Following a hugely successful debut at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre, Sinatra: The Man Behind The Voice is set to captivate audiences once again when it arrives at Runcorn’s Brindley Theatre on 26th January and Shakespeare North Playhouse on 30th January 2027. Having received glowing reviews following the show charts Sinatra’s life like never before.

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The concept has been curated by acclaimed Liverpool-based entertainer David Knopov in collaboration with Paul Pollard, who co-wrote the show 15 years ago. Finally brought to life, the exciting 90-minute theatrical production combines compelling storytelling with sensational live music to explore the remarkable life of one of the greatest entertainers of all time: Frank Sinatra.

From his birth and humble beginnings to his extraordinary rise to international superstardom, the show takes audiences on an unforgettable journey through Sinatra’s life, loves, triumphs and struggles, revealing the man behind one of the most recognisable voices in musical history.

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Narrating the show is acclaimed actor Michael Maloney, whose screen credits include the much-loved 1990s film Truly, Madly, Deeply and the internationally successful Netflix series The Crown. Adopting the distinctive style of a 1950s American radio broadcaster, Maloney guides the audience through Sinatra’s extraordinary life, weaving together fascinating storytelling with some of the most memorable songs from the Great American Songbook.

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At the heart of the production is David Knopov, whose internationally acclaimed Perfectly Frank has delighted audiences around the world for 40 years, including performing for Queen Elizabeth II and King Constantine Of Greece. Accompanied by his outstanding six-piece swing band, Knopov delivers 23 live musical performances throughout the show, capturing the unmistakable phrasing, charisma, swagger and musical brilliance that made Sinatra a legend.

Knopov’s extraordinary ability to recreate the magic of Ol’ Blue Eyes has earned him praise from some of the biggest names in entertainment. Oscar-nominated actor Bill Nighy declared: “David has the timing and swagger of Sinatra… without doubt he’s the best.” Meanwhile, comedian and actress Dawn French summed up his remarkable stage presence perfectly: “When David is up there he is Frank.”

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But Sinatra: The Man Behind The Voice is much more than a traditional tribute concert. By combining theatrical narration, carefully selected songs and the exhilarating sound of a live swing band, the production offers audiences an intimate insight into the extraordinary man behind the music. It is a celebration not only of Sinatra’s legendary voice but also of the fascinating personal story that shaped his remarkable career.

David Knopov said: “The production received an enthusiastic reception during its first run at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre in June, attracting glowing reviews and standing ovations from delighted audiences. Now, following that successful Liverpool debut, we’re looking forward to entertaining audiences at two of the North West’s most popular theatrical venues. Following this next run, we have plans to take it on tour around the UK.”

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Whether you are a lifelong Sinatra fan or simply love the timeless music of the Great American Songbook, Sinatra: The Man Behind The Voice promises an evening of exceptional entertainment, unforgettable music and captivating storytelling. With Michael Maloney’s evocative narration, David Knopov’s celebrated vocals and the irresistible sound of a live six-piece swing band, this is a unique opportunity to experience the extraordinary story of Frank Sinatra in a completely new way.

Sinatra: The Man Behind The Voice / Brindley Theatre, Runcorn, Tues 26th Jan 2027 / Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescott, Sat 30th Jan 2027

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4. ‘Under The Influence’ – Chris Brown – 417
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8. ‘Call Out My Name’ by The Weeknd – 379
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Release Date: out now

Few records have embedded themselves in popular culture quite like Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’.  More than 25 years after its release, the melody still shapes dancefloors, fills stadiums, and resonates across generations of listeners. Now, Darude opens the vault on its next chapter: Sandstorm – The Remixes, the official artist compilation landing on his own Vibing Out label. 

For a track that has inspired countless unofficial edits, bootlegs and mashups, the challenge has always been the same almost impossible brief: how do you make something so universally familiar feel new, without losing what made it a hit in the first place. A challenge which many talented producers have turned down over the years, many out of sheer respect for the classic status of the original, labelling it “untouchable.”

Darude answered his own brief first with ‘Sandstorm Storm 25 Mix,’ in September, marking the first official remix of the track in over 20 years. Then raising the obvious question, aside from its creator, who will put their spin on Sandstorm? 

The answer spans scenes, tempos and genres of dance music from drum & bass to club-focused house and techno and the trance lineage ‘Sandstorm’ came from. Now assembled into one compilation: Sandstorm – The Remixes. 

