Here's the list of unsigned bands chosen to play the various stops on the big Kalas tour this summer:
Desario - Kalmar
The Wimps - Örebro
Public Service - Gävle
That Old Man Didn't Walk - Helsingborg
Roenik - Göteborg
Johan Signert - Lysekil
Bradbury - Malmö
The Distorted Pilot Programme - Karlskrona
Lash - Varberg
Slikk Nutrition - Norrköping
Noir - Karlstad
Besides playing their various hometowns, all eleven acts will appear on the Kalas property tour which hits Göteborg, Stockholm and Helsingborg from May 10-12. Public Service can also be seen supporting Eskobar at the Underworld in London on May 25.
The Embassy will release their new EP "Wearing Our Pop Art Hearts On Our Sleeves" on May 7 via Service Records. Tracklist:
01. Information
02. Flipside of a memory
03. New plans
Denmark's Play/Rec Records will release the new album "Lazarus" from The Violet Hour on Monday. You can listen to samples of two tracks from here: http://www.playrec.dk/releases/playrec11/index.html
Also in the works from the label is the new EP "Arrival" from Barra Head later this month. The band is also in the studio currently working on a full length which has a tentative release date of September 1. And last, but not least, The Unit is busy recording their debut album as well. That one is also set for a September release.
New mp3 posted yesterday from Slagsmålsklubben. Along with Finland's Desert Planet, they're one of the many great synthpop groups out there revitalizing the sounds of old-school 8-bit electronica. Very recommended.Note: If you downloaded the track earlier, it might be an incomplete version. A full version (2:13) is now available.
Netherlands-based label Coalition Records has announced that they are now distributed internationally by Mordam and they'll also be putting out three new releases on June 7. Representing Sweden is The Je Ne Sais Quoi with their new CDEP, from Holland comes Malkovich with a ten-track CD, and finally, a new one from US band The Rites.
A news statement from Timo Tolkki of Stratovarius: http://www.stratovarius.com/index2.php?section=statement_may
It appears he is on the mend from his recent nervous breakdown. What happens next is still up in the air.
Norwegian singer/songwriter St. Thomas is reportedly hard at work on new material, just five months after the release of his last album "Let's Grow Together - The Comeback Of St. Thomas". In March Thomas spent some time in the studio with long-time producer Robert Jønnum and a backing consisting of Alex Lindbäck on drums, Espen Mellingen on guitar and Petter Pogo on bass. Together they recorded thirteen brand new tracks. Three of those tracks were then rerecorded with producer Kai Andersen at Athletic Sound in Halden and they came out so well that the band will return in September for more. Kai is most known for his work Madrugada's excellent debut album "Industrial Silence". For some more details about recent St. Thomas activities, go here: http://www.stthomas1976.net/news.php
Check out the press release for the upcoming 2xLP/CD "Be It" from Nicole Willis, coming soon on Sähkö Recordings: http://www.sahkorecordings.com/press/Press-puu-31LP.doc
As one would guess, "Mr. Nicole Willis" aka Jimi Tenor appears on a number of tracks, as do various members of his backing band along with Finnish neo-jazz trumpet player Jukka Eskola, producers Nuspirit Helsinki, Tuomas Kallio and Kim Rantala and much more.
NRK will be broadcasting a live Gluecifer show tomorrow on P3 at 9pm: http://nrk.no/tjenester/nrk_nettradio/3220264.html?kanal=petre
The people behind Samson & Rourke have started a new Swedish music webzine: http://www.handklapp.se/
Some news regarding the positive response received by Madrugada at their recent UK gigs and some upcoming shows supporting Iggy and the Stooges in Greece this coming July: http://www.stthomas1976.net/madrugada/news.php
Differnet, Sophie Rimheden, Jens Lekman, The Legends, Paris, Slagsmålsklubben, The Kid and Hell on Wheels have all been confirmed for the Ohanami Saturday/Sound of Young Sweden Festival on May 22. Official event website: http://www.ohanamisaturday.com/
JuJu Records will be releasing a live album from Timbuktu and live backing band Damn! in the near future. The music was recorded during last summer's Kalas tour and subsequent fall club tour and features Chords on the 2nd mic and DJ Amato as the DJ. More details soon?
In related news, JuJu has launched a new offshoot label called Motrock. Their first release will be the debut album by roots-reggae group Helt Off. The group consists of Måns Asplund from the Breakmecanix along with Jens Resch (aka Chords) and features special guest Jason Diakité (aka Timbuktu). Download the track "Bla Bla Bla" right now: http://www.jujurecords.com/mp3/heltoff_blabla.mp3
Melpo Mene has set June 2 as the release date for their debut EP "Dont't Save Me" from Imperial Recordings. They will also appear in the upcoming Swedish film "Fröken Sverige" which is set to open on September 3.