More for Summer Sundae

Murphy followed on stage by Macy Gray

01 May 2008 - Roisin Murphy will be followed on stage by Macy Gray at this year’s Summer Sundae Weekender event, which runs from 8 until 10 August.

The event, which will be at the De Montfort Hall and Gardens in Leicester, is presented in association with BBC 6 Music.

Latest addition to the event, Macy Gray, has sold millions of records worldwide and has a reputation for one of the biggest, busiest and most soulful shows in the business.

Many acts

Canada’s Cold War Kids will also take to the stage at the weekend as well as Mystery Jets, Efterklang,19 year old Scandinavian Lykke Li, El Perro Del Mar, Envy and Other Sins, Brighton’s Gary Go, Leicester’s own Jersey Budd and high-flying Kyte.

On the Friday night Supergrass will headline the Main Stage with Count and Sinden top billing indoors. Howling Bells will be closing the evening on the Drowned in Sound stage.

Main stage

Macy Gray is top of the Main Stage billing on the Saturday, with The Whitest Boy Alive starring on the indoor stage.

On Sunday Lykke Li is top of the pops on the Rising stage, Lightspeed Champion is doing the honours on the indoor stage and bringing the festival to a close with iridescent lightshow are Simian Mobile Disco Live.

Tickets are now available starting at £95 for a full weekend ticket. Day tickets are priced at £40 for Saturday and Sunday and £35 for Friday.

The line-up so far:

FRIDAY
SUPERGRASS
THE CORAL – ACOUSTIC
KING CREOSOTE,
COUNT AND SINDEN,
HOWLING BELLS,
BENGA (DJ),
NINA NASTASIA,
F*** BUTTONS,
NOAH AND THE WHALE,
ROYWORLD,
THE MAE SHI,
EMMA POLLACK,
YOUTH MOVIES,
LIONHEART BROTHERS

SATURDAY
MACY GRAY,
ROISIN MURPHY,
THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE,
HENRY ROLLINS - SPOKEN WORD,
DODGY,
CAMERA OBSCURA,
TOM BAXTER,
RACHEL UNTHANK,
DENGUE FEVER,
ZOMBIE ZOMBIE,
FRIGHTENED RABBIT,
ENVY AND OTHER SINS,
JERSEY BUDD,
KYTE,
ROD THOMAS,
GARY GO

SUNDAY
SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO LIVE,
REVEREND AND THE MAKERS,
COLD WAR KIDS,
LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION,
JOSE GONZALEZ,
OF MONTREAL,
JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN,
MYSTERY JETS,
OPERATOR PLEASE,
THOSE DANCING DAYS,
JAMES YORKSTON,
LYKKE LI,
EL PERRO DEL MAR,
JEFFREY LEWIS,
EFTERKLANG,
ALELA DIANE


Kelly Stooke

Big hits for Coldplay

600,000 downloads in the first 24 hours

30 April 2008 - Despite a few initial hitches on their website, Coldplay's new single has been downloaded more than half a million times.
 
Violet Hill is the first track to be taken from their new album Viva La Vida, and that figure is only for the first 24 hours.

HMV's Genarro Castaldo says it'll go a long way to help shifting the album when it comes out next month:

"It's just good old fashioned promotion really, 'cos if 600,000 people have downloaded the track that's 600,000 people that know there's an album on the way, and have a good sense of what it sounds like already."

"It's just good old fashioned promotion really."
Genarro Castaldo, HMV

La Vida or Death And All His Friends is released in the UK on 12 June, and if the Radiohead In Rainbows example is anything to go by this will work well for Chris Martin and Co.

The band revealed another live date this week, and as well as London's Brixton Academty on 16 June, and New York on 23 June, they will play Barcelona as well, though no word yet on when.

Violet Hill is still available to donwload until next week from their official website.

Jo Youle

Ronson Meets Kaisers

Chiefs confirm Ronson studio sessions

30 April 08 - After months of rumours a spokesmen for the Kaiser Chiefs has confirmed that the band are working on new material with producer de jour Mark Ronson.

A statement reads: “There's been a load of rumours about what we're doing, the truth is we're working with Eliot James and Mark Ronson at a couple of studios in London.

“Eliot's a young British producer we like very much. Mark's a young British (via New York) producer that we also like very much.

"It's all going well and what's going on in the studio has us excited"
- Kaisers statement 

“As a pair they're dynamite and we're enjoying plotting Kaiser Chiefs mk.III with them pressing buttons and turning dials.

“It's all going well and what's going on in the studio has us excited, we're looking forward to you hearing it.”

It was also revealed the band and Ronson went into the studio at the end of last year to record two new songs - You Want History and Never Miss A Beat.

In other Kasiers news, the bands Elland Road Stadium show in Leeds on 24 May has been long sold out, but there are a handful of late tickets that will go on sale on Friday 2 May at 9am.

For more information go to www.kaiserchiefs.co.uk


Matt Everitt

Full Glasto line-up out

Emily Eavis tells 6 Music line-up announced

29 April 2008 - Emily Eavis has confirmed to 6 Music that the full line-up of this year’s Glastonbury is now available on the official website.

The original plan was to announce the festival acts at 11.59pm on 29 April but this latest news follows Emily blaming a printing firm mole for leaking a third of the festival's acts.

She attributed the leak to a printer at Q magazine, who traditionally publish the rundown first, but said some names were wrong.

Here’s the line-up in full:

Glastonbury Festival Line-Up 2008

PYRAMIDStage
Friday
Kings of Leon
The Fratellis
The Editors
The Gossip
The Feeling
KT Tunstall
Get Cape Wear Cape
The Subways
Kate Nash
Saturday
Jay-Z
Very Special Guest
Manu Chao
The Raconteurs
James Blunt
Crowded House
Seasick Steve
The Hold Steady
Shakin’ Stevens
Sunday
The Verve
Leonard Cohen
Goldfrapp
Very Special Guest
John Meyer
Gilbert O’Sullivan

Other Stage
Friday
Panic at the Disco
The Enemy
We are Scientists
The Foals
The Hoosiers
Ben Folds
Vampire Weekend
Joe Ling and the Jing Jang Jong
Hilltop Hoods
Saturday
Massive Attack
Hot Chip
Elbow
Duffy
The Wombats
Neon Neon
Black Kids
The Golden Silvers
The Travelling Band
Sunday
Groove Armada
The Zutons
Pidgeon Detectives
Scouting For Girls
Mark Ronson
Scouting for Girls
Jack Penate
Newton Faulkner
Black Mountain
The Hoodoo Gurus
Emmy the Great

John Peel Stage
Friday
The Cribs
Reverend and the Makers
The Kills
MGMT
The Ting Tings
The Young Knives
Lightspeed Champion
Make Model
Glasvegas
Patrick Watson
RoyWorld
Saturday
Biffy Clyro
The Futureheads
Band of Horses
The Black Lips
Vampire weekend
The Courteneers
British Sea Power
Holy Fuck
The Teenagers
Hilltop Hoods
Emmy the Great
Dogtanion
Sunday
The National
Spiritualized
Crystal Castles
Brian Jones Town Massacre
Stars
Rocket Summer
Friendly Fires
The Whip
Yeasayer

Jazz World Stage
Friday
Jimmy Cliff
Estelle
Fun Lovin’ Criminals
Special Guest
Candi Staton
Alabama 3
Very Special Guest
Phantom Limb
Mankala
Saturday
Ethiopiques
Buddy Guy
Imagined Village
Joan Armatrading
Eric Bibb
Massukos
The Blessing
Special Guest
Bedouin
Jerry Can Band
Sunday
Very Special Guest
King Solomon Burke
Eddy Grant
Dub Colossus
Asere & Billy Cobham
Balkan Beat Box
Almasala
Portico Quartet
Sense of Sound

