Guardian Music — In case you thought the mulchification of chart music could go no further, here comes this puree of modern popHometown: London.The lineup: Loick Essien (vocals).The background: Good to have it confirmed that we weren't imagining things last summer in... more info

Gigwise — See them dancing together on Gigwise... more info

ContactMusic — Usher gave up-and-coming R&B star Miguel a big boost at the Coachella festival in California on Friday (15Apr11) by showing up to cheer the youngster on. Miguel walked off the stage after performing tracks from his debut album All I Want Is You an... more info

Scotsman.com — A REGULAR concertgoer collared me at the Usher Hall this weekend with an intriguing suggestion. He had just witnessed, as I had, another failed Sunday night attempt by the BBC more info

Scotsman.com — BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA USHER HALL, EDINBURGH **** more info

Popeater — Filed under: Music News, Troublemakers, Usher, AOL Music Usher has fallen under the spell of another lady. The R&B singer is currently dating his co-manager and stylist Grace Miguel, a 43-year-old former Def Jam executive who was spotted with Ushe... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Miguel, who's written for Usher and covered Britney Spears, performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on April 15. more info

Guardian Music — Maker of 1980s chart tapes holds 500 house parties to launch service allowing fans to make and download own compilationsBack in the dry-ice-swept and pre-digital days of the 1980s, their endless series of twin-packed cassettes supplied the latest in ... more info

Guardian Music — Zach Condon's ever-eclectic Gypsy, Balkans and world music "orkestar" Beirut return (2-16 Sep, tour begins End Of The Road Festival, Dorset) ...Don the pork-pie hats and get skanking at the London International Ska Festival (21-24 Apr, Clapham Grand,... more info

Guardian Music — Hammersmith Apollo, LondonIn the wake of Chris Brown's fall from grace in 2009, the music industry needed a replacement: a photogenic male singer appealing to teenagers and adults. Trey Songz, a hitherto third-tier R&B crooner, found himself filling ... more info