Festivals and Music Tours

2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for music fans, with huge names set to drop new albums and singles.

From Lana Del Rey adding a country twist to her latest tracks, to The Rolling Stones promising fresh rock anthems, there’s something for every taste.

Rising stars like Raye and Leigh-Anne will be making waves, while veterans including Paul McCartney, Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen show no signs of hanging up the microphone.

With this and so much more on the way, here are our top picks for an exciting year ahead.

LANA DEL RAY 

FOLLOWING the likes of Beyonce and Post Malone, Del Rey is set to saddle up and add country nuances to her tenth studio album.  

Previously announced as Lasso and The Right Person Will Stay, expect Stove sooner rather than later in the new year.  

Singles Henry, Come On and Bluebird demonstrated her shift to Americana stylings. 

THE ROLLING STONES 

MICK JAGGER, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood may be hanging up their touring boots, but it still promises to be a momentous year for rock’s great survivors.  

There was a huge 18-year gap between Hackney Diamonds (2023) and the Stones’ previous album of original songs, A Bigger Bang.  

But in late April, we can expect a new one, again produced by US live wire Andrew Watt. 

RAYE 

WE can expect the much-anticipated follow-up to Raye’s all-conquering, soul-bearing, Brits-winning My 21st Century Blues.

The R&B singer debuted two unreleased songs at this summer’s Glastonbury with one, Where Is My Husband!, becoming the lead single from the as-yet-unnamed album.

Her official site promises an early 2026 release date. 

FOO FIGHTERS 

A NEW album from Dave Grohl and Co is on the cards in 2026, their second since the sad passing of Taylor Hawkins.

With another new drummer, ex-Nine Inch Nails Ilan Rubin, announced in the summer, the first recorded music with him appeared in the shape of single Asking For A Friend.

Two massive UK shows at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium are set for June. 

ROBBIE WILLIAMS 

INSPIRED by the mid-Nineties period after Robbie left Take That, Britpop is his 13th studio album. 

It begins with the, er, rocket-fuelled Rocket, which is graced with suitably heavy riffing from Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi. 

Bearing in mind the recent exploits of Oasis, Blur, Pulp and Suede, why not this celebration by one of the era’s favourite singers?  

Out on February 6. 

CHARLIE XCX 

AFTER the Brat summer of 2024, the singer heads in another direction with her soundtrack album for Wuthering Heights.  

Out on February 13, same day as Emerald Fennell’s film version of Emily Bronte’s novel, it has already yielded singles House, with Velvet Underground legend John Cale, and Chains Of Love.

Charli says: “It couldn’t be more different from Brat.” 

PAUL McCARTNEY 

AS far as his epic music career is concerned, Macca will never “let it be”. 

The Beatles legend confirmed work on the follow-up to 2020’s excellent McCartney III.  

In the foreword to a memoir about his other band, Wings, he wrote: “Right now, I have 25 songs that I’m finishing . . . new songs that are interesting.”  

He’s also mentioned in despatches sessions in LA with Andrew Watt (Stones, Lady Gaga). 

THE FACES 

HERE’S a rock ’n’ roll reunion to savour. 

The band’s three survivors, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones, have been preparing their first album in more than 50 years. 

At least 11 songs have been recorded, which Jones says are “a mixture of stuff we never released but is worthy of releasing and some wonderful new stuff. Rod is writing the lyrics.” 

COURTNEY BARNETT 

THE Aussie rekindles her love of the electric guitar on her forthcoming fourth album.

After decamping to California, she’s been recording in Rancho De Luna, Joshua Tree, home of the legendary hard-rocking Desert Sessions.

First evidence of her labours is recent single Stay In Your Lane, complete with scuzzy bass lines and wonderfully deadpan vocals. 

VAN MORRISON 

HOT on the heels of his sublime return to form, Remembering Now, comes this love letter to the blues, Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge.

Out on January 23, the 20-track album proves Van is still “The Man” at 80.

It includes Fats Domino’s Ain’t That A Shame, Blind Blake’s Delia’s Gone and features stellar 

guests – Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal among them. 

DANNY L HARLE 

AFTER stellar production duties with Dua Lipa, Caroline Polachek and Olly Alexander, Harle steps into the limelight with the genre-hopping Cerulean (released February 13).

“This is my debut album. This is the big one,” says the North Londoner.

Singles already released Starlight (ft PinkPantheress) and Azimuth (ft Polachek) offer much promise. 

BJORK 

THE Icelandic icon has given a strong hint of new material in the new year, her first since 2022’s Fossora. 

She’s involved in a huge exhibition in Reykjavik involving immersive audio and visual installations.

A social media post reveals that the third and last of these is “a new work based on music from her forthcoming album, currently in development.” 

LEIGH-ANNE 

THE impressive former Little Mix singer can finally do things her way when 

she releases her 15-track debut album as an independent solo artist. Following the singles Been A Minute, Burning Up and Dead And Gone, she delivers My Ego Told Me To in February.

Rooted in reggae and pop, it explores personal themes of family and empowerment. 

