Summary

  • News updates for 31 March 2017

  • New music from Calvin Harris, Pharrell and Ariana Grande

  • Gorillaz break VR video record on YouTube

  • John Lydon defends Ed Sheeran from album critics

  • Harry Styles teases new music visuals

  1. It's the weekend, everyonepublished at 16:12 BST 31 March 2017

    Bob DylanImage source, Getty Images

    That's your lot from us for another week.

    Scroll back down for new music and videos from the likes of Calvin Harris, Oh Wonder, Louisa Johnson and Kendrick Lamar.

    Plus we have some Queen Bey casting news, some suggestion that Glasto's future at Worthy farm is secure into the 2030s and Ed Sheeran finding an unlikely ally in John Lydon.

    And congrats to Bob Dylan , who will finally accept his Nobel Prize for Literature in Stockholm this weekend.

    Organisers said they would meet him in private in the Swedish capital, where he is giving two concerts.

    He still has to deliver a lecture required to receive the 8m kroner ($900,000; £727,000) prize though.

    How much do you want it Bob?

  2. Five Things We Have Learned This Weekpublished at 15:28 BST 31 March 2017

    On Fridays, we have a look back at what we have learned over the week.

    And as usual there are too many things to fit into one post.

    Fancy owning David Bowie's old NYC apartment ? What about Kasabian's new video starring Noel Fielding and Stephen Graham?

    What about Lorde's fangirling over The Fonz from Happy Days after hearing his lovely message for her?

    See? Too many. Anyway, here are five other things...

    1) Depeche Mode are still a force to reckoned with

    A sensational Depeche Mode brought 6 Music's weekend of music in Glasgow to a close on Sunday.

    The newly rejunivated electro band - who released their new album, Spirit, earlier this month - headlined the event, held this year at Glasgow's Barrowland venue.

    Other highlights from the weekend included Warpaint, Thundercat and The Jesus and Mary Chain.

    Read more .

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    2) Adele is through with touring... for now

    Adele gave fans a scare after telling an audience in Auckland, New Zealand, that she may never tour again.

    According to the New Zealand Herald, external , the singer told her audience at the Mount Smart Stadium that she was not "good" at touring, adding: "I don't know if I’ll ever tour again."

    "The only reason I’ve toured is you," she went on. "I'm not sure if touring is my bag."

    Say it ain't so Adele.

    In her defence, she has been on the road for around 18 months.

    Read more .

    Chance the RapperImage source, Getty Images

    3) Chance the Rapper is hiring

    The Grammy-winning rapper announced on social media that he is looking for an intern.

    He wants to recruit someone "with experience in putting together decks and writing proposals".

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    No word on how much Chance is paying, but fans are definitely excited .

    Read more .

    Harry StylesImage source, PA

    4) Harry Styles will make his solo debut on Saturday Night Live

    The One Direction star turned solo singer is expected to make his live debut singing his forthcoming single on long-running US comedy show Saturday Night Live.

    It's enjoying its biggest audience in 20 years, thanks to Alec Baldwin's impersonations of President Trump.

    The NBC show announced the news on Tuesday:

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    Little is know about the material, though we have a trailer, external and a cryptic Instagram picture:

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    Read more .

    Katy PerryImage source, Getty Images

    5) Katy Perry will play Glastonbury this year

    Katy Perry, Shaggy ( you can read all about him here ), Stormzy and The Jacksons will all appear at this year's Glastonbury Festival.

    They will be joined at the event by more first-timers, including Lorde, Emeli Sande, Anderson .Paak and The Lemon Twigs.

    UK grime and hip hop will be celebrated too with appearances from Skepta, Boy Better Know, Dizzee Rascal, Kano and Wiley.

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    Perry - whose inclusion in the lineup  was largely met with optimism - also tweeted, external that she was looking forward to '"tea and crumpets".

    And cider - lots of cider. 

  3. Kendrick Lamar sings about being Humble, while dressed as the Pope published at 15:07 BST 31 March 2017

    Kendrick Lamar Humble videoImage source, Kendrick Lamar/YouTube

    After a week of teases and a preview track, Kendrick Lamar has released Humble, the first single from his forthcoming album.

    A call for his peers to sit back down and stop bragging, the video shows Kendrick seated in Jesus's position in a tableaux of the last supper and features him dressed in the Pontiff's robes.

    We can't embed the video sadly due to some restricted language, but you can find it on his YouTube channel.

    His as-yet untitled album is expected next month. 

