Huw Stephens: Last News

Kelela has released a studio cover of Sade’s “Like a Tattoo,” a 1992 track from the legendary R&B group’s fourth album, Love Deluxe. She performed the song live on Huw Stephens’ BBC Radio 1 program back in 2017 but had not released an official version until today (February 28).

Matt Berninger has played his solo material live for the first time, and aired his new album ‘Get Sunk’ at his show in Leeds.The National frontman released his debut album ‘Serpentine Prison’ in 2020, but could not perform any of the tracks because of COVID. His new album ‘Get Sunk’ is due to arrive on 30th May via Concord/Book Records.

Matt Berninger has announced a series of intimate UK solo shows and Q&A events set for this spring.The National frontman will perform three stripped-back shows, joined by producer Sean O’Brien and Julia Laws (Ronboy), both of whom feature on his upcoming record, ‘Get Sunk’, which was previewed earlier this month with new single ‘Bonnet Of Pins’.The performances mark the first opportunity for UK audiences to hear material from the new record, which arrives on 30th May via Concord/Book Records, and marks the second solo album from Berninger, following on from his 2020 debut ‘Serpentine Prison’.Visit here to pre-order the new album, and here to order tickets, which go on sale Wednesday (March 26) at 10am.Alongside the intimate shows, Berninger will also take part in several Q&A sessions, with these included events at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club with BBC Radio 6’s Chris Hawkins, London’s KEF Music Gallery with Huw Stephens, and Union Chapel with Matt Everitt.A post shared by Matt Berninger (@greengloves777)Following these April dates, Berninger will embark on a tour across North America, the UK, and Europe.These kick off with a series of North American stops this spring, commencing in Seattle on May 19. Other shows include stops in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and more.

BBC Radio 6 Music has announced a series of programming and a one-off Leeds show from Big Special to celebrate Independent Venue Week 2025.This year’s IVW will run across seven days between January 27 to February 2, with hundreds of live shows set to take place across the UK. Gwenno and rEDOLENT were announced as official ambassadors last month.Now, 6 Music has shared details of a week of programs to coincide with the celebrations – including “a five-day deep-dive into the UK’s independent, live music industry”.

The Cure‘s Robert Smith has revealed that his wife Mary Poole Smith helped him finalise the tracklisting for ‘Songs Of A Lost World’.The band’s 14th studio album was released last Friday (November 1), during a week which saw them play two shows at the iconic BBC Radio Theatre before performing their new record in full at London Troxy’s venue the same day their album was released.Back in 2019, the frontman said the new LP had been shaped by his “experience of life’s darker side” following the deaths of his mother, father and brother.Now, speaking to BBC Radio 6 Music’s Huw Stephens, Smith opened up about how his wife helped him to put the record together.He said: “I was finishing the doom and gloom ones… and [Mary] said no, no, no your best albums are the ones that just have a couple of… more upbeat tracks. She was right.

The Cure‘s Robert Smith has revealed that he “lives at night” and has claimed to be the owner of “the only nocturnal sheep in Britain”.Yesterday (October 30), Smith and co played shows at the iconic BBC Radio Theatre – one a live session for Huw Stephens on 6 Music, and another for the ‘Radio 2 In Concert’ series in front of an intimate audience. The shows took place ahead of the release of ‘Songs Of A Lost World’ their 14th album which marks their first in 16 years.The frontman spoke with Jo Whiley for BBC Radio 2 ahead of the performances – which will be available to watch on Saturday (November 2) from 9:10pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.During the interview, Smith shared: “I’ve got the only nocturnal sheep in Britain, seriously I’ve trained them to… I’m trying to train them because apparently, you can’t train sheep but I’m determined.

The Cure played two sets for the BBC to mark the upcoming release of their long-awaited new album ‘Songs Of A Lost World’.Due for release tomorrow (Friday November 1), ‘Songs Of A Lost World’ is the band’s 14th album and marks their first in 16 years. To celebrate, yesterday saw Robert Smith and co.

