Mr Jukes & Barney Artist are excited to share details of their collaborative album, ‘The Locket’ to be released on July 2. The album is preceded by the single “Vibrate” which is out now.

‘Vibrate’ is a playful introduction to the world Jukes (Jack Steadman) and Barney have created, built on a mutual love of A Tribe Called Quest and J Dilla, alongside contemporary heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar, Kano and Ghostpoet. Its breezy, laid back energy is purpose-built for summer listening and soundtracking moments as the world reopens. Its accompanying video sees Mr Jukes and Barney take a trip to an empty Alton Towers, breathing life back into a space that’s been deserted for too long.

The pair initially asked permission to film on a rollercoaster as part of a different idea for the video but when Alton Towers instead offered them private access to the whole theme park, they knew they had to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Speaking about the track, Barney explains: “Vibrate was the very last song we made for the album. It really summarises mine and Jack’s relationship which is great vibes with a meaningful message.”

The Locket features ten tracks cut from sessions that span over eighteen months. It’s sunshine-dappled, psych-tinged, hip-hop flavoured, leftfield pop. Beats, bars and a unique sort of retro futurism that zips from sepia-tinged to full technicolour almost as fast as Barney’s flow. Its title track refers to memories of happier times: “we fill a locket with memories we protect, and don’t forget to keep it round your neck.” It’s a reminder to focus on positivity in the face of adversity. A collaborative project designed to be enjoyed together. A celebration of music, unity and looking ahead. “The aim is to bring hope to people after the maddest year,” Barney says. It couldn’t have come at a better time.

During a period of prolonged inactivity, Jack Steadman scratched an itch to do something new. He went by the moniker of Mr Jukes and released an album, ‘God First,’ in 2017. Although it was done ‘by himself’, it was very much an open-door policy, resulting in a collaborative record that brought contributions by legends such as Charles Bradley, De La Soul, Horace Andy, Lianne La Havas, BJ The Chicago Kid and Lalah Hathaway. The project also features a contribution from Barney Artist, who Jack had quite simply stumbled upon on a Spotify playlist and never forgotten.

Barney’s music takes the vibrance of jazz infused hip-hop but with a London feel. Growing up in Forest Gate, East London, Barney touches on conscious themes by way of lively, dynamic delivery to create something instantly likeable, like the artist. He’s a larger than life presence, fun to be around and a searing, peerless talent too. A collaborator by nature, Barney grew up around Tiana Major9 and Jay Prince and has made music with Tom Misch, Alfa Mist and Jordan Rakei.

Barney’s contribution to God First, “From Golden Stars Comes Silver Dew” (also featuring Lalah Hathaway) proved to be a standout. Bonded by a mutual love of the ever-changing landscape of modern hip-hop, the two artists instantly fell into step with one another. There was no clear plan or brief to fulfil for a full-length Jukes X Barney project, but both artists instinctively knew that it would be a waste not to explore the potential they’d uncovered. They were right, clearly.

Steam engines, interactive technology displays, spectacular Planetarium shows and the child-sized world of MiniBrum will all spring back to life as Thinktank, Birmingham’s award-winning science museum, reopens to visitors from Saturday May 29 - just in time for the half-term holiday.

With tickets now on sale, the opening marks the first chance for visitors to explore a world of wonder at the museum since closing in March 2020, and to celebrate the occasion a brand-new gallery, Our Changing Planet, will open to the public for the first time.

Our Changing Planet is a fascinating, new addition to Thinktank and at a time when climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity the exhibition will explore how humans have changed the world and how these changes are affecting the wildlife around us.

Featuring over 150 fascinating items from pre-historic tools to the first plastic invented in Birmingham, and from the first prototype vehicle to travel under its own power on Britain’s roads to part of the first computer used at the Longbridge motor factory, Our Changing Planet is perfect for older children and adults to learn and think how human invention and behaviour has impacted the world around us.

As a stark contrast to the man-made inventions, Our Changing Planet investigates how pollution, habitat destruction, species extinction and climate change are radically altering landscapes and lives all over the world. A green sea turtle, corals, platypus and other vulnerable species will illustrate how humanity’s impact on the natural world has intensified through time.

