Music News

Damon Albarn is releasing new albums with both Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad and The Queen.
The 46-year-old musician is busy with several projects, including a West End theatre musical adaptation of a children's book and told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper he wants to reactive the animated band in 2016, and has a fully-written record for his supergroup - which also features Paul Simonon, Simon Tong and Tony Allen - but needs to find the time for them to get into the recording studio.
However, Damon refused to be drawn on his plans for his most famous venture, 'Parklife' hitmakers Blur, admitting only he would "imagine" they do have plans for the future.
He said: "I would imagine there's some kind of future but at the moment there's no time for the future - only the present. Who knows? I'm reluctant to say anything, because if I do, it just gets taken out of context and then I'm accused of being a wind-up."
Damon has undertaken a number of musical ventures in recent years, including writing two operas and orchestrating the Africa Express collaborative project and admitted his favourite thing is to work with different people.
He said: "I was just excited to create and still am. I love working with people, essentially. I do drive stuff, but I love the atmosphere and process of collaboration. It's my favourite thing."

Pharrell Williams is looking for sponsorship for Gwen Stefani's new album.
The 41-year-old musician and producer has been roped in to help the No Doubt frontwoman on her new solo album and has already been playing the pair's new music to potential sponsors.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Brands such as Apple, Beats by Dre and Adidas have had listens. He thinks they'll make megabucks offers."
The 'Happy' hitmaker has been the 45-year-old singer's lucky charm in the past, working his magic on her smash hits including 'Hollaback Girl' and 'Wind It Up' from her previous solo albums, 2004's 'Love. Angel. Music. Baby' and 2006's 'The Sweet Escape'.
And it seems that the pair may have reconnected while filming the seventh series of US singing competition 'The Voice', on which they are both coaches.
The mother of three was forced to premiere her comeback single 'Baby Don't Lie' in a rush this morning (20.10.14) after the audio leaked to the internet over the weekend.
But with the help of Pharrell - who is also working with Cara Delevingne on her music career - Gwen is hoping to have a smoother journey with her subsequent tracks.

Nick Grimshaw will not present the Brit Awards 2015.
The dynamic host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show has surprised many by silencing reports that he is to host the iconic British music awards next year, despite being the bookies favourite.
The 30 year old admitted that he is instead focusing on his role as host of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, which takes place next week at Camden's Roundhouse, London.
When asked at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards at the SSE Arena in London whether he'd be hosting the ceremony, he told BANG Showbiz: "No! No we're not. I'm presenting the Mercury's though."
The 'Sweat the Small Stuff' host has been the hotly-tipped replacement for comedian James Corden since he announced that he would not be continuing to present the awards after three years of hosting.
Other favourites for the coveted job include Radio 1 presenters Fearne Cotton and Greg James or 'Celebrity Juice' host Keith Lemon.
His pop star co-host of the Radio 1 bash - which celebrated teen heroes from across the UK - Rita Ora, also denied any involvement in the ceremony, which is set to take place on Wednesday February 25 2015.
The 23-year-old 'I Will Never let You Down' singer is looking to release her second album in January so will be hoping to be receiving the awards rather than presenting them.
She added: "No. We are not, and I'll be finishing my album."

Ella Henderson wants to tour with Adele.
The 2012 'X Factor' finalist has been gushing about the multi-million selling singer, expressing how much she would love to work with the 26-year-old superstar.
Speaking at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards where she performed her hit singles 'Glow' and 'Ghost' yesterday (19.10.14), she told BANG Showbiz: "I'd love to meet Adele one day.
"I always go on about how she seems this such incredible, bubbly personality and she must be a great laugh to hang out with and stuff so yeah I'd love to tour with her."
The 18-year old singer- whose debut album 'Chapter One' hit the top spot in the UK album charts yesterday- also spoke about how she feels to be compared to the 'Someone like You' crooner.
She continued: "It's the biggest compliment in the world! She is a Golden Globe artist. Even if I had half the success I'd be the happiest girl on the planet."
And it seems the teenage diva has her eyes on following in her idol's footsteps, putting her name in the hat to record the theme to the next James Bond movie, following Adele's rousing soundtrack to the 2012 film 'Skyfall'.
She told the Daily Star newspaper "I would love to do a Bond theme, that would be incredible. It's something that is definitely on my bucket list."

Iggy Pop says U2's latest album, 'Songs of Innocence', is a "veiled advert".
The Stooges vocalist says that although the album was made available to Apple's iTunes customers free of charge, it would be inaccurate to describe the contentious new album - which has stoked plenty of controversy in the music industry - as free.
Iggy, 67, explained to The Sunday Times newspaper: "I'm not defending or condemning what they did. And I don't know... to me I wouldn't call it free music. Because somebody probably paid them to do all that."
He continued: "But it's also not free because it's only if you own that [iTunes-featuring] device. So what I would call it is kind of a... veiled advert. A veiled advert would be my impression of it."
Iggy turned his attention to the music industry more broadly, saying that record executives and others tend to benefit more than the artists themselves.
He said: "I don't think that the glorification of the music business is always really truly good for the artist. It's been good for... wouldn't you say it's been good for Simon Cowell?
"Well, how much do you think he's doing for the artists? Do you see what I'm saying?"

S Club 7 are in talks to reunite as early as next month - at the 'Children in Need' telethon.
The 'Reach' hitmakers - made up of Rachel Stevens, Jon Lee, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O'Meara, Tina Barrett, Bradley McIntosh and Paul Cattermole - have entered negotiations about performing together for the first time in 12 years at the televised charity event on November 14.
A source said: "The reunion is definitely on but everyone involved wants a massive launchpad, which is why Children In Need would be perfect.
"It could still all fall through because there are the diaries of seven people to work around, but it's looking positive."
Should the pop group agree a deal to play at the event, they are expected to sing a variety of their greatest hits, but there are fears next month might come too early for the band because some may have prior commitments they are unable to alter.
The source added to The Sun newspaper: "Jon is busy with theatre, Hannah is working on TV projects and Rachel is a judge on 'The Voice' in Ireland.
"But for the rest of them this is a real second chance to ditch the pub gigs and become stars again.
"The idea is for them to perform a greatest hits medley, including 'S Club Party' and 'Reach'.
"If the reaction is good a tour will be announced."
It wouldn't be the first time S Club 7 have appeared on 'Children in Need' after they performed their charity single 'Have You Ever' on the telethon in 2001, one year after they sang their hit 'Never Had a Dream Come True' at the event after it was chosen as the official 'Children in Need' single.
This comes after Paul took to Twitter in August to confirm an S Club 7 reunion is "god damn close".
He wrote: "Big thanks too everyone for your support with the S club Re-union ... Sorry guy's I'm not confirming the S's Re-union . I'm just saying thanks coz there have been thousands of messages over the last year ... But it's God Damn close, I can almost ... Reach ... The sword... (sic)"

The Vamps were the big winners at the BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards in London tonight (19.10.14).
The 'Wild Heart' hitmakers walked away with three prizes at the glamorous event, held at the SSE Arena, Wembley, after beating off stiff competition from the likes of Ed Sheeran, One Direction and Sam Smith.
The band - consisting of Brad Simpson, James McVey, Connor Ball and Tristan Evans - secured the Best British Single gong for their hit track 'Last Night' and the Friday Download Best British Breakthrough award, as well as being crowned the Best British Group.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz on the red carpet, the group said of their win: "It feels amazing. We've been up against some massive artists. We didn't think we'd win any! It's all down to the fans, it's ridiculous."
Other winners at the event, which was hosted by Radio 1 Breakfast Show presenter Nick Grimshaw and pop star Rita Ora, included Ed Sheeran, who walked away with the Best British Solo Artist prize.
'EastEnders' star Lorna Fitzgerald - who plays intelligent teen Abi Branning in the soap - was crowned the Best British Actress, while Olympic diver Tom Daley won the Best British Sports Star prize, and crime drama 'Sherlock' was named the Best British TV Show.
The Teen Heroes were nominated by Radio 1 listeners for their outstanding achievements and selected as Teen Hero winners by a panel of judges.

The full list of BBC Radio 1 Teen Award winners 2014 are as follows:

Best British Actor - Lorna Fitzgerald
Best British TV Show - 'Sherlock'
Best British Solo Artist - Ed Sheeran
Best British Single - 'Last Night' - The Vamps
Best British Sports Star - Tom Daley
Best British Vlogger - Zoe 'Zoella' Sugg
Best British Group - The Vamps
Friday Download Best British Breakthrough Award - The Vamps

Paul Potts covered a Foo Fighters song on his new album to please his wife.
The 44-year-old singer performed his own version of the US band's hit 'Home' on his fourth album, also called 'Home', because he was keen to please his other half, Julie-Ann, who is a big fan of rock music.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz "My wife's a real rock fan so she enjoys that music and we often ended up listening to her music in the car.
"That's how it used to be before I started driving and basically we were driving, she'd change the music, which is fair enough. Except now when I'm driving she still chooses the music.
"You can't argue with the wife, but you soon learn. I've learnt after 11 years of marriage that that's not a very fruitful way of doing things."
Paul also admitted his cover of the song has been "really well received" in the 15 countries all over the world where he's performed the track.
He added: "I mean they can object but they haven't thankfully. But it's a good song and I think it sticks well to my treatment of it.
"It's been received well around the world, I've performed it in 15 countries so far and it's been really well received."
Paul Potts' new album 'Home' is out now. He is touring the UK and Ireland this autumn from October 23 - November 8. For more information and tour dates please visit www.paulpottsofficial.com.

Jessie Ware wants to take her brother on tour to find him a date.
The 'Say You Love Me' singer - who married childhood sweetheart Sam Burrows in August - has a big gay fan base so thinks her brother Alex would "clean up" at her shows.
She said: "Gay men seem to like me. It might be because I talk about my gay brother Alex all the time - I try and ship him off to people in the audience every time.
"I think he should come on tour with me because he'd clean up. He's younger than me and in his last year of medical school. He's a catch!"
Though Jessie, 30, is happy with her career so far, she still hasn't perfected writing a "really happy" song.
She told Stylist magazine: "The only thing I struggle with is that I still haven't written my ultimate happy song.
"I can't really do it, although 'Champagne Kisses' has this euphoric feeling, but still with a bit of tension.
"That's the thing I still need to conquer, writing a really happy song."