Music special

Myles Smith is a rising UK star, so who better to front our music special? In an exclusive interview he talks about how his tough upbringing inspires his songwriting, the perils of instant fame and the fear of putting your artwork out into the world. Continuing the music theme, if you’ve ever wanted to be a pop star, things are not what they used to be so we have a helpful guide to making it in the music biz in 2026. It’s also time to be looking ahead to a summer of music festivals. We have 26 listings for 2026, so even if you’re bereft that there’s no Glastonbury this year you won’t miss out. And we’re chasing Tinie Tempah, literally, through the streets of Nottingham, and catching up with Super Furry Animals as they embark on a UK tour to coincide with their new release of early, unheard material.

Also inside

• John Bird delivered a sermon from a pulpit, though he wasn’t necessarily preaching to the converted
• As he celebrates 10 years as London mayor, Sadiq Khan has achieved another long-held ambition – of appearing in Big Issue’s Letter to My Younger Self
• The Christophers director Steven Soderbergh tells us why he has un-retired
• Bank of Dave: The Musical is hitting the stage, so we had a chat with the star, as well as the original Dave Fishwick, about how banks could change the world for the better
• Challenging drunks on trains with questionable opinions is just another day in the life of Robin Ince
• And Cardiff vendor Ahmed just wants to get on his bike

And much more

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