Paul Weller Climbs To Summit Of Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Paul Weller has taken top spot on this week’s Stereoboard Hot Ticket Chart, with sales for his series of Forest Live shows sending Ed Sheeran, last week’s chart topper, tumbling to eighth.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 24 January 2014

Many Happy Returns To...'Led Zeppelin'

Everyone loves a birthday, right? Well, in 2014 there are a few to keep music lovers interested. Over the course of the year, we’ll be looking back at some records celebrating major milestones, beginning with a release that changed the way we think about rock and roll. Ladies and gentlemen, happy 45th birthday to ‘Led Zeppelin’.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Ed Sheeran Takes Top Spot On Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Ed Sheeran has dethroned Beyoncé on this week’s Stereoboard Hot Ticket Chart, with the singer-songwriter outselling the queen of R&B after announcing a series of highly-anticipated arena shows for October.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 17 January 2014

Glory Days Revisited: Bruce Springsteen's Cutting Room Floor

Considering that his ‘Wrecking Ball’ tour recently rocked packed houses around the globe for the best part of two years, you'd think a new Bruce Springsteen album would be a universally cherished surprise. But, 'High Hopes', with its reliance on reworked older tracks and out-takes, has polarised opinions, with some lauding its entertainment value and others bemoaning its lack of cohesion.  

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 16 January 2014

Hannah Trigwell: From Busker To YouTube Star And Beyond

If the saying is true and the stats don’t lie, then Hannah Trigwell is going to be a pretty big deal in the next couple of years.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Not For Me, Thanks: Eight Things Music Could Do Without In 2014

The start of a new year is often cause for renewed optimism, but let’s not kid ourselves. There are plenty of things that we could do without in the next 12 months as well.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Style And Substance: The Evolution Of Paul Weller

Paul Weller has been at the forefront of British music since the Jam’s stunning arrival back in the late ‘70s, and it’s pretty hard to accuse him of ever taking a backwards step. With the Style Council he injected political focus into soul revival, while his solo career took root during Britpop and is still bearing fruit.

Written by: Gavin Rees | Date: Monday, 13 January 2014

Beyonce Rules Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Having well and truly shocked the music world with the surprise release of her fifth album at the end of last year, Beyoncé begins 2014 atop Stereoboard’s Hot Ticket Chart.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 10 January 2014

Stepping From The Shadows: Caliban Discuss 'Ghost Empire'

Having walked in the shadows of metalcore’s heavyweights since their debut full-length back in 1999, Caliban haven't often been a hot topic on everyone's lips. But their ninth album, 'Ghost Empire', could change that. Out on January 27, it boasts a collection of songs to rival bands such as Killswitch Engage. Caliban have a gem on their hands.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Thursday, 09 January 2014

Dates For The Diary: Tours To Rock 2014

Christmas is gone, finished, over. Stop crying. It’s 2014, and it’s time to remember that your diary could soon be fit to burst with gigs from each end of the musical spectrum - from stadium spectacles to club shows that will remain seared in your memory.

Written by: Sam Jones | Date: Monday, 06 January 2014

Ten From 2013 #8: Dance

To pick 10 dance tracks from 2013 - a year when at least 4,395,860 awesome ones dropped - is a task of epic proportions. But, we’ve been told that it’s good to challenge yourself from time to time.

Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Friday, 20 December 2013

Ten From 2013 #7: Classic Rock & Blues

What sort of label is ‘classic rock’? Many feel it denotes music made by guitar-toting deities throughout the late ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, and today it provokes conflicting interpretations due to an increasing number of new bands sounding like they were born 40 years ago.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 19 December 2013

Ten From 2013 #6: Punk & Hardcore

Before you stick ‘Christmas Songs’ on the turntable and settle down by the fire in your festive Descendents jumper, let’s take a look back at the last 12 months in punk. As it turned out, 2013 was a year for bands maturing, new faces and comebacks.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 19 December 2013

