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The line-up for this year's Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has been announced and looks to be more impressive than ever with Elton John, Kanye West, Lionel Richie, Jack White and Vampire Weekend all gracing the Manchester, Tenn. stages across the four-day celebration. The festival, which will be held from the 12th to the 15th June this year, will serve up an enviable mix of genres.

Elton John Will Lead This Year's Incredible Bonnaroo Festival Line-Up.

Bonnaroo Festival is famous for having provided a stage to one of Kanye West's famous rants last time he played in 2008. The rapper and his fans reacted with outrage when Kanye's originally late night set was shifted to a performance during broad daylight, provoking a classic caps-lock tirade from the short-fused star.

Continue reading: Kanye, Elton, Jack And Lionel: Say Hello To Bonnaroo Festival's Line-Up 2014

Lady GaGa made an emoTIonal and surprise-filled return to the stage as she opened the month-long iTunes Festival at London's Roundhouse Theatre. Having been away from a live audience since she was forced to end her Monster's Ball tour early this year due to health concerns (bar her VMAs performance last month), the singer made sure she gave a performance to remember at the Camden venue.

Gaga has been spotted around London for the past week, ahead of her performance

The theatrical performance, complete with costume changes, dance routines and a host of new songs from her upcoming album ArtPop, seven to be precise. Dressed head to toe in black, Gaga emerged from the centre of the venue to perform her first new song, 'Aura,' before stripping down to her underwear for new song number two, the rockier 'Manicure,' which was accompanied by a storm of ticker tape falling on to the audience.

Continue reading: Lady Gaga Debuts Seven New Songs During ITunes Festival Headlining Slot

A week in music videos... We caught up with Brooklyn band DIIV last week as they are currently enjoying the 2013 festival season. Talking to lead member Cole, he explained just how different it was playing festivals compared to club gigs, that it was more about coming into the world of the fans rather than bringing them into your own. He was also not shy about admitting that the pressure of working on a second album has lifted. 'People are gonna be way more patient and wanna hear what you come up with', he says. 'The first record you have to have a clear statement of purpose like a sound and catchy pop songs.' As well as taking the time to chat to us, we were treated with an uplifting live rendition of their song 'Human'. Watch the full interview here and watch the live video for Human.

With the release of their highly-anticipated sixth album 'Mechanical Bull' imminent, Kings Of Leon follow up the audio release of its first single 'Supersoaker' with a grainy, retro-style, artistically produced video. Just as we expected, 'Supersoaker' is made of the anthemic, driving and infectious stuff that previous international hits 'Use Somebody' and 'Sex On Fire' are made of and we certainly can't wait for what looks to be another well-loved record that will see us through the autumn. Watch the video for Supersoaker here.

Continue reading: A Week In Music, We Catch Up With Diiv's Cole, Icky Blossoms Unveil Their Self-Titled Album And Cookie Monster Shows Restraint In Icona Pop Cover

The Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival is back on August 9th - 11th 2013 bringing us the best in art and music as we see the likes of Paul McCartney, Nine Inch Nails and Red Hot Chili Peppers top this year's bill.

San Francisco hosts this annual festival which has soared in popularity since the first event in 2008. It takes place at Golden Gate Park and, as well as some brilliant bands and artists being on show all weekend, presents some fantastic food and drink offerings from the Bay Area. Food includes everything from mac and cheese and hot dogs to falafel and noodles and there'll be food trucks and special cheese and chocolate stalls good enough to pull you away from the awesome music for a while. There'll also be a wide array of wines and beers to enjoy plus live painting and Levi's Mobile Bike Shop as Outside Lands is all about being eco-friendly and reducing our carbon footprints.

Continue reading: Outside Lands Festival 2013 To Bring You Much More Than Music This Year

Get ready for a magnificent time as Chicago brings you another rollicking year of Lollapalooza with a legendary line-up of mixed genre music from The Cure to Mumford & Sons.

Since it's revival in 2003, Lollapalooza has been bringing you the very best of rock, metal, punk, hip hop and dance from all the major music legends to the up-and-coming rookies of the business. Taking place at Chicago's Grant Park from August 2nd - 4th 2013, the festival this year features a bedazzling headline roster of Las Vegas indie rockers The Killers, West Sussex goths The Cure, Grammy winning folk four-piece Mumford & Sons and long-running industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails. There will also be a huge range of activities to occupy yourself with over the weekend from the Samsung Galaxy Experience where you can check out the latest gadgets, to art stations where you can become a comic strip or be transformed into a work of pop art.