GORILLAZ 

MURDOC, Russel Hobbs, 2D and Noodle – the brainchildren of Damon Albarn and visual artist Jamie Hewlett – release The Mountain on March 20.

The ninth Gorillaz album brings Indian music to the fore but also finds room for guest appearances by Sparks, Gruff Rhys, Idles and Johnny Marr. Drummer Hobbs calls it “a journey of the soul – with beats.” 

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN 

THIS was a year when The Boss gave us so much.

Another visit to the UK with the E Street Band followed by two significant raids on his archives – Tracks II with its SEVEN unreleased albums and an expanded Nebraska to coincide with the recent biopic.

Yet he told Rolling Stone: “I have a record finished. It’s a solo record  . . .  I imagine it will come out in ’26 some time.”  

MUMFORD & SONS 

THE trio of Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Deane have reunited with Taylor Swift associate, The National’s Aaron Dessner.

He has produced and co-writes Prizefighter.

Set for release on Feb 13, the band’s sixth studio album arrives less than a year after their UK No 1 fifth, Rushmere. Gracie Abrams, Chris Stapleton & Hozier guest. 

LUCINDA WILLIAMS 

BEARER of one of the most passionate voices in American music, Williams returns with World’s Gone Wrong on January 23.

She addresses head-on the divisions in her country while taking specific aim at the sandy-haired White House incumbent.

She duets with the mighty Mavis Staples on a cover of Bob Marley’s So Much Trouble In The World. 

THE DAMNED 

WHEN the punk pioneers’ founder member Brian James died earlier this year, the current line-up recorded a covers album celebrating the Sixties music loved by their fallen comrade.

Not Like Everybody Else is out on January 23.

Singer Dave Vanian turns There’s A Ghost In My House into a hoot and Captain Sensible takes the lead on Pink Floyd’s See Emily Play. 

LEGENDARY British singer-songwriter Chris Rea has tragically passed away aged 74.

The singer, from Middlesbrough, penned the smash hit Driving Home For Christmas in 1978.

Christopher Rea was born on 4 March 1951 in Middlesbrough in the North Riding of Yorkshire to an Italian father, Camillo Rea, and an Irish mother, Winifred K. Slee.

In 1973 he joined the local Middlesbrough band, Magdalene and began writing songs.

He went on to enjoy a long and sucesfull career on the British music scene.

His most famous song Driving Home for Christmas, song has made a reappearance on the UK Singles Chart every year since 2007.

It’s now a chart regular at this time of year, reaching its highest position in 2021 when it made it to number 10.

Rea was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of just 33 and faced nine serious operations – spending a total of 32 weeks in hospital.

While appearing on the TV show Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Christmas special in 1994 Rea told the hosts he had “never really gotten over” his diagnosis.

He has previously opened up on his health battle, revealing that some of his internal organs, his pancreas, gallbladder, and left quadrant of the liver were “all gone” after an operation.

It was after he had received the lifesaving surgery that the star discovered he had type 1 diabetes.

Speaking candidly about the moment he told his wife Joan Lesley about the diagnosis Rea said: “She pulled the car over and burst into tears.”

Chris has previously said he has to take “34 pills every day” after his health struggles.

His wife Joan was there when the hitmaker wrote the Christmas favourite Driving Home for Christmas.

The pair have been together since they met as 16 year olds in Middlesbrough and it is said Rea has the longest surviving relationship in the music industry.

The couple have two daughters together Josephine, born 16 September 1983, and Julia Christina, born 18 March 1989.

Speaking to Bob Mortimer about its origins, Chris previously said: “I was on the dole when I wrote that.

“My manager had just left me. I’d just been banned from driving.

“My now wife, Joan, had to drive down to London to pick me up in the Mini and take me home, and that’s when I wrote it.”

That Christmas drive up north was a magical one indeed, not only did he write a famous song, he also received a cheque for £15,000 upon stepping through his front door.

His song Fool (if you think it’s over) had become a hit in America and earned him a pretty sum. The timing couldn’t have been better given he was down to his last £200.

It was a while before Driving Home would make any money.

AN unreleased track by rock legends Queen that “no one has ever heard” will be played publicly for the first time today.

Guitarist Sir Brian May, 78, will broadcast Not For Sale (Polar Bear) on radio station Planet Rock.

It was originally recorded during the sessions for the band’s 1974 album, Queen II, but did not make the final cut.

This remastered version will feature in the 2026 re­release of the album.

While a “bootleg” version of the song by May’s pre-Queen band Smile may already have circulated, he says “no one” has heard this version.

It will be played during Sir Brian’s Planet Rock Christmas Special at 6pm — featuring his favourite seasonal tracks.

He said: “It’s a song that goes back a very long way, but to my knowledge no one has ever heard this version.

“It’s a work in progress and will appear on the forthcoming rebuild of the Queen II album.

“But I’m sneaking this into my Planet Rock special because I’m fascinated to know what people think about it.”     

Formed in the 1970s, Queen was made up of guitarist Sir Brian, drummer Roger Taylor, late frontman Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon.

The group has since had six UK number one singles and 10 UK number one albums with some of their best known songs including Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and We Are The Champions.

