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Live Updates

Kev Geoghegan & Paul Glynn

All times stated are UK

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  1. That's it for us (and U2 maybe)

    Video content

    Video caption: The Snow Patrol frontman recalls the happy times his band had going on tour with U2

    We are out of here.

    Scroll down for news of grime star Skepta's baby pic, Demi Lovato's backing dancer calling for end to 'negative' speculation about the singer and Punk band Slaves 'audition' famous drummers in their new music video.

    Plus Pussy Riot are re-arrested on their release from jail, there's a Scots Newbie Tuesday double act who love a bit of chaos and danger and Bargain Hunt is to go baggy for this year's BBC Music Day.

    We'll leave you with Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol talking Radio 2's Ken Bruce through the influence of a certain Irish megaband on their own early success.

    See you tomorrow - as if you have a choice.

  2. Liam Gallagher to headline Glastonbury sister festival

    Liam Gallagher

    Following his surprise appearance at Latitude a few weeks back, LG has now been announced as the special guest headliner at Pilton Party, near the site of Glastonbury Festival.

    Despite Glasto having a fallow year, the smaller party will go on as usual as a thank you fundraising gig for locals.

    Emily Eavis, who runs both events made the announcement earlier in pun-tastic fashion.

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  3. Post lunchtime listen: Goat Girl cover Bugsy Malone classic

    BBC 6 Music

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    OK you're probably having your Tuesday afternoon lull around about now, so here's a musical pick-me-up.

    The Brixton post-punks popped into the 6 Music Live Room over the weekend and covered Tomorrow from the movie about child gangsters.

    In Alan Parker's 1976 movie, the song is performed by adult singer Paul Williams whilst a child actor mimes.

    Watch above for a considerably less creepy version.

  4. Ariana Grande explains song name change

    Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande

    Some of her fans were a little disgruntled about Ariana naming a track on her new album after her new fiance, comic Pete Davidson.

    Well now, she's gonna step further and given the track his full name and penned a heartfelt tweet to someone who asked about it on Twitter.

    She says: "I love his name and I love him".

    And who are we to argue. The album in question, Sweetener, is due out in August.

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  5. Music charity Nordoff Robbins announce Get Loud sessions

    All Saints

    Bands including All Saints, Mercury-nominees Everything Everything, Kate Melua and Enter Shikari will play intimate shows in aid of the charity this September.

    Tickets for the individual shows will cost £10 with proceeds going to raise awareness of the music therapy work Nordoff Robbins does in its own centres and with its partners

    "This is such a worthy campaign, highlighting the power of music and raising awareness for a charity which uses it to change lives," said All Saints, as one.

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  6. Interpol release second new track

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    Number 10 follows the New York band's recent comeback single, The Rover, and will appear on forthcoming album Marauder, out on 24 August.

    Drummer Sam Fogorino told MNL a few weeks back that their sixth album - and first in four years - will be more direct than ever before.

    "Paul [singer Paul Banks] has been more straight forward than he's ever been, a little less ambiguous.

    "It'll be easy for people to latch on if they so desire, to what he's saying throughout the record."

    Check out the track, which centres around the secret office romance of boss lady Ella, above.

  7. Kesha shares Apple Music documentary trailer

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    The singer has shared an emotional look at the turmoil of the past few years in the video for Rainbow, which is due to premiere on Apple Music.

    "Sometimes things feel like they're too much to handle," she says in a voiceover, adding her latest album chart-topping album "quite literally saved my life".

    Kesha made her directorial debut on the documentary.

    She has been involved in a long-running dispute with her former producer Dr Luke over claims he sexually, physically and mentally abused her, which he denies.

  8. Boy George: New Culture Club song is 'about the risk of loving'

    BBC Radio 2

    Video content

    Video caption: Boy George on the inspiration behind Culture Club's new single Let Somebody Love You.

    George and his band Culture Club are releasing their first new music in 20 years in the form of new single Let Somebody Love You.

    "You always seem to be attracted to people who are trouble, you know, 'You are fire, I am water' but ultimately you've got to take the risk," he told Sara Cox on Radio 2

    "It's always a risk you're going to get your heart broken."

    He also revealed to Sara that he's swapped his wild old days for hot baths and yoga.

