Benefits: Last News

Benefits have spoken to NME about the making of new album ‘Constant Noise’, the battle for principles in music, and making gigs more accessible and affordable.With the Teesside noise-punks’ abrasive but acclaimed 2023 debut album ‘Nails’ hailed by NME for its “raw and primal urgency” – a record that “had to be made and heard now, like government-approved sewage being pumped into a river” – their new record sees the band take a left turn to better reflect the political climate.“What we were doing on the first album was retaliating like-for-like with what I was seeing from more right-wing-centric personalities,” frontman Kingsley Hall told NME. “Their messaging seemed to be quite violent, confrontational and obvious.

Cher has proven that she is strong enough to do it all.And on Thursday night at the 9th annual Love Rocks NYC benefit for God’s Love We Deliver, that included dressing in male drag as the King.After an introduction by Whoopi Goldberg, the 78-year-old icon shocked the audience at Manhattan’s Beacon Theatre as she took the stage in an Elvis getup to “Walking in Memphis” — just as she had done in the video for her 1995 single.A pompadoured Cher rocked a gray pinstriped jacket, black pants and a pink and black shirt as she strutted to her cover of Marc Cohn’s 1991 hit — which, ironically enough, was featured on her album “It’s a Man’s World.”It was a far cry from the sheer bodysuit from her “If I Could Turn Back Time” video that she wore the last time she performed in New York, at “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert,” a few weeks ago.But although she may have been a drag king, Cher was the queen of this night. And as such, she was the only act whose set included any outfit changes — one for each of her three numbers — in true diva fashion.Before “(This Is) A Song for the Lonely” — which was released in March 1992, six months after 9/11 — Cher reminisced about her connection to the Big Apple.“The first time I moved to New York, I was 14,” she said.

Benefits have shared a new punk-inspired single called ‘Divide’ – you can listen to it below.The track serves as the latest preview of Teesside punk duo’s second studio album ‘Constant Noise’, which is due for release on March 21 via Invada (pre-order/pre-save here).Featuring guest vocals from Middlesbrough rapper Shakk, the song sees the band combine the heavier sensibilities of their earlier material with their new electronically-driven music. ‘Divide’ also boasts “hyperactive club rhythms and Berghain-heavy basslines”, per a press release.Lyrically, Benefits delve into the divisive state of the UK and the world at large.“Divide is a punk song about society at war with itself over every conceivable issue,” explained frontman Kingsley Hall.

Benefits have shared ‘Missiles’, a powerful new anti-war single. Check it out below.The track is taken from the Teesside duo’s upcoming second album ‘Constant Noise’, which will arrive on March 21 via Invada Records and serves as the follow-up to 2023’s ‘NAILS’.So far, they’ve shared lead single ‘Land Of The Tyrants’, as well as ‘Relentless’, which features Pete Doherty of The Libertines.Now, on Christmas Eve, they’ve shared their ominous, “wildly angry” and “anti-war” single ‘Missiles’.

Benefits have responded to fan suggestions and implemented both a price cap and a curfew for their upcoming tour of the UK.The Teesside duo shared details of a new tour across the UK yesterday (November 13) – alongside the announcement that they had teamed up with Pete Doherty for single ‘Relentless’ and are planning to release new album ‘Constant Noise’.Commencing on April 22, the tour is comprised of 11 shows across the country, and launches with a gig at the Hebden Bridge Trades Club, before making stops in Hull, Nottingham, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and more. A slot at the Lexington venue in London is also scheduled for April 25.Tickets go on sale at 10am tomorrow (November 15), and will be available here.Now, the band have taken to X/Twitter to confirm that they will be making the shows more accessible for fans by implementing both a price cap at £12 per ticket and enforcing a 10pm curfew.You might remember us asking what could be made to improve gigs in this age of spiralling costs + venues closing.

