The new site design for VAST launched recently. You can check it out here but you might want to hold off until June 9th. On that day, it has been announced that "new music will be available for download. It will be the first in a series of albums made available online." Some of the songs are exclusive to the website, and some will be available on a retail CD coming out later this year. We'll keep you updated on more information regarding new album (apparently entitled Turquoise) as it emerges.

Since By Man have had to cancel their European tour due to their bass player leaving the band. Here's a letter from the band explaining their unexpected situation...

As reported, Azure Ray have entered the studio to work on their follow-up to Burn and Shiver with producers Eric Bachmann, Andy LeMaster, and Mike Mogis. As of today, Saddle Creek have reported that the album is close to completion and is set release for on October 7th. According Robb at Saddle Creek, "it is going to be an amazing record - the best stuff we have heard yet from Azure Ray." We shall see, Robb, we shall see.

Denali will enter Tarquin Studios with producer Peter Katis (Interpol) later this month to begin recording the follow-up to their 2001 debut. With a planned late Fall 2003 release, Denali is expected to tour relentlessly in support of the new record. More details to come.

From Ashes Rise is in the studio recording with Matt Bayles (Blood Brothers, Isis) at Studio Litho in Seattle, WA. Their new album, Nightmares, is expected to be released through Jade Tree this fall. Once the band exits the studio, they begin touring like mad men.

Well, the Field Day fiasco isn't all bad, especially if you're an Elliott Smith or Bright Eyes fan in the NYC metropolitan area. Smith, the chronically bummed-out troubador, has booked a spur-of-the-moment gig at the Knitting Factory for Sunday, June 8th, with tickets going on sale tonight (Thursday) at 7pm. Furthermore, Bright Eyes have set a last minute show at Bowery Ballroom also on Sunday, June 8th. Tickets go on sale today at noon and are available at ticketweb.com

Jonah and the rest of onelinedrawing continue to treck across the country this month. in support of his/their latest album, Visitor. A ton of dates are available...

Jets to Brazil has just begun their first tour in over a year in support of their latest and greatest, Perfecting Loneliness. You know how to find out where they are playing? Check it...

Sorry About Dresden will be hitting the road once again in support of their latest release on Saddle-Creek, The Convenience of Indecision. The band wil be supported by Miracle of 86 on all shows. Dates are in the...

Probot, the long-awaited metal side project from Foo Fighters mastermind Dave Grohl, may very well see the light of day on the more-than-sufficiently evil Southern Lord Recordings. No less a source than Iann Robinson, MTV's own expert on all things heavy - waistline included - places the disc's release date as sometime in the next couple of months. This one, my friends, deserves some devil horns in the air.

Fresh off her guest appearance on the White Stripes' acclaimed Elephant, Holly Golightly is set to drop her 11th album, Truly There Is No Other on July 29th, with liner notes by none other than Jack White himself...

Stateside fans of UK elecronica team Death in Vegas can rejoice - the duo's Scorpio Rising, released in the U.K. last fall, is finally hitting these shores. The 10-track discs features appearances by Liam Gallagher, Paul Weller (on a cover of rock legend Gene Clark’s "So You Say You Lost Your Baby") as well as Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval, Dot Allison, Adult. and George Harrison/Ravi Shankar collaborator Dr L. Subramaniam.

How about some more Saddlecreek Records artist news? Someone musta sent out a newsletter today.. hrm. Anyway, Rilo Kiley is on the road once again. Check those dates, mark your calendars.

To celebrate their new release, Welcome Interstate Managers, which hits streets on June 10th, Fountains of Wayne will be performing 4 acoustic in-stores surrounding the album's release date. Following each performance, band members will be signing autographs. The band will then be heading on a short US tour this summer, the dates of which can be found in the more. Lastly, Fountains of Wayne will be performing on the Late Show with David Letterman on June 24th.

311 recently announced the official track listing for their new album, Evolver, on their website. The disc will hit streets on July 22nd, and the first single, "Creatures (For A While)," will impact radio on June 30th. Here's that track listing...

Thursday will be hitting the road with Murder By Death, This Day Forward, and Rival Schools, on select dates. You know where the dates are...

The Used will release Maybe Memories, a CD/DVD title, on July 15th. The CD features 10 tracks of live and previously unreleased material, as well as the unreleased track "Just A Little," along with home demos and never before heard songs. The DVD portion of the disc features 100+ minutes of documentary footage, personal home movies, and live concert performances. Even more details here...

The Jealous Sound's Kill Them With Kindness full-length CD was released yesterday, and to celebrate the release, the band is playing a few free instores. All those dates are in the magic more, as well as dates from their upcoming West Coast tour. As we eluded to earlier, the band is also planning a full U.S. tour for August.

Late last night, the decision was made to cancel the Field Day Festival that was to take place in Calverton, NY. Tickets to this event are no longer valid and will be refunded fully by Ticketdevil. Now, the event has been moved to Giant's Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. All performances will take place in one day and will start at 12pm on June 7th. Radiohead, Beastie Boys, Beck, Blur, Spiritualized, Elliott Smith, Underworld and Bright Eyes are some of the acts still schedule to perform, with more being confirmed by the hour. If you'd like to purchace tickets, head over to Ticketsatan and purchase a new set of tickets to the event, as the old tickets are basically useless now. More details will as this continues to unfold, but keep checking the Field Day website for further information.

Godsmack have posted the video for their latest single, "Serenity" online. Check it out in Real Video and Windows Media. Their latest album, Faceless is in stores now.