News

Miles Kane performed a large chunk of his forthcoming second solo album during a hometown gig at the Liverpool Zanzibar last night (May 16th).

Tunng have announced an October tour of the UK as they prepare to release the new album ‘Turbines‘ on June 17th.

The lead track ‘The Village‘ has been made available on Soundcloud (below), and is described by founding member Mike Lindsay as being set in a, ‘Make believe world, where you can’t get away from the strange characters you encounter’.

“It’s about the feeling that you’re the only sane person in an unstable situation,” he continues. “The village could be a place, but also a party, a job or a whole country.”

The full UK tour is preceded by twin shows at the Lexington in London on July 8th and 9th, with a gig at the Heaven venue in London later launching the October tour on the 8th of that month.

“The best thing about working with this band is that we can throw all the ingredients in, give it a good shake, and see where it lands,” says Phil Winter.

“It’s our sci-fi folk rock album,” Lindsay adds of the band’s fifth studio effort. “It’s been an adventure that has taken us all over the world. An amazing journey.”

The Village by tunng

Tunng October UK tour dates:

OCTOBER
Heaven, Under the Arches, London (8)
Colston Hall, Bristol (11)
Brewery, Kendal (12)
Broadcast, Glasgow (13)
Manchester Band On The Wall, Manchester (15)
South Street Arts, Reading (16)
Apex, Bury St Edmunds (17)
Trades Club, Hebden Bridge (19)
East Village Arts Club, Liverpool (20)
Old Market, Brighton (21)

Wayne Coyne stripped down to his birthday suit as the Flaming Lips delivered a typically eccentric, and undoubtedly impressive, cover of David Bowie‘s ‘Heroes‘ during an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in the US yesterday (May 16th).

Queens Of The Stone Age have released another video preview of their new album ‘…Like Clockwork‘ ahead of its release next month.

Bloc Party are recording a batch of new material which they hope to release in EP form later this year, that’s according to guitarist Russell Lissack.

Lissack told the Miami New Times that six tracks have been worked on, including one with the title ‘Children Of The Future‘. “We still need to do the vocals, but we’ve been working on six new songs,” Lissack reveals.

“Depending on how the finished things pan out, we’re either going to put out a single or an EP. I think in June or July. That’s one of the songs that could potentially be on it.”

“I think all six songs are very different. I think all the records we’ve made have been quite eclectic, and this EP is no different. I’m not sure ultimately what songs will be released, but there’s quite a variety of songs and sounds coming up.”

Bloc Party returned from a lengthy hiatus last year with the release of their imaginatively titled fourth album ‘Four‘.

Pogues guitarist Philip Chevron has revealed the cancer he was first diagnosed with in 2007 has returned, and is now ‘inoperable.

A statement on the band’s official website explains that doctors have discovered a new tumour which, due to its position, is not able to be treated. Chevron was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in the April of 2007, but was given the all clear just over a year ago.

“Chevron, who was last year part of the releases “The Pogues In Paris” on Polydor and the Radiators’ “Sound City Beat” on Chiswick, is currently taking a break from both bands,” the statement reads.

“The Pogues are on a prolonged time out, emerging only in support of matters relating to their 30th anniversary this year, while the Radiators from Space have formed a splinter group, The Trouble Pilgrims, in which Chevron plays no part. In recent times, Chevron has accepted several theatre music commissions, including the Old Vic Theatre in London and Galway’s Druid Theatre.”

“Philip thanks his friends, colleagues, family and management team for their enduring support and hopes to make some notable musical contributions before, as he puts it, the cancer becomes “lethal”.”

Philip Chevron joined The Pogues in time for their brilliantly raucous second album ‘Rum, Sodomy and The Lash‘, and went on to contribute a number of songs to the Pogues canon, including ‘Thousands Are Sailing’ which became a firm live favourite.

The odds on Daft Punk‘s ‘Random Access Memories‘ beating Oasis‘ long standing record for the fastest selling album in UK chart history have been slashed as the French duo’s new LP has sold over 500,000 copies since its release on Monday.

Franz Ferdinand have confirmed the details of their fourth studio album, the long awaited follow-up to 2009′s ‘Tonight: Franz Ferdinand‘.

Noel Gallagher picked up the Outstanding Collection prize at today’s prestigious Ivor Novello Awards – having earlier said he only attended because One Direction weren’t invited.

Sir Paul McCartney made an appearance in London last night (May 15th) to introduce the BAFTA presentation of his new Wings live DVD ‘Rockshow‘.