    Listen to the new song below.

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  9. Newbie Tuesday #38 - Free Love: 'Chaos is a huge part of what we do'

    Meet the French-singing, name-changing, freewheeling Scots dance duo

    Paul Glynn

    Music News LIVE reporter

    Suzanne Rodden and Lewis Cook of Free Love

    Before we get on to Free Love's own musical chaos theory, let's first address their recent name change.

    The Scots dance duo - who have been championed by BBC Music Introducing in Scotland by DJ Vic Galloway - dazzled fans and delegates alike at this summer's Great Escape new music festival with their high energy French-sounding electro under the name Happy Meals.

    Sitting down to talk on some Brighton beach deck chairs following their performance, Suzie Rodden and Lewis Cook explain the philosophical (and legal) reason why they've opted to change names just as they're beginning to finally make a real name for themselves.

    "It felt like an appropriate time for a transformation for us," says Lewis.

    "I think there's a power when you close something and open something new up. It feels like there's a new power unlocked, or you've opened up a new door.

    "I think the words 'free' and 'love' are so obvious but it just feels right for what we’re doing."

    The new name, which came to Lewis "in a vision after a yoga class", may once have belonged to "a Turkish band in the 70s or something."

    But, he adds: "In the spirit of free love I think we’re entitled to pick it up."

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    There was one slightly more legal matter, regarding the old name too.

    "There’s an element of that," he laughs.

    "At some point Ronald McDonald is gonna be calling, kicking your doors down!"

    That exact thing in fact did happen to another similarly-named band HMLTD, so perhaps a wise move after all.

    Suzie and Lewis are real life romantic partners as well as bandmates and also - interestingly for an act from Glasgow - improvise a lot of their lyrics in French.

    Suzie - who is fluent in the language - believes it perhaps lends itself more to the spirit of creativity and freedom.

    "French is such a beautiful poetic language," she explains.

    Quote Message: I remember studying French philosophy at uni and trying to translate the ideas as well as the language was almost impossible - at my level.
    Quote Message: There are things that I can convey in French that definitely wouldn’t be able to convey in English.

    "Although there’ll be French speakers who’ve heard my lyrics going ‘oh...' "

    "I don’t think that’s true," adds Lewis, defending his girlfriend's artistic honour.

    "You don’t speak French though!" she jokes.

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    "French has a bit more ambiguity," states Lewis.

    “Sometimes in that ambiguity, you strike upon the truth more concisely and it alludes to this experience of chaos a little bit more."

    "That’s exactly what I was about to say" agrees Suzie, with a smile.

    It's clear the pair, who have been together for 11 years - since they were teenagers - are very much on the same wave length (meditative yoga or otherwise) and will not be shackled by the usual conventions of band names or language.

    This applies to their live set too, where they deliberately refuse to make set lists - preferring instead to ride the vibe of the audience, battle with out of tune synthesizers and, where necessary, climb out into the crowd and on top of the bar ("I can't rehearse that," Suzie admits).

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    Suzie, who like Lewis, learned how to record and mix music at Glasgow's Green Door Studio, says: "For us, the chaos is a huge part of what we do - recording and live.

    "It’s what feels right in the moment. It’s a nice theme of the band."

    Lewis goes on:

    Quote Message: There's an over-arching intention and within that, there's a chaos that’s allowed to unfold.
    Quote Message: And we always do that with the live sets as well - if you’re getting that energy from the room where you're like 'this is working', you develop that idea for a while.
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    "I think with electronic music, there’s a challenge there to overcome and create that element of danger and I think that involves putting yourself in that dangerous situation live and in the studio.

    "It has to have a chaos and the possibility that something could go wrong. Forgetting to plug things in... allowing it to go off on that weird tangent.

    "That’s where the energy comes from sometimes."

    The band are also not above accusing some top DJs of taking shortcuts behind their laptops, confessing they could get away with it themselves but then that wouldn't exactly be in the spirit of Free Love now, would it?

    "It’s not outside of our capabilities to turn up and hit play and all the backing tracks are there," says Lewis.

    "And it would be so much easier," Suzie agrees.

    "We have two huge suitcases [of equipment] that we take everywhere!"

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    Check out their two new singles, Pushing Too Hard and July (above) and catch them performing alongside fellow Newbie Tuesday acts Matt Maltese, Skinny Pelembe and The Magic Gang at the upcoming Knee Deep Festival in Cornwall in September.

    Read Newbie Tuesday #37: Dan Caplen - from Canterbury choirboy to soul star

  10. New Travis Scott album lands on earth on Friday

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    Travis has posted a cinematic new trailer video confirming his third studio album, Astroworld, will be with us by the end of the week.

    In it, the US singer/rapper, is apparently sent to A-World in a rocket ship and then seen laughing in a trolley while bits of asteroid and fire fly by him, soundtracked by his new beats.

    Always good to keep calm in these situations.

    One voice from the space command office is heard declaring: "God bless you all - see you in Astroworld".

    Indeed you will.

    He'll have to make it back down to planet Earth though for his set at Reading + Leeds festival at the end of the month.

  11. Tributes to former Test Icicles member Sam Mehran who has died aged 31

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    He was part of the London dance-punk trio, alongside Dev Hynes, and also recorded as a solo musician.

    His death was announced on social media by GunkTV Records.

    A cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

    Hynes - who is about to release his latest album under the name Blood Orange, said: "Every time I was with you we were 17 again. You were such a gift to this world. The floor has gone and I don’t know where to stand."

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  12. Jada Pinkett Smith has written a 'pretty dope' song with daughter Willow

    Billboard magazine

    Jada Pinkett Smith and Willow Smith

    She's perhaps better known as an actress, but Jada - who is married to Will Smith - is also a rock star in her own right, recording with her nu-metal band Wicked Wisdom.

    They've been out of action for more than five years but, speaking at an event in Hollywood, Jada admitted her and her daughter have been working on a new track.

    "I actually have a song with Willow that we did together," she said. "It’s called Dear Father and we are still working on it. But it’s pretty dope.

    "Willow has always wanted to do some stuff with me....we’re thinking about doing four songs or something."

    That's a pretty musical family as brother Jaden has just released his latest album and Will recorded the official World Cup 2018 song.

    Read more

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  13. Drake is expanding his telly empire

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    The rapper/actor/producer/helluva nice guy is to exec produce a new HBO series starring The Greatest Showman acress Zendaya.

    According to Variety, Euphoria is an adaptation of the 2012 Israeli series of the same name, about "a group of high school students as they navigate drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love and friendship".

    One of Drake's OVO crew - Future the Prince - joins him as an executive producer.

    It follows on from Drizzy's rescue of Channel 4 drama Top Boy, which he is executive producing for Netflix to air in 2019.

  14. BBC Music Day: Jarvis Cocker and Bez join Bargain Hunt

    Happy Mondays' Bez and Rowetta and Pulp's Candida Boyle and Jarvis Cocker
    Image caption: Happy Mondays' Bez and Rowetta Idah will go up against Pulp's Candida Doyle and Jarvis Cocker in the one-off episode

    Jarvis Cocker will rummage through other people's knick-knacks in a special episode of Bargain Hunt for BBC Music Day.

    The Pulp frontman be pitted against Happy Mondays' star Bez in a one-off episode of the show, which sees amateur buyers trying to sell antiques for a profit.

    Kylie Minogue, Gareth Malone and Ella Eyre will also take part in the UK-wide celebration of music, which takes place on 28 September.

    Woman's Hour will mark the occasion by publishing a Women in Music Power List, celebrating the top 40 female voices in music, from songwriters and performers to managers and producers.

    Kylie Minogue
    Image caption: Kylie's train announcements will have a musical theme

    The list will be compiled by a panel including singer and actress Kate Nash and producer Catherine Marks, who has worked with Wolf Alice, Foals and The Killers.

    Kylie Minogue will be encouraging commuters to do The Locomotion with her as she voices train announcements at major stations across the UK.

    "I truly believe in the power of music to bring joy and lift the soul," said the pop star and BBC Music Day ambassador.

    Quote Message: Hopefully my little messages for train passengers will be a nice surprise and a reminder of the power of music.

    Read more and check out the highlights of last year's event below.

    Video content

    Video caption: On BBC Music Day 2017 events took place around the UK to celebrate the power of music.
  15. Four jailed members of punk band Pussy Riot are re-arrested on release

    Nika Nikulshina, Olga Kurachyova and Olga Pakhtusova are re-arrested
    Image caption: Nika Nikulshina, Olga Kurachyova and Olga Pakhtusova are re-arrested in Moscow

    The four members of the feminist punk protest band who staged a pitch invasion during the World Cup final in Moscow have been detained moments after being released from jail.

    Three female activists were re-arrested outside the detention centre where they had spent their 15-day sentence.

    Pyotr Verzilov, the fourth protester, said on Twitter that he was also detained again and was going to be held overnight.

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    Authorities said they violated the rules for spectators at sporting events and wore police uniforms illegally.

    Pussy Riot said it was a protest against human rights abuses in Russia.

    Read more

  16. Slaves explain all in Chokehold video

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    Okay, all you fans of the punk duo can relax.

    After announcing their split yesterday, the band have shared the new video for their Hottest Record (scroll down) and it explains everything.

    It imagines guitarist Laurie interviewing replacements for drummer Isaac and features a guestlist of 'celeb' drummers auditioning him including Ben from Royal Blood, Blur's Dave Rowntree and Amber from Hinds, as well as Peter Criss from Kiss and Joey Jordison from Slipknot... although we're pretty sure it's not the actual Peter and Joey.

    The audition even features the famous drumming Gorilla from the Cadburys ad.

    Check it out above as Laurie and Isaac inevitably ultimately rekindle their musical love affair.

  17. Skepta posts baby picture

    Skepta

    London grime star Skepta looks possibly set to become a new baby daddy after posting the below ultrasound pic online.

    If you look closely you can see the scan pic is labelled 'Baby Adenuga', which is of course Skepa's surname.

    No further details as yet.

    The 35-year-old rapper has been romantically linked to London supermodel Naomi Campbell, 48, who recently joined him on a visit to his family's native Nigeria, where he was made a chief.

    More on this one when we have it, as we know how much you love baby news.

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  18. Slaves' Hottest Record is an 'anthem for broken-hearted men'

    Band say they have split but fans think it's all a joke

    The Kent punk duo, who have been supporting Kasabian of late, got the Hottest Record treatment last night from Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac.

    Their new track, Chokehold, is "about break-ups from a male perspective" said guitarist Laurie Vincent.

    "I think it's really important in this day and age that us men talk about our feelings."

    He added: "This is an anthem for the heartbroken men out there."

    The track will feature on forthcoming album, Acts of Fear and Love.

    He went on to confirm to with Annie that bandmate and "best mate" Isaac Holman has left the band to pursue a dance career, following yesterday's note which apparently signaled his departure.

    "Your fans are worried" declared Annie, noting that the band have festival dates yet to play this summer, including Leeds + Reading.

    Listen above.

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    A video followed of Laurie advertising for a new drummer, while throwing darts into a picture of Isaac's face.

    Apparently a new video today will clear things up.

    Most fans online seem to think it's all a big prank.

    Stay tuned folks.

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  19. Demi Lovato's backing dancer calls for end to 'negative' speculation

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    The 25-year-old US singer remains in hospital in LA following an apparent overdose last week.

    Now one of her main backing dancers, Dani Vitale (pictured with Demi above) has asked for an end to "any negativity towards the ones who care about Demi at this time."

    "There is too much of it in this world as it is", she wrote.

    Adding: "Please remember when you take out your phones and start typing.

    "Remember that we all lover he more than we can ever put into words."

    It follows press reports Demi had spent the day leading up to the overdose "partying".

    Read the full note below.

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  20. Let's Go

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    Morning all and welcome back to Music News LIVE.

    Coming up today:

    • Big baby news from grime star Skepta
    • Demi Lovato's backing dancer hits out at those blaming her friends for her overdose
    • Travis Scott announces the release date for Astroworld
    • New music from Slaves and Interpol
    • A Newbie Tuesday act from Glasgow with a chaos theory of their own

    Let's start today with the new one from space rock Spiritualized.

    It's the second single from their forthcoming album, And Nothing Hurt - their first in six years.

    Check it above.