The ever discerning Loose records are set to release the next Peter Bruntnell album. Peter has to wait some months to agree a deal to releases the new record in Europe. Entitled 'Ends Of The Earth' it has been available Stateside since August & has picked up favourable press & amongst fans of NFB it has been very well received.
Expect to see the record in your fave record shop in March. Tour dates will follow.

REM have announced details of a second Dublin date on their 2003 European tour. The band will now play two shows at Dublin's Marlay Park. In addition to the previously announced date of July 16, the band will now play the same venue the following evening. The group will play their first full tour in almost four years, and will be followed by their long-awaited 'Greatest Hits', the first to include their Warners catalogue, compilation in the autumn.

The Jayhawks are to release a new studio album, "Rainy Day Songs," in April, according to the band's new label, Lost Highway. Produced by Ethan Johns, the record was recorded in L.A. and includes guest musicians, Matthew Sweet, the Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan, and former Eagle Bernie Leadon. The new set is "the most acoustic based, stripped down, and live record the Jayhawks have ever made," reports guitarist/vocalist Gary Louris on the fan site Hollywood Town Hall. "It's a new side of the band, and it's really in touch with what we're all about, because you can hear more of the vocals and harmonies. Most of the songs on 'Smile' started out this way." Studio pianist Richard Causon (Alanis Morissette, Rufus Wainwright), sideman Chris Stills, and "half-Jayhawk" Stephen McCarthy also join principal members Louris, bassist Marc Perlman, and drummer Tim O'Reagan. Among the titles are "All the Right Reasons," "Save It for a Rainy Day," "Tampa to Tulsa," "One Man's Problem," and "Angelyne."

The February edition of Uncut magazine, published this week, has given it's coveted Album Of The Month award to 'Master And Everyone', the new Bonnie 'Prince' Billy record. Described as "a perfectly balanced blend of candour and heartstopping beauty", the new collection is a more lo-fi affair than 2001's "Ease Down the Road".
'Master And Everyone' is released through Domino on 27 Jan.

Calexico:
Expect to see early Sold Out notices as Burns & Convertino play two dates in the intimate Whelans.

Coal Porters:
Sid Griffin takes his Bluegrass combo around the country on a whistle stop tour this month.

Neko Case:
Canadian ex-punk Case makes her Irish debut this month. Her current release 'Blacklisetd' was one of the records of last year.

Click here for more tour dates

Ryan Adams:
Ryan decides to plunder his catalogue for this crowd pleaser in Dublin.

Calexico:

Burns & Convertino's mariachi madness reminds us what summer can be like.

Flaming Lips:
Wayne Coyne & chums brought the Jelly to Vicar Street.

Neil Halstead:
Mojave 3 head honcho supported by our own Paul O'Reilly. Two talented young songwriters delivered a night of beautiful intimacy at the Shelter.

Lambchop:
Kurt Wagner & his lo-fi orchestra brewed up a quiet storm at the Olympia last month.

Scott Miller:
Miller and his Commonwealth opened the Rhythm & Roots Weekend and brought the house down.

The Handsome Family:
Brett, Rennie, Oh Susanna and some smelly yellow liquid. Another Handsome Family show.

Click here for more recent reviews of Paul Burch, Chris Mills, Ryan Adams, Marah, and more...

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• El Diablo - 23rd Psalm Cafe
• Utah Carol - Comfort for the Traveller

Interview: The Guthries

Nova Scotia's finest are off to Europe in November & bass player Serge Samson kindly agreed to answer a few questions.

Interview: Juliana Hatfield

Our favourite Blake Babe very kindly agreed to tell us what she's been upto lately.

New Talent

Two new acts for you to look out for over the coming year. Cusack are from Essex, England and The Vessels hail from London and have just signed to BMG Records.

Interview: El Diablo

Dublin's finest alt country combo, El Diablo recently released their debut album. They spoke to Old Weird just before the launch date.

20 Questions with Good Sons

Michael Weston King gets carried away choosing his fantasy cover versions record.

20 Questions with Handsome Family

Krautrock, lost kittens & Captain Kangaroo. Come on what else did you expect?

Interview: Paul Burch

A conversation we had with Paul Burch in which he reveals much of his songwriting process , the state of Country Music, and being a member of alt country darlings, Lambchop...

Interview: The Good Sons

The struggles of being a British alt country band, the one about an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman and how I nearly became Tears for Fears. Michael Weston King tells all...

Feature: Eileen Rose

An Irish-Italian-American singer songwriter based in London. Eileen Rose was asked by her father "to never learn to sing the blues"...

20 Questions with...

• Utah Carol
• Sid Griffin
• Cusack
• El Diablo
• Hamell on Trial
• The Arlenes
• Paul Burch