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Live Updates

Sarah Jane Griffiths & Steven McIntosh

All times stated are UK

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  1. And that's a wrap...

    We're done for the day, and the week in fact (it's the weekend - woo hoo!), but scroll down for new music from the likes of Tulisa, Nick Cave, Alicia Keys and M.I.A. teaming up with Zayn Malik - plus Usher wows fans in the Radio 1 Live Lounge in LA and Ricky Gervais shares his musical inspirations.

    We'll be back bright and early on Monday, so do join us then...

  2. Mumfords and more celebrate Communion Music's 10th anniversary

    Acts including Mumford & Sons, James Bay and Jack Garrett perform

    Mumford & Sons, James Bay and Jack Garrett were among the artists who teamed up on stage last night to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Communion Music - the record label set up by Mumfords' Ben Lovett and Bear's Den bassist Kev Jones (below left and right). 

    All the acts on the bill closed the night with a joint rendition of Help From My Friends, which Mumfords also performed during their Glastonbury set last year.

    The company started as a club night for new bands in 2006 but is now a successful record label, publishing house and live promoter which has helped launch the careers of Bay, Garrett, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Michael Kiwanuka and Ben Howard.   

    "I'd like to think we've touched pretty much any music you would have heard on the radio recently," Lovett boldly told Newsbeat.

    Read more

    Ben Lovett and Kev Jones
  3. The Proms heads to a Peckham car park

    Bold Tendancies

    In what is sure to be the edgiest show of the season, the BBC Proms heads to a Peckham car park this weekend.

    The Multi-Story Orchestra make their Proms debut with a Steve Reich performance on their home ground.

    The Bold Tendencies programme includes Reich’s Music for a Large Ensemble – his first major work for full orchestra – and his single-movement ‘octet’ Eight Lines.

    To get you in the mood, the Proms team's pulled together a quick guide to minimalism, while conductor Christopher Stark was a guest on Radio 3's In Tune programme which you catch up with now.

  4. Wretch 32 releases Growing Over Life

    Today sees the release of British rapper Wretch 32's new album Growing Over Life and it's already been heaped with praise, especially by BBC 1xtra's finest. 

    Charlie Sloth said on Facebook: "What a SICK body of work!!!! This is so MAD!!!! Go get this now!!! My bro @officialwretch32 has delivered a masterpiece!!!"

    Mistajam took to Instagram to declare: "If you're a fan of good music and world leading lyricism @officialwretch32 has delivered one of the albums of the year. Go listen if you don't believe me..."

    What are you waiting for?!

    View more on twitter

    In case you missed it, Wretch 32 recently performed a stripped back version of the album's track Open Conversation as part of his Radio 1 Piano Session for Huw Stephens...

    Video content

    Video caption: Wretch 32 performs a brand new track for Huw Stephens on Radio 1's Piano Sessions.
  5. Ricky Gervais on the music that made him (and David Brent)

    From Cat Stevens to Slade and Radiohead to David Bowie, Ricky Gervais has been sharing his musical influences with BBC 6 Music, for the next episode of The First Time with Matt Everitt. 

    The actor's currently starring in the musical movie David Brent: Life on the Road, which charts the touring experiences of everyone's favourite office manager on his quest to rock superstardom.

    The album that accompanies the movie - featuring Brent and his band Forgone Conclusion – charted at number three in the UK and the group are playing two sold out shows at London's Apollo on 8 and 9 September. 

    Here's a taster of this weekend's programme, which airs at 13:00 BST on Sunday... 

    Video content

    Video caption: A taster of The First Time with Ricky Gervais
  6. James Blake teams up with Vince Staples

    James Blake, Vince Staples

    James Blake has shared a new version of the track Timeless from his album The Colour In Anything, featuring Long Beach rapper VinceStaples

    You can listen to it on Spotify or YouTube but please beware of some mild swearing.

    Staples released his own EP Prima Donna last week, featuring Blake on production duties, and today he's shared a 10 minute short film to accompany it. You can watch the film by award-winning director Nabil on YouTube (but please beware of the not-so-mild-at-all swearing if you do).

    Blake kicks off a UK tour at the end of October, starting in Dublin and winding up with a sold out show at London's Brixton Academy. 

  7. Alicia Keys pens track for new film Queen of Katwe

    Alicia Keys

    Alicia Keys has teamed up with Disney to pen a track for its upcoming film Queen of Katwe, starring David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o. 

    The singer - who became one of the many post-MTV VMA talking points earlier this week thanks to her (bold / brave / shocking / cool) decision to go make-up free on the red carpet (above) - says the film "moved me in every way".

    Due in UK cinemas next month, Queen of Katwe tells the true story of a young girl from the streets of Uganda whose world changed rapidly when she was introduced to the game of chess.  

    Keys says of her contribution to the soundtrack...

    Quote Message: Back to Life is about pushing past that little voice of doubt in our heads so we can instead, electrify the world. When we allow women to find and express their power and potential, the world changes for the better.

