Speaking of the Latebirds, the band just finished mixing their new album "Finsomnia" at East Iris Studios in Nashville, TN with producer/engineer Charlie Brocco on the boards. Guests on the record include Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Wayne Kramer (MC5), Ken Stringfellow (Posies, REM, Big Star) as well as several guys from Wilco. The first single is due in May, the album in August.

The new Svenska Akademien album "Resa sig opp" comes out May 25. The first single "Du will så du kan" will be released for free online soon.

It's a bit late for some of the shows, but Norwegian singer/songwriter St. Thomas is on tour in the US right now doing a bunch of dates with Of Montreal. Details: https://www.stthomas1976.net/thomas/

Swedish singer/songwriter Anna Ternheim will be releasing a five-song cover EP in the near future.

Sondre Lerche recently recorded three new songs in LA with acclaimed producer/musician/artist Raphael Saadiq. No word on where they will end up yet, but I'll let you know. Read more about it here: https://www.sondrelerche.com/diary.asp?id=67

Jens Lekman recently posted a new blog entry about his upcoming tour plans, his lovelife, Australian music and more: https://www.geocities.com/glovecompart/smalltalk.html

Quit Your Dayjob is currently at Mission Hall Studios recording a new album tentatively slated for an August release.

Danish pyschobilly act PowerSolo will support the Blues Explosion for a few dates around Scandinavia:

04/29 - Sticky Fingers, Göteborg (SWE)
04/30 - Mondo, Stockholm (SWE)
05/01 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
05/03 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)

Finnish hardcore act On a Solid Rock has broken up: https://www.onasolidrock.cjb.net/ (in Finnish)

Swedish metalcore act Nine has announced the official addition of drummer Karl Torstensson and 2nd (live) guitarist Oskar. Previous drummer Tor Castensson has decided to stay home and concentrate solely on his studio and has already has his position covered by Karl in the past. In other news, the band reports that the new album is finished and will be released sometime this coming fall. More info when I get it.

Swedish hardrockers Mustasch have confirmed that their upcoming as-yet-untitled new album will be released on May 25. The first single for the song "Dogwash" (b/w "No religion") comes out May 4.

Millencolin has a blog now: https://www.millencolin.com/blog/

All is not well with The Mo. Read the full statement: https://www.themo.nu/ (in Swedish)

Upcoming tourdates for Meshuggah:

05/20 - Mondo, Stockholm (SWE)
05/21 - 2000 Decibel, Bengtsfors (SWE)
05/22 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)
05/24 - Le Noumatrouff, Mulhouse (FRA)
05/25 - Le Trabendo, Paris (FRA)
05/27 - Gaswerk, Winterthur (SWI)
05/28 - Fri-Son, Fribourg (SWI)
05/29 - Transilvania, Milan (ITA)
05/31 - A38, Budapest (HUN)
06/01 - Planet Music, Vienna (AUS)
06/02 - Komma, Wörgl (AUS)
06/03 - Rock Im Park, Nurnberg (GER)
06/04 - Waldrock, Burgum (HOL)
06/05 - Rock Am Ring, Nurburg (GER)
06/06 - Melkweg Max, Amsterdam (HOL)
06/08 - Knust, Hamburg (GER)
06/09 - Riff, Bochum (GER)
06/10 - Biebob, Vosselaar (BEL)
06/11 - Download, Castle Donington (UK)

Mando Diao has updated their tour schedule: https://www.mando-diao.com/en/main.php?sida=tour