Gomez will tour the UK to promote its upcoming album In Our Gun and single Shot Shot. The band plays Sheffield City Hall (April 16) and Manchester Apollo (17). Tickets cost £15.

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion performs at Manchester Academy on April 10 to promote its new single She Said, out on March 25, and April album Plastic Fang.

Vex Red has released a live favourite as its latest single - Can't Smile - and plays Manchester University (March 12) and Leeds Cockpit (14).

Soul Center is the recording alias for Cologne electronic producer Thomas Brinkmann, and his funk-charged debut album Soul Center III is released on the Novamute label on March 25.

Moby will in two months release the follow-up to his mega-selling album Play. The new disc is called 18, has 18 new songs, and the first single We Are All Made Of Stars is out in April.

Fatboy Slim last summer performed in front of 35,000 people on the beach of his home town. The concert is now an album, Live On Brighton Beach, and it features his party favourites from last year.

Electronic 01 is a new double CD of artists past and presen, ranging from Human League, John Cage and Eno to The Normal, Aphex Twin and Fischerspooner. It's chosen by Rough Trade shop staff and is out on the Mute label on March 18.

Richard will perform at Sheffield Arena on November 8-10 with the venue turned into a "smaller, more intimate setting". Neil Diamond performs on July 24, and Bryan Adams has rescheduled his March 6 gig to March 11. Book on 0114 256 5656.

Mary J Blige, the soul queen whose recent album Family Affair was a worldwide hit, plays Manchester MEN Arena on April 20. Phone 0161 930 8000 for £24 tickets.