Tori Amos: 'Now I can open my eyes'

After 15 years of wilful weirdness, a newly serene Tori Amos is ready to face up to her turbulent past, hears Fiona Sturges
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Evan Dando: The Lemonhead comes clean

'You're only young once, I made the most of it.' After one of rock's longest lost weekends, Evan Dando and the Lemonheads are back - in style. Fiona Sturges hears the story
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Rough and Ready

In the 1980s, the legendary Rough Trade record label and shop had cash and kudos. In the 1990s it had neither... But as Rough Trade celebrates its 30th anniversary, it's thriving again. Fiona Sturges meets its founder, Geoff Travis
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First viewing: The Charlotte Church Show

“The First Lady of Friday night” was how last night’s continuity announcer chose to introduce Charlotte Church, the Welsh diva with the voice of an angel and mouth like a sewer. This seemed somewhat premature, given that the jury was still out and no one - not even reviewers - had seen more than a brief trailer of the debacle that was to come.
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Richard Hawley: Late Developer

After 20 years as a guitarist Richard Hawley began recording his own poignant and poetic songs - and was soon hailed as one of the great singer-songwriters. Fiona Sturges meets Sheffield's native balladeer and Mercury Prize nominee. Read more...

Richard Hawley: Late Developer

After 20 years as a guitarist Richard Hawley began recording his own poignant and poetic songs - and was soon hailed as one of the great singer-songwriters. Fiona Sturges meets Sheffield's native balladeer and Mercury Prize nominee
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Calexico: Canyons of their minds

Calexico's music has always reeked of the southern USA. But, they tell Fiona Sturges, their new album has a wider remit
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Armando Iannucci: In The Thick of It

TV writer and satirist Armando Iannucci is a giant in his field. But he's not on a political crusade, he tells Fiona Sturges. He just wants to be funny. Read more...

Cerys Matthews: A star is reborn

Cerys Matthews' musical career has been nothing if not eventful - from Britpop binges with Catatonia to redemption in the home of Country. Now, she tells Fiona Sturges, she's moving back to Wales, ready to take on the world again. Read more...

Tony Bennett: When faded stars see double

Tony Bennett is the latest vocalist to turn to younger singing partners to bolster his declining years, says Fiona Sturges
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Luke Steele: A man on his mettle

The Sleepy Jackson's Luke Steele has looks... and now 'Personality'. Fiona Sturges delves into his stream of consciousness
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Neil Hannon: Son of a preacher man

Neil Hannon's year-long break from The Divine Comedy has spawned a new set of schmoozy pop songs - and a yen for stadium success, he tells Fiona Sturges
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The new babe on the block

The Sugababes have undergone several changes in personnel. Will the latest recruit go the distance?
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The Handsome Family: Mr and Mrs Darkness

He played old-time music. She wrote stories too weird to publish. Together they became the Handsome Family, singers of black country tales
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Wayne Coyne: Wayne's world rocks

The wild man behind The Flaming Lips really isn't mad; he's just very enthusiastic about life. Read more...

Torchbearers of a rich musical tradition

Mystery Jets are heading towards the future of music at lightning speed. And it's their secret fifth member who's taking them there. They explain how to Fiona Sturges
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Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: A word of mouth revolution

For the art-rock band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, word of mouth has worked wonders, as the front man tells Fiona Sturges
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Now that's entertainment

For many an ageing rock icon the Outstanding Contribution to Music award at the Brits can be a mixed blessing.
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Shakira: Rhythm queen

Shakira learnt belly dancing at the age of four, signed with Sony records at 13 and these days counts Gabriel Garcia Marquez among her closest friends. Fiona Sturges meets Latin America's biggest star. Read more...

The White Devil, Pavilion Theatre, Brighton

You'd be hard-pushed to find a more bloodthirsty tale of betrayal and savagery than The White Devil. This contemporary reworking of John Webster's revenge tragedy, which takes in strangling, garrotting, poisoning, stabbing and shooting, comes from Brighton's newest company, Inservice Productions, formed by five local actors with stints at the National and the RSC behind them. Read more...

Big Sur

North America is, of course, all about the road trip, nowhere more so than in California where, if you put your foot down, you can go from balmy beaches to snow-capped mountains to unrelenting desert in the space of a day. But there's a lot to be said for staying within the speed limit and really looking at the landscape. The Pacific Coast Highway between Los Angeles and San Francisco is one of the most stunning drives in the world, taking you out of the city and deep into the wilderness, with the ocean glistening over your shoulder. Read more...