Promise of the Real

Joe Jackson will launch a major new chapter in 2026, as he prepares to release his first rock album since 2019, Hope And Fury, and embark on an 80-show international tour. The album will arrive on 10 April 2026. The release marks a return to the sharp, melodic and uncompromising style that first defined Jackson in the late 1970s, when he emerged as one of the most distinctive voices in the new wave era.

Jellybean Johnson, born Garry George Johnson in Chicago in 1956, has died suddenly at the age of 69. His family confirmed his passing on Friday, only days after he celebrated his birthday. No cause of death has been released. Johnson's death marks the loss of one of the most significant figures in the creation and evolution of the Minneapolis Sound, a movement that fused funk, rock and soul with a sharp rhythmic edge.

The Royal Mint has unveiled a new collectible coin that celebrates the life and legacy of Freddie Mercury, the legendary Queen frontman whose voice and theatrical presence reshaped rock music. The announcement arrives at a significant moment for fans, marking forty years since Queen delivered their historic Live Aid performance in July 1985, a concert still regarded as one of the most powerful moments in music history. The coin also honours the fortieth anniversary of Mercury's first solo studio album, Mr. Bad Guy, which showed the world another side of his creativity and marked a bold step outside the Queen catalogue.

Yungblud has cancelled the rest of his 2025 tour after doctors raised concerns about his voice and blood tests. The British rocker returned home for routine checks and was advised to halt all shows until the end of the year. The decision follows a demanding run that pushed the Doncaster artist to his limits. He described the decision as heartbreaking yet necessary. He apologised to fans across the United States, Mexico City and Latin America.

Hongjoong, the multi-talented leader of global K-pop phenomenon Ateez, has unveiled his debut fashion film Petit Coussin, a poetic and nostalgic exploration of youth, memory, and artistry. The project, filmed in Seoul, marks Hongjoong's first foray into fashion design - a world he approaches with the same precision and imagination that have defined his music career.

Barry Manilow, one of the most successful entertainers in popular music, has released a new video for his latest single Once Before I Go ahead of his final U.S. tour dates, set to begin in January 2026. The 82-year-old icon, whose career has spanned more than five decades, will bring his last performances to nine American cities, closing the touring chapter of a career that has defined adult contemporary music since the 1970s.

Byron Bay Bluesfest will roar into its 37th edition in 2026 with one of the most important reunions in Australasian music history. Split Enz, in their first Australian appearance in two decades, will headline the Easter weekend event from 2 to 5 April 2026, confirming a landmark moment for the festival and for generations of fans who witnessed the band rewrite the rules of art-pop and new wave.