Watch The Cult’s Billy Duffy join Johnny Marr to perform The Smiths’ ‘How Soon Is Now?’


The Cult’s Billy Duffy has joined Johnny Marr on stage to play tracks by The Smiths and Depeche Mode. Check out footage of the moment below.

The gig took place at the Cheese and Grain venue in Frome last night (August 16) as part of Johnny Marr’s latest run of solo gigs, and featured a number of tracks from across his discography, including solo tracks and classics by The Smiths.

Fans at last night’s show, however, were left surprised after the singer-songwriter and guitarist brought out The Cult’s Billy Duffy as a surprise guest for the evening.

The on-stage appearance is the latest of the multiple times the two musicians have joined forces, as they both have a long history of playing music together – stemming back to their adolescent years.

Meeting in Manchester during their childhood, Duffy was in an early incarnation of The Smiths with Morrissey and had also played guitar with Marr when the latter was just 12 years old. It was also through the three of them attending a Patti Smith gig in 1978 that Marr was introduced to Morrissey – leading to the formation of The Smiths.

Johnny Marr, 2023. CREDIT: Press

From then both Marr and Duffy have gone on to record and play live numerous times, including recording their own version of the Ennio Morricone spaghetti western theme tune ‘The Good, The Bad And The Ugly’, which was recorded in 1992.

At the surprise appearance in Frome last night, the two collaborated for a performance of one of The Smiths’ most famous tracks, ‘How Soon Is Now?’. Before this, however, Marr introduced The Cult guitarist to the stage with a joint cover of Depeche Mode’s 1993 hit, ‘I Feel You’.

After the set, Marr took to his Instagram to share an image of them both on stage, writing in the caption: “Thanks to my friend Billy Duffy for joining us tonight in Frome. It was rockin alright. Nice one Billy.”

Additionally, Duffy also expressed his happiness to be on stage with Marr again in a new statement (via press). “Always a pleasure to get up [on the] stage with my oldest pal and throw a few shapes, just like we dreamed in 1975,” he began.

“It was great to hang out and I hope to throw something a little different into the mix….plus I get to enjoy the rest of John’s show.”

Check out fan-captured footage of the show below.

 

This is the second time that the former Smiths guitarist has been joined on stage for a performance of one of the band’s songs. Earlier this month, Gaz Coombes joined him to play classic track ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’ at Lakefest 2023.

Up next, Marr is set to continue his run of live solo performances with a slot at The Student’s Union in Plymouth tonight (August 17). Tomorrow, he will also make an appearance at this year’s edition of the Beautiful Days festival, held at Escot Park.

As for Duffy, later this year, the singer-songwriter and guitarist is set to rejoin forces with Ian Astbury to tour the UK, Ireland and US as part of their band Death Cult.

The live shows were announced earlier this week (August 14), and the project is an early incarnation of The Cult. Kicking off in November with a gig in Belfast, the tour will see the two play the same small clubs that they played in when first beginning their careers.

It will also celebrate 40 years since they first formed, focus on their eponymous EPs, and “boast a setlist that spans the three phases of the band, from Southern Death Cult, to Death Cult, and The Cult’s first two albums: ‘Dreamtime’ (1984) and ‘Love’ (1985).”





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"The Beauty of Alaska": Sacred Acre Festival Hopes to Spark Environmental Change and Connection

If you had the opportunity to expand your knowledge of sustainability practices while getting down to some genre-bending bass music in the Alaskan wilderness, would you?

Well, you actually can. The environmentally-focused bass festival Sacred Acre will make its grand return to Ninilchik’s Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds from September 8-10, and it’s set to be one of the country’s biggest festival sends. Alaska isn’t necessarily easy to get to, but the experience itself will lend a platform for attendees to physically connect and stay educated on the active destruction of the ocean’s ecosystems while being immersed in a serene 40 acres of beautiful wooded forest.

Which makes the location of Sacred Acre that much more powerful. Located on the Cook Inlet off of the Gulf of Alaska, the festival will place attendees in arguably one of the most breathtaking environments in the United States, which has been home to indigenous and native people for thousands of years.

