In support of his 2011 album ‘Ashes & Fire’, singer-songwriter Ryan Adams will make a return trip to the UK in the spring.

Adams will play seven UK dates in all; the dates are as follows:

Belfast Waterfront Auditorium (April 20)
Gateshead Sage Theatre (22)
London Palladium (23, 30)
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall (25)
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (26)
Sheffield City Hall (27)

Adams last visited the UK for a whirlwind tour in October 2011. He has possibly written a new album by the time you’ve finished reading this.

Cult melodic rock vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, best known for his work with Talisman and Yngwie Malmsteen, will release a new solo album in March.

‘Damage Control’, Soto’s fifth solo outing, will be released via Frontiers Records on March 27th and features the following tracks:

01. Give A Little More
02. Damage Control
03. Look Inside Your Heart
04. Die A Little
05. Take U Down*
06. If I Never Let Her Go
07. Tears That I Cry
08. BonaFide
09. Elena*
10. Krazy World
11. How To Love Again
12. AfterWorld
13. NeverEnding War
14. Afraid To Die*

* Bonus tracks only available on the Deluxe Edition.

The deluxe version will also include a three track bonus DVD.

Soto’s last recorded appearance was a guest spot on Talon’s third album at the end of 2011.

Legendary grunge icons Soundgarden have been confirmed to appear at this year’s Download Festival.

It is the band’s first confirmed UK appearance since last year’s reformation. So far, no other UK dates are confirmed, but it is said a brand new album – the band’s first since 1996’s ‘Down On The Upside’ – will be released this year.

So far, confirmed acts for Download 2012 are as follows:

METALLICA (headliners)
BLACK SABBATH (headliners)
THE PRODIGY (headliners)
ANTHRAX
AUGUST BURNS RED
BIFFY CLYRO
CHASE AND STATUS
DEVILDRIVER
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
LAMB OF GOD
LITTLE ANGELS
MACHINE HEAD
SOUNDGARDEN
TENACIOUS D
TRIVIUM
UGLY KID JOE
YOU ME AT SIX

Glam/funk metal outfit Bang Tango – best known for cult late 80s/early 90s tracks ‘Untied & True’ and ‘Attack of Life’ – have released a video for their new track ‘I Like It’.

‘I Like It’ comes from the band’s 2011 release ‘Pistol Whipped In The Bible Belt’ and the video can be seen below.