Galway shows for Real Estate, Sunny Day in Glasgow

After the mighty coup of sealing a Dinosaur Jr/Built to Spill double-bill, Galway continues to fly the flag for the oft-neglected west: there's more mouth-watering shows lined up in May. Previously announced for Whelans, Philadelphian shoegazers A Sunny Day in Glasgow will also be dropping into Roisin Dubh on May 17th. Real Estate will also bring their psychedelic sun-kissed jams to the same venue on the 11th, the night after their show in Crawdaddy.

Cut Copy to play Button Factory

Australian electro-poppers Cut Copy return to these shores on July 20 with a show in Dublin's Button Factory. They've been busy recording a third album, which should see release later this year.

Holy Roman Army release free covers EP

Carlow electronica merchants The Holy Roman Army impressed many with last year's debut album How the Light Gets In, and they've now followed it up with an EP of cover versions, the self-deprecatingly-titled Desecrations. On it they tackle Rollerskate Skinny's classic 'Speed to My Side', Bon Iver's 'Skinny Love', the Pixies' 'Wave of Mutilation', Pavement's 'Here' and Peter Broderick's 'Not At Home'. The EP is available to download for free from http://theholyromanarmy.bandcamp.com/ . They'll also play support to Yes Cadets upstairs in Whelans next Friday.

Broken Social Scene: free MP3 and new album details

Excellent news ahoy: Canadian collective Broken Social Scene will release the long-awaited follow up to 2005's superlative self-titled LP in May. Titled Forgiveness Rock Record, the album is produced by John McEntire of Tortoise and The Sea and Cake - a possibly significant development, seeing that previous producer David Newfeld was regarded as such an integral factor in the sprawling, textured soundscapes of the Scene's previous two albums. Forgiveness Rock Record will be released May 3rd on City Slang/Cooperative Music.

Meanwhile, the first taster of the album has been made available as a free download. The 7-minute long 'World Sick' is a bit tame, if we're honest, a bit safe, but you know...keep the faith. See what you think, visit here for the MP3:

http://www.brokensocialscene.ca/

Dinosaur Jr and Built To Spill double-bills in Galway and Dublin

As far as double-bills go, beat this. Alt-rock legends Dinosaur Jr and Built To Spill are teaming up for a joint tour, which will include dates in Galway's Black Box and Dublin's Vicar Street. It's quite the coup for Galway, as is the fact that Mark Lanegan will be returning to play Roisin Dubh in April after his well-received gig there last year with Greg Dulli.

Dinosaur Jr + Built to Spill, Black Box: May 10
Vicar Street: May 11

Mark Lanegan, Rosin Dubh, April 30

Here's a classic clip of Dinosaur in their prime, taken from the superb film The Year That Punk Broke: