Latest news with #ThePalace
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Halfway Release Matches, The 2nd Single From Their New Album The Styx
Halfway have been a band for quarter of a century, and across that time they've made eight studio albums, each of which has received a wealth of critical acclaim. From their origins in 2000, Halfway have developed their style and songs into cinematic soundscapes, lush with pedal steel, densely layered guitars, and driving rhythms. Halfway's new album, The Styx, features the return to the fold of band co-founder Chris Dale after a six-year absence, and contributions from guests including Chris Abrahams (The Necks, Midnight Oil) and Adele Pickvance (The Go-Betweens). ' The Palace ' was the first taste of the new album and now they reveal the second single ' Matches ', written by John Busby and bassist Ben Johnson. The song creaks and shimmers to life courtesy of its gently sparkling guitars and atmospheric keys. Drums enter the fray as the music swells and expands into an evocative sound akin to the best of Mercury Rev, where musical dreams and memories coexist. " The coals of a fire are neither flame nor ash. 'Matches' sits in the space between ignition and extinction, rooted in uncertainty," says Johnson. " The stories of The Styx inhabit that uncertain ground where nothing is fully on or off, alive or gone. What begins as fire ends as cinders and lingers softly afterward." A concept album of sorts, The Styx is situated in a remote Australian coastal town during the Christmas of 1986 and explores themes of family, isolation, love, and betrayal. " Growing up, my family would spend time at Stanage Bay in Central Queensland, which is a small fishing village situated to the southeast of the Styx River. It was a remote and beautiful place," reflects Busby. He didn't know anything about Greek mythology but saw the beauty and the danger there just the same. On fishing trips with his father and a cast of characters who might have walked out of the pages of a John Steinbeck story, he must have heard a hundred times: 'People drown in here.' Seeds were planted. ' The whole Stanage Bay / Styx River area, and the people there, are a big part of this record. When some of the band and our friends started to inform the songs, I knew I had to set it at the bay,' says Busby. ' It's a place full of beauty and mystery. I had been wanting to base a story there for a long time.' There is nothing mythic about these stories of love, lust, longing, and leaving, which feel as real as an errant fishhook deep into flesh. Brothers George and Lennie are the kind of hard-bitten characters who might be found in stories by Steinbeck or Richard Flanagan, battling the elements and themselves and always with an eye out for the fishing inspectors. Just before daylight, Lennie goes to check the nets. He doesn't return. The recording of the album took on a different form for the band, who recorded themselves in Brisbane before Mark Nevers (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Lambchop, Calexico, George Jones) shaped the mix of the songs at his South Carolina studio, with Busby alongside him. ' We usually just record live in a room, but this one started quietly. Just my guitar and vocals, layering it track by track, and then recording the drums last. A weird back-to-front album, but it gave us the chance to put the story / songs first rather than concentrate on how the songs would work live.' The sound the band has concocted is one of sweeping beauty and sonic grace, both heartfelt and tragic. Guitar strings and keys wash across the speakers, like the ocean breeze and the river tide. Drawing on the influence of bands such as The Triffids and Phosphorescent, Halfway seamlessly blend alt-country and indie rock sensibilities, providing the songs with a hypnotic and compelling backdrop to these poetic tales from the Australian coastline. As in their songs, as in life. Love lost and found, the pain and the hope, the past and the landscape ever-present. Great songwriting often finds a way to make the deeply personal feel universal. Few bands navigate that path as surely as Halfway across their nine timeless albums.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Halfway Release New Single 'The Palace'