    There's more from her in this nice little featurette which also features a taster of the track and some clips from the movie which will premiere at Toronto Film Festival later this month... 

    Warning: Third party content, may contain ads. 

    View more on youtube
  8. The Shins kick off End of the Road Festival

    View more on twitter

    While the start of September might signal the "end of the summer" for many (sob), there are still a few festivals hoping to help people cling onto the season's last moments in style. 

    The Shins got this year’s End of the Road festival up and running at Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset last night, along with Teleman and Ezra Furman. 

    James Mercer's Portland band played two new songs Dead Alive and Rubber Balls during their "first proper show in about four years" - you can check out lots of photos on the Loud & Quiet website.

    Meanwhile Festival No 6 has taken over the highly Instagram-able Portmeirion for the weekend with headliners Noel Gallagher, Hot Chip and Bastille plus Roisin Murphy, Roots Manuva and a heap of cultural goings on.

  9. The Revolution reunite to pay tribute to Prince

    Prince

    There's a lot of shaky video footage of a special Prince tribute show by his former backing band The Revolution around today, after the band reunited for the first in a series of shows at the First Avenue club in Minneapolis. 

    Several fans have shared their favourite moments of the night - from Little Red Corvette and Purple Rain to Let’s Go Crazy...

    View more on instagram

    See more on the Pitchfork website

  10. Massive Attack release extra tickets for Bristol show

    Massive Attack

    Massive Attack are hosting a huge homecoming gig in Bristol this weekend, and have just released a final ticket allocation for the show.

    The group say the last minute-ness of it is in "an effort to combat ticket touts".  

    In honour of Saturday's gig at The Downs, BBC 6 Music's Now Playing show on Sunday will be dedicated to Massive Attack. You can join in with creating the ultimate playlist on Twitter using #Massive6Music

    View more on twitter
  11. Zara Larsson debuts new single Ain't My Fault

    Zara Larsson

    Zara Larsson's new single Ain't My Fault has the honour of being Radio 1's track of the day and the top track on both Spotify and Apple Music's new music playlists this morning. Sadly you can only listen to it there or on iTunes.

    It follows her debut single Lush Life (top 3 in the UK) and a collaboration with MNEK in Never Forget You - as well as Tinie Tempah duet Girls Like and that UEFA 2016 song with David Guetta. 

    According to the press release: "Drawing on sassy RnB and seductive grooves, Ain’t My Fault is an impressive step forward for Zara and one likely to propel her even further into global consciousness."

    Ooh er... Here's what the fans are making of it...

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
  12. Judge dismisses lawsuit over Beyonce trailer

    BuzzFeed

    BuzzFeed

    Beyonce

    You may remember us telling you back in June that Beyonce was being sued for an alleged breach of copyright in her Lemonade trailer.

    An independent filmmaker called Matthew Fulks claimed that the trailer copied elements of one of his works, Palinoia. He cited this part of his film, which was shot in an underground parking garage, as one of the examples (with Beyonce's video below)...

    Still from Matthew Faulks's film
    Beyonce Lemonade trailer

    Beyoncé’s legal team countered the two works bore no "actionable similarity".

    Now a federal judge in the US has dismissed the lawsuit.

    Judge Jed Rakoff said after full consideration of all the facts, briefs and oral arguments from both parties he disagreed with Faulks's claims.

    Rakoff said he will issue his full opinion with his reasoning at a later date.  

    Read the full story

  13. Black Eyed Peas share star-studded video

    As we mentioned earlier this week, The Black Eyed Peas have been so moved by the current craziness of world events, they've reworked their their 2003 hit Where is the Love? for charity - with the help of just a couple of celeb pals. 

    The new version sees the likes of Mary J Blige, Usher, Diddy, DJ Khaled, Snoop Dogg, Jaden Smith and Justin Timberlake join will.i.am. and his crew to spread the message of love and understanding.

    The video has now been made available to the general viewing public. It features Dallas Police Chief David O Brown and Sandra Sterling - the aunt who raised Alton Sterling who was fatally shot by police in the US earlier this year - as well as celebs like model Kendall Jenner and the track's musical collaborators. See who you can spot...

    Warning: third party content, may contain ads. 

    View more on youtube
  14. Olly Murs announces album title, release date and tour

    View more on twitter

    We have three pieces of Olly Murs news for you now...

    1) His new album will be called 24 Hrs. We assume that's the correct title, as opposed to 24 Hours. Murs's own tweet seems to use the abbreviated version of the word "hours" which is a little odd for an album title but that's what he's going with so here we are.

    2) It will be released on 11 November. Murs has shrewdly noticed that November is the 11th month of the calendar year, so he went with the snappy "11.11" when announcing the release date.

    3) He'll be on tour from 3 March to 5 April 2017, starting in Glasgow and ending in Belfast. Here is a handy promotional image with all the dates:

    View more on twitter

    As long as he's performing Troublemaker, we are there.

