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Ville Valo announces massive European, UK and US tour, confirms new album

The HIM legend will hit the road in early 2023 and has confirmed the debut VV studio album

It's been a busy week for former HIM frontman Ville Valo . After teasing that something new might be on the way via his 'Heartagram' Instagram account at the end of last week, he confirmed on Tuesday that brand new music would be coming from his VV project this Friday, April 8. Now, the Finnish singer-songwriter has confirmed that VV's debut studio album, Neon Noir , will land in early 2023.

"Artistically speaking the main difference between HIM and VV is the extra line in the Heartagram, but what an exquisite line it is!" jokes the singer. "It’s the Mamas and the Papas dressed up as Metallica on their way to a Halloween bash at the Studio 54, and now who wouldn't want to witness that?" 

Ville has also revealed that he'll be hitting the road for an extensive run of dates across Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States early next year, marking the first serious run of touring Ville has embarked on since the demise of HIM in late 2017.

It's a flurry of activity for an artist who has stayed relatively out of the public eye in the last couple of years, with 2020 EP Gothica Fennica Vol. 1 serving as the last piece of music to feature Ville during the 'pandemic era'. With new single Loveletting arriving on Friday, it seems like the frontman is finally ready to properly kick off the next chapter of his career, five years after HIM called it quits once and for all.

"The tickle just wasn’t there anymore,” Ville explained to Metal Hammer in 2017 when discussing the end of the band that he made his name with. “When we came back and did  Tears On Tape  in 2013, we’d been having some tough times – with the labels, blah blah, all the stuff bands go through. But a band has to be strong, and the friendship has to be strong so you can concentrate on the essentials like drinking beer and shaking your bum.”

No doubt plenty of bums will be shaking when Ville hits the road once more in 2023. Check out the full list of dates below. Tickets go on sale  April 11 at 10:00AM CET (Europe) and April 15 at 10:00AM local time (US).

Ville Valo VV tour dates 2023

Jan 13: Helsinki Tavastia, France Feb 14: Warsaw Proxima, Poland Feb 15: Krakow Kwadrat, Poland Feb 16: Prague Lucerna Music Bar, Czech Republic Feb 17: Berlin Huxley's, Germany Feb 18: Hamburg Fabrik, Germany Feb 20: Amsterdam Paradiso, Netherlands Feb 21: Frankfurt Batschkapp, Germany Feb 22: Zurich Komplex, Switzerland Feb 24: Barcelona Razzmatazz, Spain Feb 25: Madrid La Riviera, Spain Feb 26: Lisbon Cineteatro Capitolio, Portugal Feb 27: Porto Hard Club, Portugal Mar 02: Milan Alcatraz, Italy Mar 03: Munich Backstage Werk, Germany Mar 04: Budapest Barba Negra, Hungary Mar 05: Vienna Arena, Austria Mar 07: Esch-sur-Alzette Rockhal, Luxemburg Mar 08: Cologne LMH, Germany Mar 09: Paris Le Trabendo, France Mar 10: Bristol O2 Academy, UK Mar 11: Nottingham Rock City, UK Mar 13: Glasgow Garage, UK Mar 14: Manchester O2 Ritz, UK Mar 15: London O2 Forum Kentish Town, UK Apr 01: Philadelphia Theatre of the Living Arts, PA Apr 02: Boston Big Night Live, MA Apr 04: Pittsburgh Roxian Theater, PA Apr 05: Cleveland House of Blues, OH Apr 06: Detroit St. Andrews Hall, MI Apr 08: Cincinnati Bogarts, OH Apr 09: Chicago House of Blues, IL Apr 11: Minneapolis Varsity Theater, MN Apr 13: Denver Summit Music Hall, CO Apr 14: Salt Lake City The Depot, UT Apr 16: Sacramento Ace of Spades, CA Apr 17: San Francisco The Fillmore, CA Apr 18: Los Angeles Belasco, CA Apr 21: Las Vegas House of Blues, NV Apr 22: San Diego House of Blues, CA Apr 23: Phoenix Van Buren, AZ Apr 25: Dallas House of Blues, TX Apr 26: San Antonio Aztec Theater, TX Apr 27: Houston House of Blues, TX Apr 28: New Orleans House of Blues, LA Apr 30: Orlando House of Blues, FL May 01: Ft. Lauderdale Revolution. FL May 03: Atlanta Buckhead Theatre, GA May 04: Nashville Brooklyn Bowl, TN May 05: Charlotte Underground, NC May 07: Silver Spring The Fillmore, MD May 08: New York Irving Plaza, NY 

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Merlin moved into his role as Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has previously written for the likes of Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site. 

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The rock band HIM hails from Helsinki, Finland and was formed in 1991. Their music traverses several genres, including gothic rock and metal.

Originally known by its full name His Infernal Majesty (HIM), the group includes Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström, and bassist Mikko "Migé" Paananen. They recorded and released their first EP “666 Ways to Love: Prologue” in 1996 along with follow-up album “Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666” released on 7 November 1997 by Hiili Hiilesmaa. The triple sixes were a theme for the first album, which lasted 66:06 minutes long and contained 66 tracks. The cover single of “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaack gained notable success in Europe.

HIM became popular in the States with their sophomore album “Razorblade Romance” in 2002 especially with the single “Join Me In Death” (or to avoid misinterpretations of suicide, it was known for short as “Join Me”). The band’s name however was changed to “HER” as “HIM” was already copyrighted by another band. “Razorblade Romance” was a favorite in Germany as well, reaching No. 1 in the charts.

