Jake Gyllenhaal pic: Ramsey Beyer, flickr

French band The Shoes have released a music video for their new single Time to Dance today, featuring actor Jake Gyllenhaal as a disturbed killer on the streets of Hackney. (more…)

Pic: Matt J Carbone

Award winning rapper Jay-Z will perform before 100,000 people this summer at Hackney Marshes in a celebration for the Olympic Games.

The artist otherwise known as Shawn Carter was confirmed as the headline act for Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend by station DJ Chris Moyles this morning. (more…)

Chris Moyles and Fearne Cotton at the huge Radio 1 event in Carlisle last year pic: LLoydi

Music fans can register their interest to attend BBC Radio 1′s Hackney Weekend from this morning. Ticket registration is open for six weeks and will close at 11pm on Monday 19 March.

To register, users need to go to the Radio 1 website, and upload their details and a photo. Those who register will then be able to apply to for up to two tickets online or by phone on the 25 and 26 March. (more…)

pic: oae.co.uk

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment performed to enraptured crowds in an intimate gig at The Amersham Arms last night. (more…)

pic: Hackney_DannyBoyle_Press_photosubbed

Oscar winning filmmaker Danny Boyle is looking for school children across Hackney to perform at the Olympics opening ceremony.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) announced last Friday that under-16 volunteer performers for the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies will be selected from various British schools, including four schools from Hackney. (more…)

Leona Lewis on tour pic: branestawm2002 (Flickr)

Hackney Council is calling for volunteers for Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend, the BBC’s biggest ever free-ticketed event. (more…)

Francesca Panetta at work pic: Hackney Podcast

Online docu-drama, Wild Hackney, has been nominated for best use of song and best online only audio drama in the first ever BBC Audio Drama Awards. (more…)

Florence Welch will be at Hackney Weekend 2012 pic: NRK P3 (Flickr)

Florence and the Machine, Tinie Tempah, Plan B, Leona Lewis and Trevor Nelson will head the line-up for BBC Radio 1′s free music festival, in Hackney next June.

(more…)

EastEnd Cabaret at the Arcola Theatre Pic: EastEndCarabet

EastEnd Cabaret comes with high expectations. Their show, The Revolution Will Be Sexual, has been showered with critical praise and this week they grace the cover of Time Out. (more…)

pic: Anurag Tagat

Kuljit Bhamra is on a mission to “demystify” Indian music. Playing  with Jonathon Mayer at  Wenlock Barn in Sutton house, Hackney, on Sunday he joked that he had been “blamed” for creating the British Bhangra sound (more…)