Decadance is expanding its No. 1 range with the brand new release The No. 1 Garage and Bassline Album. With several garage-related releases making their way up the current UK compilation chart, it’s clear that the genre is experiencing a huge resurgence in popularity. From the upfront sounds of H20 and T2, to the remakes of classic Garage tunes like Loveshy and Rewind, this album perfectly captures the essence of this year’s club sound.
Due for release: 11^th August

Following their recent run of gigs, the Blow Monkeys have completed their forthcoming album Devil’s Tavern.  Recorded in Andalusia, Spain, and featuring all four original members, this album is a return to form for the band.

For a look back at their hay day of the 1980s, check out the double CD album Digging Your Scene from Music Club Deluxe, a retrospective ‘best of’ containing all their hits, including Digging Your Scene and You Don’t Own Me from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.

Airline Records recently issued the latest album by experimental rock icon Edgar Winter.  Rebel Road displays Edgar’s sublime keyboard and saxophone work, and is even joined by his brother, the legendary Johnny Winter.

Famed for his hit song Frankenstein, Edgar Winter went on to record the legendary rock albums Jasmine Nightdreams and Edgar Winter Group With Rick Derringer within months of each other.  These two iconic albums have been packaged together by Demon Edsel, offering an ideal insight into the work of Edgar Winter.

Demon Group Music Ltd are proud to announce that we have now shipped over 1 million units of  100 Hits albums. This phenomenal figure has been reached in less than 9 months. The number 1 seller is 100 Hits 80s, closely followed by 70s, Love and Rock. With new releases coming in July and October, the label goes from strength to strength.

With the Beijing Olympics starting in less than a month (opening ceremony 8^th August), Crimson Productions is releasing 'The Games' on the 28^th July 2008.  The album features tracks from previous Olympics (Barcelona, One Moment In Time, Fanfare For The Common Man); and tracks for the 2008 Games (Beijing – We Are Ready, Olympic Celebration 2012).

Crimson Productions present Jane McDonald – Because You Loved Me .  This 18-track album, features classic tracks such as I Only Wanna Be With You, I Say A Little Prayer, Alfie, I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing, and My Heart Will Go On.

Jane will also be appearing as part of a new BBC2 TV documentary ‘Return To The Cruise’ starting on the 8^th August 2008.  The five, half-hour episodes will air on the 8^th, 11^th, 12^th, 15^th, and 18^th of August, at 7:30pm.  The program will document her time re-visiting the cruise liner that originally made her a household name.

Since becoming a recording artist after ‘The Cruise’, Jane went on to sell hundreds of thousands of albums, toured Britain, got into the Guinness Book of Records (first artist to top the album charts without a prior release), and performed for the Queen.  She now regularly appears on the panel of ITV’s ‘Loose Women’, and will be touring the UK throughout 2008, starting on the 11^th July.

28th of July sees the release of 4 new 100 Hits collections.

First up is Rock 'n' Roll including all the big hitters from the 50s and early 60s. Next up are some pumping dancefloor classics in the shape of Dance Anthems and Club Classics.

Last but by no means least is 100 Hits Kids, 4 fun filled CDs of original themes and songs from the most well known children’s television programmes + a sing-a-long  Party DVD.

The Blockheads will be headlining Party On The Green, a free music festival to take place next Thursday 17th July at Clerkenwell Green as part of the London Festival Of Architecture.

The Blockheads, one of the most exhilarating live bands ever, will be airing some new material, playing all their hits and also giving a special performance of New Boots And Panties. Expect them to be on stage around 8:30pm. Hugh Cornwell, the legendary voice of The Stranglers is also on the bill.

A focal point for the evening will be a spectacular installation, comprising of a main industrial styled stage designed by Laurie Chetwood. An artist’s impression of the impressive stage design is shown to the left of screen.

For more information on any of the events taking place as part of the London Festival Of Architecture visit www.lfa2008.org.

With the Olympic Games fast approaching, we’re all hoping for our British Olympians come home with a neck full of medals.  Beginning on the 8^th August, and continuing until the end of the month, the Olympics are the very highest accolade for any sportsman or sportswoman. 

What better way get in the mood than with our newly released Bar Beijing, celebrating the best China has to offer, both new and old.  This 2CD set features a unique blend of both contemporary and classical Chinese sounds, mapping out the hugely historic journey which Chinese music has taken over the past centuries.

Other titles available in the Bar series include Bar Italia, Bar Jamaica, and Bar Paris; each perfect for soundtracking those memorable summer holidays.

To celebrate the release of Goldie’s addition to the Watch The Ride series, Harmless Records will host a special album launch party on Thursday 10^th July.

With his own productions and label Metalheadz, Goldie has consistently been at the cutting edge of drum and bass, championing some of the brightest talents and rawest sounds the scene has to offer with acts such as Dillinja, Adam F and Optical all benefiting from his touch. He was also the driving force behind the rise of the infamous Metalheadz Sunday Session Club Nights, which achieved legendary status at East London's Blue Note club.

