Latest news with #Doncaster
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Yungblud's new rock-opera is ambitious but confused
While the music press has been busy grieving the death of rock 'n' roll, a 27-year-old from Doncaster has managed to become his generation's breakout guitar-wielding star. Chuck Robbie Williams, the Prodigy's late frontman Keith Flint and Dennis the Menace into a blender and after a few seconds of whizzing you'd have Yungblud (real name Dominic Harrison); now he's back with a fourth album, Idols, that will inevitably follow its predecessors to the top of the charts. Idols is the first half of a double album, a concept first pioneered (like pretty much everything else in pop and rock) by the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix and that has grown increasingly popular among artists who rely on the thirsty internet hype-machine to make their records sell: everyone from Taylor Swift to Kendrick Lamar is at it. It's a record that spans big, soaring melodies, angsty pop-rock ballads and even the gutsy theatrics of Queen. The album's opener, Hello Heaven, Hello, is a sprawling, nine-minute rumination on death and belonging ('So tell me / Are you gonna die in the pain that they all inflict on you / Or are you gonna swim through the storm?'); Ghosts features Yungblud's best attempt at Freddie Mercury's famed 'Ay-Oh' and culminates with a crescendo of claps, We Will Rock You-style. The latter should go down a storm with a live audience – perfect timing, considering the second edition of Harrison's very own festival, Bludfest, will take place in Milton Keynes this weekend. A quick disclaimer: I have never really got Yungblud. The propensity for over-the-top costumes and snarling vocal delivery; the sheer spread of influences; or maybe I'm just too old – the majority of moshing fans you'll find at his raucous live shows are teenagers. On the first point, his vocals have significantly improved – though the tattoos and jet black hair remain – with his strong South Yorkshire accent peeking pleasingly through the high notes; there's an endearing vulnerability to be found, too, in the moments when Harrison's voice momentarily cracks, as on melancholy closing ballad Supermoon. He sounds more mature and assured than he did on earlier songs such as I Love You, Will You Marry Me (from his 2018 debut, 21st Century Liability) or The Freak Show, an operatic call to arms for society's weirdos and misfits from 2020 album Weird! But overall, Idols fails to quell that second reservation: you're left wondering whether Harrison has really accepted who he is as an artist. The Greatest Parade could well be Placebo. Lovesick Lullaby sounds like Liam Gallagher howling through Slide Away. The influence of The Verve's seminal Urban Hymns is evident throughout, and proven by the fact Harrison decided to cover Bittersweet Symphony in the Radio 1 Live Lounge while on the promotional trail. Earlier this year, the star told the Telegraph: 'Bowie, Freddie, Bono – I'm trying to reach for that'. They're all great artists to admire – but perhaps a degree of separation from his idols would help to carve out a more self-assured identity. Poppie Platt Also out: Loyle Carner, Hopefully! ★★★★☆ Rap has often been unfairly marked as the music of the angry and disenfranchised, but naysayers might have to bite their tongue when it comes to Loyle Carner 's discography. The south London-raised rapper's mix of soft beats and emotional lyricism has made him stand out as a unique voice on the hip-hop scene. As the 30-year-old prepares for a headline slot on The Other Stage at Glastonbury, Carner's latest album Hopefully! combines jazzy, RnB riffs with a level of mellow self-reflection in his writing that continues to make him one of British music's most unique and poetic voices. In his previous album Hugo, Carner tried to break away from his 'nice guy of hip-hop' persona by directly dealing with racial politics in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement – he is of Guyanese heritage. Elements of that are still present here. Notably on the titular track, he samples the late British poet Benjamin Zephaniah (a figure the artist has cited as one of his heroes), who talks of an uprising when it comes to social class and status in the black community. But this is a more introspective work as Carner uses the LP to work through his own anxieties. The rapper, who has two young children, deals with the responsibilities of fatherhood throughout the album. On Strangers, his vocal intonation is more akin to a lullaby than the more aggressive tone of Hugo. One line from the track stands out: 'Letters escape you' works as a candid double entendre of both children learning to use and develop language, but also for the artists' personal struggles with