Belle and Sebastian have released “It Only Takes One Lion”, their new Scotland World Cup anthem. The track was released today, 2 June, and was written after Scotland’s 4-2 qualifying win over Denmark. Frontman Stuart Murdoch, who grew up in Ayr, has described the victory as feeling historic in the moment, with the song arriving as Scotland prepare for their first World Cup appearance since 1998 and the excitement continues to build ahead of the tournament. No pressure, then. Just the hopes of a nation.

Produced and co-written with Pete Ferguson, “It Only Takes One Lion” moves from a hymn-like opening into a bright disco-pop anthem, with Murdoch singing about the hope, nerves and emotional rollercoaster of following Scotland on the world stage. The music video features the band alongside archival football footage, the song also gives nods to Scottish players including Kieran Tierney, Kenny McLean and Scott McTominay.

Murdoch said the track is personal to him after decades of following the national team, adding that it tries to capture the experience of the whole country supporting Scotland.

Belle and Sebastian first premiered the song during their recent Royal Albert Hall show in London, as part of the band’s anniversary tour celebrating Tigermilk and If You’re Feeling Sinister.

For CultureCues, this is the kind of Scottish pop culture crossover we can absolutely get behind. A Belle and Sebastian World Cup anthem about hope, heartbreak and the beautiful stress of supporting Scotland? That feels painfully accurate. As a Scottish writer, there is something very joyful about seeing one of the country’s most beloved indie bands put the national football feeling into song. Who needs three lions anyway?

“It Only Takes One Lion” is out now. Watch the official music video below.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Belle and Sebastian Share Scotland World Cup Anthem “It Only Takes One Lion” first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Charli XCX has officially announced her next album. The singer revealed on 1 June that her seventh studio album, Music, Fashion, Film, will be released on 24 July. The announcement arrived alongside the album artwork, which features a black-and-white photograph of composer John Cale, fashion designer Marc Jacobs and filmmaker Martin Scorsese, reflecting the three worlds referenced in the title.

The album follows Charli’s hugely successful Brat, which became one of the defining records of 2024 and helped push the singer to a new level of mainstream success. The album artwork may be one of the clearest signs yet that Charli is entering a new creative chapter. Gone is the fluorescent green of Brat, replaced by a minimalist black-and-white image that places music, fashion and cinema legends at the centre of the frame.

So far, Charli has released two tracks from the project, “Rock Music” and “SS26”. The album title is lifted from a lyric in “SS26”, where she sings: “Nothing’s gonna save us, not music, fashion or film.” The record contains 11 tracks and runs just over 30 minutes, making it Charli’s shortest studio album to date.

Speaking previously about the album, she acknowledged that it may divide opinion, but said she was excited by the opportunity to challenge expectations and try something new. The inclusion of Scorsese on the artwork has already sparked discussion online, adding another unexpected talking point to the album announcement. It is also another sign of Charli’s growing presence beyond music, following her A24 film The Moment and her increasing influence across wider pop culture.

For CultureCues, one of the most interesting things about Charli XCX is that she rarely stands still creatively. Following an album as culturally dominant as Brat was never going to be straightforward, so it is refreshing to see her heading somewhere unexpected rather than trying to recreate the same moment twice. We are very curious to hear where Music, Fashion, Film takes her next.

Music, Fashion, Film releases on 24 July.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Charli XCX Announces New Album Music, Fashion, Film and Reveals Martin Scorsese Cover first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Major news, Swifties: Taylor Swift has announced “I Knew It, I Knew You,” a brand-new original song for Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5. The track, written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, will be released on 5 June ahead of the film’s cinema release on 19 June. It will also feature on the official Toy Story 5 soundtrack when the film arrives in cinemas later this month.

The announcement follows days of fan speculation after a series of “TS” billboards appeared, with the initials playing on both Toy Story and Taylor Swift. A themed countdown also appeared on Swift’s official website, prompting fans to start piecing together the clues before the news was officially confirmed.

According to Disney, “I Knew It, I Knew You” is inspired by Jessie’s journey in Toy Story 5, continuing the character’s story from Toy Story 2. The song is also described as a return to Swift’s country roots, blending that earlier sound with the songwriting style that has defined much of her career.

Swift shared her excitement about writing for the franchise, saying she had dreamed of creating something for the characters since watching the first Toy Story as a child. She also revealed that she wrote the song after seeing an early version of the film, adding: “Sometimes you just know, right?”

Toy Story 5 director and screenwriter Andrew Stanton praised Swift’s connection to Jessie, saying the song felt deeply tied to the film and calling the collaboration “kismet.”

For CultureCues, this announcement is major. We are huge Toy Story fans and huge Taylor Swift fans, so putting the two together? Naturally, we are seated. We cannot wait to hear “I Knew It, I Knew You,” and we have a feeling plenty of fans are already right there with us, ready for Pixar to break our hearts all over again.

It’s a Toy Story, baby, just say yes.

Toy Story 5 is due in cinemas on 19 June.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Taylor Swift Announces Original Song for Toy Story 5 first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Charli xcx’s A24 film The Moment is now streaming on HBO Max in the US. The film, which began streaming on 29 May, stars Charli xcx alongside Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Arielle Dombasle, Hailey Benton Gates, Kylie Jenner, Trew Mullen, Mel Ottenberg, Isaac Powell, Rachel Sennott, Rish Shah, Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Workéyè. It will also debut on HBO’s linear channel in the US on 30 May at 8pm ET.