With the rapidly increasing demand for seafood, the area is facing real-time detrimental effects from trawling, which is set to trickle down and impact the rest of the world’s ecosystems in due time.

“The inspiration behind Sacred Acre comes from the beauty of Alaska,” Sacred Acre founder Chris Miller tells EDM.com. “The name needed to have a good cause, so the protection of the barren sea and the wilderness of Alaska was at the forefront. The name ‘Sacred Acre’ comes from a story from Ivo Dominguez Jr., where he wrote of the space between low and high tides. This space was referred to as the ‘sacred acre.’ It’s the water that truly makes this space unique and pure magic.”

The Turnagain Arm highway to Sacred Acre.

Ian Esk Merculieff

“Trawling is a huge issue in Alaska. We are watching the destruction in real-time,” explained Sacred Acre’s assistant director, Hannah Stearns. “The fishing numbers are declining and the native people are being tremendously affected. The numbers of crab, halibut and salmon everywhere in the state are plummeting.”

The method of trawling—dragging a football-sized net behind the boat catching everything in its path, including marine mammals—nobody understands unless you’re here and see it,” Stearns continued. “We want to bring the conversation to the forefront of the lower 48 [states]. Knowledge is power and the more that people know what’s going on the greater the change we can make. The goal is to come together as a community with genuine passion and energy.”

To help bring awareness to this harmful practice, attendees will be able to take action onsite by listening to Alaskan native speakers, watching trawling films and mini-documentaries and scanning QR codes throughout the grounds to sign petitions that directly impact Alaskan communities. Additionally, Sacred Acre will enact a no-plastic policy, with drinks sold in steel tumbler cups and vendors using disposable ware.

“We have a ‘clean ocean ethos’ at Sacred Acre,” Miller says. “We can’t be wasteful inside the festival. We limit our attendance to only a couple of thousand so we can better control our waste.”

Along with educating the estimated 3,000 attendees about the disastrous effects of trawling while connecting to the natural world around them, Sacred Acre hopes to further facilitate the connection through the power of dance music. They’ll do so by virtue of the festival’s formidable lineup and the largest visually stunning laser and digital art stage displays ever showcased in Alaska.

“We don’t hold back at all—we want to give Alaska the best experience,” Miller said.

The three-day festival will feature headlining performances by rising bass music superstar Of The Trees, multi-instrumentalist Boogie T and two sets by electro-soul virtuoso Daily Bread—one as his main moniker and another as his throwback alias Cloud Conductor. Other artists poised to perform include Manic Focus, The Widdler, KOAN Sound, Maddy O’Neal and Marvel Years, among others.

Sacred Acre 2023 artist lineup.

Sacred Acre

As if that weren’t enough, Sacred Acre will also offer an assortment of non-music activities and adventurous excursions unique to Alaska, such as native plant foraging, underwater spearfishing, glacier helicopter tours and fly fishing. Attendees can also ground themselves with the native land around them at the Stillwater Reflection Center, where sound healing, breath work, cacao ceremonies and yoga will be held throughout the weekend.

“We want everyone to feel connected and mindful at Sacred Acre,” Stearns said. “The goal is to stay moving within the same goal and share a ‘hive mind’ to make a difference. We want people to come out with a fuller cup and feel genuine care and support, knowing that the power of music can influence change.”

Various Sacred Acre ticket, camping and shuttle packages are available here. 

FOLLOW SACRED ACRE:

Facebook: facebook.com/sacredacrealaska/
Twitter: twitter.com/sacredacreak
Instagram: instagram.com/sacredacreak/
Website: sacredacreak.com/





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Court rules in favour of ex-LOONA idol Chuu in contract lawsuit


A Seoul court has reportedly ruled in favour of former LOONA member Chuu in her contract lawsuit against Blockberry Creative.

Today (August 17), several South Korean news outlets reported that the 23-year-old idol has won her lawsuit against the K-pop agency over her exclusive contract. Chuu had initially filed for a provisional injunction to suspend her contract with Blockberry in January 2022, which was accepted by the court.

