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

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

For one night only on Friday 29th October at the Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple, original ‘dreamboats’, Marty Wilde, Eden Kane and Jet Harris join forces in a spectacular show that will show they really were Born to Rock N Roll! From 1958 to 1961 Marty, Eden and Jet took the charts by storm clocking up well over 200 weeks in the charts in just under four years. The original teen idols will take in 29 towns and cities across the UK performing their own hits and collaborating live on stage for the first time ever. Singer, songwriter, legend Marty Wilde is hailed by many friends as one of the first original British Rock N Roll pioneers. Cliff Richard reminisces “I remember when Marty Wilde, Dicky Pride and I were ‘three cool cats’. I always thought in those days there was actually only one ‘cool cat’ – and that was Marty.” Wilde enjoyed countless hits in the late 50s and early 60s, with thirteen consecutive hit records staying in the charts for a total of 117 weeks including Endless Slee

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