Music

Lil Uzi Vert misses Lollapalooza birthday set but joins Major Lazer and shares surprise EP

• Weather cancelled Lil Uzi Vert's Lollapalooza birthday set.
• They still crashed Major Lazer's set to perform live.
• Surprise EP "Almost Forever" released to mark their birthday.

Lil Uzi Vert had their planned Lollapalooza set cancelled due to severe weather, missing what would have been a headline-worthy performance on their 31st birthday. Despite the setback, the Philadelphia rapper made an unannounced appearance at the Chicago festival and marked the occasion by surprise-releasing a new EP,…

“They just carry you along with the absurdity”: The 1967 psychedelic song Sting crowned the peak of the genre

• Sting calls ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ psychedelia’s defining song.
• He praised its organ, atmosphere and surreal lyrics.
• The 1967 single topped the UK chart for six weeks.

Sting has identified Procol Harum’s 1967 single ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ as the song that best captures the psychedelic era. He said its mixture of classical-sounding organ, modern psychedelia and deliberately elusive lyrics draws listeners in, making it an enduring example of the genre. The musician recalled…

Pitchfork Festival London Adds More Names for 2026

• Pitchfork Festival London announces second wave of 2026 artists
• Panda Bear & Sonic Boom join the Avalanches' Roundhouse headline show
• Festival runs 2-8 November across multiple London venues

Pitchfork Festival London has revealed a second wave of artists for its 2026 edition, running from 2-8 November across various venues in the city. New additions include Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, who will join the Avalanches at their headlining Roundhouse show alongside a DJ set from Arushi…

5 of the Best Country Songs Turning 50 This Year

• Five country songs from 1976 are marking their 50th anniversary this year, ranging from novelty numbers to romantic ballads
• The tracks, by artists including Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, and Merle Haggard, achieved significant chart success and remain culturally resonant
• The songs showcase the stylistic diversity of 1970s country music, blending traditional and contemporary production approaches

American country and western singer and musician Johnny Cash (1932 - 2003) performs on stage at the Painters Mill Music Far in Owing Mills, Maryland, September 29, 1977. He is strumming a guitar and standing in front of a microphone. Bassist Marshall Grant (1928 - 2011) of Cashs…

Multiple people injured following crowd “stampede” at London music event

• Crowd crush at London's Ghana Party In The Park injured multiple people
• Fire sparked gate closures, then a surge when reopened
• 23 needed medical help; three hospitalised, none life-threatening

Multiple people were injured after a crowd "stampede" broke out at the Ghana Party In The Park festival in Barnet, London, forcing organisers and police to end the event early on Saturday 1 August 2026. The Met Police said a small fire led to the venue's gates being…

10 Forgotten Fantasy Books That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

• Collider article celebrates overlooked fantasy novels that have retained or gained literary merit despite limited modern readership
• Examples span decades and authors: Sheri S. Tepper's trilogy conclusion, Ursula K. Le Guin's standalone YA novel, and Robert Asprin's comedic fantasy series
• Argues these 'forgotten' works deserve wider recognition among contemporary fantasy readers

Collider writer Diego Pineda Pacheco has compiled a list of ten fantasy novels he considers unfairly overlooked, arguing that while many classic fantasy works receive the recognition they deserve, others of equal quality have slipped from public attention despite ageing well. The piece spans both celebrated authors and…

AI and Protecting a Celebrity’s voice through Trademark

• Celebrities are trademarking their voices and catchphrases to fight AI cloning
• Taylor Swift, Lionel Richie and Backstreet Boys follow McConaughey's lead
• Federal trademark status could enable faster takedowns of AI deepfakes

A growing number of celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Lionel Richie and the Backstreet Boys, are filing trademark applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office to protect the sound of their voices and signature catchphrases, following Matthew McConaughey's pioneering registrations from 2023. The strategy is a response to…

3 Acoustic Songs From the 1970s With Melodies That Still Echo Decades Later

American Songwriter has put together a short list highlighting three acoustic songs from the 1970s whose melodies, according to the outlet, remain memorable and influential decades on. The feature celebrates the stripped-back, mellower quality of acoustic music compared with more bombastic rock, and singles out tracks the writer…

Check out David Byrne’s ‘Biking Playlist’

• David Byrne shares new cycling-themed playlist while on tour
• Playlist features Olivia Rodrigo, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers and more
• Byrne reflects on shifting boundaries between mainstream and alternative pop

David Byrne, former Talking Heads frontman, has released a new "Biking Playlist" as part of his ongoing David Byrne Radio series, accompanying it with reflections on how the boundaries of pop music continue to shift. The playlist, featuring artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers and Sofia Isella,…