ContactMusic — British rocker Damon Albarn is to record a special charity album during a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo to raise awareness of the problems facing the country. The Blur star is heading to the African nation this week (beg18Jul11) with a gro... more info

Guardian Music — After working with Gorillaz and Maximum Balloon, the Swedish band are getting more attention than everIn a music climate that succumbs to the lure of the first album and then moves on, it's satisfying that Sweden's Little Dragon are about to release ... more info

NME — Gorillaz man set to make a new LP in a week in the African country more info

Gigwise — As part of project for Oxfam... more info

ContactMusic — Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O is following in the footsteps of Damon Albarn by writing her own opera. Blur rocker Albarn has moved from creating chart hits to working on stage shows, launching Monkey Journey to the West in 2007, and Doctor Dee, ... more info

Guardian Music — New Century Hall, ManchesterThe biggest-selling act to have emerged from Africa this century first met at a school for the blind in Mali in the early 1970s. Subsequently married, Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia have since received support from the... more info

Nialler9 — My backstory with Shangaan Electro. I can’t wait to see Nozinja and dancers hit Ireland. Rumour has it they will appear at the Cork Jazz Festival in late October at the Honest Jon Pop-up gig which looks to include Damon Albarn along with possibly,... more info

Guardian Music — Barbican, LondonThe record that spawned this gig involved a cast of 19 musicians hailing from five continents. Released last year, Tradi-Mods vs Rockers pitted groups including Konono No 1 from the Democratic Republic of Congo against post-rock and i... more info

Guardian Music — Leif Jerram finds Damon Albarn's opera about the Elizabethan Renaissance man John Dee visually stunning but very frustratingThis opera, written by Damon Albarn about the all-round Elizabethan Renaissance man John Dee, is very frustrating. I wouldn't ... more info

Guardian Music — Pavilion theatre, ManchesterAfter Björk's Biophilia giant ear trumpets and Damon Albarn's opera, the Manchester international festival has similarly jolted the former Beautiful South and Housemartins singer far from his comfort zone. Billed as "on... more info