THE PRETENDERS have announced a few US dates for March.

IAN MCNABB has announced a number of UK dates for March and April next year. The former ICICLE WORKS frontman has announced seven dates so far with more shows in the pipeline.

ELVIS COSTELLO will play a US orchestral tour in March and April next year to present his full-length orchestral work 'Il Sogno' in conjunction with some of the country's top orchestras. The shows will also feature a rock/pop set where the singer will perform some of his best-loved hits.

THE PRETENDERS, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN and BILLY BRAGG are among the artists appearing at next year's South By South West music festival in Austin, Texas. The annual festival will take place between March 15-19.

THE SMITHS' guitarist JOHNNY MARR and bassist ANDY ROURKE will reunite at a special charity gig at Manchester's MEN Arena on January 28th. The show, in aid of cancer research, is being put together by Rourke and will also feature a billing of Manchester artists which will include NEW ORDER and is rumoured to include MORRISSEY.

PROPAGANDA will release a new single, 'Valley Of The Machine Gods', in January. The release will come out on 12" vinyl and a 500 copy limited-edition release will also be available. 'Valley Of The Machine Gods' is the first release in a series of four.

DEPECHE MODE seem set to headline the 2006 Coachella Festival in the US. The band apparently announced their participation onstage this week but the festival billing is still officially unconfirmed. The festival will also be celebrated next year with the release of a documentary film 'Coachella' examining the festival's history from 1999 to today and will feature footage of artists including NINE INCH NAILS, THE PIXIES and THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. DEPECHE MODE have also announced that they will headline next year's Benicassim Festival in Spain which runs from July 20th-23rd.

MICHAEL JACKSON's 'Thriller' has been voted the 'Greatest Music Video Of All Time' by viewers of UK music TV channel The Box. MADONNA's 'Like A Prayer' and PETER GABRIEL's 'Sledgehammer' also made the top five.

THOMAS DOLBY will make three very rare live appearances in January when he joins THE BEAT (The English Beat to US readers!) who are playing three House of Blues shows in Anaheim, Hollywood and San Diego... rumours indicate that Dolby might perform a few songs on his own before joining DAVE WAKELING's band for some special encores... DRAMARAMA are also on the bill.

PRINCE has signed a deal with label-giant Universal for the release of his new album '3121'. The album will be preceded by a single, 'Te Amo Corazon', the video for which was directed by actress Salma Hayek, and Prince is expected to tour the album sometime next year.

SIMPLE MINDS and BIG COUNTRY side-project A FEW GOOD MEN have lined up two shows before the end of the year including a very special New Years Eve appearance. See GIGS for all the details.

BOY GEORGE is rumoured to be one of the house guests in the new series of 'Celebrity Big Brother' which starts in January. If rumours are to be believed George will appear in the reality TV show alongside Anna Nicole Smith, Johnny Vegas and Jimmy Tarbuck.

JANET JACKSON will release a new album in early 2006. The Jam & Lewis produced release will be finished in January and the first single is expected to be released in February with the album scheduled for late April.