The Styx - Songs of Love & Betrayal: Xmas 1986: Two brothers, George and Lennie live with their young families in the remote fishing village of Stanage Bay, Central Queensland. One warm evening on low-tide, the men set their nets in the Styx River and leave them to soak overnight. Just before daylight, Lennie breaks camp to check on the catch, but he doesn't return. For Fans Of: Bruce Springsteen, Mercury Rev, The Triffids, Phosphorescent Brisbane band Halfway are excited to release 'The Palace', the first single from their new album The Styx, set for release mid 2025. Halfway have been a band for quarter of a century, and across that time they've made eight studio albums, each of which has received a wealth of critical acclaim. From their origins in 2000, Halfway have developed their style and songs into cinematic soundscapes, lush with pedal steel, densely layered guitars, and driving rhythms. Across their creative career the band's albums have been produced and/or recorded by the likes of Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens), Wayne Connolly (The Vines, Josh Pyke, You Am I), Rob Younger (Radio Birdman), Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith), and Mark Nevers (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Lambchop, Calexico, George Jones) - who mixed the new album at his South Carolina studio. Halfway have shared stages with The Black Keys, Gomez, You Am I, J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr), Josh Pyke, Band of Horses, Gary Louris and Mark Olsen (The Jayhawks), and Richard Hawley. Halfway have also been recipients of AIR and Queensland Music Awards, with John Busby and Chris Dale winning Queensland's most prestigious songwriting award – The Grant McLennan Fellowship in 2008. ' The Palace ', which premiered on Stuart Coupe's Dirt Music on 2SER and online with Rhythms magazine, is the first taste of Halfway's new album The Styx. The record features the return to the fold of band co-founder Chris Dale after a six-year absence, and contributions from guests including Chris Abrahams (The Necks, Midnight Oil) and Adele Pickvance (The Go-Betweens) A concept album of sorts, The Styx is situated in a remote Australian coastal town and explores themes of family, isolation, love, and betrayal. As songwriter John Busby explains, quite a few of the songs threaded through it are informed by his own personal experiences, and 'The Palace' is one of those. " Growing up, my family would spend time at Stanage Bay in Central Queensland which is a small fishing village situated to the South East of the Styx River. It was a remote and beautiful place," reflects Busby. " One year on the drive up, I bought a cassette copy of the album The Queen Is Dead, by The Smiths, for $6 at Kmart Rockhampton. There were hundreds of copies of that cassette on the shelves. I figured that it hadn't gone so well here in Australia, so there was probably something good about it. I played it as the sun went down over the mangroves at Clairview Beach. It felt like it was a letter addressed directly to the teenage me," he reveals. "Something from another world, reaching out to even the most remote of places. It was a valuable lesson in the power of music and art, and the location made it even more memorable. Sometimes, living in small towns the future can seem restricted and narrow. But the messages I received from this record told me otherwise." explains Busby. " So 'The Palace' pays homage to The Smiths and to dreaming even in the most remote places. It's a song for the outliers and people living in the margins." Out of a heart-wrenching pedal steel, courtesy of Noel Fitzpatrick, emerges Elwin Hawtin 's solid backbeat and those chiming, hypnotic guitars (John Willsteed, Chris Dale, John Busby) that Halfway do so well. Vocal melodies duck and weave, hanging in the air with a melancholic grace as Busby delivers his lyrics amid the exquisite and atmospheric alt-country sprawl. 'The Palace' is out now via Bandcamp, and streaming services, plus Amrap for Australian community radio. The new album is now available for pre-order from Plus One Records. Bundles include, gatefold transparent green vinyl, CD, and limited edition The Styx t-shirts.
