The impending release of Touchdown crowns a successful relocation for Brighton-based Brakes, from Rough Trade Records to fellow Brighton label FatCat.

The first thing that strikes you about First Aid Kit is the uncertain correlation between the band’s age, and the adult material of much of their work.

With a creative lineage traceable to 18th century writer, Jonathan Swift, Richard Swift has clearly inherited the artistic gene, writing inventive, insightful music.

The complexities of Salvador Dali’s genius and his friendships with Federico García Lorca and Luis Buñuel, in an intriguing feature-length from Paul Morrison.

The American West is symbolic, from cowboys to canyons. Into the Sunset explores photography’s ephemeral qualities from the 1850s to the present.

Boo Ritson’s painted people examine the cultural stereotypes of the collective imagination, and effortlessly fuse sculpture and painting into a new form.

Chris Gollon has been probing the human condition from an absurdist point of view for the greater part of two decades. His work promises to evoke this age-old topic.

Transmission Interrupted at Modern Art Oxford, encourages a considered attitude to both the physical and sociological influences of the 21st century milieu.

In conversation with Clare Jay.

Danny Moynihan’s acclaimed novel, Boogie Woogie, documents the inner workings of the art world from the extreme to the extravagant.

Charting the lives of three interconnected characters in Nikolski, Nicolas Dickner crosses continents and opens up new worlds in this fascinating novel.

Collapsing ideologies are collaboratively explored in European theatre – Mark Ravenhill and Ramin Gray’s production of Over There personalises the political.

The intricacies of papal history are not a conventional motivation for writing pop songs. With High Slang, Sergeant Buzfuz pulls this off to dazzling effect.

Years of classical training and a life-long devotion to honing his craft have left Andrew Bird well equipped for his eighth studio album Noble Beast.

Official Secrets Act is setting the standard for contemporary British indie, and what’s more startling, they have yet to release their debut album.

Moscow, Belgium is the uplifting debut feature film from director, Christophe Van Rompaey, who tells a universal story of finding love when you least expect it.

Bradford Film Festival revisits the classics while keeping its content fresh and up-to-date in the facilities of the National Media Museum.

Showcasing works from the late Angus Fairhurst, Arnolfini draws attention to the range and melancholy of this often overlooked Young British Artist.

The curator of the fourth Tate Triennial, Nicolas Bourriaud introduces a new term “Altermodern” in response to the increasingly global context we live in.

Roger Ballen employs 50 years of photographic experience to understand how a photograph affects the human psyche in his latest book, Boarding House.

China China China!!! features 18 contemporary Chinese artists whose work is unconstrained by the recently increased demand for Chinese art.

In conversation with Gemme Weekes.

Three Letter Plague is Jonny Steinberg’s enthralling investigation into HIV and AIDS in South Africa, discovering why the AIDS epidemic will proliferate.

Mark Doty follows the success of his 2007 New York Times bestselling memoir, Dog Years, with a superb new collection of poetry, Theories and Apparitions.

The Hounding of David Oluwale is the emotional new play from Eclipse Theatre, investigating the life, tragic death and search for justice for David Oluwale.

School of Seven Bells’ stunning debut album, Alpinisms is a beautiful fusion of different styles combined with Alejandra and Claudia’s haunting vocal harmonies.

For a group of young art graduates interested in “music and surrealism”, The Je Suis Animal collective remain refreshingly unpretentious.

Lambchop’s latest album showcases an artist becoming more comfortable in his own efforts while embracing the band’s trademark youthful playfulness.

From sporadic appearances with the likes of Current 93 to his forays into outdoor recording and junk percussion, Keith Wood is always changing and adapting.

Independent cinemas are offering a fresh alternative to the staid multiplex environment. Aesthetica explores the varied pastimes on offer around the UK.

Sundance is keen to explore new ideas, and this year their New Frontier on Main programme illustrates their commitment to new territories through film.

In Winter 2008, the Royal Academy of Arts opened its doors to challenging and exciting works of art, that question not only the conceptual, but the theoretical.

Shigeyuki Kihara: Living Photographs explores themes of Pacific culture, identity, colonialism, stereotypes and gender roles.

The exploration of immersive art is celebrated in Modern Art Oxford’s multimedia installations from Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller.

A look through the lens: 10 Magnum Photographers’ work goes on display at the Magnum Print Room, which looks at Cuba over the past 50 years.

The Outcast is refreshing and captivating, proving that Jones is an astonishing new voice on the literary scene, and a publishing sensation.

Mashirika theatre company is helping Rwandan communities to unite and international audiences to understand the 1994 genocide through Africa’s Hope.

Saint Dymphna is not easily classifiable, a jarring fusion of electro, 80s techno, African guitar and tribal beats. “We call it Gang Gang. We do our own thing.”

With her striking debut solo album, Laukinis Šuo Dingo released, Alina Orlova is set to make a lasting impression on music fans worldwide.

As the founding member of Gregory and the Hawk, Meredith Godreau is no stranger to self-promotion and the wonders of 21st century marketing.

It’s been a long time since a really cool band has come along that introduces a sound that opens up new possibilities. Fujiya & Miyagi is a wave of joy.

Leeds International Film Festival is the largest annual film festival outside of London and it brings the world of film out of the traditional setting of a cinema.

Gaston Kabore, one of Africa’s premier filmmakers, talks about African cinema, and the politics of representation.

Expanding the form of calligraphy and blending it with contemporary painting, Golnaz Fathi’s renowned style has led to international acclaim.

A new large–scale outdoor installation project at Attingham Park that looks at the fragile relationship between the environment and Man.

The latest art fair to hit the London circuit in 2008, calling in to question the nature of art fairs and redefining standard practice.

A man with several ideas, Roberto Cuoghi has many personalities. His opening show at ICA in Autumn 2008 pushes the boundaries of sound, art and installation.

David Shrigley, the man with all the ideas. His work excites, but also outrages, provokes and evokes. David Shrigley is something of an enigma.

At the age of 17, Faïza Guène wrote her first novel and sold over 360,000 copies. Now, with the release of her second novel, all eyes are on this creative prodigy.

Irvine Welsh tackles controversy to explore the darker side of humanity. In his latest novel, Crime, he exposes the human impact of child abuse.