The Fangirl Times: What You Need To Know in The Fandom This Week!
Words: Issy Aldridge
Image Source: Taylor Swift’s Instagram
The Fangirl Times is our new segment where we give you a concise round-up of the news you might have missed this week. Every Sunday, we share the biggest fandom events, ensuring that you stay up to date and in the loop with everything you need to know (incase you weren’t already!)
Liam Payne Bleaches His Hair (and we’re all totally OBSESSED with it)
Following his open and candid podcast interview with The Diary of a CEO, Liam surprised fans with an Instagram Story showing off his brand new look. Taking inspiration from a fan-made edit, his former brown hair has been transformed into a choppy, blonde look, which sent fans into meltdown earlier in the week.
Stylist and hairdresser Luke Benson posted on social media in the wake of Liam’s new look to explain how they achieved the summer transformation. “Scalp bleach, soft minky toner, fresh trim, stubble back. How good does he look?!” And we completely agree.
The UK Hosts Its First Live Music Festival Since 2019
With the devastating effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic continuing to ripple through society, the UK has taken its first step in restarting a vibrant live events scene. Rock Festival Download, returned to Derby this weekend with no social distancing, no masks, and absolutely no positive Covid tests. Upon arrival, all attendees provided a negative lateral flow test before entering the Download arena. From there, the weekend was theirs for the taking.
In a statement released ahead of the weekend, Download organisers explained the Pilot event. “Researchers from Public Health England will be overseeing the study. They will be gathering data on transmission risk, the suspension of social distancing and face coverings over several consecutive days. This data will help to ensure that events later this summer can go ahead safely.”
It is the first event of its kind since the pandemic hit British shores in January of 2020. Operating with a reduced capacity of just over 10,000 compared to their usual 110,000, the event was scaled back somewhat. But that hasn’t stopped festival-goers making the most of this sought-after opportunity. Headliners included Frank Carter and The Rattle Snakes, Enter Shikari and Bullet For My Valentine, with other acts on the bill including Creeper, Twin Atlantic, and Neck Deep.
Maisie Peters Announces Her Long-Awaited Debut Album
Maisie Peters has dominate the indie landscape for the last couple of years, but only now has she announced the release of her debut album, You Signed Up For This. The Brighton-bred singer-songwriter has signed to Ed Sheeran’s Gingerbread Man Record Label, with a release date for the album set for August 27th. But fans don’t have to wait long to hear new music from Peters. New single Psycho will be released on July 2nd, featuring songwriting credits from Ed Sheeran himself.
In a statement shared by Peters, she gushed over the excitement of releasing such an anticipated body of work.
“I’m so excited to announce ‘You Signed Up For This’. It really is my (albeit not hugely long) life’s work and my proudest achievement. It is my favourite album maybe ever and whilst I may be biased, I really hope it goes into the world and becomes lots of other people’s favourite too.”
“Signing to Gingerbread is a dream come true… I grew up inspired and in awe of Ed, like many other 13-year-olds who heard ‘Lego House’ for the first time, so it’s kind of amazing and hard to believe that I get to be the 21-year-old who is able to call him and the whole Gingerbread team now friends, family and mentors for life.”
Taylor Swift Announces Another New Re-Release
Taylor Swift will re-release her 2012 album Red in November of this year. Just two months ago, she surprised fans with the re-issue of Fearless (Taylor’s Version), which included previously unreleased tracks and re-recorded versions of some of her earleist hits.
Red boasted several big singles including I Knew You Were Trouble, We Are Never Getting Back Together and Everything Has Changed featuring pal, Ed Sheeran. In a statement shared on her social media, Taylor said: “Musically and lyrically, Red resembled a heartbroken person. It was all over the place, a fractured mosaic of feelings that somehow all fit together in the end. Happy, free, confused, lonely, devastated, euphoric, wild, and tortured by memories past. Like trying on pieces of a new life, I went into the studio and experimented with different sounds and collaborators. And I’m not sure if it was pouring my thoughts into this album, hearing thousands of your voices sing the lyrics back to me in passionate solidarity, or if it was simply time, but something was healed along the way.”
Red (Taylor’s Version) will be released on November 19th 2021.
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