Long time Neil Young collaborator and country music legend Ben Keith has passed away.

Neil Young began life as a long haired hippy, playing electric guitar in Buffalo Springfield. Yet the singer always had broader influences, and when he came to Nashville in 1971 Young hooked up with a number of local musicians.

One of these would provide an enduring partnership. Ben Keith was a proficient on guitar, saxophone and more but chose the pedal steel as his forte.

Invited along to the ‘Harvest’ sessions his plaintive musicianship would become one of the album’s hallmarks. Speaking in the film ‘Heart Of Gold’ Keith explained that the partnership happened by chance.

“I set up my steel and kind of snuck in there and started playing and we did five songs before we ever stopped and introduced ourselves” he said.

Invited to join Neil Young’s touring band, Ben Keith remained a near constant presence in the singer’s life. Playing on several albums, the pedal steel player joined nearly every formation of touring band assembled by the Canadian songwriter.

Meanwhile, Ben Keith was having his own solo career. A noted musician, Keith had once worked with Patsy Kline. In the 90s he produced the singer Jewel, whose debut album sold 5 million copies.

“I knew when I first heard Jewel that she was plowing new ground,” Ben Keith told Rolling Stone. “She came to Neil’s ranch and cut about 20 songs, each of us just kind of checking things out. It’s funny, she reminded me of Patsy Cline, in a way.”

Just last year Ben Keith joined Neil Young for one of his famed Bridge School Benefit concerts. Succumbing to an unknown illness, the pedal steel player was 73 years old.

Neil Young paid tribute to his friend, dedicating the ‘Harvest’ track ‘Old Man’ to the musician during a recent show in Winnipeg.

Record breaking ska crew Madness have confirmed plans for an extensive British tour.

Madness could well be one of the most under-rated groups Britain has ever produced. The band scored more Top 40 hits during the 80s than any other group, an almost unrivalled success rate.

Combining punk energy with ska rhythms, the mixture is topped off with Suggs’ lyrics. Often gently melancholic, the songwriter has the ability of being able to tug the nation’s heartstrings in just a few lines.

Returning last year with an ambitious concept album, Madness are enjoying renewed popularity. Hosting their epic Madstock event in London for the first time in over 15 years, the band stormed the festival season this summer.

Playing shows at Glastonbury, T In The Park and more Madness brought their hits to a new generation.

Confirming a series of tour dates, Madness are due to kick start ‘Do Not Adjust Your Nut’. Currently working on their new studio album, the band are set to take a break from recording to hit the nation.

Opening in Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom on November 26th, Madness will bring their hits to a venue near you. Comprising sixteen live shows, the ‘Do Not Adjust Your Nut’ tour is one of the band’s lengthiest undertakings for some time.

Finishing with a show in London’s Earls Court on December 17th, tickets are set to go on sale on Friday (July 30th).

Madness have confirmed the following shows:

November
26 Blackpool Empress Ballroom
27 Glasgow O2 Academy
28 Newcastle O2 Academy
30 Manchester Apollo

December
1 Sheffield O2 Academy
3 Hull Arena
4 Leicester De Montford Hall
5 Leeds O2 Academy
7 Nottingham Rock City
8 Bournemouth BIC
10 Reading Rivermead
11 Birmingham O2 Academy
13 Cardiff International Arena
14 Plymouth Pavilions
15 Brighton Centre
17 London Earls Court

Click here to buy tickets to Madness!

Australian math rock dynamos PVT have organised an intimate free show in London ahead of their new album.

PVT’s return is one of the summer’s more welcome musical developments. The Australian math rock titans have completed their second album, recorded in a variety of locations across the globe.

Trapped in a London basement with an avalanche of vintage synths, PVT emerged with something which moves on from their acclaimed debut without losing the sense of purpose which made their initial recordings so intoxicating.

Full length LP ‘Church With No Magic’ is set to be released on August 9th, with the album set to be preceded by the single ‘Window’ one week earlier.

As a special preview of the new album, PVT have arranged an intimate free show in London. The band will unveil tracks from ‘Church With No Magic’ on September 6th, taking control of the Old Blue Last.

Tickets will be available through a series of competitions, with entry being strictly limited. One way to win a ticket is to join the band’s official mailing list – click HERE for details.

