Summary: Godfathers of rock Metallica visit the studio for the first time in 12 years with tracks from their new album Death Magnetic. Also in the studio are Tennessee foursome Kings of Leon, who showcase tracks from their fourth album Only by the Night. Making her UK TV debut, Italian born, French-bred singer-songwriter and now First Lady of France, Carla Bruni performs a song or two from her recently released third album, Comme Si De Rien N'etait. If that isn't enough, popstar in the making VV Brown makes an appearance, New Jersey-born Nicole Atkins makes her British television debut and Paul McCartney and Youth present a collaboration.

Summary: Guests lined-up for the second show include: recent Mercury Prize gold medallists Elbow, with tracks from their winning album 'Seldom Seen Kid' including 'One Day Like This'; David Gilmour, the legendary Pink Floyd guitarist, performs tunes in celebration of his live album recorded in Gdansk capturing a selection of Pink Floyd classics and numbers from his recent solo outings. Also daughter of Nat King, Natalie Cole will be joining Jools at the piano for a chat and a song from her forthcoming album of jazz standards 'Still Unforgettable'. After spending weeks at the top of the singles chart and causing musical controversary wherever she goes, California's Katy Perry finally makes her UK television debut and South London legend and UK hip hop hero Roots Manuva returns to the show to perform tracks from his fourth album 'Slime & Reason'.

Summary: Jools entertains a whole host of musical talent. Kaiser Chiefs, no strangers to the Later studio, perform tracks from their upcoming third album Off With Their Heads, and The Streets return with songs from their fourth opus Everything Is Borrowed. Blues hobo-type Seasick Steve brings some of his festival-stealing magic to the studio, with tracks from his new album I Started Out With Nothin And I Still Got Most Of It Left, while New York-based fivesome and one of 21st century spook-pop's best kept secrets TV on the Radio make their UK TV debut with tracks from their critically acclaimed third album, Dear Science. Little Jackie is also in the studio performing a song or two from their album The Stoop, and the legendary Boy George pops into the studio for a chat and a song.

Summary: Coldplay perform tunes from their fourth album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, The Hold Steady play numbers from their critically-acclaimed album Stay Positive, and former Zero 7 singer SIA relays a couple of tunes from her album Some People Have Real Problems. Also featuring Glen Campbell who, after nearly fifty years in music, has just released his 72nd album featuring cover versions of songs by Travis, Foo Fighters and the Velvet Underground. Memphis stand-up bass star Amy Lavere makes her TV debut and Indiana's own singer/songwriter John Mellencamp performs a number from his T-Bone produced new album Life, Death, Love and Freedom.

Summary: Snow Patrol make a welcome return to the studio to perform a song or two from their album A Hundred Million Suns, the follow-up to the million-selling Eyes Open. The legendary Tom Jones cracks out a number from his album 24 Hours, which features his songwriting debut, while Eliza Carthy, daughter of British folk heroes Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, performs songs from her acclaimed album Dreams of Breathing Underwater. St Albans threesome Friendly Fires make their show debut, with songs from their self-titled debut album.

Summary: Bloc Party return to the Later studio to perform tunes from their new third album Intimacy and Jakob Dylan, son of Bob, pops into the studio with songs from his self-titled solo debut. Mali's Amadou and Mariam, whose new album has been touched by the hand of Mr Damon Albarn, perform while Allen Toussaint, one of the most influential figures in New Orleans R & B, performs at the piano. And Battle's own Keane return fresh and clean with their most acclaimed album to date, Perfect Symmetry.

Summary: The iconic and legendary Grace Jones performs a track or two from her first album in 18 years, Hurricane, which sees her reunited with the likes of Sly and Robbie. From Louisville, Kentucky's My Morning Jacket pop in to perform tunes from their Evil Urges album, and Brazilian musician and filmstar Seu Jorge takes to the studio with a number or two from his America Brasil album. North London's Razorlight return with their much anticipated album Slipwire Fires, and Welsh born sideman to the stars Geraint Watkins presents songs from the album of his career In a Bad Mood.

Summary: The Killers debut tracks from their upcoming Stuart Price produced album Day & Age. Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's Chinese opera Monkey: Journey to the West has received great reviews on its performances in Manchester and London. They bring the musicians and some of the cast to perform excerpts from it. Soul legend Al Green will be performing a number from his new album, plus one of his classics. Also, one of the most celebrated bands of the year finally make their TV debut on the show, Seattles' Fleet Foxes who describe their music as 'baroque harmonic pop jams'. They will be performing a couple of tracks from their debut album. Plus, Australian outfit Pendulum, who have a big live reputation with their drum 'n' bass beats mixed with a commercial guitar group sound, make their Later... debut.

Summary: Welsh rockers Stereophonics remind us how many great singles they have had with tracks from their first collection of hits, Decade Of The Sun. Also performing, Eli Paperboy Reed, a gifted young singer/guitarist/harp-blower from Boston, an interpreter of mid-20th gospel, blues and soul with a seven-piece backing band The True Loves; and Dengue Fever is a six-member band from Los Angeles who combine Cambodian pop music with psychedelic rock on their Real World album, Venus On Earth. The Carolina Chocolate Drops are, as their name suggests, from Durham, North Carolina, a trio of young African-American stringband musicians that have come together to play the rich tradition of fiddle and banjo music in Carolina's piedmont.