Laurence Butler, Museum Manager at Thinktank Science Museum said: “We’re over the moon to be able to welcome visitors back to Thinktank. Our steam engines will be pumping, the city of MiniBrum will be open for play and the brand new Our Changing Planet gallery will be ready to explore.

“We’ve got four floors, ten galleries, a science garden, a planetarium – there’s a lot to see and we’ve created a safe, fun and inspiring experience for as many people as we can. We’ll be limiting capacity and admission will be by pre-booking only, to ensure our visitors have a safe and fun-packed day out.”

Before the coronavirus pandemic forced Thinktank to close its doors the museum had one of its most successful years on record with more than 243,000 people and 45,500 school children visiting.

The opening of MiniBrum in 2019 proved a huge hit with visitors and this fantastic gallery that allows families to learn together will be ready to welcome younger visitors once again. The exciting child-sized world of MiniBrum features some of Birmingham’s iconic landmarks such as the canals, Selfridges and the University of Birmingham’s Old Joe Clock Tower. It also features different play zones including a home area where children can build their own dens, a burrow where children can find the hidden animals, a race-track inspired by Birmingham’s upcoming Commonwealth Games, a construction zone with a climbing tower and slide, a Post Office, and a salon.

Thinktank has over 200 hands-on displays and showcases many amazing items from the city’s science and engineering collection, including the Smethwick Engine which is the world’s oldest working steam engine. Other things to see at Thinktank include a Planetarium where visitors can journey to the stars and learn about the wonders of the night sky, and an outdoor Science Garden that invites visitors to explore the science behind energy, mechanics and mobility.

Visitors will also get a chance to take home a bit of Thinktank Science Museum with a brand-new shop. From space to science, animals to Birmingham inspired gifts, the new Thinktank shop offers a range of products chosen to reflect the museum’s collections and the fun, family-friendly museum that it is.

Safety will be the museum’s top priority and visitors are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the guidelines before arrival. There will be new measures in place, including limiting capacity through online advance booking and one-way routes around the galleries with visitors welcomed via a new entrance on Level 0. Visitors can still enjoy a variety of hot and cold lunches at Signal Box Cafe, including the signature Signal Box Burger! New for 2021 is Platform 2, an outside kiosk serving up tasty treats for those who may prefer to eat outside.

US cable network NBC is the latest media giant to boycott the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) over a lack of diversity.

NBC, which has aired the Golden Globes awards ceremony since 1996, said it would not broadcast the show in 2022 and wants to see meaningful reform. WarnerMedia, Netflix and Amazon Studios have already refused to participate in HFPA-related events.

The Golden Globes are second only to the Oscars in terms of profile. The HFPA, whose members vote on the awards presented at the Golden Globes, has faced months of criticism stemming from a Los Angeles Times report back in February that revealed it had not had a single Black member for 20 years.

The non-profit put forward a plan for inclusion and reform. Time's Up, a leading advocate for industry reform, slammed the proposal as window-dressing platitudes with its president, Tina Tchen, saying: "Any organization or sponsors that set themselves up to pass judgment on our vibrant community of creators and talent must do better." Joining the chorus of outrage was actor Tom Cruise, who returned to the HFPA three Golden Globes he has won over the years, including two Best Actor statuettes for Jerry Maguire and Born on the Fourth of July.

Actor Scarlett Johansson has also joined criticism of the body behind the Golden Globe Awards over how it plans to tackle discrimination. "Unless there is necessary fundamental reform within the organisation,” she says, “I believe it is time that we take a step back from the HFPA and focus on the importance and strength of unity within our unions and the industry as a whole."

A nominee of five Golden Globes, she has also urged others in the film industry to boycott the organisation unless it makes significant internal changes.

Dreweatts are thrilled to present a group of works directly from the family of the British artist Samuel Pepys Cockerell (1844-1921). The works are coming to auction for the first time since leaving the artist's family collection and will be offered in Dreweatts upcoming Old Master, British and European Art sale on May 27.