Directed by Aidan Zamiri, The Moment follows a rising pop star as she prepares for her first arena tour while navigating fame, industry pressure and the strange disorientation that comes with suddenly getting everything you thought you wanted. The film is written by Zamiri and Bertie Brandes, based on an original idea by Charli xcx. Charli also produces alongside David Hinojosa.

Set after the phenomenon of brat, The Moment plays with the idea of pop stardom in real time, following Charli through the aftermath of a career-defining summer as the machine around her tries to keep the momentum going. Rather than presenting itself as a straightforward tour documentary, the film leans into satire, fiction and self-awareness, turning the pressure of a huge cultural moment into the story itself.

For CultureCues, this is such a perfect little pop culture collision. Charli xcx, A24, Rachel Sennott, Kylie Jenner and Alexander Skarsgård in a meta film about fame, art and the business of being a pop star? That is very much our kind of strange, stylish viewing. The brat era already became a full cultural event, and The Moment sounds like the film version of asking what happens when the party is still going, but the person at the centre of it is already wondering what comes next.

The Moment is streaming now on HBO Max in the US.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Charli XCX’s A24 Film The Moment Is Now Streaming on HBO Max in the US first appeared on culturecues.</p>

A busy New Music Friday is on the way, with notable albums due for release on 29 May. Tomorrow’s slate brings new projects from aespa, Labrinth, Paul McCartney, Violet Grohl, Willie Nelson and Dogstar, giving listeners a release week that stretches from K-pop to rock, country and classic songwriting.

For pop fans, aespa are set to release Lemonade, while Labrinth continues his ambitious musical run with Cosmic Opera Part II. Paul McCartney also returns with The Boys of Dungeon Lane, adding another major release to a week already packed with big names. Elsewhere, Violet Grohl releases Be Sweet to Me, Willie Nelson shares Dream Chaser, and Dogstar return with All In Now. It is a varied line-up, bringing together global pop names, legacy artists and a few releases likely to spark curiosity across very different fanbases.

For CultureCues, this is one of those New Music Fridays where the fun is in the contrast. There is no single lane here, which makes the release slate feel broader than the usual weekly drop. Whether listeners are heading straight for McCartney, checking in with aespa, pressing play on Labrinth or taking a chance on something less familiar, tomorrow should offer plenty to keep music fans busy.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post New Albums Out This Week: aespa, Labrinth, Paul McCartney and More first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Ed Sheeran has left Warner Music Group after 15 years, bringing an end to his long-running partnership with Atlantic Records and Asylum Records. The singer-songwriter revealed the move in a newsletter to fans on Friday, 22 May, explaining that he had parted ways with the company last month.

The split closes one of the most successful major-label partnerships in modern UK pop. According to Music Business Worldwide, Sheeran’s Warner era produced eight studio albums and 170 million album sales worldwide, with his catalogue spanning from 2011’s + through to 2025’s Play. Warner Music Group will continue to release Sheeran’s catalogue, which also includes 126 billion global streams, 38 billion YouTube views and 14 tracks in Spotify’s Billions Club.

Sheeran made it clear that the decision was not driven by a fallout, describing it as not a “disgruntled artist leaves record label” situation. Instead, he framed the move as a personal and professional shift after growing from a teenager trying to break through into a father of two who now wants to change how he works.

In his message, Sheeran reflected warmly on his early relationship with Ed Howard at Asylum Records, recalling how Howard supported him during the small pub gig years before Sheeran became one of the biggest live and streaming artists in the world. He also thanked everyone across Warner who had worked on his music over the last decade and a half, calling it “an incredible journey.”

Warner Music Group also wished Sheeran well in a statement, saying it was proud to have supported him through his rise and would continue to steward his catalogue into the future. Ed Howard, now co-president of Atlantic Records UK, also praised Sheeran’s career and said Warner’s teams would remain “squarely in his corner” as he enters his next chapter.

A Major Career Move for One of the UK’s Biggest Artists

Sheeran’s Warner years were not exactly quiet. Across albums including x, ÷, No.6 Collaborations Project, =, – and Play, he became one of the defining British pop artists of the streaming era, with “Shape of You” among the most recognisable hits of modern pop.

The move also arrives at an interesting point in his career. Sheeran has already been releasing music through his own Gingerbread Man Records and the rights to some of his more recent releases are held by his own label and licensed to Warner. His next distribution home has not yet been confirmed, despite industry speculation around where he may go next.

For CultureCues, the interesting part is not just that Sheeran has left Warner, but how carefully the move has been framed. This is not being presented as a dramatic exit or a burned bridge. It sounds more like an artist who has spent 15 years turning pub songs into stadium moments and now wants to rethink the machinery around it. After a run that helped define modern British pop, the obvious question is simple: what does Ed Sheeran want the next 15 years to sound like?

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Ed Sheeran Leaves Warner Music After 15 Years first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Good Charlotte have announced a UK and European tour for later this year, marking the band’s first UK headline shows since 2019. The Maryland pop-punk favourites will hit the road throughout November with special guests Yellowcard, kicking off in Stockholm before heading through Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. The run concludes with two major UK dates at London’s O2 on 19 November and Manchester’s Co-op Live on 20 November.

The announcement arrives as the band prepare to headline Slam Dunk Festival this weekend alongside Sublime, giving UK fans an early chance to see them back on stage before the full tour begins later this year. Support across the entire run will come from fellow pop-punk favourites Yellowcard, making it a particularly nostalgic line-up for fans who grew up on the genre’s early 2000s heyday.

