• How can we not kick off your Saturday without a little splash of The Saturdays!? As you may have picked up as part of this week’s New Release Schedule, Universal Music is set to drop not only the new single for the British girl group, but their brand new greatest hits package ‘Finest Selection’ (cover above) here in Australia. Though it would appear that it’ll only be in digital guise, both standard and deluxe editions are available for pre-order on the iTunes store for a Friday August 08 release. The Saturdays’ new single ‘What Are You Waiting For’ is due on the same day in both single and EP editions. Big fans of the girls can get their mitts on an exclusive metal tin-housed deluxe pack via the Universal UK store HERE.
• Hilltop Hoods have confirmed the August 08 release of their new album ‘Walking Under Stars’. The album’s announcement comes off the back of the release of the outfit’s latest single ‘I Won’t Let You Down’, featuring the guest vocals of Maverick Sabre.
• Legendary British DJ John Digweed (pictured, left) will return to Aussie shores in November this year for a quartet of live appearances. Future Music is bringing the EDM superstar for shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, kicking off at the Prince Bandroom in Melbourne on November 14. He’ll make a special midday appearance at Chinese Laundry in Sydney on November 15 before jetting off to play Brisbane the same night.
• Bombay Bicycle Club will play a trio of East Coast shows in September. Live Nation has confirmed that the UK outfit will play Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on September 25, The Tivoli in Brisbane on September 27 and Sydney’s Metro Theatre on September 28. Tickets for all three shows are on sale this Tuesday from 10am.
• Illy has announced a trio of regional New South Wales dates in late October. The ‘Cinematic’ tour will now make stops in Wagga Wagga, Griffith and Albury on consecutive nights, kicking off on October 24. Tickets are on sale now.
• And more than 40 new artists have been added to the performance component of this year’s Bigsound conference in Brisbane. The likes of Seekae, Voyager, The Funkoars, Hayden James and Art Of Sleeping have been added to an already stellar line-up which includes Gold Fields, DMAs, Client Liaison and Remi. Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley will come alive on September 10 and 11 with more than 140 artists taking the stage across 14 live venues.
• There’s good news and bad news for us Aussies on this week’s Billboard charts over in the US. First the bad news…; Iggy Azalea has finally lost her grip on the top spot on the Billboard 100 Singles chart, relinquishing the No.1 position to Magic! and their previous Aussie smash ‘Rude’. Iggy’s only down to No.2, however, with Ariana Grande, Nico & Vinz and Sam Smith steady in positions three through five. Sam will no doubt be popping the champagne corks this weekend, with his Disclosure collaboration ‘Latch’ entering the US top ten, giving him two top ten singles at the same time. Florida Georgia Line’s new single ‘Dirt’ makes an impressive debut at No.11, while Sia’s ‘Chandelier’ continues its chart surge; up from No.17 to No.13.
• The good news for us Aussies this week is that Adelaide’s own Sia has debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with her new long player ‘1000 Forms Of Fear’. It knocks Trey Songz’ album ‘Trigga’ off the top spot after just one week (he’s down to No.4). The ‘Frozen’ soundtrack is back up to No.2 and Sam Smith’s album remains at No.3. Judas Priest’s ‘Redeemer Of Souls’ is the second highest debut – No.6 – and Dirty Heads join them in the top ten, with new album ‘Sea Of Change’ debuting at No.8.
• Don’t forget that we’re back tonight from 7pm on the East Coast with our weekly Chart Watch, giving you a good look at this week’s ARIA charts!
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