Latest news with #MusicFestival
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Freed From Hamas Captivity, Former Hostage Tells His Story Through His Paintings
New York: You'd be forgiven for looking around Andrei Kozlov's studio, dotted with paintings inspired by his eight months as a hostage of Hamas, and seeing only darkness - canvases splashed with gray and ocher, guns tucked into waistbands or resting against a wall, moments of angst and disbelief and pain. He is a free man now, who often lets a wide smile spread across his face, who can't believe his luck of surviving it all, and who urges you to look further. A painting of a blackened street his captors led him down is drowned in darkness, but in the distance is a sliver of cerulean sky. A screaming man's reflection is caught, but it's in a mirror on a bubblegum-pink wall. A house beside barren trees is seen in the desolation of night, but its windows glow with lamplight. "When you're surrounded by something dark," the 28-year-old Mr Kozlov says, standing in a shared art studio he works at in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of New York, "there always can be light inside." Nearly a year after his release from captivity, Mr Kozlov is familiar with juxtapositions. He is mostly happy and well-adjusted, able to matter-of-factly describe his ordeal, but sometimes returns in his mind to what he went through. He is alive and filled with gratitude but feels the weight of those not yet free. He is no longer a hostage but knows the world may always see him as one. "I will be a former hostage forever," he says. "It will forever be a part of my life." Captured While Working At Music Festival Mr Kozlov grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, but had long felt a sense of wanderlust. After serving a mandatory year in the military, he decided he wanted to live in Israel, arriving in August 2022 and taking part in Masa, a gap-year program that included an internship in motion design at a Tel Aviv company. His life was carefree, reflected in Instagram posts of beaches, biking, surfing, road-tripping and otherwise enjoying the days of a relaxed, unemployed 20-something. That ended on Oct. 7, 2023, the deadliest day in Israel's history. Mr Kozlov had picked up a job working security at the Tribe of Nova music festival in southern Israel close to the Gaza border, barely sleeping in two nights keeping watch for ticketless intruders. On his third morning, daybreak unleashed hours of chaos and confusion, the sound of gunfire, mad dashes for escape, scaling down a cliff and ultimately being led to a vehicle that Mr Kozlov believed would bring him to safety. He hadn't been killed, he rationalized, so he would be rescued. He never considered kidnapping. He sent no messages to his family. He was sure he would survive. He'd be home by night, he thought. Soon, though, Mr Kozlov was in Gaza, tied with rope. Reality set in. Guns were aimed and blows were delivered. He was certain he knew what would come next. "You are sure that you will spend the last moments of your life like that," he says, "and maybe tomorrow they will kill you." Those first days of Mr Kozlov's captivity were a "disgusting, terrible hell." Over eight months, he says he was held in eight different houses, guarded by a rotating cast of two dozen militants who lived beside him. Some, he said, feigned compassion; others treated their captives as animals. In some holding sites, he slept on a wet, sticky mattress that stunk of mold; others had far better conditions. Ropes were replaced by chains until restraints were removed altogether. He knows it could have been far worse. "They didn't pull out my nails," he says. "They didn't torture me with electroshock." Card Games Prayers And Drawings In time, a weird normalcy set in. He spent time picking up Arabic from his captors and Hebrew from fellow hostages. They'd talk of music and women and life before. Days passed in endless hands of cards or invented games like listing 10 Will Smith movies or 100 songs with the word 'love' in the title. He'd muse about escaping, but knew he'd never make it out alive. Sometimes, he wondered if he could telekinetically send a message to his parents. At others, this agnostic found himself trying to talk to God. After a few months, his captors provided a small mercy: A pencil and a thin notebook. Mr Kozlov knew he had artistic talent from childhood, but it was a pastime that came and went. Sometimes, years went by without drawing. Now, with nothing but time, he drew daily - cartoonish aliens and Don Corleone of "The Godfather" and the summer home in Russia where he spent his happiest days of youth. He wrote out goals, too. To go home the same person, or maybe better. To use his skills. To be free. And, on the 247th day, it came. Israeli Defense Forces burst into the house in the Nuseirat refugee camp where Mr Kozlov was held - a dramatic operation that rescued him and three other hostages, and killed at least 274 Palestinians caught in the cross-fire and an Israeli commando. In a moment, he was outside, feeling sun on his face for the first time in months, a Coke in his hand and a cigarette at his lips. A helicopter whirred him to safety. "Euphoria," he says. "You're able to