The full tour dates are:

8 November – Stockholm, Sweden – Hovet
11 November – Munich, Germany – Zenith
13 November – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National
14 November – Düsseldorf, Germany – Mitsubishi Electric Halle
16 November – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live
17 November – Paris, France – Zenith Paris
19 November – London, England – The O2
20 November – Manchester, England – Co-op Live

Tickets go on general sale at 10am local time on 29 May, while a presale begins at the same time on 26 May. Good Charlotte also confirmed that GC Rewards members will receive one hour of early access to the presale.

The tour comes in support of the band’s most recent album, Motel Du Cap, which was released last August as their first studio album in seven years. Produced by former Bring Me The Horizon member Jordan Fish alongside Zakk Cervini, the record featured singles including “Rejects” and “Stepper”.

For many fans, the combination of Good Charlotte and Yellowcard at the same gig will be reason enough to grab tickets. Add in the band’s long-awaited return to UK headline arenas, and these shows are likely to be among the most talked-about pop-punk dates of the autumn.

For CultureCues, Good Charlotte’s return already brings plenty of pop-punk nostalgia with it, and adding Yellowcard to the bill only makes the whole thing seem even more built for fans of that era. Arena-sized singalongs, old favourites and a full night of throwback energy? That sounds like a pretty great time to us.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Good Charlotte Announce UK and European Tour With Yellowcard first appeared on culturecues.</p>

BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend returns from 22 to 24 May, bringing more than 100 artists to Sunderland’s Herrington Country Park for one of the UK’s biggest music events of the year. With around 100,000 people expected to attend across the weekend, the festival once again combines major chart stars, emerging talent and BBC Introducing favourites across multiple stages.

This year’s line-up features everyone from Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Olivia Dean and Zara Larsson to James Blake, Mitski, Ezra Collective, FLO and Holly Humberstone, making it one of Radio 1’s most varied line-ups in recent years.

Friday Kicks Off With Dance Heavyweights

Friday’s Main Stage line-up is led by dance music legend Fatboy Slim, joined by Clementine Douglas, FISHER, Sonny Fodera and MK. Elsewhere, the New Music Stage leans heavily into electronic music with appearances from Ahadadream B2B Arthi, horsegiirL, Ewan McVicar, NOTION and Marlon Hoffstadt, while the BBC Introducing Stage shines a spotlight on rising names including Jaguar, Mia Lily, Niamh and Sorley.

Zara Larsson Leads a Star-Studded Saturday

Saturday arguably boasts one of the weekend’s strongest Main Stage line-ups, with Zara Larsson topping the day alongside Ellie Goulding, Louis Tomlinson, Lola Young, Nothing But Thieves and Skye Newman. Tomlinson is expected to be one of the day’s biggest draws too, with plenty of his fans likely to be in attendance for his Sunderland set.

The New Music Stage offers a completely different flavour, with acclaimed performers including James Blake, Rachel Chinouriri, MUNA, Mitski and Wasia Project. The BBC Introducing Stage continues Radio 1’s tradition of showcasing future stars, with performances from LeoStayTrill, Tom A Smith, BombayMami and Heidi Curtis among others.

Olivia Dean and Niall Horan Close Out the Weekend

Sunday’s line-up is led by one of British music’s biggest breakout success stories. Fresh from a successful awards season, Olivia Dean tops the Main Stage alongside Niall Horan, Kehlani, Dermot Kennedy, CMAT and Myles Smith. Dean’s set is expected to be one of the weekend’s most anticipated.

Over on the New Music Stage, festivalgoers can catch Ezra Collective, FLO, Maisie Peters, Alessi Rose, Odeal and Jorja Smith, who will deliver a special party set. The BBC Introducing Stage rounds off the weekend with emerging artists including Venus Grrrls, Wohdee, DC3 and Imogen and the Knife.

A Weekend Celebrating Established Stars and New Talent

Part of Radio 1’s Big Weekend’s appeal is the way it brings huge names and newer artists into the same space. Alongside some of the biggest acts in pop, indie, dance and R&B, the festival gives rising talent a major platform through its New Music and BBC Introducing stages.

For CultureCues, that mix is what makes the event stand out. Whether fans are heading to Sunderland for Fatboy Slim, Louis Tomlinson or Olivia Dean, or planning to discover their next favourite artist between sets, Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 looks set to deliver a packed three days of music as the summer festival season gets underway, and we are looking forward to this one.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend 2026 Brings a Packed Line-Up to Sunderland first appeared on culturecues.</p>

There is something very satisfying about looking at the UK Singles Chart right now and seeing “Rein Me In” sitting at number one. Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s collaboration has officially earned its 11th week at the top of the Official UK Singles Chart, breaking the long-standing record previously held by Rihanna and Jay-Z’s “Umbrella” for the longest-running number one by a male/female duo. Aside from brief chart takeovers by Harry Styles’ “Aperture” and “American Girls”, plus Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drop Dead”, “Rein Me In” has spent most of 2026 sitting at the top of the UK charts.

Originally appearing on Fender’s 2025 album People Watching, the song was later reworked with a new verse from Dean before exploding into one of the biggest UK hits of 2026. Since then, it has picked up BRIT Award success, dominated streaming playlists and become one of those songs that seems to follow people everywhere without ever becoming irritating. Which, honestly, is harder to achieve than most chart music makes it look.

Built around atmospheric production, warm indie-rock instrumentation and open-hearted lyricism, “Rein Me In” works because neither artist overwhelms the other. Fender brings his familiar anthemic energy and restless emotional urgency, while Dean softens the edges of the track with a vocal performance that feels intimate and effortless at the same time. Basically, it is a proper duet, not just two big names sharing the same track.