LOLA Young has made her comeback to social media after taking a sudden break from her music career.

The performer shocked concert-goers when she plummeted to the ground on stage in September and just days later announced she was stepping away from the limelight for the “foreseeable future.”

Lola, 24, returned to Instagram with some positive news for fans and promised she was doing a lot better.

“Hey, I just wanted to express gratitude to everyone who has given me time and space to gather myself and get my head in a better place,” she wrote in the heartfelt post.

“I’ve felt so much love and support from you all and it has helped more than you will ever know.”

Lola continued: “I am hoping to gradually get back to performing and continuing pursuing my dreams. Happy holidays to you all and can’t wait to see you in 2026.

“Life is a journey, nothing is perfect but today I am doing well. All my love always, Lola x.”

The London-born singer had just released her critically-acclaimed debut when she made the sudden decision to press pause on her career and cancelled her tour.

Announcing her departure in a heartbreaking statement shared on Instagram, Lola said she hopes her followers will give her a “second chance”.

“I’m going away for a while. It pains me to say I have to cancel everything for the foreseeable future. Thank you for all the love and support,” she wrote in a post at the time.

“I’m so sorry to let anyone down who has bought a ticket to see me, it hurts me more than you know.”

The singer had gone through a series secret struggles – from a mental health diagnosis to an ongoing nepo baby row and even legal issues.

Last year, while Lola’s biggest hit was climbing up the charts, she was checked into a rehab facility for an addiction to cocaine.

It’s thought she was admitted last November and the drug addiction swamped the singer for “a long time”, she said in an interview with The Guardian.

She also revealed she ‘hated’ her body after trolls flooded her social media accounts with cruel comments.

Meanwhile, when she was 17, she was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.

The condition is a mix of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, according to the NHS.

Writing on Instagram in 2022, Lola explained: “I have struggled immensely learning to accept this part of myself, and I am still learning.”

IT was the year when those noisy Mancunian brothers brought the Britpop Nineties back to packed stadiums everywhere.

It was the year when Pulp made a charming first album in 24 years, with Jarvis Cocker singing about getting older with a wry smile on his face.

But I contest that one band from the era has been the most forward-facing, the most creative and the most kick-ass – Suede.

Which is why their vibrant, visceral, unflinching and wildly adventurous Antidepressants is our Album Of The Year.

Back in September to mark its release, frontman Brett Anderson told me: “We’ve fallen in love with being a rock band again.” And this week I caught up with him again to impart some good news . . . 

Congratulations! Antidepressants is the SFTW Album Of The Year. Does that make you happy?

Thank you. Very!

In all the years of Suede, where does 2025 rank?

Right up there. Somewhere between 2024 and 2026.

What have been the highlights of the year for you?

The South Bank takeover gigs in September were great – playing those new songs live for the first time was special.

I particularly enjoyed the Clore Ballroom show where we just did post-reformation stuff.

I thought that was an exciting and fairly unique thing to do for a band of our generation.

Also, I just love the South Bank. Walking over the footbridge from Embankment tube and looking at the skyline always gives me a sense of awe, a feeling of London being this big, beautiful, living thing.

Which of the new songs have you enjoyed singing live the most?

June Rain has a nice dynamic and slow sense of build which works great live. Plus the first half is spoken-word so I get to sit down a bit.

I personally think the album’s opening song Disintegrate should be the Christmas No.1 . . . do you agree?

Ha! Yes, love it. A kind of resolutely unseasonal Christmas song full of dread and fear.

Which album, aside from Suede’s, has been your favourite this year and why?

I liked Sprints’ All That Is Over. It was sharp and shouty and brainy and brash. (Sprints are an Irish garage punk band).

You told me that Suede are “the anti-nostalgia band”. What keeps you facing forwards rather than reflecting on the past (unlike some of your peers)?

Hmmm, huge question. I’ve always thought the point of any artist was to create rather than to repeat and consolidate.

That search for the next great song, the next great album, the next great moment has always been the carrot I’ve chased.

I come from a fiscally poor but culturally rich family background. My mum was an artist and a dressmaker and my dad was a classical music-obsessed taxi driver who made our furniture.

When I was a kid, we didn’t have any money, so if you wanted something you made it yourself.

I’m much less interested in what I wrote 30 years ago than in what I’m going to write next.

Have you started work on the third album of Suede’s “black and white” trilogy, following Autofiction and Antidepressants?

Yes, we’ve written a handful of songs already. I want it to be harder and more extreme than Antidepressants, a relentless onslaught, incessant and uncompromising and very rhythmic.

I already have a title which I’m keeping secret.

You also spoke to me of the importance of family relationships. Does that mean Christmas is a special time for you?

My family and my band are of course so, so important to me and in many ways they feed into each other. It’s hard to write about family without coming across as schmaltzy but luckily I can find the cloud in any silver lining.

Among my favourite songs I’ve ever written are Life Is Golden and She Still Leads Me On which have both been inspired by fatherhood and family.

And yes, Christmas is especially great when you have kids.

Happily though, now my son is older, there’s less pressure for me to dress up in a Santa suit.

What are your hopes for 2026 – for you, your family, the band, and for humankind?

