Gruff Rhys: Celebs Rumors

Gruff Rhys has become the latest artist to pull out of SXSW 2024 in solidarity with Palestine.The Welsh musician, composer, producer, filmmaker and author was set to appear at this year’s instalment of South By South West, however, has now announced that he will no longer be attending in protest to the “hyper violence inflicted on” those in Gaza.Taking to Facebook, he shared a series of statements explaining his reasons for the decision and announcing two replacement gigs during his time in Austin.“In horror at the hyper violence inflicted on civilians in Gaza and beyond I feel the best use of my platform at the official showcases at SXSW this year is to withdraw my music,” he began. “I’m personally disappointed as I love playing music & the band is in full flow right now.

Super Furry Animals have revealed that they sold their trademark tank from the 1990s to Don Henley from The Eagles.The Welsh band first bought the tank with the promotional budget that they were given in 1996 when they were releasing the single ‘If You Don’t Want Me to Destroy You’, the fourth single from their debut album ‘Fuzzy Logic’.The band painted the tank blue and generally used it to get to music festivals at the time. The vehicle was also used as the cover art for the single, with the song’s title painted on the gun barrel and the band’s name printed on the side.But in a new interview in The Guardian, the band’s frontman Gruff Rhys was asked by a fan named qwertychucha, “What happened to the tank?”“They were confiscating sound systems after the criminal justice bill [became law], so we put ours in a tank,” he replied.

Gruff Rhys has this week (September 3) unveiled details of a new album, Sadness Sets Me Free’.The album was previewed with new track, ‘Celestial Candyfloss’, which you can listen to below. Speaking about the new track, Rhys said it is “an attempted pocket symphony about the cosmic lengths that people will travel in the pursuit of love and acceptance.“Mark James has brought the Sadness Sets Me Free album cover to life & managed to place me watching TV interference in a shipping container that’s lost in space.

The Coral have announced a run of UK shows in December.The Wirral band are set to play four shows kicking off at Glasgow’s Barrowland on December 1 before calling at Liverpool Olympia, London’s Electric Ballroom and wrapping up at Manchester’s New Century Hall on December 9.Support will come from Gruff Rhys on the Glasgow and Liverpool dates, with Iraina Mancini supporting in Manchester only. A guest for the London concert will be revealed in due course.Tickets for all dates go on general sale at 9.30am BST this Friday (September 15) and a presale will also be held at the same time Thursday (14).

Pale Waves set to headline. Other names on the bill include Working Men’s Club, Baby Queen, Sea Power, Will Joseph Cook and Palace.Today (August 31), LAL organisers have confirmed over 80 more artists for the festival.

Gruff Rhys has released a new two-track single – you can listen to ‘People Are Pissed’ below.Marking the Super Furry Animals musician’s first release of 2022, the new single follows on from his May 2021 album ‘Seeking New Gods’ – which landed at number 10 in the UK albums chart last year.‘People Are Pissed’ has been released today (March 9) along with another new song, ‘Arogldarth’, with the two tracks clocking in at 7:48 and 8:15 respectively.Speaking about ‘People Are Pissed’, Rhys said in a statement: “The lyrics were basically inspired by the widespread anger I – and many other people – felt towards the incompetence and arrogance of the Johnson regime during the lockdowns – not that I feel any different now.“I mean the words go off on one like most of my songs, but that was the seed of the idea.”You can hear Gruff Rhys’ ‘People Are Pissed’ in the above lyric video, and listen to ‘Arogldarth’ below.Rhys will tour in Spain and France later this month ahead of a return to Cardiff for a performance at BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2022 in April.You can see Gruff Rhys’ upcoming tour dates below, and find any remaining tickets here.March14 – Dabadaba, San Sebastián, Spain15 – Radar Estudios, Vigo, Spain16 – Riquela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain18 – Sala X, Seville, Spain19 – Las Cigarreras, Alicante, Spain20 – Loco Club, Valencia, Spain21 – Centro Civico Delicias, Zaragoza, Spain23 – Hasard Ludique, Paris, France24 – Le 104, Rouen, France25 – Les 4 Ecluses, Dunkerque, France April1 – Cornish Bank, Falmouth3 – BBC 6 Music Festival, CardiffJuly14 – Iveagh Gardens, Dublin (w/ Villagers)