Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Per Gessle - Mazarin
02. Carola - Guld platina & passion - det bästa
03. Anders Johansson - If it's all I ever do
04. Tomas Ledin - I sommarnattens ljus
05. Pugh Rogefeldt - Pughs bästa
06. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
07. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
08. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
09. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
10. Tommy Körberg - Gränslös - det bästa med
11. Style, Sandelin & Ekman, Freestyle - Samlade hits
12. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
13. Moneybrother - Blood panic
14. Anna-Lotta Larson - Tidlöst
15. Da Buzz - More than alive
16. Lars Winnerbäck och hovet - Söndermarken
17. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
18. Alcazar - Alcazarized
19. Per Myrberg - Sommarnatt Per Myrberg sjunger Taube
20. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
02. Killer - Naughty Boy
03. Outlandish - Guantanamo
04. C21 - She Cries
05. Mando Diao - Sheepdog
06. Kashmir - Rocket Brothers
07. Timbuktu - The Botten Is Nådd
08. Da Buzz - Alive
09. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
10. Turbonegro - Fuck The World
11. User - Do You
12. Ingrid Marguerite - Everything I Need
13. Darude - Music
14. Remedeeh - Give That Dog A Bone
15. Superheroes - Someone Else
16. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
17. Equicez - Live From Pass It
18. Melody Club - Cover Girl
19. Prominent - Regrets
20. Bad Cash Quartet - Dirty Days

Challengers:
01. Club 8 - Saturday Night Engine
02. Amulet - Breaking News
03. Röyksopp - Sparks
04. Christian Kjellvander - Homeward Rolling Soldier
05. HIM - The Sacrament

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Outlandish - Guantanamo
02. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
03. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
04. Killer - Naughty Boy
05. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
06. Kashmir - Rocket Brothers
07. C21 - She Cries
08. Mando Diao - Sheepdog
09. Timbuktu - The Botten Is Nådd
10. Da Buzz - Alive
11. Turbonegro - Fuck The World
12. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
13. Darude - Music
14. Melody Club - Cover Girl
15. Superheroes - Someone Else
16. Ingrid Marguerite - Everything I Need
17. User - Do You
18. A-Teens - Perfect Match
19. Equicez - Live From Pass It
20. Bad Cash Quartet - Dirty Days

Challengers:
01. Magnus Carlson - Jag Ber Dig
02. Remedeeh - Give That Dog A Bone
03. Prominent - Regrets
04. David & The Citizens - New Direction
05. Slaptones - Love Comes Easy

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Songlines Magazine lists their top 50 'must-own' world music records in the new issue and have "Iki" from Värrtinä at number 24. The same issue also includes a 'Beginners Guide' to the band, too. (pdf format)

The Rasmus has posted their updated tour schedule:

06/20 - Jämsä Himos, Midsummer festival FIN
06/21 - Kouvola, Midnight Party Planet festival FIN
06/23 - Hamburg, Docks w/Evanescence DE
06/24 - Berlin, Kolumbiahalle w/Evanescence DE
06/26 - Munich, Elserhalle w/Evanescence DE
06/28 - Mannheim, MTV Campus Invasion, DE
07/03 - Midtfyn, Festival DK
07/05 - Kristianstad, Tivolirock SWE
07/06 - Turku, Ruisrock FIN
07/09 - Kangasala, Harju-festival FIN
07/11 - Vantaa, Hotelli Vantaa FIN
07/12 - Aitoo, Kirkastusjuhlat FIN
07/13 - Lappeenranta, Satamarock FIN
07/18 - Helsinki, Tavastia FIN
07/19 - Tampere, Tammerfest FIN
07/23 - Åland, Mariehamn FIN
07/24 - Gotland, NRJ Summer SWE
07/25 - Gävle, Gatufesten SWE
07/26 - Karlskoga, Stranddagar SWE
07/27 - Oslo, Norway Cup NOR
08/01 - Östersund, Storsjöyran SWE
08/02 - Tampere, Kukkaisrock FIN
08/03 - Vantaa, Ankkarock FIN
08/07 - Jyväskylä, Rally-happening FIN
08/08 - Lapua, Välipuistorock FIN
08/09 - Harjavalta FIN
08/10 - Skanderborg Festival DK

Logh's new drummer is Fredrik Normark. The band's statement:

"Someone said he looked like a younger version of Boba Fett of the Hellacopters but we think that's unfair or rather not true at all. You decide for yourselves when we put up a nice picture of him next to the beautiful ones of us."

Caesars Palace/The Caesars have once again revamped their website and added a bunch of new press clippings and a message board.

Madrugada has lined up a number of Norweigan gigs this summer:

06/26 - Ekstremsportveko, Voss
07/10 - Wrighte Gaarden, Langesund
07/12 - SommerMelbu, Melbu
07/17 - Molde Jazzfestival, Molde
08/02 - Slottsfjellfestivalen, Tønsberg
08/06 - Varangerfestivalen, Vadsø
08/07 - Varangerfestivalen, Vadsø
08/08 - Blæst, Trondheim
08/09 - Lost Weekend-Festivalen, Askøy

Backyard Babies have put up a video announcement on their website with some rehearsal footage and plenty of shaky camera work.

