Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Mumford & Sons are pleased to announce details of a second night at Shepherds Bush Empire in March, after the first date sold-out this morning in an hour. (27.11.2009) The British folk-rockers will now play the London venue on the 13th and 14th March. Their Spring UK tour went on sale this morning at 9am , with tickets available through www.mumfordandsons.com Mumford & Sons release their new single, ‘Winter Winds’ on the 7th December through Gentlemen of the Road/Island Records. Mumford & Sons play: 3rd March – Glasgow O2 ABC 4th March - Manchester Academy 1 (Upgraded from Academy 2) 6th March - Wolverhampton Wulfrun 7th March - Newcastle University 9th March – Liverpool O2 Academy 10th March - Cambridge Junction 12th March - Brighton Corn Exchange 13th March - London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire – SOLD OUT 14th March – London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – EXTRA DATE ADDED 16th March – Edinburgh Queen’s Hall 18th March - Dublin The Academy 20th Ma...

Double A-side single - “ Hollywood ” plus “I Am The Resurrection” - December 28th Debut Album – “ Codeine Velvet Club ” – December 28th   Codeine Velvet Club , the sensational new band featuring chief Fratelli Jon Lawler and Glasgow chanteuse Lou Hickey, will release a new single to coincide with the release of their eponymously titled debut album on December 28th ‘09 .  Side A will feature album highlight and 21st century wall of sound masterpiece “Hollywood” while the other Side A will feature Codeine Velvet Club’s unique take on the Stone Roses’ classic “I Am The Resurrection”, a song that the band covered for fun as an encore and has since been recorded because so many fans demanded it! Codeine Velvet Club is a new musical collaboration that celebrates Jon Lawler and Lou Hickey’s shared love of ’60s girl-boy duets, dramatic orchestral pop, and dark post-war Hollywood romanticism. Since their fantastically well reviewed (see press quotes!) debut headline shows in...

Peter Kay has announced a new tour residence at the MEN Arena in Manchester. Tickets will go on sale at Ticketmaster Uk tomorrow Saturday at 11:00 am for the following dates: * 27th April 2010 * 28th April 2010 * 29th April 2010 * 30th April 2010 Peter Kay’s stand–up career started when he won a competition in Manchester, beating fellow stand-up comedian Johnny Vegas. Kay's experience working at the Manchester Evening News Arena, the residence of this newly announced tour, inspired him to wear the official yellow jacket of the MEN Arena for the final performance of his "Mum Wants a Bungalow" tour.

Kid CuDi ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ feat. MGMT and Ratatat - Monday 11th January 2010 ‘Following in a line that includes legendary fabulists like Ralph Ellison and Sun Ra and intersects with hip hop via artists like the Wu Tang Clan, Outkast and CuDi's mentor, Kanye West, this Cleveland-raised former film student expands hip-hop's language by exploring the inner life of the inner city the way others focus on the action in the street.’ The L.A. Times ‘A serious new talent in alt-rap.’ The Sunday Times ‘CuDi’s got a rare pop gift.’ The Stool Pigeon ‘The song is a deeply stoned singsong nugget.’ Pitchforkmedia Produced by Crown Heights, Brooklyn electronic-indie duo Ratatat ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ is the second UK single from Kid CuDi’s debut album ‘Man On The Moon : The End Of The Day’. Psychedelic rock stars MGMT sing the ghostly chorus over Ratatat’s trademark half-step beats, swirling synths and heavily processed guitars. CuDi’s vocal has the mixture of melody an...

Having released their critically acclaimed debut album ‘I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose’ earlier this year, selling out the London Garage for their album launch show and playing a summer of stand out festival performances including a spellbinding set at Glastonbury, Bombay Bicycle Club are back on the road for a fully sold out UK tour before returning to release their next single. The London based four-piece will re-release live favourite ‘Always Like This’ on November 23rd through Island Records. ‘Always Like This’ was initially released on the band’s own label in April and was the first track from the album to catapult the band into the nation’s conscience and is likely to propel them even higher this time. Celestial vocal loops meet echo chamber guitars and afrobeat rhythms, as Bombay Bicycle Club juggle ecstatic, anthemic melodies with an uncompromised experimental vision. Led by lead singer Jack Steadman’s unique tremulous vocals, ‘Always Like This’ is defined by an irresi...