For the band to write a great follow-up to Antidepressants and for humankind to stop scrolling. My hope for myself is always the same – to be a good husband and father.

2. ROSALIA

Lux

THE Spanish star known for her reinvention of ­folk and flamenco turned her attention to more bombastic, classical genres on this fourth album.

Backed by the London Symphony Orchestra it was a lavish production sung in a variety of languages. Bonkers but brilliant. JS 

People Watching

WITH its widescreen ambition, driving intensity and visceral lyrics, songs about “the human experience” couldn’t fail to draw comparisons with Fender’s “biggest hero”, Bruce Springsteen.

But it also marked the Geordie’s coming of age as a major artist in his own right. SC 

4. ROBERT PLANT with SUZI DIAN

Saving Grace

FOR six years, Led Zeppelin legend Plant has surrounded himself with acoustic musicians who live near his Worcestershire home, singer Dian among them.

Together, they gave us a ravishing mix of trad and contemporary covers. Rarely has he sounded so sublime. SC 

5. BIFFY CLYRO 

Futique 

A REFLECTIVE album shaped by friendship, family and loss, it captured Biffy Clyro at their most emotionally open.

Goodbye explored mental health, while A Thousand And One and Two People In Love delivered some of the most moving moments. JS 

6. MARGO PRICE 

Hard Headed Woman

FURTHER proof that Price tells it like it is. This was a stirring return to her country roots, following the trippy rock textures of Strays.

It drew comparisons with her beloved debut, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, but was inspired by another decade of life experience. SC 

7. TURNSTILE

Never Enough

THIS fourth album from the hardcore punks from Baltimore, known for their energetic live shows, crossed into the mainstream.

The title track had a catchy chorus and melodic guitar breaks while at its heart there was still an uncompromising mandate to rock out. JS 

8. THE DIVINE COMEDY

Rainy Sunday Afternoon

WE’VE long been intrigued by Neil Hannon – not just because he once wrote a song called Something For The Weekend.

These 11 tracks assumed a reflective tone, with love and loss prominent themes, and featured some of Hannon’s most sumptuous tunes. SC 

9. YUNGBLUD

Idols

THIS album sees Yungblud questioning hero worship and identity after a life-changing encounter with a fan.

Inspired by Britpop, it’s his most confident work yet, opening with a nine-minute rock opera and driven by limitless self-belief and ambition. JS 

10. LADY GAGA

Mayhem 

GAGA proved why we loved her in the first place, returning to her dance-pop roots.

She recalled the vibe of her 2008 debut The Fame yet delivered an album for the here and now.

It was marked out by strong singles Abracadabra and Disease. SC 

11. GEESE

Getting Killed

THIS was a case of do believe the hype. With mesmerising singer Cameron Winter at the helm, Brooklyn’s indie rock saviours might channel The Strokes, The Stones, or even Nirvana, but they’re too weird and original to be slaves to their influences.

On the brink of greatness. SC 

12. JACOB ALON

In Limerence

FEW debuts arrived so perfectly formed as this one featuring the tender storytelling of Scottish singer Alon.

With an impossibly pure voice which sat somewhere between Bon Iver and Thom Yorke, it was full of fragile hope.

Vulnerable and haunting ambient soundscapes. JS 

13. PULP

More

JARVIS and Co’s first album in 24 years was dedicated to dear departed bassist Steve Mackey – and it summoned the old mischief. “I am not ageing.

No, I’m just ripening,” cried the singer on Grown Ups, a song filled with lyrical twists and turns. SC 

14. CMAT

Euro-Country

WITH songs about Teslas and Jamie Oliver, there was a quirky, kitsch element to Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson’s third album.

It also plumbed deeper depths of emotional pain but was allied to soft pop melodies.

Issues tackled included social media and objectification. JS 

15. MATT BERNINGER

Get Sunk

TALL, elegant, blessed with a sumptuous baritone, The National’s frontman and lyricist is an, er, National treasure.

But he managed to save wonderfully evocative songs for his second solo outing, including the intoxicating ebb and flow of opener Inland Ocean. SC 

16. DAVE

The Boy Who Played The Harp

HIS first album in four years found Dave drawing on the power of his biblical namesake King David to explore vulnerability and masculinity.

With James Blake’s ghostly production on Selfish and Chapter 16 (ft. Kano), it struck a reflective mood. JS 

17. JASON ISBELL

Foxes In The Snow

THE Alabama-born artist recorded his latest offering without his ace band, the 400 Unit, but with an old acoustic guitar for company.

“This is the first time I’ve done an album with just me and a guitar,” he told SFTW of the exquisite, stripped-back song cycle. SC  

18. BILLY NOMATES 

Metalhorse 

METALHORSE emerged from a personal, tumultuous period for Tor Maries.

A loose concept album set in a dilapidated funfair it featured radio hit The Test, while Strange Gift offered hope.

Closing song Moon Explodes was especially moving, written after Maries’ MS diagnosis. JS 

19. BIG THIEF

Double Infinity

FEW vocalists could handle the word “incomprehensible” like Adrianne Lenker on this LP’s fuzzy joy of an opening track.