HIM added another member, keyboard player Emerson Burton to the group for their third album “Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights” which was released 27 August 2001. Again, their music was recognized on the charts in Finland and Germany. The album “Love Metal” which came out in Europe in 2003 was the first album to feature their signature logo called a heartagram: a heart with a pentagram. The logo symbolizes the binary balance of light and dark, love and hate, and life and death.

The album “Dark Light” released in 2005 became the highest grossing album in the U.S. and the only Finnish band to be certified gold in the States. The video for the single “Killing Loneliness” has a cameo by tattoo artist Kat Von D. HIM cites The Doors, The Stooges and Black Sabbath as musical influences.

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HIM are certainly titans of the emo rock genre, but their recognisability spans far beyond that scene, thanks in no small part to their striking name - it stands for His Infernal Majesty - as well as their signature ‘heartagram’ logo, which has made it as far afield as the video for ‘DARE’ by Gorillaz. They’ve been together for more than twenty years, and after a disagreement saw them leave Sire/Warner in 2011, the strength and size of their cult fanbase was enough to earn them a deal with another major almost immediately, signing with a subsidiary of Sony. Their first release on that imprint, Tears on Tape, met with some of the strongest reviews of their career last year, and saw them touring extensively, too; they played a long run of dates across the UK last October. The setlists spanned their entire career, with the Finns opting to dedicate pretty much equal prominence to each record rather than lean too heavily on Tears on Tape, although there was room for them to mix it up, too; bizarrely, they covered Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’. Earlier this month, an incendiary set at Sonisphere proved that they’re only picking up steam; they’ll continue to play European festivals throughout the summer.

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Perhaps it is the dark winters and somber nature of the Scandinavians yet historically they have always been interested in metal and gloom rock. Finnish outfit HIM are one of the most successful bands to emerge from that part of the world with platinum selling albums across Europe. They have been touring relentlessly around the globe since the release of their debut album in 1997 and this huge dedication really pays off in their live show.

It is a huge operation now with carefully planned lighting displays and dark stage decorations to add to the overall somber overtone of the music. The songs still remain very much as the central driving force with a great mixture from the new record 'Tears on Tape' along with older material that the fans show their obvious adoration for. The band comments on the great energy demonstrated tonight as the fans jump, chant and mosh to the very final tone of 'The Funeral of Hearts'. The group dedicates the encore track 'When Love and Death Embrace' to the energetic audience.

I don't know how to describe all this spectrum of feelings I felt yesterday at Him's concert (Moscow Stadium) .. They were.. they are still so deep.

I was just mesmerized by their performance devouring every single sound (more! more! more!)

I want to thank the universe for giving us such a band, such a music. I hope it's not the end. It breaks the heart to think so.

And I'm listening to their recordings and drawing Ville. I need it, to give a way to my feelings.. I love Him deeply. Thank you!! Keep doing what you do and be inspired

It was amazing!! Great atmosphere, the staff at the place were organised and really helpful! It all went smooth and the concert... Just incredible! Of course if you came there to enjoy the music and see the one of the greatest singer, I was disappointed with the people around as most of them just stand there with their beers and phones, which was bizarre. If you're coming for a concert maybe at least look at the stage?

Anyway HIM I'll miss you guy!!

It was opening night in Phoenix of the tour. They had lots of sound problems. Vile I’m pretty sure couldn’t hear anything. He mumbled through most of the songs. Some Parts he didn’t even try to sing. We left before the concert was over. I hate to say it but it was boring. He lacks any real stage pressance. The guitarist, bassists, and drummer rocked.

I haven't discovered H.I.M until after the Scream works album. I always wanted to see H.I.M and I had to go to their farewell tour. This was my first and last time seeing them. I can only hope 1 person out of the band goes sole.

Oh my gosh amazing. Just go. Last chance to dance and it was awesome. Love the smaller venue shows because it's like you're right there with them. Plus, got to see the Linde guitar faces he makes. Made my year.

I love this band so much. Im beyond happy that I got to see them one last time. I wish the very best for each member as they start another chapter in there lives. I will always love this band. HIM fan forever.

HIM is my childhood. My biggest regret is not seeing them live when I had the chance. I've everything crossed they reform for one last hurrah! Doesn't matter the continent I'm there this one last time.

Denver Co. 10/29/17. The band was tight Ville was also singing good. First 2 songs. Then the mic.problems there was no sound. It was inexcusable the sound guy should be fired.

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Ville Valo (VV) announces 2023 headlining tour dates

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VV (aka Ville Valo, formerly of HIM) has announced his 2023 headline tour of Europe, the UK and North America. The North American leg of the trek, produced by Live Nation, takes off on April 1st, 2023 in Philadelphia, PA at Theatre of Living Arts, making stops across the U.S. in Boston, Phoenix, Los Angeles and more before concluding in New York, NY on May 8th, 2023 at Irving Plaza.

Tickets to shows across Europe will go on sale Monday, April 11th at 10am CET. Tickets for the North American leg will go on sale Friday, April 15th at 10am local at livenation.com. All tour dates are listed below.

In addition, VV will release his new single titled “Loveletting,’ tomorrow, April 8th. The track appears on his upcoming debut album dubbed ‘Neon Noir,’ which drops early next year.

