Uncut

It was Nick Lowe's 65th birthday this week, an occasion that had me pottering around the Memory Shed, where I came across the following story, written about a much younger Nick.

Alabama's finest return, recharged, and with a brilliant, balanced blast of rock'n'roll...

Kate Bush's run of 22 London shows sold out this morning [March 28] in less than 15 minutes. According to a statement released by Bush's press agent, the tickets which went on sale at 9.30am this morning are now completely sold-out. “I’m completely overwhelmed by the response to the shows," said Bush. "Thank you so much to everyone. Looking forward to seeing you all later this year.”

Enter The Slasher House, the debut album from Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks, consisting of Dave Portner (aka Avey Tare), Angel Deradoorian and Jeremy Hyman, is released on April 7. Avey Tare’s psychedelic journey with Animal Collective, though, is also worth checking out – in this archive feature from Uncut’s September 2012 (Take 184) issue, Stephen Troussé chats to the band about their wide-ranging career so far. “We got terrible reviews…” Interview: Stephen Troussé

Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Damon Albarn and Mama Cass Elliot all feature in the new issue of Uncut, dated May 2014 and out now.

An American university is to host the world's first Pink Floyd academic conference. Called Pink Floyd: Sound, Sight, And Structure, the event will be held at Princeton University on April 13. According to a report on the website Open Culture, the keynote speaker at the event will be Pink Floyd producer and engineer James Guthrie.

Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson has invested $450,000 (£270,465) in the 'world's biggest aircraft'. The HAV Airlander is a 91.4 metre long airship, which is 18.2 metres longer than a Boeing 747, reports Top Gear. The ship is being made by the British company Hybrid Air Vehicles and its top speed is 100mph. It weighs 38 tonnes and can in addition carry 50 tonnes of cargo.

Fleetwood Mac have announced details of a reunion tour with Christine McVie.

George Whitsell has explained the impact that Neil Young had on him when the guitarist took most of Whitsell’s band, The Rockets, to form his own group, Crazy Horse.

Johnny Cash's son Johnny Cash has revealed that there is enough material left in the archives of his late father for several more posthumous albums and enough outtakes from the American Recordings sessions to fill another multi-disc box set.