'A Little Respect (HMI Redux)' is AVAILABLE NOW as a download single around the world, in part to raise money for two very important causes - the Hetrick-Martin Institute in New York City, the nation’s oldest and largest LGBTQ youth service organization; and Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Foundation - and partly to spread a positive message of tolerance in the wake of the gay bullying and related suicides that have been reported in the US over the past few months.

The track has been remade by Vince and Andy for this special release and features additional vocals from a youth chorus from the Hetrick-Martin Institute.??

A BRAND NEW VIDEO - featuring Andy Bell, students from HMI and passers by - was recently filmed in NYC and is being premiered today by the influential website The Huffington Post so do get yourself over there to have a look, the video will also be on the Erasure website from tomorrow.

Please do consider supporting Erasure and two very good causes by buying the single which is available right now from iTunes, here's a selection of links but there are many more???

iTUNES USA | iTUNES UK | iTUNES GERMANY | iTUNES AUSTRALIA | iTUNES DENMARK

The single is also available for download from the major online retailers so check your local download stores, here in the UK they include PLAY.COM and 7DIGITAL and there may well be more wherever you are!

THE HUE AND CRY GLASGOW KISS WEEKEND

Hue and Cry will be giving fans their own version of a Glasgow Kiss by performing two special shows in the city's ABC venue on Sauchiehall Street over valentines weekend this coming February. These shows have been inspired by the immense popularity of the History City Weekend in 2009 and the excitement surrounding the release of the resultant 'Bitter Suite, Again' deluxe album.

Friday, 11th February will see Pat and Greg Kane perform an up close and personal piano & vocal performance in the intimate surroundings of the venue's ABC2 room. Saturday, 12th February will see the brothers line up as part of the full seven piece band for a spectacular event in the venue's main ABC hall.

Tickets are now available individually for these shows as well as a PLATINUM PASS PACKAGE that provides tickets to both shows and admission to some amazing extras providing the ultimate in access to The Hue And Cry Glasgow Kiss Weekend. All further information and ticket links can be found on the Hue and Cry website.

As those who have been following the Hue And Cry Music Club Studio Blog will know, the band are focussed on the making of a new album and therefore have no other live performance or touring plans at this time.

BITTER SUITE, AGAIN - OUT NOW!

The new live album by Hue and Cry 'Bitter Suite, Again' is out now! The thirteen track album encompasses the special piano and vocal performance by Pat & Greg at the 'History City Weekend' in Glasgow during December 2009. The deluxe 'physical' release contains both an audio CD and a bonus DVD and is available to buy from all good record stores as well as from the Hue And Cry shop. The album is also available to buy from your online music provider of choice. Those purchasing from iTunes will be able to download the exclusive track 'Just Say You Love Me'.

THE CURE have announced that they will play a special set at next year's Bestival on the Isle of Wight. The Saturday night headline slot will be the band's only European festival show of 2011. Other bands confirmed include Brian Wilson, Magnetic Man, Primal Scream, Crystal Castles and LFO.

THE HUMAN LEAGUE have announced that their new album 'Credo' will be released in March next year. The tracklisting for the much anticipated release has also been revealed. See NEWS for the full album tracklisting.

JIM KERR, SIMON LE BON, ANNIE LENNOX, PAUL WELLER, CHRIS REA and PAUL MCCARTNEY are among a number of UK songwriters who are auctioning hand-written lyrics to some of their best-known songs to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust. The auction will take place at Bonhams in London's Knightsbridge on December 15th but items are available to view online now, see NEWS for more details!

KAJAGOOGOO mainman STEVE ASKEW has co-written 'Red', the new album from Lu Cozma, which was produced by MARTIN RUSHENT and has just been released on iTunes.

SIMPLE MINDS have announced a special run of 'Greatest Hits' shows next year as part of the Forestry Commission's annual series of outdoor shows in woodland settings around the UK. See GIGS for all the dates.

THE REWIND FESTIVAL has announced that it will launch a Scottish weekend festival next year. Set to take place at Perthshire's Scone Palace between July 29th and July 31st the event promises 'the biggest live outdoor line-up of 80s recording artists and performers ever' and will be announcing more details soon.

HEAVEN 17's recent show at London's Forum has been reviewed, with pictures in the REVIEWS section on the website. The band have also reissued their live DVD ' Heaven 17 - Live At Scala' via Weinerworld. The 148-minute collection includes all their hits plus a number of tracks made famous by the early incarnation of THE HUMAN LEAGUE was filmed at London's Kings Cross Scala in 2005. See NEWS for the full DVD tracklisting.

KYLIE MINOGUE has extended the UK and Ireland leg of her 2011 tour with the announcement of additional shows in Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester and London in March and April next year. See GIGS for all the dates.

SHAKATAK are to release a new album in Spring next year and will be previewing some of the new tracks at two special shows at Great Bardfield's High Barn on January 14th and 15th.

