in other words, finding strength, compassion and beauty through creativity. It might have taken a picaresque journey to get there, but there’s no doubt Steve Mason has reached the apex of his creativity on Brothers & Sisters.

+ Caleb Harris

Caleb Harris is a Cornish indie-folk singer songwriter based in Brighton/Cornwall blending intricate folk with chilled psychedelic rock. Taking influence from the likes of Nick Drake, Fleet Foxes and José González

PLEASE NOTE: The Enemy - DLWP, Bexhill will now take place Friday 17 November 2023, all tickets remain valid

In 2007, The Enemy emerged from their working class roots in Coventry to become one of the biggest new bands around. Their debut album We'll Live And Die In These Towns went straight to No.1 and would later be certified Platinum in recognition of over 300,000 sales.

The trio landed another two Top 10 albums, two Top 10 singles, three major awards (from NME, Q and XFM), shows with The Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, Oasis, The Killers, Kasabian, Bon Jovi, Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics, and even a special rooftop performance at Wembley Stadium ahead of the FA Cup Final.

Following on from their Sold Out UK tour last year; The Enemy play a special one-off concert at De La Warr Pavilion - Thursday 25 May 2023 | Don't miss out!

+ PARIS BLUE

Paris Blue are a post-punk with a tragic/cinematic sound from Hastings, UK

In today's fast-paced mid-apocalyptic world it can feel like a waste of time to speak about time at all. Why dwell on the past when we could just live in the present because the future won't shut up about how bad it's going to be?

But with This Is The Kit, the pseudonym of songwriter / banjo strummer / pinhole camera lover / Winchester UK born Paris dweller Kate Stables, we're going to have to give time just a modicum of consideration. Because not only is Kate still here and making albums of cataclysmic honesty and welcoming tonal embraces, they are continuing to grow, which is probably the only smart way to move forward through time.

This Is The Kit's music places companionship at a premium, so being welcomed into its space feels like an obvious privilege, on record and in concert hall with her stellar supporting cast of Rozi Plain (bass), Jamie Whitby-Coles (drums) and Neil Smith (guitar). And at this current point in our confusing history, continuing to be here at all, to stand tall and make music to gather to, that's a heroic act. Joyful survival as an act of time-wasting, I'll take that any day of the week. Look to This Is The Kit to spend at least one day of your week this year, I guarantee it will be time well wasted.

Plus Gina Birch (The Raincoats)

Best known as a founding member of post-punk rock band, The Raincoats, don't miss out and grab your tickets today...

Bernard Butler
+ Teenage Waitress

Bernard Butler has been noted as one of Britain's most original and influential musicians. In 1989 he formed Suede releasing the Mercury winning No.1 debut “Suede” and the era-defining “Dog Man Star”, a sprawling concept of rare ambition. His collaboration with David McAlmont on the anthemic ”Yes" provided an intriguing footprint across Britpop’s otherwise jingoist landscape culminating in 2 albums and a sell out at London's Roundhouse in 2015.

He released two solo albums on Creation, the acclaimed "People Move On" yielding the hit single "Stay", and "Friends and Lovers” and a Brit nomination before moving into a celebrated period as producer and songwriter including seminal releases by The Libertines, Tricky, Black Kids, Kate Nash, Nerina Pallot, Teleman, The Cribs, James Morrison, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Texas, Mark Eitzel, Mull Historical Society, Sam Lee, Oscar Lang and Paloma Faith.

In 2005 he began a collaboration with Duffy spawning her five million-selling, Grammy and Brit Award winning debut Rockferry, whilst Butler won the Producer's Award at the 2009 BRIT Awards.

He has played guitar live or on records by Pet Shop Boys, Bryan Ferry, Roy Orbison, Bert Jansch, The Libertines, Neneh Cherry, Robert Plant and Ben Watt with whom he toured extensively. Butler's group Trans released a series of EPs featuring tracks grown out of improvisational recordings made at Butler's own Studio 355.

Butler acts as proud Patron to the Bert Jansch Foundation, hosts a radio show "BB & The King" on Boogaloo Radio, and is a Lecturer at BIMM London developing students through their BA in Songwriting. He composed the original score to BBC Horizons documentary "Back From The Dead" and collaborated in songwriting camps and sessions for Warner-Chappell Publishing. He conducts audience-led PreProduction events around the country for the Musicians Union and is a Patron of the Music Venue Trust.

He is currently working on a new collaboration alongside his first solo material in 20 years.

Teenage Waitress

In Ash's own words Teenage Waitress is "a collection of short stories set to what I hope are some instantly hummable tunes. Then once a song feels pretty enough, I'll drown it all out with fuzzy, obnoxious guitars and synths that sound a bit poorly. And as for the Waitress? Well, that's the eavesdropping listener!"

Soul II Soul return to De La Warr Pavilion after their Sold Out show last year…

Formed in 1988 Soul II Soul and Jazzie B quickly achieved a name in their community in North London. Soul II Soul’s dances had been reflecting what was occurring naturally in London; kids of all races had grown up together and were now raving together. By the mid-1980s the warehouse scene was in full swing, vibrant and underground, removed from the constraints of the mainstream – a natural fit for Soul II Soul’s creativity.

Nothing summed them and their crowd up better than their regular Sunday night spot at the now legendary Africa Centre in London's Covent Garden. The Africa Centre was a game changer for Soul II Soul; for British black music; and for the nation’s youth culture in general. It caught the

attention of Virgin Records, who signed them as an act in 1988, catapulting them into a tornado of success.

There were the resident club nights all over the world; live concert tours; radio and TV appearances; Jazzie had his own show on London's Kiss FM and there was even an Adventures of the Funki Dreds comic book. And, of course, Soul II Soul enjoyed the type of chart success – notably with 'Keep On Movin' and 'Back To Life' – that made them household names all over the world.

To date Soul II Soul have sold over 10 million albums in over 35 territories worldwide and have product on over 200 compilation CDs while Jazzie has accreditation on over 35 million albums in over 100 territories. They’ve performed in over 20 countries, and appeared at some of

the most famous venues in the world including Wembley and New York's Universal Ample Theatre. America embraced Soul II Soul to such a degree, in 1990 they picked up two Grammy's. Jazzie was given the keys to seven cities in the US, including LA and New York, and the NAACP has honoured him. There's even a Soul II Soul day over there.

Teenage years may be fleeting, but it seems ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ is for life, as Wheatus’ debut single popped up yet again in 2022, making itself known in a way never seen before in the form of a TikTok trend. The “Teenage Dirtbag photos” trend has now been embraced by nearly a million people, including celebrities such as Madonna, Lady Gaga, Mark Ruffalo, Lil Nas X, Jon Bon Jovi, Chevy Chase, and countless others, resulting in the hashtag #teenagedirtbag being viewed over 2 billion times worldwide.

