News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

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Two awards to Slagsmålsklubben
• The winners of Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards 2004 were presented yesterday at Trädgår'n in Gothenburg (four and a half month after the end of 2004). All winners were Swedish.
Slagsmålsklubben surprisingly grabbed two awards (song and artist). The new award for best Scandinavian club/festival went to the Arvika Festival. Lowe was the best newcomer of 2004 and Universal Poplab made the best album. /Mikael Kahrle

Busy weekend
• Today, Gothenburg hosts the Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards as well the sold-out premiere of Kent's new tour in Frihamnen, close to Release. We are of course going visit SAMA (Mikael, Johan, Niklas and Kristoffer) and then Kent's second Gothenburg show tomorrow (Mikael, Johan and Kalle).
Meanwhile, in Leipzig, it's time for the huge Wave Gotik Treffen. /Mikael Kahrle

Glam-noir from Goldfrapp in August
• Mute duo Goldfrapp return with a new single and album on August 8 and 24, respectively. The single has been described as “glam-noir” by the label, and the album as “sulky, sexual and a bit ambiguous” by singer Alison Goldfrapp herself. /Kristoffer Noheden

Possible Kent club tour this autumn

• On Friday, Kent's huge tent tour kicks off in Gothenburg. When we visited Kent's Psykbunkern studio a few days ago, Sami Sirviö told Release about early loose plans for a possible Kent club tour this autumn: around 20 gigs in total, in locations with a maximum capacity of 1 000 people per venue.
– I’m more nervous at a club gig, because it’s so intimate and close. The big stages are more relaxed, actually, Sami thinks.
Our Kent Spotlight was published today, where you, among many things, can read about the new single "Palace and Main", a possible new EP (as mentioned last week), and that the debut album from Sapporo '72 (Mobile Homes side-project) might be mixed in Kent's studio.
We had to decline a Kent interview earlier this year, but now we had the chance to talk to the band after the new album has been out for a while and new future plans have been made. /Mikael Kahrle

Project Pitchfork: new album this month

• May 30 will see the latest work from Germany's Project Pitchfork turned loose on the general public. "Kaskade" (Candyland Entertainment) is the title, featuring 15 tracks by this veteran act. The US release date via Metropolis Records will be July 12.
Release had a listen to the lead single "The Future Is Now" and found this new song very dark and highly accessible. 
In related news, the long sought-after album by Pitchfork mainman Peter Spilles and his bandmate Jürgen Jansen entitled "Speedthingsslowwings" (originally released in 1993) has been made available once more. /Peter Marks

Sonar update: Martin L Gore tops the list
• For those interested in attending this year's Sonar festival - here is something that may turn that ticket into a must-have item. Martin L Gore, fresh from recording the latest Depeche Mode album, will headline an already exciting festival this year. He will be hitting the decks for what will surely be a memorable set, based on his exceptional knowledge of music.
Also, recent additions to the list include: Luke Vibert, Matt Elliott, Professor Angel Dust and a showcase by the Finnish label Fonal. Remember this is in addition to the already announced acts (see past news for details). /Mike Whyte

Nick Cave tour plans

• Nick Cave returns "home" now in May as he tours Australia and New Zeeland. He and his Bad Seeds will return to Europe in August for festivals and a one-off special UK date in London on August 25.
Cave's box "B-Sides & Rarities" is out now. /Mikael Kahrle

DVD from Mr Jones Machine
• It's now possible to pre-order the upcoming DVD "Behind the New Wave" from synthpop trio Mr Jones Machine. The DVD offers live and backstage video. Only 100 numbered, signed copies will be available - the band hopes "Behind the New Wave" will become a future collectors' item. Although more an more people discover this band's quality retropop, their fanbase is naturally quite small at this early stage. /Mikael Kahrle

Nightwish around the world 2005

• Finland's Nightwish have added new dates to their live schedule which now holds a number of concerts ranging from May 26 to October 10.
They will play Hungary, Spain, and Poland now in May, followed by Norway, Austria, UK, Finland and Switzerland in June. In July, they plan to go to The Czech Republic, Italy and Germany and in August: more German and Finnish dates. The will do a mini tour of Sweden (where their latest album "Once" sold gold) in September. Nightwish join the Live'n'Louder Festival package in Mexico, Chile and Brazil in October.
In March, Nightwish did Australia.
In further news, the Nightwish beer is now available (in Germany). /Mikael Kahrle

New release from Portion Control out now

• "Stansted", the new EP from English veterans Portion Control is now available via their web site and is available in the following formats: CD, DVD and 7" vinyl single. Their classic song "Chew You to Bits" is re-worked and three new tracks: "Blood Rushed to Head", "Gate 57" and "The Way out" are also included with the first two being featured in video form on the DVD. In related news, "Dissolve", the previous EP has sold out. /Peter Marks

New album from The Church
• "Uninvited, Like the Clouds" (Cooking Vinyl) by The Church will be released in September. Tours of the US, Europe and Australia will also take place once the album is out. 
One of the most prolific bands to ever exist (20 albums released at last count), The Church were formed in 1980 by Steve Kilbey, Marty Wilson-Piper, Peter Koppes and Nick Ward. They are best known for their one major hit in 1988, "Under the Milky Way". Guitarist Marty Wilson-Piper has also been a member of All About Eve and is currently a member of and is on tour with The Saints.
More news as we get it. /Peter Marks