Unioncarbideproductions.com has put up the video for "Be Myself Again". (Windows Media)

Sahara Hotnights have their own personal drink recipes published in the new summer issue of Bust Magazine with Cher on the cover.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Outlandish - Guantanamo
02. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
03. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
04. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
05. C21 - She Cries
06. Kashmir - Rocket Brothers
07. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
08. A-Teens - Perfect Match
09. Da Buzz - Alive
10. Superheroes - Someone Else
11. Mando Diao - Sheepdog
12. Darude - Music
13. Turbonegro - Fuck The World
14. The Narcissists - Fanatik R.I.P
15. User - Do You
16. Melody Club - Cover Girl
17. Equicez - Live From Pass It
18. Antique - Moro Mou
19. Bad Cash Quartet - Dirty Days
20. Ingrid Marguerite - Everything I Need

Challengers:
01. Killer - Naughty Boy
02. Isolation Years - It´s Golden
03. Timbuktu - The Botten Is Nådd
04. Accu - Surrounding Love
05. Bobby - Losing Control

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Coming soon from Putrid Filth Conspiracy: Dödsdömb LP/CD, Kontrovers "När Spelreglerna Ändras" LP/CD and Embalming Theatre "Sweet chainsaw Melodies" LP. The Birdflesh "Night of the Ultimate Mosh" LP and Straight Edge Kegger "Armed Robbery" EP have been delayed, but they hope to have details on those releases soon.

Johan Bergqvist plans to lay low for most of the summer, but he says he'll be entering the studio around late July/early August to begin work on his debut full length.

Jaga Jazzist has a new website and some updated tourdates:

06/27 - Chech Rep, Prague, Open Air Festival
07/04 - Norway, Horten, Vestfoldfestspillene
07/05 - Norway, Kongsberg, Kongsberg Jazzfestival
07/06 - France, France, Eurokennes
07/08 - Luxemburg, Esch-alzette, Kulturfabrik (Venue show)
07/09 - Switzerland, Montreaux, Montreaux Jazzfestival
07/10 - Germany, Cologne, Stadtgarten
07/11 - Belgium, Dour, Dourfestival
07/12 - Belgium, Brugge, Cactus festival
07/13 - Holland, Haag, North Sea Jazzfestival
08/03 - England, Eastnor, Big Chill festival
08/08 - Norway, Oslo, Øyafestivalen
08/23 - Norway, Trondheim, Samfundet
08/28 - Norway, Bergen, Logen

Check out the flyer for the upcoming Uppsala Hardcore Summer Fest on June 23-24.

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Carola - Guld platina & passion - det bästa
02. Tomas Ledin - I sommarnattens ljus
03. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
04. Pugh Rogefeldt - Pughs bästa
05. Tommy Körberg - Gränslös - det bästa med
06. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
07. v/a - Fame factory visor
08. Da Buzz - More than alive
09. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
10. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
11. Style, Sandelin & Ekman, Freestyle - Samlade hits
12. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
13. Alcazar - Alcazarized
14. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
15. Martin Nilsson - En del av mig
16. Moneybrother - Blood panic
17. Eddie Meduza - Live(s)!
18. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
19. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
20. Per Myrberg - Sommarnatt Per Myrberg sjunger Taube

Göran Persson's response to Timbuktu's song "Ett Brev" has been published online: http://www.ssu.se/index.php4?page=108&ar_id=954
Anyone care to translate?

Per Gessle of Roxette has revealed the dates for his upcoming Swedish solo tour:

07/29 - Halmstad, Brottet
07/30 - Helsingborg, Sofiero Slott
08/01 - Skövde, Boulognersskogen
08/02 - Finspång, Rockslottet
08/03 - Varberg, Fästningsrundan
08/05 - Malmö, Mölleplatsen
08/06 - Göteborg, Trädgårdsföreningen
08/08 - Kalmar, Kalmarsundsparken
08/09 - Jönköping, Rådhusparken
08/10 - Karlskrona, Sparregården
08/12 - Stockholm, Sjöhistoriska Museet
08/14 - Sundsvall, Park Arena
08/15 - Leksand, Sammilsdal
08/16 - Karlstad, Mariebergsskogen
08/17 - Eskilstuna, Sundbyholm Slott

I glanced at a couple items about this yesterday, but was unable to adequately translate it myself. Seems that Illvastar, the ex-bassist for Norweigan black metallers Svartahrid decapitated a dead body and brought the head to a party. As to be expected, accusations of rampant drug-use and Satanism are being thrown around and there have been three suspects brought in on the case. Remember dudes, disembodied heads kill the party vibe and don't help you score with chicks. Read more:
http://www.nettavisen.no/servlets/page?section=1706&item=273076
http://www.nettavisen.no/servlets/page?section=1706&item=272923

Via pHinnWeb comes this link for a free download of Finnish electronic artist Outer Space Alliance's "Two-Wheeler" EP.

A number of artists appearing at Finland's Koneisto Festival are also doing related shows elsewhere around Europe:

06/27 - Club Prive, Tallinn, Estonia w/Pierre Ravan, Erkko, Dave Storm
07/03 - Cargo, London, UK w/Imatran Voima, Accu, Nuspirit Helsinki DJs, Nick Luscombe

And seeing how it is now Juhannus/Midsummer, here's the video for "Midsummer Night" from Jimi Tenor: QT high / QT low / Real

Added a new mp3 today from Last Days of April. Their latest album "Ascend to the Stars" just came out over here in the US and the track "Playerin" is easily my favorite from that release. In fact, it was my favorite summer single last year. Y'know those songs you sometimes hear on the radio around this time of year that seem to embody the essence of summertime? That song fits the bill perfectly. And as for this year, my pick (so far) would probably have to be "Reconsider Me" from Moneybrother. I figure y'all were just dying to know.

