Irregular Features

The Issue With Ticket Touts and the Mission to Protect fans

The UK is introducing strict caps on ticket resales to stop touts from inflating prices. Artists and fans have long demanded these reforms amid rising frustration with inflated resale costs and chaotic ticketing systems. Ticketing companies are pushing back, but the new rules mark a major step toward fairer access for fans. The Mic's Ben Dale reports. Hayley Williams of Paramore , Todd Owyoung/NBC, Getty Images On November 13th 2025, acts like Dua Lipa , Radiohead , and The

Ben Dale

Dec 56 min read

Looking Back at Rough Trade’s Top Albums of 2025

Opening in November 2014, Rough Trade in Nottingham quickly became a hub of musical talent, where artists and fans alike can connect, doubling as a record shop during the day (the biggest in the Hockley area). The Mic's Emily Rogers reports. It follows in the footsteps of its predecessors across London and New York. The Nottingham branch has been blessed with performances by Little Simz, Fontaines D.C., English teacher, and many more fantastic artists. The location is invalua

Emily Rogers

Dec 24 min read

Sufjan Stevens and the Myth of the '50 States Project'

Sufjan Stevens’ ambitious “50 States Project” produced only Michigan and Illinois before he abandoned the idea, admitting it was more of a joke than a real plan. Despite its incompletion, the myth of the project endures, adding to the fascination surrounding his work. The two albums that do exist remain landmark achievements, inviting listeners to imagine the many states that never came to be. The Mic's Ben Dale reports. Sufjan Stevens , 2005 Over 20 years ago, a young S

Ben Dale

Nov 225 min read

University of Nottingham to suspend music courses

Last week, the University of Nottingham announced that from next academic year, Music (alongside 15 other courses) will be suspended from the university’s programme. This policy — which is consistent with the University of Nottingham’s previous track record of reducing spending on students, laying off staff, and reducing course sizes — is emblematic of a broader systemic issue affecting the UK university system. The Mic's Sami de Jong reports. When the United Kingdom was a m

Sami de Jong

Nov 134 min read

The New Wave: Black British Artists Reshaping the Music Landscape in the 2020s

Black British artists are redefining the nation’s sound, blending heritage, innovation, and resilience to shape the future of modern British music. The Mic's Mide Williams reports. Black British culture continues to flourish, weaving itself into the very fabric of modern British identity. From the way we speak to the food we eat, and most strikingly, through music, Black Brits have reshaped the nation’s cultural landscape since the early waves of migration. In the 2020s, our

Mide Williams

Oct 1710 min read

DubFat - A review of Nottingham's young and thriving dubstep scene in practise

In a city fuelled by basslines, one collective is redefining community through Dub, Jungle, and shared rhythms — carrying forward the tradition of sound systems, where music isn’t performed to people, but with them. The Mic's Roberta Douglas-Todd reports. As a resurgence of these eclectic genres transforms the music scene across the UK, somewhere between the coastal calm of Cornwall and the city pulse of Nottingham, a new sound is taking shape. While keeping the groove ali

Roberta Douglas-Todd

Oct 153 min read

Ctrl: A Love Letter to Black Women

“If I lost control, or did not have control, things would just... be fatal .” - Audrey Mubarak-Rowe The Original Cover of Ctrl Singer-songwriter SZA’s debut album Ctrl is a dynamic piece that dives into the experience of self-discovery in early adulthood, encapsulating the good, the bad, and the ugly. While it resonates with young people from all backgrounds, the raw and unfiltered way in which she breaks down the constant balancing act between trying to maintain control w

Nicolette Maina

Oct 136 min read

A Seat at the Table: A Weapon Against Silence

Solange’s artistry has always been central to activism, but A Seat at the Table furthers this even more. The album reflects on identity, and the power of one’s voice to reclaim a space. This abstract review traces her alchemy of emotion into expression — and, without a doubt, something defiantly resistant. The Mic’s Bea Kasale reports. Original Album Cover of A Seat at the Table يأتي وقت حيث الصمت هو الخيانة “There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” — Dr. Martin Luther

Bea Kasale

Oct 53 min read