If you don’t manage to grab a ticket, then fear not – PVT are set to launch their new British tour in September.

Opening in Manchester on September 28th, PVT will perform several shows across the country. Finishing with a headline date at London’s Cargo on October 6th, tickets for these shows will on sale to the general public.

Support will come from newcomers Hind Ear.

PVT have confirmed the following shows:

September
28 Manchester Deaf Institute
29 Glasgow Stereo
30 Leeds Brudenell

October
2 Bristol Start The Bus
3 Brighton Audio
4 Nottingham Bodega
6 London Cargo

Click here to buy tickets for PVT!

All star dubstep project Magnetic Man have confirmed further details of their much hyped debut album.

Dubstep emerged from the streets, a phenomenon driven by London’s club scene and an epic love affair with bass. Moving across the country the scene now spans the globe, with Skream even scoring dubstep’s first bona fide hit last year.

Now three of the scene’s pioneers have joined forces for a new project. Magnetic Man was formed last year from Skream, Artwork and Benga with the trio being snapped up by a major label on the strength of just one twelve inch.

Working on their debut album, the group have been able to call on some well known guest stars. Ms Dynamite is due to break cover with an appearance on the album, with the Mercury award winner being joined by an eclectic array of vocalists.

Soul star John Legend appears, while newcomer Katy B also joins the trio. Katy B is a fast rising vocalist, with the London based singer currently working on new material with dubstep heavyweight Benga.

New single ‘I Need Air’ is out today, with Angela Hunte adding her vocals to a euphoric slice of bass heavy rave. The track appears on Magnetic Man’s debut album, with the self-titled effort due for release on October 4th.

Gearing up for the release, Magnetic Man have announced a full scale British tour. Including some mouth watering dates, the trio’s live show is centred on their laptops with plenty of frisky re-edits going on.

Recently Magnetic Man made an appearance a Benicassim, triggering an enormous stage invasion.

Magnetic Man’s debut album is due to be released on October 4th. Tracklisting:

‘Flying Into Tokyo’
‘Fire’
‘I Need Air’
‘Anthemic’
‘The Bug’
‘Ping Pong’
‘Perfect Stranger’
‘Mad’
‘Boiling Water’
‘K Dance’
‘Crossover’
‘Box Of Ghosts’
‘Karma Crazy’
‘Getting Nowhere’

Team Green Britain, founded by EDF Energy prepares for a Big Lunch as the grand finale to the summer’s ‘green’ activities. This year’s Big Lunch, which takes place on Sunday 18th July will be a scrumptious mix of sunshine, food, fun and of course music which luckily Team Green Britain Ambassador and Radio 6 Music DJ Lauren Laverne has covered! The perfect playlist – a compilation of old and new tracks will be the ideal accompaniment to any Sunday lunch.

Lauren says of the project: “This summer, I’ve been learning about a low carbon approach to food as part of my ambassador role for Team Green Britain…. I’ve created my Big Lunch playlist to celebrate the finale of Team Green Britain’s summer of inspiring activities, bringing everyone together to think and act green. This is a family-friendly playlist of old and new songs that should soundtrack a sunny afternoon of tea, cakes, sandwiches and laughing. All these songs sound particularly lovely in the sunshine…”

The tracklisting is as follows:

1. Hung Up on a Dream – The Zombies
2. Village Green Preservation Society – The Kinks
3. The Swimming Song – Loudon Wainwright III
4. I Wanna Hold Your Hand – Al Green
5. Lazy Sunday – The Small Faces
6. Coconut – Harry Nilsson
7. Buzzin Fly – Tim Buckley
8. Troublesome Houses – Bonnie Prince Billy and the Cairo Gang
9. Les Fleur – Minnie Ripperton
10. Respect – Norma Fraser
11. Steal My Sunshine – Len
12. Signed, Sealed Delivered – Stevie Wonder
13. Get Down Tonight – KC and the Sunshine Band
14.(I can’t seem to) Make You Mine – The Clientele

The Team Green Playlist is now available from http://www.teamgreenbritain.org/playlist. And should you wish to join in with The Big Lunch, visit www.thebiglunch.com