Mick Farren, author, counterculture radical and singer, has died aged 69. According to reports, he collapsed on stage at London's Borderline last night [July 27] while playing with his band, the Deviants.

Sad news this afternoon, with the announcement that the great JJ Cale has died. According to a statement on www.jjcale.com, the singer-songwriter suffered a heart attack and died at 8pm last night (Pacific time) in Scripps Hospital, La Jolla, California. He was 74. "Donations are not needed," the statement continued, "but he was a great lover of animals so, if you like, donations can be made to your favorite local animal shelter."

The long-awaited album of Peter Gabriel covers, And I'll Scratch Yours, now has a tracklisting and release date.

Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig chronicle the life of an East coast intellectual struggling to stay afloat...

John Cale has recalled his time working with Nico in the new issue of Uncut, dated August 2013 and out now.

Bob Dylan has unveiled a new touring guitarist, following the departure of Duke Robillard on June 30 in Nashville. Robillard had joined Dylan's band in April. He played only played 27 shows with Dylan before he was replaced by Charlie Sexton - the guitarist that Robillard had replaced in Dylan's band three month's previously.

Independent record shops sales soared by 44 per cent in the first half of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012. According to an analysis of Official Charts Company data by the Entertainment Retailers Association, indies have seen a huge increase in sales, despite an overall decline in the sale of albums over the same period by 1.5 per cent.

James Murphy has said that Arcade Fire's new album has been "the food I eat and the air I breathe" and that he has now finished his work on the record. The band, who teamed up with Murphy to record their forthcoming studio album, will release the new record in October.

Bob Dylan was joined on stage by Jeff Tweedy and Jim James last night [July 24] for a cover of "The Weight" by The Band. The performance took place on the AmericanaramA tour at Farm Bureau Live, Virginia Beach. You can watch footage of the performance below. This is not the first time The Band's presence has been felt on the AmericanaramA tour.

At 7pm on the first night of Atoms For Peace’s London residency, the Amok Drawing Room has already sold out of commemorative mugs. The Enterprise pub across the road from the Roundhouse has been rebranded in expressionist monochrome, and an upstairs room has been upholstered in Stanley Donwood wallpaper, the better to sell exquisite £500 prints, t-shirts screenprinted while-you-wait, and a pointedly apocalyptic jigsaw puzzle.