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Live Updates

Sarah Jane Griffiths and Kev Geoghegan

All times stated are UK

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  1. Friday feeling

    That's it from us today - you are free to go forth and enjoy your weekends - but do scroll down for news on how Meatloaf's doing after collapsing on stage, the first trailer for the Tupac Shakur biopic and today's big New Music Friday releases, from Bastille to Chase & Status, Rizzle Kicks to Christina Aguilera. 

    And if you're planning a relaxing weekend to recharge before Glastonbury, here is just the thing to aid your quiet time. 

    Radio 3 has been going bonkers about birdsong this week - from drone footage of a dawn chorus to a duet with a nightingale and our favourite, the Birdsong Mixtape - "a relaxing, seamless mix of British birdsong and music inspired by the natural world". 

    We'll leave you to enjoy this taster in peace...

  2. Jake Bugg celebrates a decade of strumming

    Mark Savage

    Music reporter

    Jake Bugg

    Jake Bugg is on fine form in our interview today - taking aim at everything from the charts ("anyone can get a number one now") to the journalists who "piss you off".

    Thankfully, I wasn't one of them... and during the course of our chat, we started talking about the first time he picked up a guitar, aged 12, when his "uncle came around and taught me the basic chords".

    "It’s mad to think that this year is 10 years of playing guitars," he said. "It’s a bit weird."

    So, will he be buying a new one to celebrate?

    "That’s not a bad shout," he conceded. "I didn’t even think about that! You’re just giving me excuses now to buy stuff I don’t need."

    Read the full interview.

  3. A Brief History Of The Euros, in ten songs

    BBC 6 Music

    A Brief History of the Euros in 10 Songs

    In honour of the fact much of the country will be spending the weekend feasting on football, 6 Music's Chris Hawkins has been busy putting together A Brief History of the Euros in Ten Songs.

    He's even roped in the legendary voice of football, John ‘Motty’ Motson, as narrator. 

    You can listen to the full 50-minute history online now, and have a butchers at the ten tracks that made the playlist: 

    The Who – Join Together

    • The Who – Join Together
    • Simple Minds – Glittering Prize
    • The Beatles – Back In The USSR 
    • Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come
    • ELO – 10538 Overture 
    • A Tribe Called Quest – Can I Kick It?
    • Style Council – Walls Come Tumbling Down
    • David Bowie – Heroes
    • David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions (Football's Coming Home)
    • Primal Scream – Come Together  
  4. Tricky to join Massive Attack on stage

    Tricky

    Massive Attack have announced Tricky will be joining them on stage "for a few shows this summer" - kicking off with their headline slot at the British Summer Time Hyde Park gig on 1 July.  

    Producer Tricky collaborated with fellow Bristol residents Massive Attack in the late 1980s - and he rapped on their 1991 debut album Blue Lines - but they had never shared a stage together until earlier this year in Berlin. 

    He performed on Take It There from their recent Ritual Spirit EP.

    Hyde Park will be their first UK performance together. Also added to the line-up today are young British rapper Loyle Carner, Manchester singer songwriter Shura and Belgium band Balthazar. 

    They join previously announced artists including Patti Smith, TV on the Radio, Warpaint and Ghostpoet.

  5. Gary Barlow to front BBC's new Saturday night talent show

    Gary Barlow

    Now that The Voice has gone to ITV, the BBC has announced its new Saturday talent show - Let if Shine - and it's being fronted by Gary Barlow.

    He and co-hosts Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc will be looking for the cast of a new Take That musical. 

    They're on the hunt for people who "exude the charisma, showmanship and stage presence" of the band, not to mention "chemistry", according to Barlow: 

    Quote Message: Back in 1989, we were just a group of normal guys from Manchester who came together. The secret to our success was that each of us brought something different to the group and that the five of us had real chemistry... We're looking for people from all walks of life to form another unique group who can recreate that magic. If you think you've got what it takes, we want to see it!

    The press release also reveals the real reason Gary Barlow surprised shoppers in Bristol with an impromptu concert last month, while wearing a mask of his own face, was for promotion for the new show. 

    Read more

  6. Grammys to include streaming-only songs

    Taylor Swift

    For the first time, songs released only on streaming services are going to be eligible to win a Grammy award.

    Nominees previously had to be available on a CD, or downloadable.

    Grammy members will also vote in fewer categories, the Recording Academy announced as part of a new set of rule changes.

    Read more

  7. Ennio Morricone on 'that whistle' from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

    BBC Radio 2

    Italian composer Ennio Morricone is still going strong at the age of 87 having just announced a new deal with Decca Records earlier this month.

    It came off the back of his first ever Oscar win for his soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s western The Hateful Eight.

    He is of course also best known for his Spaghetti Westerns of the 1960s and '70s.

    Radio 2's Jonathan Ross travelled to his home in Rome and asked him about one in particular... 