Gruff Rhys’ with ‘Sadness Sets Me Free’, and Skindred with their ‘Smile’ album, which peaked at Number Two on the UK album charts and saw them crowned the winner of best alternative act at the 2024 MOBO Awards.“Thanks to my mum and my dad – as a young black kid growing up, they constantly told me I could do anything and be anything,” L E M F R E C K said, accepting the award at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff.“This one goes to my community in Newport. If I didn’t see Benji [Webbe of Skindred] doing it first, I’m telling you now, I would not be able to do this, so I’d like to thank him,” he added.

The Cure are set to perform two world exclusive performances for the BBC later this month.The first intimate live show will be for ‘Radio 2 In Concert’, where they will perform for a small audience of fans at the BBC Radio Theatre in London on October 30.Fans can register to attend for free, which will be allocated via a ballot. Registrations for tickets opened at 8:30am BST today (October 2) and will close 9pm BST the following Wednesday (October 9) at the website.It will be broadcast on Jo Whiley’s show on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from 7-9pm GMT on October 31, which will also feature an interview with Robert Smith.Smith and co.

Mercury Prize 2024 awards ceremony have been announced – find out more below.Today (August 29), the Mercury Prize committee have announced the two hosts being tasked to lead this year’s awards ceremony. They have been revealed as DJ, broadcaster and author Annie Macmanus (also known as Annie Mac), and BBC 6 Music presenter Huw Stephens.The news comes just a week ahead of the ceremony on September 5, which will be broadcast live from Abbey Road Studios for TV from 8pm until 9.15pm via BBC Four.

BBC has announced its coverage plans for Glastonbury Festival 2024 – you can find all the details below.This legendary Worthy Farm event will take place between June 26-30, with Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA due to headline the Pyramid Stage. Other confirmed acts include Shania Twain, LCD Soundsystem, Little Simz, The National, Avril Lavigne, The Last Dinner Party, Jungle, Justice, Bloc Party, Fontaines D.C., Yard Act, Arlo Parks and Gossip.Today (May 30), the BBC – Glasto’s exclusive broadcast partner – has shared details of its “longest celebration of the festival yet” across TV, BBC iPlayer, radio and BBC Sounds.Fans who weren’t lucky enough to bag a ticket for Glasto ’24 will be able to enjoy “over 90 hours of live performances from the five main stages on BBC iPlayer, extensive coverage on TV [and] 90 hours of radio broadcasts live from the festival”.Viewers can access live-streams of The Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park stages in Ultra High Definition.Clara Amfo, Jack Saunders, Jo Whiley and Lauren Laverne will present the main TV coverage this year.

An entire British boy band tragically lost their lives when their car plunged into a canal in Stockholm. Viola Beach, who'd played at Reading and Leeds Festivals and had airtime on Radio 1, were inside a black Nissan Qashqai which drove off a bridge and landed in a Stockholm canal, 80ft below.The promising indie-rock group's members from Warrington, Cheshire – singer Kris Leonard, guitarist River Reeves, bass player Tomas Lowe and drummer Jack Dakin – as well as their manager, Craig Tarry, who was in the car with the band, all died in the horrifying accident in February 2016.Their vehicle broke through the barriers of a bridge over a canal in Stockholm's Sodertalje district and plunged into the water in the early hours of the morning.The bridge had been opened to let ships pass through, and was in the process of closing when the car went through the barriers.

Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq will present their BBC 6 Music Shows from a different grassroots venue every day of Independent Venue Week.Lamacq was joined by Stephens on the first instalment of his new weekly Teatime Session, which airs on Mondays from 4-7pm, to announce the initiative in celebration of the UK’s weeklong event to recognise the importance of independent music venues.Between January 29 and February 2, the presenters will be hitting the road to broadcast their shows from grassroots venues across the country and will also host performances from different artists each day.Lamacq will host from Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast on January 29 ahead of an Independent Venue Week performance from Ash.Stephens will be presenting his show from Edinburgh’s Whistle Binkies on January 30, where 86TVs will perform later that night; The Fulford Arms in York on January 31 ahead of a gig from NewDad; Polar Bear Music Club in Hull on February 1 where English Teacher will be playing; The Rockin’ Chair in Wrexham (Friday 2nd February) before a live set from Antony Szmierek.Those artists will join Lamacq and Stephens for intimate live performances and interviews across the week.Listeners can attend two exclusive intimate live performances with Ash in Belfast on January 29 and Antony Szmierek in Wrexham on February 2. You can apply to attend via a free ballot here, which will be open till January 15.

