The Week in Music: Jessie Ware is still pulling all the strings

Heart and soul: Jessie Ware (Getty Images)

With Mercury and Brit nominations, Jessie Ware has had a stellar year. The singer is unveiling her latest song, written with the Blue Nile's Paul Buchanan, at the ASOS All-Nighter (an online house party) on 12 December. She's dedicated the next few months to writing the follow-up to her debut album. "I want my album out next year," she tells me. "It's definitely going to be electronic, but if I can have strings I'm definitely going to!" Expect more collaborating with Julio Bashmore, Kid Harpoon and Dave Okumu.

Where bands not brands call the tune

When Hammersmith Apollo became Eventim Apollo in September, it highlighted just how corporate music venues have become. So it's great to see independent venues getting recognition thanks to Independent Venue Week. From 28 January, 18 venues nationwide will host six days of gigs featuring rising talent.

These smaller venues are often where the magic happens. Closer to the performance, you're fully immersed in the music, and you get to see a concert in a venue that cares about both the music it puts on.

It's supported by musicians including Radiohead, whose drummer Phil Selway says: "Small venues are the lifeblood of British music. There's a particular kind of excitement when you go to a gig at these venues. They're visceral and intimate." I couldn't agree more.

Pixies make it a field of dreams for hipsters

Field Day fast became the festival for hip indie acts so it's no surprise that this year it expands to two days from 7 to 8 June at London's Victoria Park. Pixies are headlining on Sunday.

Hot ticket

Kasabian play a homecoming gig in Leicester in June. Tickets are on sale today.