1. EUROVISION IN LIVERPOOL
The 2022 Eurovision Song Contest provided a night of drama, with the United Kingdom's entry Sam Ryder claiming second place to secure its best result for more than 20 years.
The winners were Kalush Orchestra, who represented Ukraine with a song called Stefania and rose to the top of the leaderboard on a wave of goodwill from the voting public.
The European Broadcasting Union which organises the event ruled the 2023 edition could not take place in Ukraine due to the ongoing Russian invasion, so Liverpool will now host the contest in May while also paying tribute to Ukrainian culture.
2. ELTON JOHN AT GLASTONBURY
The veteran singer-songwriter began his mammoth Farewell Yellow Brick Road in September 2018 and, following Covid-19 disruptions, is now back on the road.
Elton (75) will play what may be his final British date at the Somerset festival, topping the bill on the Pyramid Stage on June 25. It is expected to be both his first and last performance at Glastonbury, which he's described as "the greatest festival in the world".
"As the end of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour comes into view, there is no more fitting way to say goodbye to my British fans."
3. LEWIS CAPALDI'S NEW ALBUM
The Scottish pop singer-songwriter became a household name overnight with the release of Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent in 2019.
The record spent 10 weeks at number one and went on to become the biggest album of 2019, while the single Someone You Loved clinched the title of the biggest song that year.
In May 2020, the emotional ballad became the UK's longest-running top single of all time by a British artist.
All this means the pressure is on for Capaldi's follow-up, titled Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent, which is released in May.
4. RIHANNA RETURNS
This year will be a big one for the Barbadian singer, actress and fashion mogul. In October, Rhianna teased fans with her first new music since 2016, Lift Me Up, recorded for the Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever.
February will see her headline the Super Bowl half-time show, a prestigious slot previously filled by global superstars 50 Cent, The Weekend, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. In 2019, she declined to headline out of solidarity with former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.
It will be Rhianna's first major live performance in many years, and 2023 may also be the year her long-awaited ninth studio album finally arrives.
5. BLUR REUNITE (AGAIN)
The Britpop survivors will play their first major shows since 2015 this year, including Dublin's Malahide Castle June 24 and Wembley Stadium in London on July 8 and 9.
Frontman Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree will treat fans to a slew of hits spanning their career, from the 90s to the 00s (but mainly the 90s).
Damon says: "We really love playing these songs and thought it was about time we did it again."
Support at the Wembley shows will come from Self Esteem, Slowthai and Jockstrap.
6. TAYLOR SWIFT WORLD TOUR IMMINENT?
The pop superstar has been on a creative hot streak in the last few years, from the hyperpop of Lover to the indie-folk albums Folklore and Evermore, and the dreamy electro of Midnights.
Although she has not yet announced any non-US dates, some fans were able to sign up for a presale by pre-ordering her latest record.
Swift has promised her upcoming Eras tour will be "a journey through the musical eras of my career, past and present". Unable to tour her last four records due to Covid-19, this will likely be a triumphant return to the stage that will satisfy fans desperate to hear their favourite hits live.
7. ADELE WRAPS-UP LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY
Weekends With Adele got off to a rocky start. In fact, the London singer's residency at The Colosseum at Caesar's Palace never got started at all. Originally due to begin in January 2022 and running until April, Adele cancelled at the last minute, telling fans the show was "not ready".
But, when she finally began her run in earnest in November, fans and reviewers agreed it was worth the wait, bringing decade-defining hits, Hollywood glamour and her notorious potty mouth to adoring audiences on a regular basis.
Who knows what special surprises she'll have in store for her final Las Vegas audiences?
8. DUA LIPA DOUBLES DOWN ON INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
Last year proved the English-Albanian pop star could do almost anything: she toured the world with her live show, launched email newsletter Service95 featuring journalism and personal recommendations, hosted her own podcast, helped those in Albania through her Sunny Hill Foundation and spoke at the prestigious Booker Prize ceremony.
Dua's breakout album Future Nostalgia was released in March 2020 and fans are now clamouring for the follow-up. On her podcast last year, she said the record was "half-way done" but that she planned to continue working on it into the new year.
"The album is different," she said.
"It's still pop but it's different sonically, and there's more of a lyrical theme. If I told you the title, everything would make sense – but I think we'll just have to wait."
9. STORMZY CURATES HIS OWN FESTIVAL
The grime star is yet to confirm tour dates following the release of his latest album, This Is What I Mean – his third consecutive number one.
However, the 29-year-old has locked in This Is What We Mean Day, a one-off event as part of the All Points East festival in London's Victoria Park. Stormzy will top the bill on August 18, but the rest of the line-up remains unannounced.
He teased the announcement in a behind-the-scenes video, in which he said: "I said to the team, 'We have got to do something bigger, something better, something different'.
"We were having back to back meetings, bouncing ideas... then it hit me, I started jotting down ideas thinking, 'Live band, we need a live band'.
"August 2023, a summer time ting, outside for the people, always for the people – my people."
10. BEYONCE VS ADELE AT THE GRAMMYS (AGAIN)
The duo, who have never been shy about their deep mutual respect, are both nominated in the album of the year category for Renaissance and 30 respectively.
They last competed for the prize in 2017 when it went to Adele. The singer won album of the year for 25 and record and song of the year for Hello, beating her "idol" to the three top awards.
However, she tearfully dedicated her prize to Beyonce, who missed out with her celebrated visual record Lemonade, saying "I can't possibly accept this award".
She even broke the prize in half to try to share it.
Do we think Beyonce will return the favour if she comes out on top this year?
