George Michael Cancels Tour

George Michael has cancelled his November concert tour of Australia, claiming to be suffering from lingering ‘‘anxiety’’ in the wake of a major health scare late last year. In a statement issued via his website, the controversial English singer announced the cancellation of his forthcoming Australian shows, adding that to do so ‘‘breaks my heart’’. The 49-year-old singer cancelled a concert in Vienna scheduled for November 21 last year due to what was initially reported as ‘‘a chest infection’’. At the time, his management believed he would be able to recover in time for a show two days later in Strasbourg. In less than a year, this is the second artist toured by Dainty Group that has cancelled. The first being Janet Jackson in early Nov 2011.

James Franco Releases Music

Renaissance man James Franco has teamed up with musician Tim O'Keefe to release an EP of original music under the name "Daddy". Named MotorCity, the EP is inspiredby Franco's trip to Detroit to film Oz: The Great and Powerful. It has an old school, Motown feel to it with the first single, "Love In The Old Days", being mostly spoken-word.

Interview: Brandon Block

"Drowning in debauchery is a rather misleading turn of phrase. It could lend itself to a situation full of hedonistic zest or one of a downward spiral whose end is met by pit of regret and bone-shivering comedowns. Brandon Block can relate to both – over the last 3 decades the veteran house music producer has journeyed through the eras that we merely hear about...But this isn’t the obituary of one of Ibiza’s lauded players; it is the story of his return from abyss." Full interview here.

SPRAY & WIPE - Northeast Party House

Spray & Wipe are hosting a party of epic proportions. On 21 Sep St Kilda's The Espy will be heaving with music-heads and party animals. With Northeast Party House as the headliner and Oscar+Martin, Dune Rats and Drunk Mums all on board - this is sure to sell out. Ten days later, Dune Rats and Drunk Mums come together once more for the I Oh You Halloween party. 

Clear the schedule!!!

Tix here.

I OH YOU

The boys from record label/ party machine I OH YOU are never one to sit back and smell the flowers - their reputation is one of loud, raucous fun and it's what has made them so successful. As a Melbourne-based collective the 20-somethings have worked hard and along the way signed Dune Rats and most recently Melbourne's City Calm Down.

To get a taste of what the boys have to offer check out their Halloween party!

Almost Midnight Listen

Shlomo is Leeds-born beat producer known for pioneering original beat-boxing techniques.

He has worked with artists such as Björk and his own hip hop crew Foreign Beggars.

Review: The XX - Coexist

I struggle to keep my eyes open while my ears work on over-drive. They are my tools and the XX's sophomore studio album is l'objet d'amour. Though after spending a little over half an hour listening to the post-dubstep, surly, electro-rock offering I'm not convinced. Elements of their debut weave throughout but nothing captures me. Nothing arrests my attention - interrupting my train of thought.

It's disappointing but I'm not surprised. There's a reason why the crowd loves a soul singer - we love to see the strain in their face because we want to see the music as much as we want to hear it. Watch an XX liveshow and you'll get little more than pursed-lips between verses.

4/10 on this Saturday afternoon.

The Cure VS Digitalism ... In Cairo

Anyone who loved 'Fire In Cairo' off Digitalism's Idealism should hope the German electro-house duo gave thanks The Cure before pressing finish. The track is a re-edit of The Cure's Fire in Cairo and one of the stand-out tracks on the 2007 debut. Digitalism's re-edit:

Lupe Fiasco Opens A Book and Closes the Door to Music

Mr. Wasalu Muhammad Jaco aka Lupe Fiasco has decided to close the door to the world of music and open a book. Today the rapper well known for hits like 'Kick Push', 'Superstar' and most recent 'The Show Goes On' declared, via Twitter, that he was ready to embrace his long-life passion of literature.

Perhaps this recent collab with Guy Sebastian had something to do with his change of heart?

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Tour Announced: Boys II Men

Ah the early 90s. A time of big hair, big eyebrows, slow jams and smooth r 'n' b! With a bevy of charming love operators, it was all about heartthrobs and a capellas... and Boyz II Men were in their prime!

So what better way to relive those light-hearted fluttering feelings than by purchasing a ticket to their up-coming Australian tour this November.

Their 2011 album, Twenty, celebrates the two decades the group has spent in the industry since releasing their genre-defining debut, Cooleyhigharmony back in 1991. Twenty features some of the group’s first original material in almost ten years, as well as remastered versions of their classic '90s hits like Motownphilly and I’ll Make Love To You.

Tickets via Ticketmaster.

Rihanna & Jay-Z to Preform at the Paralympics

So we already know RiRi will be gracing the stage at the VMA's but what about the Paralympics?

I mean why not? If not for the money (she's already got enough of that), the fame (I think she's pretty popular) then why not for the sake of good-will?

Entitled Festival of the Flame the 9 September event is said to feature Coldplay, Jay-Z and now, bad girl herself, Rihanna.

The festival is based around the five elements: earth, fire, wind, ice and water and will mark the end of the 2012 Paralympics.. And with that sort of line of I will most definitely be tuning in.

Review: An Evening with the New Yorker

Five seated New Yorkers share the stories from their Manhattan office. More after the jump..

Big Mike AKA Michael Clarke Duncan Dies

Michael Clarke Duncan was most famously known as the burly prison inmate in Tom Hanks' Green Mile. It's the movie that bought him to fame and the one that lead to staring roles in The Whole Nine Yards, Sin City, Planet of the Apes and Kung Fu Panda.

Clarke died today after being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, for a heart-attack. Condolences have flooded the Internet with many tweets coming from celebrity pals, including: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnston.

A lot of people don't know that the industrial-size actor first came under the spotlight as Notorious B.I.G's body guard. It was the fateful night of the shooting that led him to quit his job and pursue his life-long dream of acting. He also worked as a body-guard for Will Smith and Jamie Foxx.

He leaves behind his fiancee Reverend Omarosa Manigault.

Azealia Banks - 90s Revival

In the short while since '212', Harlem rapper Azealia Banks has embraced a complete dress change. For the new '1991' Banks channels '90s Vogue - a black two piece suit, maroon lipstick, slick wavy hair..

It's hello Janet Jackson a la Rhythm Nation and Naomi Campbell a la EVERY 90s magazine cover.

The Justin Mitchell-directed video also shows a dash of Crystal Water's "100% Pure Love" for good measure.

Sound: think M-People.

The 22 century 90s diva continues to ride the wave with the Rankin-directed follow-up 'Vogue'.

It's lip-smacking good!