Continue reading: Lollapalooza 2013 To Be Equipped For All Weathers For Another Memorable Weekend

Just when we were all starting to get sick of 'Blurred Lines,' Robin Thicke's mega-hit featuring Pharrell Williams and T.I., New York rockers Vampire Weekend were on hand earlier this week to give us all another reason to care about the track once again as they gave their own take on the track. The performance was part of BBC Radio One's Live Lounge sessions and yes, it does feature an (attempted) rendition of T.I.'s rapped part as well.

The group made the track their own

The laughter-inducing version, that is filled with ad-libs and the occasional cry of "dat falsetto!" whenever someone forgets a line, was recorded with glee by the 'Diane Young' rockers at the London radio studio. Hearing Ezra sing “You the hottest bitch in this place!!!” and mumble “pimpin” and “shake your rump!” in his best T.I. impression is as funny as it founds too, as the white boy indie kids break down into hysterics by the end of the track.

Continue reading: Vampire Weekend Record Their Own Take On Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' [Listen]

With a festival line up already that is sure to bring tears of unbridled joy to any self-respecting music fan, iTunes have gone and added another jaw-dropping act to their celebratory month of music this September. "Who could it be?!", you scream impatiently; well friends, be prepared to let out an involuntary cry of "hallelujah" because none other than Lady GaGa will be gracing Camden's Roundhouse stage come September.

Catch Lady Gaga In Her September iTunes Festival Performance.

Freaky pop queen Gaga will indeed be performing at iTunes Festival 2013 and The Sun have caught wind that a huge budget has been set aside to entertain the 3,300 fans packed into the London venue. September's show will be Gaga's first UK concert in seven months and will be likely to be the first live performance of tracks from her upcoming album Artpop. Sources say that her Haus Of Gaga team are spending £500,000 on the production to make iTunes' show as exciting as possible. The 27 year-old New Yorker has recently been resting in a wheelchair due to a labral tear in her right hip but one of her insiders spoke of Haus of Gaga's anticipation for the one-off September show: "The gig in Camden has a huge budget and is likely to be the first anyone sees or hears of her album. The Haus Of Gaga team have been working in secret on costumes and stage sets for the show from their base in Paris. Gaga's dancers have also been rehearsing but she's only told her closest friends about the new direction she's taking. The music is going to be a big departure and Gaga's dreamed up a whole new image for the album."

Continue reading: Monster Line-Up Addition To ITunes Festival 2013, But Who Is It?

The Rolling Stones headlined at Glastonbury on Saturday (29th June) but the viewing public were more interested in watching Bruce Willis' 1988 classic action film, Die Hard, according to The Daily Mail. 2.54 million tuned into the BBC to watch The Rolling Stones' performance whilst 2.78 million watched Bruce Willis punch, kick and shoot in Die Hard. 

Mick Jagger with Ronnie Wood in the background performing at Glastonbury.

The BBC sent over 300 staff members to the Glastonbury Festival, at the cost of £2 million, but more people tuned into watch Bruce Willis' Die Hard than Saturday's (29th June 2013) coverage. 

Continue reading: The Rolling Stones At Glastonbury VS. Die Hard- And The Winner Is...?

The weather forecast for the Glastonbury Festival this weekend does not look brilliant: expect a lot of cloud. However, those visiting the Glastonbury Festival this year may be pleased (or rather not depending on your predisposition) to hear the traditional mud is likely to be back. Around 135,000 people attend the festival annually and this year is no exception. The festival site, located near the Somerset village of Pilton, opened its gates for early goers. Most slept in their cars overnight lying in wait to get a decent (probably on higher ground) site to set up camp.

Beyonce Played A Barmstorming Set At Glastonbury In 2011

The weather forecast for Shepton Mallet (the closest town to the festival site), according to the BBC, is:

Continue reading: Glastonbury Festival Weather 2013: Get Your Wellies On

Since yesterday's (19 June) mega announcement that superstar 'Sex on Fire' rockers Kings Of Leon,had been added to the bill, along with 'A-Punk' New Yorkers Vampire Weekend, there's a palpable excitement in the air as fans apply for tickets and sit tight.

