SATURDAY NEWS WRAP #66

• Early information about the forthcoming ‘Smile Sessions’ album from The Beach Boys first surfaced back in March this year. The never released album was intended to be the follow-up to the band’s iconic ‘Pet Sounds’ back in 1967, but its contents have remained largely under lock and key – until now.
EMI has announced that the album will be released in 2CD and digital packages, along with deluxe edition and a limited edition expanded box set. The box set looks amazing – check it out HERE.
• Britney.com has revealed (via the singer herself) that the next single to be lifted from the ‘Femme Fatale’ album project will be ‘Criminal’.
• Ministry Of Sound has announced that this year’s edition of the all-conquering ‘The Annual’ will be mixed by local DJs Tommy Trash and Tom Piper. ‘The Annual 2012’ will be released on Friday October 28.
• Tickets for the 21st anniversary edition of the celebrated Meredith Music Festival have now officially sold out. Yesterday’s (final) online allocation sold out in less than 30 minutes. Organisers have advised punters who would like to spend time in the Meredith Supernatural Ampitheatre had better keep their eyes on the Golden Plains Festival website at www.goldenplains.com.au. The sixth anniversary of that festival is on March 10 – 12.
• Looks like Meredith’s not the only music festival that’s doing the ‘sell-out’ thing, with Summadayze already selling through the first allocation of tickets. Scissor Sisters, Calvin Harris, Snoop Dogg, Pendulum and Moby are among the big name guests already confirmed for this year’s event. More will be announced in the weeks to come.
• Voting in the 2011 ARIA Awards is now closed. The 800 or so peeps who vote on the annual awards were due to finalise their choices by 6pm yesterday. We’re tipping Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ to walk away with a swag of awards, including the prestigious ‘Single Of The Year’ gong. The 25th Annual ARIA Awards will take place later this year.
• Irish crooner Daniel O’Donnell has announced an Australian tour. The singer will arrive on our shores in early March next year and will play dates in Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth. Tickets are on sale on Monday October 17.
• Aussie outfit Thirsty Merc has been confirmed as the special guest support act on the forthcoming Australian tour by rocker Meat Loaf (pictured). The singer’s Melbourne and Wollongong dates are already sold out, with venues in Brisbane and Adelaide also approaching capacity. Meat Loaf’s new album ‘Hell In A Handbasket’ will be released via Sony Music on Friday September 30.
• Speaking of tours, Simple Plan has announced a special under 18s show for Melbourne. The new gig will hit The HiFi in the Victorian capital on Wednesday October 05. Tickets are on sale this Thursday.
• Universal Music has announced the forthcoming release of ‘Lulu’, the collaborative album between Lou Reed and Metallica. Although it’s officially slated for a Monday October 31 release, it’s anticipated it’ll drop locally on Friday October 28.
• On the US singles chart, Maroon 5 has finally displaced Katy Perry’s ‘Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)’ from the top spot with their all-conquering, Christina Aguilera-featuring single ‘Moves Like Jagger’. Katy falls from No.1 to No.5, while ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ by Foster The People is up four places to No.3. Gym Class Heroes (featuring Adam Levine from Maroon 5) is into the top ten with ‘Stereo Hearts’.
• Game has debuted at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘The R.E.D. Album’. Barbra Streisand’s new album ‘What Matters Most’ is in at No.4 with Pistol Annies in at No.5. Seems like The Muppets have lost none of their sheen across the past few decades, debuting at No.8 with ‘The Green Album’.
• And Kylie’s single ‘Put Your Hands Up’ has been displaced from the top spot on the US Dance/Club play chart, falling to No.8 this week. Beyonce moves into the No.1 position with ‘Best Thing I Never Had’.

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