It’s no secret that rock music is on the decline in Britain. Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Radiohead – they are legends of our time, and could fill out a football stadium with their holograms.

Hozier filled Manchester’s Albert Hall with his soulful melodies and smooth melancholy performance on Bank Holiday Monday.

Having the ability to encapsulate loss, love and heartbreak in an effortlessly heart-rending set only magnifies JP Cooper’s musical ability to take you on a journey of untapped sentiment.

Often referred to as a barefoot performer, 26-year-old Benjamin Clementine is an enigma.

His success at the Ivor Novello’s, where he picked up the award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for Take Me To Church, comes just weeks after winning two Billboard Music Awards.

Let’s take a closer look at chart music. Popular tunes with lyrical content concerning personal experiences we might relate to as an audience. Love, sex and fun.

Everyone from your nan to Dave in IT made their way to the Ritz on Friday night to dad dance in the splendour of 80s smooth operator Billy Ocean.

Her debut album The Longest River blends classic old-world sounds from traditional sources with confident vocals that reminds you that the broad umbrella of folk branches far beyond pop beatniks Mumford and Sons.

Maccabees fans have been eagerly anticipating this UK tour to get a flavour of their upcoming fourth album, but on last night’s evidence at the Manchester Ritz, it is hard to gauge whether the record will match their previous efforts.

Ahead of the British punk band Slaves’ show at Gorilla in Manchester, guitarist and vocalist Laurie Vincent chatted to MM about their new album, surreal gigs and love of grime.

Irish band The Riptide Movement played an impromptu gig at Manchester’s Barclay House while the audience donated money to a Nepal earthquake fundraiser on Friday afternoon.