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ON NOW : Steve Lamacq
With The Flaming Lips live in session

Steve Lamacq The Flaming Lips perform live from the BBC's Maida Vale studios.

ON NEXT : 18:00 Marc Riley

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  1. #6MFlamingLips - Help pick the Ultimate Flaming Lips Playlist

    Thursday 16 May 2013, 18:55

    Will Gilgrass Will Gilgrass

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    The Flaming Lips Who knows what the Flaming Lips will get up to at Maida Vale next Thursday with Steve Lamacq – but one for is for sure, you lot will pick some incredible tracks for us and the Ultimate Flaming Lips Playlist for this Sunday’s show.

    Wayne Coyne will also be on with Shaun ahead of the big gig in North West London which thousands of you have applied to be at – and so surely you have a few thoughts on tracks which we can use to fill two hours between 6-8pm.

    There are few bands who go to quite such extreme lengths to be different, creative and innovative – and so frankly if there’s two tracks next to each other in this playlist which sound the same we’ve failed.

    You could go for:
    * Your most cherished Flaming Lips track
    * Bands who’ve inspired them like the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Miles Davis and psychedelic
    * People Coyne has collaborated with like Danger Mouse, David Lynch or The Chemical Brothers
    * Acts who go to extreme lengths to release their music – the Lips have used jelly skulls with USB sticks in!
    * Or how about other bands who can claim to have spanned four decades

    You choose the music so let us know what you want us to play by commenting on Facebook or here on the...

    Read more about #6MFlamingLips - Help pick the Ultimate Flaming Lips Playlist

  2. #Smiths6Music - Pick the ulltimate Smiths playlist

    Thursday 9 May 2013, 15:12

    Rowan Collinson Rowan Collinson

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    The Smiths The Smiths Thirty years ago on Monday The Smiths marked their arrival on the music scene with their debut release 'Hand in Glove' and have gone onto become one of the most loved alternative acts in the country.

    Before their acromonious split, the Mancunians releaseed four albums and since then have released a host of solo projects and collaborations not to mention influencing tons of bands who formed in their wake. As such we thought why not ask you to pick the Ultimate Smiths Playlist this Sunday on Now Playing?

    If you need some inspiration, listen to Liz Kershaw this Saturday on BBC 6 Music as she travels to Salford for a special show to celebrate the same anniversary, or use these pointers to get you in the right direction:

    *Your favourite Smiths tracks, b-sides and rarieties

    *Other iconic Manchester bands – from  Happy Mondays to Oasis

    *Bands they’ve inspired, basically any British band with a guitar since 1983

    *Any their solo work obviously Morrissey but how about Johnny Marr's side projects like Electronic?

    *Or perhaps some other Rough Trade artists like The Libertines, Sufjan Stevens and Super Furry Animals

    You choose the music so let us know what you want us to play...

    Read more about #Smiths6Music - Pick the ulltimate Smiths playlist

  3. #Vampire6Music - Help pick the Ultimate Vampire Weekend Playlist

    Thursday 2 May 2013, 15:35

    Will Gilgrass Will Gilgrass

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    Vampire Weekend With Modern Vampires of the City's imminent release and being Record of the Day Plus on 6 Music this coming Monday – we thought why not dedicate Now Playing to the wonderfully joyful music of Vampire Weekend and everything that they encompass.

    The New Yorkers burst onto the music scene in 2008 with their self-titled debut album and haven’t looked back, providing the soundtrack for Glastonbury that year with their track Oxford Comma.

    Five years later and onto record number three, the thirst for their music hasn’t let up and with a number of interesting collaborations and related artists this should make for an awesome two hours of music.

    You could go for:
    • Your favourite Vampire Weekend tracks from singles to b-sides and rarities
    • Artists they’ve covered like Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen or even Rancid
    • Other artists who have been on XL like The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, Badly Drawn Boy or Adele
    • Side projects like Chris Baio’s flirtation with electronic music to Ezra Koenig working with Major Lazer
    • Perhaps some of their influences which range from African to punk
    • Or simply other tracks or artists with grammatical references… London Grammar...

    Read more about #Vampire6Music - Help pick the Ultimate Vampire Weekend Playlist

  4. #HipHop6Music - help pick the Ultimate Hip Hop Playlist

    Friday 26 April 2013, 10:34

    Will Gilgrass Will Gilgrass

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    Run DMC During #DaftPunk6Music in the studio next to ours, the one and only Grandmaster Flash was recording an 6 Mix which will launch Pioneers Month through May on that show – and Tom was so taken aback by this man’s presence we thought why not ask you to create the Ultimate Hip Hop Playlist.

    Starting with Grandmaster Flash and working your way through the Bronx and the rest of New York in the late 1970s and 1980s across to the West Coast this is your opportunity to salute your favourite lyricists, beat makers and everyone else who has inspired or learnt from this revolutionary music.

    In the Ultimate...

    Read more about #HipHop6Music - help pick the Ultimate Hip Hop Playlist

  5. #DaftPunk6Music - Help pick the Ultimate Daft Punk Playist

    Thursday 18 April 2013, 11:18

    Will Gilgrass Will Gilgrass

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    Daft Punk Has there been more hype for an album? Random Access Memories by Daft Punk has the expectation of the dance music world on it’s shoulders – and, given the two 15-second adverts which were aired during Saturday Night Live in the US and then the extended promo last weekend on TV and during Coachella, it seems the anticipation is warranted.

