Music News LIVE: Reaction to 'punk' bonfire

Vaults, the band who recorded a cover version of One Day I'll Fly Away for this year's John Lewis Christmas campaign say they will donate their fee to a refugees charity.

It's after calls for the high street shopping chain to stop advertising with newspapers which are accused of portraying refugees in a negative light. 

Now Vaults have written an open letter, making clear where they stand on the issue.

They also say proceeds from the song and a recent gig will go to a charity supported by the band.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Travis have been honoured for their contributions to the craft at the 18th Scottish Music Awards in Glasgow.

Fran Healy and co also performed at the ceremony, which raises money for music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins.

Other winners on the night were Twin Atlantic, Biffy Clyro and KT Tunstall.

Well deserved everyone.

Read more.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Olly Murs and the Pet Shops Boys have been added to the line-up for next year's Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at the Royal Albert Hall .

Murs is making his debut with the charity on 27 March alongside the Modfather himself Paul Weller on 31 March.

The Pet Shop Boys will be joined by guitar legend Johnny Marr and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra on 2 April.

"We have often combined electronics with orchestrations on our records," said Neil and Chris from the band "and now we’re going to do this in concert.

"Johnny has played on many of our albums and it will be a real thrill to have him on stage with us." 

The Who will also perform their 1969 album Tommy in its entirety on two nights; 30 March and 1 April.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Sound of 2016 winner Jack Garratt says he's impressed by the "diverse" longlist for the BBC Sound of 2017.

"I saw it when it was announced at midnight," he told the BBC, saying he'd been speculating on who would (and would not) be included with the crew on his UK tour.

Among the ones he guessed correctly was Rag N Bone Man, who Jack supported at one of his first ever London shows two years ago.

"’Im a huge fan of his. He’s not only got a fantastic voice, he has an incredible ear for melody."

Garratt also tips Anderson .Paak for success, after the rapper worked on a remix of his single Worry.

"The interesting thing is that he’s someone I would have put on the list last year... but it's great that he’s got that recognition."

After topping the list last year, Garratt saw his debut album, Phase, enter the charts at number three. It was recently awarded a silver disc, marking 60,000 sales, making it the biggest-selling debut album by a British artist this year.

The Polaroid-tastic video for his latest single, Strong Enough, debuted yesterday on YouTube - and you can see it below.

Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

We have taken you through 12 of the longlist for this year's 2017 and now here is the final three who are under consideration. 

Bedford-born Tom Grennan first found fame as the guest vocalist on Chase & Status's track When It All Goes Wrong.

You can watch him perform on Later... with Jools below.

Grennan was a one-time talent youth footballer and said: "I was close to playing over in the States but something was telling me not to and obviously it was the music."

Luckily for us...

Warning, may contain ads.

Don't let the name fool you  - The Japanese House is not a three-bed semi in Tokyo or anywhere else.

It is the stage name of 21-year-old electronic artist Amber Bain. 

The name itself came from a childhood holiday in Cornwall where she stayed in a property owned by Kate Winslet.

She's had support from the likes of Radio 1’s Phil Taggart and Huw Stephens and BBC Introducing.

Warning, may contain ads.

...and finally the obscenely talented singer-songwriter Declan McKenna.

The last time a 17-year-old was feted this much in the UK music press was for a young singer called Laura Marling.

Declan won Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Competition in 2015 and has since released the politically-charged tracks Brazil - about FIFA corruption and Isombard about xenophobia.

Watch his ridiculously assured Jools performance from earlier this year...

BBCCopyright: BBC

Laura Marling has turned her hand to directing for her new music video for Soothing, taken from her forthcoming new album Semper Femina.

The singer has also announced details of a 2017 UK tour. 

Laura's sixth album will be released on 10 March and apparently addresses "questions of how society views sexuality and gender but without seeking to provide definitive answers".

Head over to NME to see the video and read more.

From soul, to garage guitars, to grime - have you picked your favourite new talent yet?

Well hang fire as we're about to give you more from three hotly-tipped young female singers.

FIrst up, a heart-rending soul singer from Walsall; namely Jorja Smith.  She's excited for next year as you can see (and we think you should be too).

Have a listen to her singing the beautiful Carry Me Home alongside Maverick Sabre in a Radio 1 Piano Session just last week.