The collection is led by a stunning portrait of Cockerell, by George Frederick Watts (1817-1904) one of the leading portraits and Symbolist painters of the late 19^th Century, known as `England’s Michelangelo.’ The collection has several works by the Cockerell himself, (lots 237-241 in the sale), including two portraits of the artist’s daughter, Frederica Lucy, which offer a wonderful personal insight into his life.

Cockerell was the youngest son of architect, archaeologist and writer Charles Robert Cockerell, RA, RIBA (1788-1863). He established a career as a sculptor, painter and like his father, a writer. The two watercolours by him in the sale (lots 237 and 239) record his time at Oxford, where he was at Christ Church. He then entered the Royal Academy Schools and exhibited there almost annually between 1875 and 1903.Cockerell had a particular interest in sculpture, as seen in his detailed portrayal of the statue of Pope Julius III in Perugia, (lot 238). Cockerell was also an avid art collector and had a particular penchant for works by the Pre-Raphaelites.

One of the most influential figures in Cockerell's life and career was his close friend, and later President of The Royal Academy, Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). Known for his grand classical pictures such as Flaming June, Leighton also produced enigmatic plein air landscapes and the collection includes three views of the 16^th Century Lindisfarne Castle, on Holy Island, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. (lots 242-244) which Leighton gave to Cockerell while staying with him nearby.

It is not only the Cockerell collection that is exciting, as four centuries of art are represented in this impressive sale. Commenting on the works on offer, Brandon Lindberg, Joint Head of Dreweatts Picture Department, said: “Our sale on the 27th May celebrates four centuries of European Art, from 16th Century Old Master picture and prints by artists such as Domenico Puligo and Albrecht Durer to Early 20th Century drawings by the first female artist to exhibit at the Viennese Secession.

“It includes works from important private collections including Sir David and Lady Scholey, the late David Fyfe-Jamieson, Samuel Pepys Cockerell and Portraits from the Heaton Ellis Family. Portraits are strongly represented and include works by Mary Beale, George Romney, John Opie and Rosalba Carriera.”

Amongst the highlights is a fantastic collection of works from the magnificent Berwick House in Shropshire, including two paintings by British landscape artist Frederick Lee Bridell (1831-1863). As a promising apprentice with a picture restorer at an early age Bridell, who grew up in Southampton and later took a studio there, soon made his mark as a painter in his own right, exhibiting at the Royal Academy for the first time in 1851.

He took three years to do the ‘Grand Tour’, as was fashionable at the time and spent hours in the Louvre, studying and copying significant works, before moving on to Munich and Tyrol. On his return to Britain, the works he created were exhibited at the Royal Academy, the British Institution and the Liverpool Academy, attracting numerous wealthy collectors, including James Wolff, a shipping merchant. Wolff became Bridell’s main patron and built a Bridell gallery in his home, to house twelve of his large-scale landscapes.

Following on from this success and under the patronage of Wolff, Bridell moved to the continent for four years, where the two paintings in this sale were created. The Temple of Saturn, the Forum and the Colosseum, Rome (lot 55) and The Arch of Titus at Rome looking towards the capital (lot 56) are both created in oil and canvas and capture his passion for the landscape near Rome. They each carry an estimate of £20,000-£30,000.

Also from the Berwick House collection is an important work from the studio of the Flemish artist Artus Wolfforts (1581-1641), titled The Adoration of the Shepherds. Wolfforts was a highly-respected Flemish who predominantly carried out private commissions for large life-sized religious and mythological scenes, which he created in oil on canvas.

Wolfforts received formal art training, then took a role in the workshop of Otto van Veen, whose past pupils included the great artist Rubens, who Wolfforts would go on to work with on an important project in 1635. He was appointed one of the artists to work on the decorations for the Joyus Entry into Antwerp, of the new governor of the Habsburg Netherland, Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand. Whilst Rubens was in overall charge of the project, Wolfforts was assigned to create decorative paintings after Rubens’ designs.

As his own expertise and reputation grew, Wolfforts became a member of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke and began his own workshop. He became a prolific artist during his own lifetime, with pupils including Pieter van Mol, Pieter van Lint, and his son, Jan Baptist, Wolfforts. This particular work, Adoration of the Shepherds, depicting the shepherds as witnesses to the birth of Jesus, has been painted in his later dynamic, Baroque style and dates from circa 1630. It has an estimate of £12,000-£18,000.

