Guardian Music — Johnny Farina tells the story of his greatest hit – and how it inspired the BeatlesThere was no shortage of instrumental guitar records in the late 50s and 60s. In the UK there were the Shadows, while in the US groups such as the Ventures had a str... more info

Guardian Music — What's new on the app stores on Wednesday 18 January 2012A selection of 20 apps for you today:HMV Listening PostBritish retailer HMV wants people to buy more CDs. Hence this app, which gets you to scan a CD cover (or just text-search for an album), t... more info

The Independent — Wealthy guests at the Savoy Hotel will be allowed to take over Abbey Road and add amateur recordings to its heritage in a move that will horrify Beatles obsessives for whom the recording studios are sacred ground. more info

Guardian Music — Deaf Institute, ManchesterNew guitar bands ready to hurl themselves from cliffs amid the gloom about the future of their chosen music should remember that a Decca executive told the Beatles "guitar bands are on the way out" as long ago as 1962. It's ... more info

Guardian Music — The Modfather keeps pace with rock history by namechecking his heroes John Paul and BowieThe list of names pop stars have given their offspring is long and ludicrous. But Paul Weller has proved there's always space for a couple more, naming his newbo... more info

Guardian Music — The country music impresario in his memory-filled home in WimbledonThe irrepressibly energetic Mervyn Conn gave retirement a go, and then thought: "I can't do this." Instead, this February sees him reviving the International Festival of Country Music... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — Jonah Matranga released Voices + Dedication, an album made up entirely of cover songs, on January 1. He covers tracks by the reunited Mazzy Star, the slightly less recently reunited Hum, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Elliot Smith,... more info

ContactMusic — The son of the man who famously turned down the Beatles has now acquired John Lennon and Paul Mccartneys early hits as a partner at boutique music publisher Round Hill Music Richard Rowe whose father DICk passed on signing the Fab Four when he was an... more info

Guardian Music — Canada's Voivod are one of heavy metal's most unique, beloved treasures. Now their extraordinary early recordings are getting an official releaseFor Voivod's drummer Michel Langevin – known as Away, supposedly owing to a now impossible-to-perceive ... more info

Guardian Music — (Fire)Clanging guitar chords stride across a roistering piano, and Robert Pollard adopts his steeliest voice to declare: "I challenge you to rock." Rise to his challenge and you'll be rewarded: Guided by Voices' return to the fray, eight years afte... more info