Kenny Rogers delivers final farewell with Lionel Richie-penned Goodbye

Picture: FilmMagic

Kenny Rogers, who sadly passed away last month, delivers a final farewell in the emotional track “Goodbye,” a newly-rediscovered track which was written by icon Lionel Richie.

The ballad was one of the last songs Rogers recorded during a brief tenure with Capitol Records — and before now was only available on a greatest-hits collection, Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years.

Following his death, executives at the label found the track and decided to send it to country radio making it a fitting tribute to a true country legend.

The Country Music Hall of Fame member who sold over 100 million records topped the charts with hits such as “Lady” which was also penned by Lionel Richie.

Callaghan forced to cancel London and rest of April UK tour

A statement from Callaghan read as follows:

“Following the consistent official advice that it’s best to avoid gathering in groups Callaghan’s April UK shows have now been cancelled.

With the added uncertainties of international travel Callaghan’s US shows in May and June are also being cancelled.

If you have purchased a ticket please contact your ticket provider for a refund.”

Al Di Meola releases new album Across The Universe this March

World-renowned guitar hero Al Di Meola welcomes a new decade with an ambitious follow-up to his 2013 studio recording All Your Life: A Tribute to the Beatles with a sophomore homage to the Beatles, entitled Across The Universe, due out on earMUSIC on March 13, 2020.

Al Di Meola’s exquisite mastery of the fretboard is equal only to his appreciation of the Beatles’ legacy that has inspired generations of both musicians and music fans with their famed recording catalog. A retrospective of Al Di Meola’s nearly 50-year acclaimed career expressed through his virtuosic arrangements of 14 Beatles songs, Across The Universe journeys alongside one of America’s foremost guitarists as he revisits classic hits and more obscure tunes written by the ingenious Fab Four who have helped define the man he is today.

Adding to his lauded recording collection of more than 30 solo albums and numerous acclaimed collaborations with the likes of Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Stanley Clarke, Paco De Lucia and many others, Across The Universe is yet another masterpiece showcasing Al Di Meola’s fascination with complex rhythmic syncopation combined with provocative lyrical melodies and intricate harmonies. Beatles fans, guitar-heads, and music lovers alike can expect the unexpected upon venturing into the world put forth by Across The Universe. To commemorate the singular life of John Lennon, Al Di Meola reenacts the famous Lennon cover for his 1975 solo album Rock ‘n’ Roll for the artwork for Across The Universe.

Al Di Meola is a living legend celebrated for pioneering a unique style of impeccable guitar technique combined with a sophisticated global musical language that’s captured the hearts of audiences across the world. A GRAMMY Award-winner, he’s garnered three gold albums while selling more than six million albums in worldwide sales. His collaborations with artists such as Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Page, Santana, Steve Winwood, Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa, Luciano Pavarotti, and others have elevated Al Di Meola to become a household name. Traversing divinely across multiple genres including flamenco, Latin, fusion, jazz, rock, and world music, Al Di Meola is a vivacious tour de force always redefining the boundaries of what’s possible on a six-stringed instrument. Across The Universe is no different than his most decorated recordings with his arsenal of a large ensemble bringing creative reinterpretations of Beatles songs to astounding heights.

“I really credit the Beatles for the reason why I play guitar... That was a major catalyst for me to want to learn music, so their impact was pretty strong.”

— Al Di Meola

Al Di Meola employs a wide lens on Across The Universe with lightening-speed electric guitar orchestrations balanced with lavish acoustic arrangements. The debut single Strawberry Fields Forever from Across The Universe (released January 17) is a fiery electric guitar fuelled stunner backed by a red-hot rock band. Epic rock ‘n’ roll covers are sprinkled throughout the album, including the visionary take on the album opener Here Comes The Sun, as well as a riveting Hey Jude and Golden Slumbers Medley. Al Di Meola’s acoustic fingerpicking soars on Dear Prudence and Norwegian Wood, while he ventures to a jazz fusion aesthetic on Till There Was You.

