Ahead of the release of their next record, Eskimo Joe have announced a string of shows around the country in coming months. The album, a result of a successful crowdfunding campaign, has smashed all expectations and so this tour will be a welcome return for the Perth trio. Reinterpreting a set list full of songs from their impressive catalogue, these Eskimo Joe shows are definitely ones to get along to.

ESKIMO JOE - THE 'WINTER WARMER' TOUR

Both bad and good news in this week's State of Affairs, with music venues not winning any awards by closing and Australian musicians winning actual awards overseas from a Prince. We also learn about Eskimo Joe's winning skills in fundraising and the industry's economic growth as a whole

This week in the column: news on the upcoming ARIA Awards, the Screen Music Awards get awarded, and Jonti gets signed to a huge deal with Universal.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Australia's unofficial anthem 'Great Southern Land', famous Aussie artists have collaborated together to produce a video clip that takes a fresh look at the song and the landscape down under.

Working under the guise of Icehouse lead singer Iva Davies and Tourism Australia, everyday characters like an oyster farmer at Barilla Bay in Tasmania and a local choir from the Blue Mountains feature with well-known artists like Katie Noonan, Van She, Jonathon Boulet, Muscles, Eskimo Joe and Cut Copy.

In this weeks edition: Plenty of opportunities - get on commercial radio, be involved with remixing Bon Iver or grab a grant to tour and network. New signings for The Snowdroppers, Mark 'Chopper' Read and The Rubens plus yet another street press magazine closes.

Lizzie had a party at the palace for her 50th while Elton John celebrated by frocking up as Louis XI. Fast forward to 2012 and in Sydney a fine group of local musicians became tangled up in Bob Dylan to celebrate the golden anniversary of the genius’s debut. With a picturesque setting in the Opera House plus some more than capable hands and a perfect soundtrack, there was nothing left wanting from this honest and affectionate tribute show.

San Cisco swept the board at last night’s WAMi Awards in an evening hosted by Triple J’s Dom Alessio and TV personality Claire Hooper, with the band winning all eight of the awards they were nominated for; including Most Popular Group and Pop Act of the Year. Another of the evening’s big winners was Abbe May who finished the evening with six awards including Most Popular Solo Artist and Rock Act of the Year.

Pictured: Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam).

So last night held many firsts for me. My first time working the ARIAs (or attending at all for that matter), my first time doing red carpet interviews and my first time meeting Kylie Minogue (assuming asking a question in the press centre is "meeting"). But more on all that later...

Last night the final Russian Standard Vodka Live at the Chapel event for 2011 took place in Newtown, with the first ever double act for long running series. Two of Australia's finest live acts, PNAU and Eskimo Joe, shared the altar (so to speak) for a very entertaining evening of live music, in the acoustic brilliance of the St Stephen’s Anglican Church.

Brisbane fans flocked to the Tivoli to welcome Eskimo Joe back to town, with a little help from Melbourne's Bonjah. Erin Smith was there to bring you these photos.

To me, Eskimo Joe just seemed to be one of those typical Australian bands that climaxed fairly early on in their career, and then dulled out not soon after.. but you know what, maybe I was wrong. I can’t rely too much on my thoughts from back in the day when I listened to crappy mainstream radio. I love to be proved wrong, and this gig satisfied and delivered...

The Queenscliff Music Festival takes place over the weekend of 25-26-27 November and the organisers are clearly revving up the heat this summer with the critical first round of artists revealing some significant names on the cards with old school meeting modernity meeting new wave… showcasing the best in past, present and future Australian and world music.

The first day of live music at Splendour in the Grass continues with Boy & Bear, DJ Shadow, The Hives, Gotye, Modest Mouse, Mogwai, The Black Seeds, Bluejuice, Kanye West and many more!