So it’s been a busy couple of years for Wheatus. They continue to spend as much time as possible on the road, both for headline shows and as a support act (most recently with Everclear, Hoobastank & Living Colour on the Summerland 2021 tour) across North America. Wheatus have also made a triumphant return to festival stages, playing high profile events like Audacy Beach Fest (also featuring Muse, Jack White, The 1975 and Machine Gun Kelly) and Adjacent Fest (also featuring Paramore, Coheed & Cambria, and the newly reunited Blink-182). While managing the sudden influx of attention and press, the independent six-piece band have been continuing their ongoing project of re-releasing their debut album (in a twenty-song expanded edition featuring “lost” songs from throughout the years), creating content for their endlessly loyal fanbase on Patreon, and getting ready for whatever the future throws at them next.

To date, the eclectic rock outfit has now released six studio albums, two live albums, and multiple additional singles.

Plus support from: MC Frontalot + Tribe Friday

The creative guise of Jamie Irrepressible, Northern composer and singer-songwriter, will be embarking on a UK tour of beautiful churches and concert hall venues throughout October performing his acclaimed chamber-pop and indie orchestral songs and instrumentals in settings that match the ambience and acoustics of these pieces and which also happen to be some of the UK's most intimate and beautiful venues.

A 7 piece band of strings, percussion & folk musicians will surround Jamie’s emotionally intense & ‘sky scraping’ crooner counter-tenor voice for performances of a collection of new songs oriented around the piano as well as his compositions taken from The Irrepressibles previous albums including the now international hits ‘Two Men in Love’ & ‘In This Shirt’

The Irrepressibles is the creative guise of Yorkshire composer, singer & songwriter Jamie Irrepressible. He formed the band initially in London back in 2002. Over the past two decades he has earned international acclaim for his cathartic orchestral-pop compositions, collaborations with other artists, and sensory heightening live shows.

Currently based in Manchester Jamie is creating an EP of brand new material due for release ahead of the upcoming live dates this Autumn. Standby for further details on the release very soon.

“The magic of the sound is overwhelming” - The Guardian

Plus Nova Soon

Nova Soon is a space-folk artist from Worthing. The storytelling songs of Noah de Grunwald can be hilarious, heartbreaking, euphoric, or disturbing — often all at once — but are always somehow informed by humanity’s cosmic smallness. Musically, reverb-laced nylon fingerpicking meets jazz-blues eccentricity meets propulsive, poem-influenced vocal delivery: this is folk like no other, a hyper-modern version for the 21st Century music landscape

Mixing guitar-driven hooks with dancey, electronic polish, Northern Ireland's Two Door Cinema Club first gained attention with 2010's Tourist History and singles like What You Know, Something Good Can Work and Undercover Martyn. Tourist History received worldwide critical acclaim and it saw the band cement a global following.

The band have since produced a hat trick of records of equal merit and success: Beacon (2012), Gameshow (2016) and False Alarm (2019); each scoring Top 10 positions in the official charts of the UK and a rave reception from critics and fans alike. 

2022 sees Two Door Cinema Club return with their 5th album, 'Keep on Smiling', opening with the majestic summer anthem 'Wonderful Life'. The band have performed to huge audiences and headlined festivals across the world, and this year's headlining slots include Community Festival, Benicassim and Nos Alive. Along with announcing their EU and North American tours kicking off this September.

It’s 1973 in South London. Teenage friends Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook form the band that will see them dubbed ‘The New Lennon and McCartney’. Nearly 50 years later, with their legacy intact and as vital as it has ever been, Squeeze are still touring and reminding fans worldwide just why they have left such an indelible impression on the UK’s music scene.

As teenagers on the South London scene, Squeeze – setting out their stall early on by facetiously naming themselves after a poorly-received Velvet Underground album, and at the time also comprised of Jools Holland on keys, Harry Kakouli on bass and Paul Gunn on drums – became a fixture of the burgeoning New Wave movement. When Gilson Lavis replaced Gunn on drums everything seemed to fall into place, and word of mouth soon spread about the band – ironically, it was none other than Velvet Underground man John Cale who caught wind in 1977 and offered to produce their debut EP ‘Packet Of Three’ and much of the ensuing album.

Yet it was second album ‘Cool For Cats’, released in 1979, which cemented their place as one of Britain’s most important young bands. Featuring the classic single ‘Up The Junction’ as well as the title track, it was many listeners’ first introduction to the witty kitchen-sink lyricism and new-wave guitar music that has become the band’s trademark. With albums ‘Argybargy’ and the Elvis Costello-produced ‘East Side Story’, Squeeze even started to make waves across the pond, although in 1980 former Roxy Music and Ace – and future Mike + The Mechanics – man Paul Carrack would replace Jools Holland, going on to lend his unmistakable vocals to the smash hit ‘Tempted’.

In 1982 Squeeze had disbanded. The chemistry between Tilbrook and Difford could not be as easily dismissed however, and the ensuing record they made together in 1984 has become the “lost” Squeeze album for many fans. But the band couldn’t lay dormant for long, as Squeeze reformed the next year for ‘Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti’, along with Holland, Lavis and Keith Wilkinson, Squeeze’s longest serving bass player. Over the next 14 years Difford and Tilbrook remained the only constant element as Squeeze continued to receive critical acclaim, release albums and tour, with the likes of ‘Hourglass’ becoming their biggest ever hit in the USA.

Despite an official Squeeze break-up in 1999, Difford and Tilbrook continued to make music and gig with the same enthusiasm and abandon that they brought to Squeeze’s first EP, either with their own solo projects or with each other. Chris Difford has released three solo albums to date, and toured the country several times with his unique one man show – while Glenn Tilbrook, meanwhile, has also released three solo albums, with 2009’s ‘Pandemonium Ensues’ heralding the debut of his other band The Fluffers and saw him recording with Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis. He too has toured relentlessly with The Fluffers, and most recently has recorded an album as “The Co-Operative” with blues veterans 9 Below Zero.

Charitable work also plays a large role in their lives – Tilbrook has also been an active member of the Love Hope Strength Foundation, which sees him join fellow musicians such as founder Mike Peters (The Alarm), going on treks and climbing some of the globe’s greatest landmarks in order to raise money to help treat cancer sufferers throughout the world. Difford meanwhile spends many hours working with recovering addicts and alcoholics in prisons and rehab centers, with musical workshops, performances, and by telling his own inspirational life story. Chris like Glenn has released his own solo work most notably with Francis Dunnery on the much-acclaimed album I didn’t get where I am.

