From grime to prime-time superstar

Half-a-million MySpace hits is one modern route to the Cinderella story. It let Birmingham's Clare Maguire sign to a major label at the once unremarkable age of 20. Then she was led through music's corridors of power, drinking with Jay-Z, squired by Rick Rubin to Leonard Cohen's rehearsals, offered a song by an enchanted Jarvis Cocker. Tentatively pushed in 2010, her album (with Ellie Goulding's producer) is finally due next month.

It was just Sir Elton and his grand piano for this intimate, power-ballad-laden recital of hits, the odd rarity (including, unexpectedly, "Sixty Years On" and the exquisite rock-stomp "Take Me to the Pilot", both from 1970's Elton John) and songs from his return-to-form album, The Union.

A year ago, Ellie Goulding was supporting Florence and The Machine at one of last year's Little Noise Sessions benefit concerts in aid of Mencap. On Saturday, she was headlining the last of this year's Little Noise Sessions at the Union Chapel.

John Lewis has said its online sales will smash through the £500m barrier this year, as it delivered another stellar weekly performance in its department stores.

A cover of Elton John's 1970 single Your Song has been tipped as a contender for the Christmas number one after John Lewis selected it as the soundtrack to their new ad campaign.

King of Twang and his pals raise the roof with some of that old Tennessee spirit

His 1959 debut might have been called Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel, but the legendary Duane Eddy hadn't graced a British stage since a tour with the Everly Brothers in 1991. All dressed in black, including an immovable Stetson, and playing his beautiful Gretsch signature guitar, Eddy rolled back the years from the off with "Detour" and his debut hit, "Moovin'N'Groovin". Backed by Richard Hawley's excellent band and a very adept saxophone player, he re-created his run of instrumental hits that are so evocative of the late Fifties and early Sixties. Eddy and his co-writer and producer, the late Lee Hazlewood, had a way with a title – cue "Cannonball" and the even snappier "Yep!" and "Shazam!" – and moved the guitar on from Les Paul's clean sound to a meaner, leaner rock'n'roll style.

The 27-year-old Illinois singer Lissie has drawn much acclaim for her debut album and Lady Gaga cover – and she can drink you under the table. Gillian Orr meets her

Arcade Fire took three years between albums – and they're not the worst culprits. Fans can forget you, warns Elisa Bray

Paul Weller, The xx, Dizzee Rascal and Corinne Bailey Rae all make the 12-strong list.

This year's Mercury Prize nominees are announced next week. Here, Elisa Bray presents her pick of the twelve albums that deserve to make the shortlist

The lights go down, and a scream goes up – as do several hundred winking camera phones. This is electro-pop starlet Ellie Goulding's biggest gig to date, promoting her much-hyped debut album, Lights; her name appears in huge, curling, lit-up letters behind her.

The venues are unusual, the bands are often unknown. And there are more of them than you can possibly handle. But that is the excitement of this three day event: a chance to spot future talent Don't plan for any sleep, though. By night, 300 acts perform at 22 official and numerous unofficial venues across Brighton.