Big stars add to concert deluge

May the best diva win - British singer George Michael and US songstress Whitney Houston are headed for a box office showdown with both likely to play gigs in Perth only a week apart in March.

Houston has announced a winery show in the Hunter Valley, in NSW, for February 27 and will soon unveil her full Australian tour, including two dates at ME Bank Stadium in early March.

The West Australian understands that Michael will play his first Perth show in more than 20 years at the same venue the weekend after Houston's concerts.

While he would not confirm the tour, promoter Paul Dainty said yesterday that he was close to locking in an Australian visit from the former member of 80s pop duo Wham! It will be a busy month for big-name concerts in Perth, including AC/DC, Status Quo and the Pixies.