Spiritualized and The National also set for Benicassim

Thanks for all your comments on the REM blog I posted yesterday. I thought it might be useful if I tried to answer a few of your questions – as best as I can, anyway.

With the Texan flag pinned proudly to their stage amp, post-grunge instrumental four-piece Explosions In The Sky played a solid hour-long set to a rammed London Astoria, to finish up their long delayed UK tour last night...

Plus first artist already confirmed for the Pyramid stage

The man who brought Captain Beefheart to the UK has died aged 59

Animal Collective, Battles and De La Soul added to line-up

HOT CHIP, VAMPIRE WEEKEND and more, find out what to buy next week

OK, then, I must admit I’ve been sceptical about this one, so disillusioned by “Around The Sun” (three good, if woefully overproduced, songs notwithstanding) that I didn’t even bother to check out any bootlegs of those “live rehearsal” gigs from Dublin last year. . . More fool me, it transpires.

Fun and games: perverse pop galore on band's intrepid third

Debut from this year's Girl Most Likely To, heir presumptive to Amy Winehouse