Superstar plays first UK show and officially releases album in UK for first time

Live - Royal Albert Hall – June 21
Single – Good Girl – May 7
Album – Blown Away – June 18

One of the USA’s biggest and brightest stars comes to Britain for the first time, playing her debut UK show at no less than the Royal Albert Hall on June 21.

With 14 million album sales, she is a modern phenomenon, a byword for the American superstar and one of the biggest talents and sellers a TV show has ever produced.

A multi-platinum artist, five-time Grammy winner, a style icon and versatile performer, Carrie has transcended expectations and the country music genre like no other and her musical vital statistics are astonishing.

Her debut album went 7 times platinum and sent her on the way to becoming America’s foremost sweetheart. 14 Number 1 singles later, she prepares to release her fourth album, Blown Away as her first official UK release.

“I had such an amazing time making this album,” said Underwood. “We worked really hard and the end result is a wonderful collection of diverse material. The album sounds bigger and more epic, expanding even more than my previous albums. I’m influenced by so many types of music and I think you can hear that in the songs. Even the album artwork is amplified – I wanted a stronger and more fierce feel than what we’ve done in the past to take things to a new level.”

From the first single on the album, the sassy, up front Good Girl, to title track Blown Away, Underwood sounds like an artist in full control of some of 2012′s essential chart hits. The UK version of the Blown Away album is being released June 18, which will also feature 4 of Carrie’s previous US Number 1 hits.

Carrie’s previous two headline arena tours, the “Carnival Ride Tour” in 2008 and 2010’s “Play On Tour,” performed for a combined total of 2.2 million fans in nearly 250 shows.

Ubiquitous in the USA as the face of Olay beauty products and vitaminwater®, Carrie has completed a transition from American small town girl to an embodiment of the American dream, expanding her horizons at all points while staying in touch with her roots.

Bringing her spectacular talent to the UK for the first time, Carrie Underwood intends to impress. “It’s been a long time coming to head over to London to perform for my UK fans…I’m so excited to play there in June. It’s the home of some of my musical influences. I’m a huge fan of George Michael, Annie Lennox, The Rolling Stones and, of course, Adele. I want to do that tradition proud. There are so many great British artists doing well in the US at the moment; I want to show the UK another side of America.”

Carrie Underwood is managed by Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment

Tickets on Sale April 27:
June 21, 2012 – Royal Albert Hall, London
Prices £22.50 – £45
www.gigsandtours.com/tour/carrie-underwood
24hr cc hotline – 0844 811 0051

Tickets for Wembley Arena go on sale 9am on Thursday 5^th April (subject to booking fee) all other dates are available now from www.livenation.co.uk

Tuesday 3^rd April 2012 – Due to huge demand for tickets in the capital, Nickelback have added a second London date to their Here & Now Tour. After starting the UK leg at the O2 Arena, the band will then return to fans a week later , this time to rock Wembley Arena on Monday 8^th October.

Proving their ongoing popularity with their European fans and championed by the likes of Chris Martin and Timbaland, the rockers are honoured to announce this extra date to what is already one of the biggest tours of 2012.

Over their career, the band have achieved five Grammy nominations, three American Music Awards as well as 12 Juno awards and were named “Group of the Decade” by Billboard magazine in 2009. With multi-platinum hit albums and singles all over Europe and almost 45 million albums sold worldwide, it is clear that fans are thirsty for more from the Canadian foursome.

Massive hits including How You Remind Me and Rockstar join new favourites from the Roadrunner Records released Here And Now album – like When We Stand Together, the ultimate party anthem Bottoms Up and current single Lullaby – for a Nickelback show to remember.  Hard rocking, with worldwide radio anthems, this is a band with a reputation for providing a party wherever they go.

As Chad says, “We can’t wait to get back and play in the UK. Our shows there have always been some of the most memorable for us and it’s all because of the fans.”

The band will be touring Europe, connecting with audiences old and new, rocking arenas for the masses and playing more intimate shows in countries where they make a long awaited return.

