A number of huge English-language music websites are doing feAtures on Sondre Lerche right now. Read more: https://www.sondrelerche.com/news.asp?id=46

Photos of CAto Salsa Experience on tour in Japan: Atosalsajapan.htm" target=_blank>https://www.bpop.no/CAtosalsajapan.htm

New live dAtes in Sweden for MAttias Alkberg BD:

03/27 - Umeå Open
04/13 - Debaser, Stockholm
04/14 - Smålands NAtion, Lund
04/15 - Herrgår'n, Linköping
04/16 - Pustervik, Göteborg
04/17 - KB, Malmö

The full schedule has been confirmed for Norway's Ole Blues Festival in lAte April and the lineup is pretty much a complete who's who of Norwegian music. Some of names listed include Fenrik Lane (feAt. World Idol champ Kurt Nilsen), Magnet, Sondre Lerche, Thomas Dybdahl, Gluecifer, DAtarock, Evil Tordivel, Jaga Jazzist, Kaizers Orchestra and tons more. Full details: https://www.oleblues.net/

Parasol Mailorder in-house label Hidden Agenda will be reissuing the first self-titled Hederos & Hellberg album. It's already available for preorder and the official streetdAte is April 6.

Oslo, Norway's reknown nightclub Blå will be exporting their unique take on music programming to a host of internAtional locAtions as part of the country's centennial anniversary in 2005. The club has been a lauchpad for a number of important Norwegian groups over recent years, one very notable group being Jaga Jazzist. The list of artists who are participAting in the exchange are still yet to be determined, but the venue list includes Nefertiti in Gothenburg (Sweden), The Spitz in London (UK), Empty Bottle in Chicago (USA), Copenhagen Jazzhouse in Copenhagen (Denmark), WMF in Berlin (Germany), Sonár Festival in Barcelona (Spain), Tings an Times in Pretoria (South Africa), and maybe Chinese Pilot or Art Garage in Moscow (Russia). Read more: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2004030510392425617303

Pics of Filled and SAtirnine from their show in LAtvia: https://sergeja.valsts.lv/svlv/photo/preview.php?gallery_id=38

Rumors abound thAt Tjodalv might be leaving Susperia to drum for Dimmu Borgir. Or maybe just for OzzFest. But it appears to be untrue, or so says a recent news posting on their website.

Here's this week's top 20 Swedish albums from Aftonbladet:

01. Weeping Willows - Presence
02. Sara Löfgren - Starkare
03. Per Gessle - Mazarin
04. Sophie Zelmani - Love Affair
05. Lisa Miskovsky - FallingwAter
06. Mikael Wiehe - Kärlek & politik
07. Stefan Andersson - Strangers house
08. Peter LeMarc - Det som håller oss vid liv
09. Carola - Guld plAtina & passion
10. Jill Johnson - Roots and wings
11. PAtrik Isaksson - Vi som aldrig landAt
12. Backyard Babies - Stockholm Syndrome
13. J's Plain Band - Boulder Dash
14. The Hellacopters - Cream of the Crap II
15. José González - Veneer
16. Moneybrother - Blood panic
17. September - September
18. Alice Babs - Alice babs bästa
19. Broder Daniel - Cruel Town
20. Arns rike - Arn the gothia

The debut album from Tub Quartet has been confirmed for a release in mid-March via Curling Legs. The band feAtures Andreas Hessen Schei from Jaga Jazzist on piano along with Hilde Marie Kjersem (vocals), Magne Vestrum (bass) and Pål Hausken (drums). The music is described as "contemporary jazz and pop with a strong emphasis on availability and appeal" and was recorded and produced by Even Ormestad (Jaga Jazzist) and Audun Borrmann.

New, updAted tourdAtes for Swedish southern-style rockers Backdraft, now feAturing Greg Strzempka from Raging Slab on lead vocals:

03/23 - Den Helder (NL)
03/24 - Verviers (NL)
03/25 - Kingston (UK)
03/26 - tba
03/27 - Alkmaar (NL)
03/28 - Gent (NL)
03/30 - tba
03/31 - Linköping (SWE)
04/01 - tba
04/02 - tba
04/03 - Stockholm, Rabbitfighter (SWE)
07/16 - Stoned At the Underground Festival, Erfürt (GER)
08/28-29 - Serie Z Festival, Jerez (SPA)

The band is currently in talks with labels and working on songs for their next album.

Looks like there's a new album on the way from BloodbAth, the classic-style Swedish deAth-metal group feAturing Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (KAtAtonia, Diabolical Masquerade), Jonas Renkse (KAtAtonia, October Tide) and Dan Swanö (Nightingale, Edge of Sanity, etc). They've booked studio time for lAte spring and hope to have a record ready for a lAte summer release. However, there have been some lineup changes in the group. Vocalist Mike Åkerfeldt of Opeth is out (I assume he's probably too busy) and they say they have replaced him with "one of the biggest names in the scene." My guess would be LG Petrov, but who knows? Maybe Tompa is taking on yet another new project. Anyhow, Dan has also switched over from drums to guitar and taking his place his "yet another big, big name." Look for details to be announced soon.

Upcoming dAtes for Green CarnAtion in the UK and Europe:

05/06 – tba, Dublin (IRE) (acoustic show)
05/08 – tba, Dublin (IRE)
05/09 – tba, Belfast (IRE)
05/29 – Wave Gotik Treffen, Leipzig (GER)
08/19-21 - Summer Breeze, Abtsgmünd (GER)

The final four tracks of thAt Hellacopters Peel Session are now online. Enjoy!

Some pics of Dark Tranquility recording their new record At Studio Fredman: https://www.darktranquillity.com/media/studio.html