NME — December festival will also feature 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Deerhoof and Mike Watt more info

KEXP Seattle — For the last two years over in the U.K., Dublin’s Conor J. O’Brien has been making a name for himself under the moniker Villagers, performing solo and with a backing band in support of artists like Neil Young, Tracy Chapman, and Tindersticks. Whi... more info

KEXP Seattle — I’ll admit it. Tindersticks is one of those highly respected, established, critically acclaimed bands that I just can’t get into. Maybe I just haven’t picked the right albums to start with, but something about their sound just rubs me the wrong... more info

Guardian Music — (Heavenly)If Cherry Ghost's first album was – in the words of Ivor Novello-winning leader Simon Aldred – "Willie Nelson meets Walt Disney", the follow-up is more Tindersticks meet Tony Christie. The quintessential brooding romantic, Aldred isn't ... more info

Guardian Music — Last week was all about the power of the flower, but from here on in, we're living for the weekendAfter a week giving each other flowers, I hope everyone is full of the joys of early summer. Rather that than full of dread at the inexorable approach o... more info

Guardian Music — There are more songs about roses than any other flower. But for diversity's sake, this week's list takes in gardenias, cherry blossoms, poinciana and others – as well as a rose or fourBefore we go any further, a word of congratulation to the world'... more info

The Vinyl Villain — .......is the spitting image of one of the Villains' cats. The fat one called Charlie (named by her previous owner. Not the one who was so skinny when we got him from a refuge centre that he just had to be christened Jarvis.Anyway, the cover gives n... more info

Guardian Music — (Mule Satellite)(Crammed)Don't be put off by the title. UNITE may stand for the somewhat solemn and academic-sounding Urban Native Integrated Traditions of Europe, but this is an entertaining and inventive Transglobal Underground side project, in whi... more info

Totally Fuzzy — a r n e l said... Jazzanova (7 albums) The Temptations John Legend Monty Alexander Alela Diane Charles Bukowski http://bestfbothworlds.blogspot.com ...and: V.A. - The Very Best of Jazz Funk [2CD] music499 said... Iron & Wine - The Creek Drank the C... more info

Guardian Music — Grizzly Bear, Patti Smith, and Laura Marling have been confirmed to headline the intimate Serpentine Sessions in (28, 29 Jun; 1 Jul, Hyde Park, W2, livenation.co.uk) …Marling has also been added to the bill of this year's Green Man Festival (20... more info