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Orlando Weeks – Brudenell Leeds – Backseat Mafia
Orlando Weeks’ new album Loja brings the former Maccabees frontman out on the road again, and he treats the crowd in Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club to an intimate evening of chilled out musical mastery. Very low key, Weeks and his band emerge almost bashfully on to the cosy stage, ensconced in the corner of Brudenell’s Main Room, and he settles in behind the keyboard to kick things off with Sorry, taken from the new record. It’s a very intimate, personal set from Weeks. Eyes shut throughout each song, it was like he was lost in his own world, and we were peering through the curtains to watch from the outside.…
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A Global Phenomenon Reaches Sydney’s Accor Stadium 22.10.2024 – Backseat Mafia
The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour is not just a victory lap—it’s a declaration. It’s a bold flex that spans continents, shattering records along the way. North America, Europe, the UK, and Latin America 60 stadiums, over 3 million fans. London Stadium alone saw 160,000 people over two nights, a massive testament to the star power Abel Tesfaye has cultivated over the past decade. Tonight, the spectacle isn’t confined to just one stage—it’s a tale of two worlds colliding in Sydney Olympic Park. On one side, Olivia Rodrigo, the Gen Z powerhouse, belts her heartbreak anthems to a legion of fans clutching “GUTS” merch like holy relics. Just opposite,…
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VIRTUO Drops Energetic New Single ‘Attention’ – Backseat Mafia
Emerging UK artist VIRTUO is back with his fresh new single ‘Attention’, an energetic fusion of house, rap, and R&B that’s ready to dominate the club scene. Produced by Cloubee, the track marks VIRTUO’s first foray into the house genre, bringing an infectious vibe that encourages listeners to embrace the moment. Featuring bold, thumping 808s, silky synth bass, and vocal samples layered beneath his punchy UK rap flow, ‘Attention’ pushes boundaries with a sound that feels both fresh and familiar. VIRTUO collaborated with South London singer Meron T, whose smooth vocals add a sensual, captivating element to the track. The combination of their performances results in a confident, sexy anthem…
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Palaye Royale/ I See Stars at House of Blues, Orlando, 18.10.24 – Backseat Mafia
Palaye Royale brought their A game to Orlando for an evening full of irresistible killer tracks. Kicking off the night was Boston native, DIAMANTE, followed by Los Angeles band, Weathers. The final support of the evening came from friends of Palaye Royale of more than ten years, I See Stars, who warmed up the crowd well for for their old friends. Although the Palaye Royale trio was missing a key member on this night of the tour, the band was able to put on a class-act, shedding light onto why they have had such strong staying power after 16 years as a group. Their “Death or Glory” U.S. tour concludes…
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A. Swayze & The Ghosts plead ‘Let’s Live A Life Better Than This’ in a brilliant sophomore album that cements their place in the pantheon of antipodean greats. – Backseat Mafia
Album Review: A. Swayze & The Ghosts plead ‘Let’s Live A Life Better Than This’ in a brilliant sophomore album that cements their place in the pantheon of antipodean greats. – Backseat Mafia More Stories #Swayze #Ghosts #plead #Lets #Live #Life #brilliant #sophomore #album #cements #place #pantheon #antipodean #greats #Backseat #Mafia
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Punchy world-funk and twang guitar in a rootsy, global beats bundle. – Backseat Mafia
The Breakdown Wonderwheel Recordings – 8.9 US Guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Gitkin (aka Brian J) is a player who’s long been connecting Duane Eddy’s original twang and a world of other styles from Peruvian Cumbia to Saharan rock, Delta blues to New Orleans funk. Whether as co-ordinator of the indie meets soul collective Pimps of Joytime or collaborator with both Cyril Neville and RL’s grandson Cedric Burnside (check out his gritty Benton County Relic LP), Gitkin’s musical expedition has been relentless and restless. Then around 2018 he decided to dive into solo work, focus on an instrumental approach rather songs and in his words “explore tonalities I’d never messed with”.…
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Ghost Arcadia Make Explosive Return with New Single ‘STRAY’ – Backseat Mafia
After 14 months of anticipation, London-based alternative rock outfit Ghost Arcadia storm back onto the scene with their latest single, ‘STRAY’. The track gives an exciting insight into their forthcoming EP What We Become, slated for release later this year. Inspired by the popular 2022 adventure game Stray, the new single is a defiant anthem for the outcasts, celebrating individuality and rebellion against societal norms. “As a society, we tend to try to fit into the same mould,” the band reflects. “But by doing that we just create this vanilla world when really we want a rainbow one.” ‘STRAY’ captures the band’s ethos of embracing differences and standing tall against the mainstream, with a sound…
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X Revolution Explores the Dark Side of Power in New Single ‘GENERALS THEME’ – Backseat Mafia
X Revolution’s latest single ‘GENERALS THEME’ delivers a brooding, powerful exploration of the darker sides of human nature; Fusing Hip-Hop, Rap, and Darkwave, the track reflects the artist’s deep philosophical journey, confronting the complexities of power, morality, and survival in a world rife with internal and external conflict. X Revolution doesn’t shy away from raising uncomfortable questions. “Why do humans carry superficial views of doing good when we all have a grim side?” he asks, pushing listeners to reflect on the contradictions that define the human condition. The mood of ‘GENERALS THEME’ is undeniably dark and intense, shaped by its relentless percussion and heavy, manipulated drum samples. X Revolution’s use…
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Lions In The Street – Lady Blue – Backseat Mafia
Canadian rockers Lions in the Street have shared their new single, ‘Lady Blue’. This is the third single from the band’s highly anticipated album, ‘Moving Along’, which is due Friday, November 8, 2024. “Lady Blue would fit comfortably on a Lynyrd Skynyrd or Eagles album,” says Lions in the Street’s vocalist and guitarist, Chris Kinnon. “It’s a classic northern take on a southern rock, a la Neil Young or the Band. It’s a song about regret, with organ swirls, languid vintage guitar tones, and a James Burton-inspired guitar solo setting the tone.” It’s all big chords, lazy slide, and bright vocals patched together with a drop of late afternoon sunshine. Sitting…
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Bloodstock Open Air Festival Announces More Huge Names For 2025 – Backseat Mafia
Bloodstock Open Air has announced a massive 13 more bands for next summer’s metal extravaganza! On the Friday, over on the Ronnie James Dio (Main) Stage, Bloodstock is pleased to welcome classic Thrashers Flotsam And Jetsam along with Deathcore upstarts Paleface Swiss. On the Saturday the Ronnie James Dio stage will welcome Industrial Metal courtesy of Ministry who will be the special guests in their first ever Bloodstock appearance. LA legends Fear Factory will play their seminal 1995 album ‘Demanufacture’ in full and fast rising Metalcore act Heriot will also bolster the Main Stage. Thrash overlords Warbringer and hardcore bruisers Cage Fight will also attack the Main Stage on the…
