Joe Dolman Announces March UK Tour

Featured Image via Joe Dolman

One of our favorite artists here at Adore, Joe Dolman, has just announced a March UK tour consisting of five dates. The first four dates will be full band shows.

Image via Joe Dolman

Joe is an extremely talented and charismatic performer. At just 22 years old, his ability to captivate a crowd is truly incredible. These shows are not to be missed! (I’m only missing them because I’m stuck across the pond.) Tickets go on sale at 9am GMT on January 13th, so make sure to snag yours before they sell out!

Check out one of Joe’s recent releases, “I Think It’s Strange” here. (It just hit a quarter of a million streams on Spotify!)

Album Review: Bloom by Troye Sivan

Featured Image via Billboard

Last week, Troye Sivan released his sophomore album, Bloom. Coming almost three years after the release of Blue Neighbourhood, Bloom showcases Troye’s… well… blooming. Troye’s personal and musical maturity since Blue Neighbourhood is evident, not only from the songs but also the cover art.

Image via Troye Sivan

The very first track, “Seventeen,” touches on a young man’s sexual awakening. “The Good Side” is a heartbreaking ballad full of remorse and regret from a failed relationship. “Plum” tells the story of outgrowing a relationship and needing to move on from it. Troye delivers flawless vocals in “Postcard,” a stripped back track full of longing and desire.

While Troye does touch on more sensitive topics, Bloom also features some of the pure pop goodness that he’s known for. “My My My!” and “Bloom” are nothing short of bangers. “Dance To This” and “Lucky Strike” have more of a lowkey vibe to them, but are still bops nonetheless.

When it comes down to it, I can honestly say without hesitation that Bloom is the best album released this year. It has a certain cohesiveness that holds it together as a whole, yet the tracks all maintain their own unique feel. It is quite literally Troye blooming into a more mature musician and giving us a breathtaking sophomore album.

Listen to Bloom below!

Saying Goodbye To Coasts: “The Love You Can’t Replace”

I never thought I would be writing these words so soon. I didn’t think this would be happening yet. Ever since I first saw the news the words that I keep muttering are “I thought I had more time.”

Anyone who knows me at all knows that there is one thing that I cherish more than anything in the world, one band that has my whole entire heart. That band is Coasts. This morning I woke up to messages containing broken heart emojis and exclamations of disbelief. Full of dread I opened my social media to see the news that my favorite band was breaking up. I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

I’m not quite sure how to put into words how this feels. Saying it’s comparable to the loss of a loved one feels dramatic, but it honestly feels like I am losing a part of my life. Every single day I wear a Coasts guitar pick around my neck. My handles on my socials are mandycoasts. I have two Coasts tattoos. They are such a huge part of my life. Even if they don’t know it, they have given me the happiest moments of my life and their music has been there for me during the worst times. The thought that I’ll never see them again is so painful. Their shows were my happy place.

Behind the band were five amazing men. Chris, Liam, James, David and Ben. Each mean more to me than I can express. I lived for what I called Chris’ “diva entrances” during “Wallow” at the beginning of shows. While I may call it a diva entrance, Chris is far from a diva. He is one of the most humble and caring men I have ever met, not to mention an incredible showman with some wicked dance moves. Liam was always working hard to make sure that everything went smoothly, which made the moments when he let loose and had fun on stage that much better. There was a great sense of humor beneath that serious facade. James (or Jim, as I usually call him) is so amazingly sweet. He’s always there with a smile and a hug and he’s always able to make me laugh. I always loved watching David during their shows. He always got so into the music, whether it was a banger or a ballad, and it was absolutely captivating to watch. My second Coasts tattoo is in his handwriting. Finally, Ben is the free spirit of the band. He’s a very passionate man with a zest for life. While he does have a wild streak, he is always very caring. He was the first member I ever really spoke to. My first tattoo is in his handwriting. I love all five of them equally and they all hold special places in my heart. I also have a lot of love for Matt. While he was never an official member of Coasts, he did play with them for all of the tours I saw them on except the last, on which he did sound. He was always stuck in the back corner of the stage, but he always put so much energy into the sets. I loved to watch him play. He was always an official member to me.