JAN – MAY 2023 ‘NEON NOIR TOUR’ ____ EUROPE 01.13.2023 – Tavastia – Helsinki (FI) 02.14.2023 – Proxima – Warsaw (PL) [ TIX ] 02.15.2023 – Kwadrat – Krakow (PL) [ TIX ] 02.16.2023 – Lucerna Music Bar – Prague (CZ) [ TIX ] 02.17.2023 – Huxley’s – Berlin (DE) 02.18.2023 – Fabrik – Hamburg (DE) 02.02.2023 – Paradiso – Amsterdam (NL) 02.21.2023 – Batschkapp – Frankfurt (DE) 02.22.2023 – Komplex – Zurich (CH) 02.24.2023 – Razzmatazz – Barcelona (ES) [ TIX ] 02.25.2023 – La Riviera – Madrid (ES) [ TIX ] 02.26.2023 – Cineteatro Capitolio – Lisbon (PT) 02.27.2023 – Hard Club – Porto (PT) 03.02.2023 – Alcatraz – Milan (IT) 03.03.2023 – Backstage Werk – Munich (DE) 03.04.2023 – Barba Negra – Budapest (HU) 03.05.2023 – Arena – Vienna (AT) 03.07.2023 – Rockhal – Esch-sur-Alzette (LU) 03.08.2023 – LMH – Cologne (DE) 03.09.2023 – Le Trabendo – Paris (FR)

UNITED KINGDOM 03.10.2023 – O2 Academy – Bristol (GB) [ TIX ] 03.11.2023 – Rock City – Nottingham (GB) [ TIX ] 03.13.2023 – Garage – Glasgow (GB) [ TIX ] 03.14.2023 – O2 Ritz – Manchester (GB) [ TIX ] 03.15.2023 – O2 Forum – Kentish Town, London (GB) [ TIX ]

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Kenny Thomas to head out on the road with ‘HIM’ Tour in 2024

British soul legend Kenny Thomas will hit the road in Spring 2024 for his 9-date ‘HIM’ UK Tour.

Fans can expect to hear all of the hits including ‘Thinking About Your Love’, ‘Best Of You’ and ‘Outstanding’. The full list of dates for the run is at the bottom of this article.

On the tour, Thomas says, “Live gigs are one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a musician and it’s where my fans come together for a night of Soul-music and serious partying. So to announce the ‘HIM’ 2024 tour is really exciting for me and the band, and it’s an opportunity for us to play songs from my third album ‘HIM’ which was never commercially released.

Over three decades on from when I first started out, this tour demonstrates that Soul-Music is here to stay. “

The announcement comes off the back of news that Thomas is to release a ‘Best Of’ album this year on 3rd November 2023. Released on vinyl and CD, the album features all the big hits, fan favourites, and thought-to-be lost masters from his unreleased third album ‘HIM ’ , which were recently discovered. 

In November and December this year, Thomas will embark on his ‘Brit-soul ascending’ tour performing his biggest UK theatre tour in over 20 years including a date at London’s Indigo at The O2.

The full dates for the ‘HIM’ Tour in May 2024 are:

16 th  May – Warwick Arts Centre Theatre 17 th  May – Edinburgh Queens Hall 18 th  May – Buxton Opera House 19 th  May – York Grand Opera House 21 st  May – Bristol St George’s 23 rd  May – Portsmouth New Theatre Royal 24 th  May – Guildford G Live 25 th  May – Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion 26 th  May – Ipswich Corn Exchange

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Kenny Thomas

British soul legend and multi-platinum singer-songwriter kenny thomas and his all-star band will be hitting the road in spring 2024..

Kenny remains one of the most important and successful UK soul singers of his generation with his debut album ‘Voices’ selling 600,000 copies in the UK alone on Chrysalis Records in 1991 achieving a total of 8 Top 40 singles and 2 Top 10 records whilst picking up 2 x BRIT-Award Nominations for ‘Best Male Vocalist’ and ‘Best Newcomer’.

“Live gigs are one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a musician and it’s where my fans come together for a night of Soul-music and serious partying. So to announce the ‘Him’ 2024 tour is really exciting for me and the band, and it’s an opportunity for us to play songs from my third album Him which was never commercially released." - Kenny Thomas

VIP tickets to include a meet & greet and photo opportunity.

“A wonderfully gifted singer who has emerged as one of the most natural and appealing live performers” Sunday Times

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• Sat 18 May 7:30pm Buy Tickets
• Price: £33.50 - £37.50 (VIP Tickets £86.50)

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Bam margera addresses uk tour cancelation drama, adamant he's sober, bam margera addresses uk tour cancelation drama ... adamant he's sober.

Bam Margera 's clearing the air about why his UK tour got the axe -- and while some have suspected it's all about him falling off the wagon ... he's saying he's clean and sober.

Here's the deal ... Bam's been across the pond lately for a string of Q&A gigs he'd booked through a promoter -- where he was scheduled to talk to audiences ... all of which recently came to a screeching halt after the peeps he was working with announced the rest of his appearances were cancelled.

There's been a lot of accusations and drama brewing in the background this past week -- with allegations that Bam was acting erratic and rolling with a new crew of misfits.

Some online -- especially on Reddit -- have been claiming Bam's been indulging in booze and drugs again ... but he hopped online Thursday to deny all that, insisting not only is he alcohol-free ... but he had a perfectly good reason for canceling his shows in the UK.

Long story short ... Bam says he re-injured his knee, and that these shows are gonna get rebooked -- so it's no harm, no foul in his mind.

He does allude to some kind of physical confrontation between the people Bam's been staying with and the promoters ... but he says he wasn't in the mix for that -- so he doesn't think he did anything wrong. He also acknowledges he and his girlfriend have been fighting.

