Bernard Butler: Last News

London rapper Little Simz won big at last night's Mercury Prize ceremony as she was awarded with both the Album of the Year and Best New Artist trophies.In her acceptance speech for Album of the Year, she told the ceremony she was "very overwhelmed and grateful" to win the Mercury Prize.The rapper was up against Yard Act, Wet Leg, Self Esteem, Sam Fender, Nova Twins, Kojey Radical, Joy Crookes, Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler, Harry Styles, Gwenno and Fergus McCreadie for the coveted award.She was crowned winner at Hammersmith Apollo in London on Tuesday night (October 18), after the ceremony was delayed by a month following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September.The judging panel said: "In a year that has, to put it mildly, presented rather a lot of challenges, British and Irish music has thrived more than ever."When it came down to it, the judges were so impressed by Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz that everyone could get behind it."But who is Little Simz and what did she do before she became a rapper? Here's everything you need to know:Little Simz, whose real name is Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, is an award-winning rapper from Islington in London.She was raised on a council estate by her mother and father alongside her siblings .Little Simz rose to fame with the independent release of her first three albums, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons (2015), Stillness in Wonderland (2016) and Grey Area (2019).When Grey Area was released, it was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and won the awards for Best Album at both the Ivor Novello Awards and the NME Awards.

Russell Crowe has announced his first US tour in 12 years – you can find all the details below.The Gladiator actor and musician’s ‘Indoor Garden Party’ trek will see him perform live with his band The Gentlemen Barber and Lorraine O’Reilly in Newark, New York City, Los Angeles, Tulsa, Austin and New Orleans this August.Tickets go on general sale at 10am local time this Friday (April 26) – you’ll be able to buy yours here. Pre-sales begin at the same time tomorrow (Thursday, April 25).“Hello America… it’s your turn,” Crowe wrote on social media to announce the forthcoming dates.

Glastonbury has added more names to its 2024 line-up, as organisers share the bill for this year’s Acoustic Stage.The official 2024 line-up for Glastonbury was shared last month – with Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA set to headline the iconic Pyramid Stage this summer, while Shania Twain will perform in the legends slot on the Sunday.Now, following the main announcement, the organisers of the iconic Worthy Farm festival have begun counting down the weeks to this year’s instalment by beginning to announce the artists playing at individual stages around the site.Announced today (April 12), the announcement of those playing at individual stages has kicked off with the Acoustic Stage – and several new artists being confirmed as performing across June 28 and June 30.The Friday slot (June 28) will see performances led by Scouting For Girls, as well as Tanita Tikaram, Deverish, Stornoway, Josh Rous, Angie McMahon, John Smith, The Burma and more. It will also feature sets from Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ cover band, Red Hot Chilli Pipers.Saturday’s line-up at the Acoustic Stage includes Birmingham rock group Ocean Colour Scene, as well as Ralph McTell, The Manfields (featuring Paul Jones and Mike d’Abo), Albert Lee and more.

Bernard Butler has announced details of ‘Good Grief’ – his first solo album in 25 years. Check out the lead single ‘Camber Sands’ below, as well as tour dates.Announced today (March 27), the upcoming release marks the songwriter and producer’s return to solo work after two and a half decades.

Johnny Marr has said that gifting Noel Gallagher with an expensive guitar – after he smashed the previous one – is partly what motivated him to stop drinking.Marr previously recalled the time he gave a young, “skint” Gallagher his guitars before the pre-Oasis guitarist could afford his own.“He was just this guy who I recognised was intense and really serious about what he was doing, and he was skint and I had a load of guitars and I thought, ‘right OK well I’ll give him this guitar’,” he told Radio X.The Smiths guitarist gave Gallagher a 1960 Gibson Les Paul – which can be heard on The Smiths’ 1986 album ‘The Queen Is Dead’, and was formerly owned by The Who‘s Pete Townshend – only for him to smash it while dealing with a stage invader during a gig in Newcastle.Gallagher called Marr to ask for a replacement, after which the guitarist gifted his black 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom.Marr also gave his 12-string sunburst Gibson 335, which features in the video for ‘Sheila Take a Bow’, to former Suede guitarist and producer Bernard Butler.“It’s just to be nice,” Marr told The Guardian. “As simple as that.

