One of the greatest things about festivals is the sheer variety of acts on offer. Most organisers try to cater for all tastes, and there’s usually everything from rock to pop and hip-hop to jazz. Some festivals even offer comedy, film and avant-garde performance art. While the headliners are undoubtedly the main draw at most large UK festivals, there’s something refreshing about spending a little bit of time each day at the smaller stages checking out some fresh new acts. As is often the case, an artist can be opening the new bands tent at a festival one year only to be headlining the main stage the following year, and there are always plenty of surprises to be found on the smaller stages. […] Read more »

Now preparing for his upcoming album Between and a supporting North American tour, U.K. synthpop act Frankmusik released new single “Chasing Shadows,” with the video out on May 13.

In a statement about the track, the artist born Vincent Frank revealed he came up with the song’s title in 2007, envisioning it as an EP but having no substance beyond it at this point. However, he goes onto reveal: “I liked the concept of the title but I didn't find myself in a place where I could write anything relatable in my life at the time to the imagery it conveyed. Not until February this year. Being back home and away from many distractions I guess I woke up a little to the world around me and it didn't look as pretty as I liked to think it was. Not in a waterfalls and rainbows sense, but on a human level; a personal level. […] Read more »

Electronic dance music, otherwise known as EDM, experienced a huge popularity surge in the United States over the past two years, and one act at the forefront, with hit singles and massive touring schedules, has been the Bingo Players, a duo from the Netherlands.

Since 2011, the production duo of Paul Baümer and Maarten Hoogstraten has created tracks that have topped or placed highly on the Beatport, U.K., and European charts. Now, in an effort to continue this streak, they released “Buzzcut” last week, through new online channel THUMP.

An electro house track, “Buzzcut” is notable for its inclusion of Melanie Iglesias in its video. In it, Iglesias is seduced by a raver, giving new meaning to the visual element of electronic music.[…] Read more »

At one point, Lily Allen, who scored multiple hits and released two albums in the aughts, announced her retirement, favoring motherhood over a music career. Instead, however, she revealed earlier this year she intended to get back into music. Over the past week, The Mirror caught up with the “Smile” star at the Ivor Novello awards, where she attended as a guest, and learned more details about Allen’s upcoming third album.

Although taking care of two children, Ethel and Marnie, Allen admitted during the interview that full-time motherhood has not been for her. She explained: "Five years ago, what I really wanted to do was have kids and I’ve had two kids now. As much as I love that, I’m never going to be the type of person who sits at home all day playing with plastic toys and watching Peppa Pig. I'm actually writing my third album at the moment. […] Read more »

Cody Simpson has seen his career soar, and as he’s readying his sophomore album, an autobiography is in the works and due later this year.

At the end of last week, news of Surfers Paradise broke, with the announcement revealing a July 16 release date. Nevertheless, that’s not the first taste fans have gotten of the Australian teen-pop singer’s sophomore effort. So far, first single “Pretty Brown Eyes” already dropped, while a video for song “Awake All Night” debuted on YouTube.

In a statement about the album, the pop star revealed he felt more confident recording this time around. Simpson told the press: "Surfers Paradise is basically the most famous area on the Gold Coast of Australia, where I am from. […] Read more »

The United States has just been getting used to Cher Lloyd, the U.K. X Factor contestant who saw her profile rise with song “Want U Back” on this side of the pond. Part of keeping that momentum is doing multiple collaborations, she recently revealed in an interview with HuffPost Teen, including with Ne-Yo and Demi Lovato.

Considering the Disney star an artist she respects, Lloyd raps on “Really Don’t Care,” a track on Lovato’s latest, Demi. Lloyd has a release of her own in the works, a follow-up to debut Sticks + Stones. While, she explained, first albums are often for experimentation, she feels surer of herself this time around: “But I feel like the second album, to me, is exactly what I wanted to do. […] Read more »