As befits one of the UK’s much-loved acts, there is no end of Squeeze fans currently wearing their influences firmly on their sleeve, whether it be Mark Ronson, Kasabian, Supergrass, Lily Allen, The Feeling or Razorlight. With their fingerprints keenly felt throughout the fabric of popular music, it is only right that these songs, with their evergreen and popular sound, continue to be played and enjoyed live. And so since 2007, a newly reformed Squeeze have been slowly finding time to play a series of gigs and festival dates, preferring to reaffirm their abilities as a band rather than follow some of their peers who have come out in a blaze of publicity, only to be met with disappointment.

The new Squeeze line-up, their most able yet, is completed by Simon Hanson, Stephen Large, Steve Smith, Melvin Duffy, Sean Hurley, and Owen Biddle and has become an instant favourite on the festival circuit, with appearances at V, Oxegen, T in the Park, Womad, Latitude, and Coachella to name a few.

Squeeze’s contribution to music has been noted in 2010 with the site of their first gig being awarded a prestigious PRS For Music Heritage Plaque, which has so far commemorated the debuts of Blur and Dire Straits. It joins an ever-increasing list of Squeeze accolades alongside their recent Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music and their Nordoff-Robbins Icon Award and the Mojo Icon Award.

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook have survived everything over the years, from the ever-changing musical landscape to their own internal reshuffles and acrimonious breakups – still going strong and still loving every moment.

DUE TO OVERWHELMING DEMAND SQUEEZE ADD A SECOND DATE AT DLWP!

It’s 1973 in South London. Teenage friends Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook form the band that will see them dubbed ‘The New Lennon and McCartney’. Nearly 50 years later, with their legacy intact and as vital as it has ever been, Squeeze are still touring and reminding fans worldwide just why they have left such an indelible impression on the UK’s music scene.

As teenagers on the South London scene, Squeeze – setting out their stall early on by facetiously naming themselves after a poorly-received Velvet Underground album, and at the time also comprised of Jools Holland on keys, Harry Kakouli on bass and Paul Gunn on drums – became a fixture of the burgeoning New Wave movement. When Gilson Lavis replaced Gunn on drums everything seemed to fall into place, and word of mouth soon spread about the band – ironically, it was none other than Velvet Underground man John Cale who caught wind in 1977 and offered to produce their debut EP ‘Packet Of Three’ and much of the ensuing album.

Yet it was second album ‘Cool For Cats’, released in 1979, which cemented their place as one of Britain’s most important young bands. Featuring the classic single ‘Up The Junction’ as well as the title track, it was many listeners’ first introduction to the witty kitchen-sink lyricism and new-wave guitar music that has become the band’s trademark. With albums ‘Argybargy’ and the Elvis Costello-produced ‘East Side Story’, Squeeze even started to make waves across the pond, although in 1980 former Roxy Music and Ace – and future Mike + The Mechanics – man Paul Carrack would replace Jools Holland, going on to lend his unmistakable vocals to the smash hit ‘Tempted’.

In 1982 Squeeze had disbanded. The chemistry between Tilbrook and Difford could not be as easily dismissed however, and the ensuing record they made together in 1984 has become the “lost” Squeeze album for many fans. But the band couldn’t lay dormant for long, as Squeeze reformed the next year for ‘Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti’, along with Holland, Lavis and Keith Wilkinson, Squeeze’s longest serving bass player. Over the next 14 years Difford and Tilbrook remained the only constant element as Squeeze continued to receive critical acclaim, release albums and tour, with the likes of ‘Hourglass’ becoming their biggest ever hit in the USA.

Despite an official Squeeze break-up in 1999, Difford and Tilbrook continued to make music and gig with the same enthusiasm and abandon that they brought to Squeeze’s first EP, either with their own solo projects or with each other. Chris Difford has released three solo albums to date, and toured the country several times with his unique one man show – while Glenn Tilbrook, meanwhile, has also released three solo albums, with 2009’s ‘Pandemonium Ensues’ heralding the debut of his other band The Fluffers and saw him recording with Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis. He too has toured relentlessly with The Fluffers, and most recently has recorded an album as “The Co-Operative” with blues veterans 9 Below Zero.

Charitable work also plays a large role in their lives – Tilbrook has also been an active member of the Love Hope Strength Foundation, which sees him join fellow musicians such as founder Mike Peters (The Alarm), going on treks and climbing some of the globe’s greatest landmarks in order to raise money to help treat cancer sufferers throughout the world. Difford meanwhile spends many hours working with recovering addicts and alcoholics in prisons and rehab centers, with musical workshops, performances, and by telling his own inspirational life story. Chris like Glenn has released his own solo work most notably with Francis Dunnery on the much-acclaimed album I didn’t get where I am.

As befits one of the UK’s much-loved acts, there is no end of Squeeze fans currently wearing their influences firmly on their sleeve, whether it be Mark Ronson, Kasabian, Supergrass, Lily Allen, The Feeling or Razorlight. With their fingerprints keenly felt throughout the fabric of popular music, it is only right that these songs, with their evergreen and popular sound, continue to be played and enjoyed live. And so since 2007, a newly reformed Squeeze have been slowly finding time to play a series of gigs and festival dates, preferring to reaffirm their abilities as a band rather than follow some of their peers who have come out in a blaze of publicity, only to be met with disappointment.

The new Squeeze line-up, their most able yet, is completed by Simon Hanson, Stephen Large, Steve Smith, Melvin Duffy, Sean Hurley, and Owen Biddle and has become an instant favourite on the festival circuit, with appearances at V, Oxegen, T in the Park, Womad, Latitude, and Coachella to name a few.

Squeeze’s contribution to music has been noted in 2010 with the site of their first gig being awarded a prestigious PRS For Music Heritage Plaque, which has so far commemorated the debuts of Blur and Dire Straits. It joins an ever-increasing list of Squeeze accolades alongside their recent Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music and their Nordoff-Robbins Icon Award and the Mojo Icon Award.

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook have survived everything over the years, from the ever-changing musical landscape to their own internal reshuffles and acrimonious breakups – still going strong and still loving every moment.

Its safe to say that Northwest legend Kibo is back with a vengeance, after taking some time away from releasing music he dropped 2022’s most dynamic and eclectic project; FBFR - Feugo Baby Furtardo Returnz, With cuts sampling everything from botched X-factor auditions to a Lloyds TSB advert. Kibo is undoubtedly one of the most electric live MC’s in London right now, Well recognised for inconceivable radio freestyles that will go for as long as they can broadcast.

Hailing from Lewisham, In a short amount of time Namani has expanded his following from London to Brighton as if he were playing the rap games equivalent to Risk. With a catalogue of hits spanning from the sunny day anthem Sommer Rays, to the explosive Jersey House and Brent Fiaz sample infused COMPLACENT?!#To Brightons very own two-step anthem B-TOWN BABY. 