Acoustic Stage
Friday
Seasick Steve
Sinead O’Connor
Newton Faulkner
Arno Carstens
Eddi Reader
Camille O’Sullivan
Eleanor McEvoy
Devon Sproule
Acoustic Stage Blues Club With Grainne Duffy
Saturday
Gilbert O’Sullivan
The Swell Season Featuring Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Glenn Tilbrook & The Fluffers
Seth Lakeman
Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders
Thea Gilmore
Sid Griffin & The Coal Porters
Emily Maguire
Acoustic Stage Blues Club with Grainne Duffy
The Travelling Band
Sunday
Joan Baez
Suzanne Vega
The London Community Gospel Choir
Stackridge
Tom Baxter
Tift Merritt
Foy Vance
Acoustic Stage Blues Club With Grainne Duffy
Amsterdam
Lazenby


The Park Stage
Friday
Pete Doherty
Dizzee Rascal
John Cale
Very Special Guest
Edwyn Collins
The Duke Spirit
Operator Please
Sons & Daughters
Santogold
Beggars
Magic Wands
Island Line
The Langley Sisters
Saturday
CSS
Battles
MGMT
Very Special Guest
‘Music Through Unconventional Means’ with Shlomo’s Vocal Orchestra & Special Guests
Kool Keith & Kutmaster Kurt
Guilty Pleasures Live with the Tor Dogs & Special Guests
Alphabeat
St Vincent
Jape
Eugene MacGuiness
Sunday
My Morning Jacket
Tunng
Vetiver
Caribou
Laura Marling
The Mystery Jets
Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl
The Cave Singers
Alberta Cross
Mumford & Sons
Alan Tyler & The Lost Sons
Redbridge Brass Band

Avalon Stage
Friday
Sharon Shannon & Big Band
Xavier Rudd
Hazel 0'Connor
The Men They Couldn't Hang
Ron Sexmith
Frank Turner
Kissmet
Hobo Jones & the Junkyard Dogs
Saturday
The Proclaimers
Will Young
Alabama 3 unplugged
The Handsome Family
The Wurzels
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset
Bacalao
Malarchy
One String Loose
Sunday
Katie Melua
Blazin' Fiddles
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara
John Tams & Barry Coope
The Baghdaddies Big Band
The Family Mahone
Räfven
Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet
Prison Love

Left Field
Thursday
Dj
Movimientos
Latin American Fiesta
Carnival Collective
Dj
Married To The Sea
Capital Of Culture
Daisy Riots
Seal Cub Clubbing Club
Elle S'appelle
The Rascals
Dj
Anti-Slavery Night
Pie Tasters
Dj
King Blues
Dj
The Slackers
Dj
Pama International
Dj
The Levellers
Mungos Hi Fi
Late Night Sound Clash Don Letts Dub Carte
Friday
Open Mic
Film/Discussion
Brit School Presents - Dance For Life
Dockers Mc
Buddha Tears
Hebe Jones
Tawiah
Dance For Life
Charlotte Campbell
Jenners Field
Kate Nash
Miscarriages Of Justice Neck
The Thirst
Metros
The Holloways
Alabama 3
Beans On Toast
Frank Turner
David Ford
John Byrne
Saturday
Open Mic
Gmb And Polish Cultural Institute Presents
Alex And The Drummer
Flykkiller
Cars On Fire
The Mentalists - Rock Against Racism
The Krak
Neville Staple
Get Cape Wear Cape Fly
Reverend And The Makers
Gallows/Lethal Bizzle Tbc
Lazy Habits
New York Fund
Dj
Sunday
Carnival Collective
Sing Up
Left Field Rally With Tony Benn
Get Up Stand Up
The Beat
Dj Phill Jupitus
Movie - Jail Guitar Doors
Build A Band Youth Music
Bluetones
Dj
Dirty Pretty Things
Dj
Billy Bragg
Dj
Neck
Night Of Treason

Queen's Head
Thursday
Mr David Viner
Make Model
UCAS slot
Glasvegas
Santogold
One Night Only
Roisin Murphy
SingStar
DJ Eddie Piller and U Brown
SingStar
DJ Eddie Piller Northern Soul
SingStar
DJ Finder’s Keepers/Andy Votel
Friday
Team Waterpolo
Babel
Captain
The Holloways
Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong
Young Knives
The Script
Kate Nash
SingStar
DJ Smash ‘n’ Grab
SingStar
DJ Smash ‘n’ Grab
SingStar
DJ Tayo’s Tracksuit Party
Saturday
Red Letter Day
Stephen Fretwell
The Modern Skirts
Duke Spirit
Teddy Thompson
Ron Sexsmith
White Denim
Pigeon Detectives
SingStar
DJ Annie Mac
SingStar
DJ Sean Rowley
SingStar
DJ Sean Rowley
Sunday
Ladyhawke
Cocknbullkid
Dawn Kinnard
Dengue Fever
Congregation
Florence And The Machine
Noah And The Whale
Elbow
SingStar
DJ Soulsavers
SingStar
DJ The Voguettes
SingStar
DJ The Voguettes

Dance Village
East Stage
Friday
DJ Fatboy Slim
Live Roisin Murphy
DJ X-Press 2
Live Hercules and Love Affair
DJ Cicada
Live 20/20 Soundsystem
Saturday
Live Unkle
DJ Eddie Temple Morris
Live Roni Size Reprazent
DJ Simian Mobile Disco
Live Kid Sister
DJ A Trak
Sunday
Live Kosheen
DJ Annie Mac
Live Sam Sparro
DJ Black Ghosts DJs
Live Does It Offend You, Yeah?

West Stage
Friday
Live Booka Shade
Dj James Zabelia
Live The Count & Sinden
Dj Freestylers
Live The Infadels
Live Zion Train
Saturday
DJ Dave Seaman
Live Black Dog
DJ Nicky Hollowway and Trevor Fung
Live The Grid
Live Atomic Hooligan
DJ A Skillz
Sunday
DJ Derek May
Live System 7
Live Kraak & Smaak
DJ Lee Coombs
Live The Whip

Lounge Stage
Friday
Live Ozomatli
Live N Dubz
DJ Queens of Noise (smash and grab)
DJ Pete Gooding
Live Kid British
DJ Beardyman
Saturday
DJ DJ Format
Live Audio Bullies
Live Cadence Weapon
DJ Nightmoves DJs
Live Natty
Trogen Sound System
Sunday
Live Annie
Live Presets
DJ Punks Jump Up
Live Ladyhawke

G Stage
Friday
DJ Stanton Warriors
DJ Utah Saints
DJ Soul Of Man
DJ Drum Monkeys
Live Beber & Tamara
Saturday
DJ Pendulum DJ Set
DJ Roland The Bastard
DJ Beat Torrent
Live Japenese Popstars
DJ Subfocus
Sunday
Live Magnetic Man ( Benga & Skream)
DJ Caspa & Rusko
DJ Appleblim
DJ Basscleff
DJ Moody Boyz
DJ Digidub

Pussy Parlure
Friday
DJ Horse Meat Disco
Cabaret Yard Dogs Road Show
DJ Soul Train DJ's
Live Martina Topleybird
Saturday
DJ We Don't Play
Cabaret Yard Dogs Road Show
DJ/SS Healer Selecta inc. Sound System
Live Size 9
DJ Healer Selecta
Sunday
DJ Generals HiFi
DJ Balkan Beat Box
DJ Kokolo Ray
DJ DJ Ipek
Live Loungeclash


Kelly Stooke

Coldplay - Your Reaction

Tell us your opinion of Violet Hill

29 April 2008 - Violet Hill, Coldplay’s first single from their new album Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, will be played for the first time on BBC 6 Music at 12.15pm today (29 April).

It will also be simultaneously available to download free exclusively from www.coldplay.com for one week (a full seven days ahead of its general digital release on 6 May).

