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New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Rick Astley today unveils his ninth studio album ‘Are We There Yet?’ (BMG), which is earning international raves. As ‘Are We There Yet?’ so naturally demonstrates, the Rick Astley adventure is still moving forward and always guaranteeing entertainment and joy on record, on stream, on radio and on stage. But now he’s pushing to even greater musical heights, and it’s the third record in a row that he has written, recorded, played and produced himself at home in London.
Excitement for the album was heightened by the love shown to the album’s first two singles, ‘Dippin My Feet’ and ‘Never Gonna Stop’, and now Rick establishes a moodier tone with the new single ‘Forever and More’. His powerful soul vocal, a voice of experience, tells the story of a fleeting love interest, who arrives and departs in a flurry of drama – all to the backdrop of an instrumental that links the Stax Records tradition with a contemporary rock touch. Its lyrics also fit the season as Rick sings, “You’re gone, like a summer ghost at the end of September.”
Outside of its singles, ‘Are We There Yet?’ pulsates with echoes of Rick’s prevalent influences: the timeless soul of Bill Withers, Al Green and Marvin Gaye with the vibrant live instrumentation of the Muscle Shoals R&B scene and a touch of yearning heartland rock. Taking us back to 1969, the searing horns and impassioned drama of ‘Maria Love’ is a particular stand-out, while ‘Waterfall’ heads deeper into slow burning R&B balladry with Rick’s personal takes on the challenges and celebrations that come with love. ‘Close’ brings a modern pop touch to Rick’s always vintage songwriting before ‘Blue Blue Sky’ brings the curtain down with beautiful, unadorned piano-based simplicity.
Collectively it proves that Rick continues to excel by making music both independently and entirely upon his own terms. And ‘Are We There Yet?’ has everything it takes to continue the UK chart success that has been a big part of his career since returning to #1 with 2016’s ’50’. Since then, he has released 2018’s ‘Beautiful Love’ (#6) and 2019’s hits and reimagined recordings collection ‘The Best Of Me’ (#4).
Rick also dazzled when he made his Glastonbury Festival debut in June, playing for 80,000 fans and hosting a sing-a-long to his famous hits (and later that night, another set of The Smiths songs). “Forget Glastonbury, today Worthy Farm became Rick Astonbury,” declared the BBC.
In addition to its digital release, ‘Are We There Yet?’ is available on a range of physical products, including a selection of album bundles which are available from Rick’s official website. Some copies of a special limited edition splatter-coloured vinyl are also available from Blood Records.
Rick Astley will play special intimate album launch gigs in London, Sheffieldand Kingston this month, before heading to two prestigious sold-out Royal Albert Hall shows at the start of November. He will then hit the road again early in 2024 for a major UK and Ireland arena tour. It features an array of special guests: Belinda Carlisle (all 2024 dates from Nottingham to Manchester), The Lottery Winners (all 2024 shows except Belfast and Dublin), The Feeling (both Royal Albert Hall shows) and Scouting For Girls (Belfast and Dublin only).
2023
Monday 16 October London, Electric Ballroom (JUST ADDED)
Sunday 29 October Sheffield, Leadmill
Monday 30 October Kingston, Przym
Wednesday 01 November London, Royal Albert Hall (SOLD OUT)
Thursday 02 November London, Royal Albert Hall (SOLD OUT)
2024
Thursday 22 February Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
Friday 23 February Newcastle, Utilita Arena (SOLD OUT)
Saturday 24 February Leeds, First Direct Arena
Monday 26 February Cardiff, International Arena (SOLD OUT)
Tuesday 27 February Glasgow, OVO Hydro
Thursday 29 February Bournemouth, International Centre (SOLD OUT)
Friday 01 March Birmingham, Resorts World Arena
Saturday 02 March Manchester, AO Arena
Monday 04 March Belfast, The SSE Arena
Tuesday 05 March Dublin, 3Arena
Thursday 07 March Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena (ADDED DATE)
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