Gone are the old ways of leaping to your laptop at 9 am as tickets go onsale and hitting the refresh button with shaking hands whilst thousands of others do the same in a bizarre battle of the F5 keys. iTunes have revolutionised the festival - instead of making fans shell out hundreds to be treated like medieval peasants, wading through excrement whilst clutching a £5 pint of warm beer - they're holding their month long celebration of sound at the recently refurbished and highly trendy Roundhouse venue in Camden.

There's enough pop acts to make any fan of the mainstream wet themselves, including Jessie J, Justin Timberlake, Jake Bugg and Rizzle Kicks, with an added healthy dosage of big-hitting names in the rock world, such as Paramore, Queens Of The Stone Age, Primal Scream and Kings of Leon.

Continue reading: A Mighty ITunes Festival Line-Up

Kings Of Leon and Vampire Weekend have rounded out the lineup for this year’s iTunes Festival. The two bands will rock Camden’s Roundhouse during the September festival. Kings of Leon are set to perform on the 11th, while Vampire Weekend will take the stage on the 15th, according to NME.

Check out photos of Vampire Weekend here.

Some other acts, who confirmed their appearances today were Paramore, Rizzle Kicks, Sigur Ros, and composer Ludovico Einaudi – a varied lineup, if ever there was one. The iTunes Festival is typically known for showcasing artists and bands across a variety of genres and this year’s mix is no different. Justin Timberlake, Jake Bugg, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Queens Of The Stone Age, Jack Johnson, Primal Scream, Phoenix and Jessie J have already been announced as the first batch of headliners for this year's iTunes Festival.

Continue reading: Kings Of Leon, Vampire Weekend And More Confirm ITunes Festival Gigs

Vampire Weekend and Kings Of Leon will join a rapidly growing list, already peppered with fellow rock royalty, including Queens Of The Stone Age, Sigur Rós, 30 Seconds to Mars and Primal Scream.

It won't be solely a festival of rock though - artists from other genres have also been invited, giving everyone at this September's festival something to look forward to, such as Justin Timberlake, Jessie J, Jake Bugg, Rizzle Kicks, and classical composer Ludovico Einaudi.

Having being held since 2007, the annual iTunes festival is held over every night in September and this year will host over 60 acts at the Camden venue.

Continue reading: Vampire Weekend And Kings Of Leon Added To ITunes Festival Bill That Keeps Getting Better

A Week In Albums... Vampire Weekend have been getting some much deserved props for their comeback LP, Modern Vampires Of The City and our man Jim Pusey was more than happy to join in the chorus of praise. Marking the group's second US Billboard number one charting album to-date - not to mention their best selling first week effort - Modern Vampires... looks like it's only going to set the indie rockers onto greater things. Pusey commented: "While it's an album that may struggle to repeat the phenomenal commercial success of Vampire Weekend's debut, I'd argue in the long run there's more to love on Modern Vampires. It's not just because the band's affection for New York seeps through every pore of the record, but also because sonically it's a far more interesting album. If this is indeed the end to a trilogy of records, Vampire Weekend have set themselves an extremely high bar to reach for the next chapter of their career."

Collaborator-happy party bringers Major Lazer have returned with a new album in the form of Free The Universe. A record that does little to change the act's sound, it doesn't necessarily need to, says Andy Peterson, with the array of people brought on board, including - there he is again - Ezra from Vampire Weekend, Peaches and Wyclef Jean, meant to enhance the party not the sound evolution. Peterson writes, "At times it's fair criticism that the formula isn't saying anything new, but the main objective here is far less about innovation but instead about being what it is; a no-nonsense party record made to be turned up to eleven and put on after twelve. Righteous."

Continue reading: A Week In Music - Vampire Weekend Album Is Tops, Daft Punk Break Records, Kelly Rowland Breaks Down

Indie rockers Vampire Weekend have topped the Billboard 200 chart with their latest record 'Modern Vampires of the City,' besting commercial efforts from the likes of X-Factor judge Demi Lovato, Lady Antebellum and the Great Gatsby soundtrack featuring music from Jay-Z and Florence and the Machine. 

