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Deacon Blue review – Scottish hitmakers are more poignant and potent than ever

Still an arena-filling prospect long after their late-80s heyday, the veteran band bring political bite and pop prowess to a crowd-pleasing set

Busted vs McFly review – millennial ‘rivals’ let the pop-rock punches fly

The boybands go toe-to-toe with their catchy teenage anthems – and after a hefty 90-minute bout of greatest hits McFly just about edge it on points

Post Malone review – megawatt charisma and anthemic hooks from an irresistibly genial outlaw

Though his slick country is more Jon Bon Jovi that Johnny Cash, there’s only one artist who could unite rock, rap and twang with such effortless panache

Joy Crookes: Juniper review – sadness made sublime by streetwise soul and snappy wit

Four years ago, the south Londoner’s star was on the rise with her debut Skin – then she vanished. Now, she’s back with shimmering sounds and cleverly unsentimental lyrics, plus explosive cameos by Vince Staples and Kano

Mark William Lewis: Mark William Lewis review – A24’s first musical signing’s cinematic south London scenes

Haunting harmonica and poetic banality add to the Londoner’s spookily sonorous baritone to create a hypnotically familiar yet ineffably fresh album

Ed Sheeran: Play review – subcontinental sounds and shards of darkness – but still unmistakably him

Despite embracing Indian and Persian sounds, Sheeran’s eighth album goes back to basics after two records of muted melancholy – albeit with some surprising undercurrents

Belinda Carlisle review – gleeful veteran lassoes devoted audience with ageless hits

Rattling through her 80s hits the singer is clearly revelling in the nostalgia – in a showcase that makes her a strong candidate for the Glastonbury legends slot

Justin Bieber: Swag II review – more filler with an occasional pop killer

Part two of Bieber’s seventh album adds very little: it’s largely bland pop with glimpses of quality thanks to a buzzy supporting cast including Dijon and Bakar

Jade: That’s Showbiz Baby! review – former Little Mix star thrives in chaos on an idiosyncratic debut

Jade Thirlwall offers a wild ride through electroclash, Eurovision drama and emotive synth-pop – albeit one she can’t quite maintain for a whole album

Lewis Capaldi review – an emotional return to the spotlight for pop’s most heart-on-sleeve star

The singer announces he is thrilled to begin his first tour since taking time off for his mental health, but is visibly nervous and at one moment breaks into tears

Suede: Antidepressants review – edgy post-punk proves reunited Britpoppers remain on the up

Great 10th albums are rare – but that is exactly what the band’s killer riffs, eerie atmosphere and midlife reflections achieve

Big Thief: Double Infinity review – folk-rock perfection will restore your faith in humanity

Classic melodies, spring water acoustics and pared-back poeticism about living in the moment fill Adrianne Lenker and co’s latest with life

David Byrne: Who Is the Sky? review – great songs, if you can withstand the wacky jokes and miaowing

His last album was criticised for being too upbeat during Trump 1.0 but became a phenomenal live show, and the Talking Heads frontman remains sunny – almost to a fault

End of the Road review – from industrial rackets to pristine folk, festivals don’t get more varied or vital

Full of warmth despite the rain, highs include Mexico City experimentalists Titanic and Vermont songwriter Lily Seabird’s gorgeously open-hearted voice

Gorillaz review – after 25 years, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s cartoon band are still riveting and relevant

Dressed like a vicar, Albarn leads his band – joined by a choir, a string quartet, De La Soul and more – in renewing Demon Days’ downbeat drama

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  • Wolf Alice review – indie chameleons sparkle on a glam-rock bender
  • Nicola Benedetti and friends review – delicious bite-sized musical snacks from a violinist still top of her game
  • Ikonika: Sad review – vocal-led new direction is a hit for the Hyperdub veteran
  • HTRK: String of Hearts (Songs of HTRK) review – friends from Liars to Kali Malone rework their noisy gems
  • Lachenmann: The String Quartets review – Quatuor Diotima draw you into his strange and compelling soundworld
  • Beethoven & Brahms: Violin Concertos album review – as supple and coherent as ever as the ACO celebrates 50
  • The Durutti Column: The Return of the Durutti Column review – fragile classic that echoes far beyond its time
  • Hania Rani: Non Fiction review – atmospheric and absorbing storytelling by Polish composer
  • Doja Cat review – ignore the headlines, this is a pop provocateur at the top of her game
  • My Bloody Valentine review – shoegaze pioneers find prettiness in pulverising noise
  • The Hives review – veteran punk’n’rollers fizz with megawatt energy
  • Bad Omens review – anthemic songs and pillars of fire dampened by arena nerves
  • Huddersfield Contemporary Music festival review – ghostly echoes, fearless voices and the rattle of milk frothers
  • Brandy and Monica review – 90s R&B heavyweights bring star-studded reunion to New York
  • Partenope review – edgy and erotic Handel update
  • LSO/Pascal review – from an effervescent marimba to funeral gongs in compelling new music concert
  • Battle of the Sexes review – tennis’s most famous match becomes kitschy, pacey opera
  • Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius album review – Gardner and the LPO’s reading is bold and dramatic
  • Debit: Desaceleradas review – Afro-Latin club sounds slowed to a seductive crawl
  • De La Soul: Cabin in the Sky review – a full-colour celebration of Trugoy the Dove that never feels heavy
  • Brahms: Symphony No 1, Tragic Overture album review – Petrenko and the Berliners give Brahms organic momentum
  • Stevie Nicks review – rock legend dazzles Brooklyn with anecdotes and classic hits
  • CBSO/Vänskä review – weird brilliance and neurotic tics in a compelling programme
  • Víkingur Ólafsson: Opus 109 album review – pianist’s concept album opens up transcendent vistas
  • Oneohtrix Point Never: Tranquilizer review – uncanny ambient music for an agitated era
  • Mulatu Astatke review – father of Ethio-jazz still innovating during farewell tour
  • The Devil’s Den review – folk horror opera with morris dancing and a sinister rabbit is an eccentric delight
  • Lorde review – viscerally kinetic theatrics and euphoric abandon
  • Trouble in Tahiti review – vibrant staging of Bernstein’s one-acter of marital discord
  • أحمد [Ahmed]: Sama’a (Audition) review – a wild, world-spanning act of musical devotion

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