News: EMI & Apple, The Fall, Devo, Summer Sundae, Monkeys

EMI and Apple’s Steve Jobs announced today that EMI will be the first major label to sell its entire back catalogue online without restrictive digital rights protection technology (DRM-free). EMI Group CEO Eric Nicoli also confirmed that this WILL include The Beatles back catalogue and Steve Jobs predicts that half of the 5M tracks on iTunes will be available DRM-free by the end of the year. This is good news for all online music fans who have hitherto had to endure the confusion of files that work on some devices and not others as well as music sites that work on, ahem, some operating systems and not others.

In more download news, If you can’t wait until April 16th to get your hands on the first Arctic Monkeys single from the forthcoming ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ then you can download ‘Brianstorm’ today from Domino's website.

London’s famed Hammersmith Palais closed its doors for the final time last night but not without a raucous send off from none other than volatile alternative punk favourites, The Fall. In true Mark E Smith style there was no mention whatsoever of the venue’s closure which incensed some fans resulting in a couple of stage invasions and fracas with security. The set ended abruptly half way through new number ‘Reformation’ with Smith quipping: “Thank you for letting us into your security area.”

Leicester’s Summer Sundae festival is shaping up to be one of the best events this year. Acts confirmed so far include: Divine Comedy, Spiritualized Acoustic Mainlines, Magic Numbers, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Aliens, !!!, Kate Nash, Gruff Rhys, Spoon, Malcom Middleton, Two Gallants, Jeremy Warmsley and more. The festival will take place on August 10th-12th costing £85 for adults, £20 for under 16s and free for under 5s.

Finally, quirky new-wavers Devo have announced that they will play their first UK appearance in ten years this June. Tour dates:

Brighton, Dome – June 18th
Birmingham, Symphony Hall – June 22nd
Manchester, Apollo – June 23rd