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I’ve been singing the praises of Northern newcomers White Belt Yellow Tag here at Toonwaves for months, but with the impending release of their debut album it finally looks like the rest of the world might start to take notice. Due to land via Distiller Records on April 5, the Chris Potter (Blur, The Verve) mixed Methods promises to be an absolute cracker.

Fusing the epic indie-drone of Doves with the contemporary prog of Radiohead, on-stage White Belt Yellow Tag are fucking brilliant. Don’t believe me? Catch them live at the O2 Academy in Newcastle on March 17 and find out for yourself. Here are their full tour dates:

March 16 Glasgow King Tuts
17 Newcastle Academy
18 Sheffield Academy
19 Manchester Academy 3
20 Leeds Brundenell Social Club
22 Norwich Arts Centre
23 Nottingham Rescue Rooms
24 York Fibbers
25 Birmingham Academy
27 Brighton Audio
28 Bristol Thekla
29 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
30 London Garage

Formed when ex-Yourcodenameis: Milo man Justin Lockey met Craig Pilbin in a Newcastle studio, White Belt Yellow Tag also feature the powerhouse drumming of Tom Bellamy, formerly of explosive indie-dance outfitThe Cooper Temple Clause.

Read my feature on White Belt Yellow Tag here:

http://toonwaves.co.uk/2009/06/10/introducing-white-belt-yellow-tag/

Methods will be preceded by new single “Always & Ecoes,” released on March 29. Watch the video for it here:

US alt-fuzz legends Dinosaur Jr have announced details of a full UK tour that includes a gig at the O2 Academy in Newcastle on May 14. Definitely not to be missed. Here are their full dates:

May 2010

Saturday 8th       02 Academy Oxford
Sunday 9th         02 Academy Liverpool
Monday 10th       Black Box, Galway, IRE
Tuesday 11th      Vicar Street, Dublin, IRE
Wednesday 13th 02 ABC Glasgow
Friday 14th         02 Academy Newcastle
Saturday 15th     02 Academy Leeds
Sunday 16th       02 Academy Birmingham
Monday 17th       Cambridge Junction
Tuesday 18th      02 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Unleashing their self-styled “retro-big beat-gospel-influenced-junkie folk,” Tyneside-based outfit Detroit Social Club have a firm grasp of rock ‘n’ roll’s outsider history. Signed to Fiction Records the band fuse the burnt-out blues of Exile On Main Street-era Rolling Stones with the MDMA-fuelled indie-dance of late eighties Manchester.

Having supported likeminded legends Oasis and Primal Scream in recent months, the band’s forthcoming debut album looks set to spearhead a long-overdue backlash against the electro-dominated sound of post-Klaxons Britrock.

The band play The Other Rooms in Newcastle tonight.

New single “Kiss The Sun” is released today.

Sunday February 28

James McCartney @ O2 Academy

Monday March 1

Detroit Social Club @ The Other Rooms

Tuesday March 2

The Miserable Rich, O’ Messy Life, Simpleswan @ The Cluny

Wednesday March 3

Noisettes @ O2 Academy; Twisted Wheel, Night Of Sevens @ Offshore 44

Thursday March 4

The Futureheads (pictured), The Courteeners, Plan B, Chapel Club, Frankie & The Heartstrings @ O2 Academy

Friday March 5

Jimmy & The Sounds, The Soviets @ O2 Academy

Saturday March 6

Local Natives @ O2 Academy; Mansfield Holiday, Wild Palms, Retriever @ The Dog & Parrot; Air To Achilles @ The Head Of Steam

Sunday March 7

Emilie Autumn @ O2 Academy

Fake Indie Disco takes over The Black Swan in Newcastle from 8pm til midnight tonight. Get in.

Britrock legends Feeder have revealed details of a second run of gigs under their Renegades moniker that includes a show at Northumbria University on April 16. Fans purchasing a ticket will also get their hands on a limited edition EP featuring four brand new tracks and a video shot by attendees of the first Renegades tour in January and February. Here are all the dates:

15 April EDINBURGH, Cabaret Voltaire
16 April NEWCASTLE, Northumbria University
18 April SHEFFIELD, Leadmill
19 April CARDIFF, Millennium Hall
21 April PORTSMOUTH, Wedgewood Rooms
22 April LONDON, Electric Ballroom

Ubiquitous Tyneside indie outfit Let’s Buy Happiness have just confirmed that they’ll be supporting Robots In Disguise (pictured) at The Other Rooms in Newcastle on April 3. Should be a cracking gig.

Their debut effort was named as one of the top 50 singles of 2009 by Drowned In Sound so it’s no surprise there’s a huge wave of hyperbole surrounding Allo, Darlin’s forthcoming sophomore release “Dreaming,” due to land on the always-brilliant Fortuna POP! on March 22.

The band play The Head Of Steam on March 15 so don’t miss your chance to find out what all the fuss is about.

Here’s a rundown of all their tour dates:

6th March Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach*
11th March Sheffield The Stockroom*
12th March Edinburgh The Wee Red Bar*
13th March Glasgow The Flying Duck*
14th March Aberdeen The Tunnels*
15th March Newcastle Head Of Steam*
16th March Leicester Firebug*
17–21st March Austin Texas SXSW
27th March London Bush Hall*
* with The School

Awe-inspiring Newcastle-based art-rockers Polarsets release a full recorded version and remix of “Leave Argentina” on April 15. The song will be getting its radio debut on Tom Robinson’s BBC Radio 6 show on April 5 so make sure you tune in.

The band are playing Unsigned @ The Bonded in Sunderland on Saturday (February 27) alongside Seven Heroes, Mishkin, Edge Of Autumn and The Purnells. The gig is being filmed for It’s Not The Tube, to be aired on Propeller TV (it’s on Sky channel 195, apparently).

The mighty Mammal Club are playing with East Strike West and Let’s Buy Happiness at The Cluny 2 on March 6.

The band also play The Mixtape in Middlesbrough on March 12.

Read my short interview with the band here:

http://toonwaves.co.uk/2009/09/23/introducing-mammal-club/