Cliff Richard & The Shadows come to the 02 Arena, Paolo Nutini will be at the Hammersmith Apollo and Florence and the Machine are at Shepherd's Bush.... more
Sheffield quartet Arctic Monkeys have a challenging new sound for their third album — but by taking risks they could soon be in a league of their own.... more
Some Londoners have a death wish. Every day I slam on the bike brakes to avoid ploughing into people blissfully unaware of traffic thanks to their iPods. The cycle lanes in Hyde Park, Camden's busy main streets and the peaceful back roads of Bloomsbury are particular blackspots.... more
Jon Fratelli took ten years to become an overnight success, and just a year to nearly throw it all away. The 29-year-old mop-topped frontman with The Fratellis hit the big time two years ago when the band's debut album, Costello Music, sold a million copies, largely on the strength of their infuriatingly catchy single Chelsea Dagger. ... more
Amy gets the nod and so do Arctic Monkeys - but who on earth are Basquiat Strings? David Smyth gives the lowdown on the shortlist for the album of the year, announced today... more
Unfailingly polite, moving with the curious, gawky grace of a prep school pupil auditioning for Gilbert and Sullivan, John Aizlewood was fascinated by The Rakes singer Alan Donohoe.... more
Having invented the latest generation of punk-funk The Rapture seemed then to stand still but their sell-out Koko gig showed that perhaps there is life after hip after all.... 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
The world's coolest group, Franz Ferdinand, made a cameo appearance at The Forum, but did they manage to prove that there is substance behind the hype?... more
Glasgow clothes horses Franz Ferdinand play the Forum tonight giving 2,000 lucky fans a sneak preview of the kind of set that will please 60,000 at the Reading Festival.... more
Sofia Coppola's boyfriend is lead singer and they won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album this year. Now, Phoenix tell Nosheen Iqbal, they are set to conquer London
Move over, Mahiki. Nightclub entrepreneurs Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling are soon to launch a new Eighties-inspired club in Chelsea, in honour of Lady Thatcher
Afternoon:
13°c
