Olivia’s music is super fun to dance to and definitely the perfect summer soundtrack. Her new single “Parachute” (co-written/produced by none other than Nick Jonas) is out now on iTunes and Amazon.
Come out to a Somerlover meet up and you’ll know why Olivia is the sweetest popstar to emerge in recent years!
We hope you’ve been voting for Olivia in the Macy’s and iHeartRadio Rising Star Contest — this is the final week to vote!
British band The Vamps (yes band, NOT a boy band) played to a sold out crowd at NYC’s Highline Ballroom on Sunday. The show was part of the MTV Artist to Watch Series, which has recently featured artists such as Austin Mahone and Hunter Hayes. We were thrilled to have the chance to see them again! This wasn’t their first time playing in NYC: Back in February, they played the Gramercy Theatre with AJR. Since then, The Vamps released their debut album “Meet The Vamps,” which has been as high as #2 on the charts in the UK, and have been all over the world in support of their album.
The quartet, Bradley Simpson (lead vocals, guitar), James McVey (lead guitar), Connor Ball (bass) and Tristan Evans (drums) really mesh well together considering they found each other via social media about 3 years ago! Each member has their own unique style and musical taste (James for example is a fan of country stars like Dan + Shay), yet the music The Vamps create is pure, catchy pop rock at its best. The band’s musicianship, harmonies, and talent show that this group is more than just another band creating a frenzy among teenage girls.
Their high energy performance had the crowd dancing from start to finish! The Vamps’ set featured all of their singles, including the latest “Somebody To You,” and the first song the band ever wrote together, “She Was The One.” The crowd was singing along to every word, which is impressive for a band whose album hasn’t even been released in the US yet! They have a great stage presence, interacting with each other and also with the lucky fans in the front row!
The Vamps also performed solid covers of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “Cecilia,” and a fun, rock version of Jason Derulo’s “Trumpet.” When the crowd started chanting “take it off,” Tristan turned it into a jam session showcasing all of their musical talents, as Brad told the audience “let’s make some music together!” If you haven’t met The Vamps yet, get ready: they are most definitely the Artist to Watch in 2014!
Setlist:
Wild Heart Last Night Somebody To You
She Was The One
Mr. Brightside (cover) Girls on TV
Trumpets (cover) Can We Dance
Cecilia (cover) Watch our video of The Vamps performing “Somebody To You” and check out our Youtube & Tumblr for more photos & video from the show!
If you’re in NYC, you can meet The Vamps and catch an acoustic set at Planet Hollywood tonight! If not, be sure to tune into their livestream at 6PM today…they’ll be making a big announcement you don’t want to miss! The Vamps will be touring the US with Austin Mahone all summer long! Check out the dates here and get a copy of “Wild Heart” on iTunes! Be sure to follow The Vamps & The Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!
The Vamps are taking America by storm this summer! Here’s your chance to Meet The Vamps at Planet Hollywood in Times Square in NYC on Monday. They’ll be performing an acoustic set AND making a special announcement! If you’re in NYC, the event is from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Monday, June 16th. Check out the flyer below for all of the details. Be sure to line up early because it’s limited entry into the event!
Watch the official video for The Vamps ft. Demi Lovato “Somebody To You” below.
Not in NYC? Be sure to tune into their livestream on Monday, June 16th at 6pm EST so you can be the 1st to hear the news! Stay tuned to SecretFangirls.com for details on the livestream and about The Vamps BIG announcement! We can’t wait. Any guesses what it could be?
One of our favorite local NYC bands to burst onto the scene in recent months, Born Cages, are gearing up to release a debut full length with Razor&Tie/Washington Square Music later this year. Since October, we’ve been lucky enough to watch their audiences grow from about 15 people to close to 200 people! Comprised of lead singer/guitarist Vlad Holiday, keyboardist Amanda Carl, bassist Pete Malleo, and drummer Dave Tantao, Born Cages capture pure energy and emotion on “The Sidelines EP” with some pretty insane guitar solos and infectious melodies.
In anticipation of the band’s new album, rumored to be out this fall (fingers crossed), Holiday graciously took the time to answer some of our burning questions!