feel fresh air, to see a sea, beach, sand, sky without any clouds." He calls it the best day of his life. With Freedom, Scars And Hope In the days that followed, he'd be reunited with his family, crumpling and bawling at his mother's feet at a hospital outside Tel Aviv, and recognized by passersby as that hostage on the news. Some nights, he'd wake up thinking he was back on that sticky mattress. Some days he had to pinch himself to believe he was truly free. "Sometimes I feel what it means to have a war and sometimes I feel the pain of every hostage," he says. "I feel pain of families who don't know where their loved ones are right now. ... I feel pain of people who left their houses in the south. I feel the pain of all the people who lost their houses. I feel pain." He says the vast majority of the time, he feels fine, but a day or so a month, the darkness returns. He spent his first few months of freedom in Israel, then traveling in the U.S. He was back in Israel for a time earlier this year, but found too many triggers, so he returned to the U.S. Along the way, he's made good on his goal, working on his art. In his studio space a block from the Hudson River, he's finalizing a planned exhibition of his work - a series of mostly acrylic paintings showing his capture, captivity and release. He wants to finish a few more pieces influenced by his time as a hostage before pivoting to new inspirations. Maybe he'll flit off to New Zealand, he says. Maybe he'll write a book. So many doors are open to him. Maybe art will become his life and his work will be filled with color and happiness. He sees that joy even in the paintings others might insist are dark. "It's not dark," he says. "It's about hope."
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Iconic actor leaves fans 'in tears' after appearance at Scissor Sisters gig
Sir Ian McKellen unleashed scenes of 'absolute mayhem' at The O2 Arena in London as he took to the stage with Scissor Sisters on Friday. The thespian, 86, wowed fans with a surprise reading of his dramatic monologue from the song Invisible Light. Released in 2010 as a single from their third studio album, Night Work, the song features a magnetic spoken-word performance by the Lord of The Rings and X-Men star. 'Babylon. Where bricks of mortar diamonds tower,' the actor intones in the original track. 'Sailors lust and swagger, blazing in woman's beam.' With the band – which now consists of consists of Jake Shears, Babydaddy, Del Marquis and Randy Real – currently touring arenas in the UK and Ireland, Sir Ian joined in for a reprise of his lines. Wearing a yellow tie over a cream-coloured suit, the icon of stage and screen had fans weeping as his voice echoed throughout the arena. Sir Ian didn't come alone either – and was joined by British musician Self Esteem, who assisted the band in a rendition of their 2004 hit Take Your Mama. We've teamed up with SXSW London to give away two pairs of Music Festival Wristbands valid for 2-7 June 2025. Headliners include Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, Brit Award-winning artist Mabel, Crystal Castles's Alice Glass, and East London-based R&B artist NAO, plus emerging talent set to perform at showcase acts around Shoreditch. Click here to find out more about SXSW London's incredible events and how to enter to be in with a chance to win, or simply enter your details using the form below. *T&Cs apply. You have until midnight on Sunday 25th May 2025 to enter. Good luck! * Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 06:01 BST on 13 May 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 25 May 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions (by ticking the relevant checkbox) is necessary to enter the promotion. 1 entry per person. 1 prize available per person. There will be two (2) winners. Each winner will win two (2) Full Week (6 days) Music Festival Wristbands (each such wristband worth £99) granting secondary access to Official SXSW London Music Festival showcases valid from 2 until 7 June 2025. Proof of age and photographic ID is required for entry (18+). The prize, including entry and attendance at SXSW, is subject to and governed by the SXSW's full ticket terms and conditions here. Full T&Cs apply, see here. As per his 2010 performance, the actor began with a booming declaration of the word 'Babylon!' He appeared to relish every word as he spoke of 'painted whores,' 'sexual gladiators' and 'fiercely old party children' – finishing with a flourish as colourful disco lights bombarded the arena. Posting to their Instagram page in the aftermath, Scissor Sisters wrote: 'The big one. It was always going to be special coming back to our spiritual home – made even more so by having a ton of family in the house. 'From all three Scissor Mamas (Nancy, Freida and Judy) to Scissor brothers, sisters, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins and a whole lot of chosen family who have been there on this journey since day 1. 'It was a dream come true to have @ianmckellen reprise his legendary Invisible Light monologue and for @selfesteemselfesteem to come bounce around for Take Your Mama. Pure magic, thank you.' Those who were there shared their joy at Sir Ian's surprise performance on social media afterwards. 