Phone music on hold

A row of silver-haired ladies are sitting in the stands, intently videoing this landmark Foals gig on their phones. One appears to be watching through opera glasses. Below them, strange crop circles are appearing in the tightly packed crowd, as fans gear up for one of Foals’ crescendos. Space is created by imperceptible common consent, like starlings flocking. Then, as the swirl of Edwin Congreave’s keyboards and the twin guitars of Yannis Philippakis and Jimmy Smith climbs to a peak – as it does on the early song Red Socks Pugie, or the newer Inhaler – dozens of half-naked people launch themselves at each other. At the back of the stage, Kit Monteith, a sixth, recent auxiliary member of Foals, occasionally thwacks a cowbell you can’t really hear. This is Foals at Wembley, the pinnacle of the Oxford quintet’s career (at least, thus far: you suspect their headline slot at this summer’s Reading and Leeds festivals might be another one). A gig … [Read more...] about Foals live review – feel the muscle

Thousands of music fans will be invited to wear masks of David Bowie at the Isle of Wight festival, the first of a series of tributes to the late singer at events around the UK this summer. British festival season kicks into gear this weekend with Isle of Wight, Download, Meltdown and Field Day. Bowie’s last festival appearance was at the Isle of Wight in 2004. He died in January after a battle with cancer. The tribute on Saturday has been organised by Stand Up to Cancer, a joint fundraising campaign by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, which is the Isle of Wight festival’s official charity partner for 2016. The festival’s chief, John Giddings, told the Daily Echo: “David was a true musical icon, an immense talent who as a performer was incredible. His energy, creativity and passion were incomparable and I feel very lucky to have spent so many years working with him. “His set at the Isle of Wight festival in 2004 was one of the highlights of my career, and … [Read more...] about Thousands will pay tribute to David Bowie at Isle of Wight festival

Buoyed by the success of last summer’s Hyde Park gig, Jeff Lynne has put together only the second ELO album in 29 years. It covers familiar ground, with the usual mixture of grandiose balladry and harmony-drenched, uptempo rockers. While he only once comes close to matching the pop perfection of his 70s imperial phase (on the lushly melancholic One Step at a Time), there’s plenty to enjoy elsewhere. Opener When I Was a Boy finds him engaging and autobiographical, while Ain’t It a Drag recalls the breathless momentum of 1981’s Hold on Tight. There is only one misstep – the clumsy, Whitesnake-worthy lyrics to Dirty to the Bone are rooted a little too firmly in the 70s – but otherwise this is an excellent return. Topics Pop and rock The Observer album reviews Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on WhatsApp Share on Messenger Reuse this … [Read more...] about Jeff Lynne’s ELO: Alone in the Universe review – an excellent return

Apple’s true wireless earbuds have gone “pro” and in doing so deliver on the promise of the 2017 originals. The new AirPods Pro are worth the wait. Apple managed two pieces of magic in 2017 with the original £159 AirPods. They just worked without the skips, blips or audio delay, and came in a tiny battery case that kept them charged and safe – a combination that competitors still find hard to match. But they had one big problem: no isolation from the outside world. It meant that in any noisy environment you struggled to hear your music. Three years later, the £249 AirPods Pro and their silicone earbud tips fix that fundamental problem, adding active noise cancelling for good measure. The look, feel and operation of the AirPods Pro will be familiar to anyone who has seen or used the original AirPods. Small white earbuds replete with stalks and a small flip-top white case into which they snap to store and charge. The stalks are a little smaller and have … [Read more...] about AirPods Pro review: a touch of Apple magic

Choosing Christmas gifts for little ones can be a tough task, depending on their age and interests, but getting it right is worth it, just to see their tiny faces light up with joy. Here, FEMAIL has selected a range of must-buy presents suitable for newborns, right up to teenagers, with favourite characters including Peppa Pig, the Paw Patrol gang and Frozen's Elsa and Anna all in the mix. From the Thai-style anklet loved by Amal Clooney, to a 15ft trampoline, these gifts are guaranteed to puts smiles on little faces come Christmas morning. UNDER £50 JoJo Maman Bébé Macarons Set  £10 Perfect for a pretend kids’ tea party. This assortment of six macarons is painted in pretty pastel shades to create beautiful treats - a great addition to any play kitchen or nursery. Let little ones serve up a treat for mum or dad in the little box with a sliding lid. 3+  Shop Paw Patrol Giant Floor Puzzle  £10 A giant, electronic and … [Read more...] about Santa Claus IS coming to town! From a 15ft trampoline to Disney goodies, FEMAIL reveals the presents that will make Christmas magical for kids (with prices starting at just £10)