  15. Paul Van Dyk Twitter account hacked

    Paul Van Dyk

    DJ Paul van Dyk says his website and Twitter account were hacked and that he did not write racist messages that were posted on his Twitter feed on Thursday. 

    "The messages posted were deeply offensive and contrary to everything Paul has stood for in his decades-long career," said a statement from a representative for van Dyk. 

    The messages were removed soon after they were posted and the DJ later tweeted to let fans know his account had been hacked...

    View more on twitter

    The veteran electronic music artist and producer is best known for such songs as Another Way, Talking in Grey and Face to Face.  

  16. Usher nails it in the Radio 1 Live Lounge

    View more on twitter

    Usher made like a total pro in the Radio 1 Live Lounge this morning, joining Clara Amfo for a stunning performance in LA, live into Nick Grimshaw's breakfast show. 

    Grimmy declared it his favourite live lounge session of all time and it's fair to say fans were wowed... including yesterday's Live Lounge performer Justin Bieber (whose performance you can watch on iPlayer now)...

    View more on twitter

    If you missed it you can listen back, and the video will be on the iPlayer later too, but why not start with the nine times we were utterly mesmerised by Usher - from Clara possibly falling in love to his Reggae version of Love in the Club. 

    And there's more Live Lounge action to come in the next hour when Biffy Clyro join Annie Mac. 

    Usher
  17. ZAYN and M.I.A. release their duet

    Zayn and MIA

    M.I.A. has enlisted the help of Zayn Malik, otherwise known as ZAYN, for her new track. 

    They've collaborated on the single Freedun (a deliberate mis-spelling of the word freedom, because he is all cool and stuff now).

    The song is set to appear on M.I.A.'s forthcoming fifth album AIM, out next week, and received its premiere as Annie Mac's Hottest Record last night.

    M.I.A. paid Annie a visit to play the track and reveal the story behind it...

    Quote Message: I made the song a long time ago and always thought it was too mainstream sounding for me, so [the collaboration] just seems like it's perfect, if I was going to have a collaboration and have someone like Zayn, this is the perfect song, it sort of takes me out of my comfort zone but it also takes him out of his a little bit as well. from M.I.A.
    M.I.A.

    You can listen to the track (which she previously revealed they wrote with the help of WhatsApp) and that full chat with Annie below...

  18. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds share first track from new album

    For something a lot less poppy than the likes of Tulisa, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have shared new track Jesus Alone, the first from their forthcoming (16th) album Skeleton Tree, out next week. 

    There's a video to go with it, which features footage of the band from their new film One More Time With Feeling.

    Directed by Andrew Dominik (Chopper, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Killing Them Softly) the black and white 3D feature film - which premieres at the Venice Film Festival - was originally intended as a one night only cinema event on 8 September. 

    But due to demand cinemas around the world have now added screenings on the 9,10 and 11 September too.

    Delving into the "tragic backdrop" behind the making of the album (Cave's 15-year-old son died in 2015) it weaves Bad Seeds performances with interviews and footage of the band, accompanied by Cave’s "intermittent narration and improvised rumination."

    Watch the video for Jesus Alone below...

    Warning: third party content, may contain ads.

    View more on youtube
  19. The art of moshing set in stone

    What will future civilisations make of the concept of bouncing around like a total loon to very loud music - otherwise known as moshing?

    Perhaps in centuries to come people will pause to ponder this curious ancient ritual as they pore over this slab made by artist Vasilis Asimakopoulos, which literally sets the footprints from a mosh in stone. 

    Vasilis Asimakopoulos - Moshpit, 2014
    Quote Message: The piece was made by bringing a couple of friends over to the studio and serving a couple of beers and listening to Slayer’s Reign in Blood. Yeah, it got a little bit wild.
    Quote Message: It’s a past event but it’s presented in a very static archaeological way. My work looks at how the subculture – I see it as a proper culture – of heavy metal and rock music can potentially be compared to the way that we see primitive cultures now… and how it would look with all the materials and presentation that potentially would be able to be seen in the future.

    Asimakopoulos's Moshpit, 2014, is part of an exhibition of his work that's just opened at Manchester's Castlefield Gallery.

  20. Tulisa releases Sweet Like Chocolate

    Tulisa

    We need to talk about Tulisa.

    Earlier this week, she announced she'd be releasing a cover of Sweet Like Chocolate as her new single.

    If you were into garage music in the year 2000 the chances are you'd consider the Shanks & Bigfoot tune a total banger and a classic of the era.

    Therefore, the news that Tulisa was covering the song didn't immediately go down well on social media.

    Today, however, all has become clear. It's not an out-and-out cover, as there are new verses and melodies in Tulisa's version. So basically, the chorus and the riff are the same, but she'd kind of built a new song on top of it.

    Warning: third party content, may contain ads.

    View more on youtube

    Twitter reactions to the song range from "Fantastic to see Tulisa back!" to "Why has Tulisa ruined everyone's Friday with this monstrosity" - so it's fair to say opinion is split. Here are a few select tweets:

    View more on twitter
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    View more on twitter