Two of the country's hardest MC’s, make sure you grab your ticket!

Tzusan X Shogun – Lead Wetsuit Schematics Tour

Plus Support: Vitamin G + Safenath

Scotlands sharpest wordsmiths; Tzusan and Shogun have blades drawn, ready for battle in the form of their collaborative project; Lead Wetsuit Schematics. This woozy, choppy, unpredictable masterwork was forged between Barassie and Brighton making Brighton an essential stop, and at where else but Brightons most iconic venue, Green Door Store, on the 10th of August. With support from two of the cities greats Safenath and Vitamin G this is set up to be a night to remember.

IT IS ONLY BETWEEN 10cc's SELL-OUT, BI-ANNUAL UK TOURS THAT THE BAND’S CO-FOUNDER GRAHAM GOULDMAN IS ABLE TO FULLY INDULGE HIS HEART FULL OF SONGS PROJECT AND TAKE IT ON TOUR

As a result the semi-acoustic four-piece perform a broad spread of Graham’s song-writing catalogue, including chart hits for 10cc, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck and his time in Wax with Andrew Gold.

The band line-up comprises Graham, 10cc live band members Iain Hornal and Keith Hayman, and Dave Cobby.

Graham’s status as one of the world’s leading songwriters was acknowledged in 2014 with his induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame – an arm of America’s National Academy of Music. Previous inductees include Noel Coward, Irving Berlin, Burt Bacharach, Neil Sedaka, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Leonard Cohen and Sting.

In 2015 Broadcast Music Incorporated in the US anointed him an Icon of the Industry at a special ceremony in London, where he stunned the audience with an acoustic rendition of I’m Not In Love, which he co-wrote, accompanied by Lisa Stansfield on vocals.

When Graham formed what became Heart Full of Songs nine years ago, it was purely for the pleasure of playing his songs in their simplest form, acoustically. The format became so popular that Heart Full of Songs now tours the UK every two years, along with concerts and festival appearances in the UK and Europe.

For lovers of perfectly-crafted music performed by the composer, a Heart Full of Songs concert is truly an exquisite experience.

Needless to say, the band also features tracks from Graham’s acclaimed solo albums, And Another Thing, Love And Work, Play Nicely And Share and 2020’s Modesty Forbids.

KT Tunstall burst onto the music scene with her 2004 multi-platinum debut, Eye to the Telescope, which spawned the global hits "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" and "Suddenly I See." These songs established Tunstall as a captivating, must-see performer, as well as a Songwriter with a singular knack for balancing introspective folk and propulsive rock. "I feel there are two immediate, recognizable pillars of my style," she says. "I have this troubadour, acoustic guitar-driven emotional side. Then there's definitely a rocker side of me with sharper teeth."

In the last few years, the Grammy-nominated Scottish Musician has expanded on these musical selves by focusing on a trilogy of records, where each album zeroes in on a single concept: soul, body and mind. The first, 2016's KIN, was the soul record; 2018's WAX was the body record, and the new NUT is the mind record.

Produced by Martin Terefe, who co-wrote her 2005 global hit "Other Side of the World," NUT draws on Tunstall's love of percussive West African grooves as a metaphor for the learning patterns of the mind, and is an eclectic album that seamlessly weaves together disparate styles. She found her writing mojo thanks to "Canyons," a song propelled by a grimy, heavy rock riff. In keeping with NUT’s theme, the song's lyrics are about the canyon-like physiology of the brain, and explore the parallels between humans developing unique identities and the way nature evolves and is shaped over time. Elsewhere, NUT’s lyrics and sound delve into KT’s own personal evolution, and the way we all evolve through the repetition of behaviors and our reactions to life experiences. "Private Eyes" grew out of Tunstall's brush with the vampiric downside of fame, while "Three," summarizes the arc of the trilogy, inspired by a journal practice where she would write multiple entries on one topic from the different perspectives of mind, body and soul.

"It was necessary in the circumstances to make NUT completely differently from any other record I’ve made," Tunstall says. "But I was excited and ready for that. The reason I pursued music was because I had to avoid a repetitive job. I need to feel a constant sense of exploration in life. I've realized you can easily fall into repetition even in this job. And so for NUT, I was like, 'Come on, let's do what we said we were going to do. Let's push into something new.' What’s always most important is making an exciting, meaningful record that I love, and to have fun while I’m doing it." 

Plus support from Tom Speight

London based singer/songwriter Tom Speight is a driven talent with a string of EPs and a full-length album under his belt, gaining strong radio support from BBC Radio 2 with seven playlisted records in a row, and over 200 million streams across DSPs. Since 2014, he has gained international recognition from the UK, to Germany to Brazil, headlining shows and supporting some of the biggest acts, from Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, to Ben Howard and Travis.

He’s now got a new album in the pipeline. It is bigger, bolder and poppier than the folky Collide and a celebration of living life to the max. A timely reminder to approach every day as an adventure, and an invitation to ride alongside him as he travels the world wide-eyed. Recorded with producer Chris Bond in Devon / Rich Turvey in London and featuring contributions from regular collaborators Lydia Clowes and Turin Brakes, the album was written as lockdown loomed and recorded over a socially-distanced summer. Sunny song titles, boisterous guitars, shimmering electronics and lashings of beautiful backing vocals are among its most enticing calling cards.

And support from Beth Sarah

Beth Sarah is a singer-songwriter known for her uplifting lyrics and 90s indie sound. Growing up in Worthing, she began writing songs at 14 and spent several years writing and gigging until she had children. The songwriting continued, and in 2020 after an extensive parenting break, she released her first solo track, Rollerskates. She has since formed a full band and released the album Let Her Go in February 2023. This album reflects the changes and personal growth she experienced after deciding to pursue her lifelong passion of music full time.

An iconic band, an iconic venue: The Human League play Dreamland, Margate, on Friday 21st July 2023

The Human League: a band best known for a song they never wanted to release as a single but that went on to become the biggest seller of 1981. “Don’t You Want Me”, a clever duet examining the death of a love affair from both perspectives, also proved once and for all that the best Christmas number ones aren’t about Christmas at all.

Over forty years later, The Human League continue to make and share the best of electronic music, their songs stirring up memories but, unlike some of the 80s nostalgia tours doing the rounds, without being tarnished by retro cheesiness. 

