Sondre Lerche will once again be opening for Elvis Costello on tour in the US this coming April. Dates here: http://www.sondrelerche.com/schedule.asp

The nominees for the 2005 Spellemannspris, Norway's equivalent to the Grammy, have been announced. Here's a selection of the categories:

Female artist:
Maria Solheim - "Frail"
Sissy Wish - "You May Breathe..."
Bertine Zetlitz - "Rollerskating"

Male artist:
William Hut - "Versus the End of Fashion Park"
Sondre Lerche - "Two Way Monologue"
Odd Nordstoga - "Luring"

Pop act:
Kings of Convenience - "Riot on an Empty Street"
The National Bank - "The National Bank"
Savoy - "Savoy"

Rock:
Gluecifer - "Automatic Thrill"
Gåte - "Iselilja"
Span - "Mass Distraction"
Tellusalie - "Tangerine Dreams"
WE - "Smugglers"

Electronica/contemporary:
Biosphere - "Autour de la lune"
Deathprod - "Morals and dogma"
Lars horntveth - "Pooka"
Lasse marhaug - "The shape of rock to come"

Metal:
Black Debbath - "Den femte statsmakt"
Enslaved - "Isa"
Mayhem - "Chimera"

Hip-hop/R&B:
Jaa9 & Onklp - "Sjåre brymæ"
Madcon - "It's all a madcon"
Tungtvann - "Iii:folket bak nordavind"

Jazz:
Børre Dalhaug - "Bigbandblast!"
Sharp 9 - "No:network"
Skomsork - "Skomsork"
Solveig Slettahjell - "Silver"
Petter Wettre - "Hallmark moments"

Open category:
Frode Fjellheim - "Aejlies gaaltije - the sacred source"
Karl Seglem - "Femstein"
Trygve Seim - "Sangam"
Susanna and the Magical Orchestra - "List of lights and buoys"
Transjoik - "Uja nami"

Music video:
Margaret Berger - "Lifetime guarantee"
Illumination feat. Anneli Drecker - "Kool karma"
Jim Stärk - "Morning song"
Kings of Convenience - "I'd rather dance with you"
Bertine Zetlitz - "Fake your beauty"

Newcomer of the year:
Annie - "Anniemal"
Margaret Berger - "Chameleon"
Madcon - "It's all a madcon"
Side Brok - "Høge brelle"
Span - "Mass distraction"

Hit of the year:
Erik Faber - "yesterday's call"
Jim Stärk - "Morning song"
Kurt Nilsen - "My street"
Odd Nordstoga - "Kveldssong for deg og meg"
Ravi & Dj Løv - "Dødsøt"

Winners will be announced on February 26. Read more: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2005010714073264546578

The AMG best-of-2004 list includes Jens Lekman, Sondre Lerche and The Legends: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=23:ZZ~T3

New UK dates in 2005 for Sondre Lerche:

02/25 - Wheelans, Dublin
02/26 - King Tuts, Glasgow
02/28 - University, Newcastle
03/01 - Night And Day, Manchester
03/02 - Arts Centre, Norwich
03/03 - Komedia, Brighton
03/04 - Social, Nottingham
03/05 - Louisianna, Bristol
03/07 - Academy, Birmingham
03/08 - Zodiac, Oxford
03/09 - Islington Academy, London

A new web diary post from Sondre Lerche: http://www.sondrelerche.com/diary.asp?id=65

David at esteemed mp3 blog Music (for Robots) offers up a track each from Norway's Kings of Convenience and Sondre Lerche: http://music.for-robots.com/archives/000665.html

The nominees for Norway's Alarm Prize have been announced:

Video:
Ugress - Manhattan Sapphire
Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue
Ravi & DJ Løv - Dødsøt
Wibutee - We Are In Space, So Are You
Kings Of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You

Rock:
Gåte - Iselilja
International Tussler Society - s/t
Gluecifer - Automatic Thrill
Euroboys - Soft focus
WE - Smugglers

Pop:
Thomas Dybdahl - One Day You'll Dance For Me, New York City
Kings of Convenience - Riot on an empty street
Minor Majority - Up for you and I
Annie - Anniemal
Bertine Zetlitz - Rollerskating

