• It’s edition 200 of The Purge and it kicks off with the brand new single from US super producers Major Lazer. The trio have collaborated with both Nicki Minaj and Canadian rapper PartyNextDoor on the new single, entitled ‘Run Up’, which is out now. “It’s always important for us to work with people who are on the same wave,” Diplo says of the new single. “Nicki and Party really helped us bring the classic Major Lazer style to create this perfect party record.”
• Homegrown favourite Xavier Rudd is readying the release of his new double live album called ‘Live In The Netherlands’. Recorded at the Tivoli Vrendenburg in May last year, the LP captures Xavier and his band in full flight, performing 18 tracks from throughout his career, including the smash hit ‘Follow The Sun’ and a cover of ‘No Woman No Cry’. ‘Live In The Netherlands’ will be released on April 21 as a digital download, on double CD and as a triple vinyl LP.
• Iconic Aussie outfit Icehouse continues to celebrate their 40th birthday in 2017, revealing that a big anniversary box set is set for release in just a couple of weeks time. ‘The Complete Collection’ brings together the band’s ten albums (including their 2015 live album); all housed in a special collector’s box (pictured above). It’ll be available digitally and physically from Friday February 17.
• Confirmation yesterday of a new album from US songstress Alison Krauss. Entitled ‘Windy City’, the LP features Alison’s renditions of ten classic songs, including lead single ‘Losing You’, originally recorded by Brenda Lee in the early ’60s. Look for ‘Windy City’ blowing into your favourite retailer from Friday February 17.
• All Time Low will be back in Australia in March this year, for shows in all five main capital cities. But Perth wraps up proceedings on May 18 and 19, with over 18s and under 18s gigs on subsequent nights. The band’s biggest ever Australian tour kicks off at Riverstage in Brisbane on Friday May 12, swings via Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on May 13, Festival Hall in Melbourne on May 14 and the Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide on May 16 before heading onto the WA capital for their double date. Tickets for all shows are on sale from 9am local time on Thursday February 02.
• The boys from Jet are currently back on the road, playing around the country as part of the Bruce Springsteen tour. But they’ve just announced a one-off gig at Melbourne’s Gasometer this Tuesday night. They’ll be rolling out the hits that made them famous for their hometown fans; tickets are on sale from 9am on Monday morning.
• Ed Sheeran continues his dominance of the UK singles chart for a third successive week, with body ‘Shape Of You’ and ‘Castle On The Hill’ remaining steady in their one-two positions. Rag ‘N’ Bone Man’s ‘Human’ drops back a little (No.3 to No.5), allowing Jax Jones and Raye to surge to No.3 with ‘You Don’t Know Me’. Little Mix’s ‘Touch’ is up from No.6 to No.4, while the new Sean Paul/Dua Lipa collaboration ‘No Lie’ is on the verge of becoming a top ten hit, up from No.21 to No.11.
• Albums chart wise in the UK this week, it’s that compilation of ‘Classic House’ from Pete Tong and company that leaps from No.6 to No.1, followed by the ‘La La Land’ soundtrack and Little Mix’s ‘Glory Days’. Mike Oldfield’s ‘Return To Ommadawn’ scores the week’s highest debut at No.4, but last week’s No.1 from The xx (‘I See You’) slides to No.5. Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes bag a No.7 debut with ‘Modern Ruin’ and Adele’s back into the top ten with ’25’ (No.15 to No.9).
• It was a spectacular result for UK superstar Ed Sheeran on last week’s US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; premiering at No.1 with his new single ‘Shape Of You’. But his reign has proved to be all too brief, relinquishing the No.1 mantle to the track he displaced… Migos ftg Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Bad And Boujee’. The rest of the top ten is relatively steady again, except for a jump for Machine Gun Kelly and Camila Cabello’s ‘Bad Things’ (No.10 to No.6) and a No.7 debut for the new Chainsmokers single ‘Paris’. Zayn & Taylor’s ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ anthem ‘I Don’t Wanna Live Forever’, improves from No.12 to No.8.
• The Weeknd continues to fly high on the Billboard 200 albums chart. ‘Starboy’ is No.1 again this week, ahead of a No.2 debut for ‘I See You’, the new album from The xx. The soundtracks for ‘La La Land’ and ‘Moana’, plus Bruno Mars’ album ’24K Magic’ all drop one place as a result of The xx’s debut, while the new Run The Jewels album ‘RTJ3’ rockets from No.106 to No.13.
• That’s your UK and US charts all wrapped up, but attention now turns to the charts here at home. Who’ll be ruling tonight’s ARIA single and album charts? Who’ll have bagged new certifications? And who’s debuting? Find out with ARIA Chart Watch; live on the site from 6pm AEDT.
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MONDAY JANUARY 30 : Jet (Melbourne)
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 02 : All Time Low (Nationally)
Australia's first stop for pop!