Guardian Music — Islamist militants are banning music in northern Mali, a chilling proposition for a country where music is akin to mineral wealthThe pickup halted in Kidal, the far-flung Malian desert town that is home to members of the Grammy award-winning band Tin... more info

Guardian Music — Scottish songwriter picks up best solo act, with Pulp, Blur and the Manic Street Preachers also among the winnersThe old guard of rock were celebrated at this year's Q awards, with prizes for Pulp, Blur, the Manic Street Preachers, the recently refor... more info

Guardian Music — (Kora)The disappearance of Beck Hansen must look, on the face of it, a typical case of the trendsetter who lost his cultural capital. Beck was the quintessential postmodern 90s pop star, who transitioned nicely into the noughties with more confession... more info

Topix — Soul singer Bobby was in hospital ill with pneumonia and colon cancer when he was approached by Damon to appear on the third Gorillaz album 'Plastic Beach', and he says the move helped him pull through. more info

ContactMusic — Damon Albarn saved Bobby Womack's life. Soul singer Bobby was in hospital ill with pneumonia and colon cancer when he was approached by Damon to... more info

Consequence of Sound — Hooligans will be hooligans backed with some hard-edged space funk. more info

NME - Radar — We've been watching The Child Of Lov for ages now, and today he's dropped his first video, for new single 'Heal'. Now signed to Domino affiliate Double Six, 'Heal' is out on November 26, with an album to follow next year. It has also now been confir... more info

Guardian Music — The band will play Rock Werchter in Belgium next July with more dates to follow, despite Damon Albarn hinting that their Olympic concert in Hyde Park would be their lastBlur have announced plans for a 2013 tour, despite intimating this summer that th... more info

Consequence of Sound — Damon Albarn in Womack's band. more info

Guardian Music — The ENO thinks it can tempt people with talk of a relaxed dress code. But formal wear is a democratic way of showing respectThe English National Opera (ENO) is launching a campaign to prove that their art form is not the preserve of a cultural elite.... more info