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Live Updates

Kev Geoghegan & Paul Glynn

All times stated are UK

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  1. The best of British

    Spice Girls

    Now then girls...and boys, that's it for today.

    Scroll down for news of George Michael's 'big comeback' that sadly never happened, Ed doing Little Mix and all you need to know about this year's 6 Music festival in...

    We're off to see if our tuxes still fit ahead of the Brits tomorrow...  

    Okay, we're not actually going but we still want to look smart for the occasion in the Music News LIVE office.

    Join us then at the later time of 15:00 GMT as we'll have our reporters down on the red carpet armed with cameras, microphones and killer questions.

    We'll be here providing coverage until the bitter end, so you're gonna need supplies.

    To get you in the mood we'll leave you with 10 things you probably didn't know about the Brits.

    If you were paying attention we actually told you one as a 'fun fact' this morning...about Radiohead and trophies...or lack of them.

    Right that's enough clues.

  2. Baby you can drive George's Car

    George Harrison (right) and Paul McCartney of The Beatles

    A Porsche, once owned by George Harrison and bought for spares by a man unaware of its history, is to be auctioned.

    The 37-year-old Porsche 928 was owned by the late (and unofficially coolest) Beatle when he lived in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire and was sold to Raj Sedha from Leeds in 2003.

    Mr Sedha was about to dismantle the car before his wife looked in the logbook to find it had been owned by Harrison.

    Raj Sedha with George Harrison's old motor

    The car is expected to fetch up to £20,000 at an auction in Stockport on 17 March.

    Mr Sedha told the BBC: "Once I got it on the drive I began to figure which parts I wanted to take off.

    "My partner ran out with the book and said, 'stop dismantling it, it belongs to George Harrison'. I said, 'who's George Harrison?'"

    Who's George Harrison? Have a word with yourself Raj. You won't make a penny with that attitude.

    Read more.

  3. Solange and Jamie xx join Frank Ocean at Lovebox

    Solange

    Need we say more?

    Solange, Frank, Jamie - it's a pretty cool line-up for this year's event in east London's Victoria Park over the weekend of 14-15 July.

    Also confirmed are Mac Miller, Sampha, Canadian producer Kaytranada and our very own BBC Sound of 2017 winner Ray BLK.

    Chase and Status and Jess Glynne are also on the bill.

    The 2017 event will celebrate 15 years of the festival.

    View more on twitter
  4. Gig News: Car Seat Headrest & Father John Misty announce UK shows

    Car Seat Headrest

    Teens of Denial-fame American indie rockers Car Seat Headrest were announced for the 6 Music Festival earlier (scroll down) but if you can't make it to Glasgow for that one then they will perform across the country this summer.

    Will Toledo and co will also perform in London, Manchester, Leeds and Dublin in July.  

    They like the idea so much they will come back and play most of those cities again in August too on their way to the End of The Road festival.

    Read more.

    Father John Misty

    At the End of the Road they will meet this man...

    Lumbersexual singer Father John Misty who seems to be following the Car Seat boys around having also been announced for the 6 Music Fest.

    He'll be driving solo for though for a one off gig at the Rio Cinema in Dalston, London on 24 March.

  5. That time a bunch of Scots musicians got lost in France...

    Alex Kapranos

    Twenty years ago, a busload of Scottish bands, including Mogwai, Arab Strap, The Delgados and a pre-Franz Ferdinand Alex Kapranos traveled to France to play a tiny music festival.

    Lost in France is a new documentary from Irish director Niall McCann, who had the idea of getting the bands back together to revisit Mauron in Brittany and relive memories of the mid-90s music scene.

    What a time to be alive...and on a tiny tour bus.

    Read more

  6. Little Mix thank 'fan-girl' Ed Sheeran for covering Touch in the Live Lounge

    As promised...

    View more on twitter
  7. Jamiroquai's Jay Kay on the band's comeback

    BBC Radio 2

    Jay Kay from Jamiroquai nipped into the BBC's Wogan House to speak to Graham Norton on his Radio 2 show at the weekend, with the gift of a leopard skin hat.

    He explained the band's long-awaited return was hampered by little things like having children.

    "Life is what happens, when you're busy making other plans," as Mr J Lennon once sang.

    Video content

    Video caption: The Jamiroquai star chats hats, sports cars and their first album in years Automaton

    And you can check out the band's comeback single Automaton and Jay Kay's expensive-looking new headpiece below.

    Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

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  8. Katy Perry shares theme-park video to politicised new track

    Katy Perry

    With lyrics like; "Aren't you lonely? / Up there in utopia / Where nothing will ever be enough / Happily numb", Katy Perry's latest single isn't the most obvious piece of pop bubblegum.

    Now, Katy has shared her video for Chained to the Rhythm, her apparent artistic riposte to the political landscape in the US.

