Irish bands tell SXSW: “Sponsorship from defence contractors is an act we find reprehensible”

Thania Garcia Beyoncé’s new album “Cowboy Carter” arrives after what the Texas-born singer says was a five-year journey she embarked on after feeling rejected by the country music world. On her eighth solo LP — a “Beyoncé album” not a country album, she insists — the artist freely pushes the boundaries of country music and utilizes the genre’s signature touchstones to make a sonic return to the house music of Act I, or 2022’s “Renaissance,” on tracks like “Riverdance” and “II Hands II Heaven.” Where “Renaissance” was an homage to queer club culture icons, “Cowboy Carter” features endorsements from Nashville’s best in the form of spoken interludes from icons like Willie Nelson, Linda Martell and Dolly Parton.

Beyoncé’s cover of The Beatles classic ‘Blackbird’, included on her new album ‘Cowboy Carter’, has prompted a lot of reactions among fans.‘Cowboy Carter’ was released today (March 29), her eighth studio album and the second in an expected trilogy that began with 2022’s ‘Renaissance’.The second track on the album is a cover of the 1968 Beatles song, which she has renamed ‘Blackbiird’. Given the album’s embrace of country influences – including a cover of Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ and appearances from Willie Nelson and Linda Martell – and its themes concerning race in American music history, the song has been chosen pointedly.Listen to ‘Blackbiird’ here:Paul McCartney wrote ‘Blackbird’ during the civil rights struggle of the 1960s, just weeks after the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Rav Wilding's family life looks idyllic, with a happy marriage and an adorable daughter but the BBC Morning Live presenter has had a bumpy ride to get there. With a very public split from a former Celebrity Big Brother winner and a cancelled engagement in his past, Rav, 46, went through his share of heartache in trying to find lasting love. He and wife Jill Morgan have also been through some personal struggles over the years but look like life couldn't be better now - here's everything you need to know about TV star Rav's love life highs and lows.

A 'fact-finding' review will look at how a Falkirk Council report from 2019 - which seemed to highlight major concerns about the dangerous state of Bo'ness Recreation Centre - was overlooked.

The twentieth series of Celebrity Big Brother is about to crown a new winner Once again the house has been full of drama, from Marisha's feud with Ekiin-Su to Fern's rows with Nikita and even 'fix' claims as Louis was granted immunity from eviction. But as the epic reboot draws to a close on Friday, 22 March, OK! has taken a look at who has managed to bag the top spot in every series so far, and what they did to win.... Jack Dee Jack Dee was the first winner of Celebrity Big Brother when Channel 4 launched the show in 2001.

James Argent has revealed that he’s been keeping a secret from his loved ones after losing a bet on a night out. The former The Only Way Is Essex star, who reportedly split from his girlfriend Stella Turian at the end of last year, has opened up about getting a secret tattoo in Majorca in what was the “wildest thing” he’s done in the last few years. Speaking on the My Dirty Laundry podcast, the 36 year old went into detail about the story behind getting tattooed, though revealed that nobody had noticed or spotted it since he’d gotten it done.

EXCLUSIVE: Real Estate mogul Doval Bacall is set to finance producer Steven Schneider’s next feature film Boyfriend as his first significant entertainment deal.

Bruce Springsteen kicked off his 2024 world tour in Arizona last night (March 19), after taking a health break in recent months. Check out fan footage of the show and the full setlist below.Held at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona last night, the show marked the first of Springsteen’s comeback shows with the E Street Band after having to postpone a hefty chunk of shows in 2023 due to health concerns.The worries arose towards the end of last year, when the singer-songwriter needed to be treated for peptic ulcer disease, and was forced to delay all of his shows after playing in New Jersey on September 3.He went on to make a number of guest appearances at various events – including joining John Mellencamp for a surprise duet on March 10, and taking part in the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year gala honouring Jon Bon Jovi on February 2.Ahead of the new show, Springsteen teased fans with a post online, saying that the new run of live shows would see him return stronger than ever.