Vogue Arabia
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
A Century of Glamour, Restored: Inside the Rebirth of Madrid's Iconic Palace Hotel
It's called The Palace, and it could not be any other way. At the beginning of the last century, Madrid was a booming city, but there wasn't a single luxury hotel to host the well-heeled visitors who came to town. This was noticed by King Alfonso XIII – great-grandfather of the current king of Spain, Felipe VI – who, during the horse races in Deauville, challenged Belgian entrepreneur Georges Marquet to do something about it. Marquet's team moved to Madrid, acquired the plot previously occupied by the Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli and began the construction of The Palace. The first stone of the hotel was laid in March 1911, and in only 18 months, the building was completed, opening its doors on 12 October 1912 and becoming the most modern hotel in Europe. Over the decades, an array of star guests stayed at the legendary venue, adding a layer of glamour to its reputation. World-famous American author Ernest Hemingway always booked the closest room by the bar, even mentioning its famous dry martini in the novel Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises . Picasso stayed several times in 1917 while designing sets for the Russian Ballet in Madrid. The mysterious spy Mata Hari enjoyed her last days of freedom at The Palace, before being arrested while trying to cross the border into France. The list goes on and on, including the double Nobel Prize winner in physics and chemistry Marie Curie, as well as Einstein, Salvador Dalí, Stravinsky, Strauss and so many more. The hotel has undergone several renovations over the years, with the most significant being finalised in 2024. The Palace has completed its restoration after nearly two years of work, and its rebirth is felt as soon as you approach its surroundings, right by the Plaza Mayor. After being repainted so many times, the facade lost its original colours and design, erasing some of its most important characteristics. And when it was built, only black-and-white photography existed. To rediscover the building's original colours – a warm beige tone with terracotta detailing – the Ruiz Larrea Arquitectura studio invested in a complex scientific analysis that penetrated 10 layers of old paint, also restoring floral ornaments and garlands. When The Palace first opened its doors, it had 800 rooms. Today, it offers 470 rooms and suites. The hotel was the largest and most advanced hotel in Europe, and the first in Spain to offer a bathroom and telephone in every room. Naturally, when it was time to refresh its interiors, star architect Lázaro Rosa Violán sought to preserve this important historical essence. Violán is one of Spain's most reputed names in design, having created El Nacional, Cotton House Hotel and Amazónico. His influence also extends to the Middle East, where he worked on Dubai's Gattopardo, Bar des Prés and Bâoli Beach Club. 'We wanted to create something modern, but not trendy,' Violán explains,noting that the inspiration for the rooms came from the hotel surroundings. 'Blue is the dominant colour, referencing the skies of Madrid,' he says. 'There are also botanical elements inspired by the surrounding gardens, and even mythological creatures referencing the Neptuno Fountain next door. We also added fireplaces to all units, to make guests feel really at home.' If you visit The Palace, you will quickly discover that its ex libris is the glamorous La Cúpula, the restaurant under a dramatic glass dome designed in 1912 by Eduardo Ferrés I Puig and executed by the master glass-makers Mauméjean – also involved in the glasswork of Barcelona's monumental Sagrada Familia. With a cascade of bright and romantic floral motifs, the structure is made up of 1,875 panes of glass, which were completely dismantled, catalogued and restored to their original colours. Moving from the lobby, the iconic palm chandelier was reinstalled in its original position beneath the dome, crowning the space with its original grandeur. 'When you have a project of this calibre, you need to respect history and let it always lead the process,' concludes Violán. 'The Palace is an icon, not just a hotel.' Rooms start at 550 Euros per night.
