Last week, electronic pioneers Kraftwerk used the setting of the Manchester Velodrome to perform alongside the British cycling team. Surely, there is something in those heavy north western skies that inspires artists to reach across the divides of aesthetic or practice?

And so it is that on July 7th, 2009, Madonna invited magisterial doom troupe Sunn O))) onto the stage during her concert at the Manchester MEN arena, as the photograph above clearly proves.

Interestingly, it is seemingly not just the current minimal Sunn O))) line-up of Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley who appeared on stage with the Material Girl. Is Madonna perhaps making a pitch to join Sunn O)))'s choir for the hotly-anticipated Monoliths & Dimensions shows later this year? Is she tiring of the Kabbalah, and seeking to discuss a deeper mysticism with Attila Csihar? Indeed, is it the Mayhem vocalist she embraces in the picture above? Has she mistaken Sunn O))) for a group of crones with specific expertise in skin stretching? Alack, pictures do not speak.

Thanks to our pal Mark E at the I Really Love Music site for the tip.