SecretFangirls.com: There are rumors of a fall release for a Born Cages full length album. Is there any truth to them?
Vlad Holiday: We’re working our way to the album. We’re gonna be doing some more touring before we release it, but we’re definitely hoping to have it out this year.
SF: Is there a song on the album or that you’ve written that you are itching to release?
VH: There’s a couple that come to mind. Actually I haven’t told anyone this yet, but we’re going to release a new track from the album very soon, so keep an ear out for that! It’s definitely one that I’ve been itching to put out.
SF: What song means the most to you that you’ve written? Will it make it on the album?
VH: That’s tough to say…but I wrote a song about a fan that was going through some very dark times. It ended up being one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written, and will definitely be on the album. A couple months ago we toured in his area and sang the song live for him for the first time – it was kind of a surreal feeling.
SF: Is there a specific inspiration or vibe that has to be present to write?
VH: There definitely needs to be inspiration. I can try to edit a song or part at almost any time, but I can’t force myself to write a song from nothing when I’m not inspired.
SF: Do you guys have any pre show rituals?
VH: I like to warm up my voice before every show. Actually it suffers a bit when I don’t. I sing along backstage to this weird playlist I have on my iPhone, and typically all the other bands stare at me like I’m doing voodoo.
SF: What would be your “must-haves” on a tour rider?
VH: Wifi and alcohol are nice.
SF: What is your favorite song to perform live?
VH: I love playing the songs people know. We’ve been fortunate enough to start having people singing along every now and then, and one of the biggest validation for creating a song or performing a song is for the audience to relate and to join in on the experience.
SF: Who would be on your dream tour lineup?
VH: Let’s say The Vaccines, Metric, Haerts, and us. I’m gonna leave the obvious arena bands off this list.
SF: What musician would you totally “fan girl” over if you met?
VH: I totally didn’t fan girl when I met Metric’s drummer Joules and told him that my band covered his. So, I wouldn’t know… Oh, and I’ve always said I need to shake Paul McCartney’s hand before I die. Scr3w the h8ers
SF: What was the first concert you went to?
VH: Queens Of The Stone Age when Songs For The Deaf came out.
SF: Who are your biggest musical influences?
VH: That’s classified information, lady. Well the truth is, my biggest musical inspirations come from different corners for different reasons. I love blues guitar music, but not in love with some of the songwriting or vocals in that field. I love ambient and moody songs like Lykke Li’s for example, but when I’m in a certain mood I’ll need some M.I.A. to pretend to dance to. I love U2 for their lyrics and grandeur but sometimes I need something that rocks a bit harder. I love The Beatles, but… well they’re just all around great. I’ve got too many musical influences to even narrow it down to a list of 10 without it feeling like it’s taken out of context. The best way to know who inspires someone to write is to listen to what they write.
Watch the video for Born Cages’ latest single, “Don’t Look Back” now!
You can catch Born Cages live on tour this June!
June 7th – MilkBoy – Philadelphia, PA – Buy Tickets
June 8th – Marlin Room at Webster Hall – New York, NY – Buy Tickets June 9th – Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 – New York, NY – Suggested donation $5 (or a sweet high five!)
June 30th – Pianos – New York, NY – Buy Tickets
July 3rd – Glasslands – Brooklyn, NY – Buy Tickets
Pick up a copy of “The Sidelines EP” on iTunes or Amazon so you can sing along at the show!
Country duo Dan + Shay just announced dates for their first headlining tour to support their debut album, “Where It All Began!” The tour kicks off in October in Minneapolis, and they’ll be making stops across the country including New York City! We get extremely excited when country artists have smaller scale shows in NYC, as it’s unfortunately a rare occurrence! And we might have asked Dan + Shay (and Hunter Hayes) to make sure they included a stop in NY on their next tour (thanks for listening! ;).) We cannot WAIT for this!
We just caught Dan + Shay opening for Hunter Hayes on the We’re Not Invisible Tour, with a short acoustic set pre-show. They were amazing live, and our only complaint was that we didn’t get to hear enough of our favorite songs! Which would be every track on the album. So we’re thrilled that we’ll be seeing them again soon, playing a full set!