Another spectacular work from the Berwick House collection is a painting from the circle of Spanish master of still life, Juan van der Hamen y León (1596 – 1632), titled: A Basket, Dish and Plates of Fruit on a Table-Top with a Jug, Glasses of Wine. Hamen was Spanish born and of Flemish origin. His father had been a Royal courtier for Phillip II and Hamen followed in his footsteps, becoming court painter to the King and subsequently the courts of Phillip III and Phillip IV.

His portraiture brought him great recognition, with Phillip IV being one of his many distinguished sitters. Hamen began to develop his popular still lives at this time, which were to become his most popular. These works were markedly Flemish in style and created in an austere, muted manner, such as the painting being offered in the sale.

As well as a clear Flemish influence, Harmen owed some of his compositional style to Juan Sánchez Cotán (1560-1627), a Spanish Baroque painter and a forerunner of realism in Spain. This is demonstrated by his inclusion of elaborate objects, such as Venetian crystals and elaborate glassware.

The silhouetted objects are illuminated against a dark background and the zig-zag arrangement of the items creates an exaggerated sense of space. From 1626, Hamen experimented with more complex and varied compositions, placing a reduced number of objects on different levels. It is therefore thought that the present work must have been painted by one of Hamen’s contemporaries before this date.

Hamen was an important influence on many artists working in Spain during this time, despite dying at an early age. The painting is estimated to fetch £15,000-25,000.

An early painting by one of Lombardy's leading painters of the mid-17th century, known for his portraits and religious scenes, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661), also features in the Berwick collection. Born into a family of painters, Nuvolone first worked with his father before studying at the Accademia Ambrosiana in Milan under Giovanni Battista Crespi.

The Madonna and Child with Saints is believed to be an early painting by the artist, dating from between 1630 and 1635. During this period Nuvolone’s work shows the influence of recent developments in the Lombardy painting technique.

During the second half of his career, Nuvolone worked on many important frescoes and altarpieces, often with the help of his brother Giuseppe. These included the frescoes for both the Cappella di San Michele in the Certosa di Pavia, and at the Sacro Monte di Orta, as well as contributing to the decorations of the Sacro Monte at Varese, an important area for local pilgrimage and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003.

The painting offered in the sale is in oil and canvas and is estimated to fetch £15,000-20,000. Elsewhere in the sale is a portrait of Irish poet and writer Charles Hayden Irwin (1748-1817) by British artist George Romney (1734-1802). 

Born to Irish parents in 1751 and educated privately in Chiswick, London, he worked in a civil capacity for the East India Company in Madras, until he was suspended in 1775 and had to come back to England to plead for reinstatement from the board. Around this time he met and married a relative of Henry Brooke, the renowned Irish novelist and dramatist.

His position was reinstated by the company and Irwin returned to his post in Madras in 1780. He returned to England five years later to take up the position of Superintendent of the Company's affairs in China, which he held for two years.

He was well-known for his writing, publishing several volumes of poems, primarily on historical subjects and was a member of the Royal Irish Academy, until he died in 1817. The portrait artist George Romney was believed to have met Irwin via Irwin’s brother-in-law, Major Thomas Pearson and Irwin sat for him in 1780. Romney was one of the most celebrated portrait painters of his time, along with Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds.

His commissions included portraits of leading figures and Emma Hamilton, Lord Nelson’s mistress was his muse. Romney was born in Lancashire, now part of Cumbria and initially had a studio in Kendal. He moved to London and was not to return for forty years.

He travelled to Rome to study the great masters, even attaining permission from Pope, Clement XIV to set up scaffolding in the Vatican, to study the frescoes of Raphael. Having lived in London for many years he returned to Kendal to be looked after by his long-suffering wife, staying near Nether Bridge which now carries his name. He died two years after returning in 1802 and is buried in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria.