Earlier this month, Dean brought Fender out during her sold-out O2 Arena shows in London for a surprise performance of the track, further adding to the sense that the song has become a genuine moment for both artists rather than simply another successful collaboration.

And maybe that is part of why it has lasted this long at number one. “Rein Me In” does not feel engineered for a TikTok trend or built around a single throwaway hook. It feels like a song people have actually lived with over the past few months. The kind that soundtracks real life, not just the algorithm.

For CultureCues, there is something refreshing about seeing a song this emotionally grounded dominating the charts for this long. “Rein Me In” feels intimate without becoming overly polished or performative, and the chemistry between Sam Fender and Olivia Dean gives the track a warmth that keeps pulling people back in. If this is what the UK charts sound like right now, honestly? More of this, please.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Number One Right Now: Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s Rein Me In Is Still the UK’s Number One first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Myles Smith’s debut album era is officially starting to feel huge. Following the recent announcement of his first full-length record My Mess, My Heart, My Life alongside an ambitious world tour, the British singer-songwriter continues to build momentum with new single Hold Me In The Dark and a high-profile appearance on Saturday Night Live UK earlier this month.

The album arrives on 19 June via Sony Music UK/RCA Records and is structured across three connected chapters titled Mess, Heart and Life. It will feature previous releases including Stargazing, Nice To Meet You, Gold, Stay (If You Wanna Dance) and Drive Safe, his duet with Niall Horan.

Smith recently described Hold Me In The Dark as one of his most personal songs yet, explaining that it came from “a really honest place” and reflected childhood memories of using music as an escape during difficult moments growing up. That sense of music as safety, rather than simply performance, feels central to the track and to the wider emotional world he is building around the album.

“It’s not about fixing everything. “It’s about not being alone in it.”

That emotional openness has become a major part of why audiences have connected so strongly with Smith over the past two years. Since the breakout success of Stargazing, which became one of the biggest British singles of 2024, he has quickly established himself as one of the UK’s most exciting rising artists, pairing catchy choruses with songwriting that still feels personal.

His recent performance on Saturday Night Live UK on 9 May only added to the anticipation surrounding the album. Appearing as musical guest alongside host Hannah Waddingham, Smith delivered another major television moment just weeks before the release of his debut record.

Smith is also preparing for his biggest tour yet, with dates across North America, Europe and the UK throughout 2026. The UK and Ireland leg begins at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena on 7 November, before heading to Leeds, Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Manchester’s Co-op Live, Dublin’s 3Arena and Cardiff, then finishing with a major headline show at London’s O2 Arena on 20 November.

He will also join Ed Sheeran for select North American dates on the LOOP Tour this summer, placing him in front of massive stadium crowds during what already feels like a defining year for his career.

For CultureCues, what makes Myles Smith so exciting right now is that none of this momentum feels manufactured. The scale of the venues may be getting bigger and bigger, but there is still something incredibly intimate about the way he writes and performs. With the growing confidence of his live performances and the sheer success of songs like Stargazing, it genuinely feels like this debut album era could be the moment everything shifts to another level.

My Mess, My Heart, My Life releases on 19 June.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Myles Smith Builds Excitement for Debut Album My Mess, My Heart, My Life first appeared on culturecues.</p>

My Chemical Romance have officially announced an expanded deluxe edition of Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, with the reissue arriving on 10 July via Reprise/Warner Records. The newly announced edition includes remastered versions of the album’s original tracklist alongside nine bonus tracks, including fan favourites Mastas of Ravenkroft, Black Dragon Fighting Society and F.T.W.W.W. Several of the bonus tracks will also be available on streaming and vinyl for the first time.

The release follows a teaser campaign that immediately sent the internet into full MCRmy detective mode, with fans quickly suspecting that Danger Days was about to return in some form.

Alongside the remastered album, the deluxe edition will feature live recordings including SING and The Kids From Yesterday from the 2011 iTunes Festival, as well as a BBC Radio 1 recording of Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na), which the band has already released to celebrate the announcement.

Originally released in 2010, Danger Days saw My Chemical Romance pivot away from the gothic darkness of The Black Parade and fully embrace a neon-coloured dystopian world of Killjoys, desert chaos and anti-corporate rebellion. Over time, the album has become one of the band’s most beloved and creatively ambitious records, particularly among fans who grew up alongside its comic-book aesthetic and sprawling lore.

The announcement also arrives ahead of My Chemical Romance’s huge UK stadium shows this summer, including dates at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium, Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park and three nights at London’s Wembley Stadium as part of The Black Parade 2026 tour.

For CultureCues, Danger Days remains one of those albums that somehow feels both completely chaotic and weirdly emotional at the same time. The neon apocalypse aesthetic, the radio interludes, the sheer commitment to the bit… it all still works. Elder emos everywhere are about to become unbearable online again and, honestly? Good for them. Because let’s be real, we are absolutely including ourselves in that.

The Danger Days deluxe edition releases on 10 July.

Watch MCR’s live BBC Radio 1 version of Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) below.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post My Chemical Romance Announce Expanded Danger Days Deluxe Edition Ahead of UK Tour first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Harry Styles is officially back, and we are trying to act normal about it. After months of anticipation, outfit predictions, setlist theories and fans collectively losing their minds, Harry Styles kicks off his Together, Together Tour tonight (16 May) at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam.

The opening night marks the beginning of a huge 2026 world run, with Harry set to play 67 shows across seven locations, including Amsterdam, London, São Paulo, Mexico City, New York, Melbourne and Sydney. The tour comes just months after he released his fourth studio album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. in January, a brilliant record that gave fans some of his most beautiful songs yet and plenty of moments that already feel made for a stadium crowd. The whole thing already feels like a full-scale Harry takeover.