Wembley Arena, 8^th October – Experience Nickelback Here & Now…..

Mon    01 Oct             London, O2 Arena

Tue     02 Oct             Birmingham, NIA

Thu     04 Oct             Manchester Arena

Fri       05 Oct             Newcastle Metro Arena

Sun     07 Oct             Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

Mon    08 Oct             * NEW DATE * London, Wembley Arena

For Press Enquiries Please Contact:
Gemma Waters & Chris Goodman
0207 7436 3633
Gemma.Waters@outside-org.co.uk
Chris.Goodman@outside-org.co.uk

Following the chart-topping success of their 2011 album, Here And Now, Canada’s multi-million selling rock stars Nickelback are returning to the UK in October on their European tour for the first time in 2 and a half years.

Part of a huge world trek, they are underlining their status as one of the planet’s most popular live acts. Covering the length of the country in just seven days, Nickelback will remind you why they are one of the biggest bands in the world and have been for over a decade.

With fans including artists as diverse as Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Timbaland and Avril Lavigne, Nickelback’s live show is always one of the hottest tickets in town.

Over their career, the band have achieved five Grammy nominations, three American Music Awards as well as 12 Juno awards and were named “Group of the Decade” by Billboard magazine in 2009. With multi-platinum hit albums and singles all over Europe and almost 45 million albums sold worldwide, it is clear that fans are thirsty for more from the Canadian foursome.

Massive hits including How You Remind Me and Rockstar join new favourites from the Roadrunner Records released Here And Now album – like When We Stand Together, the ultimate party anthem Bottoms Up and forthcoming single Lullaby – for a Nickelback show to remember.  Hard rocking, with worldwide radio anthems, this is a band with a reputation for providing a party wherever they go.

As Chad says, “We can’t wait to get back and play in the UK. Our shows there have always been some of the most memorable for us and it’s all because of the fans.”

The band will be touring Europe, connecting with audiences old and new, rocking arenas for the masses and playing more intimate shows in countries where they make a long awaited return.

No show too big, no show too small, Nickelback are hungry for more.

Mon 01 Oct                London, O2 Arena

Tue 02 Oct                 Birmingham, NIA

Thu 04 Oct                 Manchester Arena

Fri 05 Oct                  Newcastle Metro Arena

Sun 07 Oct                Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

Tickets go on sale 9am on 30^th March and will be available from www.livenation.co.uk

For more information contact

David Cox – david.cox@outside-org.co.uk at the Outside Organisation.

Telephone + 44 07 436 3633.

UK Welcomes Back Rock Legends

One of the greatest rock bands of all time is back with the most anticipated tour of 2012. After selling out arenas around the globe in 2011, Guns N’ Roses – “the most dangerous band in the world” – are storming the UK this Spring.

It all coincides with the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honour they nabbed as soon as they were eligible. And, as with everything related to Axl Rose and his cohorts, this tour is guaranteed to cause a stir.

Never far from controversy, but always true to the music, GNR are still the most talked about hard rock band of the past 20 years.

G ‘n’ R will be taking the ‘Night train’ to travel the country with gigs in Paradise cities Nottingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and London in May. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 2nd March through www.aeglive.co.uk

Tour dates:
19 May Nottingham Arena
20 May Liverpool Echo Arena
23 May Newcastle Metro
25 May Glasgow SECC
26 May Birmingham LG Arena
29 May Manchester Arena
31 May London The O2

In a career spanning more than two decades, Guns N’ Roses have become one of the biggest bands, not only in the world, but in musical (and more importantly, rock ‘n’ roll) history. They have sold over 100 million albums worldwide and are considered one of the most influential rock bands the world has ever seen.

After rising to fame in the late 80’s and gaining worldwide recognition with their hit single Sweet Child of Mine in 1988, the band went on to release five albums including the double Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II which was the first in history to walk off with both top spots on the Billboard chart. VHI has also named Welcome to the Jungle ‘Best Hard Rock Song’ – a fitting accolade for such a rock anthem. Guns N’ Roses’ most recent release, and fifth studio album, Chinese Democracy went straight to the top of the charts in thirteen countries, as well as going platinum in 15.

The band’s live shows are always hotly anticipated and demand for tickets is never less than overwhelming, showing that their longevity in the spotlight is by no mistake and is very-much deserved. Don’t miss your change to witness the legendary Axl Rose and co live in the UK.

Tickets on sale from Friday 2nd March at 9am from www.aeglive.co.uk

AEG Live
AEG Live, the Live division of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), is dedicated to all aspects of live entertainment and is the second largest concert promotion, special event and touring company in the world.

AEG Live produces over 6,000 music events per annum including worldwide tours for the likes of Bon Jovi, Usher, Justin Bieber, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, Sade, Katy Perry, Peter Gabriel, Jerry Seinfeld and Paul McCartney as well as over 20 festivals such as Coachella, Stagecoach, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage, Sonisphere, Rockness and Wakestock.
AEG Live operates 115 stadiums, arenas and clubs on five continents with London’s The O2 arena, being named the Pollstar International Arena of the Year three years in a row and being considered the most popular venue on the planet for the past four years (1,737,654 tickets sold in 2010).

As well as music events AEG Live hosts a multitude of exhibitions including King Tutankhamun, Body Worlds, Real Pirates, Michael Jackson, Grammy Museum and The British Music Experience.

The history of Rock N’ Roll would be incomplete without the innumerable contributions of Neil Sedaka. For over fifty years, Neil has written, performed, produced, and inspired countless songs, and his canon of compositions will continue to stand the test of time.

October 2012 will see Sedaka play ten dates in the UK, starting at the The Sage in Gateshead on 8th October, finishing at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on 24th October. The London show at the Royal Albert Hall on 17th October will also see Neil accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Acknowledged as a musical genius, Neil’s undiminished soundscape has remained relevant across decades and genres and his numerous honours include a Grammy (and 5 nominations), a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, inductions into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, National Academy of Popular Music Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, BMI Awards and a Brooklyn street name.

In 2006, Neil received the UK’s Guinness Award for Best Selling Single of the 21st Century for (Is This The Way To) Amarillo, originally written for Tony Christie forty years ago. .

His many hit singles include ‘Oh Carol’, ‘Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen’, ‘Solitaire’, ‘Calendar Girl’, ‘Little Devil’ and ‘Next Door To An Angel’. He has also seen his songs sung and turned into hits by the likes of Tony Christie, Andy Williams, Elvis Presley, Connie Francis and the Carpenters.

Sedaka is one of the most prolific songwriters around with a catalogue of over 1,000 compositions.

October 2012 UK Concert Dates

Tickets for all venues available from Ticketline.co.uk / 0844 888 9991 or from the venues direct

Saturday 6th October
Gateshead – The Sage – 0191 443 4661

Monday 8th October
Glasgow – Clyde Auditorium – 0844 395 4000

Wednesday 10th October
Manchester – Bridgewater Hall – 0161 907 9000

Friday 12th October
Bristol – Colston Hall – 0117 922 3686

Monday 15th October
Birmingham – Symphony Hall – 0121 780 3333

Wednesday 17th October
London – Royal Albert Hall – 020 7589 8212

Thursday 18th October
Nottingham – Royal Concert Hall – 0115 989 5555

Saturday 20th October
Bournemouth – International Centre – 0844 576 3000

Monday 22nd October
Cardiff – St David’s Hall – 02920 878 444

Wednesday 24th October
Liverpool – Philharmonic Hall – 0151 709 3789

Ticket prices for all shows (except London) are:

£45 / £40

London Royal Albert Hall (£65-£35)

www.facebook.com/kennedystreetent

** Book published: 27 March 2012. Available to pre-order now **

** RRP: £10 **

27 March sees the publication of The Lyrics of Gary Kemp, one of the first in a new series of books from, The Lyric Book Company.

For those of us that remember the ’80’s, Spandau Ballet’s songs and guitarist Gary Kemp’s lyrics, hold a special fondness and this collection entitled The Lyrics of Gary Kemp features all of the works that Gary has published in an illustrious songwriting career that has spanned 4 decades.

All of the lyrics from all of his songs for Spandau Ballet and his solo album Little Bruises make up this anthology of 60 tales of love loss and of course London, including global hits Gold, Through the Barricades, True, Only When You Leave,  I’ll Fly For You, Chant No. 1 to the band’s first hit Cut A Long Story Short.

Lyrics from early ground-breaking dance and funk club-scene in Soho era To Cut A Long Story Short and Chant No. 1, mix with the global smash hit about unrequited love True. This lyrical journey continues with the anthemic rousing modern classic Gold, through the story of lovers battling to keep their relationship alive despite physical borders in Through the Barricades  to the bittersweet An Inexperienced Man.

Gary is widely acknowledged as one of Britain’s finest songwriters, and definitely the lyrical voice of his generation. A beautiful, comprehensive and collectable book for any fan of Gary Kemp or Spandau Ballet.

The concept of The Lyric Book Company is a simple one: a unique book company, specialising solely in producing complete works of the world’s finest songwriters. This is a series of beautifully produced, hardback books that artists and their fans can be proud of. Working closely with the artist, The Lyric Book Company will ensure that each song is correctly presented.

“The design is beautiful, like a modern-day hymn book. Thoughtfully put together, I’m extremely pleased by the way it looks and feels. It’s quite an honour to see all of your own work collected together and presented so beautifully.” Gary Kemp

The Lyrics of Gary Kemp will be available to pre-order online at www.lyricbook.com, from 14 February

for more information on Gary Kemp, please go to www.garykemp.com

Outside recently announced SPEED OF LIFE, the new publication from Genesis born out of a 40-year collaboration between musician, actor and producer, David Bowie and photographer and designer, Masayoshi Sukita.

What we didn’t say is that suggested for inclusion by David is an exclusive record pressing.

Here, for the first time together on a 7″ single, are parts 1 and 2 of his 1980 track ‘It’s No Game’ presented as a collector’s photographic picture disc. It features King Crimson’s Robert Fripp on guitar and in Japan it was released as a single in 1980 with “Fashion (David Bowie song)” as the B-side. Nine Inch Nails sampled the guitar, slowed and reversed it on “Pinion” from the EP “Broken (Nine Inch Nails EP).”

The lyrics to “It’s No Game (Part 1)” are spoken in Japanese by Michi Hirota, with Bowie screaming the English translation “as if he’s literally tearing out his intestines”, according to the NME’s Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray. Bowie said that he employed a strident female vocal “to break down a particular kind of sexist attitude” regarding Japanese girls and women in general.

In contrast to the musical and vocal intensity of the first part, “It’s No Game (Part 2)” is much calmer; Charles Shaar Murray interpreted this as meaning that by the album’s close, Bowie is “facing the same situation which he confronted when the album began, but with the force of his rage somewhat spent. Things haven’t improved, but he’s taking it better.

In their fine bound edition of SPEED OF LIFE, the authors have opened up Sukita’s archives to assemble a 300-page photo essay which, captioned with their own recollections and memories, traces the development of Bowie’s remarkable career from 1972 to the present day.

David Bowie: ’It’s very hard for me to accept that Sukita-san has been snapping away at me since 1972 but that really is the case… May he click into eternity.’

Q Magazine this month proclaims Jamal Edwards as the new face of the music industry, heading up their list of influential new voices in music and dedicating 5 pages to him.  Jamal founded his now famous SB.TV site, is launching the Just Jam record label and has his own clothing line (SB Clothing), while recently featuring in the Google Chrome ad that charted his unique rise.  The one portal that speaks to real British youth, SB.TV recently topped 81 million hits and Jamal has been invited to interview Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour Leader Ed Milliband and business leaders from Sir Richard Branson to Simon Cowell.  Its real function is of course breaking UK talent, multi-BRIT nominee Ed Sheeran being the latest example. Head to www.sbtv.co.uk to jon the revolution.