Laura Mvula live in concert at Somerset House, March 2016. Opening her performance with Martin Luther King reading the lyrics to black rights protest song “We Shall Overcome”, it is clear she has something to say. Her gig at London’s beautifully lit Somerset House comes after the fatal US police shootings of two more black men, Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, and, although she does not reference the racial tension directly, her emphasis on empowerment is pointed. “Take your broken wings and fly” she commands on the uplifting “Overcome”, sadly without featured guitarist Nile Rodgers (“I tried to get him to come and play but he said no…”).

Rick Astley live in concert in Harrogate. Rick Astley has had a career spanning over 25 years. The ’80s Pop Icon and multi-million selling artist had massive hits with Stock, Aitkin and Waterman, including his massive debut single ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’. He holds the record for being the only male solo artist to have his first 8 singles reach the Top 10 in the UK and has sold approximately 40 million records worldwide. In 2008, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, became one of the most viewed pop video of all time on YouTube with over 51 million views to date, due to the unstoppable phenomenon of ‘Rickrolling’. This has earned him a nomination at the MTV Europe Music Awards for ‘Best Act Ever’.

Black Star Riders have announced a UK and Ireland tour for March 2017 with Backyard Babies, Gun and the Amorettes, to follow the release of third album Heavy Fire. The follow-up to The Killer Instinct is currently being recorded with producer Nick Raskulinecz. Guitarist Scott Gorham says: “It‘s great to be back with Nick. After such a great job on The Killer Instinct it was a no-brainer to continue the relationship. This album is going to blow everyone away.”