Muse, the Manics, Animal Collective, Iggy Pop & Wolfie star in Free Music Friday

The sun is out and we’re celebrating with a supercool, sunglass-wearing Free Music Friday full of the latest downloads, streams, vids, trailers and whatever else we can find down the back of the web.

Our favourite FMF thing this week is 8 Ball, a mini-album from honey-voiced London R&B woman Wolfie.

Mary Chapin Carpenter plugs her new The Things That We Are Made Of album with this free – but you’re welcome to tip! – four-track sampler. Her voice remains a thing of weather beaten beauty.

For those who call a cosy spot beneath a rock home, you may have missed the third coming of The Stone Roses, whose 'All For One' is the first salvo of their long-awaited return to new music.

A minimum donation of $2 buys you two live albums from the very fine Animal Collective. With all proceeds are going to an organisation fighting North Carolina’s anti-LGBT laws, we think you should dig a little deeper into your pockets, though.
“Last night, Animal Collective performed at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC,” explains a band communiqué. “For those who were at the show, you may have seen a table set up for Progress North Carolina Action, who we were introduced to by North Carolina Needs You. Recently, North Carolina passed a law, known as HB2, that dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use and attacks the rights of LGBT citizens to sue when their human rights are violated in the workplace. We felt that canceling our show, like many others have done in protest of this law, would be a disappointment to our fans and decided to go on with the performance. That being said, we don't condone or agree with any type of bigotry or discrimination.”

Muse have unveiled the stunning flipbook-style animated video for their ‘Aftermath’ single. They’ve also revealed that they’ve asked Adele to sing with them at Glastonbury. We await Ms. Adkins’ response with bated breath!

To the streams now and NPR treat us to newbies from Tom Petty’s Mudcrutch side-project, heinously underrated Canadian singer-songwriter Andy Shauf and funky Texan fusionists The Echocentrics.

Manic Street Preachers do their footballing compatriots proud with ‘Together Stronger (C’mon Wales)', which includes a lovely nod to Gary Speed. Over to you now, England and the two sets of Boys In Green…

The Cure debuted two new songs – their first in eight years – when they played Naw’leans this week.

Floppy-fringed indie hotshots Paves are being jolly generous and giving away killer new single ‘Baby’.

The video premieres keep on coming with this 'Iggy Pop invites you into his beautiful Miami home' clip for new single ‘Sunday’. Let us once again thank Josh Homme and Matt Helders for bringing the best out in the old punk warhorse.

It’s a Simpsons first on Sunday as Homer answers viewers’ questions live.

We’re loving this tune and vid from Ahren-B, a London-born, Sligo-raised rapper who’s been championed by D12’s Bizarre.

Which is the signal for Free Music Friday to down mouse and vamos a la playa.
Have a wicked weekend and keep those lovely links coming to @stuartclark66