Though the indie darlings have contracted to a three piece, there was nothing shrinking about their fearless, exilharating sonic adventure .SC  

20. OLIVIA DEAN

The Art Of Loving

MELLOW and sumptuous, the second album from the stylish Londoner was smooth soul to relax into.

Tracks such as Nice To Each Other and Lady Lady were warm and all-enveloping, exploring affairs of the heart with a particular emphasis on self-care. JS 

21. LILY ALLEN

West End Girl

LILY’S fifth album, the first in seven years, was also her most vulnerable and intensely personal.

It came after her split from actor husband David Harbour and the songs laid it all out in heartbreakingly painful detail.

Infidelity and betrayal were constant themes. JS 

22. BON IVER

Sable, Fable

DIVIDED into two distinct halves, the first was an understated return to the folky stylings of Justin Vernon’s wintery debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago.

The second blossomed into more upbeat territory, primed for glorious spring sunshine. SC  

23. THE WATERBOYS

Life, Death And Dennis Hopper

MIKE Scott took us on a wild ride with this 25-track album celebrating “one of the great American lives”, actor and hellraiser Dennis Hopper.

He summoned a blizzard of musical styles and included cameos from Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle and Fiona Apple. SC  

24. AFRICA EXPRESS 

Bahidora 

EVEN before Blur completed their reunion gigs, Damon Albarn headed to the Mexican jungle with a dizzying array of 70-plus artists from four continents.

The result? A thrilling mash-up of African rhythms, electronic textures, Latin soul, rock, hip hop – everything! SC  

25. MAVIS STAPLES

Sad And Beautiful World

SHE bears one of the greatest living voices . . .  and it remained in towering form.

Well into her Eighties, Staples tackled our uncertain world with unerring compassion.

Guests included Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. SC  

26. BRANDI CARLILE

Returning To Myself 

THIS record found Brandi in an introspective, stripped-back mood after a landmark year.

Working with Aaron Dessner, Andrew Watt and Justin Vernon, the album reconnected her with loneliness, self-belief and politics, from the reflective title track to the powerful Church & State. JS  

27. WOLF ALICE

The Clearing

THE fourth album from the Brit award winners was a grandiose affair, a bold and confident leap forward.

Tracks like Bloom Baby Bloom incorporated all their strengths with bombastic choruses and lush melodies, showcasing Ellie Rowsell’s exceptional rock vocal range. JS 

28. STEREOLAB

Instant Holograms On Metal Film

A STRONG return after 15 years from the much-loved Anglo-French combo.

Led, as ever, by Tim Gane and Laetitia Sadier, the album revisited their distinctive blend of art-pop and motorik beats, really hitting the mark on the effervescent Electrified Teenybop! SC  

29. RICHARD ASHCROFT

Lovin’ You

ASHCROFT’S first album of new music since 2018 arrived after he supported Oasis on tour.

From the Joan Armatrading-sampled Lover to the title track, which sampled Mason Williams’ 1968 Classical Gas, it was a vocally focused, emotionally wide record. JS 

30. WET LEG

Moisturizer

MORPHING from duo to fully-fledged band, the follow-up to their debut album was still as oddball as ever, but it came with a tighter focus.

Tracks like Davina McCall and Jennifer’s Body were heartfelt, kooky love songs backed by ragged, punky basslines. JS  

31. SOMBR

I Barely Know Her

A SPECIAL debut full of heartbreak from the bedroom pop star who quit school to make music.

His melancholy voice accompanied by his own guitar, bass and keyboards and drums, made this magical, with Dime and disco-tinged 12 To 12 emerging as standouts. JS 

32. MOLLY TUTTLE

So Long Little Miss Sunshine

THE Grammy-winning singer forged her reputation at the forefront of the bluegrass revival.

Now she has spread her wings with this ravishing work of myriad styles. It also provided her with the confidence to be open about her alopecia. SC  

33. TOM GRENNAN

Everywhere I Went, Led Me To Where I Didn’t Want To Be

THE down-to-earth singer from Bedford laid his feelings bare on this reflective fourth album shaped by growth, friendship and vulnerability.

It balanced anthemic pop with emotional depth, from Shadowboxing to Boys Don’t Cry. JS 

34. TAYLOR SWIFT

The Life Of A Showgirl

RECORDED in stolen moments during the record-shattering Eras tour, it found Swift reflecting on love and life in the spotlight after falling for NFL star Travis Kelce.

Working with Max Martin and Shellback, it was polished, theatrical pop with self-aware glamour and emotional insight. JS 

35. JOHN FOGERTY

Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years

FOGERTY celebrated the recent end of his decades-long fight to get his publishing rights back.

It meant he could belt out timeless hits Proud Mary, Born On The Bayou, Bad Moon Rising and Up Around The Bend with unbridled joy rather than lingering bitterness. SC  

36. MIDLAKE

A Bridge To Far

BEST remembered for their second record, 2006’s The Trials Of Van Occupanther, these enduring Texans rekindled their love of melody-rich folk rock. Two decades on, A Bridge To Far might just have been their best since that hallowed album. SC 

37. TATE MCRAE

So Close To What

THE Canadian singer’s third album was slick and polished futuristic pop and highlighted her journey from teenage dancer to arena-selling pop princess.

