If you were to believe the likes of Mel B, the prospects of festivals and gigs happening this year are slim to none.

We're choosing to be optimistic for now, and bank on some exciting gigs taking place during 2021. And we'll continue to cling to that hope until you prise it it from our cold, dead hands.

That said, it's a safer bet to focus on the music that is definitely en route this year, at least in recorded form.

Below, you'll find a list of the big and exciting albums that are scheduled for release in 2021 – as well as those that are rumoured, but haven't been designated a release date yet.

FOO FIGHTERS – 'Medicine at Midnight' [February 5th]

Foo Fighters return with their tenth album next month – and at 37 minutes long, it's also their shortest album to date. Dave Grohl has mentioned that this album is akin to Bowie's 'Let's Dance' – which is an interesting prospect, if nothing else...

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DJANGO DJANGO – 'Glowing in the Dark' [February 12th]

One of the most brilliant and underrated bands in the UK (fronted by an Irishman, no less), Django Django release their fourth album next month. You can expect their usual melange of indie, electronica, psychedelia and art-rock.

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TEENAGE FANCLUB – 'Endless Arcade' [March 5th]

Scotland's finest indie band have had a few changes since their last record – most notably the departure of long-term songwriter, co-vocalist and bassist Gerard Love. How will it affect their tenth album? It remains to be seen – but lead single 'Home' suggests another solid collection of jangle-pop tunes, although perhaps tinged with melancholy this time around.

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ADELE – '30' [TBA]

We should have had Adele's fourth album in our grubby little mitts by now, but Covid scuppered that plan (although we're still not quite sure why – it's not like she needs to tour to make money.) All going well, 2021 will be the year that we hear her latest collection of heartache-addled balladry.

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DRAKE – 'Certified Lover Boy' [TBA]

He's already put in the groundwork for the follow-up to 2018's 'Scorpion' thanks to some dodgy hairdos (photoshopped or no). 'Certified Lover Boy' was due to be released on New Year's Day before the Canadian rapper injured his knee; it's now been pushed back to an unknown date. Either way, you can expect to hear it very soon.

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JANET JACKSON – 'Black Diamond' [TBA]

Last February, the pop legend announced both a new album and a world tour dubbed 'Black Diamond' – which was then scrapped due to Covid. Very little is known about the album – including whether we'll actually hear it this year or not. Fingers crossed.

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LANA DEL REY – 'Chemtrails Over the Country Club' [TBA]

Once again, Covid denied us of a new Lana Del Rey album last year; her seventh album was originally scheduled for release in September 2020. Nevertheless, with everything now done and dusted production wise, you can expect to hear it in the coming months. Only one track, 'Let Me Love You Like a Woman', has been released so far.

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LYKKE LI – 'TBA' [TBA]

It's only been just over two years since her last record 'So Sad So Sexy' was released, but it looks like the Swedish pop star is ready to go again. She released new material in October – her first-ever Swedish-language track, 'BRON' – and a press release confirmed that work is underway on a new album set for release this year, too.

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LORDE – 'TBA' [TBA]

Lorde has been largely absent on social media over the past year or so, but she has kept fans updated on her creative progress – including the fact that the title of her forthcoming third album was inspired by a trip to Antarctica. She has been working on the follow-up to 2017's 'Melodrama' with Jack Antonoff, and claimed back in May that “the work is so fucking good, my friend. I am truly jazzed for you to hear it.” Well, hurry up then, Lorde.

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RIHANNA – 'R9' [TBA]

We're fully aware that Rihanna is toying with us at this stage, but that won't stop us from holding out hope that 2021 will be the year we finally get to hear 'R9'. She's been busy building her beauty and fashion empires since ANTI's release in 2016, but haven't we waited long enough for new music? Last month, she claimed that she wwas planning "to take my music and my brands to a different level"this year. Do the right thing, RiRi.

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