Otherwise, there's probably not going to be much news today as everyone is at Hultsfred fest it seems. Wish I was. Check out the Dagensskiva special on the event. Oh, and check out www.hultsfred.tv for more, too.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. Outlandish - Guantanamo
03. A-Teens - Perfect Match
04. Turbonegro - Fuck The World
05. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
06. Kashmir - Rocket Brothers
07. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
08. C21 - She Cries
09. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
10. Da Buzz - Alive
11. Equicez - Live From Pass It
12. HIM - Funeral of hearts
13. Mando Diao - Sheepdog
14. Antique - Moro Mou
15. Melody Club - Cover Girl
16. Darude - Music
17. The Narcissists - Fanatik R.I.P
18. Jon - This Side Up
19. Dallas Superstars - Fast Driving
20. The Klerks - Shame

Challengers:
01. Paula Lobos - Fuss & Fight
02. User - Do You
03. Ingrid Marguerite - Everything I Need
04. Bad Cash Quartet - Dirty Days
05. Superheroes - Someone Else

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Download the free, electronic Diskodiktator single for the track "Just Say 'No' to Democrazy!". A video for the song, his first one ever, is in the making. The full-length album "The World According To..." isn't out quite yet, but is already available for preorder.

Voidfaith Netzine has posted an interview with my pals KVLR. (in Swedish)

The Alpine, Moi Caprice, Baal, and Figurines are a couple of the bands confirmed for the Sydslesvig-Rocks in Schleswig, Germany on August 23.

Here's the full schedule for this weekend's Norweigan Wood Festival.

Norweigan jazz vocalist Silje Nergaard has been nominated for the Edison Jazz Award, which will be presented at the upcoming North Sea Jazz Festival on July 11-13. Other nominees for the award include Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall and Jimmy Scott. More info here: http://www.edisonaward.nl/Jazz/

And speaking of Norweigan jazz, acclaimed saxophonist Jan Garbarek will be on the BBC's Radio 3 Jazz on 3 radio show tomorrow at 11:30pm local time.

Since they didn't manage to send it to me yesterday as planned (ahem.), here's the rest of the playlist from the Galaxy Gramophone DJ night:

They also pass along word that they are encouraging more people to send them music to play, along with t-shirts to wear while spinning and whatever. Um, so like, send your goods to me and I'll make sure they get them, right? But seriously - if you're interested in sending stuff just drop me a line and I'll put you in touch.

Lambgoat.com reports that The Great Deceiver (Tomas from At the Gates/Skitsystem + members of Diabolique) will be touring Europe in October/November along with Swedish metal-wannabees Darkest Hour.

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Carola - Guld platina & passion - det bästa
02. Tomas Ledin - I sommarnattens ljus
03. Pugh Rogefeldt - Pughs bästa
04. Tommy Körberg - Gränslös - det bästa med
05. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
06. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
07. Da Buzz - More than alive
08. Alcazar - Alcazarized
09. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
10. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
11. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
12. Moneybrother - Blood panic
13. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
14. Style, Sandelin & Ekman, Freestyle - Samlade hits
15. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
16. v/a - Fame factory visor
17. Martin Nilsson - En del av mig
18. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
19. Eddie Meduza - Live(s)!
20. v/a - Fame Factory volym 5

Entombed has been forced to cancel their appearance at the BW&BK 6-Pack Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio on June 13-14 after drummer Peter Stjärnvind's wife was hospitalized. The cause of her ailments are still undiagnosed and of course Peter wishes to remain with her at this time. Guitarist Alex Hellid commented, "Peter is really upset by this. He doesn't want to be the cause of us not playing. We all know how important this show is/was. We are really sorry, for the fans and for ourselves, because we really wanted to play." Alex and frontman L.G. Petrov still plan to be in attendance at the fest to sign autographs and meet with fans. Other bands still scheduled to play include Evergrey, Trouble and Candlemass.

Nightwish has added a second date to their short US/N. American itinerary. After playing the ProgPower Festival in Atlanta on September 5 and at The Medley in Montreal, Canada on September 6, the band will play L'Amour in Brooklyn, NY on the 7th.

Trapdoor Fucking Exit has put up the video for the song "Short Term Investment", recorded live at Umeå Punkfest in 2001. Check it out.

Amulet recently filmed a video for the single "Breaking News". They say it "involves a low key gig at an abandoned house and a deathdefying girl in a van who brings terror to the city of Oslo." I'll let you know if they post in online.

