Some new bands added to the Yran Festival: Gluecifer, Bo Kaspers Orkester, Mattias Alkberg BD, Moneybrother, Jakob Hellman, Kaizers Orchestra, The Mo, Sara Löfgren, Nocturnal Rites, Ane Brun, Sugerplum Fairy, Empire Dogs and Peggy Lejonjärta.
New bands added to the Augustibuller lineup: the newly returned Satanic Surfers, Deportees, Skitsystem, Praetorian Platoon, Niccokick, The Change and Seven Feet Four.
Some notes from Blabbermouth on the new Nebelhexe (ex-Hagalaz' Runedance) album "Laguz - Within The Lake": http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=20771
Windir will be playing one last special farewell concert on September 3 at the Rockefeller Arena in Oslo, Norway in commemoration of frontman Terje "Valfar" Bakken who tragically passed away in January. The date not only marks what would've been Terje's 26th birthday, but is also the release date for the band's 2xCD retrospective "Sognariket". As mentioned before, all proceeds from sales of that album go directly to Terje's family. Other bands paying tribute on the show are Enslaved, Finntroll and Mindgrinder.
It's already old news to me (or anyone else who reads this site regularly), but Startracks has officially confirmed their signing of Gustaf Kjellvander and The Fine Arts Showcase. The album will be out in May in Scandinavia, Europe in June.
After numerous delays, Finland's Fonal Records has finally gotten their new CDs in stock and ready for ordering. Those releases are Kiila - "Silmät Sulkaset" and "Contemporaries" VHS, Teatteri Moderni Kanuuna - "Oopperse Le Feti Le Grande Anaale" and Es - "Kaikkeuden kauneus ja käsittämättömyys". Prices have been lowered, too. More info: http://www.fonal.com/
US band Calexico will release a new EP on April 6 called "Convict Pool" that features their collaboration with Nicolai Dunger on the Love classic "Alone Again Or". The song was previously released in Europe on City Slang and was recorded in Nashville at Mark Nevers' (Lambchop) studio during the two group's tour together last spring.
Dick Lövgren has been confirmed as the new bassist for Meshuggah. Previous bands of his include Arch Enemy and In Flames.
This week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:
01. Steen1 - Jarden träkki (FIN)
02. Neljä Ruusua - Elän vain kerran (FIN)
03. The Rasmus - Funeral song (FIN)
04. SubUrban Tribe - Silent Rain (FIN)
05. Trilogia - Hei (FIN)
06. Nina Rochelle - (Happy) Jag hatar att det e så (SWE)
07. Kamera - Suburban boy (SWE)
08. The Alpine - Too many monsters (DK)
09. The Crash - Still alive (FIN)
10. Shout Out Louds - Please please please (SWE)
Challengers:
01. DJ Slow - I'm over you Pablo (FIN)
02. Weeping Willows - Stairs (SWE)
03. Teddybears STHLM - Cobrastyle (SWE)
Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:
01. The Crash - Still Alive
02. Outlandish - Walou
03. Maria Mena - You´re The Only One
04. Swan Lee - I Don´t Mind
05. Backyard Babies - Song For The Outkast
06. Black Diamond Brigade - Black Diamond
07. Span - Don´t Think The Way They Do
08. Lene Marlin - Another Day
09. Redrama - Hang It Up
10. Safri Duo feat. Clark Anderson - All The People In The World
11. Eskobar - Love Strikes
12. Broder Daniel - Shoreline
13. Organism 12 - Sångfågel
14. Burhan G - Burhan G
15. Anne Hvidsten - Need To Know
16. Nobody Beats The Beats - Can´t I Be Loved
17. Noora - Zeros
18. Lorraine - Highlights
19. Iron African - Stay Awake
20. Her Majesty - You and me against the world
Challengers:
01. September - September All Over
02. Prime Sth - Pieces
03. Unni Wilhelmsen - Everyone´s Honesty
04. Slowtrain Soul - Twisted Cupid
05. The Rasmus - Funeral Song
06. Tim Christensen - Jump The Gun
Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.
Rejoice! The first couple dates in the US for The Cardigans have been announced:
05/08 - Maxwell’s, New Jersey
05/09 - Southpaw, New York City
05/11 - TT the Bears, Boston
05/25 - The Troubadour, LA
Nervous Nellie will be doing some Swedish Showcase-sponsored Baltic dates in April:
04/01 - Depo klub, Riga (LAT)
04/02 - Festival, Cesis (LAT)
04/03 - Varjend, Tartu (EST)
Those lucky dudes are also playing some dates in the US on this summer's Warped Tour:
07/28 - Verizon Wireless Amp. Lot, Atlanta, GA
07/29 - Hi Fi Buys Amphitheatre Lot, Orlando, FL
07/30 - Central Florida Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL
07/31 - Vinoy Park, Miami, FL
08/01 - Pompano Beach Amp. Lot, Jacksonville, FL
In related news, look for Koma to be heading to the Baltics on their own Swedish Showcase dates in May.
Sweden's Timbuktu and Miss Universum will be going to Reykjavik, Iceland for a special Greenpeace benefit show on April 15. More info soon.
Check out samples from ex-Stratovarius frontman Timo Kotipelto's new album "Coldness": http://www.kotipelto.com/middle.php?section=music