Music

Reading & Leeds boss talks biggest-ever arena overhaul and “strength of UK and Irish music” on line-up: “We’re buzzing with ideas for the future”

• Festival undertakes its largest structural renovation with new creative leadership team overseeing design changes at both Reading and Leeds sites
• 2026 programming emphasises UK and Irish talent alongside international headliners, with newly designed performance spaces
• Event runs August 27-30 with location-exclusive artists and fresh venue concepts including The Grid, Gallery, and Ballroom

"I'm as excited about Reading & Leeds as I've ever been," said Melvin Benn, who also told NME what Charli XCX will bring to her headline show, teased a potential four full days of music in the years to come, and revealed the fate of Wireless Festival after…

Twin Temple Announce New Album Doomed Lovers: Hear The Title Track

• Twin Temple announced new album 'Doomed Lovers' (October 2026) following Charley Crockett dropping them from his tour over their Satanic imagery
• Jack White invited them to open his Hollywood Palladium shows instead, generating significant media attention
• The album was produced with orchestral arrangements and session musicians, exploring dark themes of destructive, eternal love

Over the past week, the LA act Twin Temple have gotten a whole lot more famous. The duo, comprised of married couple Alexandra and Zachary James, have a kitschy take on early-'60s pop music, which they combine with lyrics about Satanic blood orgies. After being booked to open…

Lily Seabird – “Portal To The Past”

• Lily Seabird releases 'Portal To The Past', a seven-minute alt-country single from her forthcoming album 'Lightspheres On Their Way'
• The track explores themes of memory and temporal perception, inspired by a vivid dream Seabird experienced whilst in New Orleans
• Album arrives physically 4 September and digitally 2 October via Lame-O Records

A seven-minute-long alt-country dirge, let's go. "Portal To The Past" is the newest single from Lily Seabird's highly anticipated upcoming album, Lightspheres On Their Way. Seabird's previous tracks — the non-album loosie "Demon In Me" and lead single "Election Day" — both made our lists of the best…

Pedro Pascal swaps action roles for cello in Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth trailer

• Pedro Pascal leads Tony Gilroy’s new music drama “Behemoth!”
• The trailer introduces a story about music, family and change
• David Harbour exited earlier before Pascal took the role

Searchlight Pictures has released the trailer for “Behemoth!”, a new drama written and directed by Tony Gilroy in which Pedro Pascal plays Alex Serian, a classically trained cellist returning to Los Angeles after 20 years on the road. The film centres on a family of musicians and appears…

Jess Williamson announces new album A Mile South of Heaven

• Jess Williamson’s new album arrives on 9 October.
• Lead single reflects her shifting feelings about Los Angeles.
• Album title centres on perspective and imperfect progress.

Texan singer-songwriter Jess Williamson has announced her new album, A Mile South of Heaven, which is due for release on 9 October via New West. The record follows her 2023 album Time Ain’t Accidental and was produced by Shooter Jennings at Sunset Sound in Hollywood. The announcement matters…

Iron Maiden sells stake in music rights to Pophouse

• Iron Maiden sold 50% of key rights to Pophouse
• Deal includes music rights and Eddie-related branding
• Partnership aims to fund films, experiences and digital projects

Iron Maiden have sold a 50% stake in their publishing and master rights, along with name, image and likeness rights, to Pophouse Entertainment, the investment firm co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus. The agreement also covers the band’s long-running mascot, Eddie, and is intended to help fund new creative…

4 Classic Rock Songs That Are So Bittersweet, Listening to Them Hurts and Feels Good All at Once

• Article examines four classic rock songs that blend joy and sadness into bittersweet emotional experiences
• Songs span decades but share themes of reflection, loss, and time's passage
• Musical sophistication allows rock tracks to convey nuanced emotions typically uncommon in the genre

NEW YORK - 1st DECEMBER: American musician Bob Seger performs live on stage at the New Fillmore East in New York in December 1974. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns) These bittersweet classic rock songs capture that unique blend of joy and sorrow that hurts and feels good all at…

Jay-Z Yankee Stadium concert security breach that caused huge delay caught on video

• Jay-Z's July 12 Yankee Stadium concert was delayed nearly 4 hours after individuals breached security turnstiles without proper screening
• Venue officials enforced a full stadium lockdown; NYPD and security prevented potential crowd dangers at entrances
• NYC Mayor pledged to investigate and called for improved venue security measures

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he is looking into the incident The post Jay-Z Yankee Stadium concert security breach that caused huge delay caught on video appeared first on NME.

Eartheater Releases New Album ‘Heavenly Body: If I’m The Bottle You’re The Message’

Sonic experimentalist Eartheater has shared new album ‘Heavenly Body: If I’m The Bottle You’re The Message’ in full. Out now, the record finds Eartheater – the alias of artist Alexandra Drewchin – musing on motherhood, femininity, and personal evolution. A striking, genre-less affair, her avant pop vision has…

Mick Jagger admits regret over Elvis Presley meeting he skipped

• Jagger regrets skipping a meeting with Elvis Presley
• He says John Lennon talked him out of it
• Presley died in 1977 before they ever met

Mick Jagger has admitted he regrets following John Lennon's advice not to arrange a meeting with Elvis Presley, calling the decision "really stupid" in hindsight. The reflection highlights a rare missed connection between two of rock music's most towering figures and shows how even the biggest stars could…