THE ICICLE WORKS have announced the first dates of their forthcoming tour, the first time IAN McNABB has toured under the name for many years. So far six shows have been announced in the UK for October.

JAPAN's MICK KARN is about to release a new solo album - his seventh - preceded by a new single. The album, 'Three Part Species', will be released in May and Karn will be playing a series of concerts in support of the release.

MADNESS have announced Summer shows in Germany, France, Spain and Belgium in July and August, including a number of festival appearances, as well as a UK Christmas jaunt in December.

ABC will play a special London show in March at the Hard Rock Cafe as part of the venue's 'March On Stage' series of concerts.

THE WATERBOYS will release their 'Fisherman's Blues' album as a remastered and expanded 2-CD set on May 1st. The release will feature the original album alongside fourteen previously unreleased tracks slected by singer MIKE SCOTT.

LEVEL 42 will play a massive twenty-date UK tour in October in support of their 'Retroglide' album.

SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK have completed work on a new album, 'Into The Unknown', which will be released later this year.

LEEE JOHN will play a special launch event for his new album 'Feel My Soul' in Paris on March 14th. The former IMAGINATION frontman will appear with his jazz quartet at the Reservoir Club.

MADONNA will make her first ever festival appearance this summer at the US Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 30th in advance of her own tour which is expected to start in May and play in smaller venues than the star has played in the past.