The New York outfit's album sold 134,000 in its first week of sales, according to figures compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. It was also the first independently distributed album to debut at No.1 on the chart since country singer Jason Aldean's 'Night Train' in November last year. It was another country star - George Strait - who finished in second place this week with sales of 120,000, while Lovato's 'Demi' sold 110,000 copies to take No.3. Last week's No.1, 'Golden' by Lady Antebellum fell to No.5 while the soundtrack to Gatsby dropped to No.4 from No.2.

Meanwhile, on Billboard's Digital Songs chart, rapper and producer team Macklemore & Ryan Lewis held the top spot with 231,000 downloads of their hit 'Can't Hold Us.' Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines, featuring rapper T.I. and Pharrell Williams took second, ahead of Pink. 

Continue reading: Vampire Weekend's Billboard No.1 Is A Triumph For Independent Music

Vampire Weekend have stormed the top of the Billboard album charts for the second time in their career, with Modern Vampires Of The City soaring in at number one in the Top 200.

The group have followed up the success of their second album, Contra, which also took the top spot, and they’ve surpassed that record’s debut sales week figures too. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Vampire Weekend sold 134,000 copies of Modern Vampires Of The City, beating out Contra by 10,000 sales. If you’re up for some more stats on that, it’s the 19th independently-distributed album to reach No. 1 since the Billboard 200 chart began using SoundScan sales data in 1991. It’s been released on XL Recordings and distributed by Warner Music's indie-distribution arm Alternative Distribution Alliance. It’s also the first indie album to top the Billboard charts this year.

The last independently released album to top the charts was Jason Aldean’s Night Train, in November last year, so clearly they’re, um, in good company. Elsewhere in the charts, George Strait is at number two with Love Is Everything shifting 120,000 copies, while Demi Lovato’s Demi is the singer’s best first week album sales-wise yet, shifting 110,000 copies. It’s her fourth straight album to debut inside the top four. Well done, Demi.

Continue reading: Vampire Weekend Top The US Billboard Album Charts

Abba's greatest hits collection, Gold, edged past the The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band this weekend to become the second highest selling album in UK history. The band have now sold over 5.1million copies of their greatest hits album, with the Official Charts Company indicating over the weekend that the album has surpassed Sgt. Pepper's by 15,000 sales.

The album now only sits behind another best of collection, Queen's Greatest Hits, which has so far sold 5.9million copies. The rest of the top five consists of Adele’s 21, which is 4th having sold 4.6million copies, with Oasis’ 1995 sophomore release (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? completing the top five, selling slightly less than Adele. Speaking to OfficialCharts.com, ABBA founder and songwriter Björn Ulvaeus spoke of his shock at the achievement, saying, 'It’s feels unreal - outselling the greatest record of all time!'

Björn Ulvaeus couldn't believe the news of Gold's success

Continue reading: ABBA Edge Past The Beatles To Claim The Second Biggest Selling Album In UK

A Week in Videos… Gary Oldman AND David Bowie in one video? It’s happened, with the Thin White Duke revealing his controversial new video for his comeback album’s title-track, The Next Day. There’s plenty of blasphemous imagery going about, with Marion Cotillard's character receiving the stigmata on her hands and Bowie himself looking like Jesus Christ, as various decrepit clergy men enjoy a sleazy bar with all the ill-reputed sorts that usually occupy such a place. See what you think.

Vampire Weekend’s new album’s pretty great and this single off it is pretty great too. This is just the lyric video so not too much happens visually however, it gives you a chance to hear one of the lead tracks from their album Modern Vampires In The City. With the anticipation surrounding that album's release, and the generally decent feedback given to the album so far, it is expected that the band will perform particularly well on the album charts.

Continue reading: A Week In Music - David Bowie Blasphemes, Daft Punk New Album Comes Early, Low Still Set The Bar High

The last episode of Saturday Night Live (May 11, 2013) was also the last episode of the current series, but luckily the show's producers managed to bring in a truly impressive line-up that included musical guest Vampire Weekend and host Kristin Wiig, returning to the show that launched her career.

The avante-gard pop group performed two songs from their much-anticipated third album, Modern Vampires In The City, including the single 'Diane Young' and the album track 'Unbelievers,' bringing their own unique style to each of the performances. For Diane Young,' the group were accompanied by a solitary brass section, consisting of a man in a tuxedo and top hat playing a barritone saxophone, whilst on 'Unbelievers' the group had an organ, piano and a four-piece brass section, who were unfortunately dressed in normal clothes. Needless to say, it was all very cool and very Vampire Weekend.