With a voice as rich as her catalog of inspirations, the Nigerian native singer-songwriter and multi-platinum selling recording artist fuses Pop, Afro pop-driven, and soft-soul, taking cues from cross-continental greats– from Fela Kuti to Miriam Makeba; King Sunny Adé to Sade; Tina Turner to Lenny Kravitz. But on Lucid, Asa doesn’t find her voice; she amplifies it. 

With Lucid, the audience travels with her storied songs and sounds, but Asa’s right at home. Here, her emotive range strikes again. Whether it’s piercing through the surface of the soul with “words like dagger” as on “The Beginning” or when she croons with conviction and calmness over steady guitar chords on the soft melancholy of being held hostage in a hard love affair in the album’s opening “Murder In The USA.” Throughout standouts “Femi Mo,” “Good Thing,” and “My Dear” she switches between English, and Yoruba, but the emotion laced in each lyric needs no translation.

Music and family are the most important things in the world to Daði Freyr. It’s what drives him forward, what inspires him, and it’s what keeps him rooted to Iceland, to the close-knit communities he has always adored.

An artist who obsesses overthe intricate craft of the pop song, Daði Freyr is a student of Eurovision. Working with the group Gagnamagnið –which translates as ‘data plan’ -‘Think About Things’ radiates with all the joy and unity the competition can provide, while also offering something deeply authentic and new.

It all started in his Berlin studio. Part of the Icelandic diaspora, he takes a part of the island with him wherever he goes. Working from a tiny space in his flat, Daði Freyr’s DIY approach is matched to colossal pop ambition, a true student of melody and lyric. ‘Think About Things’ was directly inspired by becoming a father, bythe changes in his life, and it’s brought Daði closer to those around him.

His wife, Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir, is on keys. Backing vocals come from his two sisters. Daði even borrowed a vintage microphone from his father –a noted sound engineer –to help get the perfect sound. ‘Think About Things’ is an irresistibly joyous song that not only connects Europe, it also links three generations of his own family.

‘Think About Things’ is impeccably pieced together. Each instrument is given space to express itself, with Daðimoving from the intro to the stunning chorus; from the layered breakdown to the tongue in cheek wind machine section. The song is designed to be seen by the world, all part of his intricate masterplan, coupled with the stunning live performances and the viral video.

Daðiworked withIcelandic director Guðný Rós Þórhallsdóttir and cinematographer Birta Rán Björgvinsdóttir to bring his dreams to reality. The family-based performance clip self-consciously playswithinEurovision rules –instruments cannot be plugged in onstage–while offering something jubilant, and gently triumphant.

Extremely humble, and obsessed with sound, Daði Freyr endsthe song as he begins –surrounded by his family, reaching out to Europe.

Cut & Mustard and Irish satirist Blindboy invite audiences from across the UK to experience Blindboy’s hit podcast, The Blindboy Podcast, live in June 2022. Blindboy will bring his live podcast to venues in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow, with tickets on sale Friday 29th April.

Blindboy will tour with a special guest in each city, engaging his audience with an unusual touch of realism. His innovative creation, The Blindboy Podcast forms soothing, thought-provoking discussions with his listeners. The tour will be Blindboy’s second official UK tour having toured the UK in March 2020, also with Cut & Mustard.

Blindboy is one half of The Rubberbandits and one of Ireland's foremost artistic voices. His literary debut, The Gospel According to Blindboy (2017), was a bestseller, and his weekly podcast reaches over 1,500,000 listeners monthly.

The show is being produced & promoted byl Cut & Mustard. Tom Greenwood-Mears of Cut & Mustard said: “We’re incredibly excited to be working with Blindboy again, his podcast has resonated with an enormous following across the globe and we can’t wait to tour that live around the UK.”

AGMP presents

THE BEAT

"...Still Can't Stop It" 40th Anniversary Tour

Legendary 2-Tone Punk Ska Reggae Group led by vocalist Dave Wakeling celebrate their 40th Anniversary.

The Beat formed in 1979 and released their debut single, an infectious cover of the Smokey Robinson classic ‘Tears of A Clown’ on 2-Tone Records which went straight into the UK national charts at #6. Along with their contemporaries The Specials, Madness and The Selecter, The Beat became an overnight sensation.

Over the course of the next five years The Beat released three studio albums 'I Just Can't Sop It', 'Wha'appen' and 'Special Beat Service'. The Beat toured the world alongside artists such as The Clash, The Police, The Specials, The Pretenders, REM, Talking Heads, and David Bowie.

The Beat enjoyed a series of classic hit singles between 1979-1983 such as 'Mirror in the Bathroom', 'Best Friend', 'Can't Get Used to Losing You', 'Hands Off...She's Mine', 'Too Nice To Talk To', 'Drowning', 'Doors of your Heart', 'Save it for Later', 'I Confess', 'Stand Down Margaret' and 'Twist and Crawl'.  

Get tickets for the 40th anniversary tour for one of the most popular and influential bands of the 2-Tone Ska movement.

LISTEN UP MUSIC are proud to present the next stage of THE SHED PROJECTS rapid rise to the top! Coming hot on the heels of their recent sold-out gigs at the legendary ‘Phoenix Club’ in Bolton and Off the Square in Manchester, the Bolton band are kicking 2022 off in style at MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3.

THE SHED PROJECT will be joined on stage by AFTERNOON PEOPLE (Manchester) and CIVIC GREEN (Yorkshire) for a night celebrating some of the very best current upcoming indie talent.

Add to this DJ sets by Mancunian legends DAVE SWEETMORE and MC TUNES (till 2am) and you really won’t want to miss out!

One Love!

Listen Up Music