Last but not least ... Bam shoots down any notion he's been under the influence lately, pointing to the fact he's drinking tea in the video. Remember, this comes not too long after he got into a fistfight on the street here in L.A. ... so, thing have been a bit tumultuous.

Despite all that ... Bam is insisting everything's A-OK -- although, hard to say if folks buy it.

Here's hoping all is, in fact, well -- because there are many who are pretty worried about him.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Billie Eilish fans recoil as UK ticket prices top Taylor Swift and Beyoncé

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Billie Eilish fans have expressed outrage over ticket prices for her upcoming world tour .

The Bad Guy singer’s new tour prices have been dubbed ‘outrageous’ after she unveiled her new 81-date tour programme this week.

The tour is geared to support 22-year-old Billie’s upcoming album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which is dropping on May 17.

While fans expressed excitement over the news she would be playing so many tour dates across North America, Australia , New Zealand and Europe, many were also dismayed by the listed ticket prices.

General admission standing tickets at Billie’s UK concerts will cost £150, which many argued was too much given the current global cost of living crisis.

‘I love Billie but there’s no way these tickets should cost this much,’ fan Lyss wrote on X, adding tickets for Taylor Swift’s most recent world tour had been cheaper.

‘I paid less for standing tickets at the Eras Tour and that’s at Wembley.’

‘£145 for Billie Eilish tickets – does she not know there’s a cost of living [crisis] happening in the UK?’ questioned fan Zoe.

‘I know I moan about this all the time, but look at the price of Billie Eilish tickets,’ another British fan, Marianne, wrote while screenshotting seated tickets at £398.50. ‘Something seriously needs to be done about ticket prices, it’s f**king outrageous!’.

As another fan called the cost ‘crazy’, Susan Adams responded: ‘Imagine you paid £400 and then all the tall people stood at the front!’

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6WKhxGrzQb/

‘Thing is, these aren’t even the [fire] tickets,’ added Marianne. ‘Like ok if you want to be seated I guess, but I genuinely paid (slightly) less for VIP tickets to Beyoncé last year and those were outrageous prices anaw!

‘It’s going to honestly be something only rich people can do and that’s so f**ked!

Billie’s American fans were equally aghast.

‘THE MINIMUM PRICE FOR BILLIE ELISH’S SHOW IN MINNEAPOLIS IS $141???’ wrote one disgruntled US fan.

The outspoken singer recently grabbed headlines for discussing her masturbation habits in great detail, calling it an ‘enormous, enormous part of her life’.

The What Was I Made For hitmaker opened up about how masturbating has been a ‘huge, huge help’ in overcoming  lifelong ‘extreme body issues and dysmorphia’  as she encouraged more people to ‘jerk it’.

And performing the act in front of the mirror is an important part of the process.

‘Partly because it’s hot,’ she told Rolling Stone . ‘But it also makes me have such a raw, deep connection to myself and my body, and have a love for my body that I have not really ever had.

‘I got to say, looking at yourself in the mirror and thinking ‘I look really good right now’ is so helpful. You can manufacture the situation you’re in to make sure you look good.’

The star also shared her top tips for making the most out of a self-reflective pleasure session from adjusting the lighting, and choosing specific outfits and positions that are ‘more flattering’.

‘I have learned that looking at myself and watching myself feel pleasure has been an extreme help in loving myself and accepting myself, and feeling empowered and comfortable,’ she added.

The singer came out during an interview with Variety  last year after being asked about her sexuality, but later went onto slam the publication for ‘outing’ her, adding she ‘likes boys and girls leave me alone about it please literally who cares’.

Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Billie Eilish for comment.

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Billie Eilish announces ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’ world tour dates in UK, North America, Europe and Australia

The tour is in support of her third studio album, which is set for release on May 17

Billie Eilish has announced a ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’ 2024-2025 UK, North America, Europe and Australian world tour. Check out dates and ticket details below.

• READ MORE:  Overheated: Billie Eilish and mother “proud” to platform change makers at London climate event

In support of her u pcoming third studio album ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT ‘ – which is set for release on May 17 and available for pre-order / pre-save here – Eilish will embark on a massive world tour.

Kicking off on September 29 at the Centre Videotron in Québec, the ‘Bad Guy’ singer will make her way across North America through the end of December 2024. From there, the tour will continue in Australia from mid February 2025 until early March 2025.

Eilish will then head over to commence her European, UK, and Ireland arena dates starting in April 2025 until late July 2025.

A ticket pre-sale will be available for American Express cardholders, which will begin on Tuesday April 30. Visit here for more information on the American Express pre-sale. An artist pre-sale will be available on Tuesday April 30 at 12pm local time.

