Mercury-nominated Florence and the Machine are to play their biggest tour yet in December, with six UK dates culminating in a show at London's Brixton Academy.

Last year's Mercury Music prize winners Elbow have tipped Friendly Fires to take away the prize this year. "We wish luck to everybody who is on the list this year, but more than that, congratulations on being on the list. Everybody there make sure you have a great night," singer Guy Garvey told BBC 6 Music.

The cover of the forthcoming Monsters of Folk album has been unveiled. Drawn by artist Matthew Hollings, it features the faces of all four 'Monsters' -- Conor Oberst, Jim James, Mike Mogis and M. Ward. The album is released later this month.

Sex Pistols singer John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) has called the split of Oasis "sad". The singer, who announced the reformation of his other band Public Image Limited recently, said, "They're a nice backdrop on a dull day. There's no content or depth to Oasis but it's still poignant." However he did add frontman Liam Gallagher was "a second-rate Rotten".