Leeds post-rockers iLiKETRAiNS have revealed details about their upcoming debut album and mega-huge autumn tour.

'Elegies to Lessons Learnt' will be released in the Uk and Europe on October 1st (9th October in the US) and will be preceded by a single, 'The Deception on September 10th.

The Dates:

September
2 Cambridge Lodestar Festival
8 Milton Keynes Mad Dogs And Englishman Festival
9 Isle Of Wight Bestival
10 Bristol Carling Academy
11 Cardiff Barfly
12 Exeter Cavern
13 Southampton Joiners
14 Brighton Barfly
16 Northampton Soundhaus
17 BirminghamBarfly
18 Sheffield The Plug
19 Manchester Academy 3
20 Stoke Sugarmill
22 York Fibbers
23 Newcastle Carling Academy 2
24 Aberdeen Tunnels
25 Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire
26 Glasgow King Tuts
27 Leeds Cockpit
29 Oxford Zodiac
30 Leicester Charlotte

October
1 Cambridge Soul Tree
2 Hertford Marquee
3 London Scala
4 Colchester Arts Centre
5 Norwich Arts Centre
6 Nottingham Social
JB

Those of you still recovering from this year's springtime All Tomorrow's Parties weekends in Minehead will be thrilled to learn that Portishead are set to curate the Christmas edition. Presumably their relatively low travel expenses swung it for them. MB

Reuben, you know who they are, will release their third album 'In Nothing We Trust' this summer. In support of this they have announced a fairly comprehensive of these isles. Kicking off in Brighton in September they will play the following venues:

September
18 Brighton Concorde 2
19 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
21 Newcastle Academy 2
22 Inverness Ironworks
23 Glasgow Garage
24 Manchester Academy 3
25 Birmingham Academy 2
26 Bristol Academy
28 Oxford Zodiac
29 London Mean Fiddler

October
4 Belfast Spring And Airbrake
5 Dublin Voodoo
6 Galway Roisin Dubh JB

That's right folks! San Diegan noise mentalists The Locust will be hitting these shores - and Ireland too - this autumn.

'New Erections', the bands second album was released this year to much critical acclaim. Go buy it like!

See them here:

September
13 Bristol Thekla
14 Sheffield Corporation
16 Brighton Pressure Point
17 London Scala
19 Dublin Whelan's
20 Belfast Lavery's Bunker
JB

First off, as reported elsewhere, Explosions In The Sky will not be playing this years festival - they've pulled out due to a family illess.

For those of you lucky enough to be heading to the festival, here are the stage times:

Friday
Pavilion Stage
20.30 - 22.00 MOGWAI
18.30 - 20.00 YO LA TENGO*
Centre Stage
00.45 - 01.45 YOUTHMOVIES
23.30 - 00.15 AKRON/FAMILY
22.15 - 23.00 ALEXANDER TUCKER
20.30 - 21.45 SPARKLEHORSE
19.00 - 20.00 THE NOTWIST
17.45 - 18.30 DANIEL JOHNSTON
16.30 - 17.15 THE THERMALS
Reds stage
00.45 - 01.45 SUBTITLE
23.30 - 00.15 DEATH VESSEL
22.15 - 23.00 TALL FIRS

Saturday
Pavilion Stage
20.45 - 22.00 PATTI SMITH
18.45 - 20.15 WILCO
17.00 - 18.15 THE GO! TEAM
14.00 - 15.00 SHELLAC
Centre Stage
01.15 - 02.15 65DAYSOFSTATIC
00.00 - 00.45 TRANS AM
22.45 - 23.30 THE BOOKS
21.00 - 22.15 CORNELIUS
19.15 - 20.15 LES SAVY FAV
18.00 - 18.45 BATTLES
16.45 - 17.30 CLINIC
15.15 - 16.15 CURRENT 93
Reds stage
01.00 - 02.00 EDAN AND MC DAGHA
23.45 - 00.30 WHY?
22.30 - 23.15 APPLES IN STEREO
21.00 - 22.00 TWO GALLANTS
19.30 - 20.30 GHOST
18.00 - 19.00 OKKERVILL RIVER
16.30 - 17.30 ANNUALS

Sunday
Pavilion Stage
20.30 – 22.00 ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
18.30 – 20.00 MODEST MOUSE
17.00 – 18.00 BAT FOR LASHES
15.00 – 16.15 SLINT
Centre Stage
00.00 – 01.00 GRIZZLY BEAR
22.45 – 23.30 CAPRICORNS
21.00 – 22.15 BUILT TO SPILL
19.45 – 20.30 ISIS
18.30 – 19.15 BAND OF HORSES
17.15 – 18.00 ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI
16.00 – 16.45 MICAH P HINSON
14.30 – 15.30 DO MAKE SAY THINK
13.00 – 14.00 SHELLAC*
Reds Stage
23.30 – 00.15 SUBTLE
22.00 – 23.00 BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT

Obviously times are likely to change, it is a festival after all. JB

In what is perhaps the most upsetting news story of the year so far, for this particular writer at least, Scottish post-rockers Aereogramme have announced that they are to split.

In a career spanning 4 quite stunning albums Aereogramme slowly built up a steady and loyal fanbase, I'm sure they will be sorely missed.

