Music News

Stevie Wonder paid tribute to the late Bobby Womack as he closed the Calling Festival in London on Sunday night (29.06.14).
The soul legend sent his "condolences" to Bobby's grieving family following his passing last Friday (27.06.14) at the age of 70 and then covered his track 'If You Think You're Lonely Now' at the music event held on Clapham Common.
Speaking to the crowd, Stevie said: "It's always a painful thing when we lose someone in this industry, but each time we lose someone, we can say we are left with their musical history ... I want to give my condolences to his family and hope that he is in the best place spiritually. Please give a hand to Bobby Womack.
"We picked out a song we thought was appropriate."
At the beginning of his set, Stevie came on stage playing his signature keytar and as he stepped out the dark clouds and showers which had been threatening to dampen spirits cleared and the sun shone on him and his thousands of fans, a sign of "God's love" according to the musician.
The 64-year-old star performed a hit-filled set with highlights including 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours', 'Sir Duke', 'Master Blaster' and 'Sunshine of My Life'.
At one stage Stevie led the crowd in an A cappella version of 'Ebony and Ivory' - the track about racial harmony he recorded with Sir Paul McCartney in 1982 - and a sing-along to 'My Cherie Amour'.
He later joked with the crowd by claiming he was actually British and just looked like Stevie Wonder.
Speaking in an English accent, he said: "I'm English actually, I'm from Brixton ... Most people think I'm Stevie Wonder ... People say, 'Why don't you sing like Stevie Wonder? So I learnt his accent."
Stevie closed his set with fan favourite 'Superstition' and before he exited the stage he told the cheering crowd "remember I love you, thank you" and then took a bow with his band and backing singers.
Other performers at the festival included Paloma Faith and Jack Johnson, while Aerosmith headlined the event on Saturday (28.06.14).

Dolly Parton has denied miming at Glastonbury.
The 68-year-old singer - who made her festival debut on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday night (29.06.14) - has been forced to defend herself over claims she failed to sing live during the set.
A spokesperson for Dolly told The Sunday Mirror: "She sings live. Some people don't know an amazing singer when they hear one."
The '9 To 5' hitmaker's vocals became the subject of debate following her performance of her hits including 'Islands in the Stream', 'Baby I'm Burning' and 'Jolene' prompting actor Stephen Fry to speak out in her defence.
The 56-year-old wrote on Twitter: "I think I know quite a lot about how TV is made. Why are people saying @DollyParton is miming? She's fooling me."
He added: "Believe me, that is not miming. If it appears not always to lip-sync that's an HD live processor issue. You see it with news reporters."
Meanwhile, Dolly - who performed her energetic set in front of over 200,000 adoring fans clad in a white suit covered in rhinestones - had received a surprise award prior to her set at the iconic Worthy Farm.
She was presented with a congratulatory plaque by Glastonbury organizer Michael Eavis and her manager Danny Nozell at the Somerset event in honor of selling 100 million albums worldwide.
She said after receiving her award: "I've been so busy making records for the past several decades, I didn't realize I had racked up so many sales. What a great honor to know that I have so many fans that have supported me through the years.
"Thanks to the RIAA [Recording Industry Association of America] for the acknowledgment and the plaque. I feel very honored and proud."

Dolly Parton received a surprise award at Glastonbury today (29.06.14).
The 68-year-old singer was presented with a congratulatory plaque by Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis and her manager Danny Nozell at the Somerset event in honour of selling 100 million albums worldwide.
She said after receiving her award: "I've been so busy making records for the past several decades, I didn't realise I had racked up so many sales. What a great honour to know that I have so many fans that have supported me through the years.
"Thanks to the RIAA [Recording Industry Association of America] for the acknowledgment and the plaque. I feel very honoured and proud."
The '9 To 5' hitmaker took to the Pyramid Stage just two hours after being presented with the award to perform her energetic set in front of over 200,000 adoring fans.
The blonde beauty, who was dressed in a white suit covered in rhinestones, belted out the lyrics to her hits 'Islands in the Stream', 'Baby I'm Burning' and 'Jolene', before performing the title track from her new album 'Blue Smoke'.
The bubbly star even got fans to sing along to her new song 'Mud', which she wrote especially for the five-day music festival, before briefly dashing off the stage and returning with Bon Jovi's guitarist Richie Sambora for a duet of 'Lay Your Hands On Me'.
Dolly finished off her 70-minute set by thanking the audience for their continuous support over the years and then rounded off with 'I Will Always Love You'.