Watch the tour announcement below & stay tuned to DanAndShay.com for ticketing and meet & greet info! Tickets go on sale next week.
Dan + Shay Where It All Began Tour Fall 2014
October 2nd – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA – Buy Tickets
October 9th – Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN – Buy Tickets
October 10th – Majestic Theater -Madison, WI – Buy Tickets
October 11th – The Bluebird – Bloomington, IN – Buy Tickets October 12th – The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI – Buy Tickets October 15th – Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN – Buy Tickets
October 16th – Workplay Soundstage – Birmingham, AL – Buy Tickets
October 17th – Horseshoe Tunica – Robinsonville, MS – Buy Tickets
October 19th – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK – Buy Tickets
October 23rd – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY – Buy Tickets
October 24th – The Trocadero Theatre – Philadelphia, PA – Buy Tickets
October 25th – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC – Buy Tickets
October 26th – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH – Buy Tickets
Make sure you get a copy of “Where It All Began” as the perfect soundtrack to your Memorial Day Weekend & so you can sing along on tour!
The Vamps just released their next single, “Somebody to You!” While she’s not featured on the album version, Demi Lovato teamed up with the Vamps for the single release! Listen to the track below!
While we enjoy the new version, the original will still be the only one we’ll have blasting through the secret fangirl office all summer long! Unfortunately we are still (impatiently) waiting for a US album release date, and will hopefully have one soon! In the meantime you can get their single “Wild Heart” on iTunes now!
The Vamps will be back in the US for a headlining show in NYC on June 15th, before they join Austin Mahone on tour later this summer!
Just in! The Vamps are coming back to America, with a headlining show at NYC’s Highline Ballroom on June 15th!
Update: New tickets were released June 3rd – use the access code CANWEDANCE or WILDHEART & get tickets here!
Tickets go on sale this Thursday, May 15th at 12pm!
The show is part of the MTV Artist to Watch series, and is The Vamps second headlining show in NYC. They played back in February with AJR at Gramercy Theater!
Not in NYC? You can catch The Vamps on tour this summer with Austin Mahone! Check out the dates here.
Happy Friday! Last week we gave you our favorite imported bands. This week, we’re taking things a little closer to home and showing our favorite country artists at the moment. Make sure you tune in to the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday April 6th! An open letter to all of you: there are lots of country fans in NYC, and we would greatly welcome any of y’all round these here parts.
1. Dan + Shay
This is a huge week for the duo – not only did their debut album, “Where It All Began,” come out on Tuesday, it’s been #1 on the iTunes country charts all week! Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney also made appearances on Good Morning America and Ellen this week, and will top it off with Sunday’s ACM Awards, where they are nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year. Pickup a copy of their album on iTunes or Amazon!
2. Kacey Musgraves
Kacey’s no stranger to country music fans, but she made a huge splash at this year’s Grammy Awards where won she performed her powerful song “Follow Your Arrow.” In light up country boots to boot. Her album, “Same Trailer, Different Park,” won Best Country Award at the Grammys. Get it now on iTunes!
3. Hunter Hayes
We have to give Hunter full credit for getting us into country music. His self-titled debut is on the top of our favorite albums of any genre, and he’s one of our favorite artists to see live! We can’t wait to catch him on the We’re Not Invisible Tour with Dan + Shay in May! You can catch Hunter performing his latest single, “Invisible,” at the ACM Awards! Pre-order his new album Storyline, out May 6th!
4. Sam Hunt The Georgia native played football for the University of Alabama before moving to Nashville to pursue a career in songwriting. He’s already co-written songs for Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban, and is working on his debut album due in 2014. His single “Raised On It” is on iTunes now! He’ll be playing a few shows with Hunter Hayes and Dan + Shay this summer! Check out his official website to download his “Between the Pines” acoustic mixtape for free!
5. Needtobreathe
They’re probably the most traditional country artist on our list, but when we saw them open for Taylor Swift on the Speak Now Tour a couple of years ago, we instantly loved their sound. Their new album, “Rivers in the Wasteland,” will be out on April 15th but you can pre-order it now and get 4 tracks instantly, including “The Heart!”