General ticket sales will commence on Friday May 3 at 12pm. Visit here to purchase US tickets , here for UK tickets , here for European tickets and here for Australian tickets .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BILLIE EILISH (@billieeilish)

Billie Eilish ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’ 2024/25 world tour dates are: 

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SEPTEMBER 2024 29 – Québec, QC – Centre Videotron

OCTOBER 2024 1 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena 2 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena 4 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena 5 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center 7 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena 9 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center 11 – Boston, MA – TD Garden 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena 16 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden 17 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

NOVEMBER 2024 2 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena 3 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena 6 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena 8 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center 10 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center 11 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center 13 – Chicago, IL – United Center 14 – Chicago, IL – United Center 16 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center 17 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center Omaha 19 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena 20 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

DECEMBER 2024 3 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena 5 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena 6 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena 8 – Portland, OR – Moda Center 10 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose 11 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose 13 – Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena 15 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum 16 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum 17 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum

FEBRUARY 2025  18 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre 19 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre 21 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre 22 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre 24 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena 25 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena 27 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena 28 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena

MARCH 2025 4 –Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena 5 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena 7 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena 8 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena

APRIL 2025 23 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena 24 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena 26– Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena 28 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena 29 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena

MAY 2025 2 – Hannover, Germany – ZAG Arena 4 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome 5 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome 7 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome 9 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena 29 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena 30 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena

JUNE 2025  1 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena 3 – Kraków, Poland – Tauron Arena 4 – Kraków, Poland – Tauron Arena 6 – Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle 8 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena 10 – Paris, France – Accor Arena 11 – Paris, France – Accor Arena 14 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi 15 –Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi

JULY 2025  7 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro 8 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro 10 – London, UK – The O2 11 –London, UK – The O2 13 – London, UK – The O2 14– London, UK – The O2 16 – London, UK – The O2 17 – London, UK – The O2 19 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live 20 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live 22 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live 23 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live 26 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena 27 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena

The tour will also offer loads of sustainability efforts including Eilish’s long-standing partnership with environmental nonprofit Reverb which has previously resulted in over $1million donated to environmental, greenhouse gas reduction, and climate justice projects, more than 150,000 fan actions, and much more.

She will also team up with Support+Feed which will promote and offer plant-based food options. Support+Feed will also be launching a 360 campaign throughout the tour. An expanded version of the Support+Feed Pledge will be offered as a way to inspire fans to eat one plant-based meal a day for 30 days with digital elements and community activations.

Fans will have the opportunity to participate in Plant-based Food Drives in a selection of cities alongside the tour to raise awareness and gather food to distribute to local communities.

There will also be two Reverb eco-villages set up in the main concourse of every show where fans can take part in the tour’s sustainability efforts, connect with nonprofits, and take meaningful action for people and the planet.

F‌ans are encouraged to take public transport or carpool to the gigs in efforts to help reduce greenhouse gas pollution and encourage more public transportation options. Attendees will receive information via email about public transportation options before the show.

Venue partners are also helping to lessen the environmental footprint of the tour. In addition to efforts to decrease waste through reducing or eliminating single-use plastics and diverting landfill waste with compost and recycling, venues will be offering plant-based food options at all shows.

Fans and attendees are encouraged to bring an empty reusable water bottle or donate for a custom RockNRefill Nalgene bottle to fill up at the free water refill stations located at each venue. The RockNRefill bottles and refill stations are located at the Eco-Villages in the main concourse at all shows.

In other news, Eilish is one of the musicians who have signed an open letter calling for a bill to be passed to protect gig goers from ticket scams .

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Billie Eilish announces Hit Me Hard And Soft tour UK dates

Two-time Oscar-winning singer Billie Eilish will be touring the world this year and next, and coming to venues in the UK next summer - including the so-far ill fated Co-Op Live in Manchester.

Arts and entertainment reporter @BethanyMinelle

Monday 29 April 2024 17:42, UK

Billie Eilish has announced a new tour and will be coming to the UK next summer.

The 22-year year old 's show is named after her latest album - Hit Me Hard And Soft - and will kick off in North America in September.

It will then head to Australia in February 2025, before travelling across Europe and arriving in the UK on 7 July when she will perform for two nights in Glasgow, at OVO Hydro.

Eilish will then play six nights at the O2 in London, and four nights at the new Co-Op Live arena in Manchester - a venue that has been beset with problems as it prepares to open to the public.

The singer will then play two gigs in Dublin, Ireland, at the 3Arena.

A vocal environmentalist, fans are being encouraged to take "sustainable transport" during the tour, which will also feature "eco-villages" and encourage plant-based food options.

The tour will partner with the plant-based food organisation Support + Feed - an initiative founded by Eilish's mother Maggie Baird - and environmental non-profit organisation REVERB.

More on Billie Eilish

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• Billie Eilish

The concerts will also aim to reduce "greenhouse gas pollution, decreasing single-use plastic waste, supporting climate action", the promoters Live Nation said.

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR Tickets on sale May 3rd. Pre-sales in select markets April 30th-May 1st, including early access for @americanexpress Card Members. Pre-sale access does not guarantee tickets. Terms apply. Supply is limited. https://t.co/D172RG7UjO pic.twitter.com/dzZL4YvFMb — billie eilish (@billieeilish) April 29, 2024

Eilish's third studio album comes out on 17 May, a month after Taylor Swift 's much lauded album The Tortured Poets Department .

Like Swift, Eilish is encouraging fans to listen to the collection as a whole, saying on her website that the new body of work should be listened to chronologically as it "hits you hard and soft both lyrically and sonically, while bending genres and defying trends along the way".

She's not released any singles in advance, encouraging fans to listen "in one go".

The album cover features Eilish on her back under dark water with a white door open above her.

Eilish's last album was 2021's Happier Than Ever, and her debut record When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? was released in 2019.

The youngest person ever to have won two Oscars, she took home the award for best original song Oscar gong for Barbie's What Was I Made For? in March, and won the same prize for James Bond's No Time To Die in 2022.

Tickets for Hit Me Hard And Soft go on general sale on Friday.

