Music News

Mastodon have cancelled 16 tour dates.
The heavy metal band were scheduled to play a string of international shows including the prestigious Reading/Leeds Festival throughout August and September but have pulled out of all of the gigs citing a "personal family matter".
The group - featuring Troy Sanders, Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher and Brann Dailor - have not issued a personal statement expanding on what has prompted them to axe the planned dates, which included appearances at Pukkelpop in Belgium, Oya Festival in Norway and Heavy Montreal Festival, where they were due to perform on August 7.
The band were due to headline The Pit at Reading and Leeds Festival but have now been replaced by Swedish metal band Ghost, while their show in Iceland on September 5 will now take place at Reykjavik's Rokkjotnar Festival on December 5.
The outfit released their sixth studio album Once More 'Round the Sun' last year reaching their highest chart positions to date, with guitarist Brent recently joking they chose a lighter sound for the record compared to 2011's 'The Hunter' because he "never really liked heavy metal in the first place."
Mastodon are expected to return to the stage at the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 25.

Lorde, Tom Waits and Kesha are set to judge the International Songwriting Competition.
The 18-year-old 'Royals' hitmaker along with the iconic singer/songwriter and 'Tik Tok' singer are among some of the many high profile artists who will feature on the panel, along with British band Bastille, Swedish DJ Avicii, R&B vocal group Boyz II Men, 77-year-old legend Bill Withers, 'Somewhere Only We Know' singers Keane, dance-hall rapper Sean Paul and Run D.M.C.'s Darryl McDaniels.
The annual contest, which first launched in 2002, encourages songwriters to create "something truly meaningful" by giving away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes to the 68 winners.
As well as performers, music industry executives will also have their say in judging across the 22 categories, with CEOs from Atlantic, Epic, Sony Music Latin, Warner Bros., and Concord Music Group set to appear alongside the artists on the panel.
The grand prize was won by Australian musician Vance Joy earlier this year thanks to his catchy tune 'Riptide', bagging him $25,000 in prize money and $30,000 in merchandise and services.
Other stars to have previously won in the contest - which is open to both professional and amateur songwriters - include Bastille, Gotye, Kimbra, Passenger, King Charles and Lindsey Sirling.

Dappy has penned "three massive N-Dubz comeback songs".
The 28-year-old rapper is gearing up for a reunion with his former N-Dubz bandmates Tulisa and Fazer after they parted ways in 2011 and teased a trio of incredible songs he has prepared for the band.
He said: "I love Tulisa, I love Fazer, that's like my family. I've written three massive N-Dubz comeback songs."
However the 'No Regrets' hitmaker revealed he is intent on bagging two more solo number ones before he gets back together with the stars, adding their new music will be much more mature than their 2008 debut 'Uncle B' which featured singles 'Papa Can You Hear Me' and 'Ouch'.
He explained: "I don't know when I'm going to release them. I've made a goal. I've had three number one singles, I want two more by myself and then I'll bring back the group because I just want my stripes back. It's not the stuff that you used to hear before, like the teenagers arguing in the bedroom, going up the stairs, finding the fella in a bed, it's really grown up."
And on his personal plans for the future, Dappy said he is considering appearing on ITV reality show 'I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!' following a successful stint on 'Celebrity Big Brother'.
He told Sheffield radio station Hallam FM: "I seriously wouldn't mind going on 'Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here', as long as people take me serious as a musician, that's all it comes down to."

Ellie Goulding sees Amy Winehouse as "a massive inspiration".
The 28-year-old singer never met the late star - who passed away in 2011 from alcohol poisoning - but has learnt lessons from Amy's life and is hoping she doesn't suffer similar media hounding.
She explained: "I've learned from Amy. She's a massive inspiration. She lived here [in London]. She worked here. Her friends were here. And I don't see why that can't be my life and I can still do my art without letting that [celebrity] stuff [interfere]."
The 'Burn' hitmaker - who is dating McBusted hunk Dougie Poynter - continued to say despite the fact the 'Back to Black' singer only released two albums before she passed away, she believes she is "one of the greatest" British artists to have ever lived.
She gushed to Billboard magazine: "We had mutual friends, but I didn't know her and I'm so sad that I never got to meet her and I'm so sad about how it ended because she was just an unbelievable talent. Unbelievable. She's one of the greatest artists to ever come out of this country and to come out of London."

Simon Cowell wants Leona Lewis to return to Syco.
The 'Bleeding Love' hitmaker broke away from the label last year following a number of disagreements and instead signed to Island Records, but after her new single 'Fire Under My Feet' flopped in the charts, her old boss has reached out to the estranged star with a potentially career-saving offer.
He said: "I have a real soft spot for Leona for so many reasons. I'd say to her, and I genuinely mean this, that the door will always be left open.
"Any time she ever thought, 'I want to come back to Syco' I'd welcome her back with open arms.
"When you've got talent as good as this and a voice as good as that, with the right song you can always have a hit."
And Simon believes his "enemies" were partly to blame for the open letter that Leona penned where she voiced her "frustrations" with his label.
He explained to The Sun newspaper: "She was being wound up. That just wasn't her. And I think she now understands that once you say something, it kind of creates your own momentum, but probably not in the right way."
The 30-year-old star - who will release her fifth studio album 'I Am' on September 11 2015 - won the third series of 'The X Factor' in 2006 but recently revealed she quit her record deal with Syco because she wanted a more approachable boss.
She said: "I wanted to go somewhere I had close personal relationships, the sort of place where I could phone the boss on a Sunday and ask him if one track - already finished - could have strings on it and he would not only take my call but say, 'Yes.'"