dyslexia. Other tracks point to broader points of his psyche. In My Mind deals with Carner's issues with self-esteem and self-image. The rapper even draws on imagery from Harry Potter as an intertextual reference point on the track Horcrux, about the reconciliation between touring and home life. If Hugo felt more like a step forward lyrically and tonally, Hopefully! feels like a return to familiar territory. It has more in common with Yesterday's Gone, his debut album, that served as an affectionate tribute to his own mother. It felt like the work of a loving son. Now, it has come full circle, Carner has matured and Hopefully! represents the poetry of a loving father. Ollie Macnaughton Best new songs By Poppie Platt Amaarae, Sl-t Me Out (S.M.O) The superb Ghanaian-American singer returns with an upbeat track about sexual empowerment, set to an infectious blend of hyperpop, kpanlogo and zouk. Her set at Glastonbury next Saturday – preceding Doechii on West Holts – is shaping up to be one of the weekend's hottest shows. Benson Boone, Mr Electric Blue Unless you've been living under a rock (aka don't spend hours scrolling through TikTok), you'll have noticed that pop-king Harry Styles has been, for the moment, usurped. Benson Boone, an all-American ex-Mormon who had the biggest hit of last year with Beautiful Things – and is as famous for his backflips as his tunes – released his hotly anticipated new album American Heart today; this stomping, synth-heavy anthem is the standout. CMAT, The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station The Dublin rising star's songs are witty, flirty, camp, sometimes emotional – with a power tool of a voice to match. Her latest is a meta reflection on how her tendency to get annoyed by people is holding her back, told through the lens of her irrational beef with TV chef Jamie Oliver ('That man should not have his face on posters'). Haim, All Over Me Everyone's favourite indie-pop sisters – Alana, Danielle and Este Haim – are back with a new album, I Quit: a funny, fearless dissection of bad relationships and missed opportunities that reaches a high point on the funky All Over Me, a celebration of 'friends with benefits'. Miles Kane, Love is Cruel The man who has been trying to keep mod fashion alive for the past decade, the Last Shadow Puppets co-frontman returns with a slick new track (produced by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach) about finding solace in your own company. PSA: Kane will play the last ever show at Sheffield's famous Leadmill next Friday. Sam Fender and Olivia Dean, Rein Me In Fans begged for this duet to be released after Fender and Dean performed it live at his recent stadium shows in London and Newcastle; the blend of Fender's gravelly vocals and Dean's honey-smooth tones is gorgeous, as his original tale of traversing a town filled with the memories of past lovers ('And all the bars 'round here serve my ghosts and carcasses') takes on new poignancy with Dean's verse, in which she begs him to open up. Wednesday, Wound Up Here (By Holdin On) A body being pulled from a West Virginia creek doesn't sound like the most obvious of song inspirations – but unpredictability is just what makes US Southern rock band Wednesday so exciting. Rough riffs and sardonic lyrics delivered with a snarl by vocalist Karly Hartzman lend this new track echoes of early Pavement bangers.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Plaque unveiled at Doncaster Station for Flying Scotsman creator
A commemorative plaque has been unveiled to honour the engineer behind some of the world's most famous steam Nigel Gresley designed and built more than 2,000 locomotives, including Flying Scotsman and Godfrey, wo revealed the plaque at Doncaster Station on Thursday, said he was "delighted" to see his grandfather's work recognised."His most famous locomotives were built here, so there is a very special family connection to Doncaster," he said. Born in Edinburgh in 1876, Sir Nigel moved to Doncaster in 1905 to work as a carriage and wagon superintendent and then as a locomotive engineer for Great Northern Railway before moving to London in same year Flying Scotsman was built at the LNER works in Doncaster to Sir Nigel's design and used to pull an express service along the east coast main line between London and Edinburgh.15 years later another of Sir Nigel's most famous locomotives, Mallard, was built at the Doncaster Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Works. It still holds the record for the world's fastest steam locomotive after it reached 126mph in 1938. Mayor Ros Jones said: "Doncaster has a proud connection to the railway industry, and this is another splendid acknowledgment to a man who gave so much to our city."It will be a lasting reminder and attraction, to those who live in and visit Doncaster, of his ongoing influence."Linda Wain, engineering director at LNER, said Mr Gresley's legacy was "deeply woven" into Doncaster and the railway plaque and information board at Doncaster Station is close to an existing display which features the names of locomotives built in the nearby Nigel died at home unexpectedly in 1941, aged 65, while still working for LNER. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Stockport sign Doncaster centre-back Olowu
