Lady Gaga has announced first-ever UK tour
The pop artiste, Lady Gaga is embarking on her first UK tour from 10th February to 10th March, showcasing her inimitable style of music at a host of venues across the UK including Brighton, Bournemouth, Aberdeen, Manchester, Belfast, Liverpool, London, Glasgow, Cardiff, Newcastle, Birmingham, Sheffield and Nottingham.
Following the phenomenal success of her debut album, The Fame, Lady Gaga’s driving pop has captured the imagination of the novelty satiated British public like no-one else this year. For an audience who thought they had seen it all, it’s only just begun – Lady Gaga has reinvented pop music and created an image that’s stylish, slick and sometimes downright scary.
With an arty and flamboyant performance influenced by the likes of David Bowie and Freddy Mercury (her stage name stems from the Queen song Radio Gaga), la Gaga’s formidable talents also include songwriting. She started her career writing for Akon who was responsible for persuading Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine to sign her for a joint deal with Akon’s Kon Live Distribution label.
Since that time, Lady Gaga’s electronic brand of music has topped the Billboard charts in the US with the singles, Just Dance and Poker Face becoming worldwide number one hits. She has now sold over 20 million singles and more than four million albums worldwide. Intensely fashionable, intelligent and controversial, this is the kind of concert that will go down in the annals of history and you should be there.
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Gary Numan
Calling all Numanoids – the “godfather of electronic music”, Gary Numan is back to perform in a mini tour in cities including Edinburgh, Norwich, Cardiff, Brighton and Manchester.
Gary Numan’s songs like Cars and Are Friends Electric are still as fresh today as they were in the late 70s and 80s but the king of electro-pop is still evolving as an artist and songwriter, writing new tracks that combine industrial and electronic with rock guitar.
Numan has always inspired strong loyalties in his followers who supported him through a hiatus in the 80s and 90s and called themselves Numanoids, reflecting Numan’s own slightly alien and otherworldly persona created by his flamboyant sense of style and make-up. Now, however Numan is back on planet earth with a host of bands and artists like Jarvis Cocker, Damon Albarn and Matt Sharp, David Bowie, Marilyn Manson and Noel Fielding queuing up to cite him as a major influence in contemporary music.
Composing songs from the age of 15, Numan rose to prominence with Tubeway Army. New wave oriented tracks included Down in the Park which didn’t reach the charts but became one of his most frequently covered songs, featuring in moves like Times Square. In 1979, the single, Are Friends Electric? climbed to number one after seven weeks in the charts and an album, Replicas followed suit. When Cars also peaked at number on in the UK and in the US, Numan set off on a schedule of sell-out tours.
Recent chart successes with Rip and Crazier mean that he is back in vogue and back on tour. But he is also an evolving performer who is not content to ride of the back of nostalgia. Recent projects like the highly successful Replica and Telekon tours have seen him performing classic albums in their entirety thus celebrating the works themselves rather than trotting out hit singles. In doing so he’s gone a long way to shedding the 80s pop star label and has established himself as Gary Numan, musician and performer.
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Deep Purple
Deep Purple rank as the pioneers of heavy metal rock around since the very beginning of the progressive rock era and once listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s loudest band. They’re now performing a tour across continental Europe and various venues in the UK.
The band has gone through many incarnations and line-ups, but the present one of Ian Gillan of the screaming vocals, Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Steve Morse and Don Airey has been described as earth-shattering. Still able to command huge audiences drawn from the older generation of rockers, many of whom have seen Deep Purple perform over and over again, Deep Purple has also captured a new base of younger fans seduced by iconic classics like Smoke on the Water, Fireball and Speed King.
Guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, arguably Deep Purple’s most famous member left the band in 1975 but since then, remaining band members have successfully reinvented themselves and continue to provide spine-tingling, powerful rock with a new funkiness brought by replacement Steve Morse.
Following a punishing schedule of tours, the band launched a new album in 2005; the fourth since the departure of Blackmore. Rapture of the Deep that marks a new era and has been described as Deep Purple’s best album ever surpassing even Machine Head, full of dark melancholia, melodies that move and riff-driven rock.
As a celebration of Deep Purple’s past and the band present these concerts can’t be missed – get ready for the ‘Rapture.’
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Basement Jaxx
As NME music magazine said; “… we can confidently say that there’s still no-one who throws a party quite like the Jaxx.”
If you haven’t experienced a Basement Jaxx concert, do it now. The two deceptively normal looking guys from Brixton Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Burton are taking to stages across the UK to choreograph and conjure up their customary carnival of events mutating across genres of house music, breakbeat, dance, two step, regga, samba, soul, jazz, punk and rave and conjuring up exotic dancers, guest vocalists, extravagant costumes in the chaotic frenzy that defines a Basement Jaxx show.
