This week’s excuse for briskness is I have a longish review of Real Estate to write for the mag, but some good news in here: not least the appearance of a mighty stash of Fela Kuti albums on Bandcamp and some predictably weird mixtapes, compiled by John Fahey, fetching up on Soundcloud.

An as-yet unnamed historical marker to celebrate the 50 years since The Beatles' first American press conference will be held at John F Kennedy Airport this week (February 7). The New York Port Authority, which manages the airport as well as other infrastructure in the city, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which launched the band's career stateside, at an event at the airport's central terminal.

Charlie Watts has said the Rolling Stones are too old to embark on a lengthy touring schedule. Watts spoke to The Australian ahead of the band's live shows in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne next month. Talking about the short tours the band have ventured on in recent years, Watts said the prospect of playing a large number of shows was "daunting" at his "tender age."

Prince played a secret, hour-long show at Electric Ballroom in Camden, London last night [February 4]. Scroll down to watch footage below. Described as an “open soundcheck”, the performance was announced following a clandestine ‘press conference’ at the home of London-based singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas, who was in attendance at the venue.

Arcade Fire have confirmed they will play in Haiti as part of the country's carnival celebrations.

Arctic Monkeys have been confirmed to headline this year's Reading and Leeds Festivals in August.

Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig has claimed the band's music has been political.

The new issue of Uncut went on sale at the end of last week, with a cover story by Peter Watts on The Ramones that celebrates the 40th anniversary of a band of punk misfits from Forest Hills, New York, who revolutionised rock’n’roll, the opening lines of one of whose earliest songs, “Blitzkrieg Bop”, gives its name to this month’s free CD.