Tell us

And we want to know what you think of the track. Is it as good as their previous singles?

Have the band and Brian Eno developed their sound?

Can the new album live up to the success of X & Y ?  Use the comments form below to get involved in the debate.

Free concerts

Coldplay will also be playing two free concerts, one at London's Brixton Academy on 16 June and one at Madison Square Garden in New York on 23 June.

Check coldplay.com for details of how to win tickets.

Please do not contact the venues as no tickets will be available to buy.

Meanwhile, the release of Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends has been brought forward four days in the UK to 12 June.


Kelly Stooke

Albarn's next album

Damon's new music expected in July

28 April 2008 - Damon Albarn has said his next album will have over 100 musicians on it and he hopes it will be out in July.

He told the BBC: “I’m finishing off a record at the moment which should be out quite soon.

“This one’s got about 80, 90 musicians on it – something in that region. It’s got a 100 piece Chinese choir on one of the tunes so that plus the orchestra probably goes to about 120, 130 people.”

But Damon was very vague when it came to any more details, including when he was asked whether it had a title: “Not really - I haven’t decided on that but it’s got something of monkeys in there.

“There’s a monkey or two in there at least – bit like Gorillaz as well. It’s not an opera, it’s a proper record.”

He went on: “I just kind of put all my passion into what I’m doing at that moment y’know. It’s nice that things kind of stick around a while so it gives the impression that there’s lots of things but I do one thing at a time generally.

“I have only two arms, two legs. It’s really good as well, I’m really excited about it. It won’t be long, probably by July.”

“There’s a monkey or two in there at least – It’s not an opera, it’s a proper record"
Damon Albarn

Damon also talked about the future of The Good, The Bad and The Queen.

It was believed the group only planned to release one album and their appearance at the recent Love Music Hate Racism show was a final one-off show.

But Damon squashed these rumours: “There are lots of musicians around. We’ve got a lot of musicians that we play with and work with so I don’t really like to kind of say this is this and that is that.

“I just think no it’s not the end of these great musicians collaborating together.”

Damon explained why he wanted to be involved with the Love Music Hate Racism event: “Well, partly my debt to the original Rock Against Racism movement – I think a lot of what kind of informed me came out of that time so for me it’s interesting to see where it is now.

“You could just see by the physical mix that things have genuinely changed y’know and we have other issues now. And maybe the emphasis has changed and there’s more on violence.

“I think the mix of musicians from the young to much older, and I’m kind of sort of in the middle, just shows that it’s a very cohesive force – music.

“And it’s great that London can hold gigs like this and thank goodness the sun came out!”

Kelly Stooke

Amy's Bond Theme Doubt

Mark Ronson fears for Winehouse's James Bond theme

27 April 2008 - Mark Ronson has confirmed to 6 Music that he has been in the studio working with Amy Winehouse on a theme for the new James Bond film.

Speaking to the Music Week show from backstage at the Coachella festival in California the producer revelled the track is nearly complete.

However, he expressed his doubts over whether the song will actually end up on the soundtrack to the movie.

"Hopefully if they like it, it will get used," he explained, "But I don’t think we’ve been guaranteed it, so we’re working on it and we’ll see happens.

“They asked Amy, and I think Amy said that if she did it, she'd want to do it with me. So hopefully something will come of it. The demo sounds like something that sounds like a James Bond theme hopefully. But I don’t know if it'll get used.

“I’m sure there are loads more really famous people that probably we’re competing with and we don’t know about

“I’m not sure, but hopefully I’ll still be alive for at least 12 more Bond themes. If we don’t get this one maybe we’ll get another one.”

"The demo sounds like something that sounds like a James Bond theme hopefully. But I don’t know if it'll get used" -
Mark Ronson

Ronson went on to  confirm that he and Winehouse have been recording material for the troubled singer's third album, saying:

"Yeah, we spent a week together. Hopefully something will come of it. She comes down to my room, plays guitar; plays some songs and I try to sort them out into something."

For more from this interviews Check out the Music Week Podcast  or listen again to the last edition of the  Music Week .


Kelly Stooke

Coldplay free gigs

Coldplay play free shows and give away new single online.

28 April 2008 - Violet Hill, Coldplay’s first single from the new album Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends will be available as a free download from their website www.coldplay.com for one week starting tomorrow, April 29 at 12.15pm.

At that time the single will be played for the first time on radio and will simultaneously be available free exclusively from the website, a week ahead of its general digital release.

The digital release will be a conventional paid-for release on May 6.

The band will be playing two free concerts, one at London's Brixton Academy on June 16 and one at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 23.

Please check coldplay.com for details of how to win tickets and please do not contact the venues as no tickets will be available to buy.

Meanwhile, the release of Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends has been brought forward four days in the UK to bring it into line with global release dates. The release date is now June 12.

The album comprises ten brand new tracks from the band and has been produced by Brian Eno and Markus Dravs.

The album track listing is:

Life In Technicolor
Cemeteries Of London
Lost!
42
Lovers In Japan/Reign Of Love
Yes
Viva La Vida
Violet Hill
Strawberry Swing
Death And All His Friends



Matt Everitt

The Verve Rock Coachella

Wigan boys take LA by storm

27 April 2008 - Ten years since they last performed in the States, The Verve took to the stage at Coachella this weekend.

Original guitarist Nick McCabe re-joined the line up and Los Angeles rocked as the band played classics such as ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ and ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’.

The Wigan boys thrilled fans with songs including 'Lucky Man', 'Rolling People' and 'Butterfly'.

Before frontman Richard Ashcroft announced they were leaving the LA desert to head to a show in Las Vegas, he dedicated ‘Bitersweet Symphony’ to Hunter S Thompson.

The Verve have come back and they’re better
Alan McGee

But, it was the surprise debut of a new track that got everybody talking.

Music veteran and former Creation records boss Alan McGee gave his seal of approval to the track.

He told 6 Music:

“It could have been great, it could have been terrible, but on this occasion it was absolutely brilliant. You never know when bands reform what they’re going to be like. The Pixies came back and they were better. And The Verve have come back and they’re better”.

We can check them out for ourselves when The Verve headline Glastonbury.

Louise Hulland

Rock Against Racism

30 years on - London marks with carnival

26 April 2008 - London is getting ready to Rock Against Racism.

It's 30 years since the original gig in Victoria Park - headlined by Tom Robinson Band and featured a legendary performance from The Clash.

Tomorrow, the 30th anniversary carnival will be held in the same park, with Tom Robinson playing again, along with Babyshambles, Paddingtons, The Specials’ Jerry Dammers, and Clash collaborator Don Letts.

It nearly didn’t happen though. Morrissey had to step in to save the festival from possible financial ruin. Organisers said it was facing a £75,000 deficit after a main sponsor withdrew. But Morrissey has made a personal donation and rallied together his management, promoters and booking agency to help make up the shortfall.

Something of interest, something to debate and discuss
Steve Diggle

"This is something I am committed to and we appreciate everyone coming together so quickly to make it happen," he said.

Buzzcock’s guitarist Steve Diggle was there first time round and will be putting in an appearance tomorrow. He’s said of the event:

“Coming from the punk thing, a lot of songs were about questioning surrounding and awareness of things, and questioning society and everything around you. So Rock Against Racism fits into it well. Something of interest, something to debate and discuss”

The Love Music Hate Racism carnival will run from 12pm until 6pm.



Louise Hulland

Arctic's win again

Best International Album at NME Awards USA

24 Apr 2008 - 
Klaxons accepted the award for Best International Alternative/Indie Album at the NME Awards USA in LA last night (Wednesday 23) for their mates Arctic Monkeys, the real winners, who failed to show up.

The Sheffield band earned the award for their second record Favourite Worst Nightmare, but Klaxons and  Mark Ronson accepted the honour on their behalf:

"It's a great honour," Ronson said. "We're up for it and we're having a laugh," added Klaxons frontman Jamie Reynolds.

With Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner currently busy with his side project The Last Shadow Puppets, the group were unable to attend the ceremony at the El Rey Theatre, but presenter Agyness Deyn presented the award to their mates.

Jane's Addiction make live return

The four original members of Jane's Addiction put their differences aside to collect the Godlike Genius Award from the NME Awards USA in LA last night.

Singer Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins performed with bass player Eric Avery, who had refused to play with the band since it first broke up in September 1991.

"We made it and I'm really happy to be here," said Farrell, as he drank from a bottle of red wine and emptied its contents to fans in the mosh pit.

"I scan it on the internet" -   Mick Jones on the NME

Other winners include Las Vegas rockers the Killers as best band and the Foo Fighters for best album.

"I'm probably going to take this to my proctologist," Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl said via video, as he surveyed the curious statuette.

Former Clash principal Mick Jones received the Inspiration Award. He said he used to read NME religiously every week as a youngster: "I don't now. I scan it on the Internet, like the rest of you," he added.


Ruth Barnes

Winehouse arrest?

Singer due at police station

24 Apr 2008 - Amy Winehouse is expected to make an appearance at Kentish Town Police station this afternoon.

This follows allegations she was involved in a fight in North London last night. Kentish Town police told 6 Music:

"We can confirm that we had a report of an assault at Chalk Farm at 03:20 hrs. 

A 38 year old man later went into Kentish Town police station and alleged that a 24 year old woman has assaulted him.

No arrests have been made but police are making enquiries."


Ruth Barnes

Review: Adele

Singer wows Cardiff

24 Apr 2008 - You’d think, judging by the Marti Pellow and Journey South posters upon entering Cardiff’s St Davids Hall, that this is a venue for washed out bands.

However, this was the perfect place for Adele to kick off her sell out UK tour.

Her last appearance in the Welsh capital was pretty much her and a guitar performing to an intimate audience.

But less than a year later she’s performing with a full band including a string quartet, which made songs like Hometown Glory sound terrific.

"Absolutely wonderful" - Adele fan

The all-ages crowd seemed to enjoy every moment and were even forgiving when she forgot the words during her cover of The Coral’s Dreaming Of You.

Hey, these things happen and this was quickly forgotten as she rolled through the tracks interspersed with polite and humorous banter.

With an amazing performance of ‘Chasing Pavements’ closing the evening, the crowd filtered out more than happy and the word ‘lovely’ seemed to be mentioned a lot – which I guess does some up the evening pretty well.

A breathtaking start to a tour, from a star who few had heard of last year – and already she seems to have more hits than most of the competition. Awesome scenes !!

Adele's sold out tour continues tonight (Thursday 24) in Newcastle.


James Watts

LSPs: We'll do it again

Last Shadow Puppets first radio interview

23 Apr 2008 - Alex Turner and Miles Kane aka The Last Shadow Puppets have given 6 Music their first radio interview today.

The lads dropped by Steve Lamacq's show this afternoon [Wednesday] for a chat about their debut album The Age of the Understatement which is out this week, and tipped for the number one spot this weekend.

Although the pair told 6 Music they won't be playing live dates until October.

Arctic Monkeys' support

Alex Turner's other day job is as frontman of the Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane belongs to The Rascals, however both say that their bands encouraged them to work together:

"Very understanding aren't they? Both the parties. I think it was always inevitable we were going to do something together, just glad it was an album rather than a stage show or a play..."

It's the first time either songwriter has written with someone else; Alex and Miles say what bonded them first was their sense of homour:

"We'd been mates before we decided to write tunes together..." says Alex, on the subject of who asked who, Alex says: "It started as a joke, both bands would say: 'You two are going to make an album'.

Then we joked about an album, the cream-polar-neck-white-piano-joke, we’ll do an album, but the cover will be like us looking at a manuscript, with a cigarette in an ashtray."

The recording process

They recorded the album with Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford in France, who picked the idyllic spot for the sessions as Miles explains:

"I think he'd been there previously with another band... we thought it would be good to get away and not have distractions of going out or what have you.

Then he came back with this idea and we thought that sounds cool."

"There's nowt else that sounds like it " -   Alex Turner

Alex admits it was like a holiday - but it was still hard work:

"It was very pleasurable. Sunny most days, like a nice little place where it were, but then we did it all apart from the strings in two weeks, so we were going through the nights and stuff, but still very enjoyable. I was sad when it ended!"

Miles went on to say that working with such a small team in France made things really easy, and that they would definitely do it all again:

"Cos there weren't many people invovled we kept the original idea quite pure. It were a good relationship, it would be good to do again as well."

The Scott Walker effect

Alex and Miles have talked about their inspirations for this album, and Scott Walker looms large:

"It was just what like ... we were getting into the Scott Walker thing. That Old Man's Back Again tune and The Plague. And the Jacques Borel album, we got into that and... imagine a band doing that now, young lads, dead dramatic."

The strings were added in post production and both Alex and Miles admit they were slightly nervous:

"Hearing strings afterwards... I think we anticipated that would be quite overwhelming and so that made us more like cautious and we just thought like this is going to end sounding like... any other Robbie Williams tune with too much strings on it... nothing against Robbie Williams!"

A second album?

So would they do it all again? Looks like it's not the last we have seen of The Last Shadow Puppets, as Alex said:

"Definitely I think - that's what the sounds of it, I think you can explore that more, there is nowt else that sound like that really."

Ruth Barnes

Lennon drugs video

Yoko Ono in court

23 Apr 2008 - A controversial video of John Lennon is the subject of a court case starting this week in Boston.

The footage shows Lennon smoking marijuana, writing songs and discussing putting LSD in President Richard Nixon's tea, the court will decide whether the video should be made public.

The case sees Yoko Ono pitted against Massachusetts-based World Wide Video, which claims ownership of nine hours of raw footage of the couple that was filmed just weeks before the Beatles broke up in 1970.

"awesome John Lennon footage" -   Rolling Stone Magazine

World Wide is a consortium of Beatles collectors that wants to release the black-and-white footage as a two-hour film, "3 Days In The Life".

Rolling Stone magazine has called it "awesome John Lennon footage you might never see."

The footage, recorded in February 1970, shows Lennon composing two hits, "Remember" and "Mind Games," along with a discussion of his drug use and scenes that World Wide describes as "intimate and no-holds-barred."

Yoko Ono's lawyers are asserting copyright ownership of the videotapes, whereas World Wide has filed a suit against Ono for copyright infringement.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 30.



Ruth Barnes

Money, Money, Money

Artists cash in

22 Apr 2008 - Gone is the cliché of the struggling artist, as the the Performing Rights Society has dished out a record amount of cash so far this year.

PRS distributes what is due to songwriters and composers, and they've given out the highest ever quarterly figure, Adrian Crookes is from PRS:

"We distribute money to songwriters and composers on a quarterly basis. 

We've just done the April 2008 distribution which is our biggest ever quarterly distribution of a £110 million. 

This is a significant up on this time last year which was, I think, £70 million, and a lot of that is attributed to live music."

"We have to start thinking outside the box" -   Amanda Ghost

This is also being attributed to a ground breaking deal with You Tube, which sees artists paid everytime a song is uploaded and played online.

Artists need to get creative again

Singer-songwriter Amanda Ghost is one of those benefitting, she says the You Tube deal is an example of the music industry being forced to look at new ways of doing things - and it working:

"The great thing about the turmoil that the music business is in, is that people have to get creative again.

We have to start thinking outside the box, we have to think of ways to market things that don’t just involve getting played on the radio.

Also we have to write songs that don’t involve getting played on the radio, we have to write songs that connect with people."

This comes in the same week the O2 Arena announced record ticket sales, almost half a million in the first three months of this year, for concerts like the Spice Girls reunion, The Eagles and Linkin Park.