Stockport County have made their first signing of the summer transfer window after agreeing a three-year deal with Doncaster Rovers defender Joseph 25-year-old centre-back was a regular in Rovers' League Two title-winning campaign last season and turned down the club's offer of a new contract to join came through the academy system at Charlton Athletic before continuing his development at failing to break into the Gunners' first team, Olowu moved to Doncaster in September 2021 and went on to make 144 appearances. County boss Dave Challinor, who signed a new three-year deal 24 hours earlier, said he was "great business" to sign Olowu and knows the player thought hard about leaving the Keepmoat Stadium."I know it was a big decision for him, as he'd had a great season and enjoyed his time there," Challinor said."He was a player that we tried to sign in January, but understandably Doncaster wanted to keep him in to assist in their objective, which they achieved. "To pick him up on a free transfer is great business for us and in my opinion we have a player who is in his prime years, but also has real development in him."Stockport are preparing for another shot at promotion from League One next season after losing in the semi-finals of the play-offs last term.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
A1 closed near Doncaster after motorbike and lorry crash
A major road in South Yorkshire has been closed in both directions due to a "serious collision" between a motorbike and a Highways said the A1 was shut between junction 35 for Doncaster and junction 34 for Blyth, Worksop, following the crash earlier."All emergency services are working at the scene with South Yorkshire Police leading the response at this stage," the agency have been told to expect delays, with diversions in place.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Boxing coach faces 16 years in prison over conspiracy to supply cocaine
A boxing coach is facing 16 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine. Andrew Bulcroft, known within the sport as Stefy Bull, has coached British, European and world-level champions, including Terri Harper. Bulcroft, 48, has been remanded in custody since late February, when he was convicted by a Sheffield Crown Court jury. The Doncaster native denied the charge against him but was unanimously found guilty after a four-day trial. He was due to be sentenced in May, but will now be sentenced on 26 August alongside his co-defendant Benjamin Williams. Bulcroft's trial heard how the former boxer used an encrypted phone network, Encrochat, to purchase 'significant amounts' of cocaine under a pseudonym, 'Yummycub'. However, Bulcroft – who fought and lost to Amir Khan in 2007 – was also referred to as 'The Boxer' by Christopher and Jonathan McAllister, who were imprisoned in 2022 for importing Class A drugs. The BBC referenced court documents that it had seen, in which prosecutor Sam Ponniah told jurors how police found messages exchanged between Bulcroft and the McAllisters. Per Ponniah, the messages were sent between March and May 2020, revealing Bulcroft as part of a conspiracy to supply cocaine. The court heard that Bulcroft denied he was Yummycub and claimed to police that he did not own an encrypted device. In February, Bulcroft's 43-year-old co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possessing cannabis with intent to supply, and possessing criminal property. He has been released on conditional bail ahead of his sentencing. The court also heard that Williams and Bulcroft had been friends for several years and had agreed 'to get involved together in the sale of cocaine'. According to Mr Ponniah, police found 'a lot of cocaine' at Williams's house, and his fingerprints were found on money held by the McAllisters. Williams is said to have used the pseudonym ' on Encrochat. The Sentencing Council for England and Wales dictates that conspiracy to supply a Class A drug can see someone sentenced to a high-level community order, but with the harshest punishment being up to 16 years in prison. Per the BBC, a spokesperson for the British Boxing Board of Control Central Area Council said Bulcroft's licenses as a trainer, manager and promoter would be reviewed after his sentencing. No boxers associated with Bull are suspected of any wrongdoing.
