Hot, hot, hot is the only way to describe this show! Based on the 1994 cult classic film, this musical is a jukebox joyride and a surprisingly tender road story. We are introduced to two drag queens and a trans woman who, for reasons that later become apparent, trek across the Australian desert to perform at a small-town holiday resort.

With his upcoming single Space Invaders, Velazquez looks poised to make the leap from rising talent to mainstream contender. Blending infectious hooks, bold creativity and a sound that feels both contemporary and distinctive, he has been steadily building momentum and attracting attention beyond his core fanbase.

The countdown is on for Ripon's fabulous Theatre Festival, which opens its milestone fifth season this coming weekend and runs until July 12 — and this year's programme promises something for everyone, from folklore on the riverbank to a thought-provoking journey into the past.

Amateur musicians of all ages will get the chance to rehearse and perform with award-winning saxophonist and CBSO Collaborative Artist Jess Gillam as part of ‘CBSO in the City’ which will bring free performances to iconic spaces across Birmingham this summer (27-31 August) for the third year.

In an era increasingly dominated by playlists and individual singles, Held Here Together feels refreshingly intentional. It invites listeners to slow down, absorb its narratives and appreciate the craftsmanship behind every arrangement. Bird has created an album that is elegant, heartfelt and quietly compelling—one that lingers long after its final notes fade.

That opening 'O Fortuna' is electrifying — dynamics are observed with real precision rather than mere brute force. Anyone of a certain age will recall its rather unlikely second life soundtracking a men's aftershave advert in the 1970s and '80s, which says something about how a single thrilling fragment can eclipse a far richer whole in the popular imagination. It's a pattern that feels uncomfortably familiar in other walks of life too – not least, dare I say, in the way British politics now rewards the soundbite over substance. Orff's wheel of fortune deserves more than fifteen seconds of fame.

Next month, the transept of Ripon Cathedral will come to life with a 1723 plea for freedom, written by an anonymous enslaved Virginian and almost certainly addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury himself. The story behind its rediscovery is, in its own way, as remarkable as the play it inspired.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) announces it will return to Hull to perform four concerts as part of its 80th anniversary concert season, starting in September.

From the release of her debut single, Smile, back in 2006, for just over a decade, Lily Allen was seen as a musical force to be reckoned with. Armed with an intelligent playfulness to her lyrics and an uplifting lilt to her melodies, she easily soared up the charts and set stages alight with her presence the world over.

The 2026 winners of the Northern Aldborough Festival New Voices Singing Competition have been crowned as countertenor Tom Lilburn and his accompanist Jack Redman. Now in its fourth year, the nationwide search spanning concert halls and conservatoires has become a showcase of the hottest rising stars, with a £7,000 prize fund.

The London-based rock project Thirsty Quireboys returns with God Bless America – Best Of Thirsty, a striking collection that serves as both a heartfelt tribute to the late Guy Bailey and a bold reimagining of the music he created with lyricist Irina D.

With more than 85 million streams to her name, Florrie has long occupied a distinctive corner of British pop. A drummer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, she has built a career balancing studio innovation with undeniable pop instincts, collaborating with everyone from Girls Aloud and Kylie to George Ezra and One Direction.

The haunting sound of the Northumbrian pipes will echo across Kynren – The Storied Lands this summer after legendary folk musician Kathryn Tickell joined the creative team behind one of the attraction's spectacular new productions.

A new exhibition exploring the life and legacy of Genghis Khan will open at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds this summer, bringing 248 rare Mongolian artefacts to the UK for the first time.

The disc closes with a winning account of La plus que lente, beautifully turned and rounding off what is, in sum, a most agreeable album. There is creativity and no shortage of skill in these interpretations. Rêverie, in particular, charms from the first bar. Much of that charm comes down to sound as well as substance: the recording was made on a Bösendorfer 280VC concert grand in the Concert Hall at Snape Maltings, Suffolk, and Chandos's engineers have captured its warmth with their customary skill.

Sleeping Through He wakes, reaches for my hand and says ‘it’s very morning’, which is true.

It had been a few years since Bird and I had last spoken, so when we connected over Zoom, catching up felt wonderfully warm and familiar. Before we even reached the subject of new music, our conversation wandered through life reflections, favourite records, memorable holidays and the simple pleasures that make us who we are.

Two young creators from Sheffield have given Yorkshire something to cheer about at this year's BAFTA Young Game Designers competition, taking home half of the four awards on offer.

Far from marking a milestone in a low key manner expected of centenarians, an exhilarating, energetic and explosion of supreme talent is turbocharging Britain’s oldest contemporary dance company’s into the next century.

The Russian-born German pianist Igor Levit, one of the most politically outspoken and intellectually restless musicians of his generation, is to launch his own record label — NO SILENCE — with three debut releases due on 23 October 2026 in partnership with Sony Classical.

Following a string of acclaimed singles exploring everything from illicit affairs to the realities of 'proper jobs', Micko & The Mellotronics return with their ambitious third album, The Trinity. Released on 12th June, the record blends sharp songwriting, personal reflection and eclectic musical influences, spanning everything from ’70s new wave to contemporary sounds.