270 stories by "Mark Beech"
Albums by the late David Bowie and Radiohead are among those nominated for Britain's prestigious Mercury Prize for music. Bowie's "Blackstar" album " released just days before his death -&nb…
Here is a pick of albums of 2016 so far by rock artists who have been trawling their vaults to discover previously unreleased music as good as their best. Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison and…
The world's largest arts festival starts this week in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Fringe has more than 3,000 events alongside many other events under the Edinburgh Festival banner.Here is a pic…
Baaba Maal is on a roll. After some 30 years making music around the world, the Senegalese star is winning wider acclaim. He is in the spotlight for his recent work with British band Mumford…
For years, English country house operas have been throwing up young pretenders for the crown long worn by Glyndebourne, and just possibly Garsington. To the likes of festivals at Bampton, th…
Jesus enters in a gray hoodie like a refugee Kanye West in best "Yeezus" mode. Mary does a subtle update to "Could We Start Again Please?" " a song that could almost be about contemporary po…
Heard of the Mystery Jets? If so, congratulations on being in on something of a well-kept secret " outside the UK anyway.Early birds who caught the Mystery Jets in an afternoon slot at …
The four members of Wolf Alice are chilling in their backstage area before playing in front of 65,000 people in London's Hyde Park.Well, not quite chilling, because this is a Portakabin type…
The warning sign by the Arcola Theatre, currently showing the world premiere of the new play "Cargo" by Tess Berry-Hart, is intriguing and encouraging.It reads: "Please note that this perfor…
Stevie Wonder lamented recent gun violence and played for almost four hours, Mumford & Sons flirted with African music, and Take That proved that boy bands as middle aged men can still p…
A London department store is to mark the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death by what it says is a world first: Selfridges is turning part of its shop into a theater.Instead of m…
Adele gave a tuneful, emotional performance. Muse delivered a sweaty sci-fi inspired set. Coldplay brought out Bee Gee Barry Gibb for an unlikely version of "Stayin' Alive." But, as ever at …
Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mumford & Sons are both moving on. They are two of the most prominent examples of a 2016 musical trend: established acts, with critical and commercial success, …
Summertime, and the living is easy. Here's a pick of eight new albums for this holiday season, from the infectious pop of Ariana Grande to the thoughtful blues of Eric Clapton.While Grande, …
Coldplay is selling its album art to raise money for disadvantaged children. The rock band has an exhibition opening in London that coincides with its run of five sell-out concerts at Wemble…
While the problems of security onstage can be frustrating, they inspired one of the finest tracks on Paul Simon's new album, "Stranger to Stranger," his first in five years. "Wristband" says…
One of the rarest David Bowie films is set for a comeback, six months after the star's death."David Bowie Is," a documentary based on the blockbuster 2013 exhibition at the Victoria and Albe…
The Governors Ball this weekend in New York comes as 2016's summer festival season launches into high gear.Fans at California's Coachella in April, always the first big event, got a hint of …
Coldplay's "Up & Up" " arguably more inventive than the music " is just the latest in a run of jaw-dropping videos this year.The surreal video, shot through with the band's environmental…
Jean-Michel Jarre says "Electronica 2," just out, is the culmination of his most ambitious project, spread over five years. The French musician, who has sold 80 million records starting with…
