Albums Of The Year 2025: 80 To 61
Spotify Wrapped has revealed that Taylor Swift was the most streamed artist in the UK of 2025, while internationally that crown went to Bad Bunny. However, there is no denying that those K Pop Demon Hunters - HUNTR/X became the surprise global phenomenon of the year, while Chappell Roan managed to build on her success of the previous year, but failed to deliver a new studio album.
Ibiza Classics - Pete Tong And The Heritage Orchestra, Leeds First Direct Arena
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In the early nineties, when house music was imploding, DJ Pete Tong’s early Friday night radio show on Radio 1 became essential listening; for any dance act, getting a track played on his show was a golden ticket to success.
Slade - Say Their Goodbyes One Last Time In Manchester
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Back in 1974, when the country was under the effect of the electrical blackouts with the three-day week imposed due to an industrial dispute with the miners, over on Top of the Pops on BBC1, Noddy Holder and the rest of Slade were igniting the nation with their brand of commercial pop – that is, if you had electricity in the first place to watch the programme.
The Trevor Horn Band Relax In Manchester
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Before the Trevor Horn Band arrived at the Ritz ballroom in Manchester came the announcement, “Welcome to the stage the man who invented the 80s, Mr Trevor Horn.” Whilst the statement might have appeared somewhat boastful, there was an element of truth in the greeting.
Classical Music: Mahler Symphony No. 7
This is a glorious, fresh account of Mahler's Symphony No. 7 in E minor with Gianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra. Recorded live, the work known unofficially as the Song of the Night journeys through contrasting worlds – night and day, darkness and light, melancholy and exuberance – blending poetic dreamscapes with irony, humour and Rabelaisian verve.
In Conversation - D:Ream
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D:Ream’s Things Can Only Get Better was one of the biggest hits of the ‘90s, the dance anthem becoming a cultural phenomenon after spending four weeks at #1 and then earning a BRIT Award nomination for best single. Their success continued, with two further Top 10 hits and multiple others reaching the Top 40 as their first two albums both peaked at #5.
Classical Music: Sol Gabetta - Lise Cristiani
This is a fascinating release exploring the music of Lise Cristiani, timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of her birth this month. There is so much to enjoy, and Sol Gabetta's tribute to a musical trailblazer of great historic significance shines through with conviction in her playing.
Free Festive Organ Recital And Candlelit Carols Launch Christmas Week At Newcastle Cathedral
This Monday, 22 December, Newcastle’s Church of England cathedral continues its countdown to the joy of Christmas with a free afternoon organ recital and, at 7:30pm, the choir’s second evening of Candlelit Carols. As the UK's only cathedral dedicated to St Nicholas, the patron saint of children, Newcastle Cathedral offers a unique and magical setting for all ages through its Christmas music.
Madness Squeeze Out The Hits In Leeds.
Experiencing Squeeze as a support act is not generally the normal way to see the band; the group had a succession of chart hits during the late seventies and early eighties and continues to record and tour, with a new album coming out in 2026. The idea of them supporting Madness on their current tour is an unusual one.
Wool City Rockers – No Pulling The Wool Over The Eyes As Bradford Live Holds Its First Rock Concert
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Up to now Bradford Live has been home to family-based entertainment, the odd pop event or comedy show, but never a rock music concert – until now.
The Wombats Illuminate In Blackpool
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Anyone wandering into the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool might have been forgiven for thinking they were witnessing the headline act, not the support group, when The Snuts took the stage. The four-piece Glaswegian outfit have some cracking songs in their armoury; despite lead singer Jack Cochrane having a bout of the flu, the band still gave a towering performance.
Classical Music: Shostakovich: Symphony No 13 'Babi Yar'
The climaxes are electrifying, yet it's in the mesmeric, intense conclusion that the performance truly shines, illuminating the work's philosophical depths. Superbly recorded throughout, this is an impressive addition to what promises to be a landmark cycle
Classical Music: Violin Café Nicola Benedetti
The virtuosic moments dazzle: Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy brims with technical brilliance and rhythmic energy, with wonderful dynamics in the Lento assai. Superbly accompanied by accordion, Benedetti pulls the listener into the recording with a warm violin tone and delicious phrasing. The richness of Carroll's cello adds much to the textures, whereas the excitement of the denouement showcases her technical agility.
Classical Music: Louis Lortie Plays Chopin, Vol. 8
Single-handedly responsible for establishing the popularity of the mazurka, Chopin wrote almost sixty of these works during his lifetime. The two sets presented here date from 1842 (Op. 50) and 1844 (Op. 56), composed while the composer was at the height of his powers and his popularity in the salons of Paris. Lortie performs them with lovely dynamic nuance and superb control, his technical skill deployed with characteristic elegance.