Jessie J is taking a break from music.
The 'Flashlight' hitmaker has revealed she is to have a few months away from the industry next year to "write and live".
Clarifying comments she made on stage at Somerset House, London, she wrote on Twitter: "I said on stage last night I want/need a break I didn't mean today I am working until Jan/Feb next year Then I will be writing/living.
"It was just a open conversation with myself and the audience Last night wasn't my last show of the year lol (sic)"
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old beauty recently admitted she hates being famous.
She said: "I don't like being famous, I'm not very good at it. I like simple things like cooking and bowling. I like helping people."
And Jessie also referenced her recent health issues, which saw her admitted to hospital for a mystery operation.
She added: "Every time I step on the stage I never presume or expect it to last forever. I take in each moment as though they are stars - I know that sounds strange, but it's true.
"If you see me sitting down, it's because it's one of my first gigs since having two operations. I'm still a bit shaky and I'm not my usual jumpy self."

Andy Grammer wants to work with Labrinth.
The 31-year-old singer - who shot to fame with his viral single 'Honey, I'm Good' - has revealed he wants to build on his success by having a song penned for him by the British musician.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I love Labrinth - I'm a really big fan. His song writing is incredible."
Andy - who joined pal Taylor Swift on stage in Chicago over the weekend - has been nominated for two Teen Choice Awards following the success of his breakthrough track and added he would also be thrilled to work with fellow nominee, 'Uptown Funk' hitmaker Mark Ronson, as well as the producer behind Eminem and Rihanna's hit 'Love the Way You Lie'.
He continued: "I would love to work with Mark Ronson and I'd love to work with Alex da Kidd."
The musician added he thinks the success of 'Honey, I'm Good' is "awesome", especially because it's such a "fun" song.
He explained: "Yeah it's really fun because the song itself is me singing about temptation from guys or girls, everybody deals with temptation and to acknowledge it and write a song about it cheers on people that stay together. I think that's really cool.
"[The success of the song] is pretty awesome man. It's amazing to have such success and then what that leads to. It's been amazing."

Andrea Faustini is "nervous" about his debut album.
The former 'The X Factor' contestant released his first collection, 'Kelly', last Friday (17.07.15) and while he said he didn't have any "expectations" for the LP, he admitted he has nerves about how it will be received.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I just imagine myself as a singer, it's really the first time I'm releasing an album so I don't really have any expectations, I just hope people like my album.
"I'm starting to be a little bit nervous, I'm just very excited about everything, it's been a wonderful experience, even if I'm a little bit nervous, I'm very happy"
The 21-year-old star - who finished in third place on the ITV reality show in December before being snapped up by RCA Records - was speaking following a performance on the world's biggest shopping channel, QVC, on Monday (20.07.15), during which he sang tracks including his new single 'Give a Little Love' which he co-wrote.
Explaining the influences on the record - which is now available to buy from qvcuk.com, he said: "I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake so it is a pop album which has some gospel and R&B influences. I actually co-wrote the first single so I'm happy."

Rudimental brought Dizzee Rascal onstage at Lovebox on Friday (17.07.15).
The chart-topping quartet were closing the Main Stage at the London festival, held at Victoria Park, when they surprised the 50,000 strong crowd by inviting the 'Bonkers' hitmaker onstage for their new collaboration 'Love Ain't Just A Word'.
During their performance, the lads - who, along with Dizzee, were raised in the capital - shouted to the crowd: "This is our home!"
Ella Eyre - who was performing alone earlier in the day - also joined Rudimental onstage to perform their hit single 'Waiting All Night'.
Another Londoner, Ella said: "It's good to be back in my home town".
The festival-goers - who were treated to Tia Espresso Ice Coffees from Tia Maria's Cool Beans milk float at the event - went wild for Rudimental's older hits from their debut album 'Home', like 'Feel The Love', which they closed the festival with.
However, their most recent singles 'Never Let You Go', 'Bloodstream' and 'Rumour Mill' got the crowd just as pumped, showing there's no sign of the band fading into obscurity any time soon.
Throughout the day, the Main Stage also saw newcomer Karen Harding kick off the festival, performing her debut hit single and the MNEK-produced 'Say Something', as well as deep house duo Blonde, who got the crowds dancing with their summer anthem 'All Cried Out'.
Skepta took to the stage later, managing to get the audience jumping and moshing in three separate pits as he performed hits like 'That's Not Me' and 'Shut Down'.
Meanwhile, Mark Ronson's DJ set seemed a tad underwhelming, as he played his "favourite track of the summer", D.R.A.M's 'Cha Cha' as well as a repeat of 'Shut Down', although his massive hit 'Uptown Funk' got the crowd going wild and dancing.