A concert is in the works by a bevy of artists to perform ’70s cult rock icon Big Star’s infamously troubled final album Third/Sister Lovers. Included in the live show are such artists as Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub, Mitch Easter of Let’s Active, Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo, and others. The concert, which will feature the album’s entire tracklist as well as other Big Star and Chris Bell songs, is set to take place March 26th at Baruch College’s Mason Hall in New York City. [Jambase.com]

Blur guitarist Graham Coxon says it’s likely that the Brit-rock ensemble will record new music this year. Speaking to NME, Coxon says it might take as long as six years for the album to be released. As for his solo career, Coxon says he has two solo albums in the works, as well as a single with singer Paloma Faith and former Coral guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones. The trio recorded the single for Converse, and it’s set for release in April. [NME.com]

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Former American Idol champion Fantasia Barrino is set to star in a biopic of legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Based on the 1993 book Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel, the film will be directed by Euzhan Palcy (A Dry White Season) and will depict Jackson’s rise from poverty in New Orleans to success as a gospel star and supporter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. [Billboard.com]

Experimental indie-rock ensemble Battles have finished work on the follow-up to the band’s 2007 debut, Mirrored. Although prospects for finishing the album dimmed after the departure of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Tyondai Braxton last year, Battles forged onward, with guest artists like Boredom’s Eye lending vocals. The as-yet-untitled album is set for release this summer. [Pitchfork.com]

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Country music legend Charlie Louvin died Wednesday from complications due to pancreatic cancer. He was 83. After beginning his career as one half of the Louvin Brothers, an influential close-harmony band that Charlie led with his brother Ira from the 1940s onward, Louvin went on to sustain a successful solo career throughout his life. He released the album The Battle Rages On in 2010. [NYTimes.com]

Jimmy Buffett has been hospitalized and is in stable condition after falling off stage while giving a concert in Sydney, Australia. Apparently disoriented by an unexpected flash of light, the singer fell into a gap at the front of the stage and hit his head. He was reportedly unconscious for five to ten minutes. [RollingStone.com]

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The alternative rock group Cake nabbed its first number one album this week, as well as the dubious honor of scoring the lowest selling number one album in SoundScan history. Selling just over 44, 000 copies, Cake’s 2011 release Showroom of Compassion topped Billboard’s Hot 200 chart. That number isn’t huge for most chart-topping albums, but the ranking is still an unlikely coup for the band, whose career peaked in the late ’90s with hits like “The Distance,” and “Never There.” [Billboard.com]

Three never-before released tracks by legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane will be included in Impulse Recordings’ forthcoming four-CD set, First Impulse: The Creed Taylor Collection. The demo tracks were recorded in 1961 for Coltrane’s large ensemble Africa/Brass album. Although long rumored to exist, they were not unearthed until recently in the possession of Zane Massey, the son of the album’s producer, Cal Massey. [L.A.Times.com]

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Sadly, there have been a handful of deaths in the new year to report. Scottish singer/songwriter Gerry Rafferty died this week after an extended illness. Best known for his late ’70s hits “Baker Street” and “Stuck in the Middle With You,” Rafferty was born in Paisley, near Glasgow. He was 63. [Guardian.co.uk]

Mick Karn, the bassist for influential ’80s synth-pop act Japan, died on January 4th after a battle with cancer. Having played on such Japan albums as Quiet Life and Tin Drum, Karn also released several solo albums and worked with such artists as Peter Murphy and Kate Bush. He was 52. [Dangerousminds.net]

Jazz bassist Charles Fambrough died on Jan. 1st after losing his fight with end stage renal disease. Born in Philadelphia, Fambrough was playing professionally by 1968 and recorded over six albums as a leader. He was 60. [Jazztimes.com]

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To mark the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death, fans are gathering at New York City’s Strawberry Fields memorial park to honor the late Beatle’s legacy. Fans have come together to sing his songs and leave flowers on a mural based on his song “Imagine.” Lennon was shot to death on December 8th, 1980, by deranged gunman Mark David Chapman. [Billboard.com]

Rolling Stone is set to publish a never before seen interview with John Lennon from December 5th, 1980. Although excerpts from the interview between writer Jonathan Cott and Lennon have already been published, Cott never fully transcribed the entire nine-hour interview until earlier this year. You can read the full transcript in the next issue of Rolling Stone out this Friday. [RollingStone.com]

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Rappers Nicki Minaj and Kanye West are on top of the Billboard 200 chart this week with their respective new albums. West grabbed his fourth straight number one spot with My Dark Twisted Fantasy, which sold 496, 000 copies, while Minaj hit number two with Pink Friday’s 375, 000 copies. [Billboard.com]

Rapper Snoop Dogg debuted a new song on his website last night. On the heels of a rumored command performance for Prince William’s purported bachelor party, Snoop unveiled the track titled “Wet.” The song will be included on his upcoming album Doggumentary Music, which is set for release on March 8th. [Stereogum.com]

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Axl Rose has filed a $20 million dollar lawsuit against Activision, the makers of Guitar Hero. In the suit, Rose claims that Activision’s use of the Guns N’ Roses song “Welcome to the Jungle” in Guitar Hero III violated an agreement to not include any images of former GNR guitarist Slash. [Billboard.com]

Forget year-end-lists, Stereogum has put together a list of their most anticipated albums of 2011. Included are confirmed as well as rumored albums from artists such as Aphex Twin, Fleet Foxes, M83, The Shins, The Strokes and others. [Stereogum.com]

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