The 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Northern District Court has now officially nullified her contract with the agency. “I confirm that the exclusive contract signed between the Plaintiff (Chuu) and the Defendant (Blockberry) in December 2017 is invalid,” said the presiding judge per Star News. Blockberry Creative has also reportedly been ordered to bear the costs of the lawsuit.

Neither Chuu nor Blockberry Creative has commented on the court’s ruling.

Following Chuu’s initial provisional injunction, the singer did not join LOONA on their first world tour that year, though the agency cited scheduling conflicts at the time. Blockberry later removed Chuu from the girl group in November 2022, accusing the idol of using “violent language and misuse of power” and claiming that she had violated terms of her exclusive contract. In a statement on Instagram in response, the singer said she had not “done anything shameful”.

After Chuu’s firing, the other 11 members of LOONA filed to suspend their own contracts with Blockberry Creative in the following months, and have since succeeded. Members Heejin, Haseul, Kim Lip, Jinsoul and Choerry are now under Modhaus, headed by former LOONA creative director Jaden Jeong, and have been releasing music under the ARTMS project.

Meanwhile, Hyunjin, Yeojin, Vivi, Gowon and Hyeju (previously known as Olivia Hye) with signed with new agency CTEDM, also founded by a former Blockberry director, and are preparing to debut as a new group, Loossemble. Member Yves has yet to sign with a new agency.





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Mashd N Kutcher's Matt James Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

Founding Mashd N Kutcher member Matt James has announced he’s been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. 

Multiple myeloma results from an overgrowth of plasma cells in the bone marrow, which can crowd out normal blood-forming cells and lead to low blood counts, according to the American Cancer Society. This can cause anemia, a shortage of red blood cells.

James, who launched the Mashd N Kutcher project over a decade ago in 2012, took to social media to reveal his diagnosis and ongoing treatment.

“This was unexpected as I was otherwise healthy, however it has spread throughout my body causing multiple breaks in my arms, ribs, and more,” James writes. “Over the immediate months we will hit this from every angle with chemotherapy and extensive treatment ahead.”

Despite James’ health issues, Mashd N Kutcher will continue to tour. The group is heading over to Asia towards the end of the month to perform a number of headlining shows before returning to Australia in September for more performances. New music, James said, is also on the way.

“In summary, the road ahead is challenging but I’m very fortunate to have an amazing support network of family, close friends and colleagues, right now I’m physically weak but mentally strong, and I’ll be giving this everything I’ve got,” he added.

View the original article to see embedded media.

Follow Mashd N Kutcher:

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Ed Sheeran says he won’t lead a Super Bowl Halftime performance


Ed Sheeran has said that he won’t be headlining a Super Bowl Halftime performance on his own.

  • READ MORE: Ed Sheeran – ‘Subtract’ review: his troubled times laid bare

Speaking to Andy Cohen for radio network SiriusXM, Sheeran was asked if he would ever want to perform at the Super Bowl. Sheeran said: “There was a conversation awhile ago, I think it was when Coldplay did it – of me going on to play ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and I think that would be the only way I would do it is if I were joining someone else.”

“I think it’s an American thing. I don’t have pizazz,” Sheeran explained.

Watch a snippet of the interview below.

Ed Sheeran went on to point out past grand performances from Prince, Michael Jackson, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and The Weeknd as the standard for these shows.

“Like, all of these amazing performers — I’m just not that. I’m not gonna have dancers on stage. I’m not gonna have fireworks and blah blah. I just can’t, that’s not me,” he continued. “I don’t think that anyone wants to see me do the Super Bowl either.”

After joking that he could wear sparkles to give him that “pizazz”, Sheeran reiterated that he would only do it as a guest.

A performer for the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show has yet to be announced. This year’s Halftime show was helmed by Rihanna.

Rihanna’s performance at this year’s Super Bowl game is officially the most-watched halftime show of all time. In early May, the news was confirmed by Rihanna’s label Roc Nation.

