Guardian Music — As he prepares to curate this year's Meltdown festival, Richard Thompson reflects on his personal journey from the frontiers of English folk to the haven of Sufi Islam, the tempestuous years with his ex-wife, Linda, and how it feels to be rubbished ... more info

Guardian Music — Listeners mount campaign to propel Joy Division Oven Gloves by indie band Half Man Half Biscuit to No 6 in the chartsIndie band Half Man Half Biscuit have never been ones to court publicity, having once turned down the opportunity to appear on Channe... more info

The Vinyl Villain — I feel I really do have to ask the question after seeing him at three different places in recent weeks.Firstly, he was standing right next to me at the upstairs bar at the Captains Rest in Glasgow on the night I went along there to catch Shearwater ... more info

Guardian Music — We can gorge on niche genres anywhere. What we really need from the BBC is enforced variety of the John Peel typeAmid the recent furore over the future (or not) of 6 Music, one figure has loomed large. No, not Mark Thompson, but John Peel. "This is ... more info

The Vinyl Villain — OK. You should all know the script by now. David Gedge disbanded The Wedding Present for a while back in 1998 and instead fronted a band called Cinerama. The idea being that his songs could move away from the restrictions of rock/pop music and becom... more info

Guardian Music — This ramshackle four-piece are reclaiming the sound of 80s indie Britain from the US. But do we really want it back?Hometown: London.  The lineup: Roxanne (vocals, guitar), Marion (bass), Patrick (drums), James (guitar).The background: It's weird ... more info

The Vinyl Villain — Lost In The Mists of PeelLike many I spent my teenage years with my finger poised over the pause button - record and play depressed - waiting for the next essential track on John Peel.I was obsessed with the programme, and having lost my father as I ... more info

The Vinyl Villain — It's a deliberate choice to go for Altered Images this week as it follows on nicely from last week's effort from Primal Scream in that there's a little known political connection.You might recall how I mentioned last week that Bobby Gillespie's dad ... more info

NME — John Peel sessions and other rarities set for reissue more info

Guardian Music — More than 100,000 people join online campaigns as David Bowie and Emily Eavis appeal for threatened BBC 6 Music to be savedThe fight to save BBC 6 Music continues to gain momentum as one supporter launched a protest song on YouTube and more than 100,... more info