NME journalist will begin a new weekly show, Steve Lamacq’s Teatime Session, on Monday, January 8 (4pm-7pm), while Huw Stephens will be taking the weekday slot Tuesday-Friday.“Steve Lamacq has decided to make a well-deserved change to his broadcasting career,” BBC 6 Music announced in a social post this weekend.It confirmed that Lamacq will present his final daily weekday show on Friday October, 20. Stephens will then begin his new show on Tuesday, January 9, after covering the show with other hosts in the interim.A post shared by BBC Radio 6 Music (@bbc6music)“Steve Lamacq’s Teatime Session will see Steve bring listeners his favourite new and classic tracks, as well as live sessions from established bands and emerging artists,” the post added.“Huw’s show will see him share the music he loves, past and present.

NME about how it feels to have won a coveted Pyramid Stage slot at Worthy Farm this June after winning Glastonbury‘s Emerging Talent Competition 2023.The Guinea-born, Cardiff-based artist emerged triumphant over eight other finalists and thousands of online entries. He won over a judging panel including Emily Eavis, DJ Huw Stephens and festival main stage bookers with his innovative fusion of traditional West African music with elements of jazz, indie and funk.“I feel like I’m dreaming,” the winner told NME performing at Pilton’s Working Men’s Club on Saturday (April 29).

It's almost that time of year again, with the return of the most prestigious prize in British music. 

It's almost that time of year again, with the return of the most prestigious prize in British music. 

BBC have shared further details of their coverage for this month’s Glastonbury Festival.Last month it was revealed that the broadcaster will show sets live from Worthy Farm’s Pyramid Stage in Ultra High Definition (UHD) for the first time.Now, a full schedule for the week leading up to the festival and its Friday night (June 18-24) has been shared, with significant coverage across radio and television.BBC Music’s presenters for the festival include Lauren Laverne, Jo Wiley, Clara Amfo, Jack Saunders and Huw Stephens, while the pre-festival schedule includes a broadcast of Glastonbury: 50 Years & Counting, described as a “kaleidoscopic portrait of Glastonbury and its social and musical history is given through the testimony of its principal curators, Michael and Emily Eavis, as well as artists who have appeared there”.Contributors on the programme include Aswad, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Dua Lipa, Ed O’Brien, Fatboy Slim, Florence Welch, Johnny Marr, Linda Lewis, Orbital, Noel Gallagher, The Levellers, Thom Yorke and Stormzy.On Monday (June 20), Stormzy: Road to the Pyramid Stage will be broadcast on BBC One, a film “in which Stormzy reflects on the journey that led him to that iconic performance in 2019 at the festival”.See the full schedule for BBC’s Glastonbury coverage from June 18-24 below.

Manic Street Preachers covered Madonna‘s ‘Borderline’ during their set at BBC 6 Music Festival last night (March 31) – watch below.As announced last week, the band kicked off this year’s festival by playing an exclusive, intimate show at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff. It marked their first-ever appearance at the famous Welsh venue, despite having been set to perform there back in 1990.Towards the end of their career-spanning 16-track set, the Manics debuted a rendition of Madonna’s 1984 single ‘Borderline’, which appeared on her self-titled debut studio album (1983).James Dean Bradfield and co.

The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival will make its fully-fledged post-COVID return this year, taking place across multiple venues in Cardiff. Among the line-up are Little Simz, Father John Misty, Idles, Pixies, Beebadoobee, Mykki Blanco, Self Esteem and more.“After two years, it feels very special to say that the 6 Music Festival is back with a bang in Cardiff”, says Head Of BBC Radio 6 Music, Samantha Moy.

BBC Radio 6's annual Music Festival will take place this year in Cardiff.