Continuing to hold his own at the forefront of the drum and bass scene, the latest installment in the Watch The Ride series captures the essence of what has always made the D&B veteran so passionate about music: a dark, gutsy sound going back to the roots of jungle.

To mark the release, Demon Music Group and Harmless Records invite you to a very special launch party on Thursday 10^th July featuring the legend himself, as well as Storm & MC LowQui… plus a special jungle set from BBC 1xtra’s Bailey!

Hope to see you there!

Date: Thursday 10^th July

Venue: East Village, 89 Great Eastern St, EC2A 3HX
See www.eastvillageclub.com for more information

Entry: FREE

Time: 9pm till late

To view all titles in the Watch The Ride series click here or visit www.myspace.com/watchtheride.

To purchase Goldie – Watch The Ride follow this link.

Laurie Johnson is responsible for some of the best-loved TV themes ever, including The Professionals, The Avengers, Top Secret, Echo Four Two, Animal Magic and This Is Your Life.

Disc 1 contains music from the TV series The Professionals, which aside from the theme tune, makes its debut on CD. The Professionals is currently showing eight times a week on ITV 4 until 2010. Disc 2 features Laurie’s fabulous themes for TV shows and his film scores, along with some early singles and his orchestral concert hall work. Disc 3 collects some more of his adventurous works for military bands.

Welsh Elvis lookalike Shakin’ Stevens is set to open Saturday’s festivities at Glastonbury Festival later this month.

Most notably of Green Door and This Ole House fame, Shaky is in good company, with the likes of Crowded House, Kings Of Leon, The Raconteurs, Neil Diamond, Amy Winehouse and Jay-Z all taking to the famous Pyramid Stage over the course of the weekend.

Chronology - The Hit Epic Singles was released by Music Club Deluxe late last year, and boasts 24 UK Top 20s, including 7 Top 5s and 4 #1s. Accompanying this 2CD set are extensive sleevenotes and pictures for Shaky himself.

Watch this space – more details coming soon!

The legendary blues, jazz, rock pianist and singer/songwriter Dr. John is back with a new album and a series live shows scheduled for later this year.

Out this week, his brand new album Dr. John And The Lower 9/11 City That Care Forgot is ‘an elegantly elegiac homage to his drowned hometown of New Orleans’. Featuring the likes of Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Ani DiFranco and Terence Blanchard and including the hit ‘Time For A Change’, the album’s 14 tracks ‘provide a lyrical reminder that the rawness and division exposed by Hurricane Katrina are as fresh as ever’.

Back on the road, Dr. John will hit out shores in October to play dates in London, Cardiff, St. Albans, Bristol and Buxton.

The recent Music Club Deluxe release The Best Of Dr John: The Night Tripper concentrates on the pinnacle of Dr John’s colourful career whilst he was recording for Atlantic in the 1970’s. It boasts 36 studio recordings, including US Billboard and R&B hits and club classics, over two CDs.

The Farm will be reuniting to perform a special Summer Pops concert at Liverpool Echo Arena on Friday 18^th July, as part of the official ‘Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008’ events and exhibitions.

The band whose debut album ‘Spartacus’ entered the UK Album Chart at #1 in 1991, have appeared on the UK singles chart on more than 10 occasions. Their hits include the legendary ‘All Together Now’, which was re-mixed in 2004 and reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart.

For ticket information, please point your web browser to: http://www.accliverpool.com/whatson/thefarm.asp

Sparks are back in the charts this week with their brand new album Exotic Features Of The Deep sitting on the cusp of the UK Top 50.

The Mael brothers are not only creating new music, but are also currently showcasing their complete back catalogue in a 20-night residency at London’s Islington Academy, which will be followed by one show at the Shepherds Bush Empire where they’ll perform their new album in its entirety. Support acts at the shows will include the Rumble Strips, the Young Knives, the Electric Soft Parade, and Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip.

Their 2002 release Lil' Beethoven, their self-described "genre-defining opus", was immortalised in the Demon Vision release Sparks: Lil’ Beethoven Live In Stockholm. Filmed in March 2004, this fantastic DVD includes bonus live material and special features, and is available now from good record stores and online.

To view the official Sparks website click here.

16/05 Performing Halfnelson
17/05 Performing A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing (with the Young Knives)
18/05 Performing Kimono My House
20/05 Performing Propaganda (with Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip)
21/05 Performing Indiscreet
23/05 Performing Big Beat
24/05 Performing Introducing Sparks
25/05 Performing No. 1 in Heaven (with Gamine)
27/05 Performing Terminal Jive (with Dan le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip)
28/05 Performing Whomp That Sucker (with the Rumble Strips)
30/05 Performing Angst in My Pants
31/05 Performing In Outer Space
01/06 Performing Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
03/06 Performing Music That You Can Dance To
04/06 Performing Interior Design
06/06 Performing Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
07/06 Performing Plagiarism
08/06 Performing Balls
10/06 Performing Lil' Beethoven
11/06 Performing Hello Young Lovers (with the Electric Soft Parade)
13/06 at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Performing Exotic Creatures of the Deep

Marti Pellow is set to play the devil incarnate Daryl Van Horne in the new touring production of The Witches of Eastwick, which opens on 25 August.

The role, made famous by Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson in the 1987 movie alongside Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer, will see Pellow treading the boards of theatres across the UK well into 2009.

The musical has book and lyrics by John Dempsey and Dana Rowe. Its score includes “Eastwick Knows”, “Make Him Mine”, “Dirty Laundry”, “Dance With the Devil”, “I Love a Little Town” and “I Wish I May”.

The Witches of Eastwick will visit Norwich, Canterbury, Bristol, Liverpool, Northampton, Bradford, Wimbledon, Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Plymouth, Woking, High Wycombe, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Leeds.

Marti released a solo project, Sentimental Me, a collection of jazz tracks, earlier this year and of course Moonlight Over Memphis through DMGTV in 2006.

More Al Green news!

The legendary R&B and Gospel artist is to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards in LA next month.

Described as a US version of the MOBOs, the awards will be held by the American BET TV network. Click here to view see Al Green’s Lifetime Achievement Award page. Quincy Jones will also be honoured on the night with BET’s Humanitarian Award.

The official Al Green website can be found here.

Chas ‘N’ Dave’s 1980 top 10 Hit ‘Rabbit’ is currently featuring on the Woolworths television advertisement for Nintendo Wii game Rayman Raving Rabbids II.

The much-loved ‘rockney’ duo is also confirmed to be on the bill for this year’s Big Chill music festival in Herefordshire.

Click below to view the Raving Rabbids II TV ad:

Chas ‘N’ Dave trivia: They were an influence on Babyshambles singer, former Libertine Pete Doherty, and early Libertines practice sessions included Pete and Carl covering Chas ‘N’ Dave songs!

Al Green’s classic hit ‘How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?’ is to be featured on the soundtrack of the new Sex And The City Movie, which premiered in London’s Leicester Square on Monday night.

The famous track, which was also featured on the 1999 film Notting Hill, has been made into an exclusive duet with soul sensation Joss Stone, with her vocals overdubbed across the original.

The Sex And The City: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be released on 26/05/08. Follow this link to the official Sex And The City Movie website.

Al Green’s ‘How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?’ is originally from the 1972 album Let’s Stay Together, and also is featured amongst other classic hits on the various best of Al Green titles, including the 2CD Love And Happiness, Unchained Melodies, The Very Best of Al Green and True Love: A Collection.

Soul legend Al Green will release a brand new album on Monday 26^th May.

Lay It Down will be Reverend Green’s third album for Blue Note, which he has produced in conjunction with Ahmir Thompson and James Poyser. It has been described as “a refreshingly old school jam brought right up to date with some great duets and the amazing Dap King Horns (Amy Winehouse/Mark Ronson)” and “a warm, soulful, wonderful album that brings Green's classic sound of the early 70's right into 2008”.

The album will feature vocal contributions from current soul stars such as Anthony Hamilton, John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Demon Music Group have released all of Al Green’s Hi Records back catalogue, including rarities, exclusive compilations and all the classics, such as Let’s Stay Together, Tired Of Being Alone and How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? All three are featured on the fantastic album Al Green – Gold on iTunes.

As the month of June draws ever closer, so does Sunday the 15^th, when Dads across the nation will be showered with love, attention and of course presents!

This year Demon Music Group have made finding the perfect gift for Fathers Day a piece of cake, with an assortment of new compilations, quality artist titles and much-loved classic albums to choose from.

2CD range Music Club Deluxe have come to the party with great value artist titles including You Just Can’t Beat It: The Best Of The Beat, Roll Away The Stone: The Best Of Mott The Hoople, Walking In The Sunshine: The Best Of Bad Manners, Killing Moon: The Best Of Echo And The Bunnymen, Original Punks: Iggy Pop & The Stooges and I’m A Believer: The Best Of The Monkees.

With albums like The No. 1 Rock Album, Kings of Rock, Stranglehold! and Rock ‘n’ Roll Greats, Demon have something for every Dad’s music taste, so there’s no excuse for not having a present on the 15^th!

May 2008 marks the 10^th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s death.

Widely accepted as one of the world’s greatest ever entertainers, Francis Albert Sinatra not only revolutionised popular singing, but was an Academy Award winning star of stage and screen.

Sinatra’s ability to maintain his appeal for over six decades despite vast changes in popular taste is testament to his undeniable charm, unique style and charismatic live performances. Ol’ Blue Eyes is said by many to be