There are some strange little pop stars who seem to pop in and out of existence time and time again. Dido is one, having been huge on the back of Eminem’s Stan sample, then again in her own right, before disappearing off the face of the planet. And Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the daughter of a Blue Peter presenter who was many young schoolboys’ first crush, is another.

It’s entirely possible that you’ve never even heard of Ellis-Bextor (I’m already sick of writing the double-barreled name), but she’s been in and around the music scene for well over a decade. She’s just never been able to sustain a top level Madonna or Kylie-style career.

She started out in an indie band called theaudience in 1997, before disappearing for a year until a triumphant return in 2000 singing on Groovejet by DJ Spiller. Then came a debut album containing the still-brilliant Murder on the Dancefloor, and there have since been two more albums since, with a fourth on the way.

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The Feeling are a strange band, and I mean that in the best sense of the word. They are a proper band, who all play instruments, and who write their own material, but they’re derided by the fascist music press because they are clearly ‘pop’ and proud of it.

I would classify them as indie pop, but I really don’t see that it matter when the music they produce is of such a high order. Yes it’s cheesy, no they’re not going to ever be an NME band, but so what? They produce catchy music and albums which are as addictive as crack (or so Amy Winehouse told me).

Their new single is called Join With Us, and is out on September 15th. Anyone living in the UK will no doubt have heard this song many time already due to it being featured in a Toyota Auris advert, but the video is good enough to warrant another listen. It’s embedded after the cut along with my review.

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The Futureheads are one of my favourite British bands ever, and one which deserves a lot more credit than they currently get. So when they announced a new UK tour back in March, I nabbed some tickets before they all sold out.

It’s been a long two month wait for the gig to finally come around, but yesterday finally gave me the chance to see the band play live for the first time since they last played Manchester back in 2006. And they have lost none of the magic from those days, and in fact seemed even more energetic than last time I saw them, a tall order indeed.

Maybe it was the small(er) venue which did the trick, as they were playing Academy 2, a compact venue for a band of this magnitude. At one point, the band even acknowledged how good it was to be in a smaller venue and how it helps to see in to the eyes of their notoriously loyal fans. If last night’s show was anything to go on, I’d recommend they play smaller venues more often.

This is the fourth gig I’ve been to this year, with a real mixed bag of artists so far, comprising of Megadeth, The Feeling and Sugababes. They’ve all been brilliant, but this was the best so far, despite being too short for my liking. It was also the complete opposite of the Sugababes gig, with no props, and no costume changes, just out and out good music played at a frenetic pace.

The band came on at about 9.20pm, and apart from the huge cheer, there was no fanfare, no impressive light show or anything. These guys just let their music do the talking, and that’s all the fans need.

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Yesterday, I suggested two songs which you should add to your iPod or mp3 player’s playlist. They were two of the finest songs by British artists out there at the moment, namely Warwick Avenue by Duffy and Without You by The Feeling.

But I wasn’t the only one with recommendations to make, and the whole of the b5 Music Channel also gave their picks for you to listen to. There’s over 40 songs for you to check out, so take your time, listen to the embeds, and watch the videos, and become more educated to new music. Yes, that IS an order.

First of is the other blog I write on the network - Killed By The Video Star, where I sought to give more attention to two woefully underplayed and underrated music videos from a years ago.

The Jazz and Blues Lounge is our online authority for Jazz, so check it out. Keeping with the Jazz era The Good Musician gives us two of the greatest of all time. Finish your third cup of coffee and take it upbeat with either some Pop from Dexie over at Pop Music Scene or download two free metal tracks at Metal Martyr.

From the world of 5 global music Meccas….Jet half way around the globe for two must have Aussie tracks at Oz Music Scene. Heading back to the new music Mecca of America, Big Apple Music Scene gives you two tracks that should be on every iPod.

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The music channel here at b5 is so extensive, and has such a broad range of tastes, that sometimes we feel the need to come together to explore each other’s musical loves.

To that end, today sees most of us sharing two songs which we think should be added to your iPod playlist. Two may not seem much I know, but it comes to over 40 songs if you compile the list created by us all working as a team. What’s more, it’s guaranteed to be a diverse mix.

Here are my two picks for the day, which are both by British artists, and have been released over the past month. I’ve already reviewed both of them on Killed By The Video Star, so click the title for the YouTube videos, and more.

The Feeling - Without You

Duffy - Warwick Avenue

I hope you enjoyed my choices, and will maybe now try to discover more from the artists themselves. Check back tomorrow for a link post to all of the other sites giving their recommendations for the day.

The full line-up for this year’s Glastonbury Festival is due to be officially announced at midnight on Tuesday April 29th, but has instead been leaked by an eagle-eyed reader.

Someone posted photos on the eFestivals forum supposedly taken from the latest issue of Q magazine, which is due out tomorrow.

We’ve already heard that the headliners on the main stage are due to be Jay-Z (controversially), Kings Of Leon and The Verve, but the rest of the line-up looks even tastier.

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A few of us here on the b5 music channel have decided to get together and talk about our favourite gigs. I’ve been to far too many to list them all, so instead, I’ll focus on my experiences of the last year.

I have quite a broad taste in music, loving everything from Bjork and Joanna Newsome, through the Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party, up to Megadeth and The Hives, so my gig history is kind of fragmented.

My first gig was the Stereophonics back in the day (when they were good, or at least better than they are at the moment), and that kind of set the tone for my experiences since then.

All I remember about that gig was not being able to hear anything afterwards, and wondering why. Now I’m used to it, and know that my hearing will be relatively back to normal the next day.

Since I’ve started writing Brit Music Scene, I’ve reviewed the gigs I’ve been to, except Megadeth earlier this year because I didn’t know how interested my readers would be.

For the record, it was mind-blowingly good. It was my first metal gig, and one I’ll never forget. From seeing the master, Dave Mustaine, have the crowd eating out of his hand, to getting drenched in sweat that came flying from the long haired goon standing in front of me every time he rocked out, it was an unforgettable night.

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The Feeling are a band who are never going to be cool, never going to get on the cover of NME, and never going to be the next big thing.

But you know what? None of that matters, as they put out some incredibly well written, and well composed pop songs, and after seeing them live, I know they’re fantastic in the flesh too. I’d even go as far to say they push Muse for title of Best Live Band in the UK right now.

This is actually the second time I’ve seen The Feeling live, the first being in the Manchester Apollo early last year, when the band were touring on the back of awesome début album Twelve Stops and Home.

This tour is their first since second album, Join With Us, was released last month, and if anything, they were even better this time around than last. I suppose that’s what touring constantly for a year does to you.

I entered the venue excited, and that excitement was paid back in full by a group at the absolute top of their game. From the moment they came on stage, the whole band had the crowd eating out their hand, with front man Dan Gillespie Sells being the main conductor of the 3,000 strong audience.

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Last week, the b5Media Music Channel compiled a collection of songs that we’re all listening to right now, and I thought it was time to share.

As well as my own 10 song list which included Adele and The Feeling, and came all nicely embedded in their own little player, the rest of the channel also had their own choices, and they’re well worth a look (and listen).

Check them out…

Our Digital Music lets us in on a great collection of songs ruling their music player including the great Leonard Cohen and CSNY.

For a taste of what’s hot in New York, Big Apple Music Scene delivers some tracks to check out like ultra-cool MGMT.

Is it time to rock out? Check out Scott’s list at Metal Martyr, you’ll be glad you did!

Toronto is rocking right now with up and coming acts ready to break out. Toronto Unplugged offers a chance to listen to bands such as The Coast.

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It’s that time of the month again when the b5 Music Channel comes together in a collective way to further the knowledge and listening pleasure of our readers.

This time, we are all recommending our top tens of songs we are currently listening to. Obviously, as this is Brit Music Scene, I thought I’d highlight only British songs that are currently on my playlist.

Some are new, some are old, but they are stuck in my head right now, and making me want to turn the volume up to 11.

Adele - Chasing Pavements

Mark Ronson feat. Alex Greenwald - Just

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