ALISON MOYET has announced a solo tour of the US and Canada in the wake of the recent YAZOO reunion. The sixteen date tour will start in Toronto on October 5th and end in Seattle on October 29th. See GIGS for all the dates.
DURAN DURAN have announced the South American lef of their ongoing 'Red Carpet Massacre' tour with the first five shows, in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Panama, to take place in November. See GIGS for all the dates.
SALT-N-PEPA's Pepa is to publish her autobiography at the end of September. The book, entitled 'Let's Talk About Pep' promises the real story of the rapper's turbulent childhood, the formation, breakup and reunion of Salt-N-Pepa and her comeback via reality TV. The book will also feature an introduction by Queen Latifah and an epilogue by Missy Elliott.
U2 have delayed the release of their new studio album to early 2009 while they work on the new material which frontman Bono has described as 'our most innovative, our most challenging'...
MIDGE URE's long-awaited ten-track album of cover versions, 'Ten', will finally be released on September 29th. See NEWS for the full album tracklisting.
DAVID BOWIE is to release a 12 track compilation 'iSelect: Bowie' on October 14th. The album which was originally put together for a free giveaway in The Mail On Sunday newspaper features 12 tracks chosen by Bowie himself that he describes as the songs he 'never seems to tire of'. Bowie will also write the sleevenotes for the release. See NEWS for the full album tracklisting.
TINA TURNER has added eight more concerts to the upcoming US and Canadian leg of her comeback tour with the announcement of shows in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta. Detroit, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York and Toronto. See GIGS for all the dates.
MARI WILSON will release a brand new album, 'Emotional Glamour', on September 29th and will support the release with an extensive UK tour. See GIGS for all the dates.
JASON DONOVAN will release an album of covers of classic songs, 'Let It Be Me', in November. The collection will be Donovan's first solo album for fifteen years and will feature covers of 'Blue Velvet', 'Love Hurts' and 'Smoke Gets In My Eyes' as well as a new version of his own hit 'Sealed With a Kiss' and a new track entitled 'Dreamboats and Petticoats'.
MAGAZINE are to reform for two special concerts to take place in February next year. Howard Devoto, Dave Formula, Barry Adamson and John Doyle will recruit a new guitarist to replace the late John McGeoch. The shows will also be recorded for a possible live CD and DVD. Magazine will also release 'The Peel Sessions' on October 27th. See GIGS for the dates and NEWS for the full album tracklisting.
SIOUXSIE SIOUX will play the final show of her 'Mantaray & More' tour at London's Koko on September 29th.
A-HA's MAGNE F has teamed up with Coldplay's Guy Berryman under the name Apparatjik to record a track to be played during the closing credits forthcoming Bruce Parry TV series 'Amazon', the sequel to the excellent 'Tribe' series. An album of music from the series, including the Apparatjik track and songs from KT Tunstall, Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am, Mike Oldfield and Johnny Borrell from Razorlight, will be released on October 6th.
THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN have announced a one-off London show at The Forum on October 27th.
BANANARAMA have recorded vocals on a new track from RUN DMC's REV. RUN. The track was originally going to use a sample of 'Na Na Hey Hey' but then the girls were asked to sing a special version. Bananarama are currently working on an album of their favourite cover songs for release sometime in 2009.
HUE AND CRY's new album 'Open Soul' has been reviewed in the REVIEWS section.
KRAFTWERK, THE HUMAN LEAGUE, PET SHOP BOYS, ERASURE, ULTRAVOX and JAPAN are among fifty-seven artists featured on 'The Mix Tapes', a forthcoming 3-CD compilation of alternative music from the late seventies and early eighties, which is scheduled for release on September 22nd.
EDWYN COLLINS is mounting an exhibition of his artwork in London next month, with a selection of pictures of birds that he drew while recovering from his recent brain haemorrhage. The exhibition will take place at The Smithfield Gallery from October 21st to November 1st.
THE POGUES have announced the dates for their traditional Christmas tour of the UK. The band will play nine shows across the country in December finishing with two nights at London's Brixton Academy. See GIGS for all the dates.
