Darren 'Wiz' Brown, singer with early '90s pop-grunge/crusty leading lights Mega City Four, has died suddenly in London aged 44. Brown passed away on December 6 after suffering a blood clot on the brain. He had been taken ill at a rehearsal earlier in the week and died at St Georges Hospital in Tooting, south London. The MC4 frontman was living and working in Farnborough, having just finished writing songs for an album for his current band Ipanema. He had only recently returned from a successful tour of the States. With his guitarist brother Danny, bassist Gerry Bryant and drummer Chris Jones, the band released six studio albums between 1989 and 1996 and earned a reputation across the globe as an exciting live band. Mega City Four became UK alt.indie favourites in the late '80s and early '90s alongside peers Senseless Things, Neds Atomic Dustbin and Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine. Their biggest hit was in 1992, when 'Shivering Sand' reached Number 35.

Tarnation, the brainchild of chanteuse Paula Frazer, are back, so wrap up warm and prepare yourselves for yet more deliciously chilly, sombre Americana-pop-with-a-'60s-sensibility. In February '07, Frazer plus Tarnation follow up the genre classic Gentle Creatures and the critically acclaimed Mirador with something sparse and beautiful. That something is Now It’s Time, by PAULA FRAZER AND TARNATION. Now It’s Time reconnects with Tarnation’s past and presents, according to the press release, "an olde tyme sound with whisping swirls of guitars and strings, wonderfully framing Paula Frazer’s signature angelic voice." More songs about memory and loss, hope and despair. Which sounds good to us. This time Tarnation comprise multi-instrumentalist Frazer, longtime collaborator Patrick Main on piano, and Jasmyn Wong on drums. Paula Frazer was born to a minister in the south and sang in his church choir at the age of four. She moved to San Francisco in the early '80s, where she played in various punk bands and even had a stint in the infamous Frightwig. The rest is history. The future? Now It's Time. Paula Frazer & Tarnation: ‘Now It’s Time’ Release Date: 26th February 2007 Catalogue No: BMR096 Label: Birdman Records

Mark Titchner, a nominee for 2006's prestigious ‘Turner Prize’, has declared the music of Napalm Death to have been influential on his work. Titchner extols the virtues of the Death's ‘abrasive music’, praising their use of the voice as an instrument and the way they "push the boundaries of language". He also draws comparisons between the Brum rockers' unholy racket and his art. Have a look at Mark’s work, listen to expert Nicholas Bullen’s opinions on it at www.tate.org.uk/britain/turnerprize/2006/marktitchner.htm, then check out some classic Death and decide for yourselves how similar they are! In fact, look no further than Earache Records' 20-year anniversary edition of the highly influential debut Napalm Death album "Scum", due out in early 2007, complete with a recently filmed in-depth DVD documentary about the making of the album.

They've been touring the States in their Superbi bus, and now The Beautiful Southare set to play a string of dates in December. North-east's finest cap a year that has included touting their acerbic soft-rock across the globe. During the summer the band played everywhere from the Isle of Man to Dublin’s Croke Park with Robbie Williams in front of 85,000 people. The band also released their 10th Top 10 album, ‘Superbi’, in May 2006, which coincided with the 20th anniversary of Paul Heaton first entering the Top 10, with his previous band The Housemartins - whose other alumni, Norman Cook, has also carved out a pretty nifty career for himself. ‘Superbi’ was hailed as a return to form with lyricist Paul Heaton at the top of his game. Even after 17 years, the South are still masters of the deceptively mellifluous pop ditty. And live, they rock. See for yourselves on these pre-Xmas dates: 10 December Birmingham, NIA 0870 730 0196 doors 6pm 11 December Bournemouth, International Centre 0870 787 0404 doors 7pm 12 December London, Hammersmith Apollo 0870 606 3400 doors 7pm 14 December London, Hammersmith Palais 020 8600 2300 doors 7pm 15 December Manchester, MEN Arena 0870 190 8000 doors 6pm 16 December Sheffield, Hallam FM Arena 0114 256 5656 doors 6pm The Beautiful South are: Paul Heaton (vocals), Alison Wheeler (vocals), Dave Hemingway (vocals), Sean Welch (bass), Dave Rotheray (guitar) and Dave Stead (drums). www.beautifulsouth.co.uk

OMD – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, namely Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys - are back, and working on lots of grand musical projects simultaneously. OMD are re-visiting their 1981 breakthrough album Architecture & Morality with a special European tour; during which they will play the album in its entirety for the first time ever – as well as utilising a massive 120-piece orchestra and choir as backing musicians. Architecture & Morality was one of the highest selling electronic albums of the early ‘80s, shifting over three million copies and spawning three Top 10 hits, “Souvenir,” “Joan Of Arc” and “Maid Of Orleans.” As well the comeback tour, McCluskey and Humphreys are also working on a unique audio-visual installation with award winning artist Peter Savile. The installation will be premiered at FACT in Liverpool in March as part of the city’s Capital of Culture celebrations. The installation has a working title of ‘The Energy Suite’ and is based on five electricity generating power facilities. Getting more orchestral action, OMD are also working with The London Philharmonic Orchestra for a unique concert tour incorporating their “Energy Suite” installation. The LPO will play “The Energy Suite” with giant screens carrying projections of the power station images, as well as interpretations of some of OMD’s hit records. The original 80’s band line-up of Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes plus the immense orchestral cast will play at the following UK venues next year: Dublin, Olympia (May 13) Glasgow Clyde Auditorium (15) Liverpool Empire (16) London Hammersmith Apollo (18)

Richie Havens, the legendary American roots singer-songwriter, returns to the UK next month for his most extensive tour in years. Havens famously opened the Woodstock Festival in ’69 - playing an extended a two and a half hour set because of technical difficulties on the day that prevented other acts from performing. He played “every song I ever knew!” as well closing his set with the improvised song “Freedom", which became the festival’s anthem. In recent years has collaborated with dance act Groove Armada, appearing with them at the Glastonbury Festival and on Jools Holland’s “Later” programme. You can be awe-struck by a songwriting genius at the following venues early next month: London, The Jazz Café (January 8/9/10) Manchester, The Lowry (12) Gateshead, The Sage (13) Birkenhead, Pacific Road Arts Centre (17) Glasgow, ABC (18) Sheffield, Memorial Hall (20) Coventry, Taylor Johns House (21) Milton Keynes, The Stables (23)

Six Organs of Admittance, Ben Chasney’s other band when he’s not busy fronting Comets on Fire, are headlining a double bill of psychedelia tonight at London’s Cargo. Folk rock band Sunburned Hand Of A Man also appear tonight, though the groups ever changing line-up means their sound varies from gig to gig. The group from Massachusetts formed in 1994 out of the disbanding of psychedilic punk band Shit Spangled Banner. The gig tonight is an intimate warm-up show – before both bands head off to Butlin’s Minehead for this years’ ATP Nightmare Before Christmas – where they will play on a bill headlined by Iggy Pop & The Stooges and Dinosaur Junior to name only two. Six Organs and Sunburned also appear on the latest Uncut CD, free with the January issue. It’s a psyche special! Six Organs of Admittance contribute “The Desert Is A Circle”, Sunburned Hand Of A Man offer “Adult Costume” and Ben Chasney’s Comets On Fire also appear on the compilation with the fantastic “Sour Smoke.” For more information about tonight’s show – Click here for Cargo’s ticket shop