Turbonegro's complete festival schedule for the summer:

06/02 - Flippaut festival, Bologna, Italy
06/05 - Ruisrock, Turku, Finland
06/12 - Hultsfred Festival Hultsfred, Sweden
06/20 - Kick off Festival, Wiesen, Austria
06/21 - Southside Festival, Neuhausen, Germany
06/22 - Hurricane Festival, Schlessel, Germany
06/27 - Roskilde Festival, Denmark
06/28 - Open Air, St Gallen, Switzerland
07/05 - London, Meanfiddler (clubshow) UK
07/12 - T in the Park, Kinross, Scotland, UK
08/07 - Nordland Musikkfestukke, Bodö, Norway
08/08 - Öya festivalen, Oslo Norway
08/09 - Wrightegaarden, Langesund, Norway
08/23 - Reading Festival, Reading UK
08/24 - Leeds Festival, Leeds, UK

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. Outlandish - Guantanamo
03. A-Teens - Perfect Match
04. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
05. Jennifer Brown - Weak
06. HIM - Funeral of hearts
07. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
08. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
09. Melody Club - Cover Girl
10. Darude - Music
11. Mew - Comforting Sounds
12. Kwan - Shine
13. Equicez - Live From Pass It
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
15. Elin Sigvardsson - Where To Start
16. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
17. Paragon - Försök Förstå
18. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz
19. Surferosa - Neon Commando
20. Homy - Bus Stop

Challengers:
01. Jon - This Side Up
02. Antique - Moro Mou
03. Fireside - All You Had
04. The Concretes - You Can´t Hurry Love
05. Kamera - At Work
06. C21 - She Cries

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Labrador Records is now distributed by Mortes Nois in Estonia. For more info email mrnois@hot.ee.

Dolores Records has announced they will be releasing a limited edition CD single for the new supergroup Vanessa and the O's on June 10. The band features ex-members of Popsicle along with James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins and is described as electronic pop in French. Crazy, eh? More info soon.

Bad Taste Records is the label of the month over at the Danish radio program New Rocking Sounds which airs Tuesdays at 8pm on 93.7 in Århus. They'll be interviewing Last Days of April, Logh and various others from the roster along with playng tunes from said bands. Be sure to check it out or wait for the clips to hit the online archives.

Listen to "Mattias Alkbergs Begravning" from Planekonomi, another band featuring Mattias from Bear Quartet. More info here. Look for 2 EPs this fall and a full-length sometime next year.

One of my pals over at indieworkshop.com reviews the new Flaming Sideburns album today.

"No one has satisfactorily explained why a country of 4.5 million generates so much music: is it the dark winters? Subsidised music lessons? Rubbish TV?" - John Bungey, The Times (UK)

Norweigan music appears to be making quite a few headways beyond their borders as evidenced in this article from MIC Norway. Turbonegro and Jaga Jazzist might be the first names to come to mind for most folk, but now there's also Beady Belle, Tord Gustavsen, Per Arne Glorvigen, and St. Thomas to pay attention to.

Johnny Bråttom Records will be holding a record release show on May 30 at Kulturkammaren in Norrköping for their forthcoming "Svensk Populärmusik Volym Två" compilation. The bands scheduled to appear are Slagsmålsklubben, recent Dolores-signees Cdoass, Bremen Brotröster GmbH, Björn Kleinhenz, and The Flu. As for the tracklisting of said comp, it is as follows:

01. Cdoass - The Box
02. Niccokick - Run, Run, Run
03. Björn Kleinhenz - How Long Is The Night?
04. Slagsmålsklubben - Filter Fabric Facts (DJ Upperkurt Instrumental Remix)
05. Idiot Savants - Daily Routine
06. Music 77 - Kameror
07. Pete Thompson - Folk Song
08. Lola Barbershop - Ticket To Happiness
09. The Kid - Baton Rouge
10. Junip - Turn To The Assassin
11. The Topeka Twins - Hunting Song
12. Menteroja - Call Me
13. Bremen Brotröster GmbH - Greater/Better
14. The Flu - Golden Hair
15. Celestine - Sunflower
16. José González - Heartbeats
17. Café Polymorf - A Good Time
18. Quit Your Dayjob - Pissing On A Panda
19. Joni - Frank Xerox
20. Ane Brun - Are They Saying Goodbye?
21. Sandy Mouche - A Year

Aftonbladet reports that famed Swedish videomaker Jonas Åkerlund is working with Blondie on the single "Good Boys" in LA. The new album ""The Curse of Blondie" comes out around September or October. Åkerlund's previous credits include artists such as Satyricon, Madonna, Metallica and The Prodigy.

This new album will be 'harder' than the previous one and more guitars. To sum it up: a groovier album!

That's Peter Tägtgren of Pain describing work on the new album. He says he's already finished all of the backing music along with five of the thirteen vocal tracks and should be able to have it out sometime this fall on Stockholm Records.

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
02. Alcazar - Alcazarized
03. Eddie Meduza - Live(s)!
04. v/a - Fame Factory volym 5
05. Moneybrother - Blood panic
06. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
07. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
08. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
09. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
10. Jill Johnson - Discography
11. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
12. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
13. Antique - Blue love
14. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
15. Monia - Söderns hjärtas ros
16. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
17. Elin Sigvardsson - Saturday light naive
18. Simson Dupont - Simson Dupont
19. Fame - Give me your love
20. The Sounds - Living in America

Tomas Ledin is going on tour in support of his new live album "I Sommarnattens Ljus" which comes out on June 2. The dates so far:

07/08 - Öja Slott, Öja
07/19 - Bergs Slussar, Linköping
08/03 - Stadsparken, Örebro

The lineup for Sommarrock, which takes place July 10-12 in Svedala, Sweden: Mikael Wiehe, Bubbles, Joddla w/Siv, Advance Patrol, The Ark, Danne Stråhed, Häjkån Bäjkån Band, The Mo and Di Leva.