Benefits have enlisted Pete Doherty for their new single ‘Relentless’ as they announce new album ‘Constant Noise’ alongside a UK headline tour.The Teeside duo’s second album will arrive on March 21 via Invada Records and serves as the follow-up to 2023’s ‘NAILS’. Its tracklist includes their recent single ‘Land Of The Tyrants’ and new track ‘Relentless, which features Pete Doherty of The Libertines.“The song is about craving for a past you had that exists perhaps solely in your memory.

ending his farewell tour with a concert at Flushing Meadow Park in the New York borough of Queens, where he grew up.Since then, the legendary singer-songwriter has rarely performed while coping with hearing loss in his left ear. But the 82-year-old icon stepped back onto the stage for a private, intimate performance on Monday night at the Soho Sessions loft space.The star-studded event — drawing everyone from Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Bacon and Mariska Hargitay to Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Schumer and Jackson Browne — was all to benefit the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss.“This is the type of room that is conducive for him to play in at this stage with his hearing, and I think there was just mutual trust,” said Greg Williamson, who produces and curates Soho Sessions with Nicole Rechter to benefit various causes.

Benefits have announced they’re embarking on a UK and European tour this autumn.Taking to Instagram, the Teesside punks wrote: “NEWS! We’re touring in October! It’s our first time out since we released our debut album early last year! It’s been AGES! In with the new, on sale FRIDAY 10AM.“We’re really excited to be going to a fair few places we’ve never been before, bringing the electronic radge to Huddersfield, Lancaster, Aberdeen, Stirling, Preston, Utrecht, Ostend, Margate and Newport for the first time.“As well as returning to towns and cities we love like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Boro, Liverpool, Rotterdam, Southampton, Brighton and London. It’s going to be epic, please get involved, share the joy, share the anger, bring strobes and earplugs.”Tickets are available on their website at 10am BST this Friday (July 12).A post shared by BENEFITS THE BAND (@benefitsuk)OCTOBER05 – HUDDERSFIELD, The Parrish06 – LANCASTER, Kanteena07 – GLASGOW, Huge and Pint08 – EDINBURGH, Wee Red Bar09 – ABERDEEN, Tunnels10 – STIRLING, Tolbooth11 – MIDDLESBROUGH, Play Brew12 – LIVERPOOL, Shipping Forecast13 – PRESTON, The Ferret17 – ROTTERDAM, Left of the Dial 18 – UTRECHT, ACU 19 – ROTTERDAM, Left of the dial 20 – OSTEND, Cafe de Zwerver 22 – SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners23 – BRIGHTON, Hope and Ruin24 – MARGATE, Where Else25 – LONDON, The George Tavern26 – NEWPORT, Le PubLast year, NME caught up with Benefits before they performed at Glastonbury’s Left Field stage on the invitation of Billy Bragg, with frontman Kingsley Hall touching on the progress of their second album.“We want to get stuff out as soon as possible,” he said.

Babyface, “My, My, My.”That was the feeling in the house at the Apollo on Tuesday night when both Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Usher Raymond IV — but really, only one name is necessary for each — were honored at the iconic Harlem institution as it celebrated its 90th anniversary with its annual spring benefit.No doubt — it was the ultimate soul-man showtime at the Apollo, raising more than $3 million for the nonprofit organization that has been the music mecca for everyone from Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to James Brown and Aretha Franklin.Those velvet seats were feeling extra cushy on this night.After 2007 “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks opened the night with a medley of classics, it was all about the boys 90 years after the Apollo opened on Jan. 26, 1934, turning 125th Street into hollowed ground for generations of African-American artists.Given the fancy footwork that took Usher to the Super Bowl halftime stage this year, it was fitting that a dance performance including hits such as “Caught Up,” “Burn” and of course “Yeah!” paid tribute to the 45-year-old singer before he accepted the 2024 Icon Award.“It’s an Icon Award, so I feel like I can take a little more time,” Usher joked as he began his acceptance speech.And then he told the crowd that was standing in salute, “Don’t sit down — I love it.

