Tag:

touring

The Cult announce hiatus from touring to record and "recharge our spiritual batteries"
Music

The Cult announce hiatus from touring to record and “recharge our spiritual batteries”

by jummy84
written by jummy84

The Cult has announced a hiatus from touring after concluding their current North American tour, which is due to finish on October 30 in Los Angeles.

  • READ MORE: Ian Astbury talks the resurgence of goth, David Bowie’s legacy and The Cult’s “renaissance”

Sharing the news on Instagram, the band said that they’d be taking a long break from touring to focus on other creative endeavours, but promised fans that it does not mark the end.

“Mother Nature has a cycle of change and evolution that is inevitable,” the statement began. “The moon’s phases change, tides rise and fall. Change is necessary for creation and rebirth. It is with this in mind that, following the remaining dates on our current North American The Cult/Death Cult 8525 Tour, we have decided to step away from touring for an undetermined amount of time.

“We have toured extensively over the last few years and we shall now shift our focus to writing, recording new music, and exploring other projects that shall be revealed over time. It is a time for us to turn inward to recharge our spiritual batteries.”

The band confirmed that they will be performing their final remaining shows, which will take them up to October 30.

“When we return to the stage, it shall be with an even stronger fire and energy that we will share with all of you,” the statement said. “Ours is a communal bond, and it will not be broken, simply paused. Until then, we have five remaining shows on this current tour, culminating at The Shrine in Los Angeles on Oct 30. Please join us for what has been an incredible celebration of 40 years of The Cult and Death Cult.”

 

 

 

The band formed as Death Cult in 1983, but then shortened their name to The Cult in 1984. Since their inception, The Cult have released 11 albums, with their most recent one being 2022’s ‘Under The Midnight Sun’.

Last year, the band’s frontman Ian Astbury spoke to NME about the recent resurgence of goth in pop culture – which sees “women picking up the swords and leading the way” – as well as how the band are looking to challenge the perception of being “a heritage act”.

Speaking about the future of The Cult, and his relationship with guitarist Billy Duffy, Astbury said:“What does the future look like? No idea, it’s chaos right now. It’s absolute anarchy. The plan is to have no plan. The plan is to be intuitive and act in response to the moment. Career? What’s a career? Plans? There are no plans. Things are changing too rapidly. I have no plans, I’m just impulsive. Whatever hits me, it’s just how quickly we can turn things around.”

He added: “The Cult is its own animal. It’s a multi-headed hydra. Billy [Duffy, guitarist] has a very strong, tactile, pragmatic, Mancunian side to him, and he holds ground. He grounds me because I’m just like lightning, I’ll be all over the place.”

The news of The Cult’s performing hiatus comes after they were announced as one of the first wave acts billed for the newly-launched Forever Now Festival, set to take place in June 2026 in Milton Keynes. They were billed next to the likes of  Kraftwerk, Johnny Marr, and The The. 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Barry Can't Swim's 'Loner' Is a Classic Touring Album » PopMatters
Music

Barry Can’t Swim’s ‘Loner’ Is a Classic Touring Album » PopMatters

by jummy84
written by jummy84

For all the excitement of a new artist, the music industry can be pretty unforgiving. For every artist burning brightly after a long and successful career, there lie the dying embers of thousands. That’s arguably especially true of electronic artists. The rewards are there: high-profile festival sets, big-name collaborations, and major awards. However, one false step can just as easily consign them to regional student nights for years to come. For British electronic artist Barry Can’t Swim, the stakes could not be higher. 

After the initial buzz of his early EPs, Barry Can’t Swim (aka Joshua Spence Mainnie) served notice of his talent on his debut, When Will We Land? It saw him shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Prize and garnered critical acclaim across the music press. His ascent must have been dizzying. From appearing low on festival bills just four short years ago, he has suddenly been elevated to headliner at renowned British festivals such as Forwards and All Points East. A rare feat for someone with just one record and a handful of EPs under his belt. That was even before the world heard what he was cooking up on his new album Loner.

Loner is a snapshot of what happens when an artist suddenly gets shot into the stratosphere. It sees Mainnie take stock of where he finds himself and ask himself what kind of artist he wants to be. The answer is to distance himself from any sense of expectation and make something authentic. Something representative of him as a person and as an artist. With the general chaos of touring and gigging, it would be forgivable to release something, anything, to keep up the momentum. Thankfully, Loner is something different. It reaches the highest heights without compromising its artistic integrity. 

