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

10cc will tour the UK in 2012 to mark 40 years since the band formed in Stockport in 1972 . The 2012 40th Anniversary tour will feature all the 10cc hits and more and will culminate in an extra special show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Says Graham Gouldman: “ It’s hard to believe it’s 40 years since 10cc was born in Strawberry Studios in Stockport. I’m immensely proud of all we have achieved. As long as the fans want to hear the songs played live I’ll be happy to oblige. ” The full list of shows is: 30-Apr GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall 01-May GATESHEAD The Sage 02-May MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall 03-May YORK Barbican 05-May LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall 06-May CARDIFF St David's Hall 07-May BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall 08-May LEICESTER De Montfort Hal...

James Morrison releases his amazing duet with Jessie J, ‘Up’ on December 4. The track is taken from the number 1 album ‘The Awakening’, which was released earlier this year. The album spent 2 weeks at the top of the album chart upon release. Last Saturday night,  James performed his new single, Up, with Jessie J live from Wembley Arena, on BBC1's hit show, Strictly Come Dancing. If you missed it, you can watch on the BBC iPlayer until Sunday 27th - click here Up (feat. Jessie J) - EP - James Morrison - The Awakening - James Morrison T our Dates JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 Saturday 28 Jan Belfast Ulster Hall Sunday 29 Jan Dublin Olympia Tuesday 31 Jan Manchester O2 Apollo Wednesday 1 Feb Manchester O2 Apollo Friday 3 Cambridge Corn Exchange Saturday 4 Southampton Guil...

Labrinth, Tinchy, Chipmunk and Wretch 32 Come Together To Help BBC Children in Need and release official single ‘Teardrop’ . The official BBC Children in Need single will get one of its most credible makeovers to date this year as the likes of Labrinth, Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk, Wretch 32 and Tulisa from NDubz present their own re-interpretation of Massive Attack’s timeless single ‘Teardrop’, with the new lyrics adapted by Wretch 32, Gary Go and Mr Dialysis. The song was released through Island Records on November 13th with all proceeds going to the charity to support some of the most disadvantaged children right here in the UK. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey Grammy nominated superstar Drake , whose 2010 debut “Thank Me Later” established the Canadian as one of the breakthrough artists of the year, marks his return with the highly anticipated release on November 14th, of his brand new Young Money/Cash Money album “Take Care”. The debut album has landed; Rizzle Kicks present ‘Stereo Typi...

A lot can happen to a daydreaming girl in the world, and in the last few years, it's all happened for Florence. The debut album she dream't up in her bedroom in South London burst into being and swept the planet, selling over three million copies, winning the coveted Brits 'Best Album' award and etching itself indelibly into the popular consciousness. Now she has been everywhere: the girl has seen the world and the world has seen the girl. And after months of laying low on home turf, writing and recording in the London she’s long been in love with, Florence returns with her triumphant second album. Ceremonials is a stunningly accomplished record by an artist teetering on the wind-blown top of her game, an extraordinary testament to what Florence refers to as “my incorrigible maximalism”. The pounding epiphanic positivism of ‘Spectrum’; the galloping massed-ranks majesty of ‘All This And Heaven Too’ and ‘Shake It Out’; the triumphant emotional battle cries of ‘No Light...