Heavyweight producer Dimension brings a drum & bass perspective to ‘Sandstorm’ by injecting rapid breakbeats, heavy basslines and adrenaline-boosting drops, loyal to the genre’s unmistakable style. Receiving early backing from tastemakers BBC Radio 1. Similarly, ZANS’ interpretation has already been road-tested on the dancefloor by David Guetta, Vintage Culture and Layton Giordani.

HE.SHE.THEY resident SYREETA casts chunky house basslines, and melodic grooves, turning down the original tempo whilst London DJ/producer lau.ra goes all in on ‘Sandstorm’s undeniable euphoric energy.  Mike Saint-Jules comes closest to ‘Sandstorm’s own roots, as the Haitian-American producer masterfully weaves in his influence of two decades in the trance and progressive scene.

Rounding out the remix package, Cory Goldsmith lends his analytical techno ear; VNSSA stirs up a whirlpool of raw house, disco and punk attitude, which finally leads us to the fellow Finnish hands of techno producer Orion, closing the package where ‘Sandstorm’ started.

Darude Sandstorm – The Remixes is out now on Vibing Out.

Darude Sandstorm – The Remixes:

Darude – Sandstorm (2026) 

Darude – Sandstorm (Storm 25 Mix) 

Darude – Sandstorm (Dimension Remix) 

Darude – Sandstorm (ZANS Remix) 

Darude – Sandstorm (lau.ra Remix) 

Darude – Sandstorm (Cory Goldsmith Remix) 

Darude – Sandstorm (SYREETA Remix) 

Darude – Sandstorm (Mike Saint-Jules Remix) 

Darude – Sandstorm (VNSSA Remix) 

Darude – Sandstorm (Orion Remix)

Darude online: 

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Vibing Out online: 

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Creative allies Mahmut Orhan and Francis Mercier unearth their latest collaboration ‘Get Down’ a club-focused cut shaped by their shared instinct for groove, movement and global house music.

Following their previous collaboration ‘Sadete’, the pair return with a record built around a low-slung groove, pulsating bass beat and a sultry vocal refrain that loops throughout. ‘Get Down’ keeps the production tight and purposeful, allowing its rhythmic core to breathe as subtle melodic details introduce a moody, atmospheric edge, before suspending the room in a moment of tension and anticipation ahead of its inevitable descent. 

There is a natural chemistry at play with both artists bringing a strong sense of cultural identity to a production that remains firmly rooted in the club. In 2025, the pair joined forces for a sunrise B2B at Burning Man’s Long Feng Art Car, delivering a set that moved through house, deep house, tribal and Afro house territory as the Black Rock City landscape came alive around them. 

This summer proved to be a pivotal run for Mahmut Orhan, embarking on a global touring run spanning 50 dates across 20 countries and returning to Chinois Ibiza for his second residency, Sounds Like Pillowtalk, with Francis among the artists joining him across the season. Soon to follow is Amsterdam Dance Event, where he brings co-curated party Mahmut Orhan & Friends x Loveland to the city on Friday, October 23. Francis, meanwhile, launched his Solèy residency at Hï Ibiza, with Mahmut Orhan joining him for a B2B at the September 28 edition ahead of the new single.

Behind the scenes, Mahmut has also been shaping his third studio album, with the project set to open a new chapter in his ever-expanding musical world, with ‘Get Down’ providing a glimpse of what’s to come. 

‘Get Down’ feels like the studio counterpart to those dancefloor encounters: direct, rhythmic and built for movement, with Mahmut Orhan’s melodic sensibility meeting Francis Mercier’s globally inflected house sound in a track that needs little more than a groove to get things moving.

Mahmut Orhan & Francis Mercier ‘Get Down’ is out now on Ultra Records.

Mahmut Orhan Online

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Felix Raphael Online

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At a time when Andy Burnham’s new government is placing increased emphasis on getting more people working, and when the upcoming November budget is expected to reveal an uptick in spending on health and social care, the Mums in Music initiative aims to make sure mothers are not left out of the conversation.

The campaign’s latest research also revealed that Journalism (6%) and the Performing Arts (8%) were bottom of the list of industries women feel mothers are able to easily return to, while Healthcare (38%), Education (35%) and Retail (23%) were rated top among those surveyed for supporting their return to work after maternity leave. 

Among the women surveyed working in the media, marketing, advertising, music, arts and creative industries, just one in four felt financially supported enough to return to work, while three in four worried that juggling both work and family will affect the success of their return. Particular barriers identified by two in five women working in the arts included a lack of accommodating measures from their workplace (40%), a lack of access to affordable childcare (40%) and the feeling that their employed treated them differently since becoming a mother (40%).