That’s why you won’t want to miss the original lineup of Joanne Catherall, Phil Oakey and Susan Ann Sulley playing the Scenic Stage at Dreamland, Margate, on Friday 21st July 2023. The Scenic Stage is at the heart of this unique all-you-can-treat seaside venue which, with its backdrop of Instagrammable retro amusements and vintage rides, is fast becoming the UK’s coolest music venue

There has always been a pleasing straightforwardness, a Dadaist blankness, to the League: what you see is what you get, prime numbers in a world of complex equations. Even Oakey’s handsome Yorkshire accent was never modified to a mid-Atlantic drawl for the sake of radio digestibility and it’s notable that the band never left their hometown of Sheffield for the lure of London.

Notable, too, is that the League never broke up or quit the music scene. Following their 1981 platinum selling Dare, they released a pioneering album of remixes, Love and Dancing, along with two fantastic singles – the meta-Motown “Mirror Man” and the juicy, jubilant “(Keep Feeling) Fascination” – before the successor album, Hysteria, in 1984.  

The group continued to be a successful singles act with hits such as “Louise” and “Life On Your Own”. They often evoked the golden age of pop with spoken narrative (“When we were apart, I was human too…”) and self-aware personal touches that frequently broke the fourth wall (“This is Phil talking…”). There was also the oft-derided “The Lebanon”, which to Oakey’s perverse pride recently won the BBC Radio 1 Worst Lyric Of All Time poll for the couplet “And where there used to be some shops/Is where the snipers sometimes hide”. 

Later the band surrendered a degree of creative control, a move which Sulley believes saved their career, by hooking up with R&B producers and former Prince acolytes Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, whose Flyte Tyme team had recently scored big with Janet Jackson’s album Nasty. The duo wrote another both-sides-of-the-story duet, “Human”, for the League and the song became a transatlantic smash. 

“Human” was the group’s last significant hit for a while but even at the lowest ebb of their commercial success, the League maintained their quality: listen to “Heart Like A Wheel” from turn-of-the-nineties album Romantic? and it holds its own with the best of their back catalogue. 

To many people, the joyous “Tell Me When?”, a top ten hit from the 1995 album Octopus, marked a comeback for the band but truth is the League never went away. Today they’re planning a tenth studio album and remain “tall, tall, tall, as big as a wall, wall, wall” as their 1979 “Empire State Human” lyrics put it. 

Don’t miss them on Friday 21st July 2023 at Dreamland, Margate. Get your tickets now

With special guest Marc Almond

With seven UK number-one singles, six top-ten albums, seven arena tours and ten million records sold worldwide, McFly are without question one of the most significant British pop acts of the twenty-first century. Since hitting the big time as the youngest band ever to have a debut album go straight to number one — beating The Beatles’ long-standing record — Tom, Danny, Dougie and Harry have become one of our best-loved bands, not to mention major stars in their own right

Outside of McFly Tom has become a bestselling children’s author; Danny a TV mainstay with his regular appearances as a coach on The Voice Kids; Dougie formed alternative-rock band INK and is a passionate environmental campaigner; and Strictly winner Harry  is often seen presenting on The One Show sofa, as well as starring in the hit dance show Rip it Up.

 In 2019 McFly announced their return to touring with a sold out one off night at the O2 in November 2019 and a UK and Brazil Arena Tour due to happen in March and May 2020.  Obviously things changed and Covid 19 forced the guys to stay at home, which was devastating for fans who were eager to see them live,  but it didn’t stop McFly from connecting with their fans through music. They wrote, recorded, promoted and released their sixth album ‘Young Dumb Thrills’ throughout 2020 despite all obstacles.  Performances on Graham Norton, Britain’s Got Talent and Ant & Dec, as well as A List records across Radio 2, saw Young Dumb Thrills enter the chart at #2, second only to the biggest selling album of the year form AC/DC.

Fast forward to the summer of 2021 and McFly could be seen up and down the country playing at glorious Summer Festivals as the UK was finally able to host live music again. The band were on top form and crowds jubilantly sang along to McFly classics as well as new tracks ‘Happiness’ and ‘Tonight Is The Night’.  The long awaited Young Dumb Thrills tour also had its moment of glory in September 2021, 11 dates of pure un-adulterated pop  punk fun with a giant pink teddy bear to add to the spectacle.

McFly’s long anticipated next studio album will be released in 2023

+ Support from New Hope Club

Michelle Antoinette Wallen, MBE (born 27 April 1969), known professionally as Mica Paris, is a British singer, presenter, broadcaster and actor. She was born in Islington in North London, and moved to Brockley, South London, when she was nine

Mica grew up singing in her grandparents' church, and by her mid-teens was making regular appearances with The Spirit Of Watts gospel choir, with whom she featured on the 1985 EP Gospel Joy. At the age of seventeen, she became a backing vocalist with the UK band Hollywood Beyond. Mica appeared on their album, “If” in 1985

Mica Paris is one of the UK’s finest and most respected singers with a long career of hit singles and albums marking her out as the undisputed British Queen Of Soul

Signed to the 4th & Broadway label on Island Records at the age of eighteen, the range, power, soul and deep emotion in Mica’s singing voice made an immediate impact on the UK music scene in August 1988 when she released her debut album, the platinum selling “So Good”. The album included her first Top 10 hit “My One Temptation” which peaked at #7 in the UK charts as well as a collaboration with jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine on “Like Dreamers Do” and “Breathe Life into Me”, both Top 30 UK hits. This was followed by a duet with US soul singer Will Downing on the classic Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song “Where Is The Love” which broke the UK Top 20

The follow up album ”Contribution” was released in October 1990, again on the 4th & Broadway label. This extended Mica’s soul and gospel influences to bring in hip-hop and house music and featured the track "If I Love U 2 Nite”, written by Prince and recorded at his Paisley Park studios. With Omar, a classically trained musician, Mica recorded "I Should've Known Better" in 1990. It was issued on the B side to "South Of The River" and later re-recorded for inclusion on 1998’s “Black Angel” album 

Mica performed “Blowin’ In The Wind” with Anita Baker, Bonnie Raitt and Natalie Cole at the ‘Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute For A Free South Africa’ event at Wembley Stadium on 16th April 1990, held two months after Mandela’s release from prison in South Africa. Mica provided the title track to Isaac Julien’s “Young Soul Rebels” film soundtrack the following year. She also worked with the saxophonist Courtney Pine again on "Redemption Song" (1992); the Stereo MC’s on "Don't Let Up" (1992; and Bobby Womack on "I Wish I'd Never Met You" (1991)

Before the release of her third album in 1993, Mica took to the theatre stage for the first time starring in two West End shows, ‘Mama I Want To Sing’ and ‘Sweet Lorraine’ 

