Guardian Music — It takes years of training for opera singers to master their art. But would those skills help or hinder in singing pop songs? And what about the other way round?I remember hearing the great Malian singer Salif Keita for the first time in 1980. Joy Di... more info

Guardian Music — For the xx and for Elbow, the Mercury prize boosted album sales tremendously – but for Speech Debelle it was less effectiveJudges of the Mercury prize often cite their desire to bring interesting, but sometimes little-known, music to a broader audi... more info

Guardian Music — The 2011 nominees – Adele, PJ Harvey, Elbow and Katy B – are indisputably deserving artists. If only the Mercury panel would swing us a curveballIn pictures: Mercury prize 2011 nomineesTraditionally, the bookies tend to make a bit of a mess of th... more info

Guardian Music — The Lowry, SalfordFour years ago, performance artist Marina Abramović, born in Belgrade in 1946 and still very much alive, invited the celebrated American director Robert Wilson to co-create a piece about her. The resulting performance can be read a... more info

Guardian Music — Antony Hegarty has never conformed, not even to the body he was given. On the "precious side of arty", he transfixed millions with his voice. Always happiest collaborating, he's teaming up on stage with Marina Abramović and Willem Dafoe. Here, he t... more info

Guardian Music — Soul man Geno Washington promises to get the party started, while Suggs plans a classical 'Baggy Trousers'Anna Calvi, singer-songwriter (performing 16 June)What do the Kinks mean to you?I remember my dad putting on "Waterloo Sunset" and being struck ... more info

Guardian Music — Queen Elizabeth Hall, London"This is going to be atrocious, but feck it," declares James Vincent McMorrow with as much optimism as a man brandishing a mandolin and battling a heavy cold can be expected to muster. In fact, McMorrow feels so bad he adm... more info

Altsounds — We are incredibly excited to announce that *Porcelain Raft*, aka Rome native Mauro Remiddi, has signed with *Secretly Canadian*, the venerated American label responsible for launching the stellar likes of Antony and the Johnsons, Suuns and Yeasayer... more info

KEXP Seattle — Joan Wasser, better known as Joan As Police Woman, has a long and storied past. Despite playing music since age six, it wasn’t until 2004 that she struck out on her own, forming her own project. After years alongside such musical luminaries as Mary... more info

Guardian Music — (Domino)Wild Beasts have never been obvious. In 2008, Limbo, Panto unveiled Hayden Thorpe's extraordinary countertenor and songs with titles such as Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants were never likely to trouble Radio 1. The follow-up, Two Dancers,... more info