Forbes
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Behind The Reinvention Of The Palace, Madrid
From The Gritti Palace in Venice to The Savoy in London, some of the world's most sought-after hotels date back many years. They may ooze heritage from their walls, yet they remain relevant in a modern climate due to their continual reinvention. One such hotel is The Palace in Madrid, recently metamorphosed as a Luxury Collection Hotel after a two-year renovation. The restored facade has been an important part of the renovation. Dating back to 1912, The Palace is one of Spain's most important hotels. Not only was it the first to have telephones in its rooms (you can see one of the original, white 'listening devices' in the bar) but it was also the first in the country (and the second in the world) to have private toilets in the bedrooms. From the minute it opened its doors, the hotel, found in the heart of Madrid's Barrio de las Letras district, attracted the world's glitterati, with names such as Salvador Dalí, Mata Hari, Ernest Hemingway and. Federico García Lorca checking in and hanging out here. The bar, 27 Club, takes you back to the Roaring 20s. Off the lobby, the 27 Club is an atmospheric, wood-panelled bar that pays tribute to this era. Once called the Museo Bar, it retains its feel as a 'living museum', with 70 illustrations inspired by the hotel's historical archives on the walls and memorabilia and original guest books housed in glass cases. Look closely at one of the books and the vintage, looped handwriting reads 'Pablo Ruis Picasso' followed by 'Marquis de Arneva' to give a snapshot of the calibre of guests that were guests at the hotel. From a 1912 John Collins to a Whisky Sour 1927—the cocktail list is a celebration of the classics from the pre-prohibition and prohibition eras, reinterpreted with a contemporary approach. Deep velvet armchairs, wooden tables and honey-hued lighting also give a nod to the Roaring 20s; yet a modern-day soundtrack and the buzz of tourists enjoying pre-dinner drinks feels 'of the moment'. Check in to The Palace and stay in a landmark building in Madrid. Taking two years to complete, much of the hotel's important architectural restoration work was overseen by Ruiz Larrea Arquitectura. The hotel's grand façade was taken back to its original 1912 splendour. Spanning 8,000 square metres, experts returned the building back to its 'Palace colour', a warm beige, which is contrasted with terracotta details. Also unveiled are floral ornaments and garlands that haven't been visible for decades: the result is a grand, wedding-cake-like aesthetic. The iron and stained glass dome over La Cupula restaurant has been meticulously restored. Inside the building, meanwhile, the grand lobby features restored leaded glass and marble panels; while wooden desks and booths hark back to the 1920s roots. Most spectacular of all is the restoration of the hotel's iconic stained glass and iron dome that presides over the hotel's La Cupula restaurant. The masterpiece was designed in 1912 by Eduardo Ferrés i Puig and was executed by master glaziers Maumejean. This monumental structure, composed of 1,875 glass panes, was restored through a painstaking process that involved over 100 specialists dismantling each piece and restoring each to their original colours. Now taking pride of place under the dome is a stunning glass palm tree chandelier, that once stood in the hotel lobby, and which has returned to its original position. The rooms and suites have been inspired by the nature and culture of Madrid. When it comes to the hotel's reimagined interiors, acclaimed designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán was at the helm. Inspired by the famous artists that once stayed here, as well as celebrating the artistic vibrancy of the city of Madrid, rooms feel sumptuous with elegant finishings and a rich colour palette. Underfoot, the hotel's corridors have wool carpets which are adorned with mythical creatures and optical illusions so it feels like you are walking through an enchanted forest. On the walls there is a series of bespoke paintings that also play with the viewer's perception, revealing animals or machines depending on the viewing angle, adding an element of surprise as you approach your room. The feel is like a refined, private apartment. All of the 470 guestrooms and suites have been redesigned and are an ode to the spirit of Madrid. Dreamy, hand-painted wallpapers, for example, that sit behind the bed, and are found in lounge areas, depict the trees and landscapes of the nearby El Retiro Park; while the mosaics in the bathrooms show an aerial view of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Elements, such as marble fireplaces, parquet flooring, Mid-Century-style chandeliers and velvet textiles, in gold, russet and petrol blue, add a layer of finesse, as if you've arrived in a distinguished home. Some suites feature 'hidden' gold bath-tubs that you can access from the bedroom; while others have pink marble vanities. Frette sheets