Mica’s third album “Whisper A Prayer” was released in June 1993 on 4th & Broadway and included the singles "I Never Felt Like This Before" and "I Wanna Hold On To You", as well as "You Put A Move On My Heart" which was later recorded by Tamia in 1995 on Quincy Jones’s “Q Jook Joint” album. This was followed by further collaboration work on music with Guru on his “Jazzmatazz: The New Reality” album ("Looking Through Darkness", 1995); Mark Morrison ("Tears For You", 1996) and Maxwell ("Mantra", 1996)

Mica released her fourth album “Black Angel” on EMI’s Chrysalis label in August 1998. It contained a cover version of U2’s “One", and a duet with James Ingram, “Love’s Gone”. “Black Angel” produced two more singles in "Stay" and 'Carefree". More collaborations followed with Omar ("Confection", 1994); Max Beesley ("High Vibes", 1994); Dubversive ("Police & Thieves",1998); the “Mobo All Stars” compilation album in 1998; Mister Exe ("One Million Smiles", 1998); Prince ("Just My Imagination", 2000); and Boy George ("I Could Be Someone", 2000). A collaboration with David Gilmour and Jools Holland on the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins track "I Put A Spell On You” followed in 2001. The trio have regrouped on several occasions to perform the song

Two years later, Mica performed on the title track of the Walt Disney / Touchstone Pictures soundtrack for High Heels And Low Lifes, which was later included on the soundtrack compilation album in 2001. In 2003, Mica released the Moby sampling "Heart" with Seraphim Suite. She contributed vocals to the track "I Don't Understand" on Milk & Sugar’s album “Housemusic.De”. 2004 saw Mica feature as a guest on The New Inspirational Choir's album “Inspirations” along with Keisha White and Jocelyn Brown. In October 2004, Mica also took part in the UK tour of the stage play ‘The Vagina Monologues’

In 2005, Mica released the album “If You Could Love Me” on Wounded Bird Records, featuring backing from the Brecker Brothers on the title track, with executive producer Andreas Neumann and producer Bernard Grobman. Also in 2005, she released the album “Soul Classics”, with executive producers Rick Blaskey and Andreas Neumann. Mica collaborated with Lemar on the track "Can't You See" on his album “The Truth About Love” in 2006, and in February 2008, she released the duet "Secret Lovers" with Alexander O’Neal. This was followed by a residency at the Indigo 02

In June 2009, she released her sixth studio album “Born Again” as an independently distributed artist. She embarked on a nationwide tour, which included dates at the Jazz Cafe in February 2009, to showcase the material. The album was produced by Brian Rawling with James Morrison contributing Mica’s first single "Baby Come Back Now". The second single, "The Hardest Thing", was remixed by Stonebridge, Almighty and 2Darc. The title track "Born Again" was the final single released from the album

At this point in her career, Mica turned her talents back to London’s West End. An incredible live performer, she stole the show at the Royal Albert Hall’s All Star Tribute to Dusty Springfield concert in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support on 5th May 2011. This was followed by two long runs in theatre shows with the UK tour of the musical ‘Love Me Tender’ in the summer of 2015 and more recently for eighteen months through to 2020, the lead role of Miss Sherman in the London West End production of ‘Fame’ to great acclaim and rave reviews

In between these two runs in the theatre Mica recorded a two-track single featuring “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” and “Imagine My Frustration” in honour of Ella Fitzgerald with the Guy Barker Orchestra in 2017 followed by a series of sell out concerts later that year

In August 2020, BBC4 broadcast a special one-off documentary titled ‘Gospel According To Mica – The Story Of Gospel Music In Six Songs’. Straight from completing her run in ‘Fame’ at the Peacock Theatre, Mica had flown out to the US to film the documentary earlier that year. Presented by Mica as her own personal journey, the programme charted the history of gospel music through ground-breaking songs from “Amazing Grace” to Stormzy’s “Blinded By Your Grace Part II” going back and revisiting the origins of the songs and finding out why some of her contemporaries have returned to their gospel roots. The documentary inspired Mica to record her first album in over ten years once signed to Warner Music’s eastwest label and was recorded within a few weeks, with production by Brian Rawlings at his studio and the British Grove Studios where the contribution of the Soul Sanctuary Choir was recorded. Preceded by the new original song “Mamma Said”, inspired by Mica’s grandmother who first encouraged her to sing in church, and the Labi Siffre song “(Something Inside) So Strong”, the album titled “Gospel” was released on 4th December 2020 to critical acclaim across the board and #1 in the UK R&B Album charts. The album also features another new original song “The Struggle”, telling the story of Mica’s meeting with Gladys Knight, as well as spellbinding versions of Rag ‘N’ Bone Man’s “Human”; John Newton’s hymn “Amazing Grace”; Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is”; and U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” 

With very special guest Natalie Imbruglia

Will Young has spent the last two decades at the forefront of pop after bursting onto the scene in 2002. His expansive career has culminated in four #1 and two #2 chart topping albums, two BRIT Awards, four UK number one singles and hits including ‘Leave Right Now’, ‘Evergreen’ and ‘Jealousy’. An acting career blossomed concurrently, with roles on stage and screen including the Judi Dench film ‘Mrs Henderson Presents’ as well as presenting gigs on TV and radio. Will’s mental health podcast ‘The Wellbeing Lab’ has recently wrapped its first season and his two recent books focusing on mental health ‘To Be A Gay Man’ and ‘Be Yourself And Happier’ are available now.

2022 marks the 20th anniversary since Will Young was voted the original Pop Idol winner and saw Will release his highest-ever charting singles collection ’20 Years: The Greatest Hits’ and embark on a sold-out UK headline tour.

The celebrations continue 20 years on from the Pop Idol final at the iconic Scenic Stage, Dreamland, Margate this June 2023…

Natalie Imbruglia

One of Australia’s most loved pop artists, Natalie Imbruglia first stole our hearts over a quarter of a century ago with her chart-topping smash hit cover of the iconic track, Torn, the most played song on Australian radio since 1990! 

Since then, she has released six studio albums, and in 2021 she made a triumphant return with her critically acclaimed, Top 10 album, ‘Firebird’.  Natalie has won 8 Aria’s, 2 Brit Awards, one Billboard Music Award and received three Grammy Nominations! 

Most recently, Natalie had a cameo in the final ever episode of Neighbours where she played Beth Brennan through the 90’s and won the third series of the UK version of The Masked Singer.