    Video content

    Video caption: Jonathan meets one of his heroes, Ennio Morricone at his home in Rome.
  8. Calvin Harris and Rihanna unveil their video

    The music video for This Is What You Came For, the latest link-up between Calvin Harris and Rihanna has already had half a million views since being premiered on YouTube in the early hours of Friday.

    Its looks she is the last person standing at an illegal warehouse party - think lots of lasers and strobe lighting.

    Warning: Third party content may contain ads

    View more on youtube

    Judging by the three lightning bolt emojis, Calvin is happy with it.

    View more on twitter
  9. News update: Meat Loaf 'stable' after stage collapse

    Meat Loaf in 2012

    US rock star Meat Loaf is "stable and in good condition" after collapsing on stage during a concert in Canada, his representatives say.

    The singer, 68, was rushed to hospital in Edmonton. Fans said they initially believed his collapse could have been a planned part of his performance, the Edmonton Journal newspaper reported.  

  10. Chase & Status team up with George the Poet for new 'banger'

    View more on twitter

    Chase & Status have debuted the first proper single from their next album - Spoken Word featuring wordsmith George the Poet. 

    It's the third track we've heard from the duo's fourth album (due later this year), and follows collaborations with Slaves (Control) and Novelist (NRG). 

    It's on iTunes and streaming on Spotify and Apple Music now, and the pair stopped by the Radio 1 Breakfast Show this morning to play it for Grimmy and do the Nixtape

    View more on twitter

    The track includes "a nod" to Rozalla’s 1990s rave classic Everybody’s Free, which has had a mixed response, although the word "banger" has been spotted a lot...

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  11. The art of music explored in new exhibition

    Colin Paterson

    Entertainment Correspondent, BBC Radio 5 live

    The Artzu Gallery

    There is a referendum going on. The Artzu Gallery in Manchester is asking visitors to vote on which makes the better art – vinyl or cassettes.

    Founding member of The Specials, Horace Panter, is exhibiting his collection of Cassette art work – which focuses on cassettes used at legendary recording studios – Hansa in Berlin, Trident in London and New York’s Power Station.

    Speaking at the launch, he told the BBC: "I am revering a mass produced, disposable piece of very early music technology. They held our memories and our favourite songs. 

    "Also as a musician, they were the tools of the trade. You’d do your rough mix at the studio, take a cassette home and play it on your stereo at home. You’d decide which of the five takes was the best one."

    Morgan Howell, Horace Panter, Chris Barton
    Image caption: Artists Morgan Howell, Horace Panter and Chris Barton

    The Cassettes Verses Vinyl exhibition also features Morgan Howell’s 27-inch paintings of classic singles (Neil Diamond bought Sweet Caroline from him) and film props man Chris Barton (who worked on Harry Potter, Star Wars and Babe) has turned his hand to making giant cassette boxes, with painted inlay cards, including The Clash’s London Calling. All three artists will be in situ over the weekend.

    Horace Panter also has the answer as to what is the perfect track with which to start a compilation tape for an art opening. 

    "Trampoline by the Spencer Davis Group. When I was 13, it was the theme tune to my hospital radio show."

  12. Full Viola Beach studio album to be released

    Clash

    Viola Beach

    A full studio album by Viola Beach is set to be released.

    The group were tragically killed in a car crash earlier this year following a gig in Sweden.

    Now a selection of nine recordings are being collected onto a studio album, due for release on 29 July.

    A statement from their families said: "We are tremendously proud of everything the boys achieved in such a short space of time. 

    "Craig, Jack, Kris, River and Tom shared a huge passion, talent and dedication to music. We believe the best way to celebrate our sons’ lives is to release an album of their songs.

    "This is their legacy and we know deep in our hearts that the boys would want the world to listen to the music they poured everything into."

    Read more

  13. Tom Odell and Rick Astley in head to head chart battle

    It's unlikely that when Tom Odell started writing his second album, Wrong Crowd, he ever imagined he'd get caught up in a chart battle with 80s star Rick Astley - but the two are currently going head to head for this week's number one album.

    When the last set of figures were released on Wednesday, Tom was ahead of Astley's new album 50 by just 14 chart sales. 

    Tom was a guest on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show this morning, so Chris Evans asked him who his money's on...

    Video content

    Video caption: Tom updates Chris on his very close album race with Rick Astley.

    This week's number one will be revealed later today, during Greg James' Radio 1 chart show from 16:00 BST.

    Tom also had the chance to go a bit fanboy over Red Hot Chili Peppers star Anthony Kiedis who was also in the studio, and the pair discovered a mutual love of Motorhead. Listen below...

    Video content

    Video caption: Tom can't believe he's performing in front of Anthony and they share a favourite rock god
  14. First trailer for Tupac biopic surfaces online

    All Eyez On Me

    The first (of what we are pretty sure will be many) trailer for the hotly-anticipated Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me has been released.

