Guardian Music — Damon Albarn's recent admission that the supernatural is now part of his life explains an awful lotThe 17th-century witchfinder general, Mary Hopkin, roamed Essex on top of a horse, burning witches and stuffing her bearded face with purloined olden-d... more info

NME — Blur and Gorillaz man due to perform at Manchester International Festival until Sunday (July 10) more info

Gigwise — Grint wonders where the last ten years have gone... more info

Topix — The main acts in a pop craze always spawn imitations. The "Britpop" movement of the mid-1990s was no exception with a succession of bands, seemingly using either Blur or Oasis as a template. more info

CNN Showbiz — The main acts in a pop craze always spawn imitations. The "Britpop" movement of the mid-1990s was no exception with a succession of bands appearing, seemingly using either Blur and Oasis as a template. But one band that could not be copied was Pulp, ... more info

Guardian Music — The former Blur frontman is in Oasis's hometown to perform Dr Dee, his opera about a 16th-century alchemist. Watch out for the live ravenAt the end of Damon Albarn's Dr Dee – an "English opera" about the Elizabethan mathematician and alchemist Joh... more info

Guardian Music — Yesterday saw more debuts from the Manchester international festival, including Punchdrunk's Doctor Who show and an opera by Damon AlbarnThe Manchester international festival is hitting its stride now, with a tranche of new work unveiled yesterday. P... more info

Guardian Music — Palace Theatre, ManchesterDamon Albarn discusses the making of the opera It is perhaps as much a disservice to call the 16th century alchemist and astrologer John Dee a Renaissance man as it is to refer to Damon Albarn as the former frontman of Blur... more info

Guardian Music — Slough quartet talked a good game at the start of the year, but there's still little appetite for a Britpop revivalIt's midsummer. By my watch, Viva Brother should be massive by now. "If Britpop is going to make a revival then Viva Brother are the b... more info

Guardian Music — London-born rapper Example has one foot in the underground and the other at the top of the charts. He tells Rob Fitzpatrick about his perfect plan for pop dominationA few nights ago Example had a gig in Ibiza. He flew back early the next morning and... more info