Leslie Uggams made her debut at Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater in 1952, she instantly won over the notoriously tough crowd as the “extra added attraction” on a bill with jazz great Louis Armstrong as headliner.“It was terrific … They loved me,” Uggams, now 81, told The Post about her 20-minute act, which included singing, tap-dancing and impressions. “I remember one of the songs was ‘When You’re Smiling.’ And another song was ‘Exactly Like You.’ And also ‘On the Sunny Side of the Street.’ ”The Harlem native — who earned her coveted spot on the Apollo stage by repeatedly winning a radio contest — wasn’t even nervous about not getting the local love when she was known as “Little Leslie Uggams.”“I was a ham,” she said with a laugh.

Spiritualized, The Mysterines and Benefits.This year’s event will be the 14th edition of the festival, and it will take place from May 9 to 11, and over 70 live acts have now been confirmed to appear. Tickets are available here.Other names on the bill include Deerhoof, Skinny Pelembe, Snapped Ankles, Melin Melyn, Flamingods, The Royston Club and Adwaith.A post shared by FOCUS Wales (@focuswales)FOCUS Wales claims to showcase more Welsh artists than any other regular event, and is sponsored by Creative Wales, a Welsh government agency that supports creative industries in Wales.

Benefits has shared a powerful statement regarding the ongoing Israel-Palestine war as well as Armistice Day.On November 9, the band took to their official Instagram account to discuss the current state of the world, specifically the ongoing Israel-Palestine war. “For the last week, we’ve travelled around a chunk of Northern Europe going from major city to major city with absolute ease.

Empire State Bastard have announced that Benefits will serve as opening support during their 2023 winter UK and EU tour.Kicking off on November 2, both bands will play the first show of the tour at the Alhambra venue in Paris, before making stops in Cologne, Amsterdam, Berlin and Hamberg that same week.From there, they will start the UK leg of the tour with a show in Cardiff on November 9. Other cities the band will hit include Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, as well as a slot at London’s Electric Ballroom on November 11.NEWS NEWS NEWS!!! Massively excited to say we're going to be supporting @ESB666_ on tour in November!!! Such an amazing band, we LOVE them and can't wait to play then have our ears blasted to smithereens every night.

Benefits have spoken to NME about making their Glastonbury Festival debut tonight (Friday June 23).The Teesside noise punks will be performing under the invitation of Billy Bragg on his legendary Left Field stage this evening, shortly after the mysterious set from The Churnups – widely believed to be Foo Fighters, or least something featuring Dave Grohl, after he was spotted on site earlier today.Still, Benefits frontman Kingsley Hall isn’t worried about pulling a big crowd shortly after. “We’re not up against them,” replied Hall. “As soon as they finish, we start. There’s no crossover.

Benefits, Cavetown, Big Joanie, Cassyette and more have been announced for Glastonbury‘s 2023 Left Field line-up.Other acts announced on the line-up, which spotlights “voices from the front line of the struggle in debate and performance”, include Deadletter, Crawlers, Billy Bragg, Delilah Bon, Kid Kapichi, Dréya Mac, Tom A. Smith, Lime Garden, Jamie Webster and Will Varley.“Recharge your activism with this year’s @glastoleftfield line-up,” the festival posted on Instagram, which hosts “purveyors of pop and politics at Glastonbury since 2002”.“As the shape of the post-pandemic world begins to form, it’s clear that people are more willing to stand up and be counted,” stage host Bragg wrote in a statement.

Benefits have announced debut album ‘Nails’ and shared its first single, the furious ‘Warhorse’.The band, led by frontman Kingsley Hall, have signed to Bristol’s Invada Records, the label of Portishead and BEAK>‘s Geoff Barrow, for the album, which will come out on April 21.“We could have released a record at any point over the last couple of years but held back because I wanted to wait until the right people came along,” Hall said of the signing and forthcoming album.Watch him sign the record contract at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium below.Ok. Here's some massive news. pic.twitter.com/a8DVTSubDG— Benefits (@Benefitstheband) February 27, 2023Of first single ‘Warhorse’, Hall added: “At some point if the boot continues to stamp on us, we’re going to react.

