Bright sparks

SEEMINGLY OUT OF nowhere, the Darkness swooped out of Suffolk, England, and onto the international music scene in 2003 with their high-voltage debut, Permission to Land. At a time when hipster bands i

Summer’s here, festivals beckon, tours are kicking off ...

Cradle Of Filth’s corpsepainted frontman on his skate punk roots, exploding basketballs, and 11th-century ghosts

Four years on from the acclaimed Ding Dong. You’re Dead , the Hedvig Mollestad Trio make an inspired return with new album Bees In The Bonnet – buzzing with energy, riffs and bold statements, whether musical or political. Their intrepid leader talks to Prog about why songwriting is like speed dating, unlikely inspiration from Texas, taking risks and the rewards of play.

With 28 albums’ worth of songs to choose from, “hopefully there will be some surprises”.

From pop star to Kitchen Disco icon, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has brought joy to lives and homes across the globe. She talks to Rosamund Dean about marriage, menopause and why the music must go on