Billie Eilish's UK tour dates:

Mon 7 July, 2025 - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro

Tue 8 July, 2025 - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro

Thu 10 July, 2025 - London, UK - The O2

Fri 11 July, 2025 -London, UK - The O2

Sun 13 July, 2025 - London, UK - The O2

Mon 14 July, 2025 - London, UK - The O2

Wed 16 July, 2025 - London, UK - The O2

Thu 17 July, 2025 - London, UK - The O2

Sat 19 July, 2025 - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live

Sun 20 July, 2025 - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live

Tue 22 July, 2025 - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live

Wed 23 July, 2025 - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live

Related Topics

NHL Power Rankings: Who needs to step up for each playoff team?

The first round is almost finished, and it’s difficult to recall a more predictable opening salvo for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Pretty much every favorite has already punched its ticket to the second round or looks close to doing so — although of course the Leafs and Bruins are going to Game 7.

But just because pretty much everything has gone according to plan doesn’t mean there aren’t areas of potential improvement for each team. Even a perfectly played series has room for nitpicking, and that is exactly where The Rankings Boys are at their best.

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That’s the story for this week: one player from each remaining team who needs to step it up for Round 2 (or what’s left of Round 1).

As for the eliminated teams: a classic postmortem of where it all went wrong.

1. Carolina Hurricanes

Last week: 1 Sean’s ranking: 1 Dom’s ranking: 1

Jaccob Slavin

Picking a Hurricane for this spot wasn’t easy, given how their series against the Islanders played out, but it’s fair to say that Slavin in particular wasn’t at his best. With Slavin and partner Brent Burns on the ice, New York carried nearly 60 percent of the expected-goal share and out-chanced the Hurricanes 37-30. That wasn’t a common occurrence for other player combinations.

It’s worth noting that Carolina still won on goals, 3-1, in Slavin’s minutes, and that both Slavin and Burns have track records that make the Islanders series less of a concern, but they’ll need to be better against the Rangers.

2. Colorado Avalanche

Last week: 7 Sean’s ranking: 2 Dom’s ranking: 3

Jonathan Drouin

There was no more impressive team in the opening round than Colorado. Every player delivered, and that includes Alexandar Georgiev , who posted a .933 save percentage after getting shelled in Game 1. Can we quibble with Sean Walker having zero points, or the top line looking meh by expected goals? Sure, but both would still be fairly silly quibbles. The Avalanche flipped the switch and scored more than five goals a game against a Jets team that was supposed to have a strong defense in front of the league’s best goalie. Colorado made them look like an AHL team — it wasn’t close.

Colorado’s first round? No notes.

So who needs to step up here? The only logical conclusion is Drouin, who missed the first round. It’s not so much that he needs to step up, just that when he does step in, he needs to be ready to go full-throttle to match the rest of the roster. The Avalanche have elevated their game to a championship-caliber level, one that Drouin has the potential to accentuate further if he can match the energy. That might be a big ask, coming back from injury, but he’ll need to do it against a Dallas or Vegas team that will offer up a much bigger challenge than Winnipeg.

3. Florida Panthers

Last week: 2 Sean’s ranking: 3 Dom’s ranking: 4

Aaron Ekblad ?

Matthew Tkachuk had nine points in five games against the Lightning . Carter Verhaeghe was scoring huge goals on the regular. Aleksander Barkov mixed in his first career two-goal playoff game. Florida’s best players, generally speaking, have been their best players. That’s a good sign.

Ekblad, though, could show a bit more; he put up the worst expected-goal share among the Panthers’ blueliners (42 percent) in the first round. Sergei Bobrovsky helped make the point moot, but we’ve come to expect more from Ekblad as a five-on-five player, whether or not he’s producing points.

4. Edmonton Oilers

Last week: 6 Sean’s ranking: 5 Dom’s ranking: 2

Every defenseman not named Evan Bouchard or Mattias Ekholm

Take your pick. We’ll focus on the second pair of Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci , whom the Kings managed to dominate, apparently, in every conceivable metric.

While Nurse and Ceci were on the ice at five-on-five, the Oilers were outscored 4-2, outshot 54-37, out-attempted 110-72 and they lost on expected goals, 3.3 to 2.1. Given how soundly Edmonton beat Los Angeles in all of those areas, Nurse and Ceci’s performance gets even more impressive.

Bouchard’s emergence as a true No. 1 defenseman and Ekholm’s continued rock-steady play make the second pair less of a pressing issue against mid-grade offensive teams such as the Kings. The rest of the West, though, is filled with second and third lines that will take advantage, unless something changes.

5. Dallas Stars , up 3-2 on Vegas

Last week:9 Sean’s ranking: 4 Dom’s ranking: 5

Roope Hintz  

Hintz really started to make a name for himself in this league in the playoffs. After putting up just 22 points in 58 games as a rookie, the speedy center scored five goals and eight points in 13 games during that 2019 postseason for Dallas. While it took a couple more seasons for Hintz to reach his current level, his reputation as a playoff performer was already part of his lore. Last spring, he added to that by leading the Stars with 24 points in 19 games, six more than Jason Robertson .

Hintz usually delivers, but in this series, he’s been unfortunately quiet. Through five games, he has just a single point and has been outscored 4-2 at five-on-five. His scoring-chance numbers are strong, sure, but he’s not getting the results we expect.

The good news? It hasn’t mattered for the Stars and they’re up 3-2 anyway. That sets up Hintz to help propel the team over the first-round finish line. But if the Stars do blow this series lead without Hintz making an impact, he’ll have to shoulder a lot of the blame for what went wrong. And if they do hold on, he’ll need to make a massive leap to match up against Nathan MacKinnon and company in the next round.

