This Week In Music News 3 October 2025
Everyone has their breaking point, and it seems rising UK pop singer Lola Young has hit hers, collapsing on-stage during a performance last weekend.
This week in music news, Lola posted a heartbreaking update, announcing she would be stepping back from her career to focus on her health:
“I’m going away for a while. It pains me to say I have to cancel everything for the foreseeable future,” she wrote.
“Thank you for all the love and support. I’m so sorry to let anyone down who has bought a ticket to see me, it hurts me more than you know. Obviously, you will be entitled to a full refund.
“I really hope you’ll give me a second chance once I’ve had some time to work on myself and come back stronger.”
Meanwhile, country music immortal Dolly Parton has delayed her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency at Caesar’s Palace to next year. Originally planned for December 2025, her six-show run for ‘Dolly: Live in Las Vegas’ will now take place in September 2026 while the 79-year-old star undergoes medical procedures.
Dolly made the announcement in a personal message to her fans, explaining they deserve to see her in peak condition when she performs, joking that it was time for her “100,000-mile check-up”. She also emphasised there is no hint of her retiring yet.
“Don’t worry about me quittin’ the business because God hasn’t said anything about stopping yet. But I believe He is telling me to slow down right now so I can be ready for more big adventures with all of you.”
The NRL are breathing a sigh of relief with confirmation US singing superstar Teddy Swims will be performing at the grand finals clash, having previously cancelled upcoming shows just days prior due to health concerns.
General Manager Media and Communications for the NRL Glenn Jackson says Teddy Swims will “absolutely” be performing at the grand finals, adding: “We’ve been saying for days he’s coming.” Teddy Swims will perform for both the NRLW and NRL games.
Spring/summer in Australia is festival season, and the only thing Aussies love more than a good time outdoors, is a good time outdoors on drugs.
Australians rank among the world’s biggest users of illicit and recreational substances. Consumption of methylamphetamine (meth), cocaine, heroin and MDMA increased 34 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023. Australians have consumed an eye-watering, septum-searing, mind-bending 22.2 tonnes of methylamphetamine (meth), cocaine, heroin and MDMA in a year, according to the latest wastewater survey.
Our love for festivals and illicit substances proves to be a lethal combination, with multiple fatal ODs occurring at large-scale events in recent years. In an effort to reduce harm, the New South Wales government has introduced pill-testing at festivals in a 12-month drug-checking trial. This weekend’s Knockout Outdoor festival in Sydney’s west is the fourth festival of 12 to participate following the death of two people at the 2023 event, one of which was confirmed as an overdose.
Pill testing continues to be a controversial topic in Australia, with regulations differing state-by-state. In Queensland, for example, the LNP government last month banned pill testing altogether, with two testing sites in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast to remain closed for the foreseeable future.
In new music news, Australia’s premier punkabilly trio The Living End have released their ninth studio album ‘I Only Trust Rock n Roll’. Led by legendary guitar hero Chris Cheney, The Living End have made a return to straight-up, aggressive rock and roll on their new album.
At the other end of the scale is ‘The Life of a Show Girl’, the 12th studio album from pop heavyweight Taylor Swift. In true Swifty fashion, fans have gone batshit crazy trying to secure a copy of the record, packing stores ahead of the midnight release. ‘The Life of a Show Girl’ features a song called ‘Father Figure’, which uses an interpolation of George Michael’s classic 1987 song of the same name.
And Britpop braggards Oasis celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1995 sophomore release ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’ with a deluxe edition of the album, available from today. It features stripped-down versions of classics including ‘Cast No Shadow’, ‘Wonderwall’, and ‘Champagne Supernova’, along with new artwork and sleeve notes. The release comes ahead of the upcoming Australian leg of the Oasis ‘reunion’ tour, which starts at the end of October.
Also coming to a venue near you, we have ‘Australia’s favourite Canadian export’ The Tea Party returning next year for their ‘Elements’ tour. The five-show run is split between the ‘Fire’ shows featuring the band in a traditional rock trio format in Brisbane, Thirroul and Adelaide, and the ‘Wind’ shows accompanied by 50-piece orchestras in Sydney and Melbourne.
Canadian songwriter, rapper & producer Night Lovell teams up with LA underground sensation HAARPER for the ‘8 Legs Under’ tour, coming to Australia and New Zealand in November. This double act hits Magnet House in Perth 11 November, Northcote Theatre in Melbourne 13 November, The Tivoli in Brisbane 15 November, Liberty Hall in Sydney 16 November and Powerstation in Auckland 19 November.
