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Long before reality television became a global phenomenon, there was Seven Up! The groundbreaking documentary first aired in 1964, introducing viewers to a group of seven-year-old British children from different social backgrounds. Every seven years, cameras returned to discover where life had taken them. Among those original children was Liverpool’s Peter Davies.

More than six decades later, the story has finally reached its conclusion with 70 Up. The final instalment aired on ITV in September 2026, bringing to an end an extraordinary television project that evolved from an examination of Britain’s class system into something much bigger: a study of what it means to live a human life. For Peter, however, this wasn’t simply television. This was his life.

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And behind the remarkable television story is another, perhaps less familiar one — about a man who has increasingly found purpose through creativity. Peter’s relationship with Up has been complicated. Having cameras periodically return to examine your relationships, career, successes, disappointments and personal life is an experience very few people can understand.

“My involvement in the series goes back to the age of 6 – it’s been part of my whole life, so it’s difficult to imagine it not being there,” Peter said. “When I was younger, especially a young adult, the downside of it was the degree of intrusion into my life. I’m not an extrovert, so that was difficult to deal with at times.”

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That relationship became particularly difficult after Peter criticised Margaret Thatcher’s government and subsequently found himself facing fierce criticism from sections of the tabloid press. “I was quite shocked at how vitriolic these papers could be, and I decided that I didn’t want that again, and withdrew from the series for a few years.”

Eventually, Peter returned — but this time on his own terms. Instead of simply being someone whose life was being documented, Peter could use the extraordinary platform to showcase the things he was creating. “When I returned, it was on condition that ITV focus on my creative projects, and that was when …Up began to have a better impact on my life.”

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The conclusion of 70 Up has understandably left Peter with conflicting emotions. “Mixed feelings,” he said. “I won’t miss that intrusion, or the worry about how I’m going to come across to so many viewers, but of course I do recognise the significance of the series – it’s often been called the greatest documentary series of all time – and the private screening of it was for all of us quite an emotional occasion.”

The final programme proved emotional for viewers too, with the conclusion prompting widespread reflection on a series that allowed audiences to watch real people grow, change, love, lose and age across more than six decades. For Peter, the ending is still sinking in. “The last half hour of the final episode was very moving, and I’m still processing how I feel about that,” he said. “I will also miss members of the film crew, who have become friends over the years.”

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But while one enormous chapter has closed, Peter’s creative story is very much continuing. For much of his adult life, creativity had to coexist with the realities of earning a living. Peter has written, recorded and performed music throughout adulthood, while also pursuing a professional career that included teaching and working as a Crown Prosecutor. Like countless musicians, however, he discovered that passion doesn’t necessarily pay the mortgage.

“As many people who’ve done the same will agree, unless you’re one of a tiny handful, it’s almost impossible to make enough money from that to pay your bills and bring up kids,” he explained. “So I always had ‘day jobs’, which meant less time for the music.”

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Peter doesn’t speak bitterly about those years. Far from it. “I don’t resent that, it’s just how it is, and the jobs I did were OK, and I made some great friends. But reaching a stage of life where those day jobs could finally disappear created something precious: Time. The reality now is that I’ve been able to give up the day jobs and focus on various projects. Basically, I’ve been able to do more!”

And he certainly has. Alongside continuing to make music, Peter has written his debut novel and co-written a stage musical. Interestingly, he doesn’t claim creativity provides some magical route to permanent happiness. Instead, he makes a more meaningful distinction. “That hasn’t necessarily made me happier all the time, but it has made me feel more fulfilled, which in turn has a positive impact on my mental health,” he says.

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Perhaps the most fascinating connection between Peter’s creative work and his extraordinary television experience can be found in his debut novel, Valediction Records. His recent debut novel, the book centres on former members of a late-70s band whose lives remain haunted decades later by the collapse of the group. Former bandmates Stephen, Philip and Martin carry guilt, resentment, addiction and illness into later life, until events force them to confront the unfinished business of their past.

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On the surface, it’s a story about musicians. Underneath, it’s about something universal: Time. And that’s where an unexpected connection with 7 Up emerges. Peter hadn’t deliberately set out to replicate anything about the documentary series when writing his novel. In fact, he hadn’t even recognised the connection himself. “It was never intentionally based on that experience!” he says.