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

Leaving the chart:
(10) Randy "A Man in Uniform"
(11) Solomon Burke "Soul Searching"
(12) Fireside "All You Had"
(13) Magnus Carlson "Jag ber dig"
(16) Queens Of The Stone Age "Go With The Flow"
(18) The Go-Betweens "Caroline and I"
(19) David & The Citizens "New Direction"
(20) Hot Hot Heat "Bandages"

The full details for Finland's Koneisto Festival has been released. Some of the artists scheduled to appear include Björn Torske, Ralph Myerz & Jack Herren Band, Erlend Oye (acoustic set + "magnificent singing DJ set"), Datarock, Jori Hulkkonen, Rinneradio (feat. Dj Slow, Siiri Nordin and MC Paleface) among many others. The acclaimed electronic music festival was the first of its type for all of Scandinavia and the selection of performers "seeks to establish an interesting balance between commercial and experimental music" over the event's 9 stages. It all goes down in Helsinki from July 25-27 and more info can be found from the fest's official website.

Blabbermouth reports that HIM will be touring Europe in support of Ozzy Osbourne and Godsmack this September. I'll keep you posted.

I fixed a typo in one of the Madrugada mp3 links. Sorry about that. They should all work okay now.

Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg will be holding a club three times a week all summer long called, ahem, Sommarklubben. Besides the usual DJs spinning there will also be live music. Scheduled so far:

06/06 - Royal Beat Conspiracy, Sparks of Seven
06/28 - Shout Out Louds, Homy
07/12 - David & the Citizens

More info when I get it.

The (International) Noise Conspiracy report that they are featured on a DJ Spooky mix that comes with the latest edition of Adbusters Magazine. Other artists including on the comp include Fugazi, Bad Brains, Sun Ra, and Public Enemy so check it out.

More entries on the ongoing media blitzkrieg from The Sounds - here's a number of upcoming American TV appearances they have scheduled:

05/22 - Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC, recorded in Las Vegas last week
05/26 - The View on ABC
TBA - Subterranean on MTV, more info to come

The Hellacopters have published their complete summer tour schedule:

05/31 - Donigton (GB) Download
06/07 - Nurburgring (D) Rock Am Ring
06/08 - Nurnberg (D) Rock Im Park
06/13 - Hultsfred (S) Hultsfredsfestivalen
06/14 - Berlin (D) Berlinova
06/15 - Oslo (N) Norwegian Wood
06/21 - Scheessel (D) Hurricane
06/22 - Neuhausen OE (D) Southside
06/27 - Kiruna (S) Kirunafestivalen
06/28 - Bonn (D) Rheinkultur
06/29 - Roskilde (DK) Roskildefestival
07/04 - Oulo (SF) Oluoln Yöt
07/05 - Turku (SF) Ruisrock
07/16 - Helsinki (SF) Olympiastadion w/The Rolling Stones
07/22 - Stockholm (S) Cirkus w/The Rolling Stones
08/02 - Korso (SF) Ankarock
08/30 - Jerez / Cadiz (ESP) Serie Z
09/12 - Stockholm (S) Gröna Lund
09/13 - Vitoria Gasteiz (ESP) Azkena

Burning Heart's latest signees Sparks of Seven have finally updated their website.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. A-Teens - Perfect Match
03. Outlandish - Guantanamo
04. HIM - Funeral of hearts
05. Darude - Music
06. Jennifer Brown - Weak
07. Kwan - Shine
08. Mew - Comforting Sounds
09. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
10. Equicez - Live From Pass It
11. Melody Club - Cover Girl
12. Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck - One Good Moment
13. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
15. The Jessica Fletchers - Let´s Go
16. Paragon - Försök Förstå
17. Surferosa - Neon Commando
18. Moon Gringo - Buzz Aldrin
19. Homy - Bus Stop
20. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz

Challengers:
01. D-Coy feat. Acorn - I´ll Be There
02. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
03. Charlie´s Magazine - Something That I Missed
04. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
05. Elin Sigvardsson - Where To Start

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Project-X will be having a record release show on May 31 for their new album "Modus Operandi" at Ground Zero in Växjö.

Here's the lineup for the 5th Fucking North Pole Festival which takes place over the next three days in Tromsø, Norway.

5/15 @ Driv: Amulet (Oslo), Turdus Musicus (Tromsø), Dominic (Bodø)
5/16 @ Driv: Misvær Ska Forening (Bodø), Lame Ducks (Oslo), Square (SWE)
5/16 @ Tvibit: Gatas Parlament (Oslo), Amulet (Oslo), Drunk (Oslo), Turdus Musicus (Tromsø)
5/17 @ Driv: DK (US), Os Replicantes (Brasil), Drunk (Oslo)
5/18 @ Driv: Mohammed(Horten), Los Fastidios (Italia), Nikkeby Lufthavn (Tromsø)

FNPF is the biggest independent rock festival in northern Norway and takes place twice a year. The next occurance is scheduled for sometime around September/October. More info here.

The German Phono Academy recently awarded Norway's Midnight Choir with a best album award in the rock/pop category for the album "Waiting for the Bricks to Fall". The award is given every quarter by "key industry representatives and respected music journalists" and qualifies the band for the album of the year competition.

This year's Nordic Council Music Award will be granted to an ethnic music artist. The nominees who will be competing for the 47k EUR prize:

Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra (DK)
Outlandish (DK)
Kimmo Pohjonen (FIN)
Gjallarhorn (FIN)
Kári Sverrisson (Faroe Islands)
Sigurður Flosason and Pétur Grétarsson (Iceland)
Steindór Andersen, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Sigur Rós (Iceland)
Mari Boine (NOR)
Solo Cissokho (NOR)
Ellika Frisell (SWE)
Ziya Aytekin (SWE)
Anna Thastum Kuitse (Greenland)

Read more. Previous winners of the prestigious award have been Sunleif Rasmussen (2002), Palle Mikkelborg (2001), and Kaija Saariaho (2000).