Ten From 2013 #5: Hip Hop

Rap artists are never ones to shy away from hyperbole, particularly when talking about themselves, but this year self-adulation hit a few notable highs. Eminem, Jay Z and Kanye West all labelled themselves “gods” on their latest records, while Kendrick Lamar declared himself the new king of both coasts in a combative verse for the Big Sean track Control.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Ten From 2013 #4: Metal

This year has been a ridiculous one for metal releases, and albums from all sordid corners of the genre have made waves. In the last 12 months, Black Sabbath and Avenged Sevenfold both hit the #1 spot in the UK and American album charts, rubbish bands became very good and bands you've never heard of released masterpieces.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Ten From 2013 #3: Singles

Well, 2013 was definitely a big year for pop. Battling behemoths such as One Direction, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus were a new breed of bands, inspired as much by woozy ‘80s R&B and power ballads as the Beatles or Ramones.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Monday, 16 December 2013

Ten From 2013 #2: Indie & Electronica

A strong year for indie music then, even as Kingsland Road became an X-Factor ‘band’, but a year when it became so cross-pollinated, so inclusive, it became almost unidentifiable.

Written by: Tom Seymour | Date: Monday, 16 December 2013

Ten From 2013 #1: Labels

It’s a difficult time to be involved with a record label, which is all the more reason to celebrate those that are consistently putting out quality music.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 16 December 2013

Robbie Williams Swings To The Top Of Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Robbie Williams has swung his way to the top of this week’s Stereoboard Hot Ticket Chart, with sales for his forthcoming UK shows continuing a successful few weeks following the release of ‘Swings Both Ways’.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Thursday, 12 December 2013

Drake's Next Move: Out With The New, In With The New

Drake released his latest album, ‘Nothing Was The Same’, back in September, but one of the busiest men in rap is set to furnish fans with a selection of new songs before the year is out.

Written by: Rick Martin | Date: Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Sex, Drugs And Good Reads: Music Books To Savour

So, to Christmas. Log fires (sometimes), plenty of food (certainly) and the chance to get in some serious reading time away from the pressures of the day job.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Rod Stewart Retains Top Billing On Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

For the second week running, Rod Stewart is the king of this particular castle. The rock legend has seen off competition from the worlds of music and comedy to hold on to top spot on Stereoboard’s Hot Ticket Chart, with a series of stadium gigs in the diary for June 2014.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 06 December 2013

Perfect Harmony: Introducing Chic Gamine

If Chic Gamine can teach us anything, it’s that you shouldn’t be afraid to do something well. Their music is disarmingly simple, but perfectly executed.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 03 December 2013

Hail To The Kings: The Evolution Of Avenged Sevenfold

This has been Avenged Sevenfold’s year, and they’re not done yet. Whether we’re talking their upcoming UK tour, which kicks off on November 30 and features a date at Wembley Arena, the recent announcement of their headline slot at Download Festival or the fact that their latest album, 'Hail To The King', snagged the #1 spot on album charts around the world, their years of work seem to have come to fruition.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Friday, 29 November 2013

Rod Stewart Reclaims Top Spot On Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Rod Stewart has reclaimed top spot on Stereoboard’s Hot Ticket Chart, sending McBusted, last week’s #1, tumbling down to seventh place.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 29 November 2013

Jack Of All Trades: Steve Cradock Winding Down After A Frantic Year

As Christmas rears its head once again, we’re all starting to wind down in anticipation of some time away from the pressures of the day job, with quality family time top of the agenda and indulgence in the shape of food and drink a given.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Tuesday, 26 November 2013

McBusted Land At The Top Of Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

If this was a fight, it would have been over in the first round. Your winners, ladies and gentlemen, and new champions of Stereoboard’s Hot Ticket Chart, are McBusted.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 22 November 2013

Sky's The Limit: Introducing Air Traffic Controller

They say we all have to start somewhere. Dave Munro started with a four track recorder and some time on his hands. Serving as an air traffic controller with the US navy, the Boston native used his downtime to craft a string of catchy, disarming alt-pop songs, which would eventually form the backbone of his band, you guessed it, Air Traffic Controller.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 21 November 2013

Still Holding Their Own: The Darkness Talk 'Permission To Land' At 10

Sat in a dingy dressing room overlooking the backstreets of Camden, seemingly in a good position to run the rule over potential locations for a new Danny Dyer flick, the anticipation was growing. Downstairs, the Darkness were preparing to headline the Electric Ballroom in the second date of a national tour to celebrate the 10th birthday of their classic debut album.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 18 November 2013

Elton John Takes Over At The Summit Of Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Elton John has pulled up a chair at the top of Stereoboard’s Hot Ticket chart this week, having seen off competition from Geordie TV duo Ant and Dec.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 15 November 2013

Look To The Future: Five Albums To Keep Track Of In 2014

Just as the financial year finishes in April, so the new music calendar reaches an abrupt full stop in November as release schedules are taken over by stocking-filler Best Ofs and festive slop.

Written by: Rick Martin | Date: Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Mistaken For Strangers: On The Road With The National

“You get mistaken for strangers by your own friends, when you pass them at night under the silvery, silvery Citibank lights,” lead singer Matt Berninger sings on the National’s Mistaken For Strangers, the lead single from their album ‘Boxer’.

Written by: Tom Seymour | Date: Monday, 11 November 2013

Drake Flies To The Top Of Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Hip-hop star Drake has set up residence at the top of Stereoboard’s Hot Ticket Chart this week, with sales for his forthcoming UK arena shows nudging country legend Dolly Parton into second.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 08 November 2013

California Girl: Introducing Olivia Somerlyn

If you’ve happened across any of Jessie’s J’s current arena shows, you may have noticed a little dose of Californian sunshine nestled at the start of the bill. Olivia Somerlyn has landed on this side of the pond and is doing a mighty fine job of enjoying her stay.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 07 November 2013

MT: Pop Music, Alpha Romeo And Jumpsuits

A minute or so into the video for MT’s Alpha Romeo, it all starts to make sense. The camera settles on guitarist Frederik Tyson-Brown, moustache and carefully-curated do included, while in the background Michael Tomlinson is an uncoordinated blur. He’s stamping his feet, flailing a mic lead and generally having a good time. It's about letting go.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Monday, 04 November 2013

Dolly Parton Working 9 To 5 At The Summit Of Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Country superstar Dolly Parton has settled in at the top of Stereoboard’s Hot Ticket Chart, sending last week’s #1, the Once In A Lifetime tour, tumbling five places.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 01 November 2013

Singing The Blues: Introducing Dolomite Minor

Dolomite Minor have brought you some riffs. Pile them high on your plate, because they’re just going to keep on coming.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 31 October 2013

Lou Reed: Tributes

“He was a master.” If anyone should know, it’s David Bowie. News of Lou Reed’s death has been settling in for a couple of days now, accompanied by countless spins of his solo records and seminal works as part of the Velvet Underground. A fiercely independent artistic presence in modern music, his experiments became blueprints for elements of rock, indie, punk and metal.

Written by: Sam Jones | Date: Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Once In A Lifetime Tour Takes Over At Summit Of Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

The don’t make ‘em like they used to, eh? This week, top spot on Stereoboard’s Hot Ticket Chart is reserved for some of pop’s elder statesmen, with the Osmonds, David Essex, Showaddywaddy and the Bay City Rollers combining for next year’s Once In A Lifetime tour.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 25 October 2013

So Long, Farewell: The Evolution Of Madina Lake

Madina Lake are, for lack of a better term, one of those bands. In just eight years together, they've cultivated a tight-knit fanbase, one that has supported them from their career highs to personal lows. And, with their farewell UK tour wrapping up this week with a show at London’s Electric Ballroom, there's no finer time to recount some of the music that helped form that connection.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 24 October 2013