The data shows the clear need for more support for working mothers, from flexible working hours and affordable childcare, to deeper understanding from employers around the developing needs – and strengths – of new mothers.

Having found her experience of pregnancy and motherhood creatively enriching, but challenging when it came to her return to the concert platform, soprano Lola Ganzarolli launched the initiative to bring more awareness to the barriers mothers face when returning to the workplace – especially in the arts sector.

Talking about the motivation behind her Mums in Music campaign, Lola Ganzarolli commented: ‘They say it takes a village to raise a child, and very often in modern society we don’t have that village who are able to step in. For artists trying to continue their creative career after becoming mothers, a challenging journey is made more difficult by a lack of support from arts organisations. This represents a huge loss for the creative sector – the immense artistic growth women experience with motherhood should be celebrated. With Mums in Music, I hope to establish greater understanding of the needs of mothers returning to their creative careers and a stronger presence for mothers in the arts sphere.” 

Throughout 2026, Lola has worked the understand and champion the needs of mothers in her profession and beyond, integrating the Mums in Music initiative into her performance practice, with a recent collaborative performance in Barcelona seeing her join forces with writer, poet and mother Maria Kabanova for an evening of music and poetry providing the backdrop for a wider discussion about creativity, motherhood and the realities of sustaining an artistic life while raising children.

Lola Ganzarolli’s next concert will take place in Milan, Italy, at Milano Music Zone on 13 October 2026.

ERAN, GrooveGeneration and Terri B! come together for ‘Say My Name’, a club-focused cut that sits somewhere between disco house and classic vocal house. The track lands on 2nd October via Vibora Music.

The production starts from ERAN, also known as Eran Hersh, and his unmistakable range of musical influences. His trademark dancefloor ready melodically tuned tech/house sound – heavy on percussion, groove and atmosphere – gives the track its foundation, while Groove Generation add a noticeably funkier touch. The Budapest duo brings the bounce, working in disco-leaning elements, chunky bass and a more upbeat house feel that shifts the track towards peak-time territory.

Over the top sits Terri B!, whose vocal needs little introduction. Her delivery gives ‘Say My Name’ a strong house feel, bringing the soul and personality that ties the two production styles together. It’s a combination that makes sense: Hersh’s darker, percussive approach, Groove Generation’s love of disco and house, and Terri B!’s long-standing connection to the vocal side of dance music.

For Hersh, ‘Say My Name’ is another addition to a rapidly expanding catalogue. The DJ and producer has built a reputation around a sound that draws on deep and melodic house alongside tribal rhythms and Middle Eastern influences. His work has taken him from festivals including EDC, BPM Festival and Zamna to clubs across Miami, Ibiza and Dubai, while his releases have appeared on Insomniac Records, Armada Music, Spinnin’ Records and Ultra Records. His CV also includes collaborations and remixes involving Madonna, Snoop Dogg, Timati, Bob Sinclar, David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia and Alicia Keys, with his music now passing 100 million Spotify streams.

GrooveGeneration have been making their name out of Budapest with a sound rooted in house music but heavily influenced by the disco and club records of the 2000s. The duo combine funky basslines, filtered disco touches and tougher house grooves, giving their productions a familiar quality without sounding like straightforward throwbacks. Their recent release ‘Here We Groove’ pays testament to their individual influences, weaving classic feeling instrumentation into their infectious knowledge of what makes people move.

Terri B! brings a different kind of history to the record. She first found international success as the lead singer of 2 Eivissa, whose ‘Oh La La La’ topped the charts in Spain and Italy, before going on to work with artists including Avicii, Roger Sanchez, Laidback Luke, Cazzette, Ralphi Rosario and ATB. Her career has since stretched across dance, songwriting, production and soul, with more than 20 Top 100 records, three Billboard Dance Chart #1s and writing credits for artists including Sarah Connor, Medina and Chris Norman. Her work with The Terri Green Project has also earned her four UK Soul Chart #1s and four US Indie Soul Chart #1s, as well as an Indie Soul Best Female Vocal Grammy in 2022. Her work on ‘Say My Name’ carries on her storied career in true 

Be sure to check out ‘Say My Name’ by ERAN, GrooveGeneration and Terri B! when it releases on 2nd October 2026, exclusively via Vibora Music!

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CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PETER’S NOVEL VALEDICTION RECORDS

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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CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS TO UNDER THE MERSEY MOON

Librettist: Maria Kjos Fonn

Soloists: Susanna Wolff, Sofia Neacsu, Siv Misund, Ivar Magnus Sandve, Johannes Nikolai Aas

Orchestra: Ensemble Oslo, Hans Petter Mæhle (cond.)

Durata/formats: 90min – Digital (lossless) / 2XCD / 2XVinyl

Audio engineer/producer: Trond Kjelsås (LydFest)

Label: Solsnu

Distributor: Diger

Release Date: 16th October 2026

Following acclaimed performances in Romania and Norway, the ambitious 90-minute opera explores addiction, identity, death and the desire for transcendence through a maximalist and emotionally charged sound world.

Norwegian composer Solveig Sørbø’s ambitious opera Heroin Chic will be released worldwide on 16 October 2026 via Solsnu, distributed by Diger, bringing the acclaimed work to audiences in digital, 2CD and 2xVinyl formats.

Based on the novel by Norwegian writer Maria Kjos Fonn, Heroin Chic explores addiction, self-destruction, identity, sexuality, death and the tension between innocence and physicality. Drawing on both contemporary classical music and popular culture, Sørbø creates an intense and highly theatrical sound world that is maximalist, colourful, hypnotic and emotionally uncompromising.

The opera received its concert premiere in Romania in February 2025, where it was met with a standing ovation from an audience of 500. Critics praised its eclectic soundscape, philosophical depth, emotional impact and striking richness of sound. Romanian cultural magazine Revista Migalo wrote that the production “struck the collective psyche”, while Norwegian newspaper Klassekampen described it as a “danse macabre”.

Heroin Chic subsequently received its Norwegian concert premiere at Oslo’s Parkteatret in February 2026 as part of the Klassisk på Park concert series. The sold-out performance featured some of Norway’s leading classical performers, live visuals by Franciska Eliassen and a handful of staged moments, followed by an afterparty with DJ Roland Lifjell.

The performance was enthusiastically received, and Norwegian music publication Ballade subsequently compared Sørbø’s determination in bringing the ambitious project to life to that of Norwegian cross-country skiing champion Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.

Just two days after the Norwegian premiere, the complete opera was recorded live to tape at Jar Church outside Oslo. Capturing 90 minutes of opera in a single day was a considerable undertaking for the performers and recording team, resulting in a recording designed to preserve the immediacy and intensity of the live work.

At the centre of Heroin Chic is Elise, a young woman consumed by an obsessive desire for death and transcendence. Raised by an overprotective mother who sees her as an almost saintly figure, Elise struggles with the growing conflict between innocence, sexuality and her developing sense of identity.

As she searches for a way to express the darkness within her, Elise adopts a heroin-chic aesthetic and runs away from home. She falls in love with rocker Joakim, who introduces her further into a world of drugs, while the emergence of D — a manifestation of her destructive subconscious — pushes her towards increasingly extreme behaviour.

Across two acts, Elise’s journey moves through anorexia, addiction, sexual exploitation, fractured identity and rehabilitation, with the boundaries between reality, fantasy, life and death becoming increasingly blurred. Her search for transcendence ultimately leads her back towards her mother, childhood and the idea of eternal sleep.

The opera’s final moments deliberately leave the audience questioning what they have witnessed: death, resurrection or a drug-induced fantasy.

Musically, Heroin Chic is equally unconventional. The score features a powerful and hypnotic percussion section, one of the largest soprano roles for a child singer in opera literature, and a distinctive reinvention of the cimbalom within a contemporary classical setting. Captivating melodies sit alongside an eclectic orchestral landscape, creating a work that is both challenging and highly engaging for performers and listeners alike.

The recording features soloists Susanna Wolff, Sofia Neacsu, Siv Misund, Ivar Magnus Sandve and Johannes Nikolai Aas, performing alongside Ensemble Oslo under conductor Hans Petter Mæhle. The recording was engineered and produced by Trond Kjelsås of LydFest.

With roots in the avant-garde as well as popular culture, Heroin Chic is a distinctive contribution to contemporary Norwegian music theatre. Its combination of opera, theatrical storytelling, unconventional instrumentation and psychologically intense subject matter creates a work that reaches beyond traditional operatic boundaries.

Following its successful performances in Romania and Norway, the complete 90-minute recording now brings Sørbø’s ambitious work to a wider international audience.

Follow Solveig Sørbø

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Website: https://solveigsorbo.com/heroin-chic/

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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