    So this Sunday on Now Playing we are asking you to help us create the Ultimate Daft Punk Playlist for two hours.

    The French duo shocked the electronic music world in 1995 when it emerged the people behind underground smash Da Funk were in fact two...

    Read more about #DaftPunk6Music - Help pick the Ultimate Daft Punk Playist

  6. #QOTSA6Music - Help pick the Ultimate Queens of the Stone Age Playlist

    Wednesday 10 April 2013, 10:21

    Will Gilgrass Will Gilgrass

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    Queens of the Stone Age.jpg On Monday Queens of the Stone Age unleashed their new track, My God is the Sun, and we were once again reminded why we love the Californian rockers so much.

    Taken from their forthcoming album …Like Clockwork, and with a number of festival performances already confirmed we thought why not ask you lovely people to pick a playlist based around the band for two hours.

    With a back catalogue of five albums already spanning 15-years, and a collaborators list on the new one which could double up as a list for music’s current hall of fame, we’re sure you’re going to make some amazing suggestions...

    Read more about #QOTSA6Music - Help pick the Ultimate Queens of the Stone Age Playlist

  7. #BSP6Music - help British Sea Power pick the playlist on Now Playing this Sunday

    Friday 5 April 2013, 14:26

    Will Gilgrass Will Gilgrass

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    BSP6Music.jpg #BSP6Music

    This week on Now Playing the simply fantastic British Sea Power are controlling what’s played via their Twitter account - @BSPOfficial – and the hashtag #BSP6Music.

    But they need your help…

    The band released their sixth studio album on Monday – Machineries of Joy – and are a firm favourite with 6 Music and especially you, the listeners, who voted Remember Me in the Top 10 of the best songs released since we began broadcasting.

    This Sunday, while the band are preparing for their gig in Glasgow between 6-8pm, they will be on Twitter waiting for you to suggest tracks which they should play.

    You can do this by Tweeting #BSP6Music, commenting on this blog or on Facebook or adding a track to this Spotify Playlist.

    And if you want an idea of the sort of stuff they want you to pick – here’s Martin from the band.

    In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash Installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content

    Martin from British Sea Power on the music he wants to play on Now Playing

    Read more about #BSP6Music - help British Sea Power pick the playlist on Now Playing this Sunday

  8. #Bowie6Music - Help pick the Ultimate David Bowie Playlist

    Tuesday 26 March 2013, 16:54

    Will Gilgrass Will Gilgrass

    DavidBowie1024.jpg The moment which shocked the music world in 2013 was the return of David Bowie. Without any prior notice, Where Are We Now appeared online with the announcement of The Next Day his 26th studio album.

    All this week and over Easter Weekend we at 6 Music are celebrating The Thin White Duke, his music, his influence, his legend. Adam Buxton is giving his guide to Bowie in the way only he can, Cerys has checked out the Bowie exhibition at the V&A before it opens, and the Live Music Hour will play his 1971 Paris Theatre In Concert set but on Sunday afternoon we want to give you the opportunity to...

    Read more about #Bowie6Music - Help pick the Ultimate David Bowie Playlist

  9. #Depeche6Music - Help pick the Ultimate Depeche Mode Playlist

    Wednesday 20 March 2013, 11:29

    Will Gilgrass Will Gilgrass

    Depeche Mode.jpg

    With their thirteenth studio album Delta Machine available to stream ahead of its release on Monday,  we thought there’s no better time to celebrate a band who are regularly listed as one of the greatest, most influential and important of all time – Depeche Mode.

    Having formed 33-years ago in Basildon, their line up may have changed but their output has remained consistently brilliant; fusing highest quality electronic sounds with pop music to produce some of the most recognisable songs of the past three decades. Ahead of their big interview with Steve Lamacq on Friday March 29th, we...

    Read more about #Depeche6Music - Help pick the Ultimate Depeche Mode Playlist

  10. #Irish6Music - help pick the Ultimate Irish Playlist

    Friday 15 March 2013, 17:42

    Will Gilgrass Will Gilgrass

    paddys.jpg This Sunday there's only one topic we could possibly go for to accompany your pints of the black stuff – the Ultimate Irish Playlist.

    On St Patrick’s Day, we want you to tell us your favourite bands, artists, producers and anyone else who makes music with a connection to Ireland to create the ultimate celebration of their artists’ contribution.

    Plus, all next Thursday, BBC Introducing are decamping to five UK cities so if you can think of any Irish bands that have come through Introducing then you get double points!

    A few ideas:

    * Some of the big boys – U2, Dropkick Murphys, The Cranberries or My Bloody Valentine

    * A few more contemporary ones like Two Door Cinema Club or The Strypes

    * The best dance music from Fergie to Phil Kieran and Space Dimension Controller

    * Perhaps a band you’ve seen in Ireland – that’s allowed – at festivals like Oxegen or elsewhere

    * Can we find room for B*Witched?

    You choose the music so let us know whay you want us to play by commenting on Facebook or here on the blog, Tweet #Irish6Music, email us at nowplaying@bbc.co.uk or add a track onto our collaborative Spotify playlist.

    Read more about #Irish6Music - help pick the Ultimate Irish Playlist

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