“The Person You’d Like to Be” features his friend and poet Seamus. It’s a disconcerting and powerful opening with Seamus’ Scottish burr framed by blaring, car alarm synths. Initially, it feels wonderfully abstract, but over time, seemingly throwaway lines take on almost devastating significance. Lines such as the revealing “Can you sit down with me for a moment, please? / Can you hold my hand / I am frightened” reveal an emotional depth that few electronic artists manage to achieve.

The track encapsulates the record’s overarching theme of separating the artist from the person, with both coexisting and apart, yet often coming into conflict. “Different” is the first certified banger. Opening with quick-fire breakbeats, it soon launches into orbit with a whirling, climbing bass line like a rocket tearing away from the launch pad. However, the genius comes with the dynamic shift as it idles into more ambient territory before firing up again. 

“Kimpton” perfectly encapsulates why his rise has been so rapid—the piano breaks, the perfectly chosen vocal samples, the warm, evocative synths. There is something beautifully familiar yet fresh about it. Featuring his friend, O’Flynn, it could just as easily come from Bonobo‘s incredible Fragments album. “All My Friends” plays like an update from Moby‘s ubiquitous Play. Coming from a similar place, he mines soulful, vocal samples and blends them with smooth electronics that make it sound both hopeful and mournful at the same time. It builds to an almost transcendent drop, designed to overcome misty-eyed festivalgoers everywhere.

Barry Can’t Swim follows it with probably the finest one-two combination you’ll hear on an electronic album this year. The pumping acid techno of “About to Begin” should be the dance soundtrack for Gen Z. It flies out of the traps with eagle-eyed precision as he channels a host of 1990s rave influences. “Still Riding” is the kind of anthem that a host of his peers would kill for. It’s a confident and bold statement as he marries a Kali Uchis vocal sample with dextrous and fluid synths before somehow finding the perfect moment to carry the listener home on a blissful wave. It would be difficult for any artist to maintain that kind of quality, which makes the subsequent slight dip all the more understandable. 

“Cars Pass by Like Childhood Sweethearts” is probably the safest song. All the signature elements are in place—the glistening piano, the neo-soul, and female vocal samples—but it doesn’t quite connect in the same way. The same could be said of a lot of the rest of Loner. “Machine Noise For a Quiet Daydream” sees the return of Seamus, who again spins his ambiguous poetry over 1990s-influenced house.

However, it plays like an inferior retread of the opening track, struggling to match its emotional depth. The shuffling “Like It’s Part of the Dance” is much more effective. Percussive claps give way to soulful vocals before rolling synths take it to its euphoric conclusion. The build, the drop, and the undeniable sense of fun have already made it a live favorite.

“Childhood” feels a little formulaic in comparison. The surging horn swells are a welcome addition, but the whole thing follows a well-trodden path. It’s too smooth, and it’s begging to be taken in a more unexpected direction. It’s one of the tracks that needs someone to come in and rough up the edges and force open the cracks.

The same could be said of “Marriage”, which seems a little lost, as if it could end up anywhere but ultimately arrives at the most apparent point, despite the addition of big drums and swelling strings. Thankfully, “Wandering Mt. Moon” concludes the record on a sublime note, thanks to the gliding strings. Taking its inspiration from Bollywood soundtracks, it’s the kind of tune that could soundtrack bold, expansive camera shots of nature. 

Loner feels like a classic touring album. There are moments of genius where all his influences meld together perfectly, but then there are moments that feel a little rushed; a sure sign that a record has been crafted on the road. Next, perhaps he should consider some of the remixes of songs from this album. Have faith in taking things in an unexpected direction or scuffing up the edges. For now, Loner will see him continue his rapid ascent and, in turn, cement his status as one of the most exciting new talents in dance music. 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
'Touring Is Not Good For My Health', Zakir Khan Announced To Take A Break Due To Health Concerns
Bollywood

‘Touring Is Not Good For My Health’, Zakir Khan Announced To Take A Break Due To Health Concerns

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Famous comedian and social media influencer Zakir Khan is immensely loved by the audience. People love to see and hear him again and again. But now he has given such news, which has shocked the fans. He has announced that he is taking a break from his tour and stage. He has given this information on social media. He has also revealed the reason behind his decision.