“Only when I was later interviewed by Tania Ruiz of La Vida Liverpool and I was asked that very perceptive question did I realise that 7 Up had without any doubt subconsciously impacted upon my thinking when I was drafting the story,” he explains. Suddenly, the similarities were obvious. Just as viewers of Up encounter the same people at radically different stages of their lives, Valediction Records looks backwards and forwards across decades, examining how the people we once were continue to inhabit the people we eventually become.

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It’s a remarkable case of life quietly finding its way into art. “7 Up started as an examination of social class in Britain but became much more,” Peter explained. “It became a story of what it means to lead a human life. I think that all novelists aspire to write about that. I have heard other writers talking about how their novel/poem/song/play in some mysterious way takes on a life of its own, and goes off in an unexpected direction. I love that idea.”

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Valediction Records has attracted enthusiastic responses since publication, with reviewers praising both its music-filled world and emotional themes. Screenwriter Ray Connolly described it as having a “filmic quality”, while playwright and journalist Zoe Lewis called it a “heart-warming tale of rock and roll, love and hope”. But for Peter, perhaps the greatest reward is simply discovering that his story means something to readers.

“I have had a lot of nice reviews and positive feedback – that vindication is what every writer seeks, the money is a secondary concern. The story of a post-punk band operating in the late seventies/early eighties has understandably struck a chord — apologies for the unintended pun! — with readers who remember that period and with anyone who has ever played in a band. The broader issues within that story — time passing, regret, love, redemption — are the ones we all face,” Peter said. “I would hope that anyone could read Valediction Records and recognise something of themselves in there.”

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Long before Peter became a published novelist, there was music. His musical journey can be traced back to late-1970s London and the explosion of punk. After playing in several bands, Peter began looking for his own musical identity. His admiration for Elvis Costello led him towards Gram Parsons and, gradually, into Americana and alternative country.

That journey eventually produced The Good Intentions, centred around Peter and his wife Gabrielle Monk. The Liverpool Americana outfit has toured in Britain and America, appeared on Bob Harris’s BBC Radio 2 country programme and won Best Americana Band at the British Country Music Awards in 2011. The Good Intentions have now been together for around 20 years, with various musicians joining Peter and Gabi for recordings and live performances.

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Peter’s creativity has also found another outlet — theatre. Together with fellow Merseyside songwriter Jimmy Rae, Peter co-wrote Under The Mersey Moon, a country music stage production telling the story of struggling songwriter Danny Rogers and a journey that takes him from Liverpool towards Nashville — only for him to discover something rather different from the success he originally sought.

It’s another project in which music becomes the vehicle for a bigger story about life, dreams, family and finding your place in the world. Following sell-out productions at New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion, the show is heading to Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre from 11th–13th November 2026, featuring 13 original songs performed by a live five-piece band and local cast.

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There is something wonderfully circular about Peter Davies’ story. At seven years old, somebody else pointed a camera at him and began telling his story. More than 60 years later, Peter is telling stories himself. Through songs. Through theatre. And now through fiction.

Perhaps Valediction Records and 7 Up were always destined to have something in common. Both begin with individual lives but ultimately ask much bigger questions. What happens to our dreams? How much of the person we once were survives inside us? What do we regret? Who do we love? And what do we do with the time we have left? For Peter, the answer increasingly seems to be: create something.

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The cameras that have periodically returned throughout almost his entire life have finally stopped rolling. The landmark television experiment has reached its conclusion. But at 70, Liverpool’s original reality television star isn’t looking backwards. There are songs waiting to be recorded, stories waiting to be written and stages waiting to be filled. After a lifetime spent having his life documented, Peter Davies is now firmly in control of the next chapter.

Peter Davies / 70 UP

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SCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE – JUNE 11

Yorkshire’s very own Kaiser Chiefs are heading home next summer for two stunning live shows.

The Leeds indie heroes will headline Live at The Piece Hall on Friday June 4 before heading to Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Friday June 11.

Tickets go on sale at 9am Friday via ticketmaster.co.uk

Kaiser Chiefs – Wilson (vocals), Simon Rix (bass), Andrew ‘Whitey’ White (guitar), Nick ‘Peanut’ Baines (keyboards) and Vijay Mistry (drums) – are undoubtedly one of the most treasured bands of their generation.

Since forming back in 2000, they have truly made their mark on the British music scene with such anthemic hits as Oh My God, I Predict A Riot, Everyday I Love You Less and Less, Ruby, Never Miss A Beat and Hole In My Soul.