'Absolute mayhem as Sir Ian McKellen does a dramatic reading of his lines from Invisible Light, one of my favourite scissor sisters songs of all time. Cried a little, just so blessed to see this,' wrote lordisthisfree on X. 'A concert cameo like no other ✂️ Sir Ian McKellen has blown The O2 roof off at The Scissor Sisters' 21st anniversary tour,' said JoshuaGarfield. 'Mary, Comfortably Numb and Ian McKellen on stage: scissor sisters can't be topped quite honestly,' said hannahtomes_. 'It was utterly fantastic. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. So many highlights,' wrote mattholly_2 on Instagram. 'We were there. It was epic. It was joyous. It was gay. It was loud. It was filth. We were at your last gig at the Roundhouse in Camden in 2012 and was waiting for this. I loved every second,' said dvd.a.g. The band announced news of their reunion tour in October last year, sending fans of the 00s glam rock group into overdrive. However, many were disappointed by one notable absence – co-vocalist Ana Matronic. As news broke of their reunion, the band confirmed that Ana wouldn't be joining them for their 21st anniversary tour. A statement from the 50-year-old singer read: 'People familiar with my story and career arc will know that in the heart of this Showgirl lies a giant Nerd. 'In the past decade, my nerd self has taken the wheel and is now driving my career.' She went on to explain how her schedule was already filled up with the history podcast she hosts, meaning that she would be unable to take time off for the shows. However, there was no animosity between Ana and her former bandmates, with multi-instrumentalist Babydaddy revealing he felt 'proud' of her for saying no. More Trending 'I don't think it's really for us to question or push her to do something that doesn't feel right,' he continued. 'We should all be doing this for the right reasons and with the right feeling in mind. 'So I'm actually really proud of her for being able to say, 'I don't think this is right for me'.' Meanwhile, co-lead vocalist Jake said: 'Her spirit is gonna be with us. Nothing stays the same. One of my mottos is 'You can never go home again' and I think there's so much truth to that. 'It will be a different thing, and that's very exciting to me, even though there's a sadness to it as well. But it's going to be exciting to see how it changes.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: EastEnders confirms unexpected Kat and Alfie twist that will delight 00s TV fans MORE: 'Gigs don't have to cost £400 – the next Taylor Swift could be down the road' MORE: Music industry pays tribute to agent Dave Shapiro after death in San Diego plane crash
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Drake Reaches A New Career Peak, As Even He Has Room To Grow On The Charts
Drake and PartyNextDoor's Some Sexy Songs 4 You debuts at No. 4 on Billboard's Vinyl Albums chart, ... More bringing both stars to new career highs. LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 23: Recording artist Drake performs onstage at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 23, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) Drake's superfans have been waiting months to get their hands on a copy of his latest album, Some Sexy Songs 4 You, on vinyl. The rapper dropped the project earlier in 2025 and has been promoting it heavily. His strategy appears to be paying off, as multiple tracks from the full-length continue to occupy lofty positions on various Billboard rankings — and the project as a whole is performing well, too. Some Sexy Songs 4 You, a joint effort with PartyNextDoor, soars across several tallies in the United States this week after being released on vinyl for the first time. The studio LP even manages to bring Drake to a never-before-seen high point, which is notable at this stage in his career, as he's already dominated many of Billboard's charts in the past. Some Sexy Songs 4 You debuts on Billboard's Vinyl Albums chart this week. The set opens at No. 4 on the list of the top-selling titles specifically on that format. Both Drake and PartyNextDoor collect their first top 10s on the Vinyl Albums ranking with the arrival of the collaborative project. While PartyNextDoor has never appeared on the tally before, Drake collects his third career win. He previously reached a peak of No. 11 on the Vinyl Albums chart with Take Care back in 2011. A few years later, Views climbed to No. 20. Drake has been completely absent from this roster in terms of debuts ever since then – a break of almost a decade. Three projects appear ahead of Some Sexy Songs 4 You this week on the Vinyl Albums list. Sleep Token launches Even in Arcadia at No. 1, and the heavy metal act lands just ahead of Sincerely by Kali Uchis. The Weeknd returns to the tally with Hurry Up Tomorrow, which comes in at No. 3 this time around. That set, which has now spent 11 frames on the ranking, has already hit No. 1, but it still narrowly manages to outpace both Drake and PartyNextDoor. The hip-hop stars come out ahead of several other well-known figures, including J. Hope, Forrest Frank, The Head and the Heart, and Arcade Fire, all of whom launch new or recent efforts just behind Some Sexy Songs 4 You.
