MIDWEEK NEWS WRAP

• Australia is getting in on the Cheryl Cole ‘Crazy Stupid Love’ act, with the former Girls Aloud songstress’ new single scheduled to drop at Aussie digital retailers on Friday week. It’s the lead single from the singer’s fourth solo album, which is currently due for release later this year.
• Blacc is back. Aloe Blacc, that is… He’s back with his brand new single ‘Hello World’, which has been officially serviced to Aussie media this week. The track follows on from the singer’s platinum selling ‘The Man’ and is the second single release from his recent album ‘Lift Your Spirit’. Aloe will be in Australia later this year as part of the Soulfest events on the East Coast.
• Also doing the rounds this week are the new Tina Arena single ‘Still Running’, Tove Lo’s ‘Habits’, remixes of Sigma’s current chart hit ‘Nobody To Love’, Ricki-Lee’s ‘Happy Ever After’ and Porter Robinson’s ‘Lionhearted’, among others. Check our FACEBOOK page tomorrow for your more comprehensive list of juicy new tunes.

• Hip hop legends Bone Thugs N Harmony will return to Australia from early next month for an extensive run of live dates across Australia. After kicking things off at Melbourne’s Esplanade Hotel, the band will roll out the hits in Canberra, Sydney and suburbs, Newcastle, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Perth and more. Tickets for all shows are on sale from 9am tomorrow.
• Fans of rock outfit Dire Straits are sure to enjoy the Dire Straits Experience, which will tour Australia for the first time in October. Co-created by original Dire Straits bandmember Chris White, the shows will deliver all the band’s biggest hits to audiences in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Tickets for all are on sale this Monday.
• Sydney-siders will be treated to a night of Nu-Soul at Foundry 616 in Ultimo on Thursday July 24. Sarsha Simone, Thando and Rosie & The Bees will hit the stage to deliver a fusion of jazz, soul and future soul. Tickets are on sale now.

• The rise of Ariana Grande continues, with her single ‘Problem’ premiering in the top spot on this week’s British singles chart, bettering the No.2 debuts the track achieved in both the United States and here in Australia. Kudos to Ella Henderson, however, whose single ‘Ghost’ refuses to budge; notching up another week in the No.2 position. Sia’s ‘Chandelier’ debuts at a very respectable No.6, with Coldplay’s ‘A Sky Full Of Stars’ jumping into the top ten and the new DJ Fresh single ‘Make U Bounce’ debuting at No.10. Further down, former Aussie top ten hit ‘Classic’ by MKTO debuts at a lowly No.95.
• Ed Sheeran spoils the 5 Seconds Of Summer party on the UK albums chart, holding for a second week in the No.1 spot with his sophomore album ‘X’. The 5SOS lads settle for No.2 with their self-titled debut, in turn holding out George Ezra’s album ‘Wanted On Voyage’ which debuts at No.3. The new David Gray album ‘Mutineers’ pops into the countdown at No.10.

 Australia's first stop for pop!