✱ Johnny Marr gets magical with his new album. Recorded with his band in Manchester at his Crazy Face studios, Call The Comet introduces 12 tracks and is out 15 June. The third solo record from the ex-Smiths guitarist follows 2013’s critically acclaimed The Messenger and 2014’s Playland, both of which made the UK top 10. Marr says: “Call The Comet is set in the not-too-distant future and is mostly concerned with the idea of an alternative society. It’s my own magic realism.” New live shows are to be announced
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✱ Jeff Young on Jazz FM recently made the new 18-track Siren his album of the week. Superbly crafted by Londoner Robb Scott, with strong supporting lineup, for the Expansion label. Soul Brother Records says: “A collection of classy soul/jazz grooves on that has jazz at its heart but with some superb soulful brushstrokes applied.” Purchase directly from the artist’s store
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✱ The 2018 Love Supreme Jazz Festival features George Clinton, Parliament and Funkadelic, not to mention 30 other acts. Nr Lewes, Sussex, 29 June–1 July
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✱ The Cure’s Robert Smith has hand-picked 30 all-time favourite artists for the refurbished South Bank Centre’s 25th Meltdown Festival, 15-24 June 2018. Acts include Death Cab For Cutie, Maybeshewill, Suzanne Vega, Frightened Rabbit, Sigur Ros singer Jónsi, The Joy Formidable and more
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✱ Heaven 17 promise a spectacular celebration tour of The Luxury Gap for 10 dates 9 Nov–8 Dec from Northampton, via London 30 Nov to Sheffield. They say their 1983 album is “a sly, post-modern, critique of modern society and has never been so necessary”
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✱ Three London dates: Steve Norman Live & Personal will be an intimate encounter including an acoustic performance at PizzaExpress Live in London 25–27 May 2018… Steve and his live band visit The Cinnamon Club in Cheshire on 2 June, with new material
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✱ Spandau’s Martin Kemp is performing his deejay set, spinning classics from the 80s, at all three Rewind Festivals: Perth 20–22 July; Cheshire 3–5 Aug; Henley-on-Thames 17–19 Aug
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✱ One Nation Under the Groove – Wag club legend Chris Sullivan now resident on Fridays at Mau Mau, 265 Portobello Road “which looks like a New York rhythm ’n’ blues soul bar.” Playing rare funk and disco from the likes of Mantus, Father Time,The Kinsman Band plus Parliament, Bohannon and Larry Young – sample him at Mixcloud. . . Sullivan’s book Rebel Rebel, “a riotous history of people and things that broke the mould”, is due from Unbound once enough people have subscribed £10 to get their name in the first edition
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✱ Haircut’s singer Nick Heyward is touring the UK from 24 May at Concorde in Brighton, for 13 dates including 02 Academy Islington in London
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✱ Pledge and pre-order ex-Spandau singer Tony Hadley’s new album Talking To The Moon to ensure its June release! There’s a Playback Party Package … Hadley’s events list gives his live dates through to 6 July Chilfest at Tring, Herts, for An Evening with Hadley and his Orchestra, and beyond
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✱ BBC Music’s rolling news updates live throughout the week