For her set – her first performance in five years – Rihanna put on a career-spanning performance saw her play hits such as ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’, ‘Where Have You Been’, ‘Rude Boy’, ‘Work’, ‘All Of The Lights’, ‘Run This Town’, ‘Umbrella’ and ‘Diamonds’.





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Reill Drops Catchy Dance Pop Single “Happy For You”


With over 500 million streams to her credit, RIELL is no stranger to the limelight. Having toured in more than three international circuits spanning continents, and collaborated with industry giants such as Blasterjaxx, Excision, The FatRat, Besomorph, and Neoni, her journey is a testament to her unparalleled talent and drive.

She’s working on a hotly anticipated 18 track album and leading into it, has unveiled a glistening dance pop single “Happy For You”. With its upbeat rhythm, this song finds the perfect balance between a raw edge and a catchy pop vibe. It’s like a cool fusion of pop and rock, designed to get stuck in your head on purpose.

Check it out below!



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Rooftop Reverie: Inside Enamour’s Return to Elsewhere

Soaking in sunshine and live music on a rooftop is a quintessential summer experience in New York—and one Brooklyn hotspot Elsewhere curates best.

Earlier this month, Enamour took to Elsewhere for a stellar sunset performance on a breezy Saturday evening. The LA-based producer is no stranger to the Brooklyn venue, having played the main space in 2022 and the rooftop in 2019.

Enamour performs at the Elsewhere rooftop

Suvranil Ghosh

While Elsewhere may not boast the skyline views and plush decor of upscale Manhattan rooftops, it prides itself in cultivating community and drawing crowds craving music over glitz. 

Friendly, welcoming staff, wonderful seasonal drinks (like this summer’s spicy watermelon frozen margarita and yuzu hard seltzer), an intimate dancefloor devoid of tables or VIP sections, and affordable events are all part of the Elsewhere experience. Enamour’s show, among other recent events, was free for members of the Elsewhere community Discord.

Doors for Enamour’s return to Elsewhere opened at 3pm to the sounds of corinne. Formerly a Dance Music Editor at Spotify, she now juggles A&R for Chris Lake’s venerated Black Book Records imprint with DJing across New York’s most popular dance music venues, like Superior Ingredients and Public Records.

Jeanette Sopher

Having curated some of Spotify’s biggest dance-focused editorial playlists like Housewerk and Deep House Relax, her knack for selecting gems across the house music spectrum was palpable in her performance at Elsewhere. Fitting the moment, her set was filled with soulful cuts like Birds of Mind’s trumpeting “No Time For Tears” by and “L.I.F.E” by &ME, a fresh Keinemusik release.

Jeanette Sopher

corinne was followed by New York-based, Lebanese DJ duo alko. Bridging Beiruti rhythms with organic house, alko strives to bring a taste of their heritage to slow-burning dance music. At Elsewhere, they kept the crowd grooving with deep, hypnotic soundscapes under the hazy Saturday sky.

Jeanette Sopher

It’s difficult to pigeonhole Enamour’s style. From euphoric, vocal-driven anthems on Anjunadeep to hypnotic house on Get Physical and driving techno on Desert Hearts Black, the breadth of the labels he’s released on underscore his versatile sound.

His sets are equally expansive, bespoke for each setting and occasion. At Elsewhere, he dialed the energy up, dishing out high-octane tracks for two and a half hours like “Feel for Race” by Space Food and “Intelligence” by Rafael Cerato and Pavel Petrov.

His original songs were the highlight of the set. “Body Test,” Enamour’s acid-inspired release on RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Rose Avenue Records, was a peak moment as day turned into night. But of course, Enamour saved the best for last, treating the crowd to his rousing remix of RY X’s “A Thousand Knives” towards the tail of the show.

Suvranil Ghosh





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Coldplay are being sued by former manager Dave Holmes over contractual dispute


Coldplay’s former manager Dave Holmes is suing the band over a contractual dispute.

