SATURDAY NEWS WRAP #131

• EMI has confirmed the Australian release of the new Robbie Williams album ‘Swings Both Ways’, which was revealed this week. The album features collaborations with Lily Allen, Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Olly Murs and Rufus Wainwright, along with new songs co-penned with Guy Chambers. In a statement, Robbie confirms that the LP is “very, very similar to the last one, and very different – and hopefully I’m off to romance the world.” Look out! It’s released locally on Friday November 15.
• EMI has also confirmed the local release of the forthcoming Arcade Fire album ‘Reflektor’. The band’s fourth LP follows on from 2010’s ‘The Suburbs’ and drops in Australia marginally after the rest of the world… on Friday November 01.
• Aussie starlet Emma Birdsall is helping Facebook friends around the world find out whether people on their friends list are really just friends – or perhaps have the potential to be more! She’s celebrating the recent release of her single ‘Lovers & Friends’ with the launch of the new Facebook app, which has the potential to find you a little romance this weekend. Click HERE for details.

• Not too much longer to wait now for new music from pop princess Britney Spears, with her new single ‘Work Bitch!’ due for release early next week. Co-penned by Britney with Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso and Will.I.Am, the single reportedly serves as the lead single from Brit’s forthcoming eighth studio album. It’s due this Tuesday.
• Los Angeles outfit Capital Cities will visit Australia later this month for a fleeting promotional visit. They’re here to jump on-stage for performances on both ‘The X Factor’ and on ‘Sunrise’ and will even take part in a one-off showcase event at Sydney’s Standard Hotel on Wednesday September 25. You can win your way there by entering HERE. Their single ‘Safe And Sound’ is available now.
• Aussie outfit Tonight Alive launched their new album ‘The Other Side’ with a ‘Vevo Lift’ event in Melbourne this week. The band took to the stage at the city’s HiFi, showcasing tracks from the new LP. Thankfully, those not lucky enough to be in the invite-only audience can catch the gig online HERE.

• The Rockwiz team is set to reunite later this year for three very special live shows to pay tribute to Aussie songwriting team Vanda & Young, the duo responsible for Aussie classics including ‘Friday On My Mind’, ‘Good Times’, ‘Love Is In The Air’, ‘Evie’ and ‘Hey St.Peter’. ‘Rockwiz Salutes Vanda & Young’ plays Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre on December 04, Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on December 06 and Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on December 08. Tickets for all hit the sales desk from 9am on Monday September 23.
• A new music festival is ready to take over Victoria’s high country later this year, bringing with it an array of fine up and coming Australian talent. The Paradise Music Festival will hit Lake Mountain Alpine Resort near Marysville from November 29 to December 01 with dozens of acts on the bill. Check out www.paradisemusic.com.au for all you need to know.
• Melbourne outfit Bonjah is back with a brand new single – and a national tour to celebrate it. ‘Blue Tone Black Heart’ is the name of the new track and it was released to digital retail yesterday. The boys’ national tour kicks off early next month in suburban Melbourne before shuttling across the East Coast, taking in four dates in Western Australia and a couple over the ditch in New Zealand. All the dates and details HERE.

• No budging Katy Perry from the top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week. Her track ‘Roar’ maintains its No.1 heading for a second successive week, with Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ holding at No.2. The big mover, however, is New Zealand’s Lorde, whose single ‘Royals’ continues to make inroads, improving from No.8 to No.3. Avicii’s ‘Wake Me Up’ is also now in the top five and Cedric Gervais vs Lana Del Rey’s ‘Summertime Sadness’ improves four more spots. Ylvis’ internet earworm ‘The Fox’ is the highest debut of the week – at No.29.
• The Billboard 200 albums chart belongs to Ariana Grande this week and her album ‘Yours Truly’, which smashes the No.1 spot on debut, knocking Avenged Sevenfold from their perch after just one week (they drop to No.8). In fact the entire top four is new this week; Tamar Braxton’s album ‘Love And War’ in at No.2, Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Hesitation Marks’ at No.3 and John Legend’s ‘Love In The Future’ at No.4. Jaheim’s ‘Appreciation Day’ debuts at No.6, with Bastille’s ‘Bad Blood’ just missing a top ten berth, premiering at No.11.
• Want to find out what’s happening on the charts right here in Australia? Well don’t you be missing our weekly Chart Watch segment, going live right here on this very site tonight from 7pm on the East Coast!

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