PAUL WELLER new album Sonik Kicks out 26th March

Enjoying a constant critical high and a never ending creative peak, Paul Weller continues to push the boundaries with his new album SONIK KICKS, due for release on March 26th 2012. This is the follow up to the Mercury Music Award nominated WAKE UP THE NATION and Paul’s eleventh solo album. Once again, it's his best yet. If you’d like a taste of what’s to come, head to www.paulweller.com now where you can check out the album track ‘Around The Lake’. The track is set to an excellent sequence from a short film called '24hrs, Pavey Ark' directed by Mike Moloney & John Hooper which Paul is massively in to. SONIK KICKS features appearances from the likes of Noel Gallagher and Graham Coxon. The 14 tracks you can look forward to are: Green / The Attic / Kling I Klang / Sleep of the Serene / By the Waters / That Dangerous Age/ Study in Blue / Dragonfly / When Your Garden’s Overgrown / Around The Lake / Twilight / Drifters / Paperchase / Be Happy Children. With SONIK KICKS Paul Weller once again shakes up his palate and stirs his influences anew. He mixes pop art punch with soulful communication; jazzy explorations into psychedelia and dub with razor-sharp melodies and abstract soundscapes with clear-eyed forest-folk.
PAUL WELLER New Album SONIK KICKS out March 26th 2012 myspace/paulweller 
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‘MARLEY’ TO BE RELEASED BY ISLAND RECORDS ON APRIL 16th 2012

The Third World’s first superstar and arguably the most recognizable human being on the planet, reggae giant BOB MARLEY is celebrated this year in a film by award-winning director Kevin MacDonald (‘One Day In September’, ‘State Of Play’, ‘The Last King Of Scotland’, ‘Touching The Void’ and ‘Life In A Day’). ‘MARLEY’, which received a rapturous reception at its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Feb 12th, will be released in the UK on 20th April ’12 through Universal Pictures and features stunning live performances, intimate interviews with friends and family, and rare documentary footage, which tells the definitive story of the superstar who rose from the ghetto to become one of the greats of popular music before dying tragically young at the height of his fame. BOB MARLEY was born February 6, 1945 in rural St. Ann’s Parish, Jamaica, leaving home at 14 to pursue a music career in Kingston. A naturally gifted musician and singer he recorded his first track in 1962. In ’72 finding himself stranded in London with his band the Wailers he signed to Chris Blackwell’s Island Records and went on to enjoy global success and to put reggae on the music map. Many of his songs – which highlighted both Jamaica’s poverty and the spirituality of its people – have since become universal anthems. MARLEY died of cancer on May 11, 1981, aged 36.Says Kevin MacDonald: " MARLEY the film is an intimate, human portrait of the legendary singer . But as with any film about an artist - the main purpose has got to be to send the listener back to the music with a renewed appreciation for its beauty and significance. That's why I am so happy that Island are releasing this special collection of songs from and inspired by the movie." Says Chris Blackwell: “Kevin MacDonald has made a wonderful film about Marley. I think it will touch the hearts of many. It tells Bob’s story properly for the first time and you get a real sense of the man and his incredible talent. His spiritual message is as relevant now as it ever was and his music still resonates around the world.” The soundtrack to ‘MARLEY’ will be released on Island Records on 16th April ’12. It will be released in two formats: 2CD and a 3LP. It includes, for the first time on record, the 1978 One Love Peace concert performance of ‘Jammin’ during which Marley joined the hands of bitter political rivals Michael Manley and Edward Seaga, a gesture which went some way towards restoring peace to a strife-torn Jamaica. The tracklisting of the soundtrack, which follows the chronology of the film, is as follows:

• 1) Corner Stone
• 2) Judge Not
• 3) Simmer Down
• 4) Put It On
• 5) Small Axe
• 6) Mellow Mood
• 7) Stir It Up
• 8) Concrete Jungle
• 9) Crazy Bald Heads (Groucho mix)
• 10) Natty Dread
• 11) Trenchtown Rock (live at The Roxy Theatre)
• 12) Get Up Stand Up
• 13) Work
• 14) Jammin (live at One Love Peace Concert)
• 15) Exodus (Kindred Spirit Dub Mix)
• 16) No Woman No Cry (Live at the Lyceum)
• 17) War (Live at the Rainbow)
• 18) I Shot the Sheriff (Live at the Lyceum)
• 19) Roots Rock Reggae
• 20) Three Little Birds
• 21) Real Situation
• 22) Could you Be Loved
• 23) One Love / People Get Ready
• 24) Redemption Song
• 25) High Tide Or Low Tide

