News Round-Up: Blur, Kendrick Lamar and more

Graham Coxon performing solo (Photo: Andy Crossland for Live4ever)

You’re in the right place if you’ve missed any of the week’s top news stories – here Live4ever’s News Round-Up presents a recap of the biggest and best headlines we featured during the last seven days…

In the current climate of live music’s shutdown, the prospect of any gig is one to get all whimsical about. But in a current climate which is also still firmly wedded in nineties nostalgia, the prospect of more Blur gigs in the future is one which will make the pining for its return even stronger.

Well, Damon Albarn has opened the door wide open for it to happen, telling Music Week that he, ‘can’t wait to sing Parklife again’. “I love doing those gigs, they’re great, but it’s not something I need to do. I only do it because there’s a joy in doing it.”

The Smashing Pumpkins have detailed their first studio album since 2018.

The band reintroduced themselves in a strangely synth mood right at the end of last month with the Cyr and The Colour Of Love singles, and it’s the former which has proved to be the title-track for a 20-song double LP which will be released on November 27th.

slowthai has unveiled another new track, this one a collaboration with James Blake and Mount Kimbie written in Los Angeles earlier this year.

“This song is about the doubts we have whether it be within friendships, your partner or with our family,” slowthai says. “It’s about putting yourself in the other person’s shoes so you have a better understanding of the situation.”

Kendrick Lamar @ Leeds Festival 2015 (Gary Mather / Live4ever)

Kendrick Lamar @ Leeds Festival (Gary Mather / Live4ever)

Open’er Festival organisers have confirmed they’ve secured Kendrick Lamar for 2021 after his headline appearance this year was cancelled, along with the festival in its entirety, due to coronavirus restrictions.

Lamar will be back when the Polish event returns between July 1st- 4th, while Twenty One Pilots, A$AP Rocky, Thom Yorke, Yungblud and The Chemical Brothers are some of the others who’ve signed up for next year.

Sunflower Bean have released their first new music of the year.

After 2019’s King of the Dudes EP followed up the previous year’s full length Twentytwo In Blue – one of Live4ever favourite albums of 2018 – the trio spent time with producer Dave Bassett whilst recording Moment In The Sun, a track about, ‘finally recognizing what is important in one’s life, the people you decide to spend it with’.

Marika Hackman will present a collection of covers self-produced during lockdown on November 13th.

Simply called Covers, the album is set to offer Hackman’s takes on tracks from the likes of Radiohead, Elliott Smith, Air and Beyonce, while her version of Grimes‘ Realiti has been picked to spearhead the announcement.