Zakir Khan

Let us tell you that Zakir Khan shared a ‘health update’ on his official Instagram handle and said that his health has been affected badly due to continuous stage shows and busy schedule. He was feeling unwell for more than a year, but kept working due to professional commitments. He wrote on social media, ‘I have been touring for the last 10 years. Although I feel very lucky to receive your love and affection, but touring so much is neither good for me nor for health.’

Zakir Khan’s Post

Zakir further said, ‘Trying to satisfy everyone you meet, 2-3 shows a day, sleepless nights, early morning flights and yes, no time-table for food. I have been ill for a year, but I had to work because it was necessary at that time.’ Zakir admitted that he likes performing live, but now his health will have to be given priority over his busy tour schedule.

Zakir Khan

He further said, ‘I like being on stage, but now I have to take a break. I mean I don’t feel like it. Actually, I was postponing it for a year, but now it seems that I should take care of it before things get out of hand. So this time I will tour limited cities in India. I will not be able to do many shows and after making this special record, I have been advised to take a long break.’

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Lambrini Girls’ Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez to “take a step back from live shows” due to “seek medical help” on severe impact of touring with disabilities
Music

Lambrini Girls’ Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez to “take a step back from live shows” due to “seek medical help” on severe impact of touring with disabilities

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Lambrini Girls bassist Selin Macieira-Boşgelmez has announced that she is taking “a step back from live shows”.

  • READ MORE: Lambrini Girls are all bark and tons of bite

The band are set to embark on a US tour later this month and a 19-date trek across the UK and Europe starting on November 19 at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town.

But Macieira in a lengthy post on her Instagram page, has announced she will not be part of the US tour and Big Girl’s Kaitlin Pelkey will be filling in for her.

“Hello. I want to talk about something quite personal, partially because of my violent need to be deeply understood by those in my life, partially in order to be transparent about touring with disabilities in hopes to raise awareness, in hopes, that people in my position can relate and feel less alone,” she began before adding: “And also because I’ve never understood, nor had the desire to understand, the taboo of being very personal with strangers.”

She continued: “Being in this band has taken me places and shown me things I never thought I’d see, and I’m forever grateful that I get to play shows for a living and write music that people enjoy.

“But after extensive touring, I’ve been forced to come face to face with my limit. I’ve always struggled badly in touring environments, and despite my best efforts, those struggles have consumed me entirely and spat me out again.”

Macieira goes on to explain that she was diagnosed as being bipolar and with autism four years ago and after touring last year she “developed a physical tic, that has since progressed to a vocal tic” and is “causing me a lot of distress and pain.”

“I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than to be able to exist normally in this world, and having the realisation that this is not possible has put me in a dangerous place mentally,” she said.

“I have to withdraw and try to simulate a safe environment, to mend the foundations I’ve cracked in myself to try and come back to myself. Unfortunately this means I will be taking a step back from live shows with Lambrini Girls, to give myself a chance to seek medical help.

Lambrini Girls at Reading 2025. CREDIT: Derek Bremner for NME

“Our scheduled shows are still going ahead and I’ll appear on stage when I’m able, but for our upcoming US tour you’ll have the brilliant Kaitlin Pelkey from Big Girl filling in for me on bass.”

Macieira went to say that she is tired of being “expected to be ‘loud’ and ‘energetic’ – to be ‘on’ all the time.”

She concluded: “I’m tired of feeling like being quiet in this band is weakness and inadequacy, like it’s not enough. I’ve betrayed myself for so long at nobody’s cost but my own. No more cosplaying from me. Peace up, A-town.”

The duo’s debut album ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’ was released earlier this year. In a glowing five-star review of the LP, NME shared: “Lambrini Girls prove punk is alive and kicking. They’re unapologetically amplifying chaos, calling out societal wrongs, and daring us all to feel something. This record is loud, raw, and impossible to ignore.”

Lambrini Girls are due to kick off their UK tour on November 19. Check out a full list of tour dates here and visit here to purchase tickets.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail