The problem with Cale's tunes is they are such easy listening that you might think that is all they are

Martin Simpson applies his dazzling fingerstyle technique to a broad range of material, from Thirties folk-blues lament “Diamond Joe” to Leonard Cohen's bedsit anthem “Stranger Song”, alongside his own originals such as “Delta Dreams” and the instrumental “Molly As She Swings”. As ever, there's special attention paid to social broadsides, from a gritty version of Dylan's iron-range ballad “North Country Blues” to Leon Rosselson's “Palaces of Gold”, whose gauging of the imbalance between privilege and poverty remains as pertinent now as ever.

Obama focuses on middle classes

The soundtrack to Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, which receives its world premiere in Norwich on Wednesday, will deliver an unexpected sales boost to a collection of one-hit wonders, 70s novelty hits and soft rock obscurities hand-picked by the spoof DJ, created by Steve Coogan.

Listen to the first 10 songs of Alpha Papa's soundtrack:

Wynton Marsalis is playing six almost instantly sold-out sets over three nights in London, one of them marking the Ronnie Scott’s club’s first venture into opera-style live streaming, to sate the massive imbalance between Marsalis supply and demand.

It's amazing what one hit can do for an act's profile: Robin Thicke had laboured long and hard with little recognition outside the core US R&B audience until the single “Blurred Lines”, its loping groove irresistibly peppered with cowbell, wrought its magic on a global scale.

It is not the most Radio 4-friendly of rock festivals

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Home to some of the most celebrated music of the past sixty years, Motor City has filed for bankruptcy

A fool in love?

Forget the money: designing record covers is a labour of love, says David Shrigley

Though his life was cut tragically short before he could reap the rewards of his pioneering work, Rainer Ptacek embodied all that was/is best about the Americana movement. Gently dedicated to his chosen instrument – the resophonic steel guitar – he drew from its history without being bound by it.

Almost 44 years to the day from their last appearance in Hyde Park, The Rolling Stones confirm they are still the 'Greatest Rock'n'Roll Band'

In an infinitely less muddy, far smaller way, the first Love Supreme festival is a Woodstock moment for British jazz: an often isolated tribe of fans realising there are more of them than they thought, and many others discovering they like jazz after all.