  4. Oh Wonder return with uplifting Ultralifepublished at 14:45 BST 31 March 2017

    Oh WonderImage source, Oh Wonder

    Pop duo Oh Wonder are something of an self-made sensation.

    Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West first appeared on Soundcloud in 2014, describing themselves simply as a "writing duo, releasing one song a month for a year."

    They did just that, captivating their small band of followers with a sequence of fragile, melodic songs set to subdued hip-hop beats. The tracks were later compiled into a self-released album, which broached the UK top 30 back in September 2015.

    After an extensive tour, they retreated to their home studio to concoct a follow-up, and the first result is an uplifting, celebratory track called Ultralife. The duo stick to their trademark sound (both musicians sing the melody, an octave apart) but beef up the production to produce a sparkling little pop gem.

    They'll follow it up with an album - also called Ultralife - in June.

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  5. New music from Bleachers hidden in a pinatapublished at 14:25 BST 31 March 2017

    Bleachers is the side-project of fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff.

    A man who, more famously, has spent the last year working with Lorde on her new album.

    Returning the favour, Lorde co-wrote Bleachers' new single, Don't Take the Money, and also provides (very faint) backing vocals towards the end.

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    The song was launched in an... erm, unusual way last night - when Jack left a pinata featuring his likeness lying around New York City. Fans who attacked it with a baseball bat were rewarded with USB sticks featuring the new song.

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  6. Harry Styles gazes into a fake sunset in new picturepublished at 13:59 BST 31 March 2017

    Make of this what you will.

    Is the One Direction star-turned actor-turned solo artiste gazing into a dangerously uncertain future? Does the juxtaposition of his black clothes, the shallow water and the red sky have a symbolic meaning reflecting life, death and rebirth?

    Has he drunkenly fallen over into a child's paddling pool sitting on the edge of a bouncy castle?

    We'll find out on 7 April when his new single comes out.

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  7. Selena Gomez covers Yazoo classicpublished at 13:38 BST 31 March 2017

    Selena Gomez

    Pop star Selena Gomez has contributed a cover of Yazoo's Only You to the soundtrack of a new Netflix show, 13 Reasons Why (which she happens to have developed and produced).

    Selena throws out the original's clattering synths and goes for something altogether more dramatic and sombre... It's still not a patch on the Flying Pickets' version, external , of course.

    You can hear a preview below, via the star's Twitter account, or hear the full soundtrack on a streaming service near you.

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  8. John Lydon defends Ed Sheeran from criticism of his new album published at 13:13 BST 31 March 2017

    John LydonImage source, Getty Images

    Ed Sheeran has found an unlikely ally in Sex Pistol, PiL frontman and general punk godfather John Lydon .

    He may have topped the chart across the world with his third album Divide, but that hasn't stopped the critics from sharpening their knives, external for the Suffolk singer.

    In particular, for what they have percieved as a "calculated" approach to the record.

    Ed has been quite open about wanting his album to have broad appeal, telling the BBC : "I had in my mind what sound should be on what song, and which subject matter would be on which song - so I'd write 10 songs for that [idea].

    "So there's six or seven songs about Suffolk, but Castle On The Hill was the best one. And then there was a bunch of wedding songs, I guess, and Perfect was the best one."

    John, whose Mr Rotten's Songbook is out today, told the BBC: "He's been slagged off hasn't he for this album. They reckon it's been constructed.

    "I hope it is, none of us do this in a lighthearted, casual disrespecting way for our audience, so good on him."

    Ed SheeranImage source, PA

    But is John Lydon as calculated about being commercial?

    "Not me, but that's his way, his approach, I've got too many anxieties to deal with without trying to plot a chart position. I'm lucky enough to be in the wonderfully awful world of music in the first place and I quite like the position that I'm, that I can absolutely ignore the commercial aspect of it."

    Check out more John below.

    Media caption,

    John Lydon turns writer for release of new songbook

  9. Emily Eavis says Glasto has signed new deal with neighbourpublished at 12:49 BST 31 March 2017

    BBC 6 Music

    Madness on the Pyramid StageImage source, Getty Images

    Yesterday, we brought you news of artists like Katy Perry, Shaggy and The xx being added to the Glastonbury line-up at Worthy Farm.

    Now, we know that this year's festival will be the last one for a couple of years as 2018 will be a fallow year to help the site recover properly.

    It's happened before and every time it prompts speculation that Glasto's days in Somerset are numbered.

    Those fears were felt even more keenly when it was revealed the Glasto team were looking into hosting another event , the oddly titled Variety Bazaar.

    However, Emily Eavis has now appeared to suggest the festival's future at Worthy Farm is secure into the 2030's.

