After a year and a half on the road traversing the globe in support of his groundbreaking and critically acclaimed debut album, blkswn, Smino, the multihyphenate artist, is ready to embark on something new.

Noir is a record about the present, about life now, he says, an experience that is far more complex and challenging. He’s still writing songs every day, but now his songs reflect a changing Smino, one dealing with “adult shit.” Exponential growth is the reward. “I guess growth for me means understanding shit and being able to make music intentionally,” he says.

Music runs through his veins; it’s genetically embedded. Smino’s grandfather, father, and mother were musicians, and the rapper and singer began playing drums in his native St. Louis at an early age. After a brief stint at Columbia College and a move back to his hometown, he returned to Chicago where he connected with Classick Studios and released his first two EPs, S!ck S!ck S!ck and blkjptr. In 2017, he dropped blkswn, which Rolling Stone hailed as one of the 40 best rap albums of the year.

Noir is about intentional fun. Smino once again collaborated with trusted producers like LBoogie, Sango, and Zero Fatigue member Monte Booker. And songs—with titles like “Klink” and “Tequila Mockingbird”—offer a lighter contrast to blkswn. “If sometimes it felt like I was going off a little too much on my tangent shit, I probably didn’t pick those songs,” Smino says. That brightness permeates the record and inspires Smino’s current outlook. “Just have fun with your fucking life,” he says. “That’s really what I was doing when I was making the record: just having fun and living off my own confidence.”

Honesty gets at the heart of Smino’s new music. If blkswn saw the musician tackling the issues of the day, Noir sees him pull directly from his personal everyday truth. “I’m not trying to be like anyone else’s art,” Smino says. “I’m just trying to be the art that’s coming out of me. It’s just honest.”

The Hara - Josh Taylor (lead vocals), Jack Kennedy (drums) and Zack Breen (guitar) - having toured their first headline tour last year & being special guests on X-Factor's Ben Haenow's tour, the boys are back with their new headline tour and brand-new EP. Hailing from the North West, the band are regularly featured on BBC Music Introduces in Lancashire. Their debut single - Only Young - is taken from their forthcoming EP which will be showcased alongside other fan favourites on the new tour!

For this show The Doors Alive will be honouring the 50th anniversary of The Doors’ classic albums, Morrison Hotel and Absolutely Live with a very special set to commemorate them both.

"To call The Doors Alive merely a tribute act would be a huge disservice to what is the closest thing possible to experiencing a Doors concert without the aid of a flux capacitor and 1.21 gigawatts. They are high priests who allow us to worship at the altar of The Doors by continuing the word and gospels of Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore." - Pure Magazine, Ireland.

The band recreate the sound, look, presence and magic of a real 1960's Doors concert, perfectly and effortlessly transporting the audience back in time with classic hits such as "Light My Fire", "When The Music's Over", "Riders On The Storm", "The End" and many more. The Doors Alive have over 1,000 shows under their belt to date.

The Doors Alive formed in 2005. Since then there have been a few changes, but the current line-up is the best it has ever been!

Frontman Mike Griffioen captures the look, attitude and rich baritone voice of the late great Jim Morrison with ease while his compadres Barrington Meyer on guitar, Buzz Allan on drums and Norbert Varga on keyboards showcase the musical chops of original Doors

members Robby Krieger, John Densmore and Ray Manzarek with finesse and authenticity. They take pride in using the exact same vintage equipment to achieve an authentic sound, including Rhodes Piano Bass, Gibson G101 organ, Gibson SG and Ludwig Mod Orange drum kit. They are keen on making every single show unique by authentic improvisations and changing the set regularly so you will never see the same show twice!

The Doors Alive have left awestruck audiences in several countries around the world, including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Denmark, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, Malta, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, UAE and Chile to name but a few. They repeatedly sell out some of the most well established venues in Europe. They have played at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival and played on the same bill with such legendary musicians as Status Quo, Canned Heat, Nazareth, Uriah Heep, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Eric Burdon and Kris Kristofferson. In Chile the band played an arena show to 4,500 Doors fans! In several countries including France and Lebanon the band have been featured on national television.