Three recently reunited U.K. acts — Britpop masters Blur, 2 Tone ska kings The Specials and electronic-rock pioneers New Order — will perform at a giant “Best of British” outdoor concert on Aug. 12 in Hyde Park to cap off the London Olympics, the bands announced Monday.

This week’s round-up of click-worthy links includes news about Mick Jones playing Clash songs on a U.K. benefit tour, an interview with Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr via the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, interviews with The Sisters of Mercy and The Jesus and Mary Chain, and news that The Specials’ reunion will continue.

EMI this week released the first in a new series of Peel Sessions compilations, a 2CD set called ‘Movement: BBC Radio 1 Peel Sessions 1977–1979’ that compiles recordings by 41 different punk, post-punk, reggae and 2 Tone acts including Joy Division, XTC, The Jam, Simple Minds, The Specials, Public Image Ltd. and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Thirty years ago today, 2 Tone ska kings The Specials released their landmark single ‘Ghost Town,’ a haunting soundtrack to England’s early-’80s economic despair and civil unrest. Check out several video version of the unforgettable U.K. No. 1 hit.

Reformed 2 Tone-era ska act The Specials this morning announced a lengthy tour of Europe and the band’s native U.K. next fall, a trek that puts the band’s reunion well into a third year.

The Specials will continue their reunion in 2011 with a ‘lengthy tour’ that will feature the band performing its self-titled 1979 debut and its 1980 follow-up ‘More Specials’ back-to-back, frontman Terry Hall told a Manchester, England, audience last Friday.