Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Every Kingdom is a record that young West Country singer-songwriter Ben Howard has been brewing within himself for at least a couple of years. And yet its careful attention to detail, with tight, homespun harmonies and folk-informed arrangements, could only have been fully realised after relentless road-testing of these songs on stages across the UK and Europe. UK Tour Dates: 9th October – The Phoenix, Exeter 10th October – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth 11th October – The Komedia, Brighton 12th October – Old Fire Station, Bournemouth 14th October – Thekla, Bristol 15th October – HMV Institute, Birmingham 17th October – The Plug, Sheffield 18th October – Brudenell Social, Leeds 19th October – Stanley Theatre. Liverpool 20th October – Ruby Lounge, Manchester 22nd October – The Jericho, Oxford 23rd October – SWN Festival, Cardiff 24th October – Bodega Social, Nottingham 26th October – The Scala, London 29th October – The Riverside, Newcastle 30th October – The Tunnels, Abe

It’s October and it’s time for Annie Mac’s annual review of the hottest dance records of the year that she has been instrumental in introducing to the nation’s pleasure-synapses through her groundbreaking Radio 1 Friday show and packed DJ schedule. Since her first Annie Mac Presents compilation in 2009, Annie has supported acts that have gone from being favourites on her show to national stars ( Magnetic Man , Plan B , Nero, Katy B ) and helped define the dance music zeitgeist. On this comp, 2011’s finest moments are represented. Azari & III ‘Reckless For Your Love’, Toddla T’s ‘Take It Back’, SBTRKT’s ‘Wildfire’ Jamie XX’s remix of Adele’s ‘Rolling In The Deep’. If you’ve been out clubbing this year this neat comp brings together the highlights as well as pointing to some names likely to be lighting up 2012 ( Jai Paul ). Annie has continued to take her signature sound worldwide in 2011; continuing what Diplo has called his ‘favourite party on the island’ in Ib

Bob Dylan and his band will tour Europe in October and November including these three London dates at HMV Apollo Hammersmith in November. Mark Knopfler and band will also perform. Bob Dylan and His Band Plus Mark Knopler 19-Nov-2011 to 21-Nov-2011 Tickets on sale Friday 23rd Septmber from 9am   CLICK TO GET BOB DYLAN TICKETS WHAT'S ON HMV Apollo Hammersmith, London

As The Drums begin their inaugural tour of their homeland in September, they’re delighted to announce they will return to the UK this winter with a headline tour, and release double A-side single featuring live favourite, ‘Me and the Moon’ and ‘Down By The Water’ on December 13th. The single and nearly sold out UK tour, look set to cap a remarkable 12 months for The Drums. Last week the band was nominated for “Best New Act” at the Q Awards 2010, which followed the news the band were voted NME’s “Best New Festival Band” (polling 25% of their readers’ votes) – the latter coming after a succession of thrilling UK festival shows including Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds, T in the Park, Oxegen and their support slot with Kings of Leon at Hyde Park, London. After selling out their first London Forum show almost immediately, a second show has been announced on Wednesday 24th November. UK headline tour dates: Wednesday 24th November - London HMV Forum ** SOLD OUT ** Thursday 25th November - Lon

‘Body Talk’ is the third and final album in Robyn’s unique trilogy for 2010. Released on November 29 it will feature 5 of the best tracks from Pt 1 & 2 plus 5 extra brand-spanking new songs from the ridiculously prolific pop star. Releasing music in this way has been an almighty success for Robyn, as she explains: "I’m going to keep mixing up my tours with studio time and am hoping to stick to this new way of releasing music next year. This is the third, last part and completion of the Body Talk album. It was never my goal to break some kind of a world record in how many songs I could release in a year. Although I think it would count as a pretty good attempt, it’s been about the process for me. It’s been very interesting to try and figure out a more organic way of making music. A way that is unbiased and has it’s starting point in what feels logical to me, but also to the listeners. Even though it was never a conceptual idea, but a practical solution to the problem of getting

Last year The Prince of Grime scored two number one singles, (‘Number 1’and ‘Never Leave You’), released a critically acclaimed chart topping album, (‘Catch 22’), and notched up enough sales to make him the biggest selling British solo male artist of 2009 . He also performed at all the major festivals of the summer, supported Akon on tour, embarked on his own 18 date sold out nationwide headline tour, developed his Star in The Hood merchandise from T-shirts sold on eBay to a fully developed clothing range, and graduate with a degree in Digital Arts and Moving Imagery from The University of East London. This year has seen Tinchy Stryder complete a second sold out headline tour in the UK, open the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, expand his clothing range from online to in store (it is now stocked in over 60 stores nationwide) and start up a Joint Venture 360 music entertainment company with Jay Z (Takeover Roc Nation). All while writing and recording his third album ‘Third Strike’. Followi

As the third and final album in Robyn’s unique trilogy for 2010 approaches, the exquisite song Indestructible will round off her single releases for the year. Further album details to follow. The acoustic version on Body Talk PT2 was orchestrated by a surging string section and displays Robyn’s ebullient lyrics about the power of love. Once again we witness her innate ability to project utter strength in her lyrics while also wearing her heart proudly on her sleeve. This pulsating full power version takes every ounce of that emotion and wraps it up in another exceptional disco-pop record worthy of any dance-floor or passion-laden sing-a-long. “ I wanna love you like I’ve never been hurt before, I wanna love you like I’m indestructible ” Robyn recently performed Dancing On My Own at the MTV VMA’s in LA with Deadmau5 following her tour of the U.S with Kelis. Currently on tour in Europe, she returned to the UK on October 18th to play her biggest shows to date. And Robyn has just announced

