Jason Whalley from Frenzal Rhomb is a cool dude. He even rang me direct from his mobile and chatted to me about how his three year old was starting pre-school that day. Emotions were high for this guy on that Monday morning. I've spoken to people in international bands and I have to say there's nothing like chatting to someone in a successful and controversial Australian punk rock band and feeling like you're talking to a neighbour or even a local. It's completely different.

In this issue: Pennywise 25th anniversary tour, Dave Hause to support Gaslight Anthem, Presidents of the United States say hi, Purity Ring supports announced, Frenzal Rhomb withdraw from tour and extra dates for Birdy!

Pennywise to tour in April!

The nominations for the 2012 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards have been announced, with Chet Faker leading the pack with five nominantions! The Jagermeister Independent Music Awards is returning for its seventh year in 2012, acknowledging Australia's brightest emerging artists alongside established and well-respected performers. Check out the full list of nominations below!

2012 JAGERMEISTER INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

In this issue: Metric announces Gold Fields as support act, Chet Faker sells out another two shows, extra shows announced for The Living End's 'Retrospective Tour', Karise Eden's 'Heavenly Sounds' adds extra shows and many more!

GOLD FIELDS ANNOUNCED AS METRIC'S SUPPORT ACT!

Frenzal Rhomb are just one of those bands that will always draw a crowd. Sure the kids are a little older and we head along to relive our glorious youth where Frenzal Rhomb albums like Not So Tough Now and A Man Is Not A Camel was and always will be the soundtrack to our reckless abandon and misspent childhoods.

In this issue: Sigur Ròs Announce Two Harvest Festival Sideshows, Ben Harper Announces Third and Final Sydney Show, Hilltop Hoods Add North Queensland Dates to 'Speaking In Tongues' Tour, The Amity Affliction Add Extra Tour Date To 'The Chasing Ghosts Tour' and many more!

MOONSHADOW HAVE RELEASED EXTRA TICKETS

Moonshadow is the project of Yusuf/Cat Stevens. The musical is in Australia for twelve weeks and with rave reviews extra tickets have just been released until July 22nd.

Tickets: ww.ticketmaster.com.au

BOOGIE 6 SELLS OUT! MORE ACTS ADDED TO THE BILL

House vs Hurricane national tour

In celebration of their Crooked Teeth release, the band will be touring throughout July and August with While She Sleeps, Northlane and Heights.Tickets on sale NOW.

Attendance at the Adelaide Big Day Out was way down this year, but the enthusiasm level of the crowd was high. A scaled down show, minus the eastern states headliner Kayne West and one main stage gave this festival a more intimate feel. Between the main stage and the Guvera skate stage, Legends of Vert performed on the half pipe skate ramp. Perfect weather for an enjoyable day of music.

Rebecca Houlden takes us to the Big Day Out in Melbourne and captures the amazing performances of Kasabian, Frenzal Rhomb, Mariachi El Bronx, Cage The Elephant, The Living End (pictured) and many more...

Ah Big Day Out… the festival that has been running like a freight train year after year only to be halted this year by slow ticket sales and a ‘weak lineup’. And despite all my concerns leading into the day Ken West (minus Vivian Lees for the first time ever) pulled it off and put on a more than enjoyable day.

There has been much talk about the behind-the-scenes happenings of Big Day Out lately, from the controversy to the ridiculously expensive ticket price but none of that seems to matter on the big day – as you enter the festival all you need is enough good music to make for a fun day.

Wasting no time, I positioned myself in the main area’s pavilion to check out what the early-afternoon had in store for the infamous blue and orange stages.