Yahoo! Music UK — XFM - The pair have just been nominated for a Mercury for album Diamond Mine..... more info

Guardian Music — Surreal comedy's loss was the folky Fence Collective's gain. But I was the better singerBefore I mustered the courage to get up on stage on my own, I was part of a double act. The other half was a bloke called John Lynch. He was on my English course ... more info

DrownedInSound — In this month's tartan-tinted musical tit-bits we get the latest on the The Edge Festival, the Big Splash and King Creosote's quest for Mercury glory... Read the full story on DrownedinSound.com more info

Guardian Music — Of the 12 albums on the Mercury shortlist, 11 can be listened to in full, for free, on SpotifyThese days, as soon as the Mercury shortlist is revealed, you can go online and decide whether the judging panel is talking nonsense or not. Of the 12 album... more info

Scotsman.com — Scots singer-songwriter King Creosote has been shortlisted for one of the music industry's top awards. more info

Scotsman.com — FIFE singer-songwriter King Creosote has been named among the 12 nominees for this year's Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize. more info

Guardian Music — Previous winners PJ Harvey and Elbow also among 12 nominees for album of the yearShe has dominated the charts on both sides of the Atlantic this year, winning plaudits for her undeniable talent and unmanufactured style, and now Adele is in the runnin... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — by Bill Pearis DOWNLOAD: Wild Beasts - "Loop the Loop" (MP3) DOWNLOAD: The Wooden Birds - Two Matchsticks (MP3) DOWNLOAD: Rayon Beach - Wave Pool Ether (MP3) DOWNLOAD: John Wesley Coleman - Ooh Basketball (MP3) DOWNLOAD: Urge Overkill - Effigy (MP... 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

Guardian Music — Kirsty Wark, KT Tunstall, Victoria Miro and many more offer their top tips for free summer arts funNina Raine, playwright and directorGo to the National Theatre. When I was an assistant director there, I was struck by the National's similarity to an ... more info