North Wales band the Joy Formidable will be logging many miles travelled as they trek across the UK in March and April on tour. Note that four dates in Scotland originally slated for the start of the tour have been rescheduled for early April. Catch the band on the dates below.

Their new single ‘Popinjay’ is now available as a digital download, with a limited run of 500 7″ vinyl singles planned for 5 April.

Sunday 14th March 2010 – Manchester, Ruby Lounge
Monday 15th March 2010 – Liverpool, Korova
Tuesday 16th March 2010 – Nottingham, Bodega
Wednesday 17th March 2010 – Leeds, Cockpit
Friday 19th March 2010 – Cambridge, Portland
Saturday 20th March 2010 – Birmingham, O2 Academy 2
Sunday 21st March 2010 – Oxford, O2 Academy 2
Monday 22nd March 2010 – Brighton, Audio
Wednesday 24th March 2010 – London, Electric Ballroom
Thursday 25th March 2010 – Southampton, Joiners
Friday 26th March 2010 – Bristol, Start the Bus
Saturday 27th March 2010 – Cardiff, Barfly
Monday 29th March 2010 – Northampton, Roadmenders
Tuesday 30th March 2010 – Sheffield, O2 Academy 2
Wednesday 31st March 2010 – Newcastle, O2 Academy 2
Thursday 1st April 2010 – Wrexham, Central Station
Saturday 3rd April 2010 – Glasgow, King Tuts
Sunday 4th April 2010 – Inverness, Madhatters
Monday 5th April 2010 – Aberdeen, Snafu
Tuesday 6th April 2010 - Dundee, Fat Sams

MP3: The Joy Formidable – The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade
MP3: The Joy Formidable – Cradle
MP3: The Joy Formidable – Austere
MP3: The Joy Formidable – While the Flies

Updated: 26 February 2010

Yeah, yeah, we’ve all heard of Glastonbury: but have you heard of Rockness Festival? Started in 2006, this festival has been dubbed “the most beautiful festival in the world” and “the only festival with its own monster” because it takes place at yep, you guessed it, Loch Ness. (Or rather Clunes Farm, Dores, near Inverness, Scotland.) This year’s edition will go on 11-13 June and features the headliners dance DJ/producer Fatboy Slim, dub / house / electronica masters Leftfield. And in a stroke of booking genius, the festival will close out Sunday with a headlining doubleheader featuring American rockers the Strokes (in their first live appearance in the UK in 4 years, they are working on a new album) and Vampire Weekend (pictured above), hot on the heels of a sold-out UK tour and the recent release of their second album, ‘Contra’.

Other great acts so far announced include Doves, Ian Brown, Friendly Fires, French electronica artist Vitalic, Paris act Club 75 (making their UK live debut) and hip hop duo dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip (of the current single ‘Get Better’). Radio1 has been announced as the official radio partner of this year’s festival, with the station’s DJs Annie Mac and Rob da Bank hosting their own tented stages. All in all, this sounds like it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting of the smaller UK festivals!

Tickets range in price from £55 for a single Friday non-camping ticket to £180 for a 3-day VIP camping ticket. For more information on prices and where to buy your tickets, please visit the Rockness Festival Web site.

The current scheduled line-up as is available after the cut.
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Reverend and the Makers have announced a sizeable UK tour for March as they play some smaller places.

Tickets are on sale now, priced between £10 and £13.50 each.

Monday 1st March 2010 – Carlisle, Brickyard
Tuesday 2nd March 2010 – Dundee, Dusa
Thursday 4th March 2010 – Inverness, Ironworks
Friday 5th March 2010 – Aberdeen, Warehouse
Saturday 6th March 2010 – Dunfermline, Velocity
Monday 8th March 2010 – Middlesbrough, Empire
Tuesday 9th March 2010 – Nottingham, Trent University
Wednesday 10th March 2010 – Gloucester, Guildhall
Thursday 11th March 2010 – Wrexham, Central Station
Saturday 13th March 2010 – Wakefield, Escobar
Sunday 14th March 2010 – Crewe, M Club
Monday 15th March 2010 – Leigh, Bar Bliss
Wednesday 17th March 2010 – Coventry, Kasbah
Thursday 18th March 2010 – Buckinghamshire, University
Friday 19th March 2010 – Plymouth, White Rabbit
Saturday 20th March 2010 – Falmouth, Princess Pavilions
Monday 22nd March 2010 – Yoevil, Orange Box
Tuesday 23rd March 2010 – Norwich, Waterfront
Wednesday 24th March 2010 – Hull, Welly

The wonderful Joy Formidable are cementing their reputation for being one of the hardest working bands by spending just about all of March going around the UK.

