The Waterboys’ Mike Scott is opening up his archives online, posting a series of ‘exclusive Waterboys songs plus various mysterious and wonderful tracks and mash-ups’ recorded at his home studio.

Goth-rock survivors The Sisters of Mercy have announced a short run of shows this August, including the band’s only U.K. performance of 2010 and festival dates in Belgium, Germany and Romania.

Less than a month after dropping its debut EP, Peter Hook’s triple-bass supergroup Freebass — which also features The Smiths’ Andy Rourke and Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream — today released its five-years-in-the-making album, ‘It’s a Beautiful Life.’

Two years into their reunion, college-rock faves The Feelies continue to perform sporadically in the U.S. — and will give fans another chance to see the band this summer with a trio of home-state shows.

Citing ‘an emergency medical ailment,’ The Specials have postponed tonight’s Toronto concert — but not this week’s New York City gigs — until August, when the band will return to North America for more dates.

The Pixies this morning announced “two very special, fan exclusive shows” at The Troxy in London on June 3 and 4, and are offering a free download of live audio and video of ‘Doolittle’ track ‘La La Love You.’

New Wave vets from both sides of the pond — Brit pop-rockers Squeeze and New York mainstays Blondie — each will tour the U.S. this summer co-headlining some or all of their dates with long-running rockers Cheap Trick.

The reactivated Dinosaur Jr will spend most of May touring Europe with fellow guitar rockers Built to Spill — a six-string lover’s dream, no doubt — before bassist Lou Barlow returns to the U.S. for a 14-date solo trek in June in support of last year’s ‘Goodnight Unknown.’

The folks at Beggars Archive this week announced a May 17 release date for The Charlatans’ 2CD ‘Some Friendly: Expanded Edition,’ timed to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Manchester act’s chart-topping debut.

L.A. punk vets Social Distortion — currently in the midst of their first-ever South American tour — today announced initial dates for a summer U.S. tour that includes a slot at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago’s Grant Park.

Last week we reported that Concrete Blonde is reuniting this summer to mark the 20th anniversary of ‘Bloodletting’ by performing the album in its entirety — and today the band posted nine U.S. dates in June.

Following their upcoming dates opening for the reunited Spandau Ballet in Australia, Tears For Fears will return to North America late this summer for a headlining tour of their own, with at least 17 dates announced so far in the Eastern U.S. and Canada — including a pair of free concerts.

The second post-reunion album from Crowded House — dubbed ‘Intriguer’ — will be released this June under the band’s new deal with Universal Music, and will be followed by a lengthy, 28-date tour of North America beginning in July.