February 10, 2006

In addition to the initial line-up released earlier this month, Bonnaroo has announced the addition of Umphrey’s McGee and The Disco Biscuits for a billing deemed, “Special Late Night Tent Show.” Interlocking sets and collaborations are expected.

See bonnaroo.com for more info

After an enormously successful headlining tour of Scandinavia, Swedish rockers The Sounds have confirmed a 40-date North American tour beginning March 22nd at The Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. The tour will coincide with the band’s new album DYING TO SAY THIS TO YOU coming out March 21st on Scratchie / New Line Records. Morningwood and Action Action will be the support for the entire tour.

Barely out of high school when the band members recorded their debut album, LIVING IN AMERICA, The Sounds have been firmly established as a band to watch, as they played more than 300 gigs since its release, logging many miles on the Warped Tour as well as with the Foo Fighters and the Strokes.

Besides being on every late-night TV show and featured in almost every national US publication, including the New York Times Sunday Magazine, which is startling for any band, let alone one from such a remote place as the small southern Swedish city of Helsingborg, The Sounds were anxious to start writing new songs, after 3 plus years of constant touring.

Ready to record their sophomore album, the band began work with producer Jeff Saltzman (The Killers) at Studio 880 in Oakland, CA, where Green Day recorded “American Idiot.” Bringing an even stronger fusion of the band’s punk attitude and pop savvy that they established on their debut, the band presents a diversified and deeper version of the sound on DYING.

The band will also make an appearance at this year’s SXSW Festival in Austin, TX on March 18th.

Dates to be announced shortly.

Widespread Panic has completed recording of its next studio album, due in June via Sanctuary Records. As previously reported, the group worked for the first time with producer Terry Manning (Big Star, ZZ Top) at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas. The as-yet-untitled set will boast new songs and “an old favorite or two,” according to the band. Additional details have yet to be announced.

While it’s been three years since Panic released a new disc, the group has put out new music recently. The group recorded the track “Perfect Hair” for the Cartoon Network “Adult Swim” series “Perfect Hair Forever” and also utilized it in a short shown during a New Year’s Eve concert in Atlanta. The clip can be viewed via the Adult Swim Web site.

Source billboard.com.

British critical darlings The Magic Numbers are returning to the U.S. for a quick tour this spring, with help from Rilo Kiley side project The Elected.

The 11-date itinerary is focused mainly on the East Coast and South, starting March 15 in Ft. Worth, Texas.

The Elected will open at all shows, save for The Magic Numbers’ March 16-17 stop at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.

They’ll hit New York City’s Webster Hall and Detroit’s Magic Stick before finishing up April 1 at Chicago’s Double Door. West Coast fans won’t be totally left out, though: The Magic Numbers will be back for Coachella at the end of the month.

The band is currently touring Japan and will hit Europe as well before the U.S. trek launches.

Source pollstar.com.