Metal:
Red Harvest - Internal Punishment Programs
Khold – Mørke Gravers Kammer
Mayhem – Chimera
Enslaved – Isa
Darkthrone – Sardonic Wrath

Hip-hop/rap:
Tungtvann - III: Folket Bak Nordavind
Jaa9 & OnklP - Sjåre Brymæ
Gatas Parlament – Fred, frihet & alt gratis
Karpe Diem – Glasskår
Madcon – It’s All A Madcon

Electronica:
Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band - Your New Best Friends
Mental Overdrive - 083
Snuten with friends - We Are The Future
Ost & Kjex - Some, But Not All Cheese Comes From The Moon
Illumination - The Poppy Rocks

Jazz:
Scorch Trio - Luggumt
Lars Horntveth - Pooka
Wibutee - Playmachine
Susanna & The Magical Orchestra - A list of lights and buoys
The Thing - Garage

P3 prize for best song:
National Bank - Tolerate
Annie - Chewing Gum
Jim Stärk - Morning Song
Kings Of Convenience - I’d Rather Dance With You
Euroboys - One Way Street

Live:
Gåte
Tussler
Thomas Dybdahl
Ralph Myerz
WE

Newcomer:
Samsaya
Bonk
Samsaya
The Beautiful People
Annie

Winners will be announced February 5, 2005. Go here for more info and to vote: http://www.alarmweb.org/

Sondre Lerche lists 24 of his most favorite songs that he heard for the first time this past year: http://www.sondrelerche.com/news.asp?id=87

A new web diary entry from Sondre Lerche: http://www.sondrelerche.com/diary.asp?id=63

Sondre Lerche has posted a new web diary entry: http://www.sondrelerche.com/diary.asp?id=62

Sondre Lerche checks in from Pittsburgh and reflects on the greatness of Whole Foods: http://www.sondrelerche.com/diary.asp?id=61

The nominees have been announced for the MTV Europe awards. Maria Mena, Saybia, Sahara Hotnights, Sondre Lerche and The Hives are up for the "Best Nordic act" prize. The Hives are also nominated for "Best alternative" and The Rasmus are up for "Best new act". Go here to vote: http://ema.nordic.mtve.com/ema2004/

Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - Guilty
02. Snook - Mister Cool
03. Ana - We Are
04. Johnny De Luxe - Drømmer jeg
05. Tungtvann - Plan B
06. Kemopetrol - My Superstar
07. Maria Mena - Just A Little Bit
08. Saybia - Brilliant Sky
09. Ayesha - Fire
10. Beats And Styles - Dance Dance Dance
11. Melody Club - Take Me Away
12. Christian Walz - Wonderchild
13. Sondre Lerche - Days That Are Over
14. The Confusions - Window
15. Empire Dogs - Oh Lord
16. Erik Faber - Yesterday´s Call
17. Moder Jords Massiva - Out of My Hands
18. Maria Arredondo - Mad Summer
19. Venke Knutson - Kiss
20. Kleen Cut - Hands Up

Challengers:
01. Private Line - 1-800-Out Of Nowhere
02. Bring Me The Fucking Riot Man - The Riot Boys Got Your Soul
03. Moi Caprice - Riding In Cars With Girls
04. Anna Ternheim - To Be Gone
05. Bomfunk MC's - No Way In Hell
06. Sugarplum Fairy - Sweet Jackie

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

Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. Nightwish - Wish I had an angel (FIN)
02. Nine - Anxienty report (SWE)
03. The Rasmus - Guilty (FIN)
04. Johnny Deluxe - Drömmer jeg? (DK)
05. Snook - Mister Cool (SWE)
06. Ville Pusa - I dina ögon (FIN)
07. Sondre Lerche - Days that are over (NOR)
08. Annie - Chewing gum (NOR)
09. Björk - Oceania (ICE)
10. Gimmel - Pisaroita ja kyyneleitä (FIN)

Challengers:
11. Indica - Ikuinen virta (FIN)
12. Günther - Teeny weeny string bikini (SWE)
13. Lazyboy - Facts of life (DK)

Sondre Lerche makes media recommendations in a new web diary entry: http://www.sondrelerche.com/diary.asp?id=60