GEORGE MICHAEL will reissue his Christmas single 'December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)' for this year's festive season on December 13th.

SOFT CELL's DAVE BALL has remixed Doris Brendel's new single 'Latest Fantasy' which is scheduled for release on December 5th. Credited to the Nite Wreckers the five remixes are heavily influenced by retro Soft Cell and 80s sounds and accompany Doris Brendel's original version, taken from her recent album 'The Last Adventure'.

ULTRAVOX fans are putting together a special limited-edition book, 'Remembering Eden - 30th Anniversary Tour Book', to commemorate the band's recent reunion shows. The book - which will raise money for the Mick Karn Appeal - will feature pictures, biographies, fan memories and a number of exclusive interviews with members of the band, their crew and those close to them and will feature a special introduction by RUSTY EGAN. The book will be launched at a special Ultravox club night in London on January 15th and more details are available from the project's dedicated Facebook page, see NEWS for more details.

ALPHAVILLE released a new album 'Catching Rays On Giant' in Germany last week and are expected to announce international release plans shortly.

NIK KERSHAW has co-written and performed a new song, 'If it gets much better than this' for the forthcoming film based on Tony Hawks' book 'Round Ireland with a Fridge'.

Thanks to www.remembertheeighties.com

ERASURE ANNOUNCE 'TOTAL POP! FOREST TOUR' FOR 2011
If you're in the UK then this is the news you've been waiting for??? Erasure will be playing a run of UK dates in June in spectacular forest and woodland locations around the UK. The shows are part of the Forestry Commission's annual Live Music series, and represent a very special way for Erasure to return to the live arena. Tickets to the general public will go onsale at 9am this Friday (December 10th).

Here are the dates:
JUNE 10 - Thetford Forest, Nr Brandon, Suffolk / 11 - Bedgebury Pinetum & Forest, Nr Goudhurst, Kent. / 17 - Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Nr Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire. / 18 - Westonbirt Arboretum, Nr Tetbury, Gloucestershire. / 24 - Cannock Chase Forest, Nr Rugeley, Staffordshire. / 25 - Dalby Forest, Nr Pickering, North Yorks. / JULY 1 - Delamere Forest, Delamere, Cheshire.

'A LITTLE RESPECT (HMI REDUX)' RELEASED THIS WEEK
Erasure's brand new version of their classic single 'A Little Respect' is finally released this week. The track came out yesterday in the UK (it's on iTunes which also allows you a little audio preview!) and will be released on December 7th in the USA. The track - released to raise money for New York's Hetrick-Martin Institute and Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Foundation, as well as to spread a message??of tolerance in the wake of the recent wave of gay bullying and related suicides that have been reported in the US recently - has been remade by Vince Clarke and features new backing vocals from the HMI youth chorus. A colourful new video to accompany the track - featuring Andy Bell, students from the HMI and some random passers by - has been made in New York and will be released shortly. See the news section on the Erasure website for more details.

ANDY BELL
LIMITED CD RELEASE OF 'RUNNING OUT' / 'WILL YOU BE THERE? / 'NON-STOP' REMIXES
The Official Erasure Shop at Lexer Music have secured an extra 300 copies of each of the two CDs of remixes originally created for the recent limited-edition Andy Bell boxset. Containing all the 'Running Out', 'Will You be There?' and 'Non-Stop' single remixes and b-sides that were previously only available via download, plus a number of previously unreleased bonus tracks. Presale starts this afternoon (December 6th) as I mentioned, one set of CDs per order please and when they're gone that's it, they won't be manufactured again. See Andy's website for the full tracklistings and all the details!

KYLIE MINOGUE VS ERASURE
David sent this over to me (thank you!), it's a mash-up of Erasure's 'A Little Respect' and Kylie Minogue's 'All The Lovers', and while there's much more Kylie there than Erasure I thought it was still worth sharing, in case you fancy a listen!

GOATS, THE ROYAL WEDDING, A NEW REMIX, AND EYE-LASH TINTS???
Some snippets of news I've picked up from Vince and Andy's Twitter feeds this week; Vince is doing a remix for Billie Ray Martin (who used to front the excellent Electribe 101). He's also been listening to The Passions' 'I'm In Love With A German Film Star' and Simple Minds' 'Chelsea Girl' (although not at the same time, presumably) as well as buying his cat a Christmas present, spotting goats in the garden, and surgically removing the power supply from his Moog. Andy has also been active on Twitter, offering Royal Wedding suggestions to The Wright Stuff, celebrating the snow, making Christmas cards and talking eye-lash tint with Boy George. If you don't already follow Vince and Andy's musings on Twitter then you can do so by following Vince here and Andy here.

Thanks to the Erasure Information Service: www.erasureinfo.com

MARI WILSON

Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas...
Mari's final show of 2010

Saturday 11 December
The Ropetackle Centre,
Shoreham-on-Sea, Sussex

Box Office 01273 464440
http://www.ropetacklecentre.co.uk/products/mari-wilsons-threesome/17472