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
02. v/a - Fame Factory volym 5
03. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
04. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
05. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
06. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
07. Simson Dupont - Simson Dupont
08. Jill Johnson - Discography
09. Antique - Blue love
10. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
11. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
12. Moneybrother - Blood panic
13. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
14. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
15. Elin Sigvardsson - Saturday light naive
16. Gloria - People like you and me
17. The Refreshments - On the rocks
18. Roxette - The pop hits
19. The Sounds - Living in America
20. Mauro Scocco - Beat hotel

Aftonbladet has also published a short article discussing Magnus Carlson's (of the Weeping Willows) forthcoming solo album that he collaborated with Eggstone and film director Lukas Moodysson on. The record is called "Ett Kungarike För En Kram" and it hits stores on June 30. (in Swedish)

The Ark, Dom Galna Hundarna, The Narcissists, Shout Out Louds, Lola Barbershop and P-Danielsa are among the groups now confirmed for the Storsjöyran fest happening in Östersund this summer.

The guys from Looptroop are all hard at work on new projects. Promoe is in the process of doing a new solo album with a single to come in June. The other two guys, Cosmic and Embee aka Casual Brothers, have a new EP that also comes out in June that features a guest appearance by Christian Kjellvander of all people.

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

Leaving the chart:
(07) N.E.R.D. "Things Are Getting Better"
(09) Miss Universum "Fertilize"
(12) Millenia Nova Ft. Iggy Pop "Rockicide"
(13) The Knife "You Take My Breath Away"
(14) Radiohead "There There"
(15) Florence Valentin "Allt dom bygger upp ska vi meja ner"
(17) Ed Harcourt "Watching the Sun Come Up"
(18) Audio Bullys "The Things"
(19) Zwan "Lyric"

The Dandelions have added one more date to their upcoming London tour. The full itinerary is now as follows:

05/22 - Gaz's Rockin' Blues
05/23 - Dragon Bar
05/24 - Cobden Club
05/26 - The Beachclub at Notting Hill Arts Club (new)
05/27 - Eyelash at Pop

Lullacry and Naglfar have both announced that they will be making their US debuts at this year's Milwaukee Metalfest which takes place July 25-26. The new Lullacry single "Alright Tonight" comes out May 23 on Spikefarm Records and Naglfar's latest album "Sheol" came out last month.

Magnus from The Cardigans reports that "Long Gone Before Daylight" is currently being remixed for 5.1 sound systems at Medley Studios in Copenhagen. So yeah, those of you with home theatre stereo setups will be able to enjoy the record in full surround sound. No word on a release date yet, but I'll keep you posted.

Check out the Nordic Favorites compilation tracklist:

01. Bel Canto - You Rock My World Tonight
02. Eskobar - On The Ground
03. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
04. The Sounds - Living In America
05. Silje Nergaard - Be Still My Heart
06. Funkstar De Luxe W M Mann - Blinded
07. Gåte - Bendik Og År Olilja
08. Luke - Heavens On Fire
09. Grant - Just The Thing
10. Morten Abel - I'll Come Back And Love You Forever
11. Swan Lee - Tomorrow Never Dies
12. The Crash - Star
13. Maria Mena - Free
14. Kristofer Åström - All Lovers Hell
15. Cajsa Stina Åkerström - Himmel Över
16. Junior Senior - Move Your Feet
17. Lordi - Would You Love A Monsterman

Here's another mp3 from Randy's new album "Welfare Problems". The track is called "X-ray Eyes".

Fargo records has picked up Hederos & Hellberg's "Together in the Darkness" for release in the UK. The same label is also putting out the album in France and Spain this month. In related news, Silence is reporting that Mattias Hellberg is planning to record a solo album this summer.

I've already posted some of these dates, but here's a more complete list of the upcoming Gröna Lund shows this summer:

05/09 - Melody Club
05/23 - Dilba, Stephen Simmonds
06/18 - The Sounds
06/27 - Eric Gadd, Kaah
08/15 - Robyn
08/29 - Caesars Palace, Bad Cash Quartet
09/05 - bob hund
09/12 - The Hellacopters

Labrador Records will holding a mini-festival for the label featuring Chasing Dorotea, Laurel Music, Ronderlin plus Dj's: Pontus & Ramo (Douglas Heart) and Henrik Lyngåker (Sonic) at Bommens Salonger on May 9.

Here's an updated lineup for the 5th annual Nordic Roots Festival which takes place in Minneapolis from September 18-21: Filarfolket reunion, Ellika Frisell and Solo Cissokho, Maria Kalaniemi with Sven Ahlbäck and Johan Hedin, Gjallarhorn, Harv and the Swedish trio Nåra.

STIM reports that The Hives made it to #4 on the LA Times list of top 50 bands around today. Iggy Pop, White Stripes and Queens of the Stone Age took the top spots and fellow Swedes Soundtrack of Our Lives came in at a respectable 15.

Blood Music, Björns vänner, CK, Corduroy utd., Dub Sweden, Florence Valentin, Hell on Wheels, Paris and The Danny Says have all been confirmed for the Rundgångsfestivalen in Wämöparken on May 31.