Across The Universe simmers to a diverse set of mid-tempo grooves on Mother Nature’s Son, Yesterday, Your Mother Should Know, I’ll Follow The Sun, and Julia. Al Di Meola features a lovely solo performance on Here, There And Everywhere. Across The Universe finishes with a short, but very sweet melodic version of Octopus’s Garden.

Across The Universe will be released as a CD Digipak, 2LP and Digital on March 13, 2020 on earMUSIC.

Al Di Meola - Across The Universe

Track Listing

1. Here Comes The Sun

2. Golden Slumbers Medley

3. Dear Prudence

4. Norwegian Wood

5. Mother Nature’s Son

6. Strawberry Fields Forever

7. Yesterday

8. Your Mother Should Know

9. Hey Jude

10. I'll Follow The Sun

11. Julia

12. Till There Was You

13. Here, There And Everywhere

14. Octopus's Garden

Elton John announces third and final Farewell Yellow Brick Road Manchester Arena date

Elton John has today announced he will play Manchester Arena on 12th December as part of his epic Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. The date will be the final UK Arena show to be added to the 2020 tour routing.

The tour is currently in Australasia, where it will be seen by more than 700,000 people. In total the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour has already been seen by more than 2.5 million people since starting in September 2018, with total ticket sales set to exceed the 3 million mark in 2020.

Tickets for the newly announced Manchester Arena date will go on general sale on Friday 28th February at 10am

The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour kicked off in the U.S. in September 2018, and has been greeted with a wealth of praise from critics and fans alike. The three year tour will consist of more than 350 shows across five continents, hitting North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australasia before reaching its conclusion in 2021. These dates mark the superstar’s last-ever tour and the end of half a century on the road for one of pop culture’s most enduring performers. Elton’s new stage production takes his fans on a musical and highly visual journey spanning a 50-year career of hits like no one has ever seen before.

2020 has already seen the epic fantasy musical motion picture of his life 'Rocketman' awarded an Oscar for Best Original Song, two Golden Globes for Best Actor and Best Original Song and four nominations at the BAFTAs. The critically acclaimed movie has also been a box office smash taking close to $200m at the box office office. Watch Elton’s stunning performance of the movie’s original song ‘(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again’ from the 2020 Oscars Ceremony here. Elton’s autobiography ‘Me’ was also released in October 2019, and has already topped the New York Times Bestsellers list, selling close to a million copies in the process. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history.

Praise for the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour, May 2019:

“Rocket Man reaches the stars on his last ever trip” – The Guardian 

***** (Five Stars)

“Perhaps the greatest showman of our times” - Daily Telegraph

***** (Five Stars)

“The show of his life”  - The Times

***** (Five Stars)

“An indefatigable showman”  - Daily Mail

***** (Five Stars)

“Couldn’t be going out on a higher high” - Attitude

***** (Five Stars)

“When Elton John plays a greatest hits set, they really are hits, they really are great, and they stay played” - Metro

***** (Five Stars)

 “If you had to play an alien being just one example of an exuberant, joyous, generous pop music, you could make a great case for it being this” - The Face

Herbie Hancock heads out on 2020 European Summer tour

Herbie Hancock has confirmed the first dates on his upcoming tour of Europe.

There are few artists in the music industry who have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B than Herbie Hancock. As the immortal Miles Davis said in his autobiography:

Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven’t heard anybody yet who has come after him.“

Hancock pioneered a ground-breaking sound in Jazz, developing new approaches on his own recordings, followed by his work in the 70s – with record-breaking albums like “Headhunters“, that combined electric jazz with funk and rock in an innovative style.

Now in the sixth decade of his professional life, and celebrating his 80th birthday in 2020, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: at the forefront of culture, technology, business and music. Though one can’t track exactly where he will go next, he is sure to leave his inimitable imprint wherever he lands.

Throughout his explorations, he has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice. With an illustrious career spanning six decades and 14 Grammy Awards, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe.

