This Saturday, April 12th, marks the return of Record Store Day, a global celebration of independent record shops and the vinyl culture that has captivated music lovers for decades. Since its inception in 2008, Record Store Day has grown into a phenomenon that unites artists, fans, and record stores worldwide. It’s a day to honor the unique role these stores play in their communities, offering exclusive releases, live performances, and a chance to connect with fellow music enthusiasts.
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Photo Credit: Dylan Handley
TOUR: ALL THEM WITCHES announce 29 date 'House of Mirrors' tour across Europe, UK and North America
Today, All Them Witches, the Nashville-based hard rock quartet, announce their 29-date “House of Mirrors” tour across the EU, UK, and North America.
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RELEASE: Skunk Anansie are back with new record ‘The Painful Truth’ and a captivating single, 'Lost and Found'
British rock legends Skunk Anansie have made a triumphant return, announcing their forthcoming album, The Painful Truth, set to release on May 23rd, 2025 via FLG Records. Accompanying this exciting news is the drop of their brand-new single, Lost and Found, a soul-stirring track showcasing their signature fusion of beauty and drama.
Premiering on BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq Show, Lost and Found opens with Skin’s haunting vocals over a staccato piano motif, delivering a poignant message of loneliness and desperation. Directed by Skin, the visually stunning music video explores a duality of personalities, captured in reverse storytelling, making it as impactful as the song itself.
Skin reflects on the song: "We wanted to evoke the loneliness and desperation that can occur in a split second by one tiny mistake. Any of us at any time can lose the security built up over a lifetime whether it be via an accident, or a sudden twist of fate."
Skunk Anansie's eighth studio album The Painful Truth promises to be their most provocative and emotional project yet. A culmination of raw introspection and fresh ambition, the album features the standout single An Artist Is An Artist, and the euphoric Cheers. Produced by David Sitek (TV On The Radio), it captures the band’s rediscovery and creative resurgence.
The Painful Truth tracklisting
1. An Artist Is An Artist
2. This Is Not Your Life
3. Shame
4. Lost And Found
5. Cheers
6. Shoulda Been You
7. Animal
8. Fell In Love With A Girl
9. My Greatest Moment
10. Meltdown
Pre-order The Painful Truth HERE.
To celebrate the album’s release, the band will headline The Independent Newspaper Stage at The Great Escape Festival on May 16th, followed by a special album launch show near Bristol on May 23rd, with support from Republica. Summer will see Skunk Anansie supporting Smashing Pumpkins at UK shows in London (August 10th) and Colchester (August 14th).
Tickets for the album launch show
Skunk Anansie's return reaffirms their status as one of the UK's most vital and influential bands, blending bold creativity with a passion for addressing social and political issues through music. This summer, they are poised to remind the world why they’ve remained a tour de force for over three decades.
Visit Skunk Anansie's official website for tour details, album updates, and more.
Photo by Thibault Trillet
FEATURE: Summer Festival Spotlight: Godney Gathering, Beautiful Days, and All Points East
Summer in the UK is synonymous with music festivals, and this year promises an eclectic mix of sounds, vibes, and experiences. Here’s a closer look at three standout festivals: Godney Gathering, Beautiful Days, and All Points East.
Read MoreTOUR: The return of THE MACCABEES sees them announce a UK/Ireland tour, their first in 9 years....
CALLING AT DUBLIN, GLASGOW, MANCHESTER AND LONDON
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GIG LIFE RADIO 6 APRIL 2025 - Penfriend, Snapped Ankles, Hunny Buzz, Pale Blue Eyes, Billie Marten and many more....
This is the latest instalment of the GIG LIFE RADIO show which runs in conjunction with the GIG LIFE CRISIS group on Facebook.
The playlist was created with the aid of people from the GLC family who send in requests ahead of the show going out and we did receive a number of tracks that were included on the playlist so a massive thanks to all of you that suggested them.
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NEWS: With WYCHWOOD FESTIVAL tickets selling FAST, we suggest 9 acts for you to check out over the weekend
Wychwood Festival takes place at the Cheltenham Racecourse from 30th May - 1st June 2025 and as per previous years, we have delved deep into the lineup to suggest three acts from each of the days to check out. Whilst they’re not headliners, they are acts that we feel you will enjoy as you spend your time roaming around the festival.
Ready? here we go…
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Photo by Ludvig Hedenborg: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-white-photography-of-people-on-a-concert-20993079/
FEATURE: How old is too old? A debate on age and live music
In today's fast-paced live music scene—where the energy of youth often takes centre stage—a curious debate has emerged: When does the love for music risk being complicated by age?
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RELEASE/TOUR: KULA SHAKER announce new single and additional live dates
KULA SHAKER
Announce new single on 10th April
‘CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE’
to coincide with March/April/May UK Tour with OCS,
2025 looks set to be an electrifying year for the band
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NEWS/TOUR: HOT MILK announce new album, single and Spring headline tour....