The duo got together in Brixton in 1994 where they famously held a nightclub called Rooty which later became the name of their second album. The 1999 album Remedy was critically acclaimed, featuring singles Red Alert and Rendezvous, but it was with the release of Rooty and tracks like Romeo that the duo became a huge international success. The single Where’s Your Head At from Rooty, was subsequently included on the Tombraider soundtrack. The 2003 album, Kish Kash received recognition at the Grammy Awards and with impressive singles like the fast-paced Good luck belted out by Bellray’s Lisa Vennum-Kakaula plus mixes like Justin Timberlake’s Like I Love You and She Wants to Move by N.E.R.D., firmly tucked under their belt, the Jaxx became a British institution appealing across generations.
With their latest album including guest appearances by Yoko Ono and Yo! Majesty, it’s fair to say that the duo never fails to surprise and entrance. A live performance from Basement Jaxx, as their legendary headlining act at Glastonbury demonstrated in 2005, is something never to be forgotten.
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Depeche Mode
Tickets are on sale now for kings of electronics, Depeche Mode who are performing in a UK tour.
Depeche Mode has been described as Britain’s largest cult band but they can still sell out arenas. With bands like Radiohead, Linkin Park and The Pet Shop Boys citing them as major influences on their music, the line-up of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher have emerged from the 80s as one of the most influential bands of the era.
And they still can pack quite a punch. Widely credited with introducing the concept of sampling and industrial sound, Depeche Mode’s music is popular with the current generation of DJs as mixes. Their musical style has come a long way from the electro beat of Just Can’t Get Enough which peaked at number eight in the singles charts. Material has become darker and moodier and more atmospheric, lyricism focuses on political and social issues and heavy metal elements have inspired artist like Marilyn Manson’s to create their own version of hits like Personal Jesus.
Depeche Mode songs seem to take on a meaning for many. People Are People was adopted as an anthem for the LGBT community and is played at gay pride festivals everywhere. More recently the band has become associated with the gothic subculture, seduced by the serious and dark tone in many of the ballads.
With the release of their new acclaimed album, Sounds of the Universe in 2009, Depeche Mode are on top form and still at the height of fashion. Take the opportunity to see this iconic band who never fail to fascinate.
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Katherine Jenkins
Tickets are now on release for concerts showcasing one of the best-selling artists of the decade.
With global sales of more than 3 million, the celebrated mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins has more or less conquered the world at the age of 29. Not only content with being as sweet as a kitten, she’s also talented, beautiful and brilliant.
So how do you become an international star, the fastest selling mezzo-soprano of all time and 13th richest young person in music in Britain? It all sounds so easy on paper. Having won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music at the University of London, at the age of 17, Katherine also studied Italian, German, French and Russian (as you do) and graduated with honours. A spell working as a freelance teacher and model for hair and make-up followed before she was made The Face of Wales in 2000. And as if that wasn’t enough, she then proceeded to land an album deal with Universal Classics & Jazz worth a reputed £1million.
Since then she has brought a new meaning to classical and pop crossover, performing at the Rugby World Cup in 2003 in her Sydney Opera house debut and achieving 8 weeks at the top of the classical charts with her 2004 debut album Première, repeated by her follow-up album, Second Nature. As a result, she broke all records as the first British classical artist to have two number one albums in the same year.
Katherine is proud of her Welsh antecedents and is now the official mascot for the Wales rugby union team. She’s has plenty of pluck too. In 2005 when she headed off to entertain troops in Iraq at the suggestion of Vera Lynne, the helicopter was targeted by a missile attack and had to be flown back to the base.
Her songs range from arias, popular songs, hymns and a mix of vibrant classical and surprising pop, with the 2007 album, Rejoice containing two songs written by Take That’s Gary Barlow. Her voice excels in her most requested song by Puccini – O mio babbino caro and her Italian version of Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You which went to numbers 1,2 and 3 in the classical music charts, is full of vocal acrobatics.
A concert with Katherine Jenkins will always be a riveting experience with a stunning repertoire that’s as varied and interesting as it is beautiful. So make sure you get your tickets well in advance and there’ll be something to look forward to in 2010.
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Dizzee Rascal
He may be Bonkers but the British rapper, songwriter and record producer has got his head firmly screwed on when it comes to getting to the top.
Tickets are now available for his tour of venues in the UK when you can catch the Rascally rapper at locations including Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Manchester to name but a few.
Born Dylan Kwabena Mills and of Ghanaian descent, the Rascal has got top marks for his critically acclaimed Maths + English album. This follows on from the runaway success of his debut album Boy in da Corner for which he received a Mercury Prize in 2003, becoming the youngest artist to receive such an honour.
