Macklemore and & Ryan Lewis continue thier dominance on the charts, but Flume isn't too far behind. The Coopers Amp Prize rolls on with website content, and Josh Pyke giving you an opportunity to be mentored by him, all this in this weeks State of Affairs.

Larry interviews bassist Zac Cockrell and drummer Steve Johnson from the band Alabama Shakes to talk about petting Koalas, playing the Big Day Out (and festivals in general), plans for the year ahead, future music, beards in the heat and much more.

In the lead up to Big Day Out tour, Alabama Shakes performed at the Metro Theatre in Sydney on Thursday 17th January. Supported by Bob Log III, an interesting tone was set to the concert before the main event emerged, with Bob Log III’s crazy performance style.

There was a definite change of mood about the Showgrounds this year. It’s obvious upon one’s first scout about the festival site that the Big Day Out just doesn’t function properly in the stripped back capacity it did last year. With both main stages back in action, the El Jimador wrestling ring and Chow Town being new shiny drawcards for punters and the sheer force of the line-up this year, the Big Day Out experience people will buy tickets for actually seemed to be in operation for this, the 2013 edition.

Pictured: Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Pictured: The Black Keys.

As 80,000 people from all corners of the globe converged in the small town of Manchester, Tennessee, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival kicked off its 11th round of festivities today.

Pictured: Alabama Shakes.