Noel Gallagher’s latest single, ‘Easy Now’, released earlier this week and just so happens to feature a queen, as actor Milly Alcock stars in the evocative new music video.
The 22-year-old Aussie has already appeared in various movies and TV shows across the UK, US and Australia in her relatively short career, but is undoubtedly best known for playing Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon.
Playing the younger version of the Westerosi princess turned Queen of the seven kingdoms in the Game of Thrones, Alcock is now a more recognisable face than ever
Swapping the courtly robes and fantasy palaces for a hoody, baggy jeans, an oversized jacket and a pair of trainers as she walks around a nondescript urban area, the young actor managed to say quite a lot without us ever hearing her voice.
Out today: Brand new single ‘Easy Now’ is the 2nd track to be taken from the forthcoming album ‘Council Skies’. Watch the official video, starring Milly Alcock, in full here: https://t.co/w6v80zISJvpic.twitter.com/ca2XqpnF2J
Milly Alcock plays the rebellious youth running through the streets of a miscellaneous British town.
While you might have expected co-star Olivia Cooke to be the more likely of the two fictional queens to be approached for the lead role in the iconic Manc musician’s new video now that people are finally realising that she is from Oldham, but her rebellious opposite number in the hit show is equally brilliant.
ADVERTISEMENT
Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds announced their fourth studio album, Council Skies, on Tuesday, 17 January and, as you can see, this visualization for this lead single is very much about building from that title.
Based on the title of a book by illustrator and friend Pete McKee, the new record is said to showcase Gallagher reminiscing about what it was like growing up in Manchester. Born in Longsight and raised in Burnage, the council estates of Greater Manchester were all he and brother Liam ever knew.
ADVERTISEMENT
While Oasis ultimately moved down to London whilst riding the wave of success and the Britpop era, this album is seemingly about tapping into those northern, working-class surroundings that so many of us are familiar with. The album cover also pays tribute to his beloved Manchester City Football Club:
Speaking in a statement, the 55-year-old said of the project: “It’s going back to the beginning. Daydreaming, looking up at the sky and wondering about what life could be… that’s as true to me now as it was in the early ‘90s. When I was growing up in poverty and unemployment, music took me out of that.”
It only takes you hearing a few of the lyrics to get a taste of the themes undercutting the track and, presumably, the album as a whole: the aspirations of youth, looking to escape the monotony of everyday normality and so on.
ADVERTISEMENT
Elsewhere, while Gallagher is obviously fully focused on the new album and the inevitable tour to follow, he was recently asked about that old chestnut: ‘are Oasis ever getting back together?’
However, his answer was a lot more suggestive than usual.
We’re not holding our breath just yet but this is a step in the right direction. 🤞
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ new album, Council Skies, drops on 2 June, 2023 and you can watch the full video for the first official single, ‘Easy Now’, down below.
As is often the case with Noel, it’s an absolutely beautiful track and Milly Alcock gives a powerful performance.
Outbreak Festival announces hard-hitting lineup for 15th anniversary in Manchester
Danny Jones
Outbreak Fest is celebrating 15 years in 2026, and they’re toasting the milestone with a hefty lineup full of trash, metal, punk, hardcore and more.
The cult favourite alternative and annual music festival that takes place at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre, a.k.a. BEC Arena, every year has only gotten bigger over the past few years, and their landmark 15th anniversary is set to be another rager.
Approaching a decade and a half of delighting alt-kids and Manc rocks next summer, the Outbreak lineup down in London was always going to be impressive, but we just weren’t quite expecting so many big hitters in just the first wave alone up here.
Here’s the Outbreak Fest Manchester lineup for 2026 so far:
Promising plenty more to come and soon, the festival organisers have already confirmed that there will be a standalone Friday show to kick off the carnage come June 2026.
As explained in the social media post, which has been met with an incredible reaction from fans, “you will be able to upgrade your weekend ticket to include this show once the line-up is announced, if you would like.” Bang for your buck.
They went on to write: “This festival is nothing without the community of people around it. It doesn’t exist without your support, and we are grateful to still be doing this all these years later.”
This devil-horned, weekend-long celebration has always given off a great style and aesthetic, too; we particularly enjoyed their cinematic preview released on Halloween.
Put together by Charles Fitzgerald, a digital content creator who has worked with the likes of Bring Me The Horizon and their frontman Oli Sykes’ Drop Dead clothing range, these are the kinds of teasers we want to see more of…
With names like the resurgent Alexisonfire (set to play their seminal third album Crisis in its entirety), Ipswich rockers Basement, as well as post-hardcore heroes, Touché Amoré, topping the bill, we cannot wait to see what comes next.
Safe to say you should keep your eyes peeled on their social media for more announcements and information on Outbreak 2026.
Following up to the reaction online, they added: “Two-day passes on sale now. That was a crazy reaction to the first announcement and we are grateful.
“Truthfully, we were 60% sold before we announced yesterday! This is us giving you a heads up. If you can, and you f*** with this lineup – get your ticket soon! Thank you.”
General admission went live on their official website on Monday morning, and you really don’t want to wait around with this one; grab your tickets HERE.
The Prodigy announce huge Wythenshawe Park summer gig for 2026
Daisy Jackson
The Prodigy have announced an almighty outdoor gig in Wythenshawe Park for next summer, with a massive line-up of talent from the dance music world.
The Prodigy Present: Warrior’s Dance will include a headline performance from the legendary band, alongside appearances from Carl Cox, Andy C, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, David Rodigan and SCARLXRD.
The news comes off the heels of their fastest-ever-selling UK and Ireland arena tour next spring, which includes a night at Co-op Live.
The Prodigy will bring their Warriors Dance experience to the outdoor venue as part of its summer gig series.
They’re promising new production and their ‘sonically attacking wall of sound’.
It’s set to be one for the history books, with The Prodigy joined at Wythenshawe Pary by the legendary Carl Cox, the king of drum & bass Andy C and then the big-league authority on all that is reggae, Mr David “Ram Jam” Rodigan.
Adding in riotous sets from the best of the underground with Japanese DJ/Producer ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U and the UK’s own Trap Metal pioneer SCARLXRD.
On the show, Liam and Maxim said: “We are bringing back our Warriors Dance event for the people next summer…
“A lot has happened since we last did these, but now more than ever we are takin it to the next level along with the support from the kings of their game.”
The Prodigy Presents Warriors Dance at Wythenshawe Park will take place on Sunday 30 August 2026.
Fan pre-sale begins at 9am on Wednesday 5 November, with general sale from 9am on Friday 7 November.
Danny Jones -
19th January 2023 