NYC-based indie pop band AJR took to social media to share a letter with their fans announcing that their self-made label, AJR Productions, has entered into a partnership with Warner Brothers Records. The unique arrangement will allow for the band to retain full creative control over their music, photos, videos, merchandise, etc, but ultimately allow for greater distribution. Read the full letter below:
We’re looking forward to see what this year has in store for AJR! Brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met have done an incredible job thus far of gaining support on their own, and this new partnership will definitely take the band to the next level. One of the things we admire about AJR is that their music has only been touched by their hands: from songwriting to producing and recording. We love that they promise to still write and record from their living room, and can’t wait to hear even more of their “folky-electronic-doowop-indie-pop music.”
Their single, “I’m Ready,” has been gaining a lot of radio play nationwide, and the video recently hit 1 Million views on Youtube! Check it out below! (It’s a serious case of life imitating art).
AJR will be playing several radio festivals this summer, joining artists like Austin Mahone, Jason Derulo, Cody Simpson and Karmin. Check out the dates below!
AJR Summer Radio Tour Dates:
June 1st: BLI Summer Jam at Nikon Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, NY – Buy Tickets
June 3rd: 98PXY Summer Jam at Frontier Field in Rochester, NY – Buy Tickets
June 6th: KISS 98.5 Buffalo Kiss the Summer Hello – Canalside in Buffalo, NY – Buy Tickets
June 7th: Fly 92.3 Summer Jam at the Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY – Buy Tickets
June 8th: K104.7 K Fest at the Dutchess Stadium in Poughkeepsie, NY – Buy Tickets
AJR will also be opening for Lindsey Stirling this summer, check out the dates below!
June 16th – Metropolis – Montreal, QC – Buy Tickets
June 17th – House Of Blues – Boston, MA – Buy Tickets June 18th – Terminal 5 – New York, NY – Buy Tickets June 20th – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ – Buy Tickets June 21st – The Space at Westbury – Westbury, NY – Buy Tickets June 23rd – Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA – Buy Tickets June 24th – Echo Stage – Washington, DC – Buy Tickets June 26th – The NorVa – Norfolk, VA – Buy Tickets June 27th – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC – Buy Tickets Jun 28th – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN – Buy Tickets June 30th – Track 29 – Chattanooga, TN – Buy Tickets July 1st – Masquerade Music Park – Atlanta, GA – Buy Tickets July 2nd – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL – Buy Tickets July 3rd – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL – Buy Tickets July 5th – Sunset Cove Amphitheatre – Boca Raton, FL – Buy Tickets July 7th – Iron City – Birmingham, AL – Buy Tickets July 8th – House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA – Buy Tickets July 10th – Bayou Music Center – Houston, TX – Buy Tickets July 11th – Stubb’s BBQ – Austin, TX – Buy Tickets July 12th – South Side Ballroom – Dallas, TX – Buy Tickets
We are huge fans of Austin Mahone (we are normally against fan names, but will make an exception here and say yes, we are MAHOMIES!) and were so excited to finally see him on MTV’s Artist to Watch Tour! The tour was announced last July, and originally scheduled for October, but was unfortunately rescheduled when Austin fell ill. The tour hit NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom on March 5th with openers W3 the Future, Midnight Red, and Becky G.
Austin Mahone, the one man boy band, had an energetic set that opened with his single “Banga Banga.” We love that he uses the old-school choreography from his music videos in his stage performances as well. (Makes it even easier to dance along!) It was our first time hearing his song “Till I Find You,” but he had us hooked right away! It sounds like something *NSYNC could have recorded back in the day. (Mahone has mentioned his debut album was inspired by the music of 90s boy bands like *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys. Respect.)
He took a break from the dancing to do an acoustic set, where the multi-talented Mahone played guitar, and sang a cover of Jesse McCartney’s “Beautiful Soul.” He also invited one lucky fan on stage to serenade during “U!”
We’ve been impatiently waiting for the release of Austin’s album – there is still no set date! But we hope that an announcement and a summer tour are in the works! We can’t wait to see him again. In the meantime, we’ll be working on our “What About Love” dance moves.
Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to follow Austin on Twitter and Instagram!
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