Metro
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Billy Joel, 76, cancels tour after being diagnosed with brain condition
Billy Joel has been forced to cancel his upcoming concerts on doctor's orders, after a health diagnosis. The Piano Man singer left fans concerned when he suffered a painful fall on stage in Connecticut back in February. The following month, the 76-year-old announced that he had postponed his tour dates after learning that a 'medical condition' needed a four-month recovery period. Earlier today, the music icon confirmed that he would be axing all scheduled performances after he was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. A statement shared on his Instagram page read: 'Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). 'This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance. 'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. 'Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health. We've teamed up with SXSW London to give away two pairs of Music Festival Wristbands valid for 2-7 June 2025. Headliners include Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, Brit Award-winning artist Mabel, Crystal Castles's Alice Glass, and East London-based R&B artist NAO, plus emerging talent set to perform at showcase acts around Shoreditch. Click here to find out more about SXSW London's incredible events and how to enter to be in with a chance to win, or simply enter your details using the form below. *T&Cs apply. You have until midnight on Sunday 25th May 2025 to enter. Good luck! * Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 06:01 BST on 13 May 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 25 May 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions (by ticking the relevant checkbox) is necessary to enter the promotion. 1 entry per person. 1 prize available per person. There will be two (2) winners. Each winner will win two (2) Full Week (6 days) Music Festival Wristbands (each such wristband worth £99) granting secondary access to Official SXSW London Music Festival showcases valid from 2 until 7 June 2025. Proof of age and photographic ID is required for entry (18+). The prize, including entry and attendance at SXSW, is subject to and governed by the SXSW's full ticket terms and conditions here. Full T&Cs apply, see here. 'He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage.' Billy added in a message: 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.' Fans quickly flocked to the comments below, urging the Uptown Girl singer to focus on his health and make a quick recovery. 'I am so so sorry, but hopefully you'll recover!,' Katelovesnyc wrote. Fogtman agreed: 'Rooting for a speedy recovery!' 'Oh my lord. Please take care Billy, remember we love you so much,' Nbcoria commented. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Forestdivito penned: 'This broke something inside of me but wishing for a fast recovery.' As Dgirl424 added: 'Health is way more important. Wish you a speedy recovery, @billyjoel.' Billy's visits to New York, Washington DC, New Orleans, Florida and Detroit are among those that have been canceled. He will also no longer be performing in Edinburgh and Liverpool in June as planned. According to the NHS, NPH is an uncommon and poorly understood condition that most often affects people over the age of 60. Symptoms include mobility problems and dementia meaning the condition can sometimes be hard to diagnose, as these are also associated with more common conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. More Trending Billy began his career in the 60s, and has been a staple of the music industry ever since – dropping his including She's Always a Woman, My Life, and We Didn't Start the Fire. Earlier this year, his team revealed that his tour dates had been rescheduled – shortly after his stage fall during a rendition of It's Still Rock and Roll To Me. 'While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first,' he said at the time. 'I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Britney Spears hit with 'warning' after 'smoking on flight' during latest holiday MORE: JoJo Siwa plays coy as she's quizzed on being caught kissing Chris Hughes MORE: Taylor Swift went for Travis Kelce relationship after tarot cards 'predicted their sex life'
Perth Now
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Erykah Badu and Henry Lau set for SXSW London
Erykah Badu and multi-instrumentalist Henry Lau are set play the inaugural SXSW London. Europe's leading platform for cross-industry networking is taking place from June 2-7 across 25 venues in Shoreditch, London. Grammy-winner Erykah Badu is set to perform under her alias DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown with a headline set on the House of R'n'B stage. Other special guests include Mabel, Sasha Keable, NAO, and Miraa May. Henry Lau will take to the stage for the Opening Performance supported by MetaMoon at Village Underground from 3pm to 4pm on Monday, June 2. Adem Holness, Head of Music at SXSW London, said: 'For me, Badu is one of our most important living artists, so to have her join our inaugural festival is unbelievable. I can't wait to share in the excitement with the people coming to SXSW London and dance the night away in the House of R amp;B. We couldn't be more excited to have Badu and Lau bookend a week that will establish SXSW London as a vital new destination for musical discovery and cultural exchange.' Music Festival Wristbands are available now from £25 on DICE. Tickets for the Opening Performance featuring Henry Lau are sold separately and are also available to purchase via DICE.
