Adams john

Joe Pug? No, I hadn’t heard of him either, before he opened tonight for The Low Anthem. Count me as a fan now, though. Pug’s a potentially major song-writing talent, as evidenced on his Nation Of Heat EP, available online and really quite brilliant. But who exactly is he?

Aided by Ryan Adams, Norah moves away from dinner parties, and into her own heart of darkness

Doves adapt their songs for 40 strong London Bulgarian Choir

Lydia Lunch, Mark Lanegan, Raveonettes also complete Jeffrey Lee Pierce songs

Jones works with Ryan Adams and Jesse Harris

True grit! The desert-bluesers’ fourth is raw, and all the better for it

Excellent US remake of outstanding Brit political thriller

Tortured troubadour shows courage on nakedly emotional third LP

We’ve been watching the cricket as usual at Uncut today, but even I’ve noticed that the Olympics have kicked off this afternoon. A useful reminder of this is the fact that an embargo has been lifted this morning on reviewing Damon Albarn’s Monkey CD; the studio recalibration of his Chinese opera, “Monkey: Journey To The West”.

Toddling over from The Breeders’ shambolic but utterly brilliant set, I check in on Okkervil River, who seem to be practically filling up the Uncut Arena. This is obviously a band who inspire a lot of love. Unsurprising, of course, looking at their clothes. All the band are dressed to the hilt in tailored suits, white shirts and braces like a transatlantic Pogues. What’s not to love?