He has a new album called Happy Ending but Soup Dragons’ Sean Dickson’s new music is a glorious beginning.

So, after a month’s delay – due to the death of the Queen on the night when this was originally supposed to happen – Little Simz was last night handed this year’s Mercury Prize for her album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’. As we all knew it would be. I mean, imagine if they hadn’t given it to Little Simz.Even though it was obvious that none of the others would win, they all still turned up to the ceremony at the Hammersmith Apollo. All except Harry Styles, who couldn’t be fucked.

Little Simz has won the 2022 Mercury Prize for her album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’.The London rapper was favourite to take the prize and beat off competition from fellow favourites Self Esteem and Wet Leg at a live ceremony at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith tonight (October 18).Accepting the trophy, she said: “Wow, I’m very, very overwhelmed. I’m very grateful, glory to God.

Sam Fender has announced two huge gigs in Belfast and Dublin next summer.The singer-songwriter will headline Belfast Belsonic festival on Friday, June 23 and Dublin’s Malahide Castle on June 25, 2023.Tickets for both shows will go on sale this Friday (October 21) at 10am and can be purchased here.Fender also said a pre-sale will be held prior to the general sale and will be sent out via his mailing list.A post shared by Sam Fender (@sam_fender)Both shows will follow his forthcoming double header at Newcastle United’s St.

The Mercury Prize has announced details of its rescheduled 2022 ceremony, which is set to take place next week – the original show having been pulled at the very last minute due to the death of the Queen last month.Eleven of this year’s nominated artists – Fergus McCreadie, Gwenno, Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler, Joy Crookes, Kojey Radical, Little Simz, Nova Twins, Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Wet Leg and Yard Act – will perform live.Harry Styles will be the only absence, because he just can’t be bothered. Also, he’s on tour in the US. I suppose thats a fairly good excuse.

Mercury Prize have confirmed the line-up of live performers for this year’s rescheduled award ceremony.The 2022 prize had been due to be presented last month at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, but the ceremony was called off on the night (September 8) following the death of the Queen.The 2022 Mercury Prize ceremony will now take place on Tuesday (October 18), with the show set to be hosted by Lauren Laverne and broadcast on BBC TV and radio.This morning (October 13), the Mercury Prize organisers have confirmed the line-up of live performers on the night.

Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at the age of 96 at Balmoral, ending her 70-year reign.News of her majesty’s death came after it was announced on Thursday lunchtime that she was under medical supervision and ‘comfortable’.In light of the news, the Mercury Prize will not go ahead as planned today, however will be rescheduled for a later date. A spokesperson said in a statement: ‘Tonight’s Mercury Prize event has been postponed at this time of great national sorrow.

Mercury Prize have been released, with Self Esteem, Little Simz and Wet Leg among the favourites.The 12 albums that have been shortlisted for the Album Of The Year award were announced earlier this summer.Self Esteem’s ‘Prioritise Pleasure’ is currently favourite to clinch the prize on aggregate bookies’ website Oddschecker, with odds of 27-10, closely followed by Little Simz’ ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’ at 3-1 while Wet Leg’s self-titled debut album has odds of 9-2.Gwenno’s ‘Tresor’ is further back at 12-1 while Yard Act’s ‘The Overload’ is 14-1. Nova Twins’ ‘Supernova’ is coming in at 16-1 while Kojey Radical‘s ‘Reason To Smile’ is at 22-1, closely followed by albums by Sam Fender, Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler.Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’ is tied at 28-1 with Joy Crookes‘ ‘Skin’ while Fergus McCreadie currently has odds of 40-1 with ‘Forest Floor’.Speaking about her nomination, Self Esteem recently told NME.

Sam Fender, Wet Leg, Self Esteem and more are all set to perform at next month’s 2022 Mercury Prize ceremony in London.Last month (July 26), the 12 albums that have been shortlisted for the Album Of The Year award were announced, including Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’, Little Simz’s ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’, Sam Fender’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’, Wet Leg’s self-titled album and Yard Act’s ‘The Overload’.Also on the shortlist are Self Esteem (‘Prioritise Pleasure’), Joy Crookes (‘Skin’), Kojey Radical (‘Reason To Smile’), Nova Twins (‘Supernova’), Fergus McCreadie (‘Forest Floor’), Gwenno (‘Tresor’) and Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler (‘For All Our Days That Tear The Heart’).11 of the 12 nominees have now been confirmed to perform live at the September 8 ceremony at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith. Only Harry Styles is unable to attend, and will instead pre-record a special performance that will be broadcast at the ceremony.The 2022 Mercury Prize ceremony will be hosted by Lauren Laverne and broadcast on BBC Four from 9pm-10.15pm BST.