Tickets are on sale now for all dates, priced at £7 except for London which is £9 a ticket.

Tuesday 9th March 2010 – Glasgow, King Tuts
Wednesday 10th March 2010 – Aberdeen, Snafu
Thursday 11th March 2010 – Inverness, Madhatters
Friday 12th March 2010 – Dundee, Fat Sams
Sunday 14th March 2010 – Manchester, Ruby Lounge
Monday 15th March 2010 – Liverpool, Korova
Tuesday 16th March 2010 – Nottingham, Bodega
Wednesday 17th March 2010 – Leeds, Cockpit
Friday 19th March 2010 – Cambridge, Portland
Saturday 20th March 2010 – Birmingham, O2 Academy 2
Sunday 21st March 2010 – Oxford, O2 Academy 2
Monday 22nd March 2010 – Brighton, Audio
Wednesday 24th March 2010 – London, Electric Ballroom
Thursday 25th March 2010 – Southampton, Joiners
Friday 26th March 2010 – Bristol, Start the Bus
Saturday 27th March 2010 – Cardiff, Barfly
Monday 29th March 2010 – Northampton, Roadmenders
Tuesday 30th March 2010 – Sheffield, O2 Academy 2
Wednesday 31st March 2010 – Newcastle, O2 Academy 2
Thursday 1st April 2010 – Wrexham, Central Station

MP3: The Joy Formidable – The greatest light is the greatest shade
MP3: The Joy Formidable – Cradle
MP3: The Joy Formidable – Austere
MP3: The Joy Formidable – While the Flies

Never ones to sit back and rest on their laurels, The Joy Formidable have announced a string of UK tour dates for March 2010.

Catch them at the below:

Tuesday 9th March 2010 – Glasgow King Tuts
Wednesday 10th March 2010 – Aberdeen Snafu
Thursday 11th March 2010 – Inverness Madhatters
Friday 12th March 2010 – Dundee Fat Sams
Sunday 14th March 2010 – Manchester Ruby Lounge
Monday 15th March 2010 – Liverpool Korova
Tuesday 16th March 2010 – Nottingham Bodega
Wednesday 17th March 2010 – Leeds Cockpit
Friday 19th March 2010 – Cambridge Portland
Saturday 20th March 2010 – Birmingham Academy 2
Sunday 21st March 2010 – Oxford Academy 2
Tuesday 22nd March 2010 – Brighton Audio
Thursday 24th March 2010 – London Electric Ballroom
Friday 25th March 2010 – Southampton Joiners
Saturday 26th March 2010 – Bristol Start the Bus
Sunday 27th March 2010 – Cardiff Barfly
Tuesday 29th March 2010 – Northampton Soundhaus
Wednesday 30th March 2010 – Sheffield Academy 2
Thursday 31st March 2010 – Newcastle Academy 2
Friday 1st April 2010 – Wrexham Central Station

Never ones to just sit still and do nothing, Scottish wonder-kids Frightened Rabbit have announced their plans for November and December, featuring them touring pretty much constantly. As well as their own headline shows, they’ll also be supporting Gomez and Modest Mouse.

Tickets are on sale now for all dates. Catch them at:

Saturday 7th November 2009 – Aldershot West End Centre
Monday 9th November 2009 – Oxford Academy 2
Tuesday 10th November 2009 – York Duchess of York
Wednesday 11th November 2009 – Nottingham Bodega
Thursday 12th November 2009 – Liverpool Academy 2
Saturday 14th November 2009 – Coventry Kasbah (supporting Gomez)
Sunday 15th November 2009 – Northampton New Roadmender (supporting Gomez)
Monday 16th November 2009 – Brighton Corn Echange (supporting Gomez)
Tuesday 17th November 2009 – Southampton Uni (supporting Gomez)
Thursday 19th November 2009 – Exeter Lemon Grove (supporting Gomez)
Friday 20th November 2009 – London Troxy (supporting Gomez)
Saturday 21st November 2009 – Tumbridge Wells Forum (supporting Gomez)
Sunday 22nd November 2009 – Cambridge Soul Tree (supporting Gomez)
Tuesday 24th November 2009 – Sheffield The Plug (supporting Gomez)
Wednesday 25th November 2009 – Whithaven Civic Hall (supporting Gomez)
Friday 27th November 2009 – Fort William BA Club
Saturday 28th November 2009 – Stirling Tolbooth
Sunday 29th November 2009 – Inverness Ironworks
Tuesday 1st December 2009 – Aberdeen Moshulu
Wednesday 2nd December 2009 – Dundee Fat Sams
Saturday 5th December 2009 – Galway Black Box (supporting Modest Mouse)
Monday 7th December 2009 – Dublin Academy (supporting Modest Mouse)
Tuesday 8th December 2009 – Dublin Academy (supporting Modest Mouse)
Wednesday 9th December 2009 – Belfast Mandela Hall (supporting Modest Mouse)
Sunday 13th December 2009 – Manchester Ritz (supporting Modest Mouse)
Monday 14th December 2009 – London Shepherds Bush Empire (supporting Modest Mouse)
Tuesday 22nd December 2009 – Glasgow ABC

Editors have just announced a UK tour for March next year. Their sensational new album is available now, and tickets for all these dates go on sale on Friday at 9am from the usual places.

Catch the guys at:

Saturday 6th March 2010 – Lincoln Engine Shed
Sunday 7th March 2010 – Preston Guildhall
Monday 8th March 2010 – Bradford St George’s
Wednesday 10th March 2010 – Glasgow 02 Academy
Thursday 11th March 2010 – Dundee Fat Sam’s
Friday 12th March 2010 – Inverness Ironworks
Saturday 13th March 2010 – Aberdeen Music Hall
Monday 15th March 2010 – Newcastle O2 Academy
Tuesday 16th March 2010 – Manchester Apollo
Wednesday 17th March 2010 – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Friday 19th March 2010 – Bournemouth O2 Academy
Saturday 20th March 2010 – Brighton Dome
Sunday 21st March 2010 – Cardiff University
Tuesday 23rd March 2010 – Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
Wednesday 24th March 2010 – London O2 Academy Brixton
Sunday 28th March 2010 – Portsmouth Guildhall
Monday 29th March 2010 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Tuesday 30th March 2010 – Birmingham O2 Academy

They Say:
The seeds of Twin Atlantic were sown when front man Sam McTrusty and bassist Ross McNae met at school, united by a love of music. Guitarist and cellist Barry McKenna came on board after driving the fledgling band around Scotland to tiny pub gigs. The final piece of the puzzle came in the shape of drummer Craig Kneale, who had been in an earlier band with Ross. Since those early days, they have evolved into one of the UK’s most exciting new rock bands, poppy melodies twisted with a metallic crunch and shades of prog experimentation.

After an ambitious EP, A Guidance From Colour, and show-stopping support slots with alt-rock legends Smashing Pumpkins and like-minded American prog rockers Circa Survive, fans are already showing up at gigs with their logo and lyrics tattooed to their bodies. They’re far from an overnight success though – a lot of hard work has gone into this band. “Our practice space up until recently was Craig’s dining room,” says Sam. “We’d be at his house at 12 and practice until half four, and then he would go to sleep for two hours, get up, go to work at B&Q all night, sleep for two hours, wake up and then practice. He did that for months.”

In March 2009, shortly after selling out the 1,000 capacity QMU in Glasgow, the band headed over the ocean to the crazed streets of Austin, Texas to play four blistering shows at South by Southwest. Their American adventure took them to LA shortly afterwards to record Vivarium with producer John Travis, who has worked with Kid Rock, Sugar Ray, Static X and Social Distortion.

