Jade's Music Blog

The capital of music is fully embracing its status as Capital of Culture for 2008, with a superb schedule of live events. I can't wait to see and hear as much as I can...

I'm never one to resist a bit of the sexiest man on radio, so here's a quick Q&A with the lovely Mr Dermot O'Leary ahead of Celebrity Hijack...

In today's review section we have the latest releases from Pet Shop Boys, Last Gambados and Elliot Minor...

The Number One Project aims to bring together some of Liverpool’s finest musicians, but one collaboration has managed to draw together artists slightly further than others – it is a transatlantic musical piece of teamwork stretching over 3,000 miles.

A rainy night in a wet corner of Birkenhead, and in The Real People’s studio, Towers of London are recording a download track for the Number One Project...

They’re a band and not a band, there are hundreds of them, but most are dead - The Weirdos are, well, fairly weird.

The Family Folk-Up is fast making a name for itself as one of the most interesting musical showcases in the city. A monthly live acoustic music event, it’s hosted The Random Family at the best kept secret of Liverpool live music venues - St Brides Church on Catherine Street.

It was with heavy hearts that we published today that Bill Ryder Jones has left The Coral.

Today we have reviews of the latest offerings from Babyshambles, Parka, Madness and Supergrass. Read on and let me know your views...

Fresh from Jo Whiley's Live Lounge and countless ‘bands to watch for 2008’ lists, The Wombats are back in town for the Capital of Culture launch this weekend.

So, they've announced the nominees for this year's Brit Awards, and there are a few decent bands up. Not that they'll win of course...

IF DIGSY Deary had a pound for every time his band had been tipped as the next big thing he'd be a very rich man by now.

BBC Radio 2 favourite and champion of popular culture, Stuart Maconie will deliver the LS Lowry Lecture 2008

Every great band needs its thunderbolt, the charismatic rock god who joins the band, sacks the drummer, brings in a new keyboardist, writes most of their best songs, insists on playing all the guitars and singing and transforms them into something special. Oasis had Noel. The Clash had Strummer. And One Night Only have George Craig...

In the review column this week we have the latest offerings from The Eels, Kathryn Williams and Neill MacColl, and the Proclaimers...

Sometimes music is more than just music. Sometimes it’s the unifying force that moves mountains and changes people’s lives.

The Icicle Works have only just made a come back, but now it seems they’re already going back into retirement.

Julian Cope was the keynote speaker at the opening of a rare double exhibition of William Blake’s work, which opened at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester on Friday night 25.01.08. These exhibitions celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Blake and the ending of the slave trade.
http://www.whitworth.man.ac.uk

Billy Fury was truly the British Rock ‘n’ Roll star. He had 24 hits in the 1960s and spent 332 weeks on the chart – a feat equalled only by The Beatles...

THE Wombats have been nominated for a hat-trick of gongs at this year’s NME Awards...