Stars set to shine
Looks at some of the concerts, albums and big awards battles coming up this year
THE music industry got back to business in 2022, throwing off pandemic restrictions for a summer of festivals and high-profile album releases.
The coming year promises more of the same, from the return of Eurovision to the UK to Rihanna’s long-awaited comeback and perhaps Sir Elton John’s final UK show at Glastonbury.
Here are some of the big music moments to look out for.
1. BEYONCE AND ADELE FACE OFF AT THE GRAMMYS – AGAIN
The duo are both nominated in the album of the year category for Renaissance and 30 respectively at next month’s Grammys. They last competed for the prize in 2017 when it went to Adele who won album of the year for 25 and record and song of the year for Hello, beating her “idol” to the three top awards.
2. RIHANNA MAKES HER RETURN
2023 will be a big year for the Barbadian singer, actress and fashion mogul. In October, she teased fans with her first new music since 2016, Lift Me Up, recorded for the Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever. February will see her headline the Super Bowl half-time show– her first major live performance in many years, and 2023 may also be the year her long-awaited ninth studio album finally arrives.
3. ADELE WRAPS UP HER LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY IN STYLE
Weekends With Adele got off to a rocky start. In fact, the Londonraised singer’s residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace never got started at all.
Originally due to begin in January 2022, Adele cancelled at the last minute, telling fans the show was “not ready”. But when she began her run in earnest in November, fans and reviewers agreed it was worth the wait, bringing decade-defining hits, Hollywood glamour and her notorious potty mouth to adoring audiences. When the residency ends in March, it may be regarded as one of the greatest to have taken place in Sin City.
4. EUROVISION COMES TO LIVERPOOL
The 2022 Eurovision Song Contest saw the UK’s Sam Ryder claiming second place – its best result for more than 20 years.
The winners were Kalush Orchestra, who represented Ukraine with a song called Stefania. But after the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the event, ruled the 2023 edition could not take place in Ukraine due to the ongoing Russian invasion, it was offered to the UK and the BBC as its national broadcaster.
Liverpool will now host the contest in May while also paying tribute to Ukrainian culture, and even Bjorn Ulvaeus of 1974 champions Abba has said he may attend.
5. LEWIS CAPALDI RELEASES THE FOLLOW-UP TO HIS DEBUT
The Scottish pop singer-songwriter, 26, became a household name overnight with the release of Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent in 2019. The record spent 10 weeks at number one and went on to become the biggest album of 2019, while the single Someone You Loved clinched the title of the biggest song that year. All this means the pressure is on for Capaldi’s followup, titled Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent, which is released in May.
6. SIR ELTON JOHN PLAYS THE FINAL UK DATE OF HIS FAREWELL TOUR AT GLASTONBURY
The veteran singer-songwriter, 75, began his mammoth Farewell Yellow Brick Road in September 2018 and, following Covid-19 disruptions, is now back on the road. Sir Elton will play what may be his final UK date at the Somerset festival, topping the bill on the Pyramid Stage on June 25. It is expected to be both his first and last performance at Glastonbury.
7. BLUR REUNITE TO PLAY WEMBLEY
The Britpop band will play their first major UK shows since 2015 on July 8 and 9. Frontman Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree will take to the 90,000 capacity arena for a slew of hits spanning from the 90s to now. Support will come from singersongwriter Self Esteem, British rapper Slowthai and electro-pop duo Jockstrap.
8. STORMZY CURATES HIS OWN FESTIVAL DAY
The grime star is yet to confirm tour dates following the release of his latest album, This Is What I Mean – his third consecutive number one. However, the 29-year-old has locked in This Is What We Mean Day, a one-off event as
part of the All
Points East festival in London’s Victoria Park. Stormzy will top the bill on August 18, but the rest of the line-up remains unannounced.
9. TAYLOR SWIFT COMES TO THE UK
The pop superstar has been on a creative hot streak in the last few years, from the hyperpop of Lover to the indie-folk albums Folklore and Evermore, and the dreamy electro of Midnights. Although she has not yet announced any UK dates, some fans were able to sign up for a presale by pre-ordering her latest record. Unable to tour her last four records due to Covid-19, this will likely be a triumphant return to the stage that will satisfy fans.
10. DUA LIPA DOUBLES DOWN ON INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
2022 proved the English-Albanian pop star could do almost anything. She toured the world with her live show, hosted a podcast, and helped those in Albania through her
Sunny Hill
Foundation.
Her second album Future
Nostalgia was released in March 2020 and fans are clamouring for the next one. On her podcast last year, she said the record was “halfway done” but she was working on it into the new year.