Music analysis: After crossing oceans - Ichiko Aoba’s busy year continues
Fresh off tour, Japanese folk singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba returns with a new single, an animated film soundtrack and another run of live performances.
For most artists, completing an international tour would be the perfect excuse to slow down, but not for Ichiko Aoba.
Aoba recently wrapped up her Across the Oceans tour, appearing in cities across Europe and North America before taking the City Stage at the Asian Pop Festival in South Korea.
After months of travelling and performing for her audiences in different countries, the singer wasted no time moving into her next creative chapter, writes Music News Blitz’s Victoria Bruwer.
Five music artists who you may not know have been inspired by global folk or classical music
Art cannot exist without outside influence and throughout history, we have seen this reflected within popular music.
Up-and-coming UK festivals to watch in Summer 2026: ‘Tramlines’, ‘Forwards’ and more
Soon enough, the clocks will be light past 5 pm – we won’t need to wear 4 layers to leave the house, and the main plans for the day will be getting a tan. Indeed, summer is rapidly approaching, and with it comes the festival season!
And although there is no Glastonbury this year (not that I could get tickets anyway), there are still plenty of fabulous festivals with a stack of headliners.
Here, Megan Rogers-Jones, writer for Music News Blitz, will provide an overview of the most anticipated and up-and-coming UK festivals for Summer 2026, which you won't have to sell your organs to afford.

