The region’s music scene has been buzzing this year with some of the world’s most iconic artists playing at gigs and festivals throughout the region. In terms of new releases timed to fill the Christmas stocking, we take a step back in time and look at a mix of new albums from some true icons of rock and pop.
Westlife: Spectrum
Release Date:15 November 2019
Irish pop icons Westlife first formed in 1998 in Sligo, disbanded in 2012 then reunited in 2018 and have just concluded a highly successful and critically acclaimed global stadium tour, which included fantastic performances at Borobodur Temple, Jakarta, Semarang, Palembang and Singapore. To celebrate, they will release Spectrum, their eleventh album. The recording will feature new material including the hot singles Hello My Love, Better Man and Dynamite, along with fabulous collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac, who incidentally produced the album, and James Bay.
Alter Bridge: Walk the Sky
Release Date: 18 November 2019
Alter Bridge announced their sixth studio album, Walk the Sky, in June along with their 2019 tour dates. A band known for its driving riffs and the unmistakable vocals and lyrics of Myles Kennedy, Walk the Sky is described by guitarist Mark Tremonti as a repost to the dark sounds of their last studio album, ABIII. “This is more of an enlightening, Zen kind of record – it’s not a preachy record by any means, it’s more of a free-spirited kind of thing,” he says. Check out the lead single, Pay No Mind, out now.
Hootie & The Blowfish: Imperfect Circle
Release Date: 1 December 2019
In a surprise announcement by Hootie & the Blowfish, the band will release an album of brand-new songs a full twenty-five years after their massive and seminal album Cracked Rear View. Imperfect Circle is their first studio recording since 2005 and brings right up to date the earthy, soothing and slightly ragged Hootie sound that blends the Southern college rock of the late 1980s with vintage soul, bluegrass and blues. The album will be promoted on a tour through late 2019 and early 2020. Watch this space for dates!
Asia Dreams November 2019 – January 2020