Some street-smart R 'n' B next courtesy of Ray BLK, who says she's "honoured" to be recognised by the Sound Of 2017 panel.

She's already been labelled “the Lauryn Hill of the UK” and nominated for best newcomer at this year’s MOBO Awards.

Here she is on Jools Holland last month, talking us through all manner of things we might expect to find on a trip through her "hood".

Her hood is Catford, South East London by the way.

That was Ray BLK.  Not to be confused with our next act, another London lass RAYE.

The 18-year-old Croydon singer who brings merges electro beats with soaring pop melodies is understandably "made up" with the news.

Her last video was directed by none other than Charli XCX.

Here's she is talking to Radio 1xtra's Jamz Supernova about her rise, at the weekend.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Delia Derbyshire, a composer who helped craft the iconic Doctor Who theme tune is to get a road named after her in her home city of Coventry.

Derbyshire worked in the BBC Radiophonic Workshop which created the tune in 1963, from an original composition by Ron Grainer.

Her contribution to popular culture will be marked by Derbyshire Way in her native city.

Read more

PACopyright: PA

As long as his throat is back to gravel-gargling normal, then Rod Stewart will join Arcade Fire as a headliner at next summer's Isle Of Wight festival.

The event takes place on 8-11 June at Seaclose Park in Newport.

Rod will top the festival bill on the Sunday night - a slot held earlier this year by Queen and Adam Lambert.

He said: "I have been very lucky to have played many of the world’s finest venues and festivals – but never played the legendary IoW Festival."

Remember Rod, the first foot in the festival mud is the deepest.

Read more

Alica Keys has said that she is "disappointed so much hateful rhetoric, sexism and intolerance" has been rewarded with the election of Donald Trump as US president.

Speaking to Babita Sharma as part of the BBC's 100 Women series, she explained her stand on make-up and why, in 2016: a "girl can't be herself".

So we told you earlier how the rude health of British hip-hop is reflected in the BBC's Sound of 2017 line-up, with urban artists making up half of this year's longlist.

Let's meet some of them now.

If the award was given out for the act with the best name then Dave would definitely have our vote.

The plaintive South London rapper, who is also a classically-trained pianist, says "I ran out of tears when I was 18," so instead has a big Cheshire-grin for us below.

Watch Dave in action, performing his track Picture Me live on the piano at Maida Vale for DJ Semtex.

There is a language warning on this video

Next up is fellow London wordsmith AJ Tracey, who says he's "gassed" to have made the cut.

Before being Sound Of rivals, he and Dave above actually collaborated on this track, Thiago Silva, apparently in tribute to a gutsy Brazilian football defender.

AJ showed Toddla T (and the rest of us) what he can do at the Maida Vale Studios, with his track Buster Canon.

The rise of the UK grime scene was arguably officially validated by Stormzy's Mercury win earlier this year.

Now, his cousin Nadia Rose wants in on the action with her witty wordplay and colourful beats.

Apparently no word from Nadia yet on social media but we do have her busting out her track Get to Know in the same studios as AJ above.

And last but not least from the London rap artists comes Stefflon Don with her wicked, dancehall-inspired wordplay.

Here she is catching u with DJ Target.

PACopyright: PA

...with a sword while pretending to knight James Blunt.

No this isn't some mad dream.  Apparently this actually happened at a party at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.

According to The Mirror the 25-year-old singer had to go to hospital to have stitches on his cheek after the 28-year-old Royal accidentally swung the ceremonial blade over her shoulder after fellow troubadour Blunt joking that he would love to be made a Sir.

What a right royal mess.  

Apparently t'was just a mere flesh wound though as Ed was back out the next night, scars and all ,having pictures taken with fans at a gig at the Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Read more.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

While the majority of this year's Sound of 2017 list hail from the UK, there is some serious competition from the United States in the form of nominee Anderson .Paak, and the previously mentioned Maggie Rogers.

Paak can already list as collaborators Dr Dre, ScHoolboy Q, 9th Wonder and Flying Lotus.

He has already tasted some award success winning at the Soul Train awards in the US.

And you can hear Anderson in action with Mistajam below.

Only three American acts have won previously, 50 Cent, The Bravery and - most recently - Haim in 2013.  Can he make it four?