Ruth Barnes

Weller slates Glasto

'You'd have to be off your box' to enjoy it

22 Apr 2008 - Paul Weller has slated Glastonbury - and that's everything about the festival, including the audience.

Weller, a veteran Glastonbury performer, reckons that a change in the calibre of music fan in the audience has affected the event:

"The difference between doing it in '94 and doing it last year, was that most of the audience knew the greatest hits, whereas in '94 they were music fans.

You didn't just have to do the greatest hits, that was very noticeable to me."

"It's just really corporate now" -   Paul Weller

Weller went on to slam the event as a whole:

"The conditions are disgusting aren't they? I don't know how people can... I mean you'd have to be off your box just to stay there for three days wouldn't ya?" 

I'm not a big lover of festivals at the best of times, I like proper gigs... and it's just really corporate now isn't it?"

To hear more from that interview, download this week's Music Week podcast using the link below.


Ruth Barnes

Elvis in England!

The King's day out with Tommy Steele

22 Apr 2008 - Good news for Elvis fans, it seems The King did set foot in England after all.

Until now it's been believed that the nearest Elvis came to visiting England, was a short stopover at Scotland's Prestwick airport in 1960, on his way back from an army base in Germany.

Speaking to Ken Bruce on Radio 2 yesterday, 62 year old theatre producer and long time friend of Tommy Steele, Bill Kenwright, insisted that Presley had come to England in 1958 for a day's sightseeing with Steele - who had been billed as Britain's answer to Elvis at the time:

"Elvis came to England! Nobody thinks he did, and I hope Tommy doesn't go mad when he hears this..."

"Tommy showed him round London" -   Bill Kenwright

One night Tommy got a phone call, (impersonates Elvis): 'They told me you're good'... 'Who's this?'... 'It's Elvis.'

He said (Tommy): 'Get outta here! ... and he said (Elvis): 'Are you as good as me?'

They talked and they got a friendship... Elvis flew in for a day and Tommy showed him round London... they spent a day together, Tommy took him round and showed him round the Houses of Parliament."

Elvis's Graceland estate has yet to comment.


Ruth Barnes

Gnarls Barkley to return

Danger Mouse talks to 6 Music

21 April 2008 - Gnarls Barkley disappointed fans recently by cancelling a string of dates in the UK, but according to Danger Mouse they will be back - soon.

The group had been due to perform a sold-out show at 229 in London at the beginning of April in support of their new album The Odd Couple .

In a statement, the band said: “Cee-Lo Green decided at short notice to remain in the States alongside his wife and children, and is thus now unable to travel to the UK as scheduled.”

But speaking to 6 Music Danger Mouse said: “We are trying to reschedule, it was really unfortunate that we didn’t make it over here, as a whole, but we are definitely wanting to come back again – we do actually really like it over here.”

"We are trying to reschedule"
Danger Mouse

Crazy schedule

Despite a busy schedule which includes producing Martina Topley Bird, Black Keys and working on the next Beck album, Danger Mouse revealed he had no plans to break from music or the live scene for a while: “I do both, I work really hard and then I do other things really hard too, so you would never know in the morning that I was working the night before!”


Adrian Larkin

Mylo Returns

It's all about wonky disco this time

20 April 2008 - After three years off, Mylo will be back on our radar this summer.

6 Music caught up with the Scottish DJ and music producer at his East London studio, and he told us the long awaited follow up to his debut record Destroy Rock & Roll, will be out soon:

“I’m just going mad at the moment, finishing the album. I have a deadline of about a month today, as that’s when I’ve booked in my mate Willy to come and help me mix it for a week or two, so that really is a pretty final deadline.”

His debut album took dance floors by storm back in 2005, with anthems like Drop The Pressure taking hold of clubs around the world. This time he has mixed things up, with a few different sounds featuring on the record:

"Broadly speaking, quite kind of wonky disco, synthesizer music, a certain amount of cosmic disco elements to it, some of it kind of slowed down, not too much new rave, I think that kind of sound is starting to date quite quickly."

"Broadly speaking, quite kind of wonky disco"
Mylo on the new album sound

The reason it has taken so long to make this album is partly due to the fact Mylo bought a derelict house and took on the project of making into his new home, where he is also making this album in London’s East End.

He has a few gigs lined up this summer, where he will road test the new material, like Rockness, Get Loaded in the Park, Moby's album launch party in London and also Wild in the Park.

However first off, he will play Mixmag’s 25 ^th Anniversary party next month at East Village in Shoreditch:

“I‘m terrified about getting it finished at the moment. I've taken a few gigs just as a DJ over the summer, so hopefully I will have a chance to try out all the live stuff, but we won't actually play any live shows 'till the record gets released which will be later in the year.

There's always that agonising period of 3-6 months after you finish a record, when you have to wait for it to hit the shops."

"There's a lot of work to be done in terms of label set up and deciding who to sign to in other parts of the world, which could take a bit of time."


Jo Youle

Glorious Goldfrapp

Band unveil strings and choir for London show

19 April 2008 - Goldfrapp stunned The Royal festival Hall last night with an extension to the band.

Alison and Co. brought in a 16 piece string section and a small choir for their one off gig at the London venue which has recently had its acoustics overhauled - to make it work well for amplified music as well as classical.

Will from the band told 6 Music you can't take that for granted in some of the UK's more prestigious venues:

"Sometimes everything below middle C just becomes like porridge. I think some halls are designed to be acoustically perfect. If Julian Bream was sitting in the middle playing acoustic guitar everyone in the hall can hear, but add 100 decibels of volume to that and it all blows

"It feels like we're in lush opulent land of sonic things."
Will, Goldfrapp

Will says an expansion of their live sound for a special occasion has been brewing for some time:

"We've always talked about doing things with strings, and doing a special event and I think with this album, we thought this was a time to actually go and do it. It feels like we're in lush opulent land of sonic things which is really nice."

He added that for the first time they're in a place where they're happy with every song on the set list - although that’s had to work round their new acoustic sound:

"There has to be some kind of allowance made that Seventh Tree is a very acoustic and different mood of an album, so we have left out a lot of the Supernature, and a lot of the other albums. We've put all of the tunes from Seventh Tree in there but it's been great to pick some of the back catalogue to go around with that."


Jo Youle

Camden Crawl kicks off

Two day event packed with bands

18 April 08 - Twenty-five venues. 130 acts. It can only be the Camden Crawl.

The much loved music extravaganza is happening all over North London this weekend - as anyone who is anyone in the indie world takes to the stage. The two day event is one of the highlights of the musical calendar - and this year is no different, as both Friday and Saturday nights are a sell out.

Several venues are playing host to the up and coming bands - including Roundhouse, Electric Ballroom, Barfly and Koko.

Kicking off the action on Friday night are Sam Sparro and Hadouken, with Robyn, Yoav, The Fratellis and Wiley also performing at various venues in NW1.  Saturday night will see Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong, White Lies, Skepta and Kode 9 playing to fans.

Florence from Florence and the Machine is thrilled to be taking part.

"I'm happy - I'm really really happy about it. The enormity of it hasn't really sunk in. It's going to be fun. I'm just going to run around like a weird spinning top trying to see has many bands as possible - which you never do".

"It's good seeing all the new bands, and it feels like a really exciting time to be a band"
Dan, Hadouken

Enter Shikari told 6 Music they are excited to be playing the Camden Crawl - although as Chris and Rob explain their gig has all been a bit 'cloak and dagger'.

They only found out where they would be playing on Friday morning.

Last year, the same 'secret' event saw Pete Doherty's Babyshambles take to the stage.

Hadouken's Dan says he's looking forward to playing.

"We came here last year and we are fortunate to do it again which is cool. Last year it was a really, good memorable event for us. It's good seeing all the new bands, and it feels like a really exciting time to be a band".