P3 Musikjournalen has posted a whole slew of new confirmations for Kirunafestivalen, Storsjöyran, Spinnrock, Gatufesten. Midtfynsfestivalen and Norbergfestivale.

More on the Mando Diao drama, from Aftonbladet. (in Swedish)

Carnal Forge has announced that they have extended their contract with Centry Media for another two albums. Look for 'em on tour in America with the 2003 Metal Gods featuring Halford, Testament, Immortal, Primal Fear and Behemoth.

MTV Up North has moved to Thursdays with a new, extended format. Here's this week's chart:

01. HIM - Funeral of hearts
02. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
03. Mew - Comforting Sounds
04. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
05. A-Teens - Perfect Match
06. Kwan - Shine
07. Kashmir - Surfing The Warm Industry
08. Dub Sweden - Walk Me Home
09. Kari - Exile
10. Surferosa - Neon Commando
11. Paola - Interstellar Love
12. Moon Gringo - Buzz Aldrin
13. Melody Club - Cover Girl
14. Whyte Seeds - Slow motions
15. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz
16. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
17. Jennifer Brown - Weak
18. The Cardigans - For What It´s Worth
19. Equicez - Live From Pass It
20. Thomas Rusiak - Unicorn
Challengers:
01. Empire Dogs - The Dogs
02. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
03. Nik & Jay - Elsker Hende Mere
04. The Knife - You Take My Breath Away
05. Jamie Meyer - Good Girl

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Besides appearing on MTV Morning Glory back home in Sweden this weekend, The Sounds also have reviews published in US mags Billboard and Alternative Press. I'll try and track 'em down if I can.

Misconduct's video for their cover of Bob Marley's "Iron Lion Zion" will premiere on CTV's new program 'Nöjesnytt' on April 29. Singer Fredrik Olsson and bassist Andreas Wall will be on the show, too.

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
02. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
03. Jill Johnson - Discography
04. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
05. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
06. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
07. v/a - Fame Factory volym 4
08. Mauro Scocco - Beat hotel
09. Elin Sigvardsson - Saturday light naive
10. The Refreshments - On the rocks
11. Roxette - The pop hits
12. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
13. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
14. The Knife - Deep Cuts
15. Fireside - Get shot
16. Buddaboys - Lost people areas
17. Fernandoz - Vem får din kärlek i natt
18. Dilba - Revolution
19. Emil Sigfridsson - Tillbaka till igår
20. The Sounds - Living in America

The Shout Out Louds are hard at work on their upcoming debut full-length which is now scheduled to come out September 29. They also have a new single coming out in May for the track "Hurry Up Let's Go" which will include an unreleased song as a b-side. And that's not all - they're even fitting in some touring:

4/25 - Borlänge, Klubb Desired
4/26 - Lund, Klubb Blender
5/7 - Oslo, So What
5/23 - Umeå Studion, Folkets Hus
5/28 - Örebro, Kåren
5/30 - Uppsala, Stones-festivalen
5/30 - Stockholm, Popaganda
5/31 - Linköping, Rocksensation, Herrgårn
5/31 - Kalmar, Skälby
6/6 - Göteborg, Pustervik w/Marit Bergman

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

Leaving the chart:
(06) Jurassic 5 Ft. Mya "Thin Line"
(12) Asian Dub Foundation Ft. Sinead O'Connor "1000 Mirrors"
(14) Sean Paul "Get Busy"
(16) Blur "Out of Time"
(17) Outlandish "Guantanamo"
(19) First Floor Power "Happy Endings"
(20) The Concretes "You Can't Hurry Love"

'Against All Evens' is the name of the upcoming Second Gothenburg Biennale to take place May 24 - August 24 at Gothenburg Konsthallen. The event is being billed as "a resistance against all that which is vapid, indifferent and toothless" and will be curated by artist/musician Carl Michael Von Hauswolff. 27 concerts are scheduled to take place including performances by Tommi Grönlund (Sähkö Rec.) with Petteri Nisunen (FIN), John Duncan, Kim Gordon, Russell Haswell, Florian Hecker, Phill Niblock, Pita, Franz Pomassl and more. More info here.

Get a preview of the new Hell n' Diesel single in RealAudio format: "Tears for the Wicked" / "Rebel" / "Speed Devil"
Preorders are already being taken over at the Shuffle Records website.

Live4Metal is reporting that Enslaved was forced to cancel their show at The Garage in London tonight as the promotor seems to have bungled the job. Their statement:

Only about 65 advance tickets were sold and the promoters could not afford to pay the deposit to bring Enslaved over from Norway and have pulled the gig. Live4Metal were happy to be official sponsors of the event, but we have not even had any official notice from them and are as mystified as the support bands, anybody who bought a ticket and no doubt Enslaved themselves. All I can say is that there is a lesson to be learnt here and budding promoters should most definitely learn to walk before they try to run. Being as we are fair, we are willing to listen to the promoters' side of the story... but we are yet to hear from them.

A little bird has informed me that the new C.Aarmé 4-song 7" and The New Mess 3-song gatefold EP are now done and ready for ordering from Deleted Art.

Got a new mp3 today from yesterday's broadcast of the last Hederos & Hellberg show. I'll put the whole thing up eventually, but for now you can enjoy their Hellacopters cover done in their standard slowcore fashion. Of course, that also means the Kristofer Åstrõm mp3s will go away. Get 'em while you can, I guess.

