Hotly-tipped Barclaycard Mercury Prize nominees FKA twigs and Kate Tempest are among the acts which have enjoyed the biggest percentage sales boosts since being shortlisted for tonight’s award.

Damon Albarn’s solo debut and chart-topping duo Royal Blood heads the shortlist for this year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize.

Everyday Robots

Damon Albarn took heroin "for years" in the recording studio.

Damon Albarn claims heroin made him "incredibly creative and productive".

Paul McCartney collected an honorary prize at the NME Awards for his songwriting skills – and admitted he had no idea how he did it.

MUSIC NEWS: Singer, opera composer and champion of African music, Damon Albarn can now add radio presenter to his list of talents.

BOBBY Womack is thrilled to be back. “I’m playing countries I never got to play before,” says the iconic soul singer, grinning his trademark grin. “They [promoters] used to tell me, ‘oh, your band is too big’ for our venue. Now, the doors are open for me. This late in my career, I’m loving it. Seriously, man, it’s great. ”

Damon Albarn is working on a solo album.

Noel Gallagher insists performing with Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Noel Gallagher has said that his younger self wouldn't like him now.

Noel Gallagher says performing with Damon Albarn was like "John Lennon playing with Eric Clapton".

Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn told One Direction to "f**k off" at the BRIT Awards.

Damon Albarn is having a "24 hour party" touring the UK for his Africa Express shows.

Alex James was "the most annoying member" of Blur.

MUSIC NEWS: If you’re considering getting an emo haircut for summer, this report from Down Under may make you think again.

Damon Albarn is working on a solo album.

Damon Albarn worries people think he has "lost it".

Damon Albarn will release an album from his 'Dr. Dee' opera.

Blur still have the "same issues" as they did 20 years ago.

Record-breaking star Adele was crowned the queen of the Brits tonight — but saw her big moment ruined when her speech was cut short.

Red Hot Chili Peppers want to play like a "wildebeest let out of a cage that hasn't eaten in six months" live.

MAYBE it wasn’t too surprising that it took a British pop star and an American rocker to jazz things up in Cork last night.

Damon Albarn thinks he could create a Blur musical.

Damon Albarn is to reform his band The Good, The Bad & The Queen for a one-off show to mark the 40th birthday of Greenpeace.

Damon Albarn is recording a whole album in just seven days in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

BLUR frontman Damon Albarn is set to open the world-famous Guinness Cork Jazz Festival this October.

Damon Albarn has had talks about a Blur reunion in 2011.

Damon Albarn has said he would not allow any Gorillaz songs to be used in 'Glee'.

Damon Albarn worried Gorillaz new image would look too “gay”.

GANGSTA rapper Snoop Dogg put Glastonbury Festival’s hippie reputation behind it once and for all yesterday with an aggressive, foul-mouthed performance which delighted revellers on the opening day of the festival.

Gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg put Glastonbury Festival's hippie reputation behind it once and for all today with an aggressive, foul-mouthed performance which delighted revellers on the opening day of the festival.

Glastonbury Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary today – and revellers are reaching for the sun block rather than the traditional wellies.

Music legend Lou Reed is preparing to make a guest appearance with Gorillaz as they headline Glastonbury Festival, it was confirmed today.

Blur frontman Damon Albarn said the band's reunion gigs last summer healed a deep wound - but "that's that" for now.

Gorillaz are to take U2’s place as Glastonbury headliners, it was announced today.

Cartoon music act Gorillaz dropped their disguises for the first time at a major UK show as Damon Albarn's "virtual" band began a two-night run of gigs.

Damon Albarn has blasted Simon Cowell and thinks Lady Gaga and Beyonce could “turn into Madonna”.

Damon Albarn says Blur were “destroyed” by heroin.

Damon Albarn hasn’t thought about Blur since their reunion tour ended.

Massive Attack say Damon Albarn is an "absolute genius".

Graham Coxon wants to make a new Blur album, he has revealed.

Blur star Damon Albarn has buried hopes of any future shows with the band, saying he doesn’t want to “ruin” what had been achieved.

Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon put aside their differences over an Eccles cake, the Blur lead singer has revealed.