As reported by Variety, all four members of the multiplatinum-selling British rock band – made up of frontman Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion, are all being sued by their former manager, according to legal documents recently filed in the UK.

A representative for Coldplay confirmed to the publication that the band and manager parted ways a year ago after working together for 22 years. They are now being managed by a team comprised of Phil Harvey, Mandi Frost and Arlene Moon, all who have worked alongside them and Holmes for years.

The representative declined to comment further, though sources told the outlet that the lawsuit is a contractual dispute. Additional information is not available as the legal documents for the case have yet to be made public.

Coldplay was formed in 1997 after meeting as student at the University College of London. They signed to Parlophone in 1999 when the label was owned by EMI. After Universal Music Group purchased EMI in 2012, it was forced to shed some labels after the European Commission ordered the company to sell various subsidiaries.

The label was then acquired by Warner Music Group. Coldplay’s first release on the label was 2014’s Ghost Stories, the album that produced ‘Magic’ and ‘A Sky Full of Stars’.

Coldplay is one of the best-selling music acts ever, selling over 100 million albums worldwide. They also have three of the top 50 best-selling albums in the UK and nine Number One albums in the same country.

In other news, the band recently added more shows to their upcoming European tour, set to kick off in summer 2024.

Featuring stops across Europe – including dates in Italy, France, Germany, Austria and more – Martin and co. have now added seven additional dates to the 2024 ‘Music Of The Spheres’ tour.

The ‘Music Of The Spheres’ tour is currently the band’s greenest run of live shows to date. This comes as it was reported by Massachusetts Institute of Technology that it has, so far, produced 47% less carbon emissions than their previous stadium tour in 2016/17.

In a five-star review of their London gig, NME praised the members for their ability to deliver a captivating set, alongside “a focus on sustainability and inclusivity”.

“The songs performed here see the band strip things back, injecting the larger-than-life show with a moment of closeness,” it read. “It’s a joyful spectacle; a masterclass in how a massive pop show can be done. The band seem genuinely thrilled at the reaction, too.”





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Heckler & Dabow Remix Dirty Audio & Bobby Blakdout’s Hit “Bands ft. Gucci Mane”


Renowned producers Dirty Audio and Bobby Blakdout have joined forces to deliver a powerful Trap/Bass remix of their hit track “Bands,” featuring the Gucci Mane. With the added creativity of Hekler and Dabow, the chart-topping original has been transformed into an electrifying and ground-shaking rendition that is set to take the music world by storm.

Hekler and Dabow, both acclaimed in their own right, have masterfully reimagined “Bands,” infusing it with their signature styles and unique soundscapes. The remix boasts an aggressive blend of trap and bass elements that provide a thrilling listening experience, pushing the boundaries of the genre to new heights. From the moment the beat drops, the track commands attention with its bone-rattling drops and infectious energy.

Check it out below!



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Outside Lands' SOMA Tent Closes Twice for Repairs, Reopens as "Open-Air House Party"

Outside Lands’ popular SOMA Tent was reportedly reopened as an “open-air house party” over the weekend after shutting down to address structural issues and safety. 

Attendees were forced to evacuate on two separate occasions on Friday and Saturday so team members could address “a necessary repair” after the festival sent out a notification via an app,” the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Outside Lands has not provided an official statement addressing the issue, but Los Angeles-based artist Justin Jay, who was set to perform at the SOMA Tent on August 11th, took to social media to claim that the “floor gave in.”

Rising DJ Disco Lines, the last artist to perform inside the venue, echoed Jay’s sentiments, saying “we literally broke the stage.”

View the original article to see embedded media.

The repairs were addressed and SOMA Tent was reopened the next day for a few hours, but then closed again “out of an abundance of caution.”

“The stage just absolutely folded,” an attendee told the Chronicle. “There were a few people, probably, with some sprained ankles, but we all just kind of funneled our way out.”

After the unexpected delays and reshuffling, SOMA was ultimately repurposed as an outdoor stage for Outside Lands’ final day.

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Twitter: twitter.com/sfoutsidelands
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