Gorillaz Have Announced They Will Perform At Bradford Live Next Year
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Ahead of their huge UK & Ireland arena tour, Gorillaz will bring their unique mix of music, visuals and energy to Bradford on Friday 13 March and Saturday 14 March 2026. The Mountain is Gorillaz’ ninth studio album, an expansive sonic landscape of instruments and sounds, richly layered with voices, melodies and addictive beats, set to be Gorillaz’ most ambitious project yet.
Horrible Histories - The Concert Interview
When actor-director Neal Foster and actor Ethan Lawrence—both part of the expanding Horrible Histories universe—join a video call, the first thing that fills the screen is warmth. Greetings are exchanged, jokes are made about age, and the sense of camaraderie is unmistakable.
Northern Aldborough Festival Announces 2026 Line-Up
One of Yorkshire’s classical music festivals has announced its 2026 line-up. Now in its 32nd year, the Northern Aldborough Festival puts the North Yorkshire village at the epicentre of classical music for ten days, from 18 to 27 June, 2026.
In Conversation With Happy Mondays' Bez
As the Happy Mondays gear up for their massive 2026 UK tour celebrating 35 years of Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches, we caught up with the band’s iconic maraca-shaking, melon-twisting spirit animal, Bez. From his daily juicing routine to unexpected TV triumphs and the enduring magic of Madchester, he reflects on the last three decades — and why the Mondays are sounding better than ever.
Jamiroquai – The Space Cowboy rides again.
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If you happen to be a fan of Jamiroquai, it pays to be patient; the band has not released a studio album for eight years or toured the country for six years. All that is about to change, however, with the release of a new album in the new year and the current Heels of Steel tour, which arrived at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester.
Alanis Morissette Announced As Last Headliner At Lytham Festival.
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Seven-time GRAMMY Award winning artist Alanis Morissette is revealed as the fifth and final headliner for Lancashire’s Lytham Festival 2026. After this summer saw her headline show on the Fylde coast cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, the Canadian/American musician will return to TK Maxx presents Lytham Festival on Thursday July 2 for one of only five UK performances next summer.
In Conversation With Olly Murs
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It has been quite a year for Olly Murs, as his successful arena tour celebrated his fifteen years in the music business with the kind of infectious pop music that has become his trademark. The singer shot to fame when he finished runner-up in the sixth series of the X Factor in 2009, with Joe McElderry being the overall winner.
Classical Music: Found Objects: Sound Objects
Marc-André Hamelin has a bone to pick with those who dare classify his beloved instrument as mere percussion. In his eloquent program note for this ingenious Hyperion release, he insists the piano is a living, breathing, organic being—one that, despite its monochrome exterior, commands every colour on the spectrum and expresses every shade of human emotion. This captivating recital proves his point with electrifying conviction.
Classical Music: Hope Soars Above Music By Gibbons, Byrd, Tomkins, And Bull
It's heartening to hear this repertoire sung with such enthusiasm and excellence. The recently appointed Director of Music, James Anderson Besant—one of the youngest cathedral directors of music in the country—brings this musical feast to life with a choir that engages wholeheartedly with its singing.
Classical Music:Jane Austen’s Piano
The phrasing and dynamics are superb throughout, but it's the intelligence of her communication that dazzles—not in any glittery, attention-seeking way, but in how every musical contour is shaped with such clarity and purpose.
British Lion – Uncaged In Bradford
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Steve Harris, bassist in British Lion, might be better known for his day job as being the main songwriter and bassist in Iron Maiden. The founding member of one of the most influential and revered British rock bands of the last fifty years is more accustomed to playing some of the biggest arenas and stadiums in the world with Maiden.
From Soundchecks To Stadiums: Finn Forster's Breakout Year
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After a year filled with stadiums, sold-out rooms, and career-defining opportunities, Finn Forster is taking a moment to briefly reflect.
Wheatus Takes The Stage
25 years ago Wheatus were riding high on the pop-punk wave that was taking the world by storm. With their debut single, Teenage Dirtbag, featured on the soundtrack of the Loser film, it rocketed to #2 in the UK charts and launched the group into the hearts of millions.
Classical Music: A Christmas Carol
Amid the avalanche of seasonal releases, here's something genuinely distinctive: a recording that will captivate literature enthusiasts as much as music lovers. Skylark Vocal Ensemble's new A Christmas Carol marries Benedict Sheehan's imaginative score with Christine Baranski's magnificent narration to create what the composer aptly terms a "choral movie score"—a continuous 75-minute experience that reimagines Dickens's beloved tale.
Christmas Music: Nowel Advent and Beyond
Like those first tentative days of December when dawn arrives late and hesitant, this remarkable recording captures Advent's essence: quiet expectation tinged with uncertainty, the profound wait before jubilation. By its close, that same patient vigil has blossomed into radiant assurance, the journey from shadow to light complete.
Christmas Music: All The Stars Looked Down
A poignant collection of carols that transports you to the magnificent chapel with its iconic organ case for a feast of music to celebrate the festive season. You can't go wrong with this album: it delivers whatever that perfect Christmas Day means to you.