Through them I have also met some amazing friends. Friends from different states and different countries who I would not have met otherwise. When I say Coasts fans are the best fans in the world, I truly mean it. Who else would open their home to a stranger from another country and take them to Coasts shows? Who else would fly to meet up with me to go on a last minute adventure to see them? I’ve never met any fans as kind as Coasts fans.

So, the question remains: where do I go from here? While it pains me that I won’t be able to make it to their farewell tour, at least I have the memories. I have the memories of all 25 shows I have been blessed enough to go to. I have the memories of doing merch for them at some of those shows. I have the memories of all the hugs and laughs. I have the memories of all the times I’ve broken down crying on some of them (not my proudest moments). And most of all, I have the memories of how they made me feel. The line “you make me feel like I’m holding onto something real” always meant a lot to me because they were what kept me holding on. And believe me when I say that Coasts are “the love you can’t replace.” Nothing will ever be able to replace my love for them. At least I still have the music and the memories.

Thank you for everything.

2015, Columbia, SC (my first Coasts show)

2016, Columbus, OH

2017, Manchester, UK

2018, Boston, MA

Summer 2018 Playlist 🌞

While it may already feel like summer here in North Carolina (trust me, it’s sweltering), the official start of summer isn’t until tomorrow. And what would summer be without some great tunes to go with it? We’ve got you covered here at Adore with a playlist full of bops to jam to all summer long.

1. Nice Guy–courtship.

2. You Could Have Been The One–Coasts

3. Video Sunshine–Knox Hamilton

4. Drown–Kovic

5. Younger–Saint Raymond

6. Faded Heart–BØRNS

7. Carolina–Harry Styles

8. Something Beautiful–Joe Dolman

9. Summer–The Hunna

10. CIA–New Politics

11. Dead Young–Only The Poets

12. My My My!–Troye Sivan

13. Wolves (You Got Me)–DREAMERS

14. What Do I Know?–Ed Sheeran

15. Freshbloom–Sundara Karma

16. Favorite Record–Fall Out Boy

17. The Sound–The 1975

18. Sit Next To Me–Foster The People

19. Heartbreaker–Bad Suns

20. Honeybee–PUBLIC

https://open.spotify.com/user/adoremusicblog/playlist/7ese7znQ9cHecoURaQma0s?si=jli1E7bbTTm_81Wt4qgTaw

Don Broco announce huge UK arena tour plus Wembley gig

Featured Image via Don Broco

Don Broco announces huge UK arena tour including Wembley date!

In early 2019, February to be exact, UK rockers Don Broco will be heading on the road for their biggest UK arena tour to date, which will climax with a date at Wembley.

From Michael Jackson to Madonna and Muse to Oasis; Wembley Arena, probably the most famous arena in the UK has seen all the greats and Don Broco can soon add their name to the list of artists who have played there.

Don Broco will be joined on this tour by Neck Deep and Issues.

Image via Don Broco

Just in case this wasn’t enough amazingly good news for Don Broco fans to take in, the band also released the video for “Greatness” and believe me when I say that it’s pure cinematic genius.

Denial In Paradise: courtship. release the album of the summer

Featured Image via courtship.

Debut albums are an important landmark in a band’s career. It’s a first impression, the first chance to make a real statement about what kind of band you want to be. Pop duo courtship. just released their debut album, Denial In Paradise, and what an impression they have made.

Denial In Paradise is 27 minutes of feel good bops. Micah’s silky falsetto paired with synth-soaked melodies makes this the perfect album for summer. So go ahead, open up the sunroof (*wink wink*) and blast it on your way to the beach or have your own private dance party in your living room. No matter where you are or what you are doing when you listen to this album, it is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Check out Denial In Paradise below!

Coasts announce October tour in the U.K.