Turn Me Up: Introducing The Retrospectives

In June 1979, Joy Division released ‘Unknown Pleasures’ and it’s fair to say that its influence is being felt as strongly now as ever before. Six months earlier, ‘Armed Forces’ was rolled out by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. The two records couldn’t be more different, which is something that is working in the Retrospectives’ favour over 30 years later.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 24 October 2013

Arctic Monkeys: Stories Behind The Songs

He's been compared to everyone from Jarvis Cocker to Mike Skinner and praised by poetic legends such as Simon Armitage and John Cooper Clarke, but admiring Alex Turner's lyrical wit and understanding what the hell the Arctic Monkeys' frontman is on about have increasingly become two very different things.

Written by: Rick Martin | Date: Monday, 21 October 2013

Damnation Festival 2013: Here's To Eternal Damnation!

Damnation Festival has come a long way since it first came into being. Back in October 2005, metalhead Gavin McInally, disenchanted by the fact that so many great bands were seemingly never booked for the UK’s major heavy music events, organised a two-stage, 15-band event at Jilly’s Rock World in Manchester. Raging Speedhorn and Entombed headlined, and a new favourite on the British metal calendar was successfully born.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 18 October 2013

Gary Barlow Grabs Top Spot On Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Take That star Gary Barlow will take time out from the X Factor next year in order to tour his new solo record, ‘Since I Saw You Last’, and he’s off to a flyer. Topping this week’s Stereoboard Hot Ticket Chart, Barlow has shunted Justin Timberlake into second spot after extra dates for the American superstar’s ‘20/20 Experience’ tour went on sale.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 18 October 2013

Don't Sleep On It: Introducing Attu

Sometimes things just fit. For Stefan Antoinette, Attu was one of those things. Initially a side project and a songwriting experiment, it quickly developed a life of its own. Now four strong, the band are making waves with Don’t Sleep, a nifty slice of understated electronica that serves as a taster for a new EP set to arrive early next year.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 17 October 2013

Firefest: Between Melodic Rock And A Hard Place

On October 18, legions of melodic rock fans from around the globe will descend on Nottingham Rock City for the 10th anniversary of Firefest, a unique music festival whose Eye Of The Tiger spirit has overcome huge obstacles to keep AOR alive and kicking in the UK. After the recent announcement that next year will be the festival's swan song, the anniversary promises to be a bittersweet celebration for both its altruistic organisers and passionate followers.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Cardiff Calling: The Stereoboard Sŵn Setlist

Sŵn is back and this year the line up is as diverse and exciting as ever. The city-wide festival will take over Cardiff’s leading venues - from the famous surrounds of Clwb Ifor Bach to a suite at the Angel Hotel - between October 17 and 20, with the focus on shoving new artists into the limelight.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Justin Timberlake Enjoys Rapid Rise On Stereoboard's Hot Ticket Chart

Justin Timberlake has blazed a particularly slick trail to the summit of Stereoboard’s Hot Ticket chart in a week when the newcomers had the run of the place.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Friday, 11 October 2013

Amped Up: Revisiting Marshall's Ultimate Band Contest

So you think you’ve got what it takes to be the next big thing? Want to get noticed by the big guys at the top? Well, for mainstream contenders The X Factor is one way of over exposing yourself in the most vulnerable manner possible. But if you are a hard-working, ambitious rock band, hungry for a little leverage, then the Marshall Ultimate Band Contest offers a more dignified approach.

Written by: Anna Ghislena | Date: Thursday, 10 October 2013

Welsh Music Prize 2013: The Stereoboard Rundown

With the event now into its third year, the winner of the Welsh Music Prize will be announced on October 17, just as Cardiff gears up for another edition of the eclectic, city-spanning Swn Festival. Last year’s successful live show is back too, with Clwb Ifor Bach, a popular small venue for up and coming Welsh acts, hosting several of the nominees 24 hours before Swn gets going.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Tuesday, 08 October 2013