Reality star James Argent has admitted he "really struggled" on Valentine's Day after splitting from his 19 year old girlfriend. The 36 year old former TOWIE star even went as far as avoiding social media on the day of love as he knew it wouldn't 'make him feel great'. James split from Stella Turian, 19, back in November after a year of dating.

Maria Georgas is one of the most beloved contestants from the latest season of The Bachelor and she’s reacting to rumors that she’s a frontrunner for The Bachelorette.

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from The Bachelor: Women Tell All. A Q&A with Joey is below.

On Friday 15th March, fund-raising TV spectacular Comic Relief will return for Red Nose Day with brand new sketches from legendary comedy stars, famous actors, and a host of epic challenges. Olivia Colman, Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts and Kate Winslet are just a few of the famous faces that will appear in new sketches for Comic Relief's Night of TV.

Yard Act have joined forces with Napalm Death‘s Shane Embury for a live cover of Motörhead‘s hit ‘Ace Of Spades’.The Leeds band recently kicked off the UK leg of their 2024 ‘Dream Job Tour’ earlier this week. While performing at their second show of the run at Rock City in Nottingham on March 14, Yard Act – comprised of James Smith, Ryan Needham, Sam Shipstone and Jay Russell – were joined by Napalm Death’s bassist Shane Embury for a live rendition of Motörhead’s 1980’s hit track ‘Ace Of Spades’.“Nottingham.

beat it.Miles Teller is defending the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, proclaiming that the late singer should get his own movie “regardless” of what critics think.“You only get so many opportunities in this business to make films,” Teller, 37, told Variety during the Vanity Fair Oscars party. “I’m really excited to be a part of it.

Here’s an interesting trio of castings: Deadline reports that Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, and Callum Turner are in talks to star in the rom-com “Eternity” over at A24.  David Freyne will direct the pic from a script by Pat Cunnane. It’s a joint affair for Star Thrower Entertainment and A24, with Teller and Olsen also on board as executive producers.

SXSW showcase have now pulled out of the festival in solidarity with Palestine.Kneecap, Sprints, Soda Blonde, Gavin James, Robert Grace, Mick Flannery, Chalk, Gurriers, Cardinals and NewDad all pulled out from the annual music, culture and arts showcase which takes place in Austin, Texas. This came after it was revealed that the US Army was a “super sponsor” of the event as well as defence contractor RTX Corporation, which has supplied weapons to Israel.Northern Irish-funded artists Enola Gay and Conchur also pulled out, joining the likes of their fellow Irish peers.UK funding channels (PRS Funded) booked the Northern Irish artists and were set to play various UK-led events that were different from the Music From Ireland showcases.

SXSW has issued a statement about artists and bands pulling out of the festival in support of Palestine.Artists such as NewDad, Cardinals, Enola Gay and others have recently dropped out of the festival due to the event’s association with the US army and weapons companies amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.Yesterday, Texas governor Greg Abbott took to X (formerly Twitter) to write: “Bands pull out of SXSW over U.S. Army Sponsorship. Bye.

NewDad, Cardinals, Enola Gay and Rachel Chinouriri have become the latest artists to boycott this year’s SXSW festival.The artists join the likes of Kneecap, Sprints, Lambrini Girls, Scowl, Gel, Okay Shalom and Squirrelflower in pulling out of performing at the festival due to the event’s association with the US army and weapons companies amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.The annual music, culture and arts showcase takes place in Austin, Texas from March 12-14.In a joint post on social media, Cardinals, Enola Gay, Gurriers, NewDad and Sprints wrote:“To be clear, we, as ‘Music From Ireland’ bands will be partaking in any official SXSW shows. We stand in complete solidarity with Palestine and others who have spoke out against, and boycotted SXSW.“Sponsorship of the festival from the US army as well as defence contractors/those sending arms to destroy innocent lives is an act we find disgusting and reprehensible.

After skidding to multi-year lows in late-2023, Disney stock has rebounded more than 20% thus far in 2024 as two activist investment firms have launched a proxy fight.

Rebel Moon star Sofia Boutella is defending the movie!