    It stars 2Pac's dead ringer Demetrius Shipp Jr as the ill-fated rapper.

    Jamal Woolard reprises his role as Biggie Smalls - whom he played in the 2009 film Notorious - and Walking Dead actress Danai Gurira stars as 2Pac's mother Afeni Shakur - who died last month. 

    View more on youtube
  15. Pop rascals Rizzle Kicks are back (but a bit late)

    Rizzle Kicks have returned with their first new material since 2013's Roaring 20s.

    The pair have ventured out into the solo scene since then under a variety of guises including Wildhood and Jimi Charles Moody, as well as several acting roles. 

    Always Late is an ode to being the last person to show up, complete with an Alice In Wonderland-themed video...

    View more on twitter
  16. Christina Aguilera gives song profits to Orlando

    Christina Aguilera

    Christina Aguilera's announced she'll be donating proceeds from her new single Change, out today, to the families of victims of the Orlando shootings.

    A gunman killed 49 people in the early hours of Sunday morning at a gay nightclub in the city.

    Aguilera explained her feelings in a statement...

    Quote Message: The horrific tragedy that occurred in Orlando continues to weigh heavily on my mind. I am left wondering how people filled with so much love could be taken by so much hate... Like so many, I want to help be part of the change this world needs to make it a beautiful, inclusive place where humanity can love each other freely and passionately.
    View more on youtube

    Warning: third party content, may contain adds.

    Yesterday Broadway stars past and present - including Gloria Estefan and Carole King - announced they would record a cover of Burt Bacharach's What the World Needs Now.

    Read more

  17. Anthony Kiedis on what shaped the Red Hot Chili Peppers' sound

    BBC Radio 2

    The Red Hot Chili Peppers release their 11th studio album The Getaway today - five years after their last new LP.

    The first song Dark Necessities came out earlier this month and the band have now released the music video on their Facebook page, directed by Hollywood actress Olivia Wilde, who is currently starring in HBO's Vinyl. 

    Earlier this morning, singer Anthony Kiedis popped into Chris Evan's Radio 2 Breakfast show to discuss how the band found their signature sound...

    Video content

    Video caption: Anthony tells Chris about the origins of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' distinctive sound.
  18. Kim Kardashian defends Kanye over Taylor Swift lyric

    Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

    There is a new twist in the story about Kanye West's controversial lyric about Taylor Swift from the track Famous off Kanye's Life of Pablo album  

    You know the one - to paraphrase slightly: "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex, Why? I made that [girl] famous."

    Kanye said she approved it, Taylor swiftly (sorry) denied it, now Kim Kardashian has told GQ magazine: "She totally approved that." 

    In a new interview (warning there is some nudity in this article), she continued: "She totally knew that that was coming out. She wanted to all of a sudden act like she didn't." 

    When Taylor accepted the Grammy award for album of the year, she said there are "going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments, or your fame..."

    It was widely seen as a jibe at Kanye.

    "It was funny because [Taylor] said, ‘When I get on the Grammy red carpet, all the media is going to think that I'm so against this, and I'll just laugh and say, ‘The joke's on you, guys. I was in on it the whole time,’" said Kardashian. 

    "And I'm like, wait, but [in] your Grammy speech, you completely dissed my husband just to play the victim again."

    Who to believe...?

  19. Bastille debut taste of second album with new track Good Grief

    Bastille Good Grief

    Bastille are back, with the first single from their new album Wild World - a pop/indie mash-up called Good Grief. 

    It's streaming on Spotify and Apple Music now, and got its first play as Annie Mac's Hottest Record last night - with the band also returning to Radio 1 to play it for Grimmy this morning.

    View more on twitter

    Good Grief kicks off with a sample from 80's movie Weird Science, when actress Kelly LeBrock asks "So what would you little maniacs like to do next?"

    Dan and Kyle told Annie it's just one of the samples on the record, which is a bit like a mixtape and "filled with film quotes and mad, weird different sounds."

    They also "discovered this little known instrument called the guitar. We didn't have it on our first record so we were like, 'oh, what is this? oh this is wicked!'."

    The band play Glastonbury next Friday night, just ahead of The Other Stage headliners Disclosure.

  20. Status Quo's Parfitt has 'heart attack'

    Rick Parfitt

    Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt is being treated by doctors in Turkey following a suspected heart attack.

    The 67-year-old was taken to hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a concert in Antalya at the Expo 2016 festival.

    The band's manager, Simon Porter, said: "Whilst his condition is serious, he has already demanded his customary cup of tea with two sugars and a sweetener."

    He added: "No further comment will be made at this stage until the completion of the next round of tests and assessments to be made over the next few days."

    The guitarist has had a number of health scares in recent years - including a throat cancer scare in 2005 and a heart attack in 2011.

    Read more