Weekly News Round-Up: The Libertines, Richard Ashcroft and more

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

Pete Doherty and Carl Barat performing with The Libertines (Photo: Gary Mather for Live4ever Media)

The Libertines are getting started on their fourth album with work on their new hotel/studio facility in Margate, England now close to completion.

Inspired by the insular studio habits of The Beatles and The Monkees, The Libertines’ dream of having their own personal recording space took a big stride forward in September 2017 when they were handed the keys to the venue in Margate, and they are now aiming to release the follow-up to Anthems For Doomed Youth this summer.

The War On Drugs, and Fleet Foxes are the names at the top of another cracking looking Green Man bill.

The two headliners immediately lead John Grant, Grizzly Bear and Public Service Broadcasting with Green Man all set for the Brecon Beacons in Wales in mid-August.

A host of new names have joined The National‘s headlining day at All Points East in May.

The National already have The War On Drugs, Future Islands, Warpaint and The Districts safe on their bill for Victoria Park in London on Saturday, June 2nd, and now Cat Power, Public Service Broadcasting, Broken Social Scene, Spoon, Amber Run, This Is The Kit and Rostam have all signed up too.

It was way back in August 2017 when Noel Gallagher was on his Instagram account teasing the promo for It’s A Beautiful World. Now, finally, the video has been premiered.

The official unveiling of the second single taken from last year’s Who Built The Moon? is relaunching Gallagher’s campaign behind his latest solo album, which has been a strangely quiet affair since the social media whirlwind prompted by lead track Holy Mountain and the LP’s subsequent debut at number on the UK charts in November.

Reverend & The Makers will be accompanied by string, brass and a gospel choir for two special UK gigs in March.

“We are really excited to bring our songs to fans in an intimate setting and present them in a way that they have never been heard before and possibly never will again,” frontman Jon McClure reflects. “It’s definitely going to be very special.”

Richard Ashcroft plays the Albert Hall in Manchester, May 2016. (Photo: Gary Mather for Live4ever Media)

Richard Ashcroft has been confirmed as the main support for Liam Gallagher‘s outdoor Irish gigs in June.

The Verve frontman will be backing his long-time friend at Malahide Castle in Dublin on June 15th and the Belsonic event in Belfast on June 16th. Also on the bill is Louis Berry.

Pulled Apart By Horses will be playing their hometown when the latest Live At Leeds festival is held on May 5th.

The Leeds band are among the more than 45 new names confirmed for the event, as are Ash and The Magic Gang. “We haven’t played LAL for a few years now and it’s been going from strength to strength since we last appeared on the bill,” they say.

Mark E Smith, whose acerbic tongue, total disdain for commercialism and above all talent for writing some of British music’s best post-punk alternative anthems made him a cult hero in the truest sense, has died at the age of 60.

The Fall frontman remained the only constant through his band’s near-four decade career, the revolving door of musicians becoming famous since the release of debut album Live At The Witch Trials in 1979.

Elton John has announced his intention to retire from music after the conclusion of an epic world tour which will begin later this year and not come to an end until 2021.

“My priorities have changed in my life,” John explained at a press conference in New York City yesterday. “My priorities now are my children, my husband, my family. I thought the time is right to say thank you to my fans and say goodbye.”

Cabbage have announced their debut album Nihilistic Glamour Shots.

Following a string of singles and EPs which have put the group right at the forefront of a new wave of socially conscious bands with plenty to say for themselves, the maiden LP is due for release on March 30th and was recorded with James Skelly and Rich Turvey at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool.