SUPER-SIZED SATURDAY NEWS WRAP #160

• British outfit Franz Ferdinand have their grubby little mitts all over the latest edition of the popular ‘Late Night Tales’ compilation series. The band has selected 20 tracks for the new release, including their own cover version of Jonathan Halper’s ‘Leaving My Old Life Behind’. It’s exclusive to the album, which is set for release in Australia on Friday September 12.
• Warner Music has announced that Bee Gee Robin Gibb’s unreleased album and final recordings will be released in October. The legendary performer passed away in May two years ago, but the LP has been lovingly compiled by his wife Dwina and son RJ and includes “most of the tracks originally recorded for the album”. Named after the house in which Robin was born on the Isle Of Man, ’50 St.Catherine’s Drive’ will be released in Australia on Friday October 03.
• Irish musician Hozier will also release his eponymously-titled debut long player in Australia on October 03. The 24 year old, whose music has been described as “choral-meets-gospel-folk” has already released two EPs here; 2013’s ‘Take Me To Church’ EP and 2014’s ‘From Eden’ EP. An album pre-order is available now.

• Social Family Records has just got a whole lot bigger, announcing a trio of new additions to their growing roster. You may recognise Jason Owen (pictured centre, left) from the 2012 season of ‘The X Factor’ after he placed second behind winner Samantha Jade. Christine Anu certainly needs no introduction, but they’ve also signed country starlet Amber Lawrence, with whom Jason toured earlier this year. Each has new music in the pipeline; Jason’s new single ‘Damn Right’ is due this month, with an album to follow later in the year, Christine Anu will release her first Christmas album ‘Island Christmas’ in November and Amber will release her fourth album ‘Superheroes’ next month.
• Trentemoller will release a reworked edition of his recent album ‘Lost’ early next month. ‘Lost : Re-Works’ is precisely what it promises, a “recontextualisation” of the project, with tracks remixed by Jenny Wilson, Unkwon, T.O.M. and Trentmoller himself. Available as a seven track vinyl and 10 track digital edition, ‘Lost : Re-Works’ is due on Monday September 08.

• Four years after their last album, Sydney outfit Thirsty Merc have announced the upcoming release of ‘AAA’, or their ‘Acoustic Anniversary Album’. The LP, to be released on Friday September 05, celebrates the band’s tenth anniversary by delivering acoustic editions of fan favourites like ‘Someday Someday’, ‘Mousetrap Heart’ and ’20 Good Reasons’. Rai and the gents will also hit the road for a national tour in support of the album. Kicking off with an appearance at the Caloundra Music Festival on October 05, the tour takes the band across the country for 22 headline dates, with the promise of greatest hits and “a few newbies”. Tickets are on sale now.
• British outfit Elbow have added second Sydney and Melbourne shows to their upcoming Australian visit. After selling out their original Sydney Opera House date and with their Forum Theatre gig in Melbourne almost at capacity, organisers had no option but to add second (and final) shows. The second Sydney Opera House gig is on Sunday October 26; the second Forum Theatre gig in Melbourne takes place on Wednesday October 29. Tickets for both are on sale now.
• Vance Joy is set to perform a one-off album launch in his hometown early next month. To co-incide with the release of his new album ‘Dream Your Life Away’, Vance will take to the stage of Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre on Friday September 05 to perform tracks from the LP, including its recently-released lead single ‘Mess Is Mine’ (and more than likely his recent smash ‘Riptide’). Tickets are on sale now.

• Fans of the late King Of Pop, Michael Jackson, might be interested in a new concert event that’s set to hit the five major capital cities from December this year. ‘Thriller Live’ aims to pay tribute to the music of Michael and of the Jackson 5 in a massive production that’s been seen by more than three million people in more than 28 countries. Dates and venues have yet to be revealed, but fans can register their interest via the OFFICIAL WEBSITE to be the first in the know.
• US rapper and producer Lil Jon will be on our shores in October for his very first DJ set tour of Australia. Though he’s only on the ground for ten days, he’s hitting up seven venues; with the exception of Perth, all are on the East Coast. The tour kicks off at Lyquid in Cairns on Friday October 17, before visiting Brisbane, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Tickets are on sale now, with the exception of Melbourne (August 08) and Cairns (August 11).
• The Screaming Jets are celebrating their silver anniversary later this year, with the release of a new album and the ‘Atomic 74 25th Anniversary Tour’. The 20-date tour kicks off in Laurieton on the North Coast of New South Wales, before travelling across the country. It wraps up back in New South Wales – at Mounties in Mount Pritchard – on Saturday December 20. Tickets are on sale now.

• It’s all steady in the top three positions on this week’s Billboard 100 Singles chart, with Magic! in top spot, Iggy Azalea in second and Sam Smith in third. The moves aren’t too big behind them either, but Sia emerges in the top ten this week with ‘Chandelier’, improving from No.11 to No.9. Jason Aldean’s ‘Burnin’ It Down’ debuts in the No.12 spot and Clean Bandit’s retro-leaning ‘Rather Be’ hits the top 20.
• Weird Al Yankovic has dropped from the top spot on the Billboard 200 Albums chart after one week, making way (as mentioned earlier in the week) for Sydney band 5 Seconds Of Summer. Their self-titled debut premieres at No.1, bagging more than a quarter of a million sales in the process. The ‘Frozen’ soundtrack just isn’t going away; it’s up to No.2 this week, with Al down to No.3. The new Common album ‘Nobody’s Smiling’ debuts at No.6, with Crown The Empire’s ‘The Resistance : Rise Of The Runaways’ premiering at No.7. The new La Roux album is in at No.20.
• And speaking of La Roux, how will she fare this week here in Australia? And who’ll be at No.1 when the clock ticks 7pm? Best you head on back here to check out our weekly Chart Watch!

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