OSF HealthCare, a Catholic hospital system out of Illinois, has restricted the employee health plan benefits it offers to LGBTQ employees.The health care system changed its policy by narrowing the insurance plan’s definition of “infertility” from any person unable to get pregnant to “the inability for a married couple of opposite sex spouses to conceive.” According to Bloomberg News, OSF HealthCare has characterized the policy shift as attempting to “assist married opposite sex spouses” in conceiving a child.OSF HealthCare operates around 147 medical facilities in Illinois and Michigan, with over 24,000 employees. By amending the definition of fertility, only straight people — more accurately, employees in opposite-sex relationships — will be able to have their fertility treatments covered by their employee health care plan.Given the Catholic Church’s stance on homosexuality and marriage, it is not surprising to see religious institutions or religiously-affiliated employers adopting policies that exclude LGBTQ individuals from benefits typically offered to married couples.Critics were quick to denounce OSF HealthCare’s new policy, arguing that an employer is not denying treatment to some of its workers due to “objections to the treatment they are seeking” — as it might in the case of an abortion or gender confirmation surgery — but merely due to their LGBTQ identity.Peter Romer-Friedman, an attorney who is representing a same-sex male couple who claims they were denied coverage for in vitro fertilization under New York City’s health insurance plan, told Bloomberg that he believes OSF HealthCare’s actions are a clear “violation” of federal workplace discrimination.

Benefits have announced plans for a headline UK tour in the autumn.The Teesside punk outfit will hit the road in November kicking off at Glasgow Stereo on November 18 with further dates lined up in Sunderland, Southampton, Exeter, Bristol Birmingham, London, Nottingham, Manchester and Leeds. You can view the full list of dates below.Tickets go on sale on Friday (April 29) at 10am and can be purchased here.Frontman Kingsley Hall also shared a lengthy message apologising for not being able to play Wales and Northern Ireland yet along with a host of towns and cities.Before you ask… pic.twitter.com/8DdMJVfBB2— Benefits (@Benefitstheband) April 27, 2022“There’s loads of places we’d liked to play that we’ve so far managed to miss – Wales, Northern Ireland, most of Scotland, East Anglia, the bit between London and the Midlands and we WILL rectify this, please be patient, we’re not ignoring you,” he wrote.“With a big wedge of luck and a decent slot at a pressing plant we’re hoping to have something to promote around this time next year and when that happens we want to be everywhere.

Benefits have announced details of their first ever 7″ single, to be released via Yard Act‘s Zen F.C. label.The new release will land on June 3, the day of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and feature recent singles ‘Empire’ and ‘Flag’.To celebrate the announcement of the new 7″ single, Benefits – aka Teesside-based artist Kingsley Hall – has shared a new video for ‘Flag’, which sees him taking a dip in the North Sea.Discussing the link-up with Yard Act, Benefits said: “In late 2020 we released a song called Traitors and I got a message from Yard Act saying they liked the song, in particular the line ‘we get the future you deserve‘.

Benefits, has thanked promoters for granting his wish that the band’s rider should include “something that will make my little girl smile”.Hall gave “special thanks” to promoters at The Bodega in Nottingham, York’s Fulford Arms and more venues for supplying the band’s tour rider with soft toys, books, chocolate and other gifts for his young daughter.It was in effort to reduce “frivolous waste” and to save money on bands’ typically booze-stocked riders, Hall explained to The Line of Best Fit.“One of the points of what we’re doing is to try and reimagine the way we’re doing gigs. When I booked the dates we were asked by various venues as to what our rider was and to be honest the usual staples that are usually provided don’t really appeal anymore.

Benefits have shared a fierce new track titled ‘Meat Teeth’ – you can check out its accompanying video below.The latest release from the Teesside punk outfit tells the tale of “overheard conversations and frustrations, underpinned by disillusionment and rage”.“Where will you be?/ Alone on your meat rack? Poundshop Balzac, where will you be?/ Up against some television piss wall, gimp faced clown in hand me downs. Plastic frowns.