The Weekly Wrap | 30/08/2024
The Weekly Wrap is a look at the biggest stories in music collected in one place for your reading ease.
Petition Launched To Save Bluesfest Byron Bay
Image via @bluesfestbyronbay (Facebook)
When it was revealed the 2025 edition of Bluesfest Byron Bay would be the last, music lovers across the nation were left crestfallen. While Festival Director Peter Noble OAM has thanked fans for their support and urged everyone to attend the final festival next year, some folk aren’t quite ready to give up on the iconic blues and roots event.
NSW State Government MP, Tamara Smith, NSW Member for Ballina, has launched a petition to save the festival. The E-petition needs 20,000 NWS residents’ signatures so the issue can be taken to NSW Parliament and debated by MPs.
“Bluesfest is not just a festival; it’s a crucial part of our community, our economy, and our cultural identity,” Tamara Smith said in a statement. “We cannot afford to lose Bluesfest. It is imperative that we take collective action to ensure its survival for future generations to enjoy.”
Although only open to NSW residents, if you know anyone who lives in the state, be sure to hit them up and get them to sign the petition.
Queens of the Stone Age Cancel Remaining 2024 Tour DAtes
Image by Andreas Heuer
After cancelling several of their European shows after frontman Josh Homme became ill, Queens of the Stone Age have now put a line through all their remaining 2024 dates. The news comes after Homme underwent emergency surgery for an undisclosed illness.
“Josh has been given no choice but to prioritize his health and to receive essential medical care through the remainder of the year,” the band wrote on social media.
“Josh and the QOTSA family are so thankful for your support and the time we were able to spend together over the last year. Hope to see you all again in 2025.”
Shows cancelled include two performances at MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, Soundside Music Festival in Bridgeport and Corona Capital Festival in Mexico City, Mexico.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Homme and his family during this tough time.
Caribou Announces New Album Honey, Shares Single ‘Come Find Me’
Image supplied
Electronic producer Caribou, known to his parents as Dan Snaith, has a new album on the way. Honey follows 2020’s Suddenly and is being released via Merge on October 4. You can pre-order/pre-save the album here.
Along with announcing his sixth album, Caribou has released the album’s fourth single, ‘Come Find Me’. Following previous singles ‘Volume’, ‘Honey’ and ‘Broke My Heart’, Caribou’s latest will get you up and dancing, much like the music video directed by Richard Kenworthy of Shynola, which features a big-headed Caribou busting a groove in various locations.
In a statement about the album, Cariboy says: “One thing that hasn’t changed for me from the very beginning is a manic curiosity of seeing what I can make out of sound. Not so much what someone can make out of sound—a ‘professional’ with a host of collaborators and resources at their disposal—but me in my little basement studio.
“There’s more equipment in here than there used to be, but essentially it’s the same as ever: still chasing that thrill of when something hits really hard, and I find myself jumping up and down or the hairs standing up on my arms in excitement. How lucky am I that that’s never gone away? That the chance of making something new and exciting is still as exhilarating as ever, and as much fun as ever? Starting the day with nothing (and finishing most days with nothing good) but occasionally having something that didn’t exist before stuck in my head by the end of the day. It still seems like a kind of alchemy.”
Honey arrives October 4 via Merge. You can pre-order/pre-save the album here.
Elton John Doco Never Too Late Coming to Disney+
Image supplied
Disney+ will be airing a new Elton John documentary in December. Entitled Elton John: Never Too Late, the doco delves into the ‘Tiny Dancer’ hitmaker’s 50 year career, culminating with his final North American show at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles.
The movie is directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish – Elton John’s husband – and will have a short theatrical run in UK and US cinemas before arriving on Disney+ on December 13.
According to Deadline, the doco’s synopsis reads: “[T]he documentary follows Elton John as he looks back on his life and the astonishing early days of his 50-year career in this emotionally charged, intimate and uplifting full-circle journey.
“As he prepares for his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium, Elton takes us back in time to recount the extraordinary highs and heartbreaking lows of his early years and how he overcame adversity, abuse and addiction to become the icon he is today.”
Elton John: Never Too Late arrives in UK and US cinemas on November 15 before hitting Disney+ on December 13.
Ticket Prices for Oasis Reunion Shows Revealed
Image by Simon Emmett
Oasis getting back together is one of the biggest stories in music this year. Somehow the Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, have put their long-standing feud aside and announced a UK tour.
Since the news broke on Tuesday, Oasis has added three extra shows due to fan demand, despite tickets not being on sale, increasing their run of dates from 14 to 17. Gigs and Tickets has also shared the prices for the Cardiff, London, Edinburgh and Manchester stadium shows.
A standing ticket will set you back £135, which is roughly $260. Not cheap, but not ridiculous, when you consider Pearl Jam tickets for their Australian tour are priced similarly. Seating tickets range from £65 ($125) to £185 ($358), with a range of premium, hospitality and merchandise packages available.
As for the band’s Dublin gigs, the Irish Mirror confirmed ticket prices will start from €86.50 ($140). Don’t forget there’s also a booking fee to be added at the checkout, which will probably add another $20 to the total ticket price. Although expensive, there’s no doubt people from across the world will be trying to score a ticket when they go on sale this Saturday, August 31 at 5:30pm local time.
For more details about Oasis tickets visit Ticketmaster UK.
Morrissey Wanted To REform the Smiths But Johnny Marr Said No
Image via The Smiths (Facebook)
As the world celebrates the return of the Gallagher brothers, talk of another iconic UK band getting back together has quickly been squashed.
After a fan took to X with a post stating: “If Oasis can do it The Smiths can too (I’m delusional).” The Smiths’ former guitarist Johnny Marr responded to the comment with an image of right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP) founder Nigel Farage holding a beer. This is a dig at The Smiths’ frontman Morrissey who is a known supporter of Farage.
In response to Marr’s baiting, Morrissey released a statement on X claiming the duo had been offered an exorbitant amount of money to reform, with Morrissey keen and Marr ignoring the offer. You can read the full statement below:
“In June 2024 AEG Entertainment Group made a lucrative offer to both Morrissey and Marr to tour worldwide as ‘The Smiths’ throughout 2025. Morrisey said yes; Marr ignored the offer.
“Morrissey undertakes a largely sold out tour of the USA in November. Marr continues to tour as a special guest of New Order.”
In short, don’t expect The Smiths to be announcing any stadium shows in the near the future.
Friday Five
You love music. We love music. Here are five songs we can’t get enough of this week.
1. A$AP Rocky – ‘Tailor Swif’
2. Gut Health – ‘Stiletto’
3. Kim Gordon & model home – ‘razzamatazz’
4. Caribou – ‘Come Find Me’
5. Wafia - ‘Sad Shit’