Tracks like Purple Lace Bra were multilayered with beats, synths and strings, and created a sultry, sizzling mood. JS 

38. BEIRUT

A Study Of Losses

FOLLOWING Zach Condon’s sortie to the Arctic Circle for 2023’s exquisite Hadsel came this work of unerring beauty.

The 11 songs and seven instrumentals, spanning nearly an hour, struck a melancholy tone but they left a lasting and profound impression. SC 

39. ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION

Arcadia

TO Robert Plant’s duet pal Krauss, her latest project was “like stepping into an old pair of shoes”.

Her first album with her virtuoso bluegrass band since 2011 evoked bygone times, while still connecting with 21st Century listeners. SC

40. TOM SMITH

There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There In The Light

AFTER 20 years fronting Editors and two records with Andy Burrows, Tom Smith stepped out on his own.

His first solo album stripped everything back to the core of his songwriting, capturing the honesty, anxiety and hope that shaped this new chapter. JS 

41. FKA TWIGS 

Eusexua 

THE album title was a made-up word taken from euphoria and sexual to describe “a feeling so intense it transcended the human form”. 

And it lived up to its name.

On the arty, left field side of electronica, this third record was her most complete and satisfying. JS 

42. THE DELINES

Mr Luck & Ms Doom

WHEN ex-Richmond Fontaine frontman Willy Vlautin (lyricist/guitarist in this band) is involved, you tend to get songs with disturbing narratives about people from the wrong side of the tracks.

This firmly ticked that box – and then there was Amy Boone’s enriching, expressive vocals. SC 

43. DAVID BYRNE

Who Is The Sky?

THE world may be going to hell in a handcart, but at least Talking Heads legend Byrne kept a smile on his face.

That was the vibe you get from his latest effort, most notably on rousing opening track Everybody Laughs, which came with a cameo from longtime collaborator St Vincent. SC 

44. BLOOD ORANGE

Essex Honey

ECLECTIC and imbued with an aching sense of loss and nostalgia, Dev Hynes’ fifth album as Blood Orange was an exploration of his upbringing in London.

A collection of memories recalled through spindly indie, jazz, chunky beats and evocative soundscapes. JS 

45. DAMIANO DAVID

Funny Little Fears

FOR Maneskin’s Damiano David, this felt the right moment for a solo album, revealing a more personal, previously hidden side.

It was less rocky than Maneskin, confronting fear and identity through piano-led pop inspired by Keane, The Killers, and Elton John. JS 

46. RON SEXSMITH

Hangover Terrace

THE Canadian has assembled a fine body of work, marked out by sumptuous melodies and perceptive lyrics.

He returned with one of his strongest collections.

Recorded in London, the album visited his childhood, his current concerns and much more in between. SC 

47. MY MORNING JACKET

Is

SINGER Jim James hoped the band’s genre-hopping tenth album would help people “navigate the chaos in the world”. 

If the overall vibe was psychedelic rock with plenty of reverb, MMJ employed elements of pop, country, soul, reggae, you name it. SC 

48. ETHEL CAIN

Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You

FEW artists have been able to express the intimate, sometimes painful, feelings about first love as well as the singer from Florida.

Evoking a haunting, Southern gothic atmosphere, her ambient rock sound-scapes framed a raw, heartfelt song cycle. SC 

49. CAR SEAT HEADREST

The Scholars

THE career trajectory of Will Toledo is nothing short of breathtaking.

He started out making lo-fi DIY albums in his parents’ car and now, as frontman of a fully fledged band, he made this crazily ambitious rock opera in the vein of Tommy or Ziggy Stardust. SC 

50. ADDISON RAE

Addison

THE debut album from the former TikTok star, who rose to popularity with her dance videos, broke the code.

Stepping confidently beyond influencer fame, she moved into sleek, self-aware pop.

Playful hooks and glossy production balanced vulnerability and attitude. JS 

A HUGE Noughties boyband has sparked speculation of a 2026 tour after all ten members recently reunited.

The unexpected get-together has sent fans into a frenzy begging the question of whether a full-scale comeback could finally be on the cards.

Blazin’ Squad shot to fame in 2002 and are best known for their top three hits Crossroads, We Just Be Dreamin’ and Flip Reverse.

Blazin’ Squad was made up of James MacKenzie (Kenzie), Ollie Georgiou (Freek), Marcel Somerville (Rocky B), Chris McKeckney (Melo-D), Stuart Baker (Reepa), Lee Bailey (Krazy), Sam Foulkes (Spike-E), James Murray (Flava), Tom Beasley (Tommy-B), and Mustafa Omer (Strider) when they shot to fame.

The group officially split in 2005 and over the years the band members have gone in different directions.

Marcel Somerville enjoyed success on Love Island, having been on the show in 2017, before having another go in January on the All Stars spin-off.

All ten members have since reunited for the festive season, it being the first time since Marcel’s first stint on the ITV2 dating show.