Paolo Nutini gets irritated by airport security and baggage restrictions when he's on tour.
The 'Let Me Down Easy' singer, who often tours the globe and spends hours in airports, admits it angers him that he can't take certain things in his hand luggage and there are limits to what he can take on the plane.
He said: "Christ, the amount of time I spend in f***ing airports with plastic f***ing bags. 100ml, f**k off!
"I brought back this stuff for my sister, products, they cost a fortune, I forget about them and this guy lifted them out of my hand baggage, 'Aha, 150 mil!' And they were in the f***ing wrapper. I bet he took them home for his missus and got himself a nice wee night out of that. I had to buy them again!"
The star claims the quote that defines us is, "Unattended baggage will be destroyed."
He seethed: "Even if I was that f***ed up that I wanted to blow up a plane, do you think I'd put myself on the f***ing thing? Come on! And the ****s stand there with their false sense of authority tasting my f***ing toothpaste?"
Despite being annoyed by airport security and baggage rules, one thing that doesn't irritate Paolo is having to pay his taxes.
He explained to Q magazine: "The best thing you can do is pay your taxes. People paying their taxes helped my grandmother stay a part of my life. She had various cancers, if it wasn't for the NHS I wouldn't be able to sit with her and watch Bradley Walsh on 'The Chase', one of my favourite things I can do. I've never had a problem with paying my taxes."

Rita Ora and Laura Whitmore are among the stars who have been sporting new Beats by Dre accessories at Glastonbury.
The headphones brand has teamed up with British fashion designer Henry Holland to create a strap for the Beats Pill XL, a wireless speaker which creates a summer sound system.
He has designed the accessory - which carries the Beats Pill XL and holds lighters, money, iPhones and every other summer essential, making it perfect for festivals.
'I Will Never Let You Down' hitmaker Rita was spotted with one backstage at the Worthy Farm event blasting out Blondie's 'Hanging On The Telephone' and got her crew to join in a sing-along to the song.
The strap accessory combines faux fur with snakeskin print leather and it's one of summer 2014's festival must-haves.
Speaking about the collaboration, Holland said: "The best thing about the Beats Pill XL is that you can take it anywhere so why not carry it like a fur trimmed accessory? I can't wait to see them anywhere there's music and sunshine."
The collaboration comes after similar projects with Fendi and Alexander McQueen.
The limited edition strap goes on sale tomorrow (30.06.14) and the Beats Pill XL is available now.

Lorde worries she may not have a career by the time she reaches 25.
The 17-year-old singer has been praised for capturing the spirit of today's youth in her music, including hit song 'Royals', but she admits she isn't sure people will care about her music when she grows up.
She explained: "Since I started making music, a lot was made of how old I was and it made me think about, what happens when I'm 25? Will people still like what I'm doing? Will it still be important if I'm not this hyper-youthful being?
"It's stupid, I know I'm being silly, but I can't help it. It's just one of those things. I'll get over it."
The 'Team' hitmaker also reveals she is conscious of the pressures to look perfect in the music industry and how it might affect her fans.
Lorde said: "I am a young person and I know how it feels to have those pressures of not looking a certain way. A lot of people have misconceptions about this industry and how you're supposed to look. I don't think I should have to look perfect all the time.
"I definitely think about the imprint I'm leaving on people my age - particularly girls. I'm sensitive to how women are portrayed because sometimes it kind of sucks."
The New Zealander thinks she has "thicker skin" than most and isn't easily offended by detractors claiming she looks older than her years.
She added in an interview with Bliss magazine: "I always get these weird people being like, 'Oh, she's growing up too fast, she looks 30.'
"I've grown a way thicker skin in terms of my own appearance. People don't hire me for how I look, but for what I do and the talents I have, which is cool."

