The Libertines by Ed Cooke
New album announcements from The Libertines and Kevin Abstract were among last week’s biggest headlines.
The Libertines have announced the details of their new studio album All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade.
After the last decade’s reunion brought the 2015 LP Anthems For Doomed Youth, this long-awaited follow-up is being previewed first by Run Run Run; a single Carl Barat has said is about, ‘being trapped, and trying to escape your dismal life, a bit like the man in Bukowski’s Post Office’.
“Our first record was born out of panic, and disbelief that we were actually allowed to be in a studio; the second was born of total strife and misery; the third was born of complexity; this one feels like we were all actually in the same place, at the same speed, and we really connected,” he added.
SXSW organisers have confirmed the first wave of artists for next year’s festival.
Dry Cleaning will be making the return to Austin, while some other confirmed acts include Hinds, Bodega and Coach Party.
Live4ever’s coverage from the 2023 edition of South By is ongoing, our interview with Saloon Dion and the main feature with Warmduscher are online now.
Ed Sheeran has been unveiled as the first headliner for next year’s edition of Rock In Rio Lisbon.
“Looking back and seeing Rock in Rio’s journey since arriving in Portugal in 2004, how much the festival and the market have evolved, the challenges we’ve overcome, the legacy we’ve already left behind, all the people we’ve made a mark on and the projects we’ve created and supported over the years that would allow us to help transform lives, that’s what makes it worthwhile,” Roberta Medina, Vice President of Brand Reputation at Rock World said.
“And that’s what we want to celebrate, with all those who made these 20 years possible. Since it’s not every day that you turn 20, we’re going to do what we do best, party! Having Ed Sheeran back at the City of Rock, we couldn’t have a better start! This will undoubtedly be a historic edition.”
Kevin Abstract by Lucas Creighton
Kevin Abstract has confirmed the details of his new album Blanket.
“I wanted to make, like, a Sunny Day Real Estate, Nirvana, Modest Mouse type of record,” he said, “but I wanted it to hit like a rap album.”
His follow-up to 2019’s Arizona Baby, it’s the first since Brockhampton entered an indefinite hiatus upon the release of The Family just under a year ago.
The Boxer Rebellion have shared their first new song in five years.
“This is a song about love and having the perfect partner, when your relationship is in its infancy and there’s a constant adrenaline with butterflies in the stomach – the anticipation of what could be,” Nathan Nicholson has said of Powdered Sugar. “I just wanted to try and capture some of that feeling of optimism in the lyrics.”
Coming off the back of a UK and European tour, it follows the band’s 2018 album Ghost Alive.
Marika Hackman has set her fourth studio album Big Sigh for release on January 12th, 2024.
Heralded by the No Caffeine track last month, the LP’s announcement has arrived with another single, Hanging:
“Hanging is reflecting on a difficult past relationship and how you can trap yourself in a situation where you’re unable to grow into the next stage of your life. The line ‘yeah you were a part of me, I’m so relieved it hurts’ is describing how painful it still is to break up even if it’s not right.”