Rapper James Kenzie, who’s had his own reality stint appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2005, took to Instagram to share brand new snaps of the band.

The photos show the group beaming ear to ear as they came together at the bar Flight Club in London.

James uploaded a series of pics of the band alongside a nostalgic throwback from the 2000’s, showing the group decked out head-to-toe in red.

He captioned the post: “The Original Squad,” adding a number one medal emoji.

Fans flooded the comments, gushing over the pics and speculating about whether this could hint at a future tour.

One user said: “Please tell me talks of a tour was in conversation? (side eye emoji).”

Another added: “Aged like a fine wine (heart eye emoji)”

“Blazin’ squad reunion incoming plz,” penned a third, whilst a fourth commented: “Need a new Blazin’ Squad Album.”

“So good to see Blazin’ Squad as a 10 piece again now that is the Blazin’ Squad I grew up with,” chimed another.

The group’s various attempts to get all members back together have been stalled.

Marcel Somerville, Stuart Baker, Sam Foulkes and Chris McKeckney reunited in 2006, but later split again.

Three years later a slim-lined Blazin’ Squad returned as a five-piece featuring Mustafa Omer, James Murray, James McKenzie, Lee Bailey and Marcel.

And now the band consists of Sam, Marcel, Chris and Ollie Georgiou.

But, what fans really want to see is all ten members come back together on stage again.

Previously speaking to The Sun about a potential reunion and tour, Marcel said: “Obviously there are ten of us, it makes it a little bit harder, because that’s more people we have to bring back to the camp.

“Do you know what? I feel like if we could get all ten of us back together, I reckon we could definitely do the O2.

“Back in the day, before we split, we’d played Wembley, and had two nights in Manchester, two nights in Newcastle, and two nights in Birmingham.

“We were playing all the arenas, so it’s like, if we could get everyone back.

“Last year was the 22nd anniversary, so I think the 25th anniversary is probably the sweet spot. So maybe in three years’ time, 25th anniversary, I might start a whole campaign for it now, to bring the Squad back together.”

THE Rolling Stones have called off plans for a UK and European tour next summer.

It would have been their first string of live dates since their huge Hackney Diamonds tour in the US in 2024 – which sold almost one million tickets.

It’s understood the band – who’ve sold over 250 million records worldwide – were looking at plans to play huge stadiums across Europe and the UK after pulling the plug on dates in 2025.

An American music critic said Keith Richards, who turns 82 on Thursday, told his bandmates Mick Jagger, 82, and Ronnie Wood, 78, he couldn’t commit to the trek at this time.

They added: “The Rolling Stones had all the big promoters throwing loads of ideas and dates at them for next summer.

“But when they properly sat down to discuss the tour, Keith said he didn’t think he could commit and wasn’t keen on a big stadium tour for over four months.”

A spokesperson said at the time: “The band were looking to tour earlier this year but couldn’t make it work either.

“It’s hard for their fans but The Stones will get back onstage when they’re good and ready.”

In September, Ronnie confirmed to The Sun that he was waiting on the nod on the 2026 tour dates.

He also confirmed they had been working on their next album, which was recorded at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, west London.

Ronnie said: “You will be getting new music from the Rolling Stones with an album next year. It is almost done. ”

Their last album, Hackney Diamonds, came out in 2023 and was their first record of original material in 18 years.

The album went straight to No1 in the album charts and spawned hits including Angry, which had Sydney Sweeney in the official music video.

HE held back tears in his Netflix documentary when he heard about the tragic death of One Direction star Liam Payne.

And I can reveal that, as a mark of respect, Simon Cowell sent the emotional footage from The Next Act to Liam’s family and his ex Cheryl Tweedy before it aired this week.

The six-parter sees Simon searching for the next big boyband after the record-breaking success of 1D on the X Factor in 2010.

After the series dropped on Wednesday, the music mogul said he felt he “had to tell” Liam’s loved ones his passing was acknowledged on the show.

Simon said: “In the middle, there was that moment with Liam, which was just horrific. That really threw us. I was very close to him and that was hard. We almost stopped filming. I had to go away, clear my head.

“We took a break for about two weeks. Before that it had been almost every day. I sent [parts of episode three] to Liam’s parents and Cheryl to see, for obvious reasons, and I said, ‘Look, I don’t want you to just see it when it airs’.

‘Made a promise’

“And so the production company sent it to them and they were fine with it. It was respectful, I think.”

The Next Act had been filming almost daily since December 2023, allowing cameras access to Simon’s talent hunt.

But he paused to consider if they should continue after Liam’s death in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October last year.

Liam and Cheryl, who were together for two years, share a son Bear, eight.

Simon said of Liam in the episode: “He was just so normal and down to earth, he always had a sparkle in his eye.

“Everyone adored him. You don’t know how you feel about someone until you lose them. I am going to genuinely miss him.”

After the two-week break, Simon said he realised he had made the show hopefuls “a promise”, so filming resumed.

The group, DECEMBER 10, have just signed a deal with EMI/Universal.

I was lucky enough to watch John, Cruz, Nicolas, Sean, Josh, Danny and Hendrik at a top-secret playback in London on Wednesday.

