CHART TOPPPERS
The song from John Lewis's Christmas television advert has shot to the top of the singles charts.
Gabrielle Aplin's dreamy take on Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 'The Power of Love' has been blasted into living rooms for the past month as the festive retail season has got under way but had previously only reached fifth place.
Gabrielle Aplin performs The Power of Love
It is the latest song to have achieved huge success after being featured on the department store's seasonal advert, with Ellie Goulding's cover of Elton John's 'Your Song' making it to number two in the charts in 2010 and Taken by Trees' 2009 rendition of Guns & Roses' 'Sweet Child O' Mine' also shifting thousands of copies.
The single knocked Olly Murs off the top spot and into number three with 'Troublemaker', featuring US rapper Flo Rida.
GIGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Johnny Marr has announced he will follow the release of his debut solo album ‘The Messenger’ with his first ever solo tour.
The former The Smiths guitarist, who has played with the The, Modest Mouse and the Cribs since The Smiths split in 1987 (as well as forming new bands such as Electronic and Johnny Marr and the Healers), will release his solo album on 25 February.
The album was recorded in Manchester and Berlin, and mastered at London's Abbey Road by Frank Arkwright. The pair previously worked together on remastering work for The Smiths' box set 'Complete'.
Marr’s first solo tour is scheduled as below...
March
10th – Oxford, O2 Academy
11th – Norwich, Waterfront
12th – Cambridge, Junction
14th – Brighton, Concorde
15th – London, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
16th – Birmingham, HMV Institute
18th – Sheffield, Leadmill
19th – Glasgow, ABC
20th - Liverpool O2, Academy
22nd – Manchester, HMV Ritz
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday December 7th at a price of £22.50 for London and Manchester and £19.50 for all other dates.
OPEN YOUR EARS
For some bright and infectious indie-pop check out Australia-based 4-piece San Cisco, who are set to release their EP 'The Beach' in the UK on 10 December.
The twinkling title track, which makes you want to close your eyes and drift about, is taken from their forthcoming self-titled debut album, set for release in May 2013.
Watch a video for 'Beach', filmed in Brighton while the band were visiting the UK back in October, featuring the dual vocals of Jordi Davieson and Scarlett Stevens, below:
The band say the song "is about a boy and a girl; with one of them always running from reality, making for a difficult relationship full of love and hate. You never know what you've got till its gone".
For more information visit: http://www.facebook.com/sanciscomusic