CD: Los Lobos - LLegó Navidad

The Southern Californian quintet serve up some seasonal Latin flavours

In a season awash with limp carols, dodgy glam-rock and schmaltzy jazz, all credit to Los Lobos for coming up with something different. LLegó Navidad (Christmas is Here) contains 12 festive folk songs, mostly hailing from Latin America. There's not a sprig of tinsel or ho ho ho in sight.

Bat for Lashes, St Bartholomew’s Church, Brighton review – a heartfelt homecoming

★★★★ BAT FOR LASHES, ST BARTHOLOMEW'S, BRIGHTON A heartfelt homecoming

Natasha Khan conjures LA pop myths and South Coast ghosts

Natasha Khan is ending this intimate UK tour where her dreams first took shape. Study at the University of Brighton began 12 years in the bohemian town, and her twice Mercury-nominated, mythology-minded pop life. She could sometimes be found here in St Bartholomew’s, a vaulting Victorian temple with the supposed dimensions of Noah’s ark, all sunken shadows and glinting gilt, tucked just off London Road’s grubby shopping bustle.

Wang, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dudamel, Barbican review - much more than glitz and glamour

★★★★ WANG, LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC, DUDAMEL, BARBICAN  Much more than glitz and glamour

Players and conductor on top form, John Adams in his latest major work slightly less so

The megastars are here at the Barbican, for an intensive three days in the case of the LA Phil and Gustavo Dudamel, throughout the season as the hall shines an "Artist Spotlight" on pianist Yuja Wang. Despite a shallow opener showcasing the individual talents of the Los Angeles principals and daft, rollicking Sousa at the end, there was a seriousness of intent and depth of focus that belied the touring glitz.

Judy review - Renée Zellweger's bravura screen comeback

BAFTA FILM AWARDS 2020 Renée Zellweger's portrayal of Judy Garland wins Best Actress

The 'Cold Mountain' star makes a spectacular case for a second Oscar

“She sang from her soul,” Judy Garland’s youngest daughter, Lorna Luft, once said of her world-renowned mum. So it’s right to give the role of this legendary entertainer to Renée Zellweger, an actress who, in the new biopic Judy, acts from her soul.

DVD/Blu-ray: Amazing Grace

★★★★★ AMAZING GRACE Is Aretha Franklin's gospel recording the best live music film ever?

With Aretha: the best live music film ever?

Over two days in 1972, the great Aretha Franklin, undoubtedly one of the greatest American voices of the 20th century, performed and recorded gospel classics in Los Angeles, with a predominantly African-American audience, the red-hot Los Angeles Community Gospel Choir and the support of Rev James Cleveland.

Euphoria, Sky Atlantic review - teenage nervous breakdown

★★★★ EUPHORIA, SKY ATLANTIC Gen-Z drama pushes the envelope of sex, drugs and emotional turmoil

Gen-Z drama pushes the envelope of sex, drugs and emotional turmoil

Being a teenager used to be fun, allegedly, but for the young cast of HBO’s controversial new hit series Euphoria it looks more like a nightmare ride through a theme park of bad trips.

CD: WHY? - AOKOHIO

A powerfully affecting missive from the eternally introspective Planet Anticon

Founded in 1998, the Los Angeles based Anticon collective has become one of the most curiously individual of 21st century groupings.

Edinburgh International Festival 2019: Mahler's 'Resurrection' Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dudamel - detailed judgment day canvas

★★★★★ LA PHILHARMONIC, DUDAMEL, EDINBURGH FESTIVAL Detailed Mahler canvas

From 15,000 in a stadium to 2,200 in a concert hall, crowds respond to LA spectaculars

Since time immemorial the Edinburgh International Festival has started with a juicy choral epic designed to show off the Festival Chorus and the opulent Usher Hall. So this performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony would normally have been billed as the opening concert. But the forces of democratisation and outreach have been at work.

Gloria Bell review - dancing away the heartache

★★★★ GLORIA BELL Julianne Moore brings a fresh perspective to remake of 'Gloria'

Julianne Moore brings a fresh perspective to remake of 'Gloria'

With Gloria (2013), A Fantastic Woman (2017) and Disobedience (2018), Chile’s Sebastián Lelio has earned a deserved reputation as a sympathetic director of women.