With music that can be defined by garage and hip hop beats influenced by heavy metal, drum and bass, grime and ragga, the Rascal has said that he draws inspiration for his beats from “ringtones, video games and staticky pirate radio sounds.”
His performances are famously frenetic using asymmetrical beats and quick-fire rapping about problems facing the young in 21st century Britain; I Luv U, his breakthrough single tells the story of an unwanted pregnancy at the age of 16 and manages to be both humorous and disturbing. With his recent singles, Dance Wiv Me and Bonkers, shooting to the top of the singles charts in the UK, prospects are looking good for his studio album Tongue “N” Cheek due to be released in September.
“Everything I do is for the music – I want to master it like Bruce Lee mastered martial arts,” he says. He’s well on the way, don’t miss out on the chance to watch him arrive.
Hawkwind
Veteran space-rockers, Hawkwind are launching a series of concerts appearing at various venues across the UK including Newcastle, Wolverhampton and London.
The band first impressed the late radio 1 DJ John Peel when they turned up for a local talent night in Notting Hill. Their 1970s self-named debut album put them on the underground map and gained them many bookings, if little commercial success. After a gig at The Roundhouse in 1972, the live album Greaser Truckers Party was released, featuring the single Silver Machine with dancers and mime artist. It later got to number 3 in the UK charts. A second album In Search of Space in 1971, introduced the Hawklog booklet which developed into the Space Ritual stage show and gave the band their ethos and identity.
The band formerly reunited at a reunion event at Brixton Academy in 2000 called Hawkestra, when about 20 members took part. With bands like The Sex Pistols and Joy Division citing Hawkwind as influences on their music, this classic concert is essential for psych rockers and space travellers. Hawkwind’s famous wall of sound, created by synthesisers, guitars and sequencers is guaranteed to lift you off the planet.
Franz Ferdinand
After winning and being nominated for a host of awards including the Ivor Novello, BRITS, Mercury Awards and Grammy, the Scottish Rock band composed of Alex Kapranos (vocals, guitar), Bob Hardy (bass), Nick McCarthy (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Paul Thomson (drums, percussion and backing vocals) are back on tour.
Recent appearances at Reading, Glastonbury and Radio 1’s Big Weekend had the crowds begging for more and with a back catalogue of groundbreaking singles like Take Me Out, Ulysses and The Dark of the Matinee, the band’s track record in the album charts at home and in the US is impressive.
Franz Ferdinand’s first eponymous album was described by NME as the best album of 2004 – praise indeed from the magazine that sets the benchmark. Recent album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand is as at home in the club culture as in the world of indie rock and as front man Alex Kapranos himself says; “The last record was…like a teenager having sex. This one’s a bit more assured and a bit friendlier for the dance floor.”
Performed live, the songs have a hint of slightly camp sauciness with glamorous, sexy vocals provided by Alex Kapranos and a touch of art school bohemianism. It’s hard to beat the excitement and build up of the intro to Take Me Out and other songs are equally addictive and catchy. So psych yourself for “a night of hedonism” – there’s no other way to describe a performance of Franz Ferdinand.
Jonas Brothers
Teen idols, the Jonas Brothers will be setting hearts alight in a series of concerts taking place across Birmingham, Newcastle, London and Manchester. The UK dates are intertwined with a further hectic schedule of international performances taking in France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Ireland.
Winning over audiences of all ages, but proving to be especially appealing to young girls and their mothers, the US pop trio, Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas gained a huge following after their appearances on the Disney Channel children’s network and have now have sold an amazing eight million albums worldwide.
The youngest member of the band, Nick Jonas began performing on Broadway at the tender age of 7 and recruited his brothers to the band after they started composing songs together and began to excel in writing and performing catchy or romantic pop-rock and sing-along anthems.
When their album, It’s About Time in August 2006 was limited to a release of 50,000 copies, it subsequently commanded prices of up to $200-$300 on eBay. Performances at the White Hall followed with a set at the American Music Awards and frequent appearances on shows on the Disney Channel like Hannah Montana and Me and Mr Jonas and Mr Jonas and Mr Jonas. In 2008 the brothers were given starring roles in the Disney Channel Movie, Camp Rock when the soundtrack reached number 3 on the Billboard charts. Four album releases later, they were nominated for the Best New Artist award at the Grammys.
Known for their clean living and wholesome family image, the brothers have pledged to remain virgins until they get married which made them the butt (literally!) of some rather more unwholesome jokes by Russell Brand when he introduced the MTV Video Music Awards in 2008, for which he later had to apologise.
Tickets are hot and the concerts are guaranteed to be a sell-out so it would be advisable to buy as soon as possible and get ready to scream your heart out at a high energy, top-quality show.
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