Ahead of tonight’s opening show, behind-the-scenes rehearsal images shared from inside the Johan Cruijff Arena gave fans an early glimpse at the scale of the production, with Harry and his band gathered onstage inside the huge Amsterdam venue as preparations wrapped up for night one of the Together, Together Tour. Naturally, that was more than enough to send fans into full countdown mode.

Outside the stadium, the front of the Johan Cruijff Arena has also been given a Harry-style makeover, with a huge “Ajax All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” banner nodding to the album title and the venue’s football home. It is a tiny detail, but exactly the kind of thing fans will notice, screenshot and scream about immediately. Not speaking from experience, of course.

Harry Styles Amsterdam Stage Times

According to venue information, tonight’s schedule is expected to run as follows:

• Doors: 17:00
• Robyn: 19:30
• Harry Styles: 20:45
• Show ends: 22:45

Fans attending the opening night are advised to arrive early, particularly with large crowds expected around the venue, but camping outside the arena is not permitted.

A Record-Breaking Wembley Run

Following Amsterdam, Harry heads to Wembley Stadium for a historic 12-night residency beginning on 12 June, surpassing Coldplay’s previous record of 10 Wembley shows in a single year. The run also breaks Taylor Swift’s record for the most Wembley Stadium performances by a solo artist during one tour run.

The Together, Together Tour will see Harry play seven locations around the world in total, with shows in Amsterdam, London, São Paulo, Mexico City, New York, Melbourne and Sydney. Support acts across the run include Shania Twain, Jorja Smith, Jamie xx, Fousheé and more.

What Could Be on the Setlist?

Harry has not yet confirmed the full Together, Together Tour setlist, but fans are expecting a mix of new material and career favourites following his March 2026 One Night Only show in Manchester. That performance included “Aperture”, “American Girls”, “Ready, Steady, Go!”, “The Waiting Game”, “Golden”, “Watermelon Sugar”, “As It Was” and “Sign of the Times”.

For CultureCues, the excitement around Together, Together also comes from the fact that Harry has had proper time away. After the enormous scale of Love On Tour, which wrapped in 2023, a break felt not only understandable, but needed. Still, three years later, fans are more than ready for Harry tour season to begin again. Yes, One Night Only in Manchester gave everyone a little taste of the new era, but this is the full return: multiple nights, major venues, seven locations around the world and a fan community that has been waiting to come back together. There may well be nerves in stepping back onto a stage of this scale, but once Harry is back in front of a crowd, it is hard to imagine him doing anything other than settling into the joy of it.

The stage has always seemed like one of the places where he is happiest. Now, Together, Together looks ready to bring that feeling back on a huge scale. Wembley, we are emotionally preparing.

Harry Styles’ Together, Together Tour continues in Amsterdam through to 5 June before moving to London’s Wembley Stadium, where the run begins on 12 June.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Harry Styles Is Back: Together, Together Tour Starts Tonight in Amsterdam first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Lady Gaga has released MAYHEM Requiem, a new live project on Apple Music that reimagines her 2025 album Mayhem with dramatic new arrangements. Recorded during a no-phones-allowed performance at The Wiltern in Los Angeles in January, the album arrives alongside a concert film as part of Apple Music Live. The project has been billed as the final chapter of the Mayhem era, with Gaga stepping into the role of “the phantom of her own gothic opera.” Because if anyone was going to turn a live album into a haunted opera-house moment, it was always going to be Mother Monster.

Rather than simply recreating the record live, MAYHEM Requiem gives the songs a more theatrical shape. “Abracadabra” opens in a stripped-back piano arrangement, while “How Bad Do U Want Me” is reshaped into a more traditional ballad, giving the album a darker, moodier afterlife.

The concert film premiered globally on Apple Music on Friday 15 May at 4am BST, with the full performance and Spatial Audio live album available on demand for Apple Music subscribers. A one-night-only cinema event also took place at select AMC theatres on 14 May.

MAYHEM Requiem follows a huge era for Gaga, whose Mayhem campaign included major live performances, an extensive tour and a Grammy win for Best Pop Vocal Album. She also performed “Abracadabra” at the 2026 Grammys, giving the era one of its biggest televised moments before this final live chapter arrived.

For CultureCues, this is exactly the kind of Gaga release that knows how to turn an album cycle into theatre. Mayhem already leaned into gothic pop drama, but MAYHEM Requiem sounds like the afterparty held in the ruins, all piano, shadows and very committed eyeliner. Paws up, obviously.

MAYHEM Requiem tracklist

01 Intro (Live)
02 Disease (Live)
03 Abracadabra (Live)
04 Garden Of Eden (Live)
05 Perfect Celebrity (Live)
06 Vanish Into You (Live)
07 Interlude I (Live)
08 Killah (Live) 09 Zombieboy (Live)
10 Interlude II (Live)
11 LoveDrug (Live)
12 Interlude III (Live)
13 How Bad Do U Want Me (Live)
14 Don’t Call Tonight (Live)
15 Shadow Of A Man (Live)
16 Interlude IV (Live)
17 The Beast (Live)
18 Interlude V (Live)
19 Blade Of Grass (Live)
20 Interlude VI (Live)
21 Die With A Smile (Live)

MAYHEM Requiem is available now on Apple Music. Watch Gaga perform “Die With a Smile” below.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Lady Gaga Releases Mayhem Requiem Live Album on Apple Music first appeared on culturecues.</p>

There is always a risk with arena support slots that the crowd treats them as background noise. People are still finding their seats, still queueing for drinks, still waiting for the artist they came to see. But watching ADMT open for Louis Tomlinson in both Manchester and Glasgow, it became obvious very quickly that this was not going to be one of those situations.

From the first song, there were fans at barricade singing the lyrics back to him, and by the second or third track, that energy had started to move through the rest of the room too.

The Doncaster singer-songwriter, whose real name is Adam Taylor, walked out onto stages he had dreamed about playing his whole life and somehow managed to make rooms of more than 20,000 people feel personal. Warm acoustic moments sat beside huge singalong choruses, while his openness around mental health, loneliness and self-worth cut through instantly with an audience already deeply connected to emotional honesty in music. His songs carry that same quality: direct, human and unafraid of sitting with the difficult stuff.

It felt like the perfect match of artist and audience. Louis Tomlinson’s fans have built a reputation for embracing authenticity, and across Manchester’s Co-op Live and Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, there was genuine warmth towards ADMT from the second he stepped on stage. By the end of each set, it no longer felt like fans politely welcoming a support act. It felt like people discovering an artist they were ready to take with them.

That reaction has continued online too, with fans sharing clips, streaming his music and connecting with the story behind his debut album, From Good To Bad And Then Back Again, which arrives tomorrow, 15 May, via BMG. After the arena run opened him up to a new wave of fans, ADMT now heads into release week with that support behind him and a much bigger room ready to listen.

Following the response to CultureCues’ recent Louis Tomlinson feature, ADMT spoke to us about supporting the tour, the emotional impact of those arena shows, the way Louies embraced him so quickly, and why this next chapter feels bigger than anything he has experienced before. It arrives just as his debut album prepares to meet the audience he has been building towards.

What was it like stepping out in front of Louis Tomlinson’s arena crowd each night?

“I’ve been blessed enough to have some pretty sick experiences in my life, but that’s a high I cannot explain. It’s pure energy. Everyone was so cool, just so much love from those guys, man.”

What stood out in Manchester and Glasgow was how naturally ADMT balanced the size of the room with the intimacy of the songs. He could let the bigger choruses fill the arena, then pull everything back into something more conversational when he spoke about mental health, loneliness and finding your way through difficult days. That genuineness carried off stage too, from meeting fans outside the venue before the show to coming down to barricade after his set, taking photos, chatting properly and making the whole thing feel personal.

You described the tour as the most incredible experience of your life. What made it feel that way?

“I think it’s that full circle moment relived each night. Those stages I’ve dreamt of playing my whole life. Call it manifestation, praying, whatever you like, but that’s what I dreamt of, you know? And every night I went out there with imposter syndrome and every night those guys made me feel like I belong.”

That feeling of belonging sits at the centre of a lot of ADMT’s music. Before the arenas and sold-out tours, he spent years busking across Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds during the pandemic, building a following through emotionally open performances. His music later exploded online after his striped back acoustic cover of 50 Cent’s “Best Friend” went viral, eventually earning praise from the rapper himself. But even with the growing audience, the Louis Tomlinson tour felt like a genuine turning point.

How did Louis’ fans respond to you from the stage?

“Honestly I didn’t expect as much love as I felt, maybe that’s my own insecurities, I don’t know. But as cliché as it sounds, it felt like family, like I’d known those guys forever. I heard Louis fans were some of the best fans in the world and honestly they were just that. Pure love every single night regardless of where we were in the world. That’s what humanity should be, I feel. Just good humans giving good energy.”

That sense of community was something CultureCues explored heavily in our original Louis Tomlinson feature, and hearing it reflected back from somebody standing on stage every night only reinforces it further. There is a reason Louis’ tours resonate so emotionally with people, and part of that comes from how openly both artist and fans embrace vulnerability, loyalty and connection.

Did Manchester or Glasgow have any particular moments that stood out?

“Honestly, the Scots always give the best mental energy whenever I’ve played there in the past and it was just that in Glasgow. They’re nutters, haha, I love em. Manchester being so close to home for me just felt something special. I’m a proud northerner so being back there was mint.”

Both Manchester and Glasgow had immediate live energy, but Manchester carried something slightly different for ADMT. Being so close to home gave the set an extra sense of northern pride, the same feeling that runs through “North”, where he sings about Yorkshire, mates who will sort you out and the kind of place that stays with you wherever you go. Watching somebody from Doncaster stand in an arena that size, clearly taking it all in, gave the performance another layer. Glasgow, meanwhile, brought its usual full-force chaos from the floor. The Hydro crowd gave him plenty to work with, and he clearly loved every second of it.

What would you say to fans who discovered your music through this tour?

“I guess all I can say is thank you, yano. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms. I speak about mental health a lot and just seeing people’s love and reactions during and after the shows has given me a lot of happiness, a lot of peace. That’s something you can’t buy. I’m just mad grateful.”

That gratitude makes sense when you see how central those conversations are to his work, both in the songs themselves and in the way he speaks to a crowd. During the tour, one of the most emotional moments came with “Overboard”, when ADMT took time to speak directly to the crowd about mental health and the importance of removing some of the stigma and silence that still surrounds it, particularly for working-class people and young men. He did not present himself as somebody with all the answers, or fall back on neat clichés about everything magically getting better. Instead, he spoke honestly about struggling himself and wanting people to feel less alone in those thoughts.

That same care runs through the song itself. “Overboard” does not speak about mental health from a distance, but from the middle of it: “I been there, I been on my knees too / I’ve done my time alone in the dirt.” Later, he captures the quiet isolation of trying to keep going while feeling invisible: “I know how it feels to be see-thru / To fade away, get lost in the crowd.”

Inside rooms filled with thousands of people, “Overboard” still felt deeply personal. You could feel the crowd listening closely, not just to the music, but to what he was trying to say underneath it.

With your debut album out on 15 May and sold-out headline dates coming up, what does this next chapter feel like for you?

“Honestly, it feels like I’m truly blessed and forever grateful to be living my truth and being accepted for it too and it’s all thanks to the people who dedicate their time and energy into supporting what I do. Also feels like I may even be able to afford to move out of my mum’s place at this rate! All jokes aside, it just feels like a happiness that I’ve spent a long time trying to find.”

For all the vulnerability in ADMT’s music, and all the seriousness of the issues he writes and speaks about, he never seems defined only by the difficult parts. You can feel the weight of those experiences when he sings, but on stage and afterwards with fans, he comes across as warm, cheeky, grateful and genuinely joyful to be there. That joke about finally being able to move out of his mum’s place says a lot. Even in the middle of a huge career moment, he still sounds like himself.

That next chapter is already moving quickly. ADMT’s debut album From Good To Bad And Then Back Again arrives tomorrow, 15 May, featuring tracks including “Turn The Page”, “Homeless” and “Cover To Cover”. The record explores love, mistakes, mental health and resilience, with ADMT previously describing it as “growth, making mistakes, feeling everything a bit too much and not always knowing where to put it.”

Alongside the album release, his entire We Made It This Far 2026 headline tour has now sold out, while tickets for his biggest tour to date, the 2027 From Good To Bad And Then Back Again UK and Ireland tour, are already on sale here. The run will see him return to Manchester and Glasgow, while also heading to London, Newcastle, Leeds, Dublin, Belfast and more.

For CultureCues, what feels exciting is how much of this momentum still seems rooted in real connection. ADMT has gone from busking through city centres during lockdown to standing in front of thousands of people in arenas, but the heart of it still feels close enough to reach. The honesty is still there. The gratitude is still there. So is the cheeky northern warmth that makes fans want to root for him.

Online, plenty of Louies have already joked that he has been adopted into the family now, which feels about right. The Louis Tomlinson support run may have introduced ADMT to a much wider audience, but the response suggests many of those fans are not just passing through.

With From Good To Bad And Then Back Again, ADMT steps into an era that feels genuinely promising. He has the songs, the live presence and the kind of sincerity people want to hold onto. Judging by the reaction inside those arenas, plenty of fans are ready to carry that next chapter with him.

From Good To Bad And Then Back Again is released tomorrow, 15 May, and is available to pre-save now.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post ADMT on Supporting Louis Tomlinson, the Fans and His Debut Album: “Those Guys Made Me Feel Like I Belong” first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Tove Lo has released “I’m Your Girl Right?”, the lead single from her newly announced album Estrus. The Swedish pop artist confirmed the record earlier this week, with her sixth studio album set to arrive on 18 September via Pretty Swede Records and Virgin Music Group.

The announcement came with the album artwork and a 13-song tracklist, setting up a new era rooted in instinct, desire and emotional intensity. Tove Lo has described Estrus as a record about wanting everything at once, which feels very much in line with an artist who has built her career on turning complicated feelings into sharp, sweat-soaked pop.

“I’m Your Girl Right?” gives the first taste of the album, following her 2022 record Dirt Femme and 2024 EP Heat with SG Lewis. After nearly four years away from a solo album cycle, the new single suggests Tove Lo is leaning back into pop that feels physical, restless and ready for a dark room with a sticky floor.

The album’s tracklist includes “A Lot of Feelings, No Solutions”, “I’m the Cake”, “Die for My Art with a Lonely Heart” and “Des Fleurs”, featuring Stromae. The latter has already sparked plenty of interest from fans eager to hear how the collaboration will sound.

Tove Lo has also announced The Estrus Tour, with UK dates set for Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse on 5 November 2026 and London’s O2 Academy Brixton on 7 November 2026.

“I’m Your Girl Right?” is available now. Estrus is released on 18 September.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Tove Lo Releases “I’m Your Girl Right?” and Announces New Album Estrus first appeared on culturecues.</p>

The Strokes have released “Falling out of Love”, the latest single from their forthcoming album Reality Awaits. The record is set to arrive on 26 June, marking the band’s first full-length release since 2020’s The New Abnormal and giving fans another glimpse at where the New York indie icons are heading next.

After the slicker, slightly cheekier “Going Shopping”, this new track slows things down and lets the heartbreak stretch out. Casablancas’ vocals are pushed through a haze of digital effects, giving “Falling Out Of Love” an unusual, almost detached tenderness, while the band settle into the kind of off-centre romantic mood The Strokes have always managed to make feel strangely effortless.

Produced by Rick Rubin, Reality Awaits has already built plenty of curiosity around what The Strokes sound like after a six-year gap between albums. Since The New Abnormal, the band have played major live dates while members have also moved through solo work, side projects and other creative detours, so there is a real sense of anticipation around their return. “Falling out of Love” leans into that curiosity, playing with texture, mood and production in a way that keeps the track from feeling too polished or predictable.

The Strokes are also expected to give the song its live debut on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on 14 May, following a run of recent live dates and festival appearances.

“Falling out of Love” is available to stream now. Reality Awaits is released on 26 June.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post The Strokes Share New Single “Falling out of Love” Ahead of Reality Awaits first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Nine years ago today, Harry Styles officially stepped into his solo era with the release of his self-titled debut album, Harry Styles. Released on 12 May 2017 through Columbia Records and Erskine Records, the 10-track record marked the first full solo project from the former One Direction star and quickly became one of the most talked-about pop debuts of the decade.

Led by the soaring and theatrical “Sign of the Times”, which reached number one in more than 80 countries, the album introduced a very different side to Styles than many fans expected. Instead of chasing straightforward radio pop, Harry Styles leaned into soft rock, Britpop and classic singer-songwriter influences, pulling inspiration from artists including David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac and Elton John.

Tracks like “Kiwi”, “Sweet Creature”, “Woman”, “Meet Me In The Hallway” and “Two Ghosts” helped define the album’s identity, moving between big rock influences, softer emotional moments and the kind of theatrical drama that quickly became part of Harry’s solo style. Even now, nearly a decade later, many of the songs remain staples of Styles’ live shows and fan favourites across his catalogue, still streamed, still cried to and still screamed back by fans who have cherished the album from the very beginning.

At the time, the album arrived with huge pressure attached. Styles was stepping out from one of the biggest pop groups in the world, and curiosity around what his own sound would become was intense. Rather than recreating the polished pop of One Direction, Harry Styles felt intentionally different from the beginning, both musically and visually.

The era introduced many of the creative elements that would later become closely associated with Styles as a solo artist: vintage-inspired fashion, arena-sized rock influences, emotional lyricism and a playful unpredictability that set him apart from many of his pop contemporaries. It also hinted at the live-show culture that would later become part of the Harry experience, where feather boas, heart sunglasses and suspicious amounts of sequins are basically part of the ticket price.

For CultureCues, Harry Styles still stands as one of the defining solo debuts to emerge from the boyband era, not because it rejected Harry’s past, but because it felt completely confident in stepping into something new. Nine years later, fans are still screaming every word to “Kiwi”, getting emotional over “Sign of the Times” (we will never recover from Wembley night four, SOTT in the rain) and returning to the album with the same affection they had for it in 2017.

It was the beginning of an era that reshaped Harry Styles as an artist in his own right, and with Fine Line, Harry’s House and now Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. following in its footsteps, that debut feels even more special. Happy birthday to the album, the era and the first chapter of Harry’s solo story.

Harry Styles was released on 12 May 2017 and is available on streaming platforms now.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post 9 Years Of Harry Styles: The Album That Changed Everything first appeared on culturecues.</p>

Phoebe Bridgers has returned to solo live performance with two intimate, phone-free shows over the weekend, reportedly debuting four new songs and teasing what appears to be the next chapter of her solo career. The singer-songwriter played at The Liberty in Roswell, New Mexico, on Friday 8 May, before appearing at Cactus Theater in Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday 9 May.

The shows marked Bridgers’ first solo live activity in around three years, following her last solo performances in 2023 and the subsequent success of boygenius, her supergroup with Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker.

The rules around the shows were unusually strict, with fans reportedly asked to lock away electronics in Yondr pouches. Attendees were not allowed to bring pens or pencils, adding to the sense that Bridgers was carefully controlling how the new material was first heard.

Across the shows, Bridgers reportedly performed material from Punisher and Stranger in the Alps, including fan favourites such as “Motion Sickness”, “Kyoto”, “Moon Song”, “Garden Song” and “I Know The End”. She was joined by frequent collaborator Christian Lee Hutson, who played guitar and harmonica, while fan accounts from the Lubbock show also mention Nick White on keyboard.

The biggest talking point, however, was the new music. Bridgers reportedly debuted four unreleased songs, with early fan accounts describing the material as sad, bittersweet and, in at least one case, more upbeat and country-adjacent. One of the new songs performed at the Roswell show was also reported to address the death of Bridgers’ father in 2023.

The shows appear to be part of a carefully staged return rather than a traditional announcement campaign. Fans reportedly found puzzle pieces or artwork fragments inside their phone pouches, leading to speculation that the pieces may eventually form part of the artwork for Bridgers’ next album. A fan account from the Lubbock show also claimed that Yondr staff described the photo cards as part of the new album cover, though Bridgers has not officially confirmed the project’s title, artwork or release date.

The Lubbock show also leaned into a distinctive visual world. According to fan accounts, the stage featured alien and space-themed neon posters, a vintage television, lava lamps, candles, incense, side tables and a couch at centre stage, creating an intimate living-room feel with a strange, cosmic edge. The same account said the television later displayed the phrase “The end is here,” which has only fuelled further speculation about Bridgers’ next era.

Bridgers’ most recent solo album, Punisher, was released in 2020 and became one of the defining indie records of that year, featuring songs including “Kyoto”, “Garden Song” and “I Know The End”. Her most recent solo track, “Sidelines”, arrived in 2022 for the Hulu adaptation of Conversations With Friends. Since then, she has collaborated with artists including SZA, The National, Arlo Parks and Andrew Bird, while boygenius won three Grammys in 2024 for The Record.

For CultureCues, this feels like a very Phoebe Bridgers way to re-enter the spotlight. No major social media countdown, no glossy press rollout, no flood of phone footage before the songs have even had room to breathe. Just tiny rooms, locked-away phones, mysterious artwork, strange little clues and fans leaving with more questions than answers. Whatever comes next, the new era already seems to have started. Bridgers has not yet announced her third solo album, but after this weekend, it feels much closer than it did a week ago.

Nikki Murray

Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.

<p>The post Phoebe Bridgers Debuts New Songs at First Solo Shows Since 2023 first appeared on culturecues.</p>