• We kick off a truly mammoth Saturday edition of The Purge with news about the new Paces single, ‘Desert’. If you’ve already got your hands on the Gold Coast producer’s new album ‘Vacation’, released earlier this month, you’ll no doubt be across the track, which features vocals by none other than Guy Sebastian. “I’ve been working with Guy on some tracks for his album,” Paces hints in a statement. “He’s an actual musical genius, he definitely doesn’t need my help, he could do everything himself but I think he just doesn’t have the time. I learnt so much while working in his studio.” The track was officially serviced to Australian media yesterday morning.
• To coincide with the release of their new album ‘7/27’ yesterday, the new Fifth Harmony single ‘All In My Head (Flex)’ was another track making its way to Aussie media. Hot on the heels of the US girl group’s top five Aussie smash ‘Work From Home’ (featuring Ty Dolla $ign), the new single features a guest rap appearance by Fetty Wap.
• A new Dragonette single has arrived. The Canadian outfit released the infectious ‘Lonely Heart‘, which oozes with synth-heavy reggae rhythms, digitally across the planet yesterday.
• How’s about this fantastic new package (above) from UK indie outfit Alt-J? It’s simply called ‘Live At Red Rocks’, it’s the band’s first every live album and concert film and it will be made available in standard CD/DVD or CD/Blu-Ray editions, a double vinyl with digital download or this incredible special edition box set, which includes the two vinyls, CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, a necklace and a 32 page photo book! ‘Live At Red Rocks’ is due at your favourite retailer on Friday June 24.
• Their countrymen Wild Beasts have also confirmed a new album, but theirs won’t arrive until early August. ‘Boy King’ is the band’s fifth long player and comes just two years after their last, ‘Present Tense’, which hit the top ten in their homeland. Lead single ‘Get My Bang‘ is available now ahead of the album’s release on Friday August 05.
• Aussie singer songwriter Bob Evans will release his new album ‘Car Boot Sale’ on Friday June 17. The album went up for pre-order during the week with two tracks from it (‘Happy Feet’ and ‘Matterfact’) being made available as grat tracks.
• Robbie Williams has confirmed that he’s inked a new record deal with the team at Sony Music and that he’ll release a new album (his eleventh studio record) towards the end of the year. His last two albums (2012’s ‘Take The Crown’ and 2013’s ‘Swings Both Ways’ were both released via Island/Universal and his first seven through Chrysalis/EMI. “The team at Sony are professional, incredibly hungry, and have a great energy,” Robbie enthused in a statement. “They’re inspired, I’m inspired. I’m more ready than I ever have been and I’m totally convinced I’m in the right place. I look forward to working on this album, which is an album I’m immensely proud of, in this exciting new partnership with Sony Music.”
• Speaking of signings, great news for our own Thandi Phoenix, who’s been signed to the highly respected Island Records in the UK. The Sydney-based singer, who’ll launch her new single ‘Tell Me Where The Lovers Have Gone‘ at The Soda Factory in Sydney on June 30 will shortly head to the UK to record her debut EP.
• Flight Facilities this week have given us a taste of what to expect when they drop by Sydney in September to play with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for the Red Bull Music Academy Weekender. It’s a 25 minute piece of film entitled ‘Flight Facilities : Across America’, which documents their ‘Down To Earth’ US tour last year. Check it out HERE.
• British songstress Låpsley has sold out the July 26 Melbourne show as part of what’s her first ever Australian tour. Tickets are still available for the July 27 gig at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney and which she’ll be joined by hometown artist Buoy in support. Melbourne duo Fortunes will play support at the sold out show in the Victorian capital.
• The Vengaboys are doing rather well for themselves on their forthcoming Aussie tour. Not only have they sold out their two shows in Sydney, along with three shows in Melbourne and their date at Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre, but demand for tickets in Brisbane has forced organisers into moving the show outdoors at Eatons Hill Hotel.
• Things are also going nicely for The Amity Affliction, who’ve sold out all three of their East Coast shows in August. But with big demand for tickets continuing in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Live Nation has relented and added second and final dates in each city (August 20 at The Tivoli in Brisbane, August 27 at the Metro Theatre in Sydney and September 02 at 170 Russell in Melbourne). Tickets for all three are on sale now.
• Can you believe it? Drake remains at No.1 on the UK singles chart again this week with his ‘One Dance’, with Justin Timberlake holding at No.2 with his ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’. Calvin Harris and Rihanna are steady at No.3 and Sia’s still at No.4. Only Galantis makes any movement in this week’s UK top five; ‘No Money’ rising from No.6 to No.5. Drake and Rihanna’s ‘Too Good’ is up two to No.6, but it’s the Gnash track ‘I Hate U, I Love U’ which is making a bolt for the top… bulleting from No.33 to No.12. Sigma and Take That’s collaboration ‘Cry’ is the week’s highest debut (No.21).
• Drake might still be flying high on top of the UK singles chart this week, but he’s been prised out of the top spot on the albums chart by one very ‘Dangerous Woman’ named Ariana Grande. Drake’s only down to No.2, sandwiched between Ariana and another new entry; Richard Ashcroft’s new LP ‘These People’. Beyoncé’s down to No.4, Bob Dylan’s newbie ‘Fallen Angel’ is new at No.5 and Eric Clapton’s ‘I Still Do’ debuts right behind at No.6. Coldplay, Adele and Justin Bieber all improve into this week’s top ten, but Meghan Trainor’s new album ‘Thank You’ suffers a worrying second week drop from No.5 on debut to No.22.
• Well if the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week proves anything, it’s that you indeed CAN stop the ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ feeling. After debuting at No.1 on last week’s Hot 100, Justin Timberlake’s catchy new earworm slides two places in its second week, replaced in the top spot by the song he himself replaced, Drake’s ‘One Dance’. Desiigner’s ‘Panda’ edges up to No.2, but there are no big movements in the top ten. Calvin Harris and Rihanna’s ‘This Is What You Came For’ is up three to No.12 and P!nk’s new single ‘Just Like Fire’ edges four places higher to No.26. Meghan Trainor’s ‘Me Too’ debuts at No.39.
• Speaking of Meghan Trainor… Despite the challenge from her new album ‘Thank You’, it’s Drake and Beyoncé maintaining positions one and two on this week’s Billboard 200 albums chart. Meghan’s in at three, ahead of a No.4 debut for Pierce The Veil’s ‘Misadventure’. Chance The Rapper’s ‘Coloring Book’ is new at No.8, while Jennifer Nettles settles for a No.10 debut with ‘Playing With Fire’. Kygo’s ‘Cloud Nine’ is new at No.11 and (quelle horreur!) Adele’s ’25’ is out of the top ten!
• What will you make of tonight’s ARIA charts, we wonder? No, seriously… we do wonder. We bring you a wrap of the ARIA charts each and every week. Not just the top 50s, mind you… oh no. The full top 100s. It’s a little segment we like to call Chart Watch. And it’s live again on the site tonight from 6pm AEST.
TICKETS PLEASE
MONDAY MAY 30 : Coldplay (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)
TUESDAY MAY 31 : Method Man & Redman (Nationally)
WEDNESDAY JUNE 01 : Selena Gomez (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)
THURSDAY JUNE 02 : Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (Nationally)
Australia's first stop for pop!