What a day for news for old school folks like us.

First up... We already know that the HAPPY MONDAYS are reforming for select dates this spring/summer, including this year's Coachella Festival in Indio, CA. What we were NOT expecting was today's exciting news, which is that the Mondays have recorded a NEW ALBUM. That's right, there will be a spankin' new Happy Mondays record later this year. The band have inked an international deal with Sanctuary Records.

Even MORE intriguing is the lineup for this weekend's Versus Cancer charity fundraiser this weekend in Manchester. The show, organized by The Smiths' Andy Rourke, is promising surprises by the truckload... what we DO know is that the headliners are nothing to sniff at: a "semi-acoustic" set from Noel Gallagher, The Charlatans, Echo and the Bunnymen, Bernard Butler, David McAlmont, and the biggest gig thus far from the Electric Milk Band (which features Gaz from the Mondays alongside Oasis original member Bonehead!)

Sound good, eh? Well, there's more. Festival insiders are not only confirming that New Order's Peter Hook will be joining Echo and the Bunnymen onstage, they are ALSO confirming that estranged Stone Roses' Mani and Ian Brown will be performing together. Add to that a finale being described as mind-blowing... Roses reunion? Or a monster Charlatans-Oasis-Roses mega-jam? Either way, it'll be one hell of a gig...