Yauch stony faced performance was the driving influence of one of the most influential bands of the 1980s and 1990s, and his work as a political activist particularly involved in the fight for Tibetan freedom meant that he was helf in high esteem by all who knew him.

While it is a tragedy that we have lost such an important member of the musical world, Yauch has left a legacy of amazing work and music that will ensure that he will never be forgotten. And hey.. at least we got this before he left us.

The webcast will be a perfect preview for those lucky enough to be making their way up to Byron Bay for Splendour In The Grass or those who will be White's sideshows in July.

Jack White Tour Dates:

One of the most important bands of the late 90s return in At The Drive-In, James Mercer and The Shins will bring their new ablum to stage, while an array of quality Australian talent will perform as well.

While not arriving at the new Yelgun site just yet, Splendour has returned to it's spiritual home in Byron Bay once more, and as a result will have a smaller capacity compared to the mammoth Woodford site of recent years.

The line is, as per usual, a strong one, and tickets are more than likely to sell out out promptly.

For information, check out the website: http://splendourinthegrass.com/.

Splendour In The Grass, 27-29 July 2012, Byron Bay

With the release of the Splendour In The Grass line up just around the corner, it seems that nobody is safe from the inevitable speculation and rumouring. To whet our appetite we have been given a little snippet of information from the boffins up north.

With the iconic winter weekend returning to it's spiritual home in Byron Bay, Splendour has announced that it will not be drip feeding the release of it's line up as other festivals have done in the past (see: last year's BDO torture and ultimate let down). As expected, Splendour has distanced itself from any rumours afoot and has urged it's followers to "wait for the OFFICIAL line up announcment" and not to take any "unofficial 'announcements” and “confirmations'" seriously. This is an intriguing move by Splendour, as the bands that have been heavily rumoured are either Splendour veterans (Bloc Party, Sigur Ros, The Shins...) or definitely of the same ilk (Azelia Banks, Sleigh Bells, Django Django...).

History suggests that the line up will be released in April, so there cannot be long to go now! To keep you hungry, here is the official teaser from the Splendour In The Grass website:

After an extended hiatus on the sidelines our beloved Missy Higgins will be returning to the field of play with a new album, The Ol' Razzle Dazzle.

While now word on the new album had been released just yet, a making of video has surfaced as well as the news that Higgins will be releasing the first single from release, entitled Unashamed Desire.

What we can take from this video is that Higgins will be using broader brush strokes with her music, perhaps broad enough to fill even larger auditoriums than she filled with her last album.

Snapshot, Unashamed Desire

Produced By	Butterfly Boucher, Brad Jones
What We Know	Unashamed Desire is an expansive effort much in the same ilk of Florence & The Machine. However, it definitely has that Missy Higgins charm that we fell in love with/
Release Date	23rd of April

Icelandic post-rockers Sigur Rós are back from hiatus and are about to release their first album in four years, Valtari.

Marking a change from the shorter, poppy songs of Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust,Valtari sees Jónsi and co return to a far more drawn out yet emotionally invested song structure that one the hearts and mind of the world over 10 years ago (see: Svefn-G-Englar or Samskeyti). Bassist Georg Hólm said of the album that "it's the only Sigur Rs record I have listened to for pleasure in my own house after we've finished it."

The album was self-produced in tandem with long time collaborator, Alex Sommers, who released the astounding Riceboy Sleeps along with Jónsi in 2009. The first single of the album, Ekki Múkk, was released a few days ago and if it is any indication, Valtari is set to be pretty astounding.

No word yet on an Australian tour from the boys, but they have been lined to play Japan's Summer Sonic festival. Something which is always a good indication of a certain winter festival which may or may not be returning to it's spiritual home this year... more on that later.

Snapshot, Valtari:

Produced By	Sigur Rós, Alex Sommers
Track Listing	1. Ég anda 2. Ekki múkk 3. Varúð 4. Rembihnútur 5. Dauðalogn 6. Varðeldur 7. Valtari 8. Fjögur píanó
Release Date	25th Of May

It felt like forever, but at long last, James Mercer and The Shins are back!

Our favourite Portlandian has returned with a new brigade of exceptionally talented musicians for a new album from The Shins, Port Of Morrow. The album sees The Shins follow the trajectory that they were already taking, from their humble indie-pop-folk beginnings to their now expansive somewhat-stadium-filling sounds. Of course the album still has that classic shins-vibe to it, with that classic awkward James Mercer swagger omnipresent throughout.

Snapshot, Port Of Morrow:

Produced By	James Mercer, Greg Kurstin
Track Listing	1. The Rifles Spiral 2. Simple Song 3. It's Only Life 4. Bait And Switch 5. September 6. No Way Down 7. For A Fool 8. Fall of '82
Release Date	Out Now

And finally, Best Single and Best Album

Best Single

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)

Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know is quite simply the best single this year by a long, long margin. Featuring the impossible-not-fall-in-love-with Kimbra, Somebody... is the perfect pop song, yet it avoids all the over-the-top pop sheen that makes it a genre so oft-derided.

Best Album

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Deciding against venturing out into the woods as he did in the production of his first album, Justin Vernon opted for a grander scale in the recording process, and it paid off. Bon Iver showcases the delicacy and musicianship which the band obviously takes so seriously, and when in it's in it's full force, it's hard not to be overawed by it's beauty.

Honourable Mentions: PJ Harvey - Let England Shake, Cut Copy - Zonoscope

Continuing our 'Best Of' series... best festival and best gig of 2011.

Best Festival

Splendour In The Grass

While it was derided this year for not living up to 2010's gigantuan lineup, this years installment of our favourite winter bash reinforced one fact: not only is Splendour the closest we will get to having something like the major European/American festivals, it's almost starting to match them. Consider the size and reach of this years line up, combined with the obvious vision that it's runners have and it's significance cannot be questioned. To bring the biggest ego in the world as well as the biggest band to the used-to-be-humble event really says something about where this is going, and it's only looking up.

Honourable Mentions: Harvest Festival, St. Jeromes Laneway Festival

Best Gig

Foo Fighters @ Goat Island, Sydney (24/3/11)

In what was originally a corporate gig full of bigwigs, bartenders and competition winners, this special concert quickly descended into mayhem (the good kind) when Dave Grohl and his fellow fighters refused to leave the stage without giving everyone something special. After playing their new album, Wasting Light, in full, the band then played an extensive greatest hits set, and when they ran out of songs they started taking requests. With the idyllic surrounds of Sydney Harbour acting as a backdrop, the Foo Fighters were eventually ushered off stage after a lengthy three hour set, but as talisman of awesome Dave Grohl says: “If your favourite rock band only play an hour twenty, they suck! If your favourite rock band only play an hour fourty-five, they fucking suck!”.

Honourable Mentions: Les Savy Fav @ St. Jeromes Laneway Festival, Sydney (6/2/11), Explosions In The Sky @ The Metro Theatre, Sydney (11/12/11)