The Camden Crawl is different to other music festivals, as music lovers visit various pubs, bars and clubs in Camden to see the acts.

Louise Hulland

Horace goes Massive

Reggae legend rejoins Massive Attack for new album

18 Apr 2008 - We know Massive Attack are releasing a new album this summer, and now we have a major clue as to it's sound.

Horace Andy is one of the best known vocalists with trip hoppers Massive Attack. The reggae legend, famous for his falsetto vocals, added his distinctive voice to tracks like One Love and Five Man Army from their debut Blue Lines and Angel from their third album Mezzanine, to name a few.

Horace Andy dropped into the 6 Music studios as he is over here playing some live shows, and says he's already been recording tracks for Massive Attack's next instalment:

"They send the lyrics for me to learn, I've done three tracks. I never know what they are going to choose, I am supposed to be going up to Bristol very soon. Four years now and they haven't come with an album yet, if I was to stick around and wait on Massive, man, oh my God…"

Meltdown

It seems a tour is on the cards too, and he'll be performing a slot at The Meltdown festival the duo are curating on the South Bank in June:

"I'm going on tour with them in June/ July and I think they said they want me with acoustic and blah blah blah... Then I hear them say about The Meltdown."

"We vibes, you know?" -   Horace Andy

The recording process

Andy went on to describe the recording process when he gets to the studios in Bristol, it seems pretty straight forward:

"They send me lyrics, I go up and we vibes you know? They play and I get the melody and 3D will give me the lyrics and I will get a really wicked melody and sing the lyrics, and they go and work around it."

Most of the time I only go up record, and come back. And then I will hear that the Massive Attack album will be released and I have two songs on it and then I hear the songs, I don’t really go into the decision making process.

They are Massive, you know, so they do all the work."


Ruth Barnes

Review: Joan APW

Joan As Police Woman unveil new songs

18 April 2008 - At 7:30pm it feels very early in the night to be greeted by a majestic woman in a turban-esqe navy blue hat, long white evening dress and crazy orange platform shoes, sipping from a large teacup of peppermint tea. Joan mentions a few times during the set how she's scared of London, and it does feel like there’s a massive gulf between us ordinary people in the audience and this other-worldly, kooky creature, who could only come from New York.

But a sense of awe and wonderment are exactly the right sentiments to take to a Joan As Police Woman gig. And they're inspired as much by the woman herself as by her music, for Joan has some great lines in stage banter. "Some shoes are just for walking from the dressing room to the stage and that's it," she offers during one quiet moment, and on playing in the intimate Freedom Studios in Camden's Roundhouse she muses that it's weird to be "inside of a square, inside of a circle."

It's lines like this that cause people in the crowd to mutter affectionately, "She's crazy, I love her," Joan describes herself simply as: "naturally psychedelic." And it's that same endearing, off-kilter charm that also makes her music so irresistible. It was the edge of madness and desperation in her voice on the single Christobel in 2006 that elevated that song above your average indie-pop love song; and judging by this gig, there is plenty more of that enticing edge on her second album.

"Inside of a square, inside of a circle"
Joan Wasser

On Start Of My Heart squealing organ sounds and ever so slightly un-harmonic harmonies push the song to the very limits of tunefulness, before Joan and her band reign it back in; and on the rollicking Furious Joan bashes at her keyboard with the rampant abandonment of child, while managing to deliver a serious message about the US Government.

She told 6 Music that her main ambition with this record was to be open and honest, so it makes sense that and all the kooky, playful charm of the Joan we see on stage comes out directly in the songs she plays. Although that musical openness also expresses a darker, more emotional side to Joan.

To Be Lonely is so dramatic and moving that you don't even notice as the rest of the band slip from the stage. And the audience is mesmerised by the mournful and beautiful To Survive, as Joan delivers a stunning vocal performance - her vulnerability clear from the grimaces she pulls as she sings.

By 9pm it's all over, with two months to wait before the album To Survive is out and Joan As Police Woman return to the UK for more gigs. No doubt Joan will be greeted then with the same affection and bemusement that floods the small crowd tonight, and no doubt she'll reward us with the same raw emotion and unconventional charm.

Set list:

To Be Loved
Flushed Chest
Honor My Wishes
To Be Lonely
Holiday
Hard White Wall
Start Of My Heart
Furious
Christobel

Encore:
Eternal Flame
To Survive

Joan returns to the UK in June to play in Glasgow, Birmingham, London and Brighton. To Survive is out on 09 June.

Lucy O'Doherty

Simonon: His Journey

Clash man on his visit to the ancestral home of Strummer

16 April 2008 - When The Clash split in 1986, bassist Paul Simonon returned to his original calling of being a painter - and now more than two decades later he is launching his latest exhibition in London.

In an interview with 6 Music, Simonon has been speaking about a very special pilgrimage he made back in 2003 to the Hebrides.

Tribute to Joe Strummer

He did it in tribute to Joe Strummer because it's where his ancestors grew up. One of the pictures is of a very special house.

Paul said: "It’s amazing – it’s the only croft that still had the chimney and it was built by his great great great grand father.

"It’s a beautiful place – as a little memento I sort of left the clash box set in the fire place."

Ancestral Home

He went on to say he visited one of the ancestral homes of Joe Strummer: "I just set up the easel and started painting and then it started to rain quite heavily and I just carried on painting really and then it gets dark very quickly there and I just stayed there and worked really."

It was a very emotional experience for Paul, he said his visit to the area was a way of dealing with the death of Joe Strummer:  "It helped me a lot – deal with all that sort of emotional stuff regarding Joe.

"Basically it came about cos I got asked by the Scottish Herald and they commissioned me to go up there to do this painting.

Isle of Skye

"They actually wanted me to go to the Isle of Skye cos there's a memorial wood that’s planted in Joe's memory."

The art exhibition takes place at Thomas Williams fine art gallery at 22 Old Bond Street from Thursday 17 April.

Kelly Stooke and Adrian Larkin

Tellier single outrage

Sebastién’s Eurovision entry for France causes upset

16 April 08 - Sebastién Tellier’s single Divine, which is France's Eurovision entry, has sparked outrage in his native country.

The track is almost entirely sung in English and so one MP demanded an explanation from the Culture Minister about why it was chosen to represent the country.

Sebastién Tellier was selected by France 3, the state television channel, to perform his electro-pop track at the annual contest – which is happening in Belgrade on 24 May.

But the lyrics are mostly English, which is a first for a French entry in 52 years of the competition.

François-Michel Gonnot, an MP in President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party, said: “Our fellow citizens don't understand why France is giving up defending its language in front of hundreds of millions of television viewers around the world."

"I don't think that singing in French is the best way to make oneself understood by the whole world"
Tellier's Producer

But Tellier's producer, Marc Teissier du Cros, said: "Sebastién Tellier sings in English, French and even in Italian according to his inspiration.

"This year, half the Eurovision candidates are singing in English and I don't think that singing in French is the best way to make oneself understood by the whole world."

Terry Wogan, the long-serving host of the show here in the UK, told 6 Music what he thinks of the story: “The French are very very proud of their language you see and it’s a bit of a body blow because it’s the thin end of the wedge here because the French insist that the Eurovision song contest is always conducted in three languages.

“But the French always insist that it be announced in French as well so they’re going to be very hurt about this.”

Not that he reckons that the language of the French entry will help their odds: “It’s not going to make the smallest difference to their efforts because as you know, anybody that sings in English is roundly hated by anybody who lives east of the Danube.

“So that’s it – I mean it’s diminishing their chances. I don’t know – are they mad?”


Kelly Stooke

Simonon's pilgrimage

Clash man on his visit to the ancestral home of Strummer

16 April 2008 - When The Clash split in 1986, bassist Paul Simonon returned to his original calling of being a painter - and now more than two decades later he is launching his latest exhibition in London.

