The best stories don't travel directly from A to B. Often it’s the digressions and asides, the forays into deep background and analysis, that are the colour between the lines. That's true whether tales are told over a table stacked with empty glasses or read from a book with a cover plastered in pull quotes. The telling is every bit as important as the details. “Our stories, our books, our films are how we cope with the random trauma-inducing chaos of life as it plays,” is how Bruce Springsteen put it in his autobiography.

Royal Thunder have released a video for The Sinking Chair.

Becky Hill has released a video for her new single, Rude Love.

Sløtface have been confirmed as main support for the Cribs on their upcoming Men's Needs, Women's Needs, FOREVER UK tour.

Orbital, Ocean Colour Scene and Editors are among the acts confirmed for a new Birmingham festival called Beyond The Tracks.

When We Were Wolves have announced a run of dates this summer.

Tigers Jaw have shared a new track, June.

When it comes to any artistic form, masterpiece is a word that should be reserved for works of true genius; those unique creative expressions that are pioneering, inspiring and timeless. Dream Theater’s hallowed sophomore record ‘Images and Words’ more than fits the bill, having birthed a legion of imitators by fusing metal riffage, melodic beauty and progressive experimentation together into a ball of virtuosity and emotion that’s as powerful today as it was in 1992.

Pale Waves have unveiled a video for their debut single, There's A Honey.

Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham will combine for a North American tour this summer.

Gimme a D, gimme an I, gimme an E, gimme a T, gimme a C, I and G. Who’s got spirit? Diet Cig do, by the buttload. Whether they’re singing about being slut-shamed at 16 or loving a bath, Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman deliver sincere songs with refreshing energy, creating a confident debut album that leaves behind the insecurities present on their first EP, ‘Over Easy’.

Cody ChesnuTT has lined up a return to London this summer.

Wavves have shared a video for their new single, Million Enemies.

Tove Lo will follow up her set at Glastonbury this summer will a headline Brighton show.

The New Pornographers, the Canadian power-pop conglomerate led by AC Newman, have always somehow evaded the spotlight in the UK compared to how they are viewed back home. Their success on this side of the Atlantic is somewhat muted despite their indisputable ability to conjure up catchy, sugary pop nuggets.

Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo and Richard Penzone, of Men, Women & Children, will release the debut album of their Color Film project this summer.

Thundercat has announced a further run of UK dates for later this year.

Photo: Coley Brown

Mac DeMarco has announced new UK tour dates for this autumn.

NxWorries have released a video for Scared Money.

Lana Del Rey has shared the artwork for her new LP.