Metallica headlined at Glastonbury tonight (27.06.14).
The heavy rock band - consisting of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammet and Robert Trujillo - kicked off their energetic set on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm in Somerset this evening with their classic hit 'Creeping Death', which had fans violently head-banging along.
The stage flashed with red and gold lights as the American quartet - who are the first metal act to headline the festival since 1970 - performed hits such as 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' and 'Wherever I May Roam'.
The group then got a little sentimental as they admitted they felt honoured to be representing heavy music.
Lead vocalist, James, 50, told the crowd: "Well Glastonbury, Metallica is grateful to be invited to such an event called Glastonbury.
"We're very proud to be here and to be representing, shall we say, the heavier side of music.
"Me and the boys would like to dedicate this new song to everyone here who's been waiting for someone like us and also to all the heavy metal British bands who have ever dreamed or are still dreaming of playing here."
He later dedicated their 2008 song 'Cyanide' to those whose soul has been moved by music.
The band then asked for the lights to be turned on so they could see "the Glastonbury family", before rounding off the show with their final song, 'Seek and Destroy'.

Lana Del Rey played an emotional set at Glastonbury today (28.06.14).
The 'Blue Jeans' singer looked stunning in an orange, green and yellow tie dye dress on the Pyramid Stage as she performed some of her most heartbreaking songs - including 'Born To Die' and 'Summertime Sadness' - at the event at Worthy Farm in Somerset this afternoon.
The 28-year-old star appeared glum as she belted out the lyrics to 'Young and Beautiful' followed by tracks such as 'West Coast' from her new album 'Ultraviolence'.
At one point, she told the crowd: "I hope you guys are having the time of your lives."
However, some members of the crowd complained about her lack of conversation with the festival goers.
Although, fans seemed more than impressed when the brunette beauty - who was sporting her usual smudged black eyeliner - struck up a cigarette during her performance of 'Blue Jeans' as black and white videos flashed up on the screen behind her.
Lana then had an intimate moment on stage with her guitar player as she wrapped her arms around his waist as she looked out across the field at her adoring fans.
She finished off the show with 'Ride', 'Video Games' and 'National Anthem'.

Arcade Fire say headlining Glastonbury was one of "the most incredible" moments of their career.
The indie rockers - who performed on the Pyramid Stage at the iconic Worthy Farm festival on Friday night(27.06.14) - kicked off the set with their 2013 single 'Reflektor', which was accompanied by a firework display, and labelled the experience "unbelievable".
Lead singer Win Butler told the crowd: "We're so happy to be here at Glastonbury."
During the opening track, the 34-year-old took a camera from a lucky reveller and snapped a number of photographs before handing it back, while the crowd let off red and blue flares, prompting Win to say,' Thank you for the flares, I hope you don't get arrested".
The Grammy Award-winning band - made up of Win, his wife Régine Chassagne, his brother Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara - were scheduled to be joined on stage by Australian singer Lorde, until the 17-year-old pulled out of the show to spend time with her family.
Lorde - who wasn't booked to play in a solo slot across the weekend - tweeted her disappointed at missing the performance.
She wrote: "Pulling out of Glastonbury in the name of family time was a tough decision but oh boy I am not jealous of that mud."
Meanwhile, performances on the Pyramid Stage were brought to halt yesterday evening after thunderstorms forced organisers to cut short Rudimental's set.
Instead of broadcasting footage of the performance, the screens at the side of stage showed a warning message before a festival representative came out to inform the crowd the stage was being closed.
The closure led to a delay in the festival's performance schedule causing Lilly Allen's set to be cut down.