Guardian Music — Where Dylan chose the wide lense and the broad strokes of hope, Costello brings us the specifics, the fine details of despairPolitics and rock'n'roll have lain a-bed for decades: Woody Guthrie, Billie Holiday, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Billy Bragg, c... more info

Guardian Music — Popular country singer in the early 1950s Carl Smith, who has died aged 82, was a key figure in the changing sound of country music in the early 1950s. Like Eddy Arnold, he purveyed a softer, warmer vocal manner, while keeping the music muscular by p... more info

All About Jazz — Coming from the 1970s UK pub-rock scene, Graham Parker had to slip away from the shadows cast by Nick Lowe, the producer of his first album Howlin Wind, and the burgeoning legend of Elvis Costello. Adept at sharp lyrics, a wicked wit and a keen sense... more info

Popdose — Coming from the 1970s UK pub-rock scene, Graham Parker had to slip away from the shadows cast by Nick Lowe, the producer of his first album Howlin’ Wind, and the burgeoning legend of Elvis Costello. Adept at sharp lyrics, a wicked wit and a keen se... more info

Guardian Music — Our music team pick the songs or albums, old or new, they just can't turn offStanley Moon Camden Road Moon is an unsigned troubadour who writes nagging urban folk songs with an impressive line in wry, observational lyrics. Anyone who's walked through... more info

Confirmed bands for the fast-growing Swedish festival include Europe, NOFX, Sick Of It All, Kim Wilde and Nick Lowe. See also www.peaceandlove.nu (use Google, babelfish.altavista.com etc to translate) more info

Undercover, Australia — There was something special about seeing Ry Cooder and Nick Lowe together on stage. more info

Live Daily — Bruce Springsteen, members of U2 and Sheryl Crow will be among the guests for season two of "Spectacle: Elvis Costello [ tickets ] With...," which airs on the Sundance Channel, according to a press release. The second season of the critically accl... more info

Guardian Music — 'I often take my children on tour. I order them room service, wash their clothes in the sink - then do my show'What got you started?My family. My dad's mum and dad were coal-miners; they had a piano, and loved music like Fats Waller. Then on my moth... more info

The Vinyl Villain — In the days of i-phones, blackberrys and all sorts of methods of instant messaging and communications, it must be high odds against ever meeting someone for the first time and having to resort to ink and skin for the oh-so-vital phone number:-mp3 : ... more info