We Say:
Packed with enormous sweeping riffs and impassioned vocals dripping with some gorgeous Scottish vowels they’re quite similar to Biffy Clyro, but a bit more melodic and still incredibly Scottish. Not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, but definitely a great band to watch.

You Say:
Watch the video below, or catch them on tour at the below dates

Their tour kicked off on Friday in Inverness and resumes on Thursday

Thursday 17th September 2009 – York, Fibbers
Friday 18th September 2009 – Stoke, Sugarmill
Saturday 19th September 2009 – Liverpool Korova
Sunday 20th September 2009 – Nottingham Bodega
Monday 21st September 2009 – Birmingham Hare & Hounds
Thursday 24th September 2009 – Carlisle Brickyard
Friday 25th September 2009 – Hull Lamp
Saturday 26th September 2009 – Southampton Joiners
Sunday 27th September 2009 – Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
Tuesday 29th September 2009 – London old Blue Last
Wednesday 30th September 2009 – London Garage (w/ The Joy Formidable)
Thursday 1st October 2009 – Oxford Bullingdon Arms
Friday 2nd October 2009 – Edinburgh Studio 24

Mumford and Sons have announced a string of new UK tour dates for September and October around the UK.

Saturday 12th September – Glasgow, King Tuts
Sunday 13th September – Nottingham, Bodega
Monday 14th September – Manchester, Ruby Lounge
Tuesday 15th September – Bristol, Thekla
Wednesday 16th September – London, Scala
Friday 18th September – Aberdeen, Café Drummonds
Satyrday 19th September – Inverness, Loopalu
Monday 21st September – Newcastle, The Clunt
Tuesday 22nd September – Hull, Adelphi
Wednesday 23rd September – Leeds, Cockpit
Thursday 24th September – Sheffield, The Plug
Tuesday 29th September – Birmingham, Glee Club
Wednesday 30th September – Oxford, Bullingdon
Friday 2nd October – Norwich, Arts Centre
Saturday 3rd October – Tunbridge Wells, Forum
Sunday 4th October – Cambridge, Junction 2
Tuesday 6th October – Brighton, Komedia
Wednesday 7th October – Bath, Moles
Thursday 8th October – Southampton, Talking heads
Sunday 11th October – Northampton, Roadmender

Prize for the biggest tour of 2009 possibly goes to Athlete, who are embarking on a huge tour in just over two weeks time. For some reason I thought I’d written about this, but clearly not. Make sure you get out and check these lads out on tour – I hope to be able to make the Oxford date.

Tickets are available from WeGotTickets, Ticketweb, See Tickets and Ticketmaster.

Monday 8th June 2009 – Norwich Waterfront
Tuesday 9th June 2009 – Northampton Picturedome
Thursday 11th June 2009 – Gloucester Guildhall
Friday 12th June 2009 – Birmingham O2 Academy 2
Saturday 13th June 2009 – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Tuesday 16th June 2009 – Brighton Concorde 2
Wednesday 17th June 2009 – Southampton University
Friday 19th June 2009 – Cardiff University
Tuesday 23rd June 2009 – Newcastle O2 Academy 2
Wednesday 24th June 2009 – Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire
Thursday 25th June 2009 – Inverness Ironworks
Friday 26th June 2009 – Fort William BA Club
Sunday 28th June 2009 – Dundee Fat Sams
Monday 29th June 2009 – Aberdeen Lemon Tree
Tuesday 30th June 2009 – Glasgow Oran Mor
Wednesday 1st July 2009 – Liverpool O2 Academy 2
Friday 3rd July 2009 – Wrexham Central Station
Saturday 4th July 2009 – York The Duchess
Sunday 5th July 2009 – Manchester Ruby Lounge
Monday 6th July 2009 – Leeds Cockpit
Wednesday 8th July 2009 – Bristol Fleece
Thursday 9th July 2009 – Exeter Phoenix Rooms
Friday 10th July 2009 – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Saturday 11th July 2009 – Guilfest 2009
Monday 13th July 2009 – Cambridge Junction
Tuesday 14th July 2009 – Sheffield O2 Academy 2
Wednesday 15th July 2009 – Derby Rockhouse
Thursday 16th July 2009 – Oxford O2 Academy 2
Friday 17th July 2009 – London Somerset House