Global Music Scene Buzzes: New Releases, Major Tours & Festival Headliners Announced on February 18, 2025

LONDON, UK – February 18, 2025 – The international music landscape saw a flurry of activity today, with significant announcements spanning new single and album releases, major tour plans, and highly anticipated festival lineups.

Key Single Releases Unveiled

A number of prominent artists delivered new tracks to listeners this week. Among the notable releases is “Stellar Cast” from British indie outfit The Lathums. Simultaneously, the metalcore scene received new material with “Hellscape” from Dead Rabbitts and “Hellbound” by Shunkan. Alternative acts also contributed, including Pink Must with their track “Karaoke of the Bends” and Somebody’s Child offering “Irish Goodbye.” Hip-hop superstar Drake dropped a new song titled “Gimme a Hug,” continuing his prolific output. Adding to the excitement, Bon Iver released “Love,” marking the first single from their forthcoming full-length album. Reports also surfaced indicating that the acclaimed sister trio Haim is currently teasing a new single, hinting at more new music on the horizon.

Albums and EPs Hit the Market

The reporting period also highlighted several significant album and EP releases and announcements. A notable collaboration comes from the experimental realm with a joint album from the legendary bands Melvins & Napalm Death. PALES released their new project titled “Crush.” Critically acclaimed band Horsegirl delivered their album “Phonetics On and On,” released on the esteemed independent label Matador Records. Frog unveiled their lengthy project, “1000 Variations on the Same Song.” A collaborative EP titled “Water Season” from Winter & Hooky was also released. Additionally, Lemonade Baby made their debut with their first album, “Stars Stars Stars.” Albums specifically noted as being released this week included those by Horsegirl, Cryogyser, and Bartees Strange, underscoring a diverse week for new LPs.

Studio Updates

Beyond released material, updates on future projects also emerged. The progressive metal titans Tool are reportedly dedicating a significant portion of their time this spring, specifically three months, to focus on organizing ideas for their highly anticipated next studio album.

Major Tour and Live Performance News

Touring announcements continue to shape the live music calendar. Legendary heavy metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne reportedly has plans for his final show, the details of which are keenly awaited by fans worldwide. In the hip-hop sphere, Lil Baby announced a major arena world tour. The tour is set to feature BigXthaPlug & more artists yet to be fully announced, promising a large-scale production for audiences globally. Veteran singer-songwriter Paul Simon surprised fans with his first tour announcement since 2018, signaling a return to live performance after a hiatus. Punk rock stalwarts Bad Religion & Dropkick Murphys revealed plans for a co-headlining tour, a pairing expected to draw significant crowds from both bands’ dedicated fanbases.

Festival Lineup Reveals

Major festivals around the globe also made significant lineup announcements. The influential trip-hop group Massive Attack was confirmed as a headliner for London’s LIDO festival. The Roots Picnic 2025 lineup was unveiled, featuring a star-studded roster including D’Angelo and Lenny Kravitz among others. Adding to London’s busy festival scene, Drake was announced as a headliner for Wireless Festival 2025. In the electronic dance music world, the full EDC Las Vegas 2025 lineup was revealed, showcasing a massive array of artists for the renowned event. Finally, Nigerian singer Tems was announced as a headliner for Billboard Presents The Stage at SXSW London, adding a significant international voice to the UK event’s programming.

The convergence of new releases, future project teasers, and major tour and festival announcements underscores a vibrant and active period across the global music industry as of February 18, 2025.