In an interview with 6 Music, Simonon has been speaking about a very special pilgrimage he made back in 2003 to the Hebrides.

Tribute to Joe Strummer

He did it in tribute to Joe Strummer because it's where his ancestors grew up. One of the pictures is of a very special house.

Paul said: "It’s amazing – it’s the only croft that still had the chimney and it was built by his great great great grand father.

"It’s a beautiful place – as a little memento I sort of left the clash box set in the fire place."

Ancestral Home

He went on to say he visited one of the ancestral homes of Joe Strummer: "I just set up the easel and started painting and then it started to rain quite heavily and I just carried on painting really and then it gets dark very quickly there and I just stayed there and worked really."

It was a very emotional experience for Paul, he said his visit to the area was a way of dealing with the death of Joe Strummer:  "It helped me a lot – deal with all that sort of emotional stuff regarding Joe.

"Basically it came about cos I got asked by the Scottish Herald and they commissioned me to go up there to do this painting.

Isle of Skye

"They actually wanted me to go to the Isle of Skye cos there's a memorial wood that’s planted in Joe's memory."

The art exhibition takes place at Thomas Williams fine art gallery at 22 Old Bond Street from Thursday 17 April.

Kelly Stooke and Adrian Larkin

Duffy's European Tour

Duffy will bring her live show to the continent this summer with a European tour in June and July.Duffy begins the jaunt in Paris with a show at the Bataclan before working her way through Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Catch her live at the following gigs...

read more | digg story

Simonon @ Love Music

The Good, The Bad and The Queen at carnival

15 April 08 - Clash bassist Paul Simonon has confirmed to 6 Music that The Good, The Bad and The Queen have been added to the bill of the forthcoming Love Music Hate Racism Carnival.

The Good, The Bad and The Queen

Damon Albarn, Simon Tong, Tony Allen and Paul Simonon, who played bass with The Clash at the original Rock Against Racism gig in 1978, will help celebrate the event's 30th anniversary on 27 April in London's Victoria Park.

Simonon

But Simonon says it doesn't mean they will be making another album anytime soon.

He said: “We are but the project’s not gonna be another record.

“There might be another record but it wont be The Good, The Bad and The Queen - that’s finished as such.

“You say 'The Good, The Bad and The Queen', as has been said before – we don’t have a name. I know it’s confusing, it is.”

Kelly Stooke

Tesco music online

Supermarket plans to take on Apple iTunes

15 April 2008 - Tesco are the latest company to get involved with the world of online music.

The supermarket is planning on taking on Apple iTunes with its own online music and film download site.

Tesco Digital will initially offer 3.3 million music tracks when it launches and 1.6 million of those will be in MP3 format.

It plans for all of the site's music to be compatible with iPods and other MP3 players by the end of 2008.

In the future, the site will offer downloadable films, TV shows and computer games.

"We’ve invested heavily into it to make sure that we have all of the right products"
Sir Terry Leahy - Tesco's CEO

Tesco’s CEO, Sir Terry Leahy, said: “We’ve always been a leader on the internet – we’ve a huge grocery business and now we’re moving onto an entertainment site.

“We’ve invested heavily into it to make sure that we have all of the right products and they can be easily accessed at competitive prices."

The chain launched Tesco.com in 2000 and became the first major British supermarket to enter the music download market in 2004.

But that service is currently only available in Windows Media format.

What do you think about Tesco's download idea. Should they stick to selling Apples not competing with Apple. Or will it mean cheaper music for fans?

Kelly Stooke

Muse + Skinner?

Band talk about working with Streets singer

14 April 08 - Muse have their sights set on working with Streets man Mike Skinner.

Talking to 6 Music, the band talked about their future plans and said they were up for doing a few collaborations as well as working on their next album.

Lead singer Matt Bellamy said: “I think we would like to do something with Mike Skinner – we haven’t asked him yet actually but we would like to do English’s answer to Rage Against The Machine.

“Like London rap rock – just like a little one off – it might be a laugh!”

When asked about the rumoured collaboration with Does It Offend You Yeah? Matt said: “We might have a go yeah – I think they just want a bit of a guitar lick on the top of one of their riffs.

“They’ve got the whole kind of thing taken care of. I might do something with them – that would be cool.”

It has been nearly two years since Muse released their last studio album Black Holes and Revelations , which came out in 2006.

New Songs for V Festival

But new material is just round the corner.

When Matt was asked if anything new would be played by the band at V festival, he said: “Yeah I think we would hope to play something new there – one or two things maybe.

“Whether that would be a single or not I don’t know but certainly we would like to try a couple of new tracks for the first time.”

“Like London rap rock – just like a little one off – it might be a laugh!”
Matt

He went on to talk about how they have more studio time now: “We built a studio in Italy – we’ve also got a rehearsal place in Devon as well.

“We’re probably gonna kind of move between the two – do a little bit of music at home (Devon) where we first came from – and a bit of recording in Italy.

“Yeah looking forward to it really – I think it’ll be the chance to record ourselves and spend a bit more time experimenting.

“We’ll be able to explore some new directions that we probably wouldn’t normally have the time to do because normally you book a studio for two weeks and that’s all you got but now we’ve got a studio for like a year so it will be nice to have the freedom to kind of explore some new terrority.”

Another Muse Album?

But with the future of the album format looking increasingly uncertain, how will one of Britain's biggest bands adapt to the changes? Drummer Dom said: “It’s hard to say how we are gonna release music in the future – it feels like such an open canvas to do whatever we want…it seems these days.

“I still like the concept of an album in some kind of traditional way you know cos if the music all fits together as a unit and conceptually flows then I think it’s a good thing to do.

“But I think the way we normally made music was so very varied and things can be grouped in different areas so we could kind of release music as and when we want to which is quite a nice place to be.”

Matt added “I think there’s likely to be an album at the end of it at some point but I think what might happen is we put a few bits out there - not necessarily associated with an album.

“Like a little rap rock single with Mike Skinner or maybe we will put out a couple of songs or do a few things here or there without it needing to be attached to an album – music for the sake of music.

“But I am pretty sure there will be an album at some point in the future.”

Kelly Stooke

Review: Mystery Jets

Band kick start tour in Manchester

14 April 08 - Are we in love? Will it last? Does she really like me?

The Mystery Jets posed these questions of young love dilemmas as they kicked off their tour at Manchester’s Night and Day Café on Sunday 13 April, in what proved to be an intimate but exuberant gig.

The eccentric indie rockers drew a sensitive and arty crowd, who happily sang along to thumping riotous tracks Half in Love with Elizabeth and a rapturously received Two Doors Down.

More subtle and subdued tunes, Veiled in Grey and Flakes, transformed the atmosphere and captured the crowds melancholic side.

This tour sees the departure of founding band mate and Blaine’s dad, Henry Harrison. Although co-writing many of the second albums tracks and promising to support the band from the mosh pit, there was no sign of him at the venue.

"The eccentric indie rockers drew a sensitive and arty crowd"

Fans seemed split on whether his presence on stage was missed, many citing it as a natural progression for finding their own sound.

The new sounds of the second album, Twenty One , see the Jets moving away from prog rock of the Making Dens album to more melodic and playful vocal harmonies with bold 1980’s worshipping synth sounds.

Most of which were lapped up by the Manchester audience, hungry to see the Jets continue to push out confident and bold tracks.

As their wacky arrangements and playful 1980’s parodies prove, The Mystery Jets are still very much in touch with their experimental childhood side and even if they are not sure about being in love - the fans surely are.

Set list
Hideaway
Young Love
Half in Love With Elizabeth
Flakes
Hand Me Down
Diamonds in the Dark
Veiled in Grey
Two Doors Down
Behind the Bun House

Encore
There Was a Boy Who Ran Away

Victoria Baker

Muse play Teenage Cancer Trust gig

Roger Daltrey praises Muse for their support

April 12 - Tonight is the penultimate Teenage Cancer Trust gig at the Royal Albert Hall. Fans have been cueing up since 4:00am to see Muse who are headling the event.

