Firstly, a couple of band name changes: Colchester lads Charakka have changed their name to The Knock and Sunderland's own 21gunsalute are now known as Minotaurs. Brief, but we thought you should know.
The boys of Sweet Billy Pilgrim have unleashed details to us of their forthcoming album. Titled We Just Did What Happened And No One Came, it is due for release in the autumn with full details to be announced shortly. In the meantime there are some free MP3's avaiable for download at the link above.
After much speculation, Wiltshire ska-punkers Whitmore have thrown in the towel. Band bassist Glenn rang record label Moon Ska to confirm that Whitmore have split up and are now going their separate directions.
Bugfly are buzzing off back to the studio (I apologise for that pun!) to work on their new demo. Details are sketchy at the moment but don't expect to see them on the road any time soon.
Londoners Emma McGlynn & The Monorails have a busy few months ahead. Currently touring Austria, she is planning a one-off London show for the end of the summer between studio work on her currently untitled new album, slated for release through Imaptio Records.
Staying in the capital, south London band Linchpin have their debut EP on the way. Set for release on 29th August, the whole thing was produced by Good Charlotte who discovered the band after being given their demo at a gig last year. The band are also expected to support Fightstar in December.
Whenever we get a plea for help here at DiS we do try and oblige so this one is for AII Online Radio. AII (Artists International Independent) are looking for DJs and bands to promote via their regular shows. Bands just have to fill out a small form, basically allowing the presenters to legally play their music. Bands wanting to get free airplay should sign up here. To apply to become a DJ on the station, just click here. Get clicking!
Q Without U are currently out of action - drummer Calum has broken his wrist. The band expect to be on hold until September at the very earliest. The fallout of this is that their debut single is being put back until September, and their August dates around Scotland have been postponed.
Yet another band has called it a day, this time in the form of Shuriken. The band released this statement about the split:
"I'm afraid its true, after a lot of thought and consideration we've decided to call it a day. Since Fov left earlier in the year we decided to carry on and in fact had a really good time on the last tour with stand in guitarist Chris, but it just wasn't the same and it didn't feel right playing the songs without him being there.
"We've had a brilliant time over the past few years in the band, we've acheived a hell of a lot, been to loads of places we wouldn't have been if not for touring and met and played with some truly inspirational bands and artists. Most of all we were always, always totally blown away by the support shown us by you, our fans. Its been ace to be able to share something we've created with our own hands from our own ideas and have it embraced by so many people - most of which we've never even met, some of which live across the other side of the world!"On a sadder note, our condolences go out to the fans, friends and band members of the Bad Beat Revue who had their singer sadly pass away a few weeks ago. 29-year-old Patrick Sherry was playing at the Warehouse Club in Leeds as part of the Club NME tour when he tried to grab the lighting rig hanging from one of the venue's wooden beams before losing his grip and plunging to the solid wooden floor head first. He died later in hospital. The full story is covered here.
Finally, to close this all out a mention for Oxford band Cassette For Cassette, who let DiS in on a bit of a secret from this year's Truck Festival. Lead singer Emma played their set through the pain barrier (and highly dosed up on drugs!), finding out after the event she had mumps! Kudos to the young lady for battling on in the name of rock. DiS salutes you!
Stay tuned for our next installment (when we can be arsed to get around to it!)