Almost 28 years after their debut, Arab Strap has never sounded more essential, and this new record is a fierce testament to their laser focus on wider horizons. Written and performed exclusively by Malcolm Middleton and Aidan Moffat and finessed with longtime collaborator Paul Savage, the album furthers the band’s transformation from swooning, slow-core romantics to raging, alt-pop chroniclers.

“From an early age, I was driven to shoot people!” The success he has had has certainly made him a wanted man – among the great portrait photographers of recent times, as Scarborough folk are about to discover in a new exhibition of his work at the Art Gallery. To Derrick Santini it all feels like a grand homecoming.

The interaction between each player is impressive; the resonance and tone lift the music, and for a disc of relatively unknown pieces, it is one that anyone who loves the genre will relish.

Our film critic and media correspondent has been looking and trawling the new releases. Here's what you can see on the big screen this week.

It is Future Nostalgia Part 2—the slow burn edition. Dua Lipa knows how to deliver a killer single, but does this record lean on style over substance despite the heavy weighting of its title?

The classic Alfred Hitchcock film derived from John Buchan’s classic spy thriller has been given a what can only be described as a complete overhaul by Patrick Barlow in this amusing adaptation of The 39 Steps.

'Willson Williams’ witnesses the meeting of two likeminded musicians who’ve built their successful, independent careers on inventive folk instrumentation, reflective and sincere lyricism, and not a small amount of self-deprecation. Their modest confessionals, written poetically and over nostalgic and atmospheric melodies, are as relatable as ever, and together they find new ways to unpack their feelings. With their truly personal project proving extremely captivating, we caught up with them both to learn more.

Summer in Harrogate wouldn’t quite be the same without Oddsocks, and this year the Festival legends are back to sprinkle some more outdoor theatre magic. The ever-popular travelling troubadours are one of the many highlights of Harrogate International Festivals’ Summer Season and will be performing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in the stunning grounds of RHS Harlow Carr on July 2 and 3.

Our film critic and media correspondent has been looking and trawling the new releases. Here's what you can see on the big screen this week.

Of course, it's more than that one moment, and there are a plethora of reasons why this historically informed recording stands out. Excellent sound engineers capture McCreesh's musicianship and perceptive interpretation, a trio of stellar soloists, the exciting tempi, the overall tone of the instruments, and Elgar's wonderful dramatic orchestration.

Whatever the organisation, there is always the possibility of malpractice, of fraud, of people taking the helm who are not as innocent as they should be, and that goes for religious groups as much as anything else.

The Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak has already achieved international acclaim for his radiant stage presence, dynamic interpretations and fearless power, and on this release, he demonstrates his various skills and stage presence in captivating performances, whether solo or joined by Richard Uttley on piano.

Radio 2’s flagship annual live music event, Radio 2 in the Park, will take place this year in Moor Park in Preston, Lancashire on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September. The station will be decamping to the city for two days, along with many of its presenters. The full artist line-up will be revealed in early June, and tickets will go on sale shortly after.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s School for Scandal was intriguing to say the least- no-one really knowing what to expect from this 18th century comedy. We certainly didn’t. The actors exaggerated the slapstick element to compensate for the rather baffling plot- maybe easy to understand for those living in those times but for the modern-day audience, it really is somewhat confusing.

Harrogate International Festivals has announced a stellar line-up for the Harrogate Music Festival which is back with a bang this summer. This year’s Festival, which runs from June 8 to July 13, features an array of spectacular musical talent with artists from the worlds of classical, jazz, soul and dance music taking to the stage in Harrogate.

Federated Hermes MEPC has announced that its eagerly awaited new mini museum, based at the thriving urban quarter Wellington Place, will be its opening its doors in the former wagon lifting tower on Wednesday 15th May 2024 at 4pm.

Named after a chat group Joe Alwyn has with Paul Mescal,The Tortured Poets Department is very much a break-up album, yet, in true Swift style, it is difficult to decipher which of the lyrics fully relate to reality and which have been crafted in the realms of storytelling. The album's title track, with its nods to Patti Smith and Dylan Thomas, clearly connects several moments to her and Alwyn.

Brahms & Busoni Johannes Brahms Violin Concerto, Op. 77; Ferruccio Busoni Violin Concerto, Op.