HOT MILK - ALBUM 'CORPORATION P.O.P'
OUT 27TH JUNE 2025 ON MUSIC FOR NATIONS - PRE-ORDER HERE
NEW SINGLE 'SWALLOW THIS' OUT NOW
WATCH / LISTEN
SPRING HEADLINE TOUR IN THE UK AND USA
SUMMER FESTIVALS 2025
Live Review: Good Neighbours – Exeter Cavern 2/4/25
Tonight marked the official launch of Good Neighbours’ "Adolescence" tour—an audacious move for a band that is choosing intimacy over mass appeal. With the small, atmospheric Cavern in Exeter (220 capacity) as their starting point, Oli Fox and Scott Verrill, the London duo behind Good Neighbours, set out to remind us why live music still matters. The venue, nestled amidst a cluster of eateries and bars (where a beer plus vodka and coke comes in at an astonishingly reasonable £9.90), has hosted legends from Coldplay and Muse to Bastille and The 1975, yet tonight it was all about the sparkle of emerging talent.
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NEWS: JOHNNY MARR honoured as 'record store legend' ahead of Record Store Day 2025 on 12th April
PLAQUE UNVEILED AT PICCADILLY RECORDS, MANCHESTER, TO CELEBRATE
AHEAD OF THE RELEASE OF JOHNNY MARR’S EXCLUSIVE RECORD STORE DAY 2025 ALBUM RELEASE ‘LOOK OUT LIVE!’ ON ORANGE VINYL
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TOUR: BASTILLE to embark on a November to celebrate songs from the first fifteen years...
One of the UK’s biggest and best live acts, multi – platinum selling band, Bastille announce a huge UK arena tour in November 2025. “From All Sides” – Songs from the first 15 years is a celebration of the band’s career-spanning, multi-billion streaming records so far.
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Photo by Patrick : https://www.pexels.com/photo/tickets-text-on-yellow-wall-17527817/
FEATURE: The hidden costs of live music: Are booking fees justified?
Few things compare to the thrill of securing tickets to see your favourite band live. But just as you’re about to celebrate, the dreaded booking fee appears—an extra charge that often feels like an unnecessary burden. For many, it’s an unavoidable frustration, but what exactly are these fees, and why are they charged?
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LIVE REVIEW: Bristol hosts RITUAL UNION FESTIVAL 2025 - What a day!
Yippee, it's here again! A celebration of music hosted at a trio of Bristol independent venues (SWX, STRANGE BREW & SWX), I'm like a kid in a musical sweet shop. Let's go!
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Live Review: PRIMAL SCREAM raised the roof at The Beacon, Bristol – 31st March 2025
The Beacon in Bristol played host to an electrifying night of live music, headlined by the legendary Primal Scream, with support from Mozart Estate and Baxter Dury. The lineup was a carefully curated mix of eccentric pop, synth-infused rock, and the unmistakable swagger of one of Britain’s most enduring bands.
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Live Review: Skunk Anansie take over The Beacon, Bristol – 1st April 2025
Tonight, The Beacon, in the heart of Bristol played host to Skunk Anansie, a legendary band that been a mainstay on the UK ‘Brit Rock’ scene since 1994 (they disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009). The venue had sold out long before the gig, a sign that there is still much love for this unique band.
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TOUR: MARISA AND THE MOTHS are coming to a venue near YOU - Tickets available now....
MARISA AND THE MOTHS have released the video for their track Devil, taken from their second album What Doesn’t Kill You. The song portrays a story about falling in love again when you had previously convinced yourself that you wouldn’t in order to protect yourself from getting hurt. It is about being your own worst enemy and giving in to the temptation of a new love, even when you still don’t fully trust your own judgement after experiencing a life-altering and abusive relationship.
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FEATURE: All hail the return of THE SANDKINGS, one of the defining bands from the indie-pop era
After more than three decades, The Sandkings are set to make a triumphant return to the stage. With original members Dave Brown, Glenn Dodd, and Terry Kirkbride joined by new vocalist Vince Cocker, the band will perform at the Newhampton Arts Centre in Wolverhampton on August 2nd, 2025. This highly anticipated event promises to rekindle the magic of their music and bring their timeless sound to a new generation of fans, as well as us oldies that will no doubt be there, bobbing along to the music and stroking our beards in appreciation!
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Photo Credit - John Stead
LIVE REVIEW: THE WHO at London's Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust 2025
On the fourth night of the Teenage Cancer Trust’s 2025 concerts, London’s Royal Albert Hall bore witness to a performance brimming with history, heart, and raw rock power. The Who, led by the indefatigable Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, returned to the stage that has become synonymous with this charity’s legacy. And what a return it was.
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