Nicki Minaj, the first lady of Young Money/Cash Money Records and one of the hottest artists on the planet right now, has her new single “Right Thru Me” released on November 22nd. The track is taken from the 25 year old rap phenomenon’s feverishly anticipated debut album which is also released on November 22nd.  Nicki Minaj’s star has been on the rise since she released her first mixtape, Playtime Is Over, in 2007. The mixtape featured Lil Wayne and the cover showed Nicki posing as a Barbie Doll. A second mixtape “Sucka Free” released a year later, increased the heat around Minaj and was followed in 2009 by mixtape number three “Beam Me Up Scotty”. Shortly thereafter Nicki, aka Harajuku Barbie, aka Nicki Lewinsky, aka Roman Zolanski, aka Ms Step Your Cookies Up, signed to Lil Wayne’s new label Young Money Entertainment and featured heavily on Young Money’s debut album “We Are Young Money” which spawned the massive hit single “Bedrock”. Minaj has also made her name from her many feature

To round off yet another exceptional year, Florence will be releasing the mighty single ‘Heavy In Your Arms’ single alongside ‘Between Two Lungs’ – a two disc special edition version of her 4 x platinum selling Brit Award winning debut album ‘Lungs’. ‘Between Two Lungs’ features new cover art, sleeve notes by Florence and exclusive images. Plus a 10 track second disc which as aswell as Heavy In Your Arms, also includes among others, a live recording of brand new song ‘Strangeness & Charm’. The massive collaboration with Dizzee Rascal ‘You Got The Dirtee Love’ and a previously unreleased Yeasayer remix of ‘Dog Days Are Over’ and will also be available on November 15. Florence recently wowed worldwide audiences with her live performance (and victory) at this year’s MTV VMA Awards which saw her album explode in the U.S. Firing up to #2 in the I tunes chart and breaking the top #15 in the Billboard album chart. Back home Florence has just won two Q Awards for Best Female and Best Trac

To round off yet another exceptional year, Florence will be releasing the mighty single ‘Heavy In Your Arms’ on November 15th. Produced by Paul Epworth the track a favourite of recent festival headlining live sets was recorded for the Twilight Eclipse film. Florence comments “ Heavy in your arms I suppose is about the weight of love, and how sometimes it can be a burden between two people, I felt this was a strong theme in the twilight series, is someone being rescued or are they being condemned, and is the love you carry bringing you down. I recorded it with paul one evening, using a lot of strange reversed vocal samples and big hip hop piano, its basically inspired by 90's hip hop, and gospel choirs, like most of my songs.. ” ‘Heavy In your Arms’ will also be available on ‘Between Two Lungs’. A two disc special edition version of her 4 x platinum selling Brit Award winning debut album ‘Lungs’. ‘Between Two Lungs’ will feature new cover art, sleeve notes by Florence and exclusive

Rapper/actor/CEO, 3 time Grammy winner and all-round superstar Nelly, whose 30 million plus combined album/single sales have established the St. Louis native as one of music’s most bankable and consistent stars, returns in a big way with the release on November 8th of his brand new US smash single “Just A Dream”. Taken from his hotly anticipated forthcoming new album “5.0”, “Just A Dream” entered the US iTunes chart at number 5, has already sold over 1 million copies. “Just a Dream” was produced by Jim Jonsin (Lil Wayne “Lollipop”, T.I. “Whatever You Love”) and Rico Love (Beyonce “Sweet Dreams, Kelly Rowland “Commander”). The new album will feature appearances by Akon, T.I. and Kelly Rowland. With “Just A Dream” Nelly looks to add to his celebrated run of global hit singles from his game-changing debut “Country Grammar,” and “Ride Wit Me” to the Justin Timberlake collaboration “Work It”, the Kelly Rowland duet “Dilemma” and the seven-week at No. 1 “Hot in Herre.” With a catalogue of g

Global superstar Akon, whose three previous albums have each sold more than half a million copies in the UK, yielding an unbroken string of massive worldwide hit singles, returns with the release on November 22nd of his brand new single “Angel”. Taken from his eagerly awaited dance music inspired album “AKONIC”, “Angel” was produced by Akon & fellow master hit maker David Guetta. Akon is without question one of the greatest hit making forces of all time and is the first solo artist to hold the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 - twice. Over the years he has worked with, produced and featured on a slew of international hits, including those for Michael Jackson, Sir Elton John, Eminem, Gwen Stefani, Whitney Houston, as well as Lady Gaga, who was one of the first signings to Akon’s Kon-live label. Akon has also established himself as a serious business man and entrepreneur who has quickly built an empire that includes a record label, fashion line and ch

At long last it feels like UK rap music is well and truly erupting. Every way you look - from the summit of the charts to the breaking waves of the underground - the UK rap fraternity is seizing control. In between the ricocheting lyrical crossfire one face is emerging as one of 2010's most notorious breaking artists, and that's the angular bone-structure of Dagenham, Essex's very own Devlin. ‘bud, sweat & beers’ is a step change for grime. Socially aware. Spiritually conflicted with a sacred heart and profane mouth. Dark, accurate and artful lyrical sketches of life at social margins. Capacious enough to make reference to Hollywood’s Wesley Snipes, super-bug C-Difficile, Pengi, Nostradamus, Picasso, Tectonic plates and Elvis. It’s an imaginative feast. Lyrical meaning unfolds on meaning. Metaphors come as quickly as the mind can process. The album opens with the thunderous cavalcade of ‘1989’ where heavy-metal guitar stabs provide an urgent, heart-in-mouth backdrop for