Guardian Music — Chris Salmon hears the latest in web sounds at the Midem music conferenceNot surprisingly, much of the chatter at this week's Midem music industry conference in Cannes revolved around the future of digital music and how it might make someone other th... more info

Guardian Music — Never mind the Buzzcocks … or Stone Roses, or New Order: Manchester can stop trading on its former glories. Three new bands explain how they are reinventing the city's musicThere's an old adage in the trades (the music business, newspapers and ... more info

Stopcryingyourheartout.com — The hot sun is beaming down on the face of the rhythm guitarist playing onstage in Mexico in 1999. On occasions he gazes up to the sun, he is slightly blinded by its glare and he is annoyed that he has left his sunglasses behind in the dressing room ... more info

Guardian Music — From epic rock to Buddhist boogie, here are 15 acts destined for big things over the coming monthsAgile BeastAgile Beast were a fantastic pop surprise for me. I spotted them at their first gig at Brixton Jamm. They're reminiscent of both Happy Monday... more info

Stopcryingyourheartout.com — The Lost Interview : Noel Gallagher - 1991In the Spring of 1991 a journalist interviewed a person who would later become an enormous rockstar and musical legend, but at the time he was merely a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets. The journalist couldn't... more info

Guardian Music — These cerebral prog-poppers prove that Manchester is finally producing innovative, intelligent music againHometown: Manchester.The lineup: Duncan Wallis (vocals), Robin Richards (bass), Pete Broadhead (guitar), Dan Spedding (guitar), Andy Proudfoot (... more info

Guardian Music — Hear how surprisingly seasoned the teen Swedish sisters of First Aid Kit sound when they perform country-tinged folk-pop about hopes, regrets, cheatin' and hard-lovin', from their forthcoming debut album, The Big Black & The Blue (19 Feb to 8 Mar, st... more info

Guardian Music — The late singer's family is no longer seeking a judicial review of her death, saying they have achieved 'most' of their aimsThe family of Kirsty MacColl has suspended their Justice for Kirsty campaign, which sought a judicial review of the singer's d... more info

Altsounds — *T*hursday 31 December – 8pm – 3am over 18s only £27.50 adv www.ticketweb.co.uk (http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/) 0844 477 2000 24 Hour Party People get your dancing shoes on as Pet Sounds presents an exclusive live s... more info

Stereogum — After Solange covered Dirty Projectors, a band on Domino, it's only fair the Londoners who sing "Dominos" have a go at a song by Knowles' sister. Fitting into A Brief History Of Love's romantic aesthetic, they put their mark on Beyoncé's "Sweet... more info