More dates will be announced shortly.

Special guests announced for Callaghan’s St Pancras Old Church show

Callaghan has announced Holloway Road will be joining her as special guests when she performs in London on Wednesday 22 April.

Holloway Road - Jack Cooper & Rob Gulston - are one of the most exciting new international duos in country-pop music. With over a million total streams for their independently released music to date, the band has shared stages with the likes of Lauren Alaina and The Shires among others, as well as numerous major festival appearances including C2C The Long Road Festival.

With growing support from fans worldwide and three top 5 EPs to date, success in a growing country scene increasingly looks like an inevitable part of the Holloway Road story.

The duo are back in the studio and working on new music, with their latest single ‘My Love’ out now.

Sarah Darling: Winning the hearts and souls of UK Country fans

Photo: Andy Teo

Written by Sahar Summer Bayer

Tonight its Nashville meets London as Sarah Darling makes a sweet entrance, accompanied by her sweet vocals. A magical evening that ends in a starry night both in the Chapel and above as the stars glisten.

Performing at the Union Chapel ,an undoubtedly fitting venue ,Darling manages to win our hearts and souls while also heightening sentiments of Christmas cheer and togetherness during this holiday season. Sarah performed an array of her old and new songs as well as classic and timely Christmas songs to celebrate the winter season.Having recently released her highly anticipated 5th studio album with with pop and folk undertones ,‘Wonderland’, the show began with Call Me. Her promising album has achieved much acclaim rising to the UK Country charts to reach number 1, alongside two British Country Music Award nominations for ‘International Touring Artist of the Year’ and ‘International Album’. This reinforces Darling’s position as a global country star. Her album would therefore make a lovely addition to someone’s stocking!

She had several guests throughout the evening such as Jamie Lawson who did a goosebump-worthy rendition of Cohen’s Hallelujah. This was followed by a performance by The Wandering Hearts, enriched in gorgeous harmony, as she introduces them as her 'Americana Dream'. From the band, Lizzie and Catherine joined Sarah for a take on Joni Mitchell’s River and The Dixie Chicks version of Landslide. The trio clearly have great stage presence and chemistry so it would be great to see them continue to perform and write together.

Darling’s songs are soaked with vivid imagery and have the ability to evoke powerful and heart-wrenching emotions, as Darling mentions “from heartbreak to loss” and reassuring that “feelings are much like waves and they go if they want to.” The chapel evidently added an ethereal and magical flair. Darling ended her show with London Fog before serenading us into a trance with an acapella of Silent Night. She was met with deserving applause and a standing ovation. Understandably so, as her music and performances are so elegant and have a lullaby quality - so effortless and dreamy, wonderfully encapsulating the spirit of Christmas. A Winter Wonderland indeed.

International-superstar Lionel Richie announces 2020 European tour

International superstar Lionel Richie has announced a string of European dates for his Hello Tour in 2020. The dates will see Richie headline at 10 festivals throughout Europe next summer. Kicking off on the 4th June in Wrexham in the UK, the tour will consist of more than 24 shows across Europe, hitting Germany, Sweden, Norway, Portugal and Denmark with further dates set to be announced before Christmas.

“I’m really looking forward to heading back to Europe next summer, the crowds are some of the best in the world and I can’t wait to get back over there to see you all!”

— Lionel Richie

Performing an array of international hits from his extensive and much loved five decade-spanning repertoire, Richie’s shows are world-renowned for their party atmosphere. Fans will be able to join Lionel in singing along to classics such as “Endless Love”,“Truly,” “All Night Long”, “Stuck on You,” “Hello,” “Say You, Say Me” and “Dancing on the Ceiling,”

This past summer, Richie took fans on a spectacular musical journey with his new album, Hello from Las Vegas, featuring live recordings of all his mega-hits. The album, which was released on August 16 was #1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart. Fans across Europe/UK will now have a chance to hear all of Lionel’s renowned hits live throughout the 2020 tour.