    Speaking to 6 Music, she insisted the current locoation would always remain home...

    Media caption,

    Emily Eavis tells 6 Music Glastonbury has signed 17 year deal with neighbouring farm

  10. Louisa Johnson is plane crazy in new videopublished at 12:21 BST 31 March 2017

    Louisa has been So Good, external and and shed Tears, external recently but she's on her Best Behaviour in the promo for her new single - which was shot in an aeroplane graveyard about 100 miles from Los Angeles.

    The song is taken from her forthcoming debut album, of which Louisa had this to say: "I don't just like one style of music, so I didn't want an album where every song sounded the same.

    "I wanted to mix it up."

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  11. Goldfrapp and Jamiroquai release new albumspublished at 11:52 BST 31 March 2017

    Pop survivors Goldfrapp and Jamiroquai both have albums out today.

    For Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, Silver Chair marks a return to the synth-tastic sounds of Black Cherry and Supernature - as we discovered when they previewed the new album at last week's 6 Music Festival in Glasgow.

    Luckily, thanks to the recording power of cameras and the internet, you can still watch their full performance below.

    While old Jay Kay has swapped his culturally-appropriated native American headdresses for an altogether more futuristic titfer in his music video for Automaton.

    The album of the same name is also out today.

    You can have a listen to him chatting with Graham Norton about the new record and his well-documented love of cars. Or you could check out the album. Your choice.

    Media caption,

    The Jamiroquai star chats hats, sports cars and their first album in years Automaton

  12. Beyonce set for new Lion King remake?published at 11:27 BST 31 March 2017

    BeyonceImage source, Getty Images

    Beyonce is in the running to voice Nala (Simba's girlfriend) in Disney's upcoming remake of The Lion King.

    According to Variety, external , she's the first choice of The Jungle Book director Jon Favreau's - and would star alongside Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) as Simba.

    James Earl Jones will once again voice Mufasa, after starring in the 994 original.

    As you can see above, she's already got the hat.

    Read more

    Lion King starsImage source, Getty Images
  13. Listen to All Time Low's Lorde coverpublished at 10:54 BST 31 March 2017

    We teased it yesterday and now you can can listen in full to US rockers All Time Low covering Lorde's Green Light in the Radio 1 Live Lounge along with their current single Dirty Laundry.

  14. Gorillaz break VR video record for most viewspublished at 10:31 BST 31 March 2017

    Billboard magazine

    Last week, Damon Albarn's animated band Gorillaz shared four songs from their forthcoming album Humanz.

    They also shared a 360 degree virtual reality video for the six-minute track Saturnz Barz, which features dancehall artist Popcaan.

    According to Billboard, external , it's now broken online records for VR after being viewed more than 3m times in 48 hours - making it the biggest debut in YouTube's history

    Check out the video below

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  15. Idris swaps the film set for the beachpublished at 09:52 BST 31 March 2017

    Idris ElbaImage source, Getty Images

    Idris Elba - actor, kickboxer and DJ has been booked for the line-up of this year's Boardmasters festival in Cornwall.

    The actor has previously played sets at Glastonbury and is also booked for Creamfields this summer.

    Idris will appear at the event in Cornwall over the weekend of 9-13 August, alongside rapper Wretch 32, hip-hop veteran DJ Shadow and BBC Sound of 2017 contender Raye.

    The festival's being headlined by Two Door Cinema Club, Jamiroquai and Alt-J.

  16. Calvin Harris has all-star cast on new single Heatstrokepublished at 09:33 BST 31 March 2017

    Calvin HarrisImage source, Getty Images

    Calvin Harris has blown a fuse (judging by the pic above) giving us one of the tunes for summer with his new collaboration with Pharrell Williams, Young Thug and Ariana Grande.

    Here's a taster of Heatstroke, you'll be able to get the full version from any respectable shop or streaming service.

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  17. Good morning music fanspublished at 09:06 BST 31 March 2017

    Idris ElbaImage source, PA

    And what a morning...

    We are literally bursting at the seams with New Music Friday goodness for you - with the likes of dream team Calvin Harris, Pharrell and Ariana Grande; rap genuis Kendrick Lamar; a golden duet from Mary J Blige and Kanye West, Glee Lea Michelle and albums from Goldfrapp and Jamiroquai.

    Plus we have an interview with John Lydon on his songwriting, some potential casting news for Beyonce, a record for the new VR Gorillaz video and Luther star Idris Elba (above) is making sweet music in Cornwall this summer.

    Is everyone in? Good, then let's get moving.