The first bands confirmed to play Augustibuller fest in Lindesberg, Sweden on August 6-7: Pridebowl (US), Stiff Breeze, Silver (NOR), Path Of No Return and Painfield. More info: http://www.augustibuller.com/

I first linked to a Norweigan article about it on 08/07, but now it's being carried elsewhere: ex-Aqua singer Lene Nystrøm punched out Danish record producer Jens Otto Paludan at his 40th birthday party after he reportedly made comments on her 'seductive dance moves' (as MTVE.com puts it). Her debut album "Play With Me" comes out soon and she will be posing for Playboy in the near future. "However I don't undress completely," she told BT magazine. "But I feel comfortable with doing that right now, because I've never felt better, physically and mentally. I have trained very much, two hours every morning with a personal trainer, and never felt that I looked so good in a bikini."

Check this out for profiles on a number of the Norweigan artists appearing at this year's Popkomm in Cologne, Germany. All four bands featured (x.lover, Silver, The Ricochets and Helldorado) are set to play a free show at the Underground Club there on August 14.

The Rasmus have announced they will play the Popkomm music industry conference/festival in Cologne, Germany on August 15. Other Scandinavian acts set to appear at various events during the festival include Si Begg, Silver, Ricochets, Helldorado, x.lover, Luomo, Covenant, The Gathering, Xploding Plastix, St. Thomas, Boomhauer, Thee Ultra Bimboos, and Screamin’ Stukas. More info: www.popkomm.de

Here's the updated tour schedule for the Ricochets:

07/03 - Quart Festival, Kristiandsand (NOR)
07/11 - Arvika Festival, Avrika (SWE)
07/25 - Måne Festival, Fredrikstad (NOR)
07/26 - 71 Graders Nord Festival, Laksekv (NOR)
08/02 - Slottsfjellet, Tønsberg (NOR)
08/05 - Ordlands Musikkfest Uke, Bodø (NOR)
08/06 - Øya Festival Kick Off / Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
08/09 - Malakoff Festival, Nordfjordeid (NOR)
08/13 - tba, Hamburg (GER) w/X.Lover, Silver
08/14 - Underground, Cologne (GER) w/X.Lover, Silver
08/15 - tba, Berlin (GER) w/X.Lover, Silver
08/16 - Debaser, Stockholm (SWE) w/X.Lover, Silver
08/21 - Kroa , Bø (NOR)
08/22 - Bjørnegilde, Oslo (NOR)
08/29 - Ørsta Festival, Ørsta (NOR)

The Whyte Seeds report they starting work on an album and video. Look for it in the future from StyleWar? As far as I know, the band is still planning to make it over to the US for SXSW. If I get any exact dates, I'll let you know.

Look for Peter, Björn & John to tour Scandinavia beginning in March.

Kristofer Åström's new "Dead End" EP comes out March 10. 5 new songs, including the track "One Good Moment" for which there will be a video. Preview the artwork here. It was painted by the bands' keyboardist Peter Hermansson and Kristofer remarks "I think it's brilliant and it really captures the title and the mood of the songs. (though some of my friend think these are happy songs. But their minds are fucked up anyway.)" Kristofer also says he's looking forward to doing a new album and maybe a new EP this summer, but I think he'll probably be quite busy with Fireside in the near future. We shall see.

as you can see, our good friend nicolai dunger has been hanging around. when we haven't been shoveling snow, we've been busy making records. just thought you might like to know..."

That note comes from the online journal of Mercury Rev who are working with Nicolai on his next album. There's not much to see, but there's a couple small picture available to view here.

A number of groups are expressing their dissatisfaction with the overtly commercial and pandering nature of the Norweigan by:Larm music festival. Well, now there's an alternative: the "Never Mind [by:Larm]" fest. Read more. Bands listed to play include Kaospilot, Rest of My Life, The Spectacle and more. (in Norweigan)

The BBC Radio One program One World recently travelled to Norway to do some live recordings and interviews for a feature on the history of Nordic electronica and its roots. Check it out. Look for more programs in the series later this month.

The return of Turbonegro is nigh! The new album "Scandinavian Leather" is due out on April 28 from Burning Heart and it will feature artwork from Klaus Voormann. He's the gent who designed and won a Grammy for the cover of The Beatles' "Revolver". And then, it's off on the road for a tour supporting Queens of the Stone Age. Should be a blast! Here's the dates so far:

3/14 - New Daisy Theater - Memphis, TN
3/15 - 40 Watt Club - Athens, GA
3/17 - The Marquee Theater - Jacksonville, FL
3/18 - Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale
3/19 - Twilight - Tampa, FL
3/20 - TBA
3/21 - Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL
3/22 - House of Blues - North Myrtle Beach, SC
3/23 - Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC
3/24 - Norva Theatre - Norfolk, VA
3/25-31 - TBA

After that, it's back to Europe for yet more touring. All Swedish dates will be supported by Norway's Silver, the rest by Division of Laura Lee:

4/29 - Frimis - Örebro, Sweden
4/30 - Vågen - Göteborg, Sweden
5/01 - Munchen Bryggeriet - Stockholm, Sweden
5/02 - KB - Malmö, Sweden
5/03 - Grosse Freiheit 36 - Hamburg, Germany
5/06 - Melkweg - Amsterdam, Netherlands
5/07 - Garage - London, United Kingdom
5/08 - King Tuts Wah Wah Hut - Glasgow, United Kingdom
5/09 - Hope & Grape - Manchester, United Kingdom
5/10 - Acedemy 2 - Birmingham, United Kingdom
5/11 - Whealans - Dublin, Ireland
5/13 - La Tranbendo - Paris, France
5/15 - Sala Jam - Bergara, Spain
5/16 - Aqualung - Madrid, Spain
5/17 - Apolo - Barcelona, Spain
5/19 - Transilvania - Milano, Italy
5/20 - Rote Fabrik - Zürich, Switzerland
5/21 - Elserhalle - München, Germany
5/22 - Longhorn - Stuttgart, Germany
5/23 - E-Werk - Köln, Germany
5/24 - PC69 - Bielefeld, Germany
5/25 - Columbia Halle - Berlin, Germany
5/27 - Siddishallen - Stavanger, Norway
5/28 - Haukelandshallen - Bergen, Norway
5/29 - Trondheim Spektrum/Nidarhallen - Trondheim, Norway
5/31 - Oslo Spektrum - Oslo, Norway
8/09 - Øya Festival - Oslo, Norway

Johan Bergqvist is planning on recording some new music soon. As of now, the plan is to do a two or three track single by himself with only acoustic guitar accompaniment.

The Cardigans will be appearing on MTV Up North on February 17 to talk about the new album and more.

Zip Records will be putting out the new record from The Virtues in the US around April. Details soon.