Festival organisers have revealed an exciting glimpse into what Lanarkshire fans can expect at this month's Connect Music Festival with the release of the site map.

Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler have spoken to NME about being nominated for the Mercury Prize 2022 – and the secret to good songwriting and a magic collaboration. Watch our video interview with the pair above.The Irish actor/singer-songwriter and the former Suede guitarist turned solo star and record producer were speaking to NME from the London launch event for the prize yesterday (Wednesday July 27), where their collaborative album ‘For All Our Days That Tear That Tear The Heart’ was named as one of the Albums Of The Year alongside albums by the likes of Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Nova Twins, Harry Styles, Little Simz and more.Asked what spirit of the times the shortlist captured, Butler replied: “I don’t think it says anything about music in 2022.

The list of nominees for the 2022 Mercury Prize has been revealed with Harry Styles, Little Simz, and Wet Leg set to compete for this year's title. The annual prize rewards one outstanding British album.

Mercury Prize have been sharing their excitement over being shortlisted for the prestigious award.This morning (July 26), the Mercury Prize – in partnership with mobility app FREE NOW – confirmed that Harry Styles‘ ‘Harry’s House’, Little Simz‘ ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’, Sam Fender‘s ‘Seventeen Going Under’, Wet Leg‘s self-titled LP and Yard Act‘s ‘The Overload’ are among the 12 records in the running for the annual Album Of The Year statue.The rest of the list is made up of Self Esteem (‘Prioritise Pleasure’), Joy Crookes (‘Skin’), Kojey Radical (‘Reason To Smile’), Nova Twins (‘Supernova’), Fergus McCreadie (‘Forest Floor’), Gwenno (‘Tresor’) and Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler (‘For All Our Days That Tear The Heart’).The winner will be announced during an event at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on September 8.Reacting to the nod on Twitter, Wet Leg – aka Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers – wrote: “We’re so freakin lucky that we got to make the album that we made. These past couple of years have been full of surprises and unexpected adventures.“Here’s perhaps one of our fave surprises so far…Our debut album has been shortlisted for a @MercuryPrize!?”Elsewhere, Sam Fender said he was “so chuffed” that ‘Seventeen Going Under’ (NME‘s album of the year 2021) had made the Mercurys list.

Mercury Prize shortlist for 2022 Album Of The Year has been revealed.At 11am today (July 26), the Mercury Prize – in partnership with mobility app FREE NOW – confirmed that the 12 albums that have been shortlisted for the Album Of The Year award include Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’, Little Simz’s ‘Sometimes I Might be Introvert’, Sam Fender’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’, Wet Leg’s self-titled album and Yard Act’s ‘The Overload’.You can find the entire list of albums shortlisted for the coveted award below.The awards show for the event will take place on September 8 at London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith. Tickets for the event are now available for purchase here.It was announced yesterday (July 25) that a handful of musicians including Anna Calvi, Lanterns On The Lake’s Hazel Wilde, Loyle Carner and Jamie Cullum helped judge this year’s prize, alongside a range of broadcasters and critics.The Mercury’s official website has also noted that the 12 nominated artists will “receive a specially commissioned ‘Album Of The Year’ trophy, with the overall winner also receiving a winner trophy and a cash prize of £25,000”.This year’s Mercury Prize has also announced that it’s new headline sponsor is the FREE NOW mobility app as part of a “multi-year commitment from FREE NOW to support British music”.Last year, Arlo Parks walked away with the 2021 Mercury Prize for her album ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’.

This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist has been announced, rounding up the twelve absolute best British and Irish albums of the last year. No question. Actually, before you get all annoyed, it is a very strong list this year.

Harry Styles continues his reign at Number 1 on the Official Irish Albums Chart with Harry’s House, denying Drake his third chart-topping collection.