6. New York Rangers

Last week: 4 Sean’s ranking: 6 Dom’s ranking: 6

K’Andre Miller

When a team sweeps another team after winning the Presidents’ Trophy, it’s really hard to find faults throughout the roster.

For the Rangers, it’s more about what comes next. The difference between Washington and Carolina is massive, and that means they’ll need more to get by.

That probably starts with Miller, New York’s primary shutdown option on the back end. He’s in a tough spot, playing difficult minutes next to a less-experienced Braden Schneider , but earning just 41 percent of the expected goals, a team low, is not a great sign. However difficult the minutes were against Washington (not very!), they’re about to get a whole lot more difficult against the Hurricanes.

Miller has it in him to be a difference-making top-pair defenseman, but this is now his third straight playoff getting crushed at five-on-five. That needs to change against Carolina.

7. Vancouver Canucks , up 3-2 on Nashville

Last week: 10 Sean’s ranking: 7 Dom’s ranking: 7

Elias Pettersson

It’s a testament to the Canucks that they’re winning their series while getting so little from Pettersson. In five games, he’s managed just a pair of secondary assists. With him on the ice at five-on-five, the Canucks have been outshot 25-16, outscored 3-0 and hold an expected goal share of less than 47 percent.

The power play, where Pettersson and the Canucks do plenty of their damage, has been even worse, scoring twice on 13 attempts and generating an abysmal four goals per 60. Anaheim was last in that category in the regular season with 6.42.

It’s not that Pettersson is generating opportunities and getting unlucky, either. He’s been credited with seven total shots and has a hair over one expected goal. The bright side is that Game 5 was his best yet; the Canucks controlled shots 7-3 with him on the ice at five-on-five, and he finished with their third-best Game Score (0.90). Vancouver may need that trend to continue to finish off the Predators — and they’ll certainly need more if they want to stick around any longer.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs , tied 3-3 with Boston

Last week: 11 Sean’s ranking: 8 Dom’s ranking: 8

Timothy Liljegren

After Game 4, it would’ve been extremely easy to choose Mitch Marner, and to some, that might still be the answer, given that he has only three points in six games. But at the very least, he stepped up in Games 5 and 6 with Auston Matthews out. That, and he’s been in Selke Trophy form for much of the series — that means something in a series that’s been razor-thin.

The current best answer might just be Liljegren who has already sat in the press box once in this series and has often looked like everything the coaching staff feared in the past. He’s been the Leafs’ worst five-on-five defender in the most sheltered role, and too often looks overmatched without the puck.

Liljegren’s presence as a puck-mover is sorely needed on a Leafs blue line that’s lacking in that department, but he’s been shaky there, too. Usually, he adds enough there to make up for weaker defense, but that hasn’t been the case against Boston. The Leafs don’t have an elite No. 1 defenseman, and for that reason they depend heavily on limiting weak links from one-to-six. Liljegren needs to hold up his end of the deal for Game 7.

9. Boston Bruins, tied 3-3 with Toronto

Last week: 5 Sean’s ranking: 9 Dom’s ranking: 9

David Pastrnak

Boston’s best and most electric player has shown flashes of dominance against the Leafs , but that’s all they’ve been — flashes. In six games, he has four points, which is a paltry sum for a player of his ilk , who is there to take over games with his singular offensive ability. In this series, he’s mostly been neutralized. Pastrnak has been good, but not great.

That would be more acceptable if he won his minutes at five-on-five and that might be why he’s struggled to produce. At five-on-five, the Bruins have been outscored 4-2 with Pastrnak on the ice and have earned 48 percent of the expected goals — with the latter number being heavily influenced by a solid Game 6 performance.

Pastrnak lives for the big pressure moments and has had some fantastic playoff outings in the past. It’s what’s made his first six games against the Leafs feel underwhelming. But he’ll have one more shot at redemption on Saturday.

10. Vegas Golden Knights, down 3-2 to Dallas

Last week: 3 Sean’s ranking: 10 Dom’s ranking: 10

Alex Pietrangelo

Pietrangelo deserves the honors if only for taking one of the dumbest penalties of the postseason.

Pietrangelo with the biggest bozo penalty of the playoffs so far pic.twitter.com/c75q54UEzP — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 2, 2024

Naturally, Jason Robertson scored on the ensuing power play to put Dallas up 3-2. It was the last goal of the game, and it’s conceivable that Vegas will lose the series as a result. So, yes, giving Tyler Seguin a nosebleed … probably not worth it.

Pietrangelo’s overall performance hasn’t been great, either. Vegas’ expected goal share with him on the ice is under 40 percent, and they’ve been outscored 4-2. Some better play from their No. 1 defenseman, and no more game-deciding freakouts, would be nice.

11. Nashville Predators, down 3-2 to Vancouver

Last week: 13 Sean’s ranking: 11 Dom’s ranking: 11

Tommy Novak

Offense has been difficult to come by for both teams in this series, but we still expected a bit more out of Novak. During the season, he wasn’t trusted much by coach Andrew Brunette — his line was the team’s most sheltered — and it seems that trend has continued into the postseason. Only Mark Jankowski has averaged fewer minutes than Novak in this series, with both seeing the ice for only 10 to 11 minutes.

At least Jankowski has made due in his time, with two points in five games. Novak has put up doughnuts on the scoresheet, joining Cole Smith and Michael McCarron as the only Predators forwards without a point. That’s not ideal for a player who was fourth on the team in points this season, scoring at a 52-point pace.