Some words about Katatonia and their new album "Viva Emptiness":

Destructive, finite and somber, Viva Emptiness is, in fact, in a league of its own. - DigitalMetal.com

Katatonia are simply one of the finest European rock bands over the past decade, yet in Britain they remain virtually unknown - apart from readers of Terrorizer magazine. - DJ Martian

I, for one, am in total agreement. Definitely one of my most anticipated releases this year.

I'm happy to report the new Logh album is done! Read all about it.

Last Days of April will finally release their latest album "Ascend to the Stars" in the US on June 3 from Crank! Records.

Starmarket reports they have completed work on a seven-song demo in preparation for their next record to be recorded in June. Tentative titles so far include "Horse On the Run", "Biscuits for Everyone" and "Rendundance".

I missed it when it was first posted, but here's a short interview with Garm (or whatever you want to call him) from the always-interesting Ulver.

If you sign up for The Klerks mailing list, you get to listen to a preview of the new b-side "Moving Much Too Fast" from the single "Shame". Read more.

Check out the video for the new Millencolin single:

Battery Check: high / low
E20 Norr: high / low

For those that might be curious, here's a full report on The Sounds' recent trip to the US. (in Swedish)

The tracklisting for the upcoming Fireside album "Get Shot" (out April 7) has been announced:

01. All You Had
02. Follow Follow
03. The Betrayer
04. Backwards Over Germany
05. Throw It Away
06. I'm Coming Home
07. Problem (to You)
08. All Criminals Are Us
09. Swinging Sid's Chain Around
10. Player

View the cover art here. The next single will be "All You Had" and it'll be out either late March or April. A Swedish tour will follow, along with the following, already-confirmed shows:

5/02 - Hamburg, Molotow
5/03 - Köln, Underground
5/04 - Dresden, Star Club
5/05 - München, Orange House
5/07 - Bleu CH, Lézard
5/08 - Bern, CH, ISC
5/15 - Berlin, Magnet

Ulf Stureson will release his third solo album on April 11 on Silence Records and they swear it's his best to date. He's also playing at Nalen in Stockholm on April 10 with Florence Valentine, so get tickets here if you're interested.

The Swedish snowboarding movie 'Stomped' just came out on DVD over there and features music from Timbuktu, Fjärde Världen, Loop Troop and more.

Organism 12 is back in the studio working on his second album. Look for it this coming fall on JuJu Records. In other JuJu news, PSTQ is also starting to write for his next record. Again, look for it around fall.

Division of Laura Lee report that they are starting to plan for their next record (due out sometime in 2004) and a full US tour in the fall. For now, they just have a few more US dates lined up:

4/21 - Houston, Engine Room
4/22 - Austin, Emos
4/23 - Dallas, Gypsy Tea Room
4/25 - Phoenix, Mason Jar
4/26 - Coachella fest

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Kashmir - Surfing The Warm Industry
02. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
03. Roxette - Opportunity Nox
04. Mew - Comforting Sounds
05. C21 - You Are The One
06. St. Thomas -Long, Long Time
07. Winta - Emotions
08. The Raveonettes - Attack Of The Ghostriders
09. The Cardigans - For What It´s Worth

Challengers:
01. Paris - Streetlights
02. Satirne - Hey No Hell
03. Kwan - Shine
04. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
05. Ladybird - Dangerous To Me

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, The Ark and Mando Diao will be performing at Grönan Live this summer. If I remember right, something was said about this some time ago. Apparently this will also be TSOOL's only Swedish show this summer as they are expected to be working on a new album.

David & the Citizens have a new EP coming out April 7 called "New Direction". They've also got a couple gigs lined up with Laakso and Björns Vänner. Check it:

4/18 – Stockholm, Accelerator at Debaser
5/16 – Malmö, KB
5/23 – Göteborg, Pusterviksbaren

Aftonbladet is saying today that Lars Winnerbäck och Håkan Hellström are planning on doing the Kalas tour together. Read more. (in Swedish)

There's a new festival coming to Stockholm on May 31 called Stockholm Calling. Already confirmed for this year's event are The Cardigans, Thomas Rusiak and Christian Kjellvander, along with international acts Zwan and Placebo.

Randy is also planning to do some touring after their new album "Welfare Problems" comes out on April 14. The dates so far:

4/20 - Stockholm, Debaser
4/21 - Göteborg, Pusterviksbaren
4/22 - Oslo, So What
4/23 - Lund, Club Buster @ Mejeriet w/The Rogers Sisters

The band also promises to do a few more Scandinavian dates this summer, so don't despair. They also filmed a video for the track "A Man in Uniform" last weekend, so look for it soon.

Kajsa Grytt will hitting the road in support of her new album "Är Vi På Väg Hem?" starting in April. You can read more about her here (in Swedish). Otherwise, here's the dates:

4/13 - Örebro, Klubb Söndag
4/14 - Uppsala, Katalin
4/15 - Malmöm, KB
4/16 - Stockholm, Södra Teatern
4/17 - Göteborg, Nefertiti
5/17 - Jönköping, Kulturhuset

Looptroop and Fireside have been confirmed for this year's Popaganda Festival in Stockholm. Other bands already confirmed include Buck, Bad Cash Quartet, Shout Out Louds and Franke.

And speaking of the Shout Out Louds, they are the band of the week over at MTVE.com. Check it.