With an unbroken run of 6 Top 20 albums to date, the band's seventh offering ‘Heatwave In The Cold North’ looks likely to follow suit. It could even find itself placed in the top 10, a first to do so since their debut 16 years ago. The opening single from forthcoming album of the same name ‘Heatwave In The Cold North’, has become their biggest hit in over a decade. The hazy, sun drenched Barry White-inspired soul bop, was added to Radio 2’s B list and named their Record of the Week. The track became a Top 10 UK airplay chart fixture as the summer came to a close. This was followed by the softly spangled psychedelic soul of ‘High’, an ode to Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfrield and long hazy afternoons. As well as typically catchy ear-worm ‘Problems’. The fourth and final single before the album release was ’A Letter To My 21 Year Old Self’. Ahead of this release Jon has launched a campaign for fans to send in a letter that they’ve written to their own 21 Year Old Selves. They formed part of a pop-up exhibition/ mass therapy session in Fagans Pub, Sheffield that gave locals the chance to come along and meet Jon, get an exclusive listen to the album & have a pint. His friends and supporters have already got involved with the likes of Brian Eno, Mel C, Jeremy Corbyn, Carl Barat, Joey Barton, Helen Chamberlain, Steve Lamacq, Richard Hawley + more writing letters for the exhibition. Many went on to comment on how cathartic they had found the experience. 

Never resting on their laurels and constantly striving to challenge perceptions of the band, Reverend and the Makers have become one of the enduring and great survivors of the British music scene. With a career spanning two decades Jon McClure and his collective of musicians burst onto the scene with their Top 5 charting debut album, ‘The State of Things’. The album spawned the UK top 10 single "Heavyweight Champion of the World". The five albums since have seen the band move through several incarnations, sounds and line ups and experience all the highs, and most of the lows, that the music industry has to offer. Each album has reached the Top 20 of the UK album charts, an impressive unbroken run of six albums. These albums have seen them cut across a creative

spectrum, ranging from collective efforts to the frontman’s singular visions. Instead, The Makers is more a sobriquet, a statement of intent, a commitment and a guiding principle that has seen McClure consistently strive to build, innovate and grow musically and artistically. The Reverend’s story is one of the great survival stories of the music industry as charisma, talent, defiance and sheer willpower sees the band start a new chapter reenergized and raring to go. With a point to prove, with ‘Heatwave In The Cold North’, Reverend And The Makers set about the task in hand armed to the teeth with an arsenal of their biggest, best and most accessible and ambitious songs to date. 

When great British pop institution, The Beautiful South split in 2007, most members of the band didn’t feel ready to hang up their microphones or instruments just yet…

The South feature former members of The Beautiful South including singer Alison Wheeler and lifelong sax player Gaz Birtles. Since Dave Hemingway the original singer, left the group at the end of 2016, Gaz has moved across to front the band with Alison and taken on vocal duties. They play the songs made famous by The Beautiful South and bring back the full flavour and excitement with the nine piece live band.

After a successful year of touring the country doing the theatre and festival circuit, the rejuvenated South are keeping alive all those timeless songs - A Little Time (the number one single), Perfect 10, Rotterdam, Old Red Eyes Is Back, Good as Gold, Don't Marry Her plus many more singles and album tracks, as well as a few choice South originals. All performed again live, these songs span an impressive 20 year career starting way back in 1989!

Come on! Let’s Carry On… Regardless!

The South are: Alison Wheeler (Vocals), Gaz Birtles (Vocals), Phil Barton (Guitars), Steve Nutter (Bass), Dave Anderson (Drums), Karl Brown (Percussion), Gareth John (Trumpet), Su Robinson (Sax), Andy Price (Keys).

Brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane formed Hue and Cry in the 80s and the duo made a huge impact with the release of their debut album ‘Seduced and Abandoned’ (1987) which featured their first top ten single ‘Labour of Love’.

The follow up album ‘Remote’ continued the trend and produced the huge hits ‘Looking for Linda’ and ‘Violently’. Albums like ‘Stars Crash Down’, ‘Showtime’ and ‘Jazz Not Jazz’ ensured Hue and Cry’s continued successful run through the 90s, whilst their 2005 appearances as finalists on ITV’s primetime show ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’, featuring their version of Beyoncé’s ‘Crazy In Love’, thrust the band firmly back into the mainstream limelight.

A number of successful album releases and accompanying live appearances followed which included ‘Open Soul’ (2008), ‘Xmasday’ (2009), ‘Bitter Suite Again’ (2010), ‘Hot Wire’ (2011), ‘Remote: Major to Minor’ (2014), ‘September Songs’ (2015), and ‘Pocketful of Stones’ (2017).

To date, Hue and Cry have sold in excess of two million records worldwide. With the global pandemic bringing live touring to a halt during 2020/21, Hue and Cry introduced their pioneering ‘Live from Lockdown’ streaming shows, which were viewed online by thousands of fans around the world.

As well as performing alongside some of the greatest artists in music history – appearing with U2, James Brown, Madonna, Al Green, and Van Morrison to name but a few – the band have undertaken a multitude of their own headline tours and made numerous festival appearances.

Hue and Cry were recently presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Music Awards. The band are currently working on a brand new album and look forward to bringing their live show to Shoreham.

Front four rows: £28. All rows behind: £25.

Skinny Living’s story is one of struggle, troubling situations and relentless hard graft.

It’s also one of synchronicity, chance meetings, and the unflinching belief that their glorious indie soul music will reach the audience it deserves. Their potential is there to see.

Echoing Bill Withers, The Isley Brothers and Paolo Nutini, their songs shimmer with a timeless, gentle beauty, exquisite vocal harmonies and a lyrical wisdom that inspires optimism and reflection in equal measure.

The band's sound is defined by two acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies delivered by Wakefield natives Will Booth and Danny Hepworth, while the exquisite and ever-so-slightly haunted vocal and lyricism in the midst of it all belongs to front man Ryan Johnston, born in Belfast to a Catholic mother from the Republican area and a Protestant father from the other side of town.

Their polar opposite backgrounds meant a family move to Bangor before Ryan later moved to England, where he met Will and Danny at an open mic night and formed the band.

Skinny Living have been active since 2014.In that time they have amassed over 60 million streams world wide without releasing a full studio album, however the trio are now on course to release their Debut Album in 2023.

The band recently shared the meaning behind their name, which is apt given their songs are often full of big dreams from a modest background:

“Skinny Living is a term that describes the financial reality and lifestyle of the working class. Hard graft on a low income with a lust for life, passion for family and an optimistic attitude about the future.”

+ Sonni Mills

Lo! Soul sees Woomble continue his unique and restless trajectory, gently stepping away from his previous acoustic/folk intentions in favour of a more explorative light, prevalent on 2020’s ‘Everyday Sun’ EP, which featured largely spoken word pieces over an ambient, mediative soundtrack.

Produced and mixed by collaborator and Idlewild bandmate Andrew Mitchell (aka Andrew Wasylyk), 'Lo! Soul' was recorded remotely between Roddy’s home in the Hebrides and Andrew’s studio in Dundee throughout 2020 while Scotland was locked-down. 

