After throwing a few ideas around, they conjured up the Independent Music Podcast, a weekly programme, downloadable free of charge, that showcased some of the most interesting independent music from around the world. The only rules were that the releases were 100% independent of major record labels, had a release either digital or physical and were interesting.

The show is presented by Gareth Main and Anthony Chalmers, Gareth brings along a selection of the week’s new releases, whilst London-based promoter Anthony brings along some tracks from his favourite unsigned bands and works in progress.

You can stream it from Mixcloud, or download it from iTunes - your call. It’s got the MG seal of approval…

R. Kelly

We’ve just found out that the incredible R.Kelly has announced dates where he’ll hit the UK for the first time since 2002, taking on Manchester, London (twice!) and Wolverhampton.

His first UK shows were at the Hammersmith Apollo way back in 1992, and it’s where he’ll be again come April. It’s a revisiting of his peak, through shows that’ll hopefully blow our minds.

Think about a 20-year career taking in such heights as ‘She’s Got That Vibe’, ‘Bump ‘n’ Grind’, ‘Ignition (Remix) and the frankly barking Trapped In The Closet series and we’re pretty sure you’ll find yourself in a tizz about the whole thing.

Here’s when it’s all a-go:

5 April Manchester  Apollo

11 April Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Just visit here for tickets, innit.

Joanna Newsom

Elfin goddess come sometime child neglecter, Joanna Newsom, is being cryptic again.

Following the announcement that she’s to tour Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and North America for the early part of this year, another clue in the form of a doodle appeared via the Drag City website, with the date of the 23rd of February apparent in the corner.

While initially there was no official report confirming any new releases from Newsom this year, during an after-party in Tokyo she let slip to fashion rag Vogue that a new album was indeed on the way.

This morning via her Australian label, Spunk, Have One on Me was confirmed for release February 19 in Oz, and the 23^rd for everyone else.

Laura Marling

At Glasgow’s The Arches yesterday, Laura Marling revealed that she’ll be releasing a Christmas single on December 21, which will also be on her as-yet-untitled second album (due out March 1), entitled I Speak Because I Can.

The single will be called ‘Goodbye England, Covered In Snow’.

This is all we have for you at the minute but we know that this kind of snippet will have a warehouse-full of you in a tizz so we had to share…

Lily Allen

So it seems Lily Allen’s still going to be on our radars, in spite of whatever may or may not have happened last week. We know this because she’s announced two co-headline dates, in conjunction with Dizzee Rascal, for next March.

The gruesome twosome’ll be hitting Manchester MEN Arena on March 5 2010, and London’s sickeningly large O2 Arena on March 7.

“I’m really looking forward to playing these special shows – I’m a massive fan of what Dizzee does,” says Lily.

Dizzee says: “Lily and I have both worked well in the past so its no doubt these shows will be nights to remember.”

Have we forgotten that she just quit music here, or what?

Lily Allen

The backlash that followed Lily Allen’s anti-filesharing blog was quite astonishing. Be it the self-defeating “what does it matter to you middle-class kids anyway?”-argument, the “bloody Tory” or the equally narrow-minded “you’ve made your bucks, it’s all too late” one, the fact remains that Allen’s intentions were entirely positive.

Don’t hold your breath on her decision to quit music being set in stone but for now, this is what she’s saying: “Just so you know, I have not renegotiated my record contract and have no plans to make another record… The days of me making money from recording music has [sic] been and gone as far as I’m concerned.”

As we type this, EMI are denying that she’s quit…

Oh well.

UPDATE UPDATE!! As of 15.16, the news is this: Her spokesperson sent an email to Popjustice that said: “She is not quitting pop music and is still promoting her current album, which is why she said she is not thinking ahead to another record.” Is this like the time Patrick Wolf said he’d never tour again?

eyeseesound

Here at the majestic Musos Towers, we love it when people just go out and DO stuff. DIY equals FAB in our book. Therefore, we think you should visit www.eyeseesound.tv.

In the words of the authors “the website is a celebration of and promotion of independent music, film and art. Remember when you were younger and the thrill you’d get from making mix tapes for friends or telling them about something culturally wonderful you’d discovered? Well, fundamentally that’s what we’re doing on a larger, and slightly more finessed scale.”

It’s all the work of just two passionate beings too. Yowser. They’ve just released episode two of their magazine-style TV show thing as well. And it’s good. You should go watch it. No, really, you should.

So in the end, www.eyeseesound.tv is all about finding and loving great music, film and art and putting it into a nice show. This sounds ace to us.

In fact, it sounds skill – lush even. Maybe even a little bit bonzer. (Somebody switch him off now please – Ed).

los campesinos!

In a completely unnanounced surprise, pop starlets Los Campesinos! have put a brand new song on their blog.

Entitled ‘The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future’, the music video sees the band froliking and drinking at the beach, and features soon-to-depart member Aleks.

It is unclear as to wether the track will feature on the band’s currently untitled third record.

Glasvegas

Glasvegas‘ new album is all but recorded and will be released next year, according to Rab Allan who we spoke to on the red carpet at Grosvenor House around one hour ago.

Unfortunately, the band are unable to play at today’s ceremony because lead singer James Allan has been taken ill, but the good news is that the new album is sounding “less mournful”.

We believe this is what’s known as An Exclusive.

Beachdown

It was due to take place in Brighton this weekend but Beachdown Festival has been cancelled at the very last minute. The official website says the cancellation was due to “slower than forecast ticket sales and lack of support at a critical time from our bank and certain suppliers”.

The statement continues: “Very simply we were unable to meet the demands that the current economic climate put against us and at the eleventh hour despite having most of the infrastructure in place we have been forced to cancel the event.

“We wish to say at this time how desperately sorry we are to all those who have bought tickets or were participating in the event and to say that we all here are personally shattered especially after eleven months of battling against the recession to try and put this event on and coming so close. We also wish to advise everyone that we explored every possible avenue to finance the event including re-mortgaging our houses to combat the unwillingness of banks to support us.”

Join the scrap-pile, Beachdown…