Here's what the band had to say:

"It is with heavy hearts that we tell you all that Aereogramme have decided to split up. Reasons are multiple and complex. It is however fair to say that the never ending financial struggle coupled with an almost superhuman ability to dodge the zeitgeist have taken their toll, ensuring that we just don't have any fight left in us. We are immensely proud of the four albums that we made over the past seven years. We hope that they continue to grow in your hearts. We plan to honor and celebrate the beautiful friendships we have made along the way with these final shows over the summer." JB

London singer-songwriter type Jack Peρate is heading out on yet another UK tour in June. After completeing 33 dates throughout March and April Jack has announced a further 11 dates:

June
16 Glasgow King Tuts
17 Leeds Cockpit
18 Nottingham Rescue Rooms
19 Stoke Sugarmill
20 Liverpool Academy 2
26 Birmingham Barfly
27 London Scala
28 Manchester Academy 3
29 Brighton Concorde 2
30 Bristol Thekla

July
1 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
JB

Manchester pop idols New Order have confirmed that they have split, 27 years after they originally formed. Bass player Peter Hook was asked during an XFM interview whether New Order had finished to which he replied:

"Well yeah, me and Bernard aren't working together."

Insightful. JB

Chicago four-piece The Ponys are heading back to the UK this month for a tour in support of their recent album 'Turn The Lights Out'.

According to Time Out magazine The Ponys "rock like a hurricane". So if you're looking to be blown away, catch them at the following venues:

May
17 Manchester The Late Room
18 Liverpool Evol @ Korova
19 Glasgow The Admiral
20 Nottingham The Social

June
7 London Water Rats
JB

Alex James, of Blur fame has confirmed that guitarist Graham Coxon is rejoining the band. He will join his former band members, Alex James, Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree in the studio this summer and there the band will decide whether to record a new album or officially call it quits. JB

As reported by www.punknews.org.

Nintendo-core metal act HORSE the Band are claiming that Irish Indie-rockers Snow Patrol have ripped off their video for "Birdo" in their new Spiderman 3 soundtrack song "Signal Fire".

The band explain:

OK so we were watching TV last night and this Snow Patrol video for Spiderman 3 comes up, and we're watching it, and all of a sudden things start to seem very similar to our video for Birdo, which we shot in like 2005. Everything from the opening shot to the Asian audience members to the faces the band makes to the action scenes between the kids. And way more. It's like some dude saw the video and made a a $500,000 version of it.

Have you seen either video? Got any thoughts? Head over to our Talk section and let us know what you think. JB

Dirtee Stankin to be precise.

Dylan Mills, more commonly know as Dizzee Rascal will be joining acts from his Dirty Stank label on an upcoming UK tour named; Dizzee Rascal Presents Dirtee Stankin. The other acts featured are Newham Generals and DJ Tubby. No, I don't have a clue either.

The Dates:

May
25 Plymouth University
26 Falmouth Stannary (University of Exeter)
31 Glasgow Arches

June
1 Edinburgh Liquid Room
2 Sheffield Plug
14 London Koko
21 Cambridge Junction
22 Brighton Concorde 2 JB

Poorly named but otherwise ace London-town venue The Spitz has been given six months' notice on its site at Spitalfields Market. You can add your voice to the calls for it to stay put here. MB

Indie singer/songwriter Joan Wasser, aka Joan As Police Woman is heading back to the UK for a full solo tour in May ending with a full band headlining show in July.

Dates:

May
24 Kendal Brewery Centre
25 Gateshead The Sage
27 Birmingham Glee Club
29 Newbury Corn Exchange
30 Leicester Y Theatre

July
11 London Shepherds Bush Empire

Click on this little beauty for songs. JB

Saddle Creek songstress Maria Taylor will be heading to our rainy shores next month for a short tour. Catch her here:

May
9 Brighton The Hope
10 London Metro
12 Manchester Phoenix
13 Glasgow Nice N Sleazy
14 Newcastle Cumberland Arms
JB

Recently reformed US rockers The Smashing Pumpkins have announced the tracklisting for their upcoming 6th studio album 'Zeitgeist. Released on July 7th it will feature the following tracks:

1. "Doomsday Clock"
2. "7 Shades of Black"
3. "Orchid"
4. "That's the Way"
5. "Tarantula"
6. "Starz"
7. "United States"
8. "Never Lost"
9. "Bring the Light"
10. "Come On (Let's Go)"
11. "For God and Country"
12. "Pomp and Circumstance"
JB

The Go! Team have announced a string of dates in places in the south of England that aren't London. They are: Portsmouth (May 17); Northampton (June 12); Colchester (June 13); and Reading (June 14). Click-me-do MB

Man, I really need to get working on my 'witty' headlines. Seattle based rockers Minus the Bear have recently announced that their new record Planet of Ice is complete. The band, featuring members of Botch, Killsadie and Sharks Keep Moving, entered the studio in January to record their 4th album.

No release date has been announced yet.

Tracklisting:
1. Burying Luck
2. Ice Monster
3. Knights
4. White Mystery
5. Dr. L'Ling
6. Part 2
7. Throwin' Shapes
8. When We Escape
9. Double Vision Quest
10. Lotus
JB

New York shoegazers Asobi Seksu are set to release their debut album on these shores.

The self titled album, released May 28th, will be preceded by a single 'Walk On The Moon' which will be realeased May 21st.

A second single will be released in July which will be immediately followed by a second studio album, 'Citrus' on July 16th.

UK autumn tour dates will be announced shortly. JB

Tickets for Truck Festival 2007 will go on sale next week. 1500 will be available from shops in Oxfordshire and Reading and 2000 will be made available online.

If you want to buy your tickets online then you'll have to register with the site to get priority. The remainging tickets will go on general sale shortly afterwards.

The festival will take place on the weekend of July 21 and 22nd, with tickets priced £55. This covers camping on the Saturday and Sunday nights. Parking will remain free. Last year Truck raised £57,000 for charities.

Ticket outlets:

Fopp, Oxford 01865 251918
Fopp, Reading 01189 391493
Dawsons, Abingdon 01235 524316
Windjammer, Didcot 01235 818511
Rapture, Witney 01993 700567
Peter James, Wantage 01235 763547
Toby English Books, Wallingford 01491 836389
JB