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

John Legend has joined the line up of artists performing at the BBC Music Awards next month.

The singer said: "I'm so excited to introduce my new album to all of my wonderful fans in the UK and coming back in December to perform at the BBC Music Awards!"

Other performers on the night - that's 12 December - include Craig David and Emeli Sande - which is lucky as they have both been shortlisted with three other artists for the inaugural BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge Performance of the Year. 

Voted for by the Radio 1 Playlist Committee, the nominees are The 1975, Christine and the Queens and Usher.

Thanks to the power of t'internet - you can check out all of those live performances below.

Clara Amfo - the presenter of the Radio 1 Live Lounge - said it was "a unique and beloved space for performances from some of the world's hottest artists."

Warning: may contain ads.

More now from the longlist announcement and we take a look at two exciting new guitar bands who were delighted to make the cut.

In a year which has been dominated by pop and urban artists, this is no mean feat. And, of course, one of the could have the honour of being the first guitar-led rock band to win the award

First up are post-punk provocateurs Cabbage who send "joyous smiles from the Tameside Hills!"

Here's the Manchester lads performing a rowdy version of their track Kevin at T in the Park last summer.

Raucous rock-revivalists The Amazons say they're "honoured" to find themselves on the list too.

They stopped by the Maida Vale studios in April for a BBC Introducing session and belted out a rendition of their track Ultraviolet.

Check it.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Trevor Nelson is moving from weekdays to weekends on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

The DJ has presented the station's Live Lounge show between 10:00-13:00 for the past five years.

He'll be replaced by Ace, who currently hosts the weekend breakfast show.

"I have loved every minute of the last five years watching some of the biggest performers in the 1Xtra Live Lounge," said Trev.

Read more.

Right, so you've seen the longlist by now and hopefully checked out some of the talent. Good eh?

Time to hear from some of them then, shall we?

Starting with Rag'n'Bone Man.  The big soul singer thinks it's "pretty mad to be included", as you can see.

And here he is in action, on Jools Holland a few months back.

The presenter himself can't help but join in on keys, as the Rag-man belts out a powerful rendition of his track Human.

Warning: may contain ads.

Graceful American songwriter Maggie Rogers issued a brief "THANK YOU" before seeing the composite picture of the nominees and getting rather more excited.

Maggie already has one famous supporter in N*E*R*D* singer Pharrell Williams.

Go 18 minutes, 15 seconds into the video below to watch her win over the rapper with her original dance/folk sound.

Pharrell likens it to the first time he ever heard Wu Tang Clan, saying "Wow! I have zero notes for that!"

Radio 1's Annie Mac will be joined by Huw Stephens tonight from 7pm to discuss the list in detail.

BBCCopyright: BBC

It has been reported from the US that Colonel Abrams who had a big hit in the 1980s with the house track Trapped has died at the age of 67.

The singer, who recorded four studio albums, had apparently fallen on hard times in recent years and had been ill for some time.

In 2015, friends set up a crowdfunding campaign to re-home Abrams and get him medical treatment for an undisclosed condition.

“The Colonel is very ill with no permanent place of his own to live at this time and limited financial resources. Those of us who have listened to his awesome music and know of his plight, have banded together to try and help him through this rough patch,” said a statement on the GoFundMe page.

On Sunday, New York community leader Tom Herbert wrote on Facebook

"Just got word that Colonel Abrams has passed away on Thanksgiving.. Now he is at peace and our condolences go out to his family, and fans world wide, he is no longer suffering or Trapped!!!"

AFPCopyright: AFP

Beginning with the ceremonial burning of an original Anarchy in the UK acetate last week, Joe Corre, the son of the late Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and designer Vivienne Westwood burned a reported £5m worth of punk memorabilia on the River Thames in London at the weekend. 

Joe's bonfire took place on the 40th anniversary of the release of the band's debut single.

It was, in part a reaction to a series of events marking 40 years of punk under the banner Punk.London.

"Punk was never meant to be nostalgic," Joe - who founded lingerie firm Agent Provocateur - told reporters. "And you can't learn how to be one at a Museum of London workshop.

"Punk has become another marketing tool to sell you something you don't need. The illusion of an alternative voice. Conformity in another uniform." 

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Reaction to Joe's bonfire online has been, well, mixed...