A fortnight ago, 20 new Kaiser Chiefs songs appeared online with little fanfare. The stunt won't do any favours for the band's ever decreasing chart performances but it has got people talking about them again... more
Kaiser Chiefs had only 50 minutes to play at XFM Winter Wonderland, so they mixed'n'matched old and new songs and there are no prizes for guessing which went down best.... more
Credit to Keane for going a bit silly on their third album, Kaiser Chiefs still haven't peaked and Ray Lamontagne proves he is a true romantic.... more
Mark Ronson put his split with model girlfriend Daisy Lowe behind him with an award for Best Live Male at the Vodafone Live Music Awards. See the pictures here.
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A performance from the reunited Police, a show from the Kaiser Chiefs and some strange "champagne socialism" from the Sex Pistols were among the Isle of Wight Festival's more memorable moments.... more
With little to choose between the line-ups, it's the added extras that will count at this year's festivals. David Smyth guides you through the best summer festivals.... more
The NME anointed Manic Street Preachers as "godlike geniuses", but they can no more summon the masses to fill the O2 than they can garner interest in their current album.... more
Hard-Fi seemed unsuited to the Wembley stage during an uneven and frustrating show, relying on blokeish charm rather than major production values.... more
Joe Lean and The Jing Jang Jong have the silliest name in pop music, but supports with Babyshambles and Kaiser Chiefs mean they're more than a joke outfit.
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Kylie Minogue was honoured as a music idol at the Q Awards. The star showed off a new Marilyn Monroe-esque hair do and a figure-hugging black frock at the ceremony.... more
Maximo Park were the surprise success story of 2005 with their literate, funny, moving guitar music. Paul Connolly reviews their second album, Our Heavenly Pleasures.... more
Kaiser Chiefs head to the Shepherd's Bush Empire, The Fratellis play four nights in Brixton and Gruff Rhys kicks off the South Bank's sixth annual season of experimental music.... more
The Kaiser Chiefs' second album, cult figure Patrick Wolf, a star-studded children's album, and a gipsy clarinetist are among the CDs of the week.... more
The Kaiser Chiefs have been lying low while recording their second album, but, as Arwa Haider discovered, they are back and ready to hit the road.... more
Of all the breakthrough bands releasing second albums in the coming months Bloc Party seem most likely to make a genuine career out of their chiming, multi-layered rock songs.... more
Too many people, too many bands and not enough space. It was enough to drive a dedicated rock fan to distraction, but despite it all the weekend's Reading Festival was still a triumph.... more
Sound check: German industrial metal band Rammstein literally play with fire in their live performances - and now they are about to unleash their singeing spectacle on London. Watch out for your eyebrows
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