Janet Jackson to announce world tour with first London dates in over a decade
JANET Jackson is set to return with a huge world tour and her first London performance in more than a decade.
She will perform a re-worked show after cancelling her Black Diamond tour in 2020 and will tease some new material.
The singer last performed to UK fans at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival in a crammed 50-minute slot, but before that it was a three-night run at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011.
A music insider tells me: “Janet has been preparing for her music comeback for a while and is gearing up for a performance that packs a punch.
“She is so grateful to her fans for sticking by her while she has had a few years out to start a family and wants to thank them with an amazing production.
“It will focus on the reissue of her 1997 album The Velvet Rope as well as some brand new material. It’s a massive deal.”
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The Rhythm Nation singer, who celebrated The Velvet Rope’s 25th anniversary at Shoreditch House last weekend, has an jaw-dropping career spanning more than three decades, with 38 UK Top 40 hits and 11 studio albums, including 2015’s Unbreakable.
The younger sister of late legend Michael has sold an astonishing 100 million records.
Janet, who was seen celebrating at London’s Reign nightclub this week, teased her plans in June. She said: “It’s so funny because I see the fans asking, ‘When are we going to get Black Diamond? Will you please release?’
“Sometimes things happen that you don’t expect to happen, and you have to figure things out – or you’re in a space in your life when you have to take a step back and take a break for a minute. Even though it’s something that I absolutely love, it still is my work, my job.
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‘There will be music at some point. Exactly when? I can’t say just yet, but there will be. I love it too much not to do it. This is all I know. There’s so much that I want to do – but my number one job is being a mama.’
I bet she can’t wait for her and her fans to be Together Again…
Pharrell and pals’ new disc
PHARRELL Williams is about to release his first solo album in eight ears.
I can reveal that the talented singer will unleash a record of duets with all his artist mates, of which he has plenty.
He hinted at the project earlier this year with his single Cash In Cash Out with rappers Tyler, The Creator and 21 Savage, and has been beavering away writing a bunch of new tracks.
A music insider said: “This album is going to be a huge deal musically with an infusion of raw talent.
“Pharrell has been working away in the studio laying down songs for the new album and getting a whole catalogue of different artists to feature.
“It’s going to be full of hits and he’s really excited for his fans to hear it.”
Potential names in the mix include Travis Scott, Jorja Smith, Kodak Black and Megan Thee Stallion, but with his list of contacts the sky’s the limit.
Every day’s a catwalk
VICTORIA Beckham stepped out in a retro ensemble and the rare hint of a smile in New York on Friday.
Posh was modelling her own fashion range, posting on Insta: “NYC is my runway.”
Every day’s a catwalk for some people.
Caught LIVE
Roxy Music at the London O2 Arena
IF James Bond were to be re-created as a singer instead of a spy, it would be a cinch to re-model him on suave frontman Bryan Ferry.
The effortlessly cool veteran voiced hit after hit plus deep-cut album tracks for Roxy’s dapper brigade of febrile fans to swoon over.
A golden run of experimental songs starting with Re-Make/Re-Model, Ladytron, In Every Dream Home A Heartache, plus Editions Of You, exposed their early Brian Eno art-rock era originality that’s as fresh and challenging today as it was when they were recorded back in the 70s.
Avalon and a cover of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy briefly stopped the dance before Do The Strand completed the many editions of Roxy Music at this final ever show.
Russell Dickerson at Electronic Ballroom London
THE mere mention of country music is enough to conjure plaid shirts and line dancing.
It might not be everyone’s shot of whiskey, but Russell Dickerson’s smooth sounds are the genre’s latest crossover hope.
The American wasted no time in showing fans at a sold-out Electric Ballroom why he may succeed.
He hollered: “This is what we call the ‘RD’ party” to screams loud enough to be heard back across the Atlantic as the audience bellowed the words to favourites MGNO and Every Little Thing.
While this show may have lacked edge, Dickerson’s rootin’-tootin’ party vibe was irresistible. A bright light leading a new country charge, dismiss him at your peril.
Abba Voyage at Abba Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
GOING to see the Swedish legends’ virtual hologram stage show, with abbatars, is an absolute must, not just for ABBA fans, but for music lovers keen to experience a unique slice of history.
The 90-minute state-of-the-art concert sees awesome foursome Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid in their youthful Seventies heyday belt out their biggest hits.
The 3,000-capacity venue was packed to the rafters with revellers of all ages and nationalities singing and dancing along to the classics.
Impressive projections provide a backdrop featuring the Northern Lights and interludes of pyramids in space and story-telling.
This fun-filled extravaganza, thankfully, has been extended to May 28, 2023. You’d be crazy to miss it.
Love Island stag
OLLY Murs is set to have an uber-modern joint stag and hen do with his fiancé in the Love Island villa.
Speaking about his upcoming nuptials to Amelia Tank at the playback of his new album Marry Me, he said: “My mates want to do a proper stag, but I want a joint hen and stag.
“I’d like to do it in Europe, not Las Vegas as that’s standard.
“I think me and Amelia should hire the Love Island villa for it. We’d bring all the cameras in and call it Casa O-Murs and there’d be massive arguments.
“The guys go on the stag and the girls go on the hen and they reconvene in the evening.”
It sounds like a must-watch show.
Gem feud
GEMMA Collins is no stranger to a showbiz feud, having fallen out with Jason Gardiner, Daniella Westbrook and countless fellow Towie folk. But she appears to have an unlikely new enemy in actress Daisy May Cooper.
The Bafta-winning comedien fumed about a run-in she had with Gemma.
She said: “I was at the Dorchester in London when Gemma Collins turned up.
“I said, ‘Alright Gems’ and she looked at me like I was a piece of s**t on her shoe. “I thought, ‘F**k you then’.
Meow.
Madge Lourdes it
LIKE mother, like daughter – Madonna cuddles up to firstborn Lourdes Leon.
Madge posted the doting Instagram tribute to Lourdes – her child with actor Carlos Leon – to celebrate her 26th birthday. Madonna wrote: “Happy Birthday Lourdes Maria.
‘I’m so proud of the woman, artist, human – you have become. Never forget who you are, little STAR . . . shining brighter then all the stars in the sky”
Ah, cute.