The trust is the Brain Child of The Who's Roger Daltrey. Once again he has managed to draw some of the biggest names in Rock and Roll to help him raise money for the cause.

He told 6music he was really grateful to Muse for agreeing to play the event,

"They care about it and they've been incredible to deal with. Its totally unconditional support and I can't thank them enough"

Daltrey also explained that he'd had a few problems getting bands to play the event due to festival commitments,

"Festivals have a 3 month exclusion zone on thei contract so it excluded so many people this year and we didn't realise it but this was the only time we could get the Royal Alber Hall."

"It’s a beautiful venue. Its my first time here. In fact I think it's the first time here for all of us. It's so ornate and beautiful and it feels like such an honour to be asked to play here today. So, yeah we're looking forward to it."   Matthew Bellamy - Muse

Sunderland's indie rockers the Futureheads are the support band tonight. Their Frontman Barry Hyde told 6music how they got the gig,

"We just got a phone call from management saying Muse have asked if you'll vbe their support at the teenage cancer trust gig tonight and it was a no-brainer really. We just said 'yeah damn right'!"

Hyde also expressed his admiration for Muse,

"They are currently the most important rock namd from the British Isles. They've sold a lot of records but they've done it in a very clever and cunning way. They've never been over hyped and they've never played what you might call the fame game."

In the run up to the gig Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy told 6music why the Royal Albert Hall felt like such a special place to play,

"It’s a beautiful venue. It's my first time here. In fact I think it’s the first time here for all of us. It's so ornate and beautiful and it feels like such an honour to be asked to play here today. So, yeah we're looking forward to it."


Elizabeth Alker

Glasto tix still left

Five Days later and the festival has not sold out

11 April 2008 - It may be five full days since Glastonbury tickets went on sale, with organisers even re-opening the registration system, but the massive annual music event still hasn't sold out.

Most of the simple tickets for the festival have now gone, but many coach and rail packages still remain.

Jay-Z

Several people have blamed the controversial choice of Jay-Z as the main headliner, while others blame the festivals growing size and consecutive years of bad weather.

Many fans who travelled by coach last year were also left stranded for hours at the event, following problems with the return transport, which could explain the slow sales of the coach packages.

Organisers

However, organisers this year promise there are systems in place which mean there will be no repeat of last year's problems.

They are also keen to stress the reduced environmental impact of coming to the festival by public transport.
But co-founder of the Big Chill Festival, Katrina Larkin, thinks the main reason for the slower take up this year is the festival's size.

She said: “The problem with Glastonbury – it’s got so big that when the rain comes they really just can’t look after everybody the same way a medium sized festival such as ourselves and a few others do.”

Festival details

Ticket prices for a weekend ticket are £155, plus £5 booking fee per ticket and £4 post and packaging per order.

Glastonbury is taking place over the weekend of 27-29 June at Worthy Farm, Pilton Somerset.

Acts confirmed to play include headliners Kings of Leon, Jay-Z and The Verve plus Hot Chip, Neil Diamond, Spiritualized, The Levellers, Kate Nash and Dizzee Rascal.
 


Kelly Stooke and Lucy O'Doherty

Coldplay release track list

Band reveals songs for Viva La Vida

11 April 2008 - Coldplay have released the official track listing for their new album.

The band posted the names of the final 10 tracks on their official website.

The full track listing which will appear on Viva La Vida is:

Life in Technicolor
Cemeteries of London
Lost!
42
Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love
Yes
Viva La Vida
Violet Hill
Strawberry Swing
Death and All His Friends

A statement on their official web site said: "The powers-that-be tell me it'll be available for general consumption on June 16/17, depending on where you live.

"We'll try to release a track or two before then."

The album is named after a phrase on painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. 


Kelly Stooke

Burrell does Spring Fling

Razorlight man steps into headline slot

10 April 2008 - Razorlight frontman Johnny Burrell is stepping into the headlining hole at tonights Spring Fling event in East London.

Pete Doherty was due to top the bill and play a solo show at the bash, but was jailed earlier this week for breaching his probation order.

West London Magistrates Court sentenced the Babyshambles man to prison on Tuesday for "breach of time-keeping, non-compliance of his order and using different drugs".

Soko and Holly Golightly are still on the bill - with Holly's set, rather randomly, featuring 5 dancing sheep.

And she told 6 Music she was quite delighted when festival organisers suggested that particular idea:

"Well I have worked with sheep quite a lot in the past and I like them as people, so it will be quite nice to have a dance troop. It sounds like a great idea, I can't think of anything better than dancing sheep really."

Jo Youle

Review: The Courteeners

First night of band's tour at Nottingham Trent

10 April 2008 - It is time for The Courteeners to put their money where their mouths are as the album is out, the tour has just started and expectations are high.

You would think that after a year of hearsay, boasts and claims about being Manchester's musical messiahs - the first date of the tour might be a shaky affair.

But this was not the case at all when they performed at the Nottingham Trent Student Union on Wednesday 9 April.

Front man Liam Fray was completely comfortable amongst his people. And that's the difference between The Courteeners and the majority of bands in their position. It is not just scensters and NME readers in the crowd - your average music fan is there too.

Your typical Courteeners fan is a pretty loyal beast and despite the album only being released on Monday 7 April, the packed venue sang back pretty much every word of their debut album St .Jude .

"Every track was welcomed by the crowd like an old friend"

MySpace obviously had something to do with that, but the dedication was still there.

That dedication was repaid however. Fray constantly thanked the crowd and his band put in a 50 minute performance despite them only having one album’s worth of material. Fray even played a few songs solo.

Every track was welcomed by the crowd like an old friend, but the big reactions were saved for the singles Not Nineteen Forever and What Took You So Long.

Some of the intricacies of the songs and lyrics were slightly lost in the venue – but they are all competent players and Fray is a natural front man because he knows how to work a crowd.

The future certainly looks bright for this four-piece.

They walk the walk and talk the talk, but most importantly they have the ability to break the mainstream – just the mix of people in the audience is evidence of that.

If this is what the world is waiting for, then maybe the wait is over.


Jonathan Raitt

Courteeners top chart?

Manchester band could overtake REM

09 April 2008 - Early sales suggest Manchunian indie rockers The Courteeners could overtake REM and go right to the top of the album chart.

Their debut album St Jude came out on Monday 7 April and front man Liam says finally having it out there is a relief: “It’s been done for ages, y’know, we’ve been touring since last July.

“We want the record to be out and now it is, it feels like - not a weight has lifted off the shoulders - but you feel like it would be good now for the people who’ve been coming on tour and stuff to get the finished product and…play it many many times at home.”

Definitely Maybe

Liam did once say he wanted their debut to have as much impact as Oasis' debut Definitely Maybe, but then said it's useless to draw comparisons: “There’s no point looking at albums going ‘well mine’s no where near as good as that record’.

“It’s gotta be the absolute best thing you could ever produce – and if not then what’s the point?”
 
The front man is confident the album’s impact will be huge: “In terms of nothing happening in Manchester for 14 years... at HMV at the signing stuff, seeing the kids who were there and their like 16 so this is the first thing that they’ve had to like go ‘y’know, there is a band from Manchester’.

“So it feels good and we’re proud of it.”

Legendary Smith's producer

The album was produced by legendary Smith's producer Stephen Street, which Liam was happy with.

He said: “We spend time grafting in terms of putting the time into gigs so to go into the studio having only done, like, two or three days work in a studio - it was a very daunting task.

“And he made it very easy in terms of making us feel comfortable. A producer’s job is for me, y’know, 90% people skills and 10% knob twiddling.”

Kelly Stooke