Will Hodgkinson: Last News

The Last Dinner Party have spoken about their “privilege” in response to an “out of context” quote regarding the cost of living crisis that has gone viral.Yesterday (Thursday February 29), a section from a recent article by The Times – titled ‘Is there a future for bands? Why I fear for rock’n’roll…’ – started making the rounds on social media.It read: “How to explain, then, the success of The Last Dinner Party, who have roared out of nowhere to a No 1 album, in the process winning the BBC Sound of 2024 and a rising star award at the Brits this weekend? Their theatrical escapism may be part of it.”The outlet went on to quote frontwoman Abigail Morris, who said: “People don’t want to listen to post-punk and hear about the cost of living crisis any more.”Music critic Will Hodgkinson then noted in the article that the singer had studied at “the liberal boarding school Bedales” in Hampshire “where fees can be £43,000 a year”.

This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist has been announced, with artists including Arctic Monkeys, Jessie Ware and Raye vying for the £25,000 prize for the best British and Irish album of the last year.As ever, twelve albums make up the shortlist, with one overall winner set to be announced during a ceremony at the Hammersmith Apollo in London on 7 Sep.The 2023 judging panel was revealed yesterday.

Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Gilbert of New Order spoke today (March 15) at this year’s SXSW and discussed becoming musicians, the evolution of their sound and growing up in Manchester.The trio were keynote speakers at the annual tech and marketing festival, in conversation with Will Hodgkinson, rock and pop critic of The Times. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, introduced the keynote, calling New Order “the ultimate Manchester band” before adding that it was “a big statement”.The band kicked off their chat by discussing how they weren’t necessarily “anti-musicians” but they were “anti-success”, with Sumner pointing to growing up working class before “punk came along” giving him the chance to express himself, without being a virtuoso. “I didn’t want to be famous, I didn’t care about that at all.

READ MORE:Harry Styles' Don't Worry Darling co-star jokes he dared actor to 'spit' on Chris PineThe artist, whose real name is Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, took home a whopping cash prize of £25,000 as well as the trophy.The singer admitted she was "overwhelmed" as she picked up the award, which comes after she won Best Newcomer at the Brit Awards last year.Little Simz won the award for her fourth album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, a hip-hop record that tells a coming-of-age story.The Introvert singer was picked from the shortlist by a panel of independent judges after an independent panel chose the shortlist.Choosing the shortlist and winner this year was a star-studded line-up of Annie Mac, Jamie Cullum, Anna Calvi, Danielle Perry, Hazel Wilde, Gemma Cairney, Michael Kiwanuka, Jeff Smith, Mike Walsh, Phil Alexander, Tshepo Mokoena, Will Hodgkinson and Jeff Smith.In 2019, Little Simz was nominated for the Mercury for her latest LP, Grey Area, which was released the same year.Sometimes I Might Be Introvert rose to number four in the UK album chart when it was released last year.The rapper is the 31st winner of the Mercury and succeeds indie singer-songwriter Arlo Parks, who won the award last year.Harry Styles made the shortlist with his third studio album, Harry's House, but did not attend the ceremony as he is currently touring the US.The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on September 8 but was cancelled out of respect for the Queen as news that she died came on the same day.Mercury prize organisers told the Mirror: "Tonight’s Mercury Prize event has been postponed at this time of great national sorrow.

Ellise Shafer The shortlist for 2022’s Mercury Prize has been revealed, and includes albums from Harry Styles, Little Simz and Wet Leg.This year’s ceremony for the prestigious award, which celebrates the best of British and Irish music, will take place on Sept. 8 at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith and feature live performances from many of the shortlisted artists.

Ed Sheeran fans may get more of a mental image than they bargained for when listening to his new album.Ed, 30, released the album – titled Equals and stylised with the symbol: “=“ yesterday (Friday 29th October).It has already received critical acclaim, with even the previously disparaging music critic Will Hodgkinson writing in The Times: "I have run out of rude things to say about him."On Equals, Ed's first full studio album since 2017’s Divide – there's a racy track titled Collide.Through his lyrics, Ed – who has been married to 29-year-old consultant Cherry Seaborn since 2019 – sings: “We made love in the sky, overslept and missed the Northern Lights.”He then adds: “We’ve watched the blossom fall to earth like snow, fumbled in cubicles