The story of rave and ecstasy in the UK has been explored in a new BBC Podcast.

The podcast, entitled Ecstasy: The Battle of Rave, will be online from the 11th September, and will present a deep dive into the emergence of rave and ecstasy into the UK in the late '80s and '90s, through factual and dramatised episodes.

The UK Government has announced the first 135 venues to receive emergency grants amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In July, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a support package worth over £1billion as part of the plans to support the culture industries amid the pandemic, sharing that £270m in loans and £880million in grants would be paid to music venues, theatres, museums, heritage sites and galleries. 

Extra social distancing for performers on stage is set to be axed.

Dizzee Rascal has shared a new track.

After announcing his new album earlier this week, London rapper Dizzee Rascal has dropped new track ‘L.L.L.L (Love Life Live Large)’ ahead of the full album release in October this year.

The song, which features Chip, was premiered alongside a brand new video on GRM Daily yesterday (20th). He also shared the track list for the forthcoming 'E3 AF' album, with names like D Double E, Smoke Boys and Steel Banglez serving as some of the collaborators.

British sound system culture pioneer Count Shelly has died.

Count Shelly, real name Ephraim Barrett, has passed away aged 88, a relative confirmed. 

Barrett moved to the UK in the early '60s from Jamaica, and along with Vincent "Duke Vin" Forbes and Wilbert "Count Suckle" Campbell, pioneered sound system culture in the country. The Count Shelly sound held a residency at 31 Club in Harlesdon and Four Aces in Dalston, and in the '70s produced music for Dennis Alcapone and Errol Dunkley.

A new permanent Brixton mural pays homage to late MC, Ty.

The hip-hop artist, real name Benedict ‘Ty’ Chijioke, passed away in May due to complications related to COVID-19. He has been honoured in a painted mural in South London, under one of Brixton’s arches.

Stormzy has announced a £500,000 fund to assist disadvantaged students.

London MC Stormzy, who recently shared plans to give away £10 million over 10 years to Black British causes and organisations, has announced the first donation from the allocated funds.

Clubs must remain closed as music venues in the UK are allowed to open under new government guidance this weekend.

Announced as part of the latest lockdown easing measures, the UK government has stated that while music and theatre venues can open their doors for live performances from this Saturday (15th), nightclubs and dance halls must remain closed for the forseeable future. 

Illegal rave organisers are set to be fined up to £10,000 as part of the UK Government's latest lockdown-easing plans.

An illegal rave in London was shut down by police last weekend.

Following a string of noise complaints, officers were called to an unlicensed music event taking place in Walthamstow Forest on Sunday (9th).

Police arrived at the woodland area, which is in North-East London, at around 12:45AM, where a sound system and lights were set up, as well as around 500 revellers who had attended the gathering.