It's a Trap! Scandinavian music journal

Värttinä - Tuuterin tyttäret

New music from Finnish folk act Värttinä off the group's new album "Utu", due out February 1.

Serenades now We Are Serenades

Serenades are henceforth to be known as We Are Serenades. The duo's debut album "Criminal heaven" will be out in mid-April.

High hats to get vinyl release

Alleycat Records will be doing a vinyl edition of The High Hats' excellent 2007 album "Too much is never enough" later this spring with a brand new full-length to follow later in the fall. Seeing as how I'll definitely be tracking down a personal copy, I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Rising on the road

Rising will be hitting the road across Europe in March:

03/08 - Paletten, Viborg (DK) w/The Kandidate
03/09 - Beta, Copenhagen (DK) w/The Kandidate
03/10 - Kansas City, Odense (DK) w/The Kandidate
03/16 - Red Rooster, Berlin (GER)
03/17 - Rockstation, Halle (GER)
03/18 - tba, Dresden (GER)
03/19 - Cafe na pul cesty, Prague (CZ)
03/20 - Galerie u Mloka, Olomouc (CZ)
03/21 - Stwst, Linz (AUS)
03/22 - tba (ITA)
03/23 - Swamp Club, Massa Carrara (ITA)
03/24 - tba (ITA)
03/25 - Ponyhof, Frankfurt (GER)
03/27 - Dachstock, Bern (CH)
03/28 - Rocas Cafe, Luxembourg (LUX)
03/29 - Bastard, Osnabrück (GER)
03/30 - Cafe Nova, Essen (GER)
03/31 - Glocksee, Hannover (GER)
04/01 - Molotow, Hamburg (GER)
04/02 - MAU Club, Rostock (GER)
04/05 - L' Orient, Linköping (SWE)
04/26 - Fritz's Corner @ Strand, Stockholm (SWE)
04/27 - Sticky Fingers, Gothenburg (SWE)
04/28 - Loppen, Copenhagen (DK)

Noonie Bao - About to tell (video)

PSL has the premiere of the new single "About to tell" from recent Hybris signee Noonie Bao: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2012/01/27/premiar-noonie-bao-about-to-tell/

Wolfbrigade on the road

Wolfbrigade will be doing a couple long-weekend jaunts later this year:

05/17 - BlackFleck, Potsdam (GER)
05/18 - Jokus, Giessen (GER)
05/19 - Juz Dampfmühle, Verden (GER)
07/12 - Obscene Extreme (CZ)
07/13 - tba, Leipzig (GER)
07/14 - DIY Fest (POL)

Heptown signs The Troubled Three

Heptown Records has signed Swedish rockabilly trio The Troubled Three and will be releasing the band's new album "Moving on" on February 17. Samples and tourdates at the band's website: http://www.thetroubledthree.com/

Playground launches dance music label

Playground Music has started a new dance-music imprint called Uniform Beat to be spearheaded by A&R/manager Patrik Larsson. As far as releases go, the label will focus on digital EPs and singles as well as a new compilation series called "March to a Uniform Beat". Read the full press release: http://www.uniformbeat.com/playground-music-launches-a-new-dance-label

New stuff from Liechtenstein

Swedish indiepop act Liechtenstein have a brand new album called "Fast forward" out now via Fraction Discs and the label is giving away the tune "Ambitions" as enticement: http://www.fractiondiscs.se/

Norway/UK concert series Conexions

Presenting "Conexions", a new Norway/UK concert series spearheaded by Fiona Talkington of the BBC3 program "Late Junction": http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2012012614283734992904
The series kicks off on February 4 and will include John Paul Jones and Nils Petter Molvær with future events to feature Norwegians such as Christian Wallumrød, In the Country, Food, Jaga Jazzist and more.