Roddy explains: “Andrew describes moments of the album as ‘Dystopian-pop’ which I think is as good a description as any. Lockdown gave me the sense of a collective melancholy, a shared remoteness and isolation - that has been a guiding influence throughout all the songs. It is the most unusual record I have made, and made in the most unusual way.”

Across his twenty-five year career, 'Lo! Soul' may well be Woomble's most inventive, creative album to date. From undulating synths and ambient soundscapes in the abstract narratives of 'Atlantic Photography' and 'Secret Show', the sun-tinged horns of ‘Architecture in LA’, a mellifluous Mellotron or perhaps a piano chime. Here, the path is embedded with Roddy's words delicately unearthing the known and never known.

This popular, multi award-winning husband and wife duo exude timeless class with their exquisite brand of traditional and contemporary music.

Duos come and duos go… and some nurture and fine tune their art and watch it grow into something totally original and captivating. For over a quarter of a century Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman’s partnership has proved personal, permanent and pivotal.

From early days in folk supergroup ' Equation ' through to their most recent work, acclaimed as ‘Their best yet’, with a nod or two along the way to their extra-curricular musical adventures, the evening promises a whistle-stop tour through their artistic journey to date.

“It’s folk music for the modern age.” – The Telegraph - London

“These guys are something very special”’ – Acoustic Magazine

“A duo right at the top of their game” – Rock n’ Reel

Twice Winners of 'Best Duo' – BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - 2016 & 2013 

GRAHAM GOULDMAN ANNOUNCES HEART FULL OF SONGS TOUR FOR 2023

10cc founding member Graham Gouldman has announced a 16-date tour for March 2023 with his highly acclaimed semi-acoustic show Heart Full of Songs. 

Graham will be joined on stage by 10cc live band members Iain Hornal and Keith Hayman, and Dave Cobby, performing songs from Graham’s celebrated back catalogue, including chart hits for 10cc, the Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, The Yardbirds and his time in Wax with Andrew Gold.

The tour will begin on 6th March in Bury St Edmunds and end on the 23rd March in Salford, including a date at London’s Cadogan Hall on 16th March.

Graham formed what became Heart Full of Songs nine years ago purely for the pleasure of playing his songs in their simplest form: acoustically. 

The format’s popularity is such that Heart Full of Songs now tours the UK every two years, between 10cc’s sell-out UK tours.

Since Heart Full of Songs last toured the UK in September 2021, Graham has been busy taking 10cc to some of Europe’s most prestigious concert venues, along with four hugely successful arena events with Toto. 

Looking ahead to the tour, Graham said, “I’m very much looking forward to taking Heart Full Of Songs on the road again where I get to play and talk about some of my old songs, and explain their origins, but also play some new material that I am very proud of. 

 “I'm also looking forward to working with multi instrumentalists/vocalists Iain Hornal and Keith Hayman, both of whom are my 10cc bandmates. On percussion we have Dave Cobby, who also happens to be 10cc's production manager.

 “I hope you enjoy the gigs as much as we enjoy playing them."

 Graham’s prestigious career took off in 1965 following what turned out to be a blessing in guise. Columbia rejected his first single composition for his band The Mockingbirds, which featured fellow 10cc founder Kevin Godley on drums. The song, For Your Love, became a huge hit for The Yardbirds.

Working by day in a men's outfitters shop and playing by night with his semi-professional band, Graham went on to write a string of hits, such as Pamela, Pamela for Wayne Fontana, For Your Love, Evil Hearted You and Heart Full of Soul (The Yardbirds), Bus Stop and Look Through Any Window (The Hollies), No Milk Today and Listen People (Herman's Hermits), and Tallyman for Jeff Beck.

In 1972, along with Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, he formed 10cc. The band enjoyed a string of Top 10 hits, including three No 1s - Rubber Bullets, I’m Not In Love and Dreadlock Holiday – along with Donna (No 2), Art For Art’s Sake and Good Morning Judge (both reaching No 5), The Things We Do For Love and I’m Mandy Fly Me (6), and The Wall Street Shuffle (10), selling more than 30 million albums worldwide.

It’s the enduring popularity of these tracks, along with others such as Bridge To Your Heart from Graham’s time in Wax with the late Andrew Gold and songs from film soundtracks including Animalympics, that led to the formation of Heart Full of Songs.

Heart Full of Songs shows also include tracks from Graham’s acclaimed solo albums, And Another Thing, Love And Work, Play Nicely And Share and 2020’s Modesty Forbids,.

Needless to say, for lovers of perfectly-crafted music performed by the composer, a Heart Full of Songs concert is truly an exquisite experience. As Graham always maintains, “a good song can always be performed acoustically”.

Graham’s more recent career highlights include being invited by Ringo Starr to join his All Starr Band for arena tours of Europe and the USA in 2018, during which the band played three 10cc songs at each performance. Graham described the experience as, “One of the most enjoyable things I’ve done”.

Meanwhile, the latest project to earn Graham a wealth of media coverage is his new song ‘Floating In Heaven’, which caught the attention of Queen’s Brian May, at a crucial time in the history of space exploration.

Brian, who has a passion for astronomy and a PhD in astrophysics, worked with Graham to release ‘Floating In Heaven’ as a single to mark the unveiling to the world of the first astonishing images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope on 12th July. The pair performed the song with a full orchestra at the sixth Starmus convention, held on 5th-10th September in Yerevan, Armenia.

‘Floating In Heaven’ is also the soundtrack for a YouTube video featuring the images, released by the Space Telescope Science Institute in the US. 

Stereo Mc’s formed in mid 80’s, inspired by electronic music and early HipHop. They pressed up their first 12” vinyl and started an independent record label called G Street Records which released many UK hip hop artists and signed US acts such as Jungle Brothers . Shortly after they signed to Island/4th and Broadway records and released their first LP and and toured extensively as a live act , garnering a reputation on multi tours and festivals . Their 3rd LP connected released in 1992 became a world wide hit and the song connected became a classic tune.

Winding on some time, in 2015 tired of the major record label bubble ,and a love of dance music they decided to go back to their roots and embark on a new label project and the label connected was born, at first as a vehicle for themselves to release music also to release other artists music, encompassing Afro House ,Deep House and Techno and all variations of those genres. With distribution through Kompakt records in Cologne the label has grown extensively in the last few years and is now on its 40th release.

Apart from still touring as a live band , and with numerous releases (including collaborations with Adam Port ,Anja Schneider and Terranova amongst others) Rob Birch and Nick Hallam also continue with their love of DJ ‘ing which is an essential part of the connected label, and special connected nights are a regular occurrence also featuring a variety of acts who release on the label , including David Mayer, Florian Busse, Nandu , Aaaron, Re.You and more.