Music

Keith Allen has been many things. The father of popstar Lily and Game of Thrones actor Alfie Allen, he was also a TV presenter, theatre actor, the man behind two hit football anthems (the Fat Les ditty “Vindaloo” and New Order’s “World in Motion”, both of which he co-wrote) and a handful of small roles…

Billy Porter tells Krishnan Guru-Murthy about the challenges he faced due to homophobia in the music industry in the ’90s, the harsh reality of being an actor in the golden age of streaming and what success means to him, in this episode of Ways to Change the World.

The Irish music star Sinéad O’Connor has died at the age of 56. 

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Trojan records – the label which brought reggae and ska to the mainstream, along with artists like Bob Marley and Desmond Dekker. We look at the huge influence they’ve had over British music and culture.

Now to an up and coming band who didn’t let the fact that they lived on different continents stand in the way of writing songs. Infact, Superorganism first got together via the internet despite their origins in Japan, New Zealand, Australia and…Lancashire. Now the eight members have converged to live in a terraced house in…

He calls himself the Antichrist Superstar. Now armed with a new album, Heaven Upside Down, Marilyn Manson is playing sell-out concerts across the UK. He’s back on tour despite breaking his leg after two giant prop firearms fell on him during a previous show. He talks about his controversial music and the shock-rock tactics which…

They started performing when they were just 14 and 16 years old, after a clip they shared on myspace went viral. Now the Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg have toured the world and played in front of their idols, Emmylou Harris and Patti Smith.

Gary Numan was a pioneer of electronic music in the early eighties – but he’s found a new direction three decades on. In his latest album – ‘Savages’ – he’s turned his sights to the future – and a pretty bleak one at that.

Tomorrow night Sir Simon Rattle returns to the London Symphony Orchestra for the first time in two decades. Jon Snow went to meet him.

Grime star J Hus has a chequered past – including a spell in prison and once being stabbed five times. Now he’s on the verge of international recognition – with his debut album ‘Common Sense’ nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize.

They’re a pop band from Beirut with an eclectic sound, an openly gay lead singer and politically charged lyrics. Mashrou’ Leila are tearing up the conventions of Arabic pop culture and singing about issues few other musicians in the Middle East are willing to tackle including social justice, personal freedoms and women’s rights. We caught…

The celebrated British dance music act Orbital have reformed after 5 years and headline the Bluedot Science technology and music festival in Cheshire next weekend. Formed by brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll at the start of the acid house explosion in the late 80’s – Orbital are famed for spectacular live performances in front of…

If the furore over the Tory U-turn on social care costs has been all about the pensioner vote, the battle for the youth vote is no less fervent, especially with the deadline for voter registration ending today.

It’s a sound and a style that is changing western music. Afrobeats – the fusion of African and international pop music is helping secure some of West Africa’s brightest stars a global audience.

Whether it is rock, pop, jazz or classical – noise complaints, license restrictions and business rates are causing hard times or even closure for many live music venues.  Now a group have organised to provide a comprehensive snapshot of live music in every sort of venue – from grassroots to top-flight professionals.