and toiletries from Aqua di Parma and Byredo also bring a touch of luxury to a stay at The Palace. The grand lobby transports you back in time. Facing the city's recently restored Neptune Fountain, with the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum and the Prado museum within walking distance, The Palace is located within the Paisaje de Luz, or Landscape of Light, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In short, Madrid's rich sense of history is all around you, with many of the city's must-sees on the doorstep. The 300-year-old Sobrino de Botin–the oldest restaurant in the world, serving its famous suckling pig—is a 15-minute walk away; while the oldest bakery in the city, Antigua Pasteleria del Pozo, which has served traditional pastries wince 1830, is a five-minute stroll away. The character of Madrid is unmistakeable and it remains a city that exudes its own unique charm with many of its historic shops not priced out by big high street chains. Seek out La Violeta, which dates back to 1915 and still serves beautifully-packaged violet candies (a Madrid speciality); and restaurants, such as the Bodega de Las Ardosa, founded in 1892. La Cupula celebrates the culinary heritage of Madrid. The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, feels like a witness to the real story of the city. Dining in The Cupula, this ambiance comes alive, with walls hung in 16th-century tapestries and a menu that references Madrid's deep-rooted culinary traditions. Standout dishes, made with locally sourced ingredients, are inspired by the hotel's past guests, including Pablo Picasso's Waldorf Salad and Julio Camba's Steak Tartare. Starters include a platter of Iberian Ham and a Tomato and Lobster Salad; while the stars of the mains are made for two: such as The Palace Beef Wellington and a classic Prawn Paella. Make sure you leave room for the unique, retro wooden dessert trolley—with drawers that open to reveal handmade truffles, macarons and sweet specialities. The Palace, a luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid, combines heritage with modernity. Based in its central location, it doesn't take much to get under the skin of Madrid, but if you are looking for recommendations or a booking to an authentic Flamenco performance, such as at Tablao de la Villa, ask one of the concierge team, headed up by David Fernando. They are dressed, like all front-of-house staff, in smart, royal blue uniforms, in an almost-Wes Anderson-style. Designed by Spanish fashion designer, Juanjo Oliva, they are effortlessly stylish yet rooted in tradition, much like the hotel itself.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mickey Rourke Leaves ‘Celebrity Big Brother UK' Following ‘Further Use of Inappropriate Language' and ‘Unacceptable Behaviour'
Mickey Rourke has agreed to exit 'Celebrity Big Brother UK' following his continued use of offensive language, Variety has confirmed. 'Mickey Rourke has agreed to leave the Celebrity Big Brother House this evening following a discussion with Big Brother regarding further use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behaviour,' a spokesperson for 'Celebrity Big Brother' told Variety. More from Variety Bella Thorne Accuses Mickey Rourke of On-Set Misconduct: 'So Many Gross Stories of Things He Made Me Go Through' Mickey Rourke Gets 'Celebrity Big Brother' Warning After JoJo Siwa Calls Out His 'Homophobic' Comments 'The Palace' Review: Roman Polanski's New Year's Eve Hotel Comedy About a Bunch of Wealthy Idiots Is a Laughless Debacle Rourke's exit from 'Big Brother' stems from a disagreement between the 'Sin City' actor and his housemate, Chris, during a task. No physical altercation took place, but Rourke used language that was considered 'threatening and aggressive.' Earlier this week, Rourke received a warning for inappropriate comments toward fellow contestant JoJo Siwa. He said of Siwa that he was going to 'vote the lesbian out real quick.' Siwa overheard his remark and responded, 'That's homophobic, if that was your reasoning.' He also reportedly said, 'I need a f–,' in reference to the house's smoking area, but he then gestured toward Siwa and said, 'I'm not talking about you.' Rourke was then reprimanded in the confessional, where the show told him he would be 'removed from the Big Brother house' if the behavior persisted. He then issued the following apology: 'I apologize. I don't have dishonorable intentions. I'm just talking smack, you know. I wasn't taking it all so serious. I didn't mean any bad intentions and if I did, sorry.' Following the incident with Siwa, a spokesperson for ITV said, 'All housemates receive respect and inclusion training and an extensive briefing from the 'Big Brother' senior team to prepare them for living in the house and to set out 'Big Brother's' expectation for appropriate behavior and language. Housemates are monitored 24 hours a day and instances of inappropriate behavior are dealt with appropriately and timely.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