He won the Royal Society of Arts competition several times early in his career, however he always rejected the inclination to exhibit at the Royal Academy, or to even apply for membership, as Joshua Reynolds, with whom there was rivalry, was President. His high society client list and skilled portraiture sealed his enduring career as an artist and his portfolio of 2,000 paintings can be found in collections in 23 countries around the world.  His portrait of Charles Hayden Irwin in this sale is estimated to fetch £2,000-£3,000.

Amongst other note-worthy works in the sale, is a portrait of Samuel Ward, by Cornish painter John Opie (1761-1807), known for capturing many important figures on canvas, including the Royal family. He was coined as 'the Cornish Wonder' when he moved to London in 1781, his portraits and historical works receiving great acclaim. In 1782 he exhibited at the Royal Academy for the first time and in 1786 he was elected as associate of the Royal Academy, becoming a full member in 1788. During his lifetime he painted a total of 508 portraits, mainly in oil and 252 other works.

In 1805, Opie was assigned the title of Professor at the Royal Academy and from May 1806 gave a series of four lectures, which were published as a book following his death in 1807. His portrait painting featured remarkable light and dark contrasts, combined with intense realism, as displayed in the present work in the sale, Portrait of Samuel Ward. In oil on canvas, it is estimated to fetch £3,000-£5,000.

This year, BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress) offers fewer, but targeted events to mark British Black Music Month (BBMM), the annual June-July window it has been using to highlight domestic Black music, create networking spaces and provide music industry education since 2006. It also revives the original Black Music Congress, which is a discussion forum started with monthly sessions at City, University of London in 2003.

BBM/BMC, which is the UK co-ordinator of International Reggae Day (IRD), has expanded on what was offered at last year's Zoom meeting. His Excellency Mr. Seth George Ramocan, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, who participated in last year's event, is expected to open this year's International Reggae Day London UK event on July 1 with a video address.

The event will explore how Britain and Jamaica have influenced each other's music industry and musical style. The conference's UK theme: 'New Cross Fire/Black People's Day of Action @ 40'/'BRAFA (British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal) @ 36' sub-theme will highlight reggae's engagement with historical moments both in the UK and abroad.

"BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress and its partners, including Reggae Fraternity UK, Shining Stars and Chaaawaaa Radio, are focused on delivering the London hub event, which once again, will be delivered via Zoom. This year's IRD 'One Love' theme will run through our programme, especially within the extended DJ and live sets," says IRD UK co-ordinator Kwaku.

“In addition, our conferences will highlight the influence of Britain on reggae music, and Jamaica's bass culture influence on British popular music. We'll also highlight the role reggae music played in social movements, such as the New Cross Fire and the resultant British African-led mobilisation of Black People's Day of Action in 1981, and the BRAFA (British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal) efforts in the Ethiopian famine relief campaign of 1985.”

IRD London UK aims to become the networking forum for Britain's reggae community. It is expected to return in a non-pandemic 2022 to Goldsmiths, University of London in south London, where it was last held in 2019 in association with Sound System Outernational. Additional information and updates will be posted at IRDUK.co.uk.

BBMM2021 ends on July 31 with 'British History, Black Music, Racism & The Music Industry 1507-2020', a video screening and discussion on Black music history and racism. The forum aims to have an update on the music industry's race-focused activity one year on from the Afriphobic murder of George Floyd last May. As a response to the various #BlackLivesMatter/#AfricanLivesMatter activities, several music industry organisations supported the #BlackOutTuesday campaign. The outcomes included pledging to diversity senior management representation, better engagement with minority communities, anti-racism and unconscious bias training, African history and culture programmes, and funding for African musicians and black music.

BBM/BMC through its RE:IMI (Race Equality: In Music Industry) race/ethnicity-focused advocacy strand interrogated key music industry organisations on their race-specific diversity plans. This resulted in the publication of the 'RE:IMI Black Out Tuesday UK Music Industry Race Diversity Report', the RE:IMI Music, Racism And The UK Music Industry Forum, and the launch of the BARRERegister online repository.

Before then, on June 10, Black music stakeholders, from fans, musicians to industry practitioners, get to have their say about what the issues are within the domestic black music sector and the ways forward, at Black Music Congress 2021: 'Sounding Off: What's The Way Forward For British Black Music?'. A week later, on June 17, Dr Enrico Bonadio, Reader in Intellectual Property Law at The City Law School, joins us again for another Talking Copyright session entitled 'Copyright And Producers In/Of Black Music'. It's an opportunity for Dr Bonadio, Kwaku and special guests to lead a seminar on intellectual property rights of record producers and musicians, and how reggae and other Black music genres engage with copyright.

The opportunity to learn more about the music industry continues on July 6 with 'Musicians: Understanding Your Rights, Income Streams And Music Industry Alphabet Soup'. "We're grateful to the Musicians' Union for reaching out to co-organise this free event with us," says Kwaku. "It's open to anyone with an interest in developing a career in the music industry. It's aimed particularly at the unsigned or do-it-yourself artist, musicpreneur, or those who provide artists, songwriters and producers with specialist support."

There are two more opportunities to engage with the subject of reggae. On July 22, there's an exclusive and rare screening of Sandra Krampelhuber's feature length documentary 'Queens Of Sound', which is followed by a forum that allows female voices to express themselves across various topics within reggae and dancehall music. It will be led by special guests drawn from Jamaica and Britain.

BBM/BMC is also supporting the Summerstown182's Tooting Magical Musical History Tour! walk around south London on June 13. It also highlights a crowd-funding campaign in order to erect a plaque to the memory of the reggae music recorded at the old Mitcham Road, Tooting site of the defunct TMC Studio.

Multi-platinum party-starter Saweetie unveils another upbeat anthem with ‘Fast (Motion).’ Inspired by Miami’s iconic dance culture, the high-energy single bounces between an infectious hook and Saweetie’s confident verses, and it arrives with a larger-than-life visual to match. The new song is another glimpse of what to expect from the California MC’s highly-anticipated debut album, Pretty B*tch Music, arriving June 25.
 
After releasing a string of smash collabs, including #1 US singles “Best Friend” featuring Doja Cat and “Back to the Streets” featuring Jhené Aiko, “Fast (Motion)” finds Saweetie holding down the track on her own. She reminds listeners of the effortless swagger she’s known for while encouraging them to tap into their own energy. “I can’t help I was born like this,” she raps.

“Ain’t my fault that you want my drip.” In the playful and punchy visual, Saweetie conquers competitors with ease while she races cars, spars in the boxing ring, charges down the football field, and goes head to head with WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson in a super-sized game of one-on-one. Throughout the video, Saweetie spotlights Black-owned brands she consumes such as Brandon Blackwood, Matte Swimwear, Mielle Natural Hair Care, Frank’s Bod, and High Hemp in addition to brand partners Quay, Jack Daniels, and Triller. 
 
“Fast (Motion)” confirms the undeniability of Saweetie’s gift for feel-good hits. Now with two UK Top 40 singles “Tap In” and “Best Friend”, she recently released her Best Friend (feat. Doja Cat) Remix EP, showcasing emerging international talent over her summer blockbuster. She also shared the steamy Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1 EP, which featured a host of electric guests including L.A. rap innovator Drakeo the Ruler, rising star Loui, and up-and-coming Sacramento vocalist Kendra Jae. More than a commercial star, she’s earned the praise of Billboard, Complex, Los Angeles Times, Cosmopolitan and more for her top-tier rhymes and irrepressible charisma.

What’s more, Saweetie’s nominated for a 2021 Billboard Music Award for “Top Female Rap Artist” alongside Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. The show airs live May 23 at 8pm on NBC. Saweetie’s recent tracks have also exploded Saweetie’s reputation at UK radio. She’s already been playlisted at Radio 1, 1Xtra, Capital XTRA and Kiss Fresh with DJ support including Tiffany Calver, Rickie, Melvin and Charlie, Jack Saunders and Yasmin Evans. 
 
This new single is another exciting teaser for Saweetie’s forthcoming debut album, Pretty B*tch Music. With production from Timbaland, Danja, Lil John, Murda Beatz, and others, Pretty B*tch Music is the soundtrack to Saweetie's inspiring movement, which encourages all women to define their own “pretty.” If the confidence and power of “Fast (Motion),” is any indication, listeners will want to stay tuned for more news on Pretty B*tch Music.