News

Julian Casablancas has given a sneak preview of his new solo album. Click below to watch now. The two-minute clip is credited to Julian Casablancas + The Voidz and shows footage of The Strokes' frontman recording in the studio, with various snippets of new songs audible throughout. There is no further information regarding an album title or release date included with the video, but vsitors to Casablancas' website can sign up to pre-order the album now.

The Black Keys have been announced as the final headliner for Latitude Festival 2014. The band join previously announced headliners Two Door Cinema Club and Damon Albarn at the top of the bill. Other acts announced today include Editors, James, Crystal Fighters, Kelis, The Afghan Whigs and Tinariwen. Mogwai, Lykke Li, War On Drugs, Temples, Parquet Courts, George Ezra, Conor Oberst and Tom Vek will also play. Latitude 2014 will take place from July 17-20 at Henham Park in Southwold, Suffolk.

The Rolling Stones are rumoured to be in the process of booking European dates for summer 2014. According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the band will play Madrid's Vicente Calderón stadium on June 25.

David Bowie has reportedly offered to write new music with Claudia Lennear, a former backing singer and star of Oscar winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom.

My Bloody Valentine, Sufjan Stevens, Built To Spill, Mogwai, Lightning Bolt and Mercury Rev are among the artists appearing in From Ghosts, a new Kickstarter-funded documentary produced by Pitchfork.tv. The film was shot in 2008, when All Tomorrow's Parties held its first East Coast festival in Monticello, New York.

The piano played by John Lennon and Paul McCartney while filming Help! is up for auction. The pair used the 1907 Bechstein Concert Grand to compose the title track to the 1965 film, according to the film's director Richard Lester, who is selling it, the BBC reports. Lester bought the piano in the late '60s from Twickenham film studios where it had been used for dozens of feature films since the 1930s.

The Rolling Stones this week performed a track that last appeared on their setlists more than 40 years ago. The band are currently on the Asia Pacific leg of their !4 On Fire tour, which includes three shows in Tokyo. It was at Tokyo Dome on Tuesday (March 4) that the band performed the Goat's Head Soup track, "Silver Train". Mick Taylor appeared as a guest performer on the track.

Toumani Diabaté and his son Sidiki have announced details of a new album and accompanying UK tour dates. The album, Toumani & Sidiki, is to be released on May 5, 2014 by World Circus. It was recorded as ‘live’ with no overdubs at RAK studios north London with producers Nick Gold and Lucy Duran and engineer Jerry Boys. The racklisting for Toumani & Sidiki is: Hamadoun Toure Claudia & Salma Rachid Ouiguini Toguna Industries Lampedusa Bagadaji Sirifoula Tijaniya Dr Cheikh Modibo Diarra A.C.I. 2000 Diaby Bansang

The Smiths have launched a new, interactive timeline on the band's official website. Called 'The Interactive Sound Of The Smiths', the timeline offers the chance to "Explore the interactive world of The Smiths and discover the complete discography of one of the most influential British groups of a generation".

Parquet Courts have announced details of new single 'Sunbathing Animal' as well as a UK tour. The US band have signed to Rough Trade in the UK and will release "Sunbathing Animal" on Record Store Day, which this year falls on April 19. The song will come backed by B-side "Pilgrims To Nowhere" and will be available on 7" vinyl next month.