Altsounds — Belfast is the place to be this summer for a music and culture extravaganza! In fact, Northern Ireland is home to some of the best musical talent around, from Snow Patrol and Ash, to new bands like Two Door Cinema Club and legends like Van Morriso... more info

Guardian Music — 15-17 August 1969: Number 18 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of rock musicJust as the Glastonbury festival doesn't actually take place in Glastonbury, Woodstock didn't happen in Woodstock, either. The festival in Bethel, New York, ... more info

Guardian Music — When I think of bookishness in music, it's not of Katy Perry or will.i.am, but something more awkward, more earnest, the type of music that stays inside on a sunny dayI recently found myself at two events – each extraordinary in its own way – tha... more info

Guardian Music — (Proper Records)Celebrating visionary British trad-jazz veteran Chris Barber's 80th, this two-disc set includes encounters with Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Dr John and Eric Clapton among others – testaments to how influential Barber was for a gene... more info

Guardian Music — Barbican, YorkDavid Gray reveals that, before his latest tour, he asked fans which songs they would like to hear. "There were 156 suggestions," he chuckles. "One of them was Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax." He doesn't play that, but top of fans' w... more info

Guardian Music — English folk-rock legend Roy Harper celebrates his 70th birthday with a one-off concert (5 Nov, Royal Festival Hall, SE1, southbankcentre.co.uk) …And hitting 70 isn't stopping American folk-rock legend Bob Dylan from performing at London's Feis (18... more info

Totally Fuzzy — "You can see why Jools Holland is so bats about Imelda May…authentic boogie-woogie piano, a genuinely great voice that revs like a hotrod at the start line, and she writes her own material." - Mojo Irish rockabilly songwriter and performer Imelda... more info

Guardian Music — There's nothing original about this British retro-soul man – but when you sound like Bill Withers, Van Morrison and the Temptations maybe that's not such a bad thingHometown: London.The lineup: Michael Kiwanuka (vocals, guitar).The background: Do w... more info

Totally Fuzzy — This is one excellent album, posted almost anonymously on SoundCloud. I had to google to find even the slightest bit of info. Why are these guys underselling themselves like this? I mean it's nice to see them not boasting and bragging like some do, ... more info

Guardian Music — With a voice that sounds like a veteran of several bar wars, you will either find this Tom Waits wannabe enchanting or hilariousHometown: London.The lineup: Marcus Foster (vocals, guitar).The background: We've just been interviewing an artist whose m... more info