From what I saw, these boys will do Simon proud.

Lily’s Vic and Bob

LILY COLLINS has had a Posh makeover for the fifth series of Netflix’s Emily In Paris.

The actress has channelled Victoria Beckham’s Spice Girl alter ego for the series, which kicks off on Thursday.

Director Andy Fleming told Biz on Sunday: “There is for sure a Posh Spice vibe going on this season. I noticed it straight away. I mean, her bob. Hello?”

It comes after Lily was stunned to meet her idol Victoria on the set of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Looks like this season will be full of girl power.

Grinch must be feeling Jaded

JADE THIRLWALL doesn’t do fancy dress by halves.

The former Little Mix singer is one of the most costume-committed celebs – rivalled only by Heidi Klum on Halloween.

But even Heidi would have been green with envy when she saw what Jade wore on a night out in London on Friday.

The singer, who turns 33 on Boxing Day, went all out and dressed up as the female Grinch character.

She even persuaded her boyfriend, Rizzle Kicks rapper Jordan Stephens, to go with the green theme.

Their bed sheets must have been a nightmare to clean  . . . 

Taylor hands mega bonuses to crew

HER record-breaking Eras Tour propelled Taylor Swift to billionaire status.

And after making fans’ dreams come true with her dazzling show, the US superstar did the same for her tour crew.

The Shake It Off hitmaker is believed to have handed out $197million – around £148million – in bonuses to every person who helped with her shows.

Taylor thanked each crew member with a handwritten letter, sealed with a wax stamp, and a bonus – with each of her truck drivers understood to have received cheques for $100,000 (£75,000).

One insider, who worked in catering, said they were able to pay off their student loan and still have thousands of dollars left over.

And in her new Disney+ documentary, The End Of An Era, Taylor is seen handing out the huge cheques to her dancers.

She said: “It took me a couple of weeks – but it is fun to write the notes.

“It is fun to think about everyone’s lives that they are going to go back to and the time off they are going to have. And the kids they haven’t seen because they have been away for months and making that worthwhile for them.

“It feels like Christmas morning when you finally get to say thank you.”

Speaking to her dancers, Taylor said: “The tour has done really well thanks to all of our hard work so if you would kindly read this message . . . ”

Handing the letter to dancer Kam Saunders, he read: “Dearest Kam, we have travelled the world like we set out to do.

“We have dazzled the crowds but we have missed family too.

“My full gratitude doesn’t come from the bank – but here’s (bleeped out) just to say thanks. Love, Taylor.”

The dancers were seen hugging and crying after receiving the life-changing bonuses.

One dancer even clutched an inhaler after opening her letter.

I imagine I would have hyperventilated as well.

Oasis bank fortune for reunion tour

THE drinks are on the Gallagher brothers this Christmas after the Oasis Live ’25 comeback tour raked in an incredible £303million.

New stats by US music mag Pollstar have revealed Britpop pioneers Noel and Liam made $405,428,435, sold 2,228,471 tickets to their long-awaited reunion gigs, with a nightly revenue of $11,261,901 – £8,430,546.47.

Their 41-date trek spanned five continents and 13 countries between July and November.

And the siblings played to an average of 61,902 people per night.

Meanwhile, the average fan is believed to have spent £136 on a ticket.

I revealed last week that Noel, who has an estimated net worth of £53million, was whisking his family off to the Maldives for a festive getaway after five months on the road.

Oasis ranked No2 in the biggest-grossing tours of 2025 – with US superstar Beyonce holding the top spot .

The Texas Hold ’Em hitmaker saw her Cowboy Carter Tour gross $407,600,113, (around £305million), with an average ticket price of £191.

Coldplay were third, followed by Kendrick Lamar/SZA.

But Shakira, The Weeknd and Lady Gaga all had to settle for spots further down the Top Ten.

Some might say Noel and Liam nailed it . . . 

Rushing back into Big Time

THEY rose to fame as teenagers on a US TV series about a boy band – and 16 years later Big Time Rush have revealed they have a whole new generation of fans, thanks to Netflix.

The streaming giant gave a new lease of life to the original series of the sitcom, which first aired in the States from 2009 to 2013 and featured the group playing a fictionalised version of themselves.

Biz on Sunday’s Emily chatted to band members Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Penavega and Logan Henderson backstage ahead of their final tour date at London’s Ovo Arena Wembley on Thursday.

Kendall said: “We got lucky during Covid because Netflix picked up the show. Everybody was at home just binge watching stuff, so this whole new generation of kids started watching it.”

Carlos added: “It’s weird seeing my kids come to the show because they didn’t even exist back then.”

Asked how touring compares now they are in their 30s, Kendall replied: “We all definitely went out a lot more in our 20s – but now I truly enjoy getting up early and getting to see different aspects of the city.”

Logan added: “When we were younger, things were moving so fast we didn’t really get a chance to breathe and really soak it in.”

From what I saw on Thursday night, the boys are still on their A-game.

• Check out Big Time Rush on our TikTok channel where the boys reveal their Sunday Setlist. Scan left.

This week who would I…

Snog

Marry

Avoid