The band have released eight original studio albums which includes their Mercury nominated debut Employment, which sold more than two million copies, its Number 1 follow up Yours Truly, Angry Mob, which went twice-platinum in the UK alone, and Education Education Education and War which entered the UK Album Charts at number 1.

They have achieved top ten singles including the infamous number 1 hit Ruby, three BRIT Awards, an Ivor Novello for Album of the Year, toured with U2, Foo Fighters and Green Day and sold eight million albums.

Julian Murray of promoters Cuffe and Taylor, venue programmers at Scarborough OAT, said: “You can’t not love a night with Kaiser Chiefs. They always bring the party and where better to do that than Scarborough. This will be a truly momentous show next summer and we can’t wait.”

Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL FRSA, CEO of The Piece Hall Charitable Trust, said: “I cannot wait to welcome back these true Yorkshire legends and show them just how much Live at The Piece Hall has grown. They last played in 2021 when there weren’t even 10 shows per season – there are now more than 40.

“The stage is bigger, the sound is better, the crowds are larger and louder, combine that with Kaiser Chiefs immense back catalogue of incredible indie bangers and I predict a riotously good time will be had by one and all!”

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ENDS

21 SEPT 2026

Pictures attached: Kaiser Chiefs

LIVE AT THE PIECE HALL 2027

JUN 4                 KAISER CHIEFS

JUN 18              JACK SAVORETTI & JAMES MORRISON

JUL 23               RONAN KEATING + BLUE + GERMEIN SISTERS

JUL 27               ALFIE BOE & GRAVITY

AUG 9                SIMPLY RED + SOUL II SOUL

SCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE 2027

JUN 11              KAISER CHIEFS

JUL 9                  JACK SAVORETTI & JAMES MORRISON

JUL 18               RONAN KEATING + BLUE + GERMEIN SISTERS
JUL 25               ALFIE BOE + GRAVITY

AUG 17             SIMPLY RED + SOUL II SOUL

*More dates and artists to be confirmed

Due to incredible demand for pre-sale tickets the British soul and funk icons’ two Halifax shows on Monday August 9 and Tuesday August 10 are now both SOLD OUT.

A third and final show will take place on Wednesday August 11.

Tickets for this third date go on general sale tomorrow (Thursday) at 10am via ticketmaster.co.uk

Members of The Piece Hall’s Club 1779 can access a pre-sale for this extra date now. To become a Club 1779 member sign up via thepiecehall.co.uk/support-us/become-a-member/

This is the first time any artist has played three headline shows in the same summer season at The Piece Hall. Simply Red – led by legendary frontman Mick Hucknall – will be joined at all three nights by special guests Soul II Soul.

Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL FRSA, CEO of The Piece Hall Charitable Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce not one, not two, but three nights with the legends Simply Red live at The Piece Hall – the first artist ever to have three headline shows here in the same season.

“Given the reaction to our original announcement we knew demand for tickets was going to be high, but this has been something else! We are really thankful to Mick Hucknall and his incredible band for agreeing to headline a historic third night.

“This means 18,000 fans over three nights can enjoy a truly magical experience under the stars in our stunning courtyard.”

Simply Red have maintained their position as one of the UK’s biggest bands throughout their 40-plus year history.

Summer Funk ‘27’ will be Simply Red’s first tour since their 2025 40^th anniversary celebration. The tour sold-out almost 50 venues across the UK, Europe and Latin America, delighting fans and leading to a critical reappraisal of their talents.

Simply Red have achieved five UK Number One albums, a UK Number One single and another nine UK Top 10 hits, plus three BRIT Awards, two Ivor Novellos, and the MOBO Award for Outstanding Achievement. Over in North America, they secured two Number One smashes on Billboard’s Hot 100 as well as earning multiple Platinum certifications and three Grammy nominations. Their 1991 classic Stars was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and every Simply Red studio album has reached the UK Top Ten.

Simply Red join Kaiser Chiefs, Ronan Keating, Alfie Boe, Jack Savoretti and James Morrison among the first 2027 headliners announced for Live at The Piece Hall 2027.

For more information about please visit thepiecehall.co.uk

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The ‘Summer Funk ‘27’ tour will see Mick Hucknall and the band play a unique high-energy set, bringing good times and a celebratory atmosphere throughout the sun-kissed summer months.

