Singer songwriter Joe Jackson has enlisted an impressive selection of guests for his upcoming new album.

Although best known to the general public as a figure from the new-wave scene of the late 70s, Jackson’s repertoire has often crossed musical boundaries from pop to jazz and classical piano. His new release ‘The Duke’ finds Jackson reinterpreting key works by jazz legend Duke Ellington.

Songs featured include ‘Mood Indigo’, ‘I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)’ ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)’. Jackson is said to have completely re-worked Ellington’s original arrangements.

To help him in his task, Jackson has some famous friends on board. Also appearing on the album are Steve Vai, Iggy Pop, Iranian singer Sussan Deyheim, Brizilian/Dutch band Zuco 103, members of The Roots and soul singer Sharon Jones. Helping Jackson are longtime musical collaborators Vinnie Zummo and Sue Hadjopolous.

‘The Duke’ is released on July 23rd on CD, vinyl and as a digital download.

In the early part of 2012, Australian band Lowlakes released their debut EP. It was said by some to mix the atmospheres of Sigur Ros and Anthony and the Johnsons.

To further promote the release, the band have now issued an official video for one of their more upbeat numbers ‘Buffalo’.

The ‘Buffalo’ clip, with animation by Lacey Whelan can be seen below. Also included is a clip of Lowlakes performing ‘Song For Motion’ live in the recording studio.

REAL GONE’s review of the Lowlakes EP can be found here.

To help promote the band’s new album ‘Bag of Bones’, Europe frontman Joey Tempest appeared on BBC Breakfast News. Over the course of seven minutes, he appeared the consummate professional as he fielded a selection of really vacuous questions, delivered by some fairly unprofessional presenters who know next to nothing about music… [“Rock and blues…that’s a fairly interesting crossover”…]

Given that he is there to talk about Europe’s new single, one would hope the BBC presenters would have managed to chat for more than a minute before mentioning ‘The Final Countdown’.

You can watch the results of the (slightly edited) chat below.

Europe’s ninth album ‘Bag of Bones’ was released via earMUSIC on April 30th 2012.

Chop Love Carry Fire – the alternative rock band fronted by Brad member Jeremy Toback – have released a new video.

Below, you can watch a claymation clip promoting ‘Save’, a track from the band’s 2011 self-titled EP.  If you like it, be sure to check out the rest of the EP and Jeremy’s solo back-catalogue (especially 1999’s overlooked ‘Another True Fiction’).

After much speculation, the tour featuring double headliners Lamb of God and animated Adult Swim band Dethklok has been officially announced. The tour – featuring support at all dates from French melodic death metallers Gojira – takes in thirty-two North American dates, stopping at the following venues:

Aug. 01 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Thater
Aug. 02 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theater
Aug. 04 – Calgary, AB – Big 4
Aug. 05 – Edmonton, AB – Shaw Conference Centre
Aug. 07 – Winnipeg, MB – Convention Centre
Aug. 09 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom
Aug. 10 – Columbus, OH – LC Pavilion
Aug. 11 – Toronto, ON – Heavy TO
Aug. 12 – Montreal, QC – Heavy MTL
Aug. 14 – Grand Rapids, MI – Delta Plex
Aug. 15 – St. Louis, MO – Family Arena
Aug. 19 – Kansas City, MO – Midland Theater
Aug. 21 – Chicago, IL – Congress Ballroom
Aug. 22 – Detroit, MI – Compuware Arena
Aug. 23 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
Aug. 24 – Charlotte, NC – Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheater
Aug. 25 – Norfolk, VA – Constant Convocation Center
Aug. 26 – Baltimore, MD – Pier 6 Pavilion
Aug. 29 – New York, NY – Roseland Ballroom
Aug. 30 – Lowell, MA – Tsongas Arena
Aug. 31 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Presents Oakdale Theater
Sep. 01 – Philadelphia, PA – Outside at the Electric Factory
Sep. 02 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Park Convention Hall
Sep. 04 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
Sep. 05 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
Sep. 07 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
Sep. 08 – San Antonio, TX – Sunken Garden
Sep. 09 – Dallas, TX – Verizon Wireless Theater
Sep. 11 – Denver, CO – The Fillmore
Sep. 13 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theater
Sep. 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Gibson Amphitheater
Sep. 15 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic