Guardian Music — Catch up with the last seven days in the world of musicMust read1. Fairytale of New York: the story behind the Pogues' classic Christmas anthemTwenty-five years after its release, the duet about a couple who have fallen on hard times is still conside... more info

Guardian Music — Son of Rogue's Gallery, a compilation of songs from the seafaring tradition, will feature a grizzled crew including Keith Richards, Michael Stipe, Nick Cave and Shane MacGowanIggy Pop, Patti Smith, Tom Waits and the Pogues' Shane MacGowan are among t... more info

Guardian Music — (IML)Billy Connolly once called the Dubliners "folk music's Rolling Stones", but the rousing wild men of the Irish traditional scene sadly never reached their 50th anniversary in the same lucrative style. The death of Barney McKenna earlier this yea... more info

Guardian Music — Twelve years after it first began, the Longplayer is only beginning its thousand-year voyage. Join us on Monday to watch Caitlin Moran and John Lanchester discuss the mindbending implications of this extraordinary musical eventAt midnight on the 31st... more info

Guardian Music — Dorian Lynskey chooses the best music books in what's been a vintage yearIn his memoir Waging Heavy Peace (Penguin), Neil Young has some sound advice for his guitar-slinging peers. "Writing is very convenient, has a low expense and is a great way to... more info

The Independent — Festive favourite "The Fairytale Of New York" is back in the charts 25 years after it was first released. more info

ContactMusic — The Pogues frontman Shane Macgowan has revealed ghosts help him write his hits.The boozy singer has confessed he often sees dead people - and they... more info

ContactMusic — Irish rocker Shane Macgowan is turning his back on touring after growing tired of life on the road.The Pogues frontman is a prolific live performer... more info

Guardian Music — She wrote incisive lyrics, sang exquisite harmonies and graced arguably the greatest Christmas single ever. Yet Kirsty MacColl has somehow been erased from the story of British pop. Will the re-release of her first four albums finally change that?Nex... more info

Guardian Music — She first saw Kirsty on TV when she was nine, but the penny dropped for Jude Rogers in her 20sHer name got me first – Kirsty. It was such an ordinary name, much more suitable for girls in my school than people on Top of the Pops. But there she was:... more info