U.K. MIDWEEKS: INDIE ACTS LEAD THE PACK

Independent bands The Wombats (Kobalt) and Franz Ferdinand (Domino) look set to claim this week’s highest new entries on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart with their fourth and fifth albums, respectively. Warner Bros. artist Mist, meanwhile, is sitting at #4 in the midweeks with EP Diamond in the Dirt.

The Greatest Showman soundtrack (Atlantic) is still at #1 and some 10k sales ahead of The Wombats (pictured) with their self-released Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life at #2. It follows Glitterbug which hit #5 in the U.K. in 2015. Franz Ferdinand’s Always Ascending, which is the band's first release since Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action hit #6 in 2013, is at #3. Mist follows with his nine-song EP, which features collaborations with Jessie Ware and Not3s.

The next highest entry is currently Tables Turn (Since 93)—the sophomore mixtape album from London rapper Fredo— at #6. The second solo album from Gaslight Anthem lead vocalist Brian Fallon, Sleepwalkers (Island), could become his highest charting album at #7.

On the Official Singles midweek update, it's a close battle for #1 with “God’s Plan” (Island) by Drake sitting just 1.5k combined sales ahead of “These Days” (Asylum) by Rudimental, Jess Glynne and Macklemore. This week’s highest new entry is currently “Friends” (Atlantic) by Marshmello and Anne-Marie at #22. Blocboy JB is at #24 with Drake collaboration “Look Alive” (Warner Bros.).

Elsewhere, Liam Payne and Rita Ora’s “For You” (Capitol/Atlantic) for Fifty Shades Freed is up 11 places to #7 following the film’s release, while three songs from the Black Panther film compilation (Aftermath) are on course to finish inside this week’s Top 40. The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar’s “Pray For Me” lifts two spots to #13, Kendrick & SZA’s “All The Stars” is up 13 places to #15, and the title track by Kendrick is new at #36.