High-gloss post-punk primed for the world's stadiums; plus Q&A with Kessler and Banks

The riff-heavy return of alt.rock's angsty messiah

R.E.M. are onboard to help celebrate Uncut's tenth birthday next week

Unlike some music journalists, I'm not hugely sentimental about where I come from. I've worked with people who've been pathologically loyal to the music that comes out of their hometowns, in a way which seemed to contradict their actual taste. Of course, the fact that the musical riches of North Nottinghamshire are pretty skimpy might have something to do with it.

Aw boo, it's over for another year, but hey wasn't it great mud-sliding fun! The Who closed the world's biggest music festival with a resounding greatest hits set, as the rain pounded down for one final time, it certainly didnt dampen Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey's spirits.

Ah, this is how you do it.

"She's not to blame!" sings one of Joss Stone's backing singers. Possibly she's exonerating her lead singer from the inclement weather, that's now reached torrential proportions. Looking at the waterlogged state of the fields round here, I suspect that it might not be the Mersey alone that you'll need a ferry to cross later this evening.

Just watched a magnificent sunset go down over Glastonbury, the skies have finally cleared enough to see the burning orange. Rufus Wainwright put in a magnificent set, with a little help from sister Martha at the end for 'Hallelujah.'

Hey, more festival fun to come... Our intrepid picture editor, May, and myself are off to Knowsley Hall tomorrow morning, and we'll be bringing you blogs and news from this latest addition to the growing list of festivals, located in the grounds of a stately home outside Liverpool.

Out of all the burger-chain owning, cigar-chewing Eighties' action heroes, Bruce Willis was always the one I had the most time for.