Rumours abound of a forthcoming collaborative album by My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Mr Bright Eyes himself, Conor Oberst, and M.Ward. There had been speculation regarding such a project featuring the three for some time. These rumours were given credence in a recent Rolling Stone piece. However, as yet, there has been no indication as to what this project will ...

Sad to report that the headstone marking the grave of iconic Joy Division frontman, Ian Curtis, has been stolen. The theft is reported to have taken place between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning. The robbers removed the gravestone from its perch at the Macclesfield Cemetery. The stone bears the inscription "Ian Curtis 18 - 5 - 80" and "Love Will Tear Us ...

Anti have announced the signing of One Day As A Lion a new outfit featuring RATM's Zack de la Rocha and Jon Theodore ex-drummer of Mars Volta. The band is inspired by, "The infamous 1970 black and white [image], captured by legendary Chicano photographer George Rodriguez featuring a center framed tag on a white wall in an unspecified section of Boyle Heights. It reads: ‘It’s better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb.’ This record is a stripped down attempt to realize this sentiment in sound."

Annie has revealed details to the much anticipated follow-up to her acclaimed debut Anniemal. It has been quite a wait, Anniemal was released in the UK in 2005. However, second album Don't Stop is at last ready to drop with a release date of October 6 scheduled. The album will be preceded by the single 'I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me'. This will include remixes from Get Shakes, Timo, Richard X, Soul Seekerz, Deadly Weapons, and Feadz and is released on July 13. The full track listing for Don't Stop is as follows:

Judy Garland lovin', lederhosen wearing troubadour Rufus Wainwright has compared George W. Bush to the horned one! The singer was speaking to Metro about his association with the American President's daughter Barbara Bush Jr. This is what he had to say, "I only did that very briefly... The thing about the Bushes is even though they're the spawn of Satan they ...

Unconventional is one way to describe The Mae Shi. Skew whiff electronics, Casio beats, convulsive riffs, Beach Boys harmonies, caffeine jitter drums, Captain Caveman style hollering and lyrical conceits. Phew. This is the kind of musical tomfoolery that verges on genius. Their last album, the religiously themed HLLLHY, has been acclaimed as their finest to date. Why, music's self-proclaimed arbiters of taste, Pitchfork even awarded it 8.1! High praise from high snobs. However, it is as a live act that The Mae Shi truly excel.

Psychedelic eccentrics Mercury Rev have lined up two new albums for September release. Snowflake Midnight will be the follow-up proper to their last studio album, 2005's The Secret Migration. It will be available from September 29. The same day they'll release Strange Attractor as a free download for members of the band's mailing list. It is being reported that both records will see the band trade their previous orchestral sound to a more electronic footing.

Yes, get ready to embark on almost a month's worth of top quality festival entertainment with trans '08. From July 14 through to August 10, Belfast's Waterfront Hall will be the centre of the trans universe, a place where innovation in music, the arts and media is celebrated. When details of 'Belfast's most affordable summer festival' were announced last week it was clear that this year could be trans best yet.

Having just announced the cancellation of her tour, including all UK shows and this month's much anticipated Irish show at Tripod, M.I.A. has also intimated that she may be retiring from live performance altogether. The rapper told the Bonnaroo festival audience that "This is my last show and I'm glad I'm spending it with all my hippies." She repeated the suggestion three times and left the stage with the words "Thanks for coming to my last gig."

Over the 16th and 17th of August, Vibe Fest will be bringing the best in unsigned talent to Enniskillen for a special showcase concert. Bands from Ireland and the UK will be taking part in the event which is being hosted by radio station Vibe FM. Details of the concert line-up are still to be confirmed with the promoters promising more exciting ...