Joined by UK soul and funk legends Soul II Soul, Simply Red head to The Piece Hall, Halifax, on Monday August 9 and Scarborough OAT on Tuesday August 17.

Tickets go on general sale 10am on Thursday September 24 via ticketmaster.co.uk

The 2027 date is a welcome return to the Yorkshire coast for Simply Red who have twice headlined Scarborough OAT before – in 2016 and 2022.

While the all-new show will be full of their mammoth crowd-pleasing moments and biggest hits – the rollercoaster rush of Fairground, the potent funk of Something Got Me Started, the sumptuous soul of Money’s Too Tight (To Mention) – the uplifting nature of the songs will be complemented by the stunning Yorkshire coast location.

Led by Mick Hucknall, whose timeless blue-eyed soul vocal is as remarkable, powerful and passionate as ever, Simply Red also features Ian Kirkham (sax, EWI, brass), Kenji Suzuki (guitar), Kevin Robinson (trumpet, horns, percussion), Roman Roth (drums), Gary Sanctuary (keys) and Orefo Orakwue (bass).

Mick Hucknall said: “We can’t wait to get back out on the road again in summer 2027 to perform at some incredible and historic venues across the UK and Europe. You can expect a set full of Simply Red upbeat hits to get you on your feet having fun in the sun with friends and family.”

Fans can access a pre-sale for tickets for the tour by signing up to the Simply Red mailing list HERE. The pre-sale opens at 10am on Tuesday, September 22.

‘Summer Funk ‘27’ will be Simply Red’s first tour since their 2025 40th anniversary celebration. The tour sold-out almost 50 venues across the UK, Europe and Latin America, delighting fans and leading to a critical reappraisal of their talents. The tour was documented with the live album, film and box set ‘Holding Back the Years: 40 Years of Simply Red, Live in Santiago’, an electrifying mix of rambunctious R&B and tender, emotive balladeering.

Simply Red have maintained their position as one of the UK’s biggest bands throughout their 40+ year history. The stats tell their own story: five #1 albums, a #1 single and another nine Top 10 hits, plus three BRIT Awards, two Ivor Novellos, and the MOBO Award for Outstanding Achievement. Over in North America, they secured two #1 smashes on Billboard’s Hot 100 as well as earning multiple Platinum certifications and three Grammy nominations. Their 1991 classic ‘Stars’ was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and every Simply Red studio album has reached the UK Top Ten. The scale of the ‘Summer Funk ‘27’ tour again underlines their immense appeal.

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Single: Our Head

Release Date: 18th September 2026

South London artist Valentina introduces herself with a soulful debut shaped by family, resilience and a deep love of music, ahead of its release on 18 September 2026

There are entertainers who want to be famous, and then there are artists who simply cannot imagine doing anything other than making music.

For South London singer-songwriter Valentina, music has never been about chasing attention. It has been the one constant throughout her life — a way of expressing emotions, finding herself again and connecting with other people. Now, after years of performing, studying music and building her confidence on stages in the UK and Italy, Valentina is ready to begin her next chapter with the release of her debut single on 18 September 2026.

“I want to sing and perform because I genuinely love music and I love what it can do.”

It is a philosophy that sits at the heart of The Valentina Story.

Born and raised in South London, Valentina comes from an Italian and Filipino family and grew up surrounded by music, food, family and performance. Italy has been a second home since childhood, with summers spent there and extended family and close connections across the country. That connection has also become an important part of her musical journey, with Valentina already performing to audiences of thousands of people in Italy.

Her musical influences reach well beyond her own generation. Inspired by the likes of Amy Winehouse, Adele and Raye, as well as soul, R&B, jazz and classical music, Valentina has been described as a young artist with an older, soulful voice.

Rather than attempting to recreate the past, she wants to take the music she loves and find a place for those influences within her own generation.

“I’m a young artist, but I’ve always been told that I have an older, soulful voice,” she explains. “I want to take those influences and find where they belong in my own music today.”

Music That Helped Her Find Herself

Valentina’s relationship with music became particularly important during her teenage years.

At around 16, she went through a difficult period marked by bullying, isolation and a desperate desire to fit in. She found herself changing who she was in an attempt to gain acceptance, eventually reaching a point where she no longer recognised herself.

Music became her escape.

Writing lyrics gave Valentina somewhere to put emotions she didn’t yet know how to express, particularly through songs about heartbreak and the experiences she was going through at the time.

Slowly, music helped her find herself again.

That experience continues to influence the way she approaches songwriting today. For Valentina, a song is not simply something to perform. It can be a place where another person recognises themselves.

“I’ve experienced firsthand how a song can meet you at a point in your life when you feel completely lost and make you feel understood,” she says. “That’s also why honesty matters to me when I write.”

It is this human connection that Valentina hopes to carry into her music at a time when technology and social media can sometimes make creativity feel increasingly manufactured.

A Performer From The Very Beginning

In many ways, Valentina has been preparing for a life on stage since childhood.

Her parents apparently realised she could sing before she did, after hearing her harmonising along to Adele in the car. At home, music was part of everyday family life, including a weekly karaoke tradition with her Filipino relatives.

Her grandfather, an opera singer who could rarely be separated from his guitar, was another major influence. Valentina remembers him performing wherever he went and describes him as one of her biggest supporters.

Sadly, he passed away before hearing her original music — something Valentina says still breaks her heart.

His passion for music, however, remains part of her story.

As a child, Valentina was also involved in almost every school production from Year 7 through Year 12 after receiving a drama scholarship. She loved acting, dancing and singing, although her natural R&B style occasionally appeared where a more traditional musical-theatre approach was expected.

And despite being incredibly shy about singing in front of other people, she was regularly encouraged by her father to perform at family events. What she once found embarrassing ultimately helped build the confidence she would need as a professional performer.

From A Shy Girl Hiding In Wardrobes To Thousands -Strong Italian Crowds

Valentina’s transformation as a performer is perhaps best illustrated by one of her childhood habits: hiding around the house so nobody could hear her practising.

Today, she has performed at venues including COYA Mayfair, Bardo St James’s and Ronnie Scott’s, the latter representing a particularly significant milestone.

Influenced heavily by jazz and soul and inspired by Amy Winehouse, performing at Ronnie Scott’s had long been an ambition. But the significance went beyond the venue itself: it was the first time Valentina performed her own original music in front of an audience.

Then came Italy.

At Minturno Musica Estate, Valentina performed in front of thousands of people — her biggest audience to date. Performing in another country was challenging enough, but doing so while addressing thousands of people in a language that isn’t her first made the achievement even more significant.

She spoke to the crowd in Italian, performed her music and embraced the moment.

The journey from the young girl who once hid to sing privately to a performer confidently facing thousands of people has become one of the defining stories of Valentina’s career so far.

Two Hours, One Italian Classic And A Stage With Al Bano

Her connection with Italy has also produced one of the most unexpected moments of her career.

While on holiday, Valentina was due to open a show for legendary Italian singer Al Bano. Approximately two hours before the performance, he asked her to join him on stage to sing “Felicità”, his biggest hit.

There was just one problem: Italian isn’t Valentina’s first language.

With only two hours to prepare, she had to learn the Italian sections of the song as quickly as possible, with some verses adapted into English.

Despite the pressure of performing an iconic Italian song alongside one of the country’s most famous singers, Valentina took the opportunity — and Al Bano ultimately asked her to close the show with him.

It became another unexpected reminder of just how far her musical journey was taking her.

A New Chapter With Cronx Records

Valentina’s debut marks the beginning of a new chapter with Cronx Records, as she takes the next step in developing her career and bringing her music to a wider audience.

At the centre of that journey is a desire to remain authentic. Valentina has experienced what it feels like to change herself for other people’s acceptance, and she is determined not to repeat that experience through her music or image.

Choosing Music

Valentina’s path into music was not always straightforward.

She had grown up surrounded by people who valued education and hard work, and she initially felt pressure to pursue what she describes as a “proper” career. She even experienced a major setback when she was rejected by the BRIT School at 16, an experience that temporarily made her question whether she was good enough to pursue music.

But she refused to let the rejection define her.

While still under 18, she secretly auditioned for the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM), with help from her older sister. She was accepted and eventually told her parents that she wanted to leave sixth form and study music.

They supported her decision.

Years later, after briefly working in estate agency, Valentina made another major decision: in February 2026, she left her job to pursue music full-time.

It was a risk, but one she felt she needed to take.

“I was deciding to fully back myself and give music the time and commitment I’d always known it deserved,” she says.

That decision has already opened doors, including further opportunities in Italy and the forthcoming release of her debut single.

A New Generation With An Old Soul

Valentina enters this new chapter with ambitions that stretch beyond a single release.

A Christmas EP is currently in development, while 2027 will see her perform at a major festival in Tuscany in front of an expected audience of more than 20,000 people.

With connections spanning South London, Italy, Dubai, New York and Los Angeles, her story is increasingly becoming an international one. Yet her focus remains surprisingly simple.

She wants to make music that means something.

In an era dominated by social media, technology and AI, Valentina believes the most powerful part of music remains something that cannot be manufactured: human connection.

A song can make someone feel understood. It can bring people together. It can remind someone of a person, a place or a moment. It can express something that someone has never been able to explain themselves.

That is what Valentina wants her music to do.

Her debut single, released on 18 September 2026, marks the beginning of that story.

Not a manufactured image. Not an attempt to become somebody else’s idea of an artist.

Just Valentina — a South London girl with Italian and Filipino heritage, an old-soul voice, a lifetime of stories and a genuine love of music.

The Valentina Story has begun.

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Website: https://www.valentinaofficial.co.uk/

The new RPO research reveals that whilst 39% of people under 25 are interested in adding recorded classical music to their streaming playlists – or buying classical recordings on vinyl (18%) – an enormous 86% would like classical concerts to change to be more welcoming, accessible and easy to follow.

The changes that young people would like to see at orchestral concerts:

·      23% of people aged under 25 said they would be interested in experiencing talks on the music and its social and cultural context before the actual concert – a move to help them better understand the music they would be listening to. Added to this, 20% of respondents said they would like to have easy access to information before the concert so they can prepare.

·      Nationally, 17% of young people would like more daytime or matinee concerts so they can take family and friends to a performance during the working day or during a study break. In addition, 13% of respondents favoured shorter concerts of up to an hour.

·      Some younger people assumed a dress code applied at classical concerts, with 14% of those surveyed saying that not having to dress up would make them more likely to attend.

·      More than one in 10 respondents (12%) said they would like the conductor to speak to the audience before a performance.

Reacting to the research findings, Vasily Petrenko, Music Director at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, comments:“Over the last year, our research has consistently shown that the orchestral audience is diversifying and a new generation is engaging with classical music – and this interest from young people is vital for the future of classical concerts. The role of streaming sites, classical radio and the influence of film and computer game music have probably all been positively influential – but any journey of music discovery is incomplete without the concert hall experience.

“We are conscious that, for some people new to the orchestral world, a first trip to a concert hall can be a daunting experience and a lot of this is about perception. To help tackle this, the RPO is launching a brand-new ‘Revealed’ format of concerts for its new 2026-27 season. This season, multi-award-winning writer and historian Leah Broad will join us to unwrap music by Tchaikovsky and Mozart in conversation, followed by a complete performance of each symphony. This informal and engaging programme of concerts aims to encourage people new to classical music to have a welcoming first experience in the concert hall and to help them get under the skin of the music and its cultural context. It will also appeal to aficionados who want to deepen their knowledge. I will be revealing Mozart’s ‘Jupiter’ Symphony this autumn at Cadogan Hall, whilst Adam Hickox’s concert in May 2027 will open the world of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony.”

The RPO’s unique position in the orchestral world is powered by its mission to enrich lives through orchestral experiences that are uncompromising in their excellence, wide-ranging in their appeal and inclusive in their delivery. Performing approximately 200 concerts each season and with a worldwide live and online audience in excess of 60 million people, the RPO acts as a cultural ambassador for the UK on the world stage and enhances the social and cultural fabric of local communities at home through a wide range of community, education, inclusion and wellbeing programme

For more information on the RPO Revealed concerts visit: https://www.rpo.co.uk/stories/rpo-revealed-unlocking-the-stories-behind-the-music-in-our-new-concert-format

Hosted by Laura Love, Dolly Does Disco is about much more than the music. It’s a celebration of freedom, individuality and the simple joy of losing yourself on a dancefloor. Running from 6pm until midnight at Riptide on Victoria Road, the event promises six hours of music from a line-up boasting decades of experience in clubs and events across the UK, Ibiza and beyond.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS FOR JUST £10 INCLUDING A DRINK

Host Laura Love has played clubs and events around the world, including appearances with Hed Kandi and Ministry of Sound. She is currently a resident DJ for Todd Terry Presents Freeze HiFi in Liverpool, while New Brighton locals may also recognise her from her Saturday sessions at The James Atherton. Known for infectious energy and a love of house, disco and feel-good classics, Laura’s sets are all about bringing people together and creating those unforgettable dancefloor moments.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS FOR JUST £10 INCLUDING A DRINK

Joining her is local heavyweight and DJ legend Sean Hughes. Sean brings an impressive dance music pedigree to Dolly Does Disco, with a career that has included residencies at some of Ibiza’s most iconic venues, including Ushuaïa, Amnesia and Café del Mar, alongside regular appearances at Creamfields. With decades of musical knowledge behind him, expect a set built by someone who knows exactly what it takes to move a dancefloor.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS FOR JUST £10 INCLUDING A DRINK

Liverpool legend Robbie Edwards brings more than 35 years of DJing experience to Riptide. His career has taken him from Coconut Grove and 3Beat to State of Mind and Butler Brunches. He is also a regular at Paradisco and has played countless parties and events over the years. A true crowd reader, Robbie has built his reputation on knowing when to change direction, when to build the energy and when to deliver that record that sends the whole room into the air.

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Completing the line-up is Subcisco, who is back behind the decks after becoming known for his work as a producer. Now a resident at Freeze HiFi, Subcisco brings his distinctive cool house sound to the party, mixing quality house music, underground influences and plenty of groove. Together, the four DJs bring an enormous amount of experience to one dancefloor — and that’s exactly what Dolly Does Disco is all about.

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Laura Love said: “I’m really looking forward to this inaugural Dolly Does Disco event and it will hopefully be the first of many! I’ve curated a very special line up consisting of some of the best DJs in the region, all of whom have vast experience at the highest level. There’s a lack of quality DJ events in Wirral so I’m really excited to be bringing this to New Brighton.”

She continued: “The night has been created as an inclusive, friendly space where people of all sexualities, identities, ages and backgrounds can come together, be themselves and enjoy great music. We encourage people to come as they are, wear whatever makes them feel fabulous and dance however they want. The philosophy is respect each other, look after one another and leave judgement at the door.”

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Musically, expect feel-good house, disco classics, dancefloor favourites and plenty of hands-in-the-air anthems, delivered by DJs who know how to read a room and build an atmosphere. But just as important is the atmosphere away from the decks. Dolly Does Disco is designed to be welcoming, inclusive and built around respect and kindness. It’s a place to dance, dress up, let your hair down and enjoy yourself without worrying about what anybody else thinks.

Dolly Does Disco / Fri 2nd October 6pm-12am / Riptide, Victoria Road, New Brighton, Wirral, CH45 2JF

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Longboat announces the forthcoming release of Proud of My Postcode, a new all-electronic album inspired by Britain, London and the experience of seeing the country through the eyes of an American musician who has made the UK an increasingly important part of his life.

Set for release at the end of September, Proud of My Postcode was recorded at Strongroom Studios in Shoreditch, with Will Davies engineering. Across the album, Longboat moves between Britain’s past and present, creating an observational portrait shaped by history, everyday life and a deep affection for the country.

Formed in Seattle in 2011, Longboat is a prolific, genre-fluid band led by its founding musician, an original jazz tenor saxophonist and songwriter. Although Longboat is often a solo operation in the studio, the band can expand to include live rock and jazz musicians, strings, horns and backing singers, depending on what each piece of music demands.

Proud of My Postcode is the 37th album in Longboat’s extensive catalogue. 

An American Perspective on Britain

The album grew out of a long-standing fascination with Britain and the contrasts between life in the UK and Longboat’s founder’s original home of Seattle.

Seattle is surrounded by mountains, forests and wildlife, while Britain offers something entirely different: thousands of years of history embedded into its cities, towns and landscapes. For Longboat, that history provides an endless supply of subjects to observe and transform into music.

But Proud of My Postcode isn’t intended to be a comprehensive portrait of Britain. Instead, it reflects one musician’s personal relationship with the country and the details that have caught his attention along the way.

“Proud of My Postcode doesn’t draw a complete picture of the UK, but I hope it helps to convey my affection for this country,” says Longboat’s founder.

That affection extends beyond Britain’s famous landmarks and historical moments. Longboat is particularly interested in the everyday — the ordinary moments, habits and observations that make life in Britain distinctive.

“I particularly like the way people celebrate the mundane here between various and sundry political and economic crises,” he says.

Rather than writing traditional love songs, Longboat approaches songwriting as a form of observation. Freed from the conventions of romantic songwriting, the music can focus on the world immediately around it: people, places, history, culture and the contradictions of modern life.

“It’s pretty liberating,” he explains.

From Seattle to Clerkenwell

Longboat’s connection with the UK has also increasingly moved beyond the recording studio.

The band’s founder currently spends time between Britain and Seattle while putting longer-term plans into place, with the intention of making the UK his permanent home in the future. In London, he has also begun performing piano-only versions of around 100 songs from Longboat’s extensive repertoire around Clerkenwell and hopes to take these performances further afield.

This emphasis on direct, human performance reflects Longboat’s independent approach to music. The band is committed to songwriting, recording and performance without the use of artificial intelligence, placing human creativity and musical agency at the heart of its work.

With Proud of My Postcode, Longboat turns that philosophy towards Britain itself, creating an electronic album that captures the perspective of an American-born musician increasingly drawn to the history, character and everyday life of his adopted home.

About Longboat

Formed in Seattle in 2011, Longboat is a prolific, genre-fluid band led by its founding musician, an original jazz tenor saxophonist and songwriter. While often operating as a solo studio outfit, Longboat can expand to incorporate live rock and jazz musicians, strings, horns and backing singers according to the demands of the music. With more than 500 songs written and 39 albums recorded, Longboat has built an extensive catalogue driven by observation, experimentation and a fascination with the world around it.

Follow Longboat

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longboatmusic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/longboatmusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/longboat

Bandcamp: https://longboat.bandcamp.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@longboatmusic4410

The nationally representative poll of 2,000 adults revealed that 89% of adults would be interested in experiencing a concert or performance that featured classical or orchestral music – up from 79% in 2018. For the under 25 age group, the figure has risen significantly from 78% to 92% since 2018.

The findings come at a time when the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra counts down to the launch of its milestone 80^thanniversary concert season, which will celebrate 80-years of music-making,  presenting diverse programming and new concert formats that recognise and celebrate the changing face of today’s concert audience. The RPO season will comprise of 57 concerts spanning 12 UK venues, plus international festivals and tours. In addition to four new music premieres and eight performances celebrating the Beethoven Bicentenary, the music will celebrate video games, Motown, soul, Broadway, tango and film music.

Looking ahead to the new season, Vasily Petrenko, Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra comments:“For the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, turning 80 is both a celebration and a milestone as we look ahead to the next chapter. After eight decades, it’s safe to say that the Orchestra feels younger and fresher than ever. But it also has many stories to tell, and this 80th Anniversary Season places a waymarker on our journey of discovery, giving us the opportunity to share those stories anew, together. It’s a season full of reflections, remembrances and evocations: music that celebrates music, and the musicians who make it. And above all, music that celebrates our audience – the people who make the music complete.”

The RPO research also suggests that the growing popularity of live orchestral music is based on the broad variety of orchestral concerts that can be enjoyed. Over the last two years, the popularity of orchestral concerts that feature soundtracks from blockbuster films has risen from 25% to 29%, whilst a film screening with live orchestra rose from 19% to 25%. The popularity of orchestral concerts featuring hits from the musicals is up from 25% to 28% over the last two years, whilst orchestral rock is up from 18% to 22%. The research also revealed a remarkable consistency in the year-on-year popularity of traditional classical repertoire, which has held its appeal among around one in four adults for the last seven consecutive years. 

For 28% of parents with children under the age of 18, the appeal of family-friendly concerts continues to hold appeal across the UK. 

The RPO research also suggested that the orchestral audience has a healthy sense of adventure. Those people that say they particularly like core classical repertoire are also interested in experiencing orchestral concerts that feature soundtracks from blockbuster films (33%) and hits from the musicals (31%). Conversely, people that like film, musical theatre or gaming music also said they wanted to experience traditional classical repertoire in the concert hall (18%), as well as concerts orientated for the whole family (21%).

Sarah Bardwell, Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra comments: “The new seasons of the UK’s major orchestras will pick up from where the Proms left off – giving people across the country the opportunity to enjoy and explore the joy of orchestral music played live. As our research over the last decade has clearly shown, the orchestral audience is changing and diversifying and we reflect this in our programming for the new season. From Mahler to The Moonwalkers live in concert, our new season is all about giving concert-goers a great night out.”

Full details of the RPO season for 2026–27, visit Tickets & events – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra