Guardian Music — The Epstein theatre - named after the Beatles' manager - opened last week after a £1.2m refurbishmentA newly opened Liverpool theatre and arts centre named after the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein is to feature a play about his life later this year.... more info

Guardian Music — David Bowie's androgynous alter ego, now honoured with a blue plaque, shot an electric current through less enlightened timesIn Strange Fascination, his biography of David Bowie, critic David Buckley treats Bowie's performance of Starman on Top of th... more info

Gigwise — Following splt from Echo And The Bunnymen's Ian McCulloch daughter... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — Echo & the Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch is planning to release his new solo album, Pro Patria Mori, this March. It's his first new album of original material since 2003's Slideling. He's releasing the album via PledgeMusic, where he's... more info

Gigwise — Rapper used to date his daughter... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Sinead O'Connor and Echo & the Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch announced spring shows at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. O'Connor will perform on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, and McCulloch's solo shows are March 22 and March 23. Tickets go on sale Friday. more info

Guardian Music — Colloquial and parochial, this Merseyside MC may be the first high-profile rapper to emerge from LiverpoolHometown: Liverpool.The lineup: Elliot Egerton (vocals).The background: Elliot Egerton aka Bang On!, raved about of late by Toddla T and Semtex,... more info

Guardian Music — Five stern-faced young men, who brilliantly sound like they belong on a mist-shrouded hillsideWho are they?Five stern-faced, anguished young men who stand atop mountains, making music with the elements at their fingertips.Must be cold up there at th... more info

NME — Singer admits to 'personal issues' after onstage rant more info

Guardian Music — May 1977: Number 12 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of indie musicIt's probably fair to say that no band's reputation has been as founded on as little as that of the Crucial Three. They never recorded, never played live, rehearsed t... more info