• We’re kicking off your midweek edition of The Purge with the confirmation of the local release of Swedish-based pop starlet Seinabo Sey’s new album ‘Pretend’. The LP comprises a dozen songs, including the previously released title track, which dropped back in July. “This album is about my life, about everything that has happened to me,” Seinabo said in a brief statement, confirming that we’d be able to get our hands on the LP on Friday October 23.
• Harry Connick Jr will also release his new album ‘That Would Be Me’ on October 23. The acclaimed performer has teamed up with songwriters Eg White and Butch Walker for the new LP, marking the first time he’s worked with two external producers. “This is brand new territory. I’m used to jumping in head-first, but all of a sudden I found myself not in full control of the wheel anymore,” the singer said of the new project.
• New tunes doing the rounds at media this week include tracks from Shawn Mendes, Seth Sentry, Winterbourne, Selena Gomez, Adam Lambert, Ryan Adams and a new Birds Of Tokyo track called ‘I’d Go With You Anywhere’, lifted from a forthcoming compilation album. Check our FACEBOOK page tomorrow for more info.
• Fans of Marcia Hines’ 2006 album ‘Discotheque’ will no doubt love the original cast recording of ‘Velvet’, the stage show (which channels the days of Studio 54) in which she currently stars. It features Marcia’s renditions of ’70s favourites ‘Boogie Wonderland’, ‘Never Knew Love Like This Before’, ‘It’s Raining Men’ and ‘Last Dance’, along with originals from Donna Summer, Peaches And Herb, Chic and Candi Staton and tracks from leading man Brendan Maclean. The original cast recording of ‘Velvet’ will be released on October 02.
• Paul Dempsey has confirmed that he’s currently recording his second solo album. It’s six years since the release of ‘Everything Is True’ and though his label EMI hasn’t offered up any indication as to when we can expect the new LP, they tell us it’s been produced by Tom Schick, who’s previously worked with the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Ryan Adams.
• The Red Hot Summer Tour is back for 2016 and it’ll make stops in 15 centres across the country from early January, with a line-up that’s sure to rock audiences. Jimmy Barnes is in, Noiseworks are in, The Angels are in, Mark Seymour and The Undertow are in and The Badloves are also confirmed to take their place. Tickets for all shows are on sale from 9am tomorrow. Dates in Queensland – on March 04 and 05 – are due to be announced on November 01.
• Also confirming their 2016 lineup are organisers of Launceston’s Basin Concert. Scheduled to fill the First Basin at Cataract Gorge in Lonnie on January 09, the performers will include Jebediah, The Beautiful Girls, The Embers and Goodwill. Tickets are on sale from 9am on Thursday October 01.
• The acclaimed So Frenchy So Chic will return to both Sydney and Melbourne early in the new year. The 2016 edition will once again deliver delicious French cuisine, puppet shows, croquet and face painting, along with a sublime French soundtrack. So Frenchy So Chic hits Melbourne’s Werribee Park on January 10 and St John’s College in Sydney on January 16. Earlybird tickets are on sale from 9am today.
• The gang from Mammal Sounds have a slew of brilliant artists on their roster and late next month, they’re set to showcase them, with the ‘Sounds From The Crypt’ Halloween party on October 31 at the Oxford Art Factory. auspOp favourites like Midnight Pool Party and Back Back Forward Punch are performing, along with Golden Vessel and Acid Stag DJs. Tickets on the crypt door.