Simcock's album Good Days At Schloss Elmau is nominated alongside releases from Adele, Elbow, PJ Harvey and Tinie Tempah. Here's the full list:

• Adele - 21
• Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi
• Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys!
• Everything Everything - Man Alive
• Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam
• Gwilym Simcock - Good Days At Schloss Elmau
• James Blake - James Blake
• Katy B - On A Mission
• King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine
• Metronomy - The English Riviera
• PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
• Tinie Tempah - Disc-Overy

Another Welsh connection on this year's shortlist comes with Everything Everything's Man Alive, which was engineered by north Wales-based producer and sometime solo performer David Wrench.

Last September, when The xx won the 2010 award, my colleague James McLaren wrote a piece on the Welsh and the Mercury Prize. He found a total of four nominations since 1992: Manic Street Preachers' Everything Must Go in 1996 and This Is My Truth in 1999; Super Furry Animals' Rings Around The World in 2001; and Scritti Politti's White Bread Black Beer in 2006.

The Mercury judges have traditionally proved indifferent towards the jazz and classical nominees, leading to accusations of tokenism in the shortlist selections. This year's winner will be announced on 6 September, and we'll wait and see whether Gwilym Simcock fares any better. We wish him well.

They join previously-announced headliners Ellie Goulding, Chase and Status, The Wombats, Biffy Clyro and The Cribs.

Wakestock takes place from 8-10 July in Cardigan Bay, north Wales. Visit the official website for ticketing information.

Just 1,000 copies of the single will go on sale on Saturday 21 May, at the Heavenly Recordings stall at the Independent Labels Market on Berwick Street, London, and at the Manics' concert at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena. Any unsold copies will be made available through the Heavenly and Manics websites.

Cover artwork for Manic Street Preachers' Motown Junk single

Motown Junk was originally released on 21 January 1991, and followed the group's Suicide Alley single and the New Art Riot EP. It was available on 12" vinyl and CD only, making this 2011 reissue a first.

The single was not a chart success, but gained the Manics much press attention. The band's early iconoclasm was present in the words "I laughed when Lennon got shot," a line which James Dean Bradfield now omits when performing the song live.

For more on the 7" reissue, visit the Heavenly Recordings website.

Highlights of Open House will include an on-stage rehearsal of Mozart's Così fan tutte, a special performance of the opera called Cosy Café by members of the chorus, and a preview of The Sleeper by Welsh National Youth Opera.

Members of the public will also be able to learn to sing arias and play percussion with the orchestra, and can see WNO singers being coached in a master class. There will also be demonstrations of prop, make up and costume techniques, and an arts and crafts workshop running throughout the day.

The open day is suitable for all ages. A Turandot workshop will allow children to explore Puccini's masterpiece through playing games, dressing up and acting.

More information should be added to the Welsh National Opera website nearer the time.

The counter-cultural event will feature a mixture of music and comedy, and takes place on Saturday 14 May at Galeri in Caernarfon. Guests will include Margi Clarke, Henry Priestman from The Christians, drag comedian Shagger and guests from the 1980s Welsh music scene.

Rhys Mwyn was a key figure in the Welsh-language punk scene in the 1980s and 1990s. He played bass for Anhrefn as well as running the independent label Recordiau Anhrefn. He was responsible for releasing early records by Y Cyrff, Datblygu, Llwybr Llaethog, Big Leaves, Anweledig and Catatonia, and continues to do much to promote Welsh language music.

Mwyn told the Daily Post: "I think this will be the most outrageous show the Galeri has ever hosted. We wanted to have an alternative cabaret style evening with stand-up and music in the worst possible taste.

"Music will feature, but it's a cultural event not a music festival. The digital age is a new 'DIY' age. Politics needs to be back on stage and Welsh culture is ready for another gear change.

"It's time to shift the agenda, stir it up again, confront, agitate, provoke, educate, inspire, challenge."

The Welsh Underground Festival takes place at Galeri on 14 May from 7.30pm. Tickets are available from galericaernarfon.com or 01286 685222.

Jones is the highest-rated Welsh star, with an estimated £140 million to his name. He is 14th in the list, which is headed by Zomba/Jive Records co-founder Clive Calder.

For the second year running, Katherine Jenkins has topped the top 20 list of young British music millionaires aged 30 or under. The singer has an estimated fortune of £13 million. However, as she turns 31 next month, it is the last time Jenkins can feature in the list.

Katherine Jenkins and a million-pound sofa (possibly)

Also in the young music millionaires list are Charlotte Church (sixth place; £8 million) and Duffy (ninth place; £6 million).

The Blackout

Merthyr Tydfil rockers The Blackout are up for the best British band, video and album, while Bridgend's Bullet are contenders for best single, live act and British band. My Chemical Romance lead the field with five nominations.

Bullet For My Valentine

Kerrang!'s deputy editor Daniel J Lane said: "It's been an amazing year for our music and it's really exciting to see such a diverse range of bands nominated for this year's K! Awards.

"I personally love the fact that our very own home-grown heroes Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon and The Blackout are going head-to-head with US heavyweights like My Chemical Romance, 30 Seconds To Mars and Avenged Sevenfold."

The awards ceremony takes place in London on Thursday 9 June. More information, including the full list of nominations, can be found on the Newsbeat website.

Bryn Terfel

Anfonaf Angel features the Welsh bass-baritone with backing from the Welsh National Orchestra. The single is launched on Friday 20 May at the Galeri in Caernarfon, and will go on sale in record shops and via www.walesairambulance.com.

Terfel is the charity's patron. In 2010 he contributed to a fundraising album, On Air, which also featured Stereophonics, Cerys Matthews and Only Men Aloud.

Delilah has long been a favourite of Stoke supporters on the terraces. The club is reportedly in talks with Jones' agent in the hope that he'll re-record the song in time for the FA Cup final on 14 May, when Stoke City face Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.

Read more on the BBC News website.