Sinead O'Connor has cancelled all her planned tour dates for the remainder of 2012 after revealing that she is "very unwell".
O'Connor, who suffers from bipolar disorder, posted a message via fan website Sinead-Oconnor.com which said that she had suffered a "very serious breakdown" between December 2011 and March of this year and would not be touring for the rest of 2012.
She also said she was advised by her doctors not to tour in support of her new album How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?, but went ahead anyway, a decision she now regrets.
New Order, Primal Scream and Spiritualized are all confirmed to play a new festival named Festival Number 6 in September.
The event will take place in the town of Portmeirion in North West Wales from September 14 – 16. It takes its name from the 1960s TV series The Prisoner, which was filmed in the town from 1967 – 1968.
Festival Number 6 is a newly launched event and is being put on by the promoters of Beach Break Live, Snowbombing and Lounge On The Farm festival.
The Beach Boys are set to release an album comprising all-new material in June, according to band member Bruce Johnston.
The band are reuniting for an extensive world tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary this summer, with founding members Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine all involved.
Jack White played his first solo UK show last night [April 23], headlining the HMV Forum the day his debut solo album Blunderbuss'was released.
The former White Stripes man was watched by stars including The Mighty Boosh duo Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt, plus Alabama Shakes, who are set to support him on his May UK tour dates, and BBC Radio One's Fearne Cotton.
Cat Power is set to release her ninth album, Sun, this autumn.
The LP will follow the singer songwriter's 2008 covers album Jukebox and 2006's The Greatest and will be out in the UK on September 10.
Over Christmas last year Cat Power posted the video for her single "King Rides By" featuring a cameo from boxer Manny Pacquiao online. The track was available as a download from the singer's official website, with its proceeds going towards the charities the Festival Of Children Foundation and The Al Forney Centre.
Chris Ethridge, bass player with The Flying Burrito Brothers, has died at the age of 65, from complications from pancreatic cancer according to the Los Angeles Times.
Ethridge also played with the Willie Nelson Family Band, and it was Nelson who confirmed news of his bandmate's death, via Twitter, writing:
WN&F are sad to hear of the passing of Family member & friend Chris Ethridge he was a talented musician & we were honored to call him Family
Bob Dylan has paid tribute to Levon Helm, the former drummer with The Band, who passed away on Thursday April 19, aged 71.
Dylan collaborated with The Band over the course of their career, first on Dylan's 1965 American tour. They worked together on the 1967 sessions that were eventually released as The Basement Tapes, and also a joint 1974 tour.
Writing on bobdylan.com, Dylan said:
"He was my bosom buddy friend to the end, one of the last true great spirits of my or any other generation.
This is just so sad to talk about.
Spiritualized have announced a six-date UK tour for November.
The band - whose new album, Sweet Heart Sweet Light, entered the UK Album Charts yesterday at No 11 - will play the following dates:
Thu 1 November Gateshead, The Sage Gateshead
Fri 2 November Cambridge, The Junction
Sat 3 November Leeds, Metropolitan University
Sun 4 November Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre
Mon 5 November London, Roundhouse
Tue 6 November Brighton, Corn Exchange