Marley – The Original Soundtrack Release date: 16th April Formats: Double CD - 00602527985985 - Triple Vinyl - 00602527985992
FILM TRAILER: 

‘MARLEY’ – WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
“Kevin MacDonald’s detailed portrait of Bob Marley grapples with the last king of reggae’s philosophical and religious convictions. 4*” The Guardian 13.2.12
“A documentary with scope and soul, this cradle-to-grave portrait of Bob Marley…is bottling what made Asif Kapadia’s ‘Senna’ such a success. 4*” Daily Telegraph 14.2.12
“One of the main treats in Berlin was Kevin MacDonald’s massive feature documentary ‘Marley’…What makes it inspiring is the music, the exhaustive research and the personality of Marley.” The Independent 17.2.12
“…the most enjoyable film so far is ‘Marley’, in which the life and career of the reggae icon is explored through archive footage and enlightening interviews with some of Marley’s most idiosyncratic collaborators…” Time Out 16.2.12

James Morrison nominated for Best British Male/Video /new single "Slave to the Music"

James Morrison has been nominated for Best British Male at the 2012 BRIT awards, an accolade he has been nominated for twice before, and won in 2007. James said: “I’m really happy to be nominated for The Brits again this year, it’s going to be a great night. It’s always good to get that level of recognition for your work, and there are some great artists in there too. ‘The Awakening’ is such an intensely personal album to me, I’m just pleased people are sharing that and enjoying it so much, and the fans are giving me such incredible feedback and support.” His new single ‘Slave To The Music’ is released on February 20. The up tempo track is the third to be taken from his platinum selling album ‘The Awakening’. The song originally came to James in a dream, where he envisaged Michael Jackson singing the main hook. The Awakening was number one for two weeks when it was released last year. It also contains the singles ‘I Won’t Let You Go’ and the stunning duet with Jessie J ‘Up’ – which have sold over 300k copies.
Watch James Morrison ‘Slave To The Music’ video

James will tour the UK later this month. All dates are now SOLD OUT:
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012
Saturday 28 Jan Belfast Ulster Hall
Sunday 29 Jan Dublin Olympia
Tuesday 31 Jan Manchester O2 Apollo
Wednesday 1 Feb Manchester O2 Apollo
Friday 3 Cambridge Corn Exchange
Saturday 4 Southampton Guildhall
Monday 6 Leicester De Montford Hall
Tuesday 7 Birmingham O2 Academy
Thursday 9 London Hammersmith Apollo
Friday 10 London Hammersmith Apollo
Sunday 12 Southend Cliff Pavilion
Monday 13 Bristol Colston Hall
Wednesday 15 Glasgow O2 Academy
Friday 17 Leeds O2 Academy
Saturday 18 Nottingham Royal Centre
Sunday 19 Newcastle O2 Academy
www.jamesmorrisonmusic.com
Acclaim for ‘The Awakening’
“A TERRIFIC THIRD ALBUM, BURSTING WITH EXPERTLY CRAFTED SONGS” – The Times
“HIS SULTRY VOICE MAKES GROWN WOMEN WEAK AT THE KNEES” – Heat
“A DELICIOUSLY SOULFUL COLLECTION OF SONGS” - Daily Express
“POSITIVELY JOYFUL” – Mojo

Ben Howard: Westcountry singer-songwriter New Single, Video & UK Tour Dates

Ben Howard releases his new single, ‘Keep Your Head Up’ on the 26th September. It is taken from his forthcoming debut album, ‘Every Kingdom’ released on the 3rd October 2011, released through Island Records. 
Every Kingdom (Deluxe Edition) - Ben Howard -
Keep Your Head Up - Every Kingdom (Deluxe Edition)

Check out the video here 

Click here to read about Ben Howard's Single and UK Tour Dates on the Focus Music Blogspot
www/benhowardmusic.co.uk 
http://www.facebook.com/benhowardmusic
http://www.myspace.com/benhoward