THEIR debut record Inside In/Inside Out sonically accompanied the end of my A-Levels, with hits such as Naive, Ooh La and You Don’t Love Me still among my favourites.
So I’m delighted to reveal that The Kooks are set to make a big comeback next month, with a brand new album that I’m told harkens back to their early sound.
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The Kooks are gearing up for a big comeback next month, with a brand new album
My insiders tell me that Luke Pritchard and his bandmates Hugh Harris and Alexis Nunez will also be playing live across the UK.
“The Kooks are back and their new album is electric,” my mole explained.
“They went back to their punchy sound and came up with some nail-biting hits.
“When they entered the studio, they had no expectations and were just having fun.
“But they came out with a brilliant album.
“Some of the songs are really reminiscent of songs from their early records.
“And they can’t wait for their fans to hear them.”
Last month, The Kooks teamed up with LovelyTheBand for a new song called Jeanie, which went viral on TikTok.
And precisely thanks to the same platform, they began to reach a completely new audience.
My insider added: “The band has started to pick up a new, young, female fan base thanks to TikTok and streaming.
Music video for She Moves In Her Own Way by The Kooks
“It’s opened up their music to a wider audience, so they think the new record will come out at exactly the right time.
“They’ve been selling out shows in the US and their UK shows, when they’re finally announced, will also be massive.”
The Kooks are big Down Under and have a string of dates in February and March across Australia and New Zealand.
Then from April they go to Europe for performances in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.
The band will then return to the UK with dates booked for Reading and Leeds Festival in August with more dates to follow across the country.
This new album will be the seventh for The Kooks.
And while their 2022 album, 10 Tracks To Echo In The Dark, admittedly didn’t do well on the charts, I have high hopes for this next offering.
And the fact that it will be announced during the most depressing month of the year gives us all something to look forward to…
RiRi is a furry ghost
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Rihanna wore a fur headpiece during a chilly evening out in New YorkCredit: Getty
Rihanna put on her research cap as she channeled her inner Davy Crockett.
She wore a fur headdress just like that of the American folk hero, during an evening out in New York, where the temperature is dropping.
The Work singer spent Christmas in the USA with her partner A$AP Rocky and their two sons and has been using the streets of the Big Apple as a catwalk ever since.
But she looks good after a slightly colder year than the others.
However, Rihanna has not been seen in any recording studios lately, so it seems that her musical hiatus will continue in 2025.
January 2026 will mark a decade since the release of her last album, Anti, so perhaps it’s best to suspend all hope of a new release until then.
Tim teases a sequel to Bob?
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Timothee Chalamet has hinted that there could be more chapters to the Bob Dylan biopic he’s starring inCredit: Getty
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The actor teased the sequels to explore Bob Dylan’s later yearsCredit: Alamy
He’s bringing Bob Dylan to the big screen in his biopic A Complete Unknown, and now Timothee Chalamet thinks it could be the first of several chapters in the star’s life story.
The American actor suggested that there could be a second and third film covering the later parts of the singer-songwriter’s career, given that this one ended 60 years ago.
He explained: “The film covers the period from 1961 to 1965 because that was the era.
“That was the first part.
“We could do a second and a third part.
“It depends on how people react.
“The movie ends in 1965, but he had a motorcycle accident and needed a break.”
Given all the hard work he put into perfecting the role, I can see why Timothee would be eager to reprise it.
About striving for perfection while playing a musical legend, he said: “Sometimes we did 11 or 12 times the musical stuff.
“It was dignified to bring Bob Dylan to life.
“One of the greatest artists of our time.
“I can be the voice of Bob Dylan and that is the greatest honor in my life.
“This is the film I am most proud of in my career and I want to hit every line.
“We worked on it and Bob Dylan deserves this attention.”
Timothee even spent five years learning guitar and accordion for the film, which comes out on January 17th, so could an album be next?
Speaking on Nardwuar’s The Human Serviette podcast, he teased: “What’s going to happen next?
“Well, I’m a better acoustic guitar player than I am an electric guitar player, but maybe one day I’ll be one of those acts who puts out a very self-indulgent album.”
ANNE-MARIE shared this photo of her baby bump after admitting she’s had the “toughest year”.
She gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in February, but has had a stressful time after her husband, rapper Slowthai, was accused of rape, of which he was acquitted this month.
In a message to her fans on Instagram, Anne-Marie, right, wrote: “2024. the most beautiful, but also the most difficult year in our lives. God is really trying to see how strong I am hahaha. . .
“I have SO much for you in the new year that I’m probably going to get sick of you (please don’t be). Have the best holiday if you can and see you soon.”
Ed counts on number 1
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Ed Sheeran eyes his eighth No.1 album Credit: Getty
Ed Sheeran is on course to end the year on a high with his eighth No.1 album.
His +=÷x Tour Collection compilation record has been high on the charts since it came out in September, but now an extended live version has helped boost sales.
It is now in the lead to become the first No. 1 album of 2025, just ahead of Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet.
With his debut album Plus in 2011, Ed won the first place in the charts, and most recently last year he was in the first place with the album Autumn Variations.
His Mathematics world tour will finally end in 2025, and he should also release a new album.
Rita is in time for the new year
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Rita Ora wore leather boots and a tartan scarf as she arrived at rehearsals for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest Credit: Getty
Rita Ora wrapped up warm in New York as she prepared to welcome 2025.
She wore leather boots and a tartan scarf when she arrived at rehearsals for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest, which will be broadcast live from Times Square.
Rita will host the show tonight, and Carrie Underwood, Jonas Brothers, TLC, Lenny Kravitz and Sophie Ellis-Bextor will also perform.
But fear not, Sophie will still be flying into 2025 on BBC One from 11.30pm with her very own concert from this side of the Atlantic, after recording it earlier this month.
Tony is back in Stay – with new music
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Following the reissue of Stay Another Day with charity Nordoff-Robbins, former East 17 frontman Tony Mortimer plans new musicCredit: PA
EAST 17 frontman Tony Mortimer wants more chart success in 2025.
After re-releasing 1994’s Christmas album Stay Another Day – with music therapy charity Nordoff-Robbins – Tony has big plans for new music.
Appearing on the XS Noize Podcast, he said: “I love writing music.
“I’m back to music, more than I’ve been in a long time.
“I recently thought about doing it, for the first time in a decade.
“I don’t know in which direction it would go.
“What would I write about?
“My lawnmower broke down and ran out of gas.
“Now I have a lot of experience with music, so I could do something different.
“I probably wouldn’t work with a record company again, where they control you and your music so much.
“At the end of the day it has to represent you.
“Sometimes you can get a record company that says, ‘Well, actually, it represents a record company,’ and you’re like, ‘I just don’t need that.’
“I have a bunch of ideas on my phone, because that’s how my brain works.
“I’m in the process of arranging the studio, I haven’t done it for ten years.
“So, I will soon have a new music studio.
“So we’ll see what happens.”
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Brooke Candy, above, met rising star Gracie Abrams while working part-time at a tattoo parlor Credit: Getty
Brooke Candy revealed how she tattooed the future star.
The singer, who has worked with Charli XCX and Lizzo for years, met rising star Gracie Abrams while working part-time at a tattoo parlor.
Speaking about Gracie, who has just spent five weeks at number one with her single That’s So True, Brooke said: “She came in during the pandemic and told me about her music and then I put this little red star on her hand with a little lucky faces.
“When she blew up on Insta, I was like, oh wow.”
SZA cut per hols
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Just two weeks after the release of SOS Deluxe: Lana, SZA has released more material for the following weekCredit: AP
SZA’s plans to release more songs were derailed by her team enjoying the Christmas holidays.
Less than two weeks after dropping SOS Deluxe: Lana – the long-awaited expanded version of her 2022 album SOS, which features 14 new tracks – SZA has said there will be more material next week.
She wrote on X: “Just got word that all the updated mixes and new tracks will be added on January 6th – when the label comes back from vacation.”
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education