Featured Image via Coasts

Coasts may still be on their biggest U.K. tour to date but that didn’t stop them for announcing this morning that they will be back on the road in October with a ten date UK tour.

This tour revisits some of the cities from the band’s epic 38 tour including Leicester and Cambridge.

Coast’s third album This Life Vol. 2 is set for release on the 10th August so we can expect to hear new songs as well as old favourites. The question is, will “Wallow” make the list?

Image via Coasts

Gig Review: Only Shadows

Featured Image Via : Only Shadows

You may or may not have heard that Only Shadows will be joining Coasts on their UK tour in late April, a fact that I am very excited about after having admired their music from afar. So when I saw that Only Shadows were in Leeds (24th March) on their last date before the tour, it was just such a perfect opportunity to check them out.

The Lending Room, a venue in Leeds, situated just upstairs from The Library pub is a very chilled out place with a 200 capacity that feels intimate yet with ample room to dance (a fact that I definitely took advantage of). Did I mention that there are also fairy lights? – you’ve got to love a place that has fairy lights.

First to the stage were Leeds based Cartel Flux whose alt. rock sound has true Yorkshire grit. Cartel Flux has only been around since 2016 but with carefree tracks such as “Summer” was a great act to open the night.

Courtyards, indie rockers from Huddersfield were next to the stage and brought along a string of devoted fans (and there I was thinking that I was the only one crazy dancing). Courtyards have got all the right ingredients to make it as an indie rock group…without the squeaky amp.

Only Shadows took to the stage thanking us for sticking around to see them and believe me when I say that it was totally worth staying for. From the highs of “Too Late” to even more highs in “Fight Milk” this alt. rock quartet brings the high energy alternative sound with spicy pop notes.

Also joining Coasts and Only Shadows in April will be Only The Poets, (managed by Sam Jackson, former tour manager for Coasts) which makes me wonder, maybe Coasts should change their name…..Only Coasts has got a certain ring to it.

Coasts Announce Album 3

Image via Coasts

Ever since Coasts released their second album This Life, Vol. 1, we were left wondering “will there be a volume 2?”

The answer my friend is a glorious yes and Coasts announced today that their third album will be released on August 10th.

After a turbulent week of problems with Visas and rescheduling dates on the US dates (it was very stressful and I’m not even going on that tour) we were gifted not only with this wonderful news, but also an acoustic version of one of my favourite tracks (lol we all know that they are all my favourites) “Let Me Love You.”

When I first head LMLY I was floored by the gorgeous lyrics, rich imagery and then the beat kicked in. This time, however, there isn’t a beat to fall back on, and instead the acoustic version feels much more emotionally raw with a vulnerable tone to the vocals. And can we talk about the absolutely sublime piano?

Listen to “Let Me Love You (Acoustic Version)” below.

Review: “Close To Home” by Joe Dolman

Featured Image via Joe Dolman

Joe Dolman, a 21 year old singer/songwriter from Leamington Spa, just released his new single “Close To Home.” I’ve heard about this song for a very long time now, but wasn’t sure what to expect from it. It was far from anything I could have imagined.

I could use any number of words to try to describe this song. Heartbreaking, poignant, tearjerker. Just plain sad. But the fact is that no words can come close enough to really describing the emotions this song evokes. Joe tells the heart-wrenching story of someone suffering from dementia. His soulful voice delivers the moving lyrics with incredible passion, pairing perfectly with the soft acoustic track.

No matter how many times I listen to “Close To Home,” I always tear up. Even if I manage to make it through most of the track, the last line gets me every single time. Joe has painted a tragically beautiful picture of living with dementia. It’s a song that sheds light on a serious subject that very few artists would choose to focus on. This isn’t just a run-of-the-mill pop song engineered for radio play. It’s serious. It’s real. It’s life.

In short, “Close To Home” is a very powerful track crammed full of emotions. Grab a box of tissues before you take a listen. You’ll need them.

Check out the video for “Close To Home” below. It features people sharing their stories of how dementia has affected their lives.

You can also listen on Spotify here.