With only 39 percent of the expected goals — a result of manufacturing very little offense — the process hasn’t looked very sound, either. Nashville’s top players have delivered as expected, but if guys such as Novak can’t provide the depth scoring necessary, it’s hard to imagine the Predators making the full comeback.

12. Tampa Bay Lightning, eliminated

Last week: 15 Sean’s ranking: 12 Dom’s ranking: 12

Most of Tampa Bay’s optimism should revolve around GM Julien BriseBois’ dedication to wringing every last moment out of their contention window. It certainly shouldn’t linger on how the Lightning actually played in the first round against the Panthers. Woof.

Only five Lightning skaters scored against the Panthers. None of them were Nikita Kucherov , who managed just three five-on-five assists and seven points overall. If he wins the Hart Trophy, he’ll deserve it, and the acceptance speech will be … interesting.

It’s worth noting that BriseBois, after the series, said Nick Perbix and Erik Cernak both sprained their AC joints during the series. That would explain some of Tampa Bay’s blue-line issues, but not all of them. Also, Steven Stamkos may have played his last game with the franchise. Hard times .

13. Los Angeles Kings, eliminated

Last week: 12 Sean’s ranking: 13 Dom’s ranking: 13

The sting of losing to the same team in the first round for the third straight year is already tough to swallow. That the gap between the two teams only seems to be growing each year — from 4-3 to 4-2 to 4-1 — is gut-wrenching.

Where do the Kings even go from here?

That’s a serious question facing an organization that seemed to rush through a rebuild to get to a point at which they could compete while Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty were still top-tier players. But compete and contend are two widely different terms that encapsulate just how stuck the Kings might currently be. They don’t have a whole lot of young emerging talent to show from that tear-down, and Kopitar and Doughty can only be expected to become less effective with each passing season.

It’s not enough to just be a playoff team, but that’s all the Kings managed to build.

Of course, this might be a different conversation if Pierre-Luc Dubois wasn’t half the player he’s being paid to be — if that. Then again, would the series outcome be any different if he was? Was the difference between Edmonton and Los Angeles this year simply one peak Dubois?

Probably not, and perhaps that’s the biggest indictment of where the Kings are, relative to the top of the West. They struck out swinging going for the grand slam they didn’t need to begin with.

The Kings are in a very unenviable spot going forward, and look destined to complete the cycle next year against the Oilers.

14. Winnipeg Jets, eliminated

Last week: 8 Sean’s ranking: 14 Dom’s ranking: 15

In the run-up to what felt like a premium first-round series, even folks who believed in the Jets’ chances seemed to be realistic about their shortcomings. Winnipeg could take care of business, the logic went, but it’d be because of strong defensive play throughout the lineup and golaie Connor Hellebuyck — not because their high-end skaters matched up with Colorado’s.

Five games later, the Jets’ season is over, and basically nothing worked. They lost on star power, sure, but also on goaltending and defensive play. No team allowed more expected goals per 60 at five-on-five, or overall. No team was scored on more frequently. If the Jets can’t rely on a combo of sound defensive process and an elite goaltender during the playoffs — and both elements certainly seemed to be broken against Colorado — what exactly is left? What, in other words, are they supposed to be good at?

It’s a valid question without an easy answer, and the result — for now — is a transitional summer, as Murat Ates wrote .

15. New York Islanders, eliminated

Last week: 16 Sean’s ranking: 15 Dom’s ranking: 14

It’s fitting that in a roller-coaster season, there were two instances in this series when the Islanders suffered a gut punch in the same span of time it takes to rocket down from the top of one. This ride surely was a lot less fun. In Game 2, it took nine seconds for a 3-2 Islanders lead to turn into a 4-3 deficit. In Game 5, it took eight seconds for a 3-3 tie game to look completely out of reach at 5-3.

Just 17 seconds stood between what we expected (an uncompetitive series) and what could’ve been more interesting.

Sometimes, the difference between two teams manifests slowly. Sometimes, it reveals itself in the blink of an eye. For the Islanders, both were true against the class of the East. Call two of those goals bad bounces if you want, but the Hurricanes still carried the run of play for the majority of the series and got what they deserved at the end. Actual goals: 19-12. Expected goals: 19-14.

With a full season of Patrick Roy at the helm and with some offseason tweaks, maybe the Islanders will get closer to the East’s best next season. It’s not an insurmountable gulf, but it’s clear that after not coming close against Carolina’s B-game, the Islanders have  a difficult road ahead of them .

16. Washington Capitals, eliminated

Last week: 14 Sean’s ranking: 16 Dom’s ranking: 16

Bless the Caps, who deserve credit for making it into the postseason at all. They put up more of a fight against the Rangers than the series length would suggest, holding New York to the fewest expected goals/60 of the first round (2.0).

There’s more to hockey than that, though. Scoring, for example. And goaltending. And special teams. Washington fell short across the board. None of that, really, should’ve been a surprise, though Charlie Lindgren ’s play probably qualifies as a disappointment. An .862 save percentage and nearly four goals allowed above expected is a major step down from the play he brought throughout the regular season, and was even further from the level he needed to hit to give the Caps a realistic shot at advancing.

What’s next? Probably another season in limbo , hopefully with enough goals from Alex Ovechkin , timely goaltending from whomever and solid coaching from Spencer Carbery to make things interesting once more. It’s a tough ask.

(Top photo of Elias Pettersson: Derek Cain / Getty Images)

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