• New music has been an incredibly long time coming for Aussie pop duo Max & Bianca. They dropped their debut single ‘Love Drunk’ to retail back in December of 2013, more than likely did a little giggle then vanished into the bushes of pop to hide. But now they’re back with a hot new look (above) and a new song called ‘Young & Broken’, a remix of which was released in the middle of this week. Check out a teaser of the upcoming single version of the song HERE.
• US synth-pop outfit Magic Man will release their debut album in just a couple of weeks time. Sony Music has confirmed the local release of ‘Before The Waves’, a 12 track collection of new pop favourites with a slight ’80s bent to them, on Friday April 10.
• Melbourne’s Oscar Key Sung will release his all-important sophomore EP ‘Altruism’ on the first of May and to celebrate, he’s announced an Aussie tour. Kicking off at Howler in his hometown on June 13, the tour will then make stops in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney.
• Courtney Barnett has added four new shows to her upcoming Australian tour. She’ll now play second dates in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide after her original concerts in each city sold out. Tickets are on sale now.
• Also on the verge of releasing an EP is Melbourne’s Harrison Storm (pictured, above). His debut release is entitled ‘Sense Of Home’ and it’s due to drop at iTunes this Tuesday. He’ll also celebrate with live performances, though they’re all in his hometown; Thursday at Ding Dong Lounge, April 05 at the Esplanade Hotel and April 12 at the Evelyn Hotel.
• New York-based performer Waxahatchee will play live shows in Sydney and Melbourne as part of her debut Australian visit in July. She’s locked in to play the Newtown Social Club on July 03 before heading down to Melbourne for a date with The Toff In Town the following night.
• #1 Dads will also play live shows in July. AKA Tom Iansek, the performer will play the Corner Hotel in Melbourne on July 10, the Rosemount Hotel in Perth on July 11 and Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory on July 17. Tickets are on sale now.
• And Neil Diamond has added a second and final Perth date to the upcoming Australian leg of his world tour. He’ll now wrap his Aussie touring commitments by playing the second show at Perth Arena on Monday November 16. Tickets are on sale from noon local time this Tuesday.
• There’s seemingly no end to Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ dominance of the Billboard charts over in the US. For an extraordinary 12 weeks, they’ve been ruling over all comers, wedged in the No.1 position on the US singles chart and not allowing anyone to dislodge them. In fact, the entire top seven remains unbudged this week, with Flo Rida moving into the top ten (No.13 to No.10) with ‘G.D.F.R’.
• Kendrick Lamar follows the lead of his debuts both here in Australia and in the UK by debuting in the top spot on the US Billboard 200 Albums chart with his latest release ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’. Last week’s No.1 from the ‘Empire’ cast slips to No.2, with Madonna’s ‘Rebel Heart’ (No.2 on debut last week), falling to No.21. Modest Mouse’s ‘Strangers To Ourselves’ is new at No.3 and Marina & The Diamonds scores a top ten debut with ‘Froot’ (No.8).
• Now your chart appetite is fully whetted, we presume you’ll be back for more chart love, this time from a local perspective, from 6pm AEDT tonight. Find out what’s happening on the top 100s here at home with our weekly Chart Watch.
TICKETS PLEASE!
Tuesday March 31 : Neil Diamond (Perth)
Wednesday April 01 : Fleetwood Mac (Nationally)