The reunion of The Boomtown Rats finally crosses the pond with news that Bob Geldof and Co. will play a pair of U.S. shows late next month in New York City and Boston as part of “The Big Session,” a three-act package that also will feature Irish groups The Stunning and Mundy.

Back in 2011, the good folks at Rhino Records requested we take a stab at curating their ‘Just Can’t Get Enough: The ’80s’ playlist on Spotify — and now that the label’s launched its own app within Spotify, we’ve been asked to freshen it up occasionally with 25 new tracks representing the classic ’80s alternative era.

Johnny Marr, legendary guitarist and co-founder of The Smiths, will follow up his U.K. tour this fall with a return to the U.S. just before Thanksgiving for a 17-date trek that will keep him on the road up through Christmas in support of his forthcoming solo album Playland.

With Kate Bush’s historic return to the concert stage now just a week away, the stage-shy singer this morning asked fans not to film or photograph her upcoming 22-date run of London performances, writing on her website, “I very much want to have contact with you as an audience.”

Former R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck’s commitment to making new music — and releasing it on vinyl — continues this fall when he follows up his recently released second solo album with a brand-new four-track 7-inch EP titled Opium Drivel. The 33 rpm EP will be released Oct. 21 on Buck’s usual label, Mississippi Records.

Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey took to the stage in a small club in the U.K. last week for an hour-long set that featured his first performance of his old band’s material in 27 years, a warm-up for his appearance at the Rewind South festival over this past weekend and his upcoming North American tour.

While the reunion of The Mission continues — the band currently is touring South America — frontman Wayne Hussey is branching out on his own this fall with the release of a brand-new, 14-track solo album entitled Songs of Candlelight & Razorblades that will be supported by a massive, 50-date European tour.