Alphabeat: Boyfriend
Cheesy, classic pop from the Danish geniuses. Nothing too complicated, nothing too mould breaking.

We Are Scientists - Impatient
Who doesn’t love this New York duo? Another sterling video from them featuring lots of hair.

Hanson: MMMBop
Now, who doesn’t love this? Simply, pure pop magic.

Quickly stepping up in the world, those Danish popstars Alphabeat have announced a brand-spanking new tour for October and November.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday 13th June at 9am.

Monday 20th October - Liverpool Academy
Tuesday 21st October - Newcastle University
Wednesday 22nd October - Edinburgh Liquid Rooms
Friday 24th October - Glasgow ABC
Saturday 25th October - Manchester University
Monday 27th October - Norwich Waterfront
Tuesday 28th October - London Shepherds Bush Empire
Friday 31st October - Bristol Anson Rooms
Saturday 1st November - Plymouth University
Sunday 2nd November - Southampton Uni
Monday 3rd November - Brighton Concorde 2
Wednesday 5th November - Oxford Carling Academy
Thursday 6th November - Northampton Roadmender
Friday 7th November - Sheffield Leadmill
Sunday 9th November - Coventry Kasbah
Monday 10th November - Nottingham Trent Student Union
Tuesday 11th November - Leeds Met Uni

The Pigeon Detectives, Fratellis, Zutons and CSS have all been announced to be headlining their own three night UK and Ireland tours for MTV as part of their “Brand Spanking New” tours. Some of the best names and up and coming names in the music biz will be making their way around the country, playing venues smaller than they normally do. So be sure to get your tickets when they go on sale on Friday (7th March) at 9am.

The Pigeon Detectives / The Metros / The Rascals
Monday 28th April - Cambridge Junction
Tuesday 29th April - London Islington Academy
Wednesday 30th April - Liverpool Academy

The Fratellis / The Ting Tings / Alphabeat
Sunday 27th April - Cambridge Junction
Monday 28th April - London Islington Academy
Tuesday 29th April - Liverpool Carling Academy

The Zutons / One Night Only / The Script
Sunday 4th May - Cardiff University
Monday 5th May - Glasgow ABC
Tuesday 6th May - Dublin Academy

CSS / The Futureheads / MGMT
Monday 5th May - Cardiff University
Tuesday 6th May - Glasgow ABC
Wednesday 7th May - Dublin Academy

iTunes have announced 10 days of gigs starting next Thursday as part of their iTunes Live series. All the gigs will be available to download from iTunes after the 10 day festival is over. Last year’s festival was a bit later in the year, but were a significant success - dare I say it, but this years gigs aren’t anywhere near as impressive - I mean, come on, Nizlopi headlining? Tony Christie? Really?

The gigs will take place from February 21 to March 2 at AIR Studios, Lyndhurst Hall, London. The artists will play acousticcally for what is sure to be some very special evenings. Tickets cannot be bought, and are only available from the iTunes Live website as part of a ballot..

Thursday 21st February - Jose Gonzalez, Charlene Soraia, Julian Velard and Stephanie Dosen
Friday 22nd February - Nizlopi, Soweto Kinch
Saturday 23rd February - Alphabeat, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
Sunday 24th February - Billy Bragg, KT Tunstall, Foy Vance, Leo Abrahams
Monday 25th February - Daniel Merriweather, Estelle, Tawiah
Tuesday 26th February - Charlie Winston, Natalie Clein, Tom Baxter
Wednesday 27th February - Laura Marling, Mystery Jets
Thursday 28th February - Jason Mraz, Ron Sexsmith
Friday 29th February - TBC
Saturday 1st March - Roisin Murphy, Tony Christie
Sunday 2nd March - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Spiritualized

Photo of Roisin Murphy is taken from her myspace.

Sometimes when you go and see a band you have the mis/fortune of seeing a support act who are actually just as good as the band you’ve paid out to see – tonight at Oxford’s Carling Academy was just that, when Alphabeat eclipsed Palladium’s headlining set.

My first night back at the Carling Academy since its costly refurb, I was impressed at just how nice it had turned out – no more whiffs of the loo if you’re near the front of the stage. Still, the nicer surroundings didn’t help the first band up sound any better, The Anydays. Sounding like a reasonably competent Battle of the Bands winner, they were reasonably strong, however had a sensation of going through the motions, and frankly, not that memorable.

Next up were a band I’d been waiting to see for a considerable length of time, Alphabeat. The Danes who I profiled at the weekend didn’t disappoint, putting in a fine showing, even though the crowd was rather meagre. Performing as if their lives depended on it, what they lacked in words they more than made up for with their enthusiasm. Rattling through the majority of their self-titled debut album, they managed to get everyone humming along, even the drunk guy behind me conceeded at the end that “they’re pretty f***ing good”. Indeed they were Rory, indeed they were.

Finally came the big moment, Palladium. I’d previously seen them support the Thrills last summer, and had a series of brilliant songs, which still are brilliant. However, the rest of their album material does sound very much like filler to go between such pop-greats as “High 5″, “Happy Hour” and “White Woman”. Peter Pepper was distinctly untalkative, and the rest of the band seemed a bit hurt at the low attendance, but if we’re honest, it’s a Monday night in January - is it really going to be packed? Ending with a new song wasn’t their brightest idea, instead penultimate “Happy Hour” was my personal highlight, and one that almost got the whole crowd going. Well, some people take some warming up, others were so drunk they danced all the way through.

They’re certainly ones to watch, but after tonight Alphabeat are a better bet for me.

After the jump: More photos.

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It seems that Scandanavians currently have one of the best music scenes around at the moment, managing to have some of the most diverse, and interesting, acts around at the moment. Denmark’s Alphabeat are set to take over the airwaves in 2008 with their unique brand of camp, over-the-top pop which makes the Scissor Sisters look tame.

Perfectly danceable, lyrically strong, and quintessentially Danish in sound, they have some of the best tunes since the Scissor Sisters with a much more European feel, and a hint of flashbacks from the 90’s too. Their self-titled debut came out last summer in Denmark, and is out this May in the UK, but is one of the most varied collections of music I’ve heard in a while - a really great album.

Fans include the Sun, the NME, and a fair few blogs and online news sites, and they have the same management as Mika - and we all know how big Mika has become, love it or hate it.

They’re currently on tour with Palladium around the UK, and I’ll be going to see them on Monday night in Oxford - expect a full review on Tuesday.

Like infectious pop? Like Danish pop? Then you’ll love Alphabeat. Cheesy, camp as a row of tents, but yet so feel good it hurts. Think Mika with 6 people, and a hint of Abba, High School Musical and Scissor Sisters. Yup, it’s that good.

Catch them at the below dates. Tickets are on sale now priced between £3 and £8.

Thursday 15th November - London Water Rats
Tuesday 27th November - Leicester Charlotte
Wednesday 28th November - Brighton Barfly
Thursday 29th November - Nottingham Bodega
Friday 30th November - Liverpool Barfly
Saturday 1st December - Sheffield Plug
Monday 3rd December - York Fibbers
Tuesday 4th December - Cardiff Barfly
Wedesday 5th December - London Revue Bar
Thursday 6th December - Colchester Route (Milkshake)
Friday 7th December - Glasgow Capitol