Evan Dando is perhaps most well known for being the guy who didn't write The Lemonheads best songs. (That honour goes to Nic Dalton a.k.a Smudge. And - as begrudgingly mentioned previously - in one instance, Ben Lee). After disappearing from the limelight in the late '90s to battle with his addictions, Dando made a moving return in 2001 with a series of shows to support his album Live at the Brattle Theatre. On that tour Dando seemed seriously damaged and slightly scattered. But still strong of voice, he managed to suffuse his catalogue with a new underlying theme of tragedy, sadness and hope. It feels kinda wrong to say, but...it was great.

The manchild is returning to Australia, performing solo throughout April.

EVAN DANDO - AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2009

Wednesday April 1st - THE ZOO, Brisbane
Thursday April 2nd  - THE GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL, Byron Bay
Friday April 3rd - THE CORNER HOTEL, Melbourne
Saturday April 4th - REPUBLIC BAR, Hobart
Sunday April 5th - THE ANNADALE HOTEL, Sydney

Tickets available at: www.lovepolice.com.au/evandando


Evan Dando - 'All My Life' live

UK DJ and producer Greame Sinden has had a busy couple of years. The "fidget house" aficionado has been touring with the likes of A-Trak, Steve "Grey Goose" Aoki, and running his "get Familiar" night at Fabric in London. He's also been remixing dudes like Mark Ronson, Bjork and Metronomy. Not a bad resume.

He teams up with fellow hip kid Fake Blood for a jaunt through Australia in April. Though they do split halfway through to include a trip to New Zealand. Here's the pair's separate listings. Choose your own adventure:

SINDEN - AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2009

April 2nd - Brisbane - venue TBC w/ Fake Blood
April 3rd - Auckland - Ink Bar / Coherent w /Fake Blood
April 4th - Wellington - Sandwiches (Sinden only)
April 9th - Perth - Villa w/ Fake Blood
April 10th - Melbourne - Killer @ Prince Bandroom w/ Fake Blood
April 11th - Adelaide - Electric Circus w/ Fake Blood
April 12th - Sydney - Killer @ The Metro Theatre w/ Fake Blood, Trentemøller


FAKE BLOOD - AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2009

April 2nd - Brisbane - venue TBC w/ Sinden 
April 3rd - Auckland - Ink Bar / Coherent w/ Sinden
April 4th - Canberra - Academy (Fake Blood only)
April 5th - Newcastle - Sundae Fundaze @ The Clarendon Hotel (Fake Blood only)
April 9th - Perth - Villa w/ Sinden
April 10th - Melbourne - Killer @ Prince Bandroom w/ Sinden
April 11th - Adelaide - Electric Circus w/ Sinden
April 12th - Sydney - Killer @ The Metro Theatre w/ Sinden, Trentemøller


The Count & Sinden (ft. Kid Sister) - 'Beeper'


Literary folk-rock outfit Okkervil River from Austin, Texas are becoming regular visitors to these shores. Since their first tour to Australia in 2005 on the back of the band's "breakthrough" (at least in the post-Pitchfork blogosphere) Black Sheep Boy, the band have played Meredith, Laneway and are now returning for Groovin' the Moo. With the new, not quite as good album The Stand Ins in tow.

OKKERVIL RIVER - AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2009

Sunday May 3 - The Zoo, Brisbane
Tuesday May 5th - Capitol, Perth
Friday May 9 - The Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Sunday May 17 - Billboard, Melbourne

Okkervil River are also appearing on the Groovin' The Moo Festival.
Go to www.groovinthemoo.com.au for more information.

Tickets for club shows go on sale FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27.


Okkervil River - 'Pop Lie' live on Letterman

And finally, the current number one album chart holder Lily Allen will be returning to Australia in June. Whilst here she will apparently leave "a trail of empowered girls and besotted boys in her wake". Don't you know you're supposed to pick up your litter when you leave, Lily? The singer will be playing venues a mite bigger than the convoluted crush that saw her play the miniscule St. Jerome's in Melbourne and Club 77 in Sydney in 2006. East Coast only. To wit:

Monday 8 June - Tivoli, Brisbane
Monday 9 June - Horden Pavilion, Sydney
Friday 12 June - The Forum, Melbourne

Tickets on sale March 2nd from www.ticketek.com.au


Lily Allen - 'The Fear' live on Jay Leno