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

For one night only on Friday 29th October at the Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple, original ‘dreamboats’, Marty Wilde, Eden Kane and Jet Harris join forces in a spectacular show that will show they really were Born to Rock N Roll! From 1958 to 1961 Marty, Eden and Jet took the charts by storm clocking up well over 200 weeks in the charts in just under four years. The original teen idols will take in 29 towns and cities across the UK performing their own hits and collaborating live on stage for the first time ever. Singer, songwriter, legend Marty Wilde is hailed by many friends as one of the first original British Rock N Roll pioneers. Cliff Richard reminisces “I remember when Marty Wilde, Dicky Pride and I were ‘three cool cats’. I always thought in those days there was actually only one ‘cool cat’ – and that was Marty.” Wilde enjoyed countless hits in the late 50s and early 60s, with thirteen consecutive hit records staying in the charts for a total of 117 weeks including Endless Slee

At long last it feels like UK rap music is well and truly erupting. Every way you look - from the summit of the charts to the breaking waves of the underground - the UK rap fraternity is seizing control. In between the ricocheting lyrical crossfire one face is emerging as one of 2010's most notorious breaking artists, and that's the angular bone-structure of Dagenham, Essex's very own Devlin. ‘bud, sweat & beers’ is a step change for grime. Socially aware. Spiritually conflicted with a sacred heart and profane mouth. Dark, accurate and artful lyrical sketches of life at social margins. Capacious enough to make reference to Hollywood’s Wesley Snipes, super-bug C-Difficile, Pengi, Nostradamus, Picasso, Tectonic plates and Elvis. It’s an imaginative feast. Lyrical meaning unfolds on meaning. Metaphors come as quickly as the mind can process. The album opens with the thunderous cavalcade of ‘1989’ where heavy-metal guitar stabs provide an urgent, heart-in-mouth backdrop for

In thrall to uplifting 1970s Disco as much as it is to intricate 1980s electro, ‘In Spirit Golden’ is a shimmering, soaring anthem full of giddy nods to computer game soundtracks and Killers style stadium pop riffs. ‘In Spirit Golden’ will be released one week before I Blame Coco’s debut album, ‘The Constant’ (November 8th). The single will be accompanied by remixes from Arthur Baker,, RacknRuin, Soul Avengerz and DC Breaks, the latter of which has already worked its way onto Radio 1. After a summer packed with festival shows, I Blame Coco will be embarking on her first nationwide headline tour this autumn, during which ‘In Spirit Golden’ will be released. Read More I Blame Coco posts

As arguably the most original, genre-redefining, prodigiously talented and best-selling hip-hop artist of the past decade, Lil Wayne returns with the hugely anticipated release on October 4th of his brand new album “I Am Not A Human Being”. The album has just gone straight in at number 1 on the US iTunes chart and features ten brand new tracks including lead single (US iTunes # 1) “Right Above” which features Wayne’s protégé and hip hop superstar in his own right Drake. Speaking about the new release on his birthday September 27th, Wayne commented “ I want to give a gift on my birthday to my loyal fans who have continued to support me ”. “I Am Not A Human Being” will be released digitally on October 4th in the UK and physically two weeks later on October 18th. The physical release will feature the same ten tracks plus three additional cuts: “YM Banger” feat. Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda, Tyga, “YM Salute” feat. Lil Twist, Lil Chuckee, Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, Nicki Minaj and “I Don't Lik

Twice Grammy Award-nominated Plain White T’s return with a new single, “Rhythm of Love,” out on October 17th, taken from their forthcoming release, “Wonders of the Younger”, released on October 18th. Penned and sung by the Chicago band’s guitarist Tim Lopez, the summery romantic pop single, “Rhythm of Love,” picks up where previous No.2 charting hit “Hey There Delilah” left us swooning two summers ago – #1 song on UK radio for 3 weeks, #1 on iTunes for 2 weeks, UK singles chart Top 10 for 12 weeks. The track, inspired by a bittersweet romance, is in its third week at radio in the US, and has already hit the top 30 on the Hot AC chart – and it looks likely to dominate the airwaves here too. Though the band is leading off with a romantic pop song, Higgenson points out that the group is in a different place than the one that prompted “Hey There Delilah.” An example of the five-piece’s darker, more expansive songs is album track “Welcome to Mystery,” which fans will have already heard as p

CHECK OUT THE STUNNING VIDEO FOR LAUREN’S NEW SINGLE ‘NOT THE DRINKING’, RELEASED OCTOBER 18TH http://www.youtube.com/laurenpritchardVEVO Lauren also plays the below dates as part of the Island Life New Breed Tour: FRI 01 OCT BIRMINGHAM GLEE CLUB SAT 02 OCT CARDIFF BUFFALO BAR MON 04 OCT BRISTOL COOLER TUES 05 OCT CAMBRIDGE HAYMAKERS WED 06 OCT BRIGHTON AUDIO THUR 07 OCT LEEDS

Island Records is proud to announce the launch of a new live initiative; Island Life. Life will provide a platform for the new breed of Island acts. Kicking off the showcases will be a night in East London and a UK-wide tour. On October 8th the Queen of Hoxton will reverberate to the sounds of UK pop’s stellar new pixie Coco Sumner AKA I Blame Coco . Support from Pete Lawrie (more of which below) and this year’s brightest new producer/hitmaker Starsmith. Also on the decks will be the Island Records All Star DJs while our friends at Red Stripe have kindly offered to supply free beer to the first 250 people through the door. The inaugural Island Life UK tour brings together three extraordinary talents. 22-year-old Lauren Pritchard hails from Jackson, Tennessee and has been described by The Sunday Times as ‘wonderful, brooding, strung-out soul’. Produced by Eg White - the man behind Adele’s ‘Chasing Pavements’ - her future is bright. Zimbabwe born, Hackney-raised Tinashé will be bringing