    Lest we forget, Katy campaigned heavily for the unsuccessful presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

    Check out her colourful visuals below, set in a theme park called Oblivia, where you can buy mushroom cloud-shaped candyfloss and ride a massive love heart-shaped roller coaster.

    The insurance bill must be a nightmare...

    Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

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  9. Depeche Mode to headline 6 Music Festival in Glasgow

    BBC 6 Music

    Depeche Mode

    We've been drip-fed names like Goldfrapp, JMC and The Shins already today (scroll down) and now Depeche Mode have joined mega bill for the 6 Music Festival in Glasgow next month.

    The band are headlining the Sunday night show at the Barrowland Ballroom on 26 March and will perform tracks from their forthcoming album Spirit, including new single Where's the Revolution, which has an awesome new video below (but still no question mark?).

    The band, led by Dave Gahan, formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, and have not played at the 2,000 capacity venue for more than 30 years.

    Which means it should be a pretty special evening.

    Other Sunday artists now announced include Belle & Sebastian, Whitney, a DJ set by James Lavelle and Anna Meredith, Gaika, Forest Swords and Kadhja Bonet.

    Read more

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  10. Watch teenager steal the show at Bruce Springsteen gig in Brisbane

    Bruce Springsteen and Nathan Testa

    Now, we feel in necessary to start this next post by saying that it's not cool to skip school.

    Stay in school kids.

    That said, major props to the teenager crowned as "the future of rock 'n' roll" by Bruce Springsteen after he joined the E Street Band on stage during a recent gig in Brisbane, Australia, having wagged a few lessons to be there.

    Nathan Testa apparently held a sign which read: "Missed school, in the BLANK (trouble, shall we say) now, can I play Growin' Up with you?"

    Springsteen spotted the sign and asked: "Do you know the song? You know it on guitar?...Well come on up!"

    Bruce Springsteen

    True pro he even had his own plectrum ready.

    The Boss broke the song down mid-way through to give Nathan some advice about finding the right guitar pose.

    "I've seen the future of rock 'n' roll," declared Bruce at the end of the performance..."And its name is...Nathan Testa."

    Open mic nights in Brizzy will be a breeze from here on in lad.

    Nathan has reportedly shared the stage with him before aged 11 and we'll be heartbroken if this was staged.

    Check out the footage below courtesy of gig-goer Melanie J.S.B.  

    Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

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  11. Ed Sheeran in the (Little) Mix

    BBC Radio 1

    Ed Sheeran

    Well we all knew Ed Sheeran was in the Live Lounge (scroll down) but we didn't know he was "a Little Mix fan-girl".

    Did you?

    He's just outed himself as one on national radio. He said he saw the girls perform in Milan last year and that it was the ONLY gig he saw in 2016.

    Little Mix

    He then drilled home the point by covering their track Touch, complete with all the doo doo doos and everything.

    Listen to a snippet below.

    View more on twitter

    We're all waiting by our phones now for approval from the girls themselves.

    But some of you lot loved it.

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    View more on twitter
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    View more on twitter
  12. Black Kids return after a looooong break

    The Black Kids

    Remember the song I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You by a band called The Black Kids

    It sounded a bit like The Cure and it was everywhere in 2008 and they were being seriously touted as the next big thing.

    Well the Floridian band, led by brother and sister Reggie and Ali Youngblood, released one album Partie Traumatic and then basically disappeared.

    View more on youtube

    Well, now they have shared a brand new album called Rookie on their website for free.

    There is very little information about their comeback but here's a new video to whet your appetite.

    Apparently they "don't want to fight anymore" but they still sound a bit like The Cure.

    Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

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  13. Goldfrapp and The Jesus and Mary Chain to play 6 Music Festival

    BBC 6 Music

    Goldfrapp

    So, we have the location, now we have the first tranche of bands booked to play this year's 6 Music Festival in Glasgow (or Glesca to locals).

    Goldfrapp will headline a show at the O2 Academy, supported by Sparks and Future Islands on Friday 24 March.

    While local lads The Jesus and Mary Chain cap their comeback with Ride, Warpaint and Sleaford Mods at the Barrowlands.

    Welsh songstress Cate Le Bon, Dutch Uncles, Girl Ray, DUDS are also playing.

    A mammoth Saturday night line-up will sees sets by the likes of The Shins, Grandaddy, Bonobo, Thundercat, Loyle Carner, Car Seat Headrest, The Lemon Twigs, Simian Mobile Disco and Jungle.

    Go to the 6 Music Festival site for the full Friday and Saturday line-up and we'll have the Sunday line-up coming later.

  14. Watch Ed Sheeran in the Live Lounge

    Ed Sheeran

    Ed Sheeran is currently in Radio 1's Live Lounge, having scoffed his lunch speedily ahead of his set in a risky dare.

    Thanks for sharing Ed.

    People are enjoying it and you can watch it live now.

    View more on twitter
    View more on twitter
  15. Less Rumble in the Jungle, more Storm in a teacup as celeb boxing cancelled

    BBC Newsbeat

    Soulja Boy

    Soulja Boy versus Chris Brown was set to be the hottest ticket of the year, aside from David Haye vs Tony Bellew, or Klitscho vs Joshua.

    But now, it looks as if the celebrity boxing match of 2017 has been called off.

    Soulja Boy (not his real name) is claiming Chris will not sign a contract. 

    The pair have been involved in a feud on social media and had arranged to fight in Las Vegas over three rounds but a date was never announced.

    Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was training Chris Brown (his real name) while Soulja (or Boy, we're not quite sure) was being put through his paces by Floyd Mayweather.

    But now the rapper has tweeted (in some rather colourful language) to say the $1m grudge fight is off. 

    Shame, they both seem pretty punchable.

    Read more

  16. Boardmasters reveal second wave of acts

    The Flaming Lips

    Surf and music festival Boardmasters has announced another load of big acts to head to Cornwall this summer.

    Psych rockers The Flaming Lips, grime sensation Stormzy and indie icons The Vaccines will all aim to make a major splash (so sorry) on the Cornish coastline in August.

    "So put a wet suit on, come on, commmmme on..." 

    They'll join previously-named headliners Two Door Cinema Club, Jamiroquai and Alt-J.

    Here's last year's fest and it looks pretty gnarly dude.

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  17. Bonjour Emma....Sorry, Belle

    They're really drip-feeding out the teasers aren't they, those clever bods over at Disney marketing.

    And we're just lapping it up...

    We now have some more new footage of Emma Watson, in character as Belle, singing one of the most famous songs from Beauty at the Beast: Bonjour, from the film's opening scene.

    Those pastries look good too. Mmm.

    Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.

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  18. 'Genius' George Michael was planning 'big comeback' says Nile Rodgers

    George Michael

    Guitar god Nile Rodgers has spoken of the "heart-breaking" moment he learned George Michael had died via a news alert on his phone, while he was waiting for a text message from the singer himself about a new collaboration.

    The Chic star had been at George's house just two days before the singer was found dead, and the two musicians had arranged to speak on the phone on Christmas Day.

    Nile had been remixing one of George's songs and said the singer was planning a "big comeback".

    Speaking at the BBC Worldwide Showcase, when asked about who he would most like to collaborate with, Rodgers told the Press Association: "That's a tricky question because I always go to the people that I almost work with and it didn't work out because they passed away and that emotion is so strong.

    "I was just working with George Michael. I was here on December 23, and I had come over to remix one of his songs, and while I was here working on the remix I was also doing a Chic concert that night.

    Quote Message: But then George Michael was doing a film, because he was planning a big comeback. So they had me come over to his house to shoot the film, and I still hadn't played the demo yet because I thought it was so cool and fairly drastic, I wanted to just play it for him first."
    Nile Rodgers

    He added: "So I get a message from Michael, a text - 'So Nile lets talk tomorrow'...On Christmas Day, instead of getting a text I get an alert: 'George Michael found dead.'

    Quote Message: It was heart-breaking and he never got a chance to hear what I did, so now I'm ambivalent about the work because I wanted him to hear it, not the record company necessarily.

    "Not that I have anything against them, it's just he was such a genius and he created and produced his own work."

    Rodgers is also set to be the subject of a brand new BBC Music documentary series.

    Nile Rodgers: Lost in Music will take a look at the Chic guitarist's career and take viewers through the creative process of making a hit record.

    The three-part series, which will feature the likes of Mark Ronson, Kathy Sledge, Carly Simon and Laura Mvula, will be shown on BBC Four this April.

    We're calling it a Chic flick.    

    Nile spoke to 6 Music this morning about what to expect.

    Listen below.

    Video content

    Video caption: The man himself tells us all about the brand new BBC Music series
  19. 6 Music Festival to be held in...

    BBC 6 Music

    Lauren Laverne

    ...Glasgow!

    This year's 6 Music Festival is to take place in the Scottish city over the weekend of 24-26 March.

    The news was announced by Lauren Laverne while broadcasting her show live from the Glasgow School of Art.

    We'll have more details on the line-up shortly, but there's a clue about one of the venues below.

    It's behiiiiind you Lauren...

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  20. Lana Del Rey released new single Love following leak

    Californian songstress Lana Del Rey has been speaking to Radio 1's Mistajam about Love... her new single that is - not her own personal love life, calm down.

    She said the new single has appeared earlier than anticipated, after bits of it 'leaked' online.

    "We just got ahead of it and put it out, but I'm really excited about it.  

    "I love the message of the song and I love the sound of the record, it has everything that I love sonically."

    Listen to more below:

    And she has also shared a sultry, retro new video for the track.

    In it Lana sports the flowers-in-the-hair hippy look that girls up and down the country will no doubt be replicating in festival fields around the UK this summer.

    Enjoy

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