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Friday 31st July 2026

Music News 🎵

Fresh from Poppie's artists

Galway Singer Storms Mercury Prize Shortlist

Huge news for Irish music: Galway singer Dove Ellis has landed a spot on this year's Mercury Prize shortlist, right alongside some massive names. Paul McCartney has scored his first-ever nomination for the prize, joining stars like Raye, Dave and Olivia Dean on the list. One name missing this year, though, is Lily Allen, who didn't make the cut. It's a brilliant moment for Dove Ellis to be mentioned in the same breath as a Beatle, and proof that Irish talent is making waves on one of music's biggest stages. The winner won't be announced for a while yet, so there's plenty of time to root for Dove Ellis to bring the prize home to Galway. Fingers crossed!

via Irish Independent

Lewis Capaldi And Sam Fender Duet Wows Fans

Lewis Capaldi treated fans to a brilliant surprise at BST Hyde Park 2026, teaming up with Sam Fender for a live duet of Rein Me In. The pair shared the same stage and gave the huge crowd a moment to remember, blending Lewis's emotional songwriting with Sam Fender's powerful voice. BST Hyde Park is one of the UK's biggest summer gigs, packed with massive names, so seeing two brilliant British songwriters team up like this was a proper treat for anyone lucky enough to be there. Clips of the duet are already doing the rounds online, so if you missed it live, you won't miss it for long. Here's hoping this isn't the last we see of these two sharing a mic together.

via Radio X

Benson Boone's US Arena Tour Rolls On

Benson Boone is keeping busy this summer, taking his Grammy-nominated sound to arenas right across the US. The pop star has been packing out venues from Washington State's Numerica Veterans Arena to the BOK Center in Tulsa, with fans turning out in huge numbers for every stop. He's even landed a spot on Portland's packed August concert calendar, lining up alongside artists like Vince Staples. It's proof that Benson's star keeps rising, with arena after arena selling out as his tour rolls from state to state. If he keeps this pace up, don't be surprised if a UK or Ireland date gets added to the list before long. Watch this space!

via The Spokesman-Review

🎧 Poppie's Song of the Day Die On This Hill — Sienna Spiro (still the editor's pick!)
Poppie's Gym Class 🤸 · one lesson a day

Today's Lesson: The Elbow Stand

real Poppie words

Warm up first

  1. Warm up your shoulders, wrists and back, and work on a soft mat with a clear wall behind you. Never do this cold.
  2. The wall is there to catch your feet while you're learning, just like when you learned your handstand.

Get the shape

  1. Kneel down facing the wall and put your forearms flat on the mat, elbows about shoulder-width apart, hands pointing forward. This is your strong, steady base.
  2. Look at a spot on the mat between your hands.

Up to the wall

  1. Walk your feet in and gently kick your legs up so your heels rest on the wall. The wall is your helper.
  2. Squeeze your legs together and point your toes straight up to the ceiling.

Hold and come down

  1. Hold for a few steady breaths. Then bring one leg down at a time, nice and soft.
  2. When the wall feels easy, try balancing away from it for just a second. Have a grown-up or helper stand close to spot you.

Coach's tip: use the wall as your helper until it feels easy, and always on something soft! 💜

Yesterday's lesson: The Forward Roll — every lesson stays safe in the archive

Poppie's Kitchen 🍳

Recipe 1: How to Cook a Steak

real Poppie words

Before you start

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Take your steak out and put it on a chopping board or plate.

Season it

  1. Heat your pan — around medium to high heat.
  2. Salt and pepper — rub it in, massage it a bit — then do the other side.
  3. Put the olive oil on the steak, not on the pan.

Cook it

  1. Steak onto the pan.
  2. One minute on each side — keep flipping until it looks done the way you like it: well done, medium rare, however you like your steak.
  3. Take it off the pan and let it cool for a bit.
  4. Then you can cut your steak up.

Chef's tip: the oil goes on the steak, not the pan — that's how the pros do it. 🍳

Coming soon from Poppie's Kitchen: lasagne · Caesar salad · avocado toast with a sunny-side-up egg

Funny Story of the Day 😄

15 Piglets Cause Chaos On Busy US Road

Picture this: fifteen piglets making a break for it, trotting straight down a busy road in New Jersey! Traffic ground to a halt as confused drivers watched police scramble to round up every single runaway pig. Thankfully, all fifteen were caught safe and sound. Oink-credible chaos!

via rss.upi.com