MIDWEEK NEWS WRAP

• Plenty of pop vying for the attention of the nation’s radio networks this week, including the new Neon Trees single ‘Sleeping With A Friend’. The band broke the colourful cover on their new album ‘Pop Psychology’ just yesterday (HERE); the LP due for release in the next couple of months.
• Among the other tracks doing the rounds this week are John Martin’s ‘Anywhere For You’, Pixie Lott’s ‘Nasty’, remixes of the new Enrique Iglesias single ‘I’m A Freak’, The Presets’ ‘Goodbye Future’ and Robbie Williams’ ‘Shine My Shoes’. Keep your peepers peeled for a more comprehensive list on our FACEBOOK page tomorrow.
• Kylie Minogue has given one of her biggest fans the surprise of his life as part of Mastercard’s ‘Priceless Surprises’ series. She dropped by the unsuspecting fan’s gym to perform a live rendition of her latest single ‘Into The Blue’. Suffice to say, he seemed a little surprised. Check it out HERE.

• Alex Lloyd has re-recorded his top 30 2003 single ‘Coming Home’… all for a very good cause. To be released this Friday, ‘Coming Home (To Richmond)’ was penned for Alex’ newly adopted AFL team Richmond, with a portion of the proceeds going to aid The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, which seeks to protect children from violence and its impact.
• Holidays On Ice have confirmed the release of their upcoming album ‘The Luxury Of Wasted Space’. The group, featuring the combined musical talents of Angie Hart, Dean Manning and Stella Mozgawa, will drop the new LP on Monday March 31. It’s preceded by the single ‘Broken’, which hits media on Monday March 03.

• James Reyne is heading out on a national tour. The ‘A Crawl To Now’ concert series will see the singer performing tracks from his days with Australian Crawl and Company Of Strangers, along with a selection of his classic solo material. The tour kicks off at Wrestpoint Casino in Hobart on April 04 before travelling around the country. Tickets for all 15 dates are on sale now.
• Rudimental is the next superstar outfit to take to ‘The Island’ for Channel [V]. The British band, who are no strangers to the Australian top ten (via their singles ‘Feel The Love’, ‘Waiting All Night’ and ‘Free’), will play ‘The Island’ on Thursday March 06, with tickets to the exclusive gig available only via a competition on the Channel [V] website.
• US folk/pop singer Joshua James is heading to Australian shores for a trio of live shows on the East Coast. He’s set to play Melbourne’s Shebeen on March 14, The Brass Monkey in Cronulla on March 21 and The Vanguard in Sydney on March 23. Former ‘The Voice’ singer Lakyn will support him at both the Sydney and Melbourne shows, with Dylan Wright performing support at the Cronulla show. Tickets are on sale now.

• Even though we’re only in February, Clean Bandit’s single ‘Rather Be’ must surely already be vying for the longest running UK No.1 of 2014. The track, which is also starting to make its presence felt here in Australia, notches up a fourth successive week in the top spot this week, holding the new Zedd and Hayley Williams single ‘Stay The Night’ to a No.2 debut. The new David Guetta/Skylar Grey collaboration ‘Shot Me Down’ debuts in the No.4 spot.
• Katy B’s new album ‘Little Red’ makes a big impact on the British albums chart, premiering in the top spot, bettering the performance of her 2011 debut ‘On A Mission’, which peaked at No.2. Temples’ ‘Sun Structures’ enters the top ten at No.7, but Bombay Bicycle Club’s ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’ might be proof that life really does imitate art, slipping from a No.1 debut to No.8 in week two.

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