This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Outlandish - Aicha
02. Lene Marlin - You Weren´t There
03. Mew - 156
04. The Rasmus - In My Life
05. Bad Cash Quartet - Midnight Prayer
06. Broder Daniel - When We Were Winning
07. Beats & Styles - Dynamite
08. Lene - It´s Your Duty
09. Kamera - Fragile
10. Junior Senior - Rythm Bandits
11. Looptroop - Don´t Hate The Player
12. Paperboys - On The Low
13. Mustasch - Black City
14. Killer - Naughty Boy
15. The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
16. Safri Duo - Fallin´ High
17. Da D.o.n.s - She Don´t Know My Game
18. Whyte Seeds - So Alone
19. Fattaru - Bättre
20. Span - Papa

Challengers:
01. Lisa Miskovsky - Lady Stardust
02. Redrama - Hang It Up
03. Turbonegro - Sell Your Body (To The Night)
04. Bosson - You Opened My Eyes
05. User - To Feel

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Outlandish - Aicha
02. Mew - 156
03. Lene Marlin - You Weren´t There
04. Lene - It´s Your Duty
05. The Rasmus - In My Life
06. Bad Cash Quartet - Midnight Prayer
07. Beats & Styles - Dynamite
08. Carpark North - Transparant And Glasslike
09. Junior Senior - Rythm Bandits
10. Safri Duo - Fallin´ High
11. Killer - Naughty Boy
12. José Gonzalez - Heartbeats
13. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Skull Tattoo
14. Looptroop - Don´t Hate The Player
15. Da D.o.n.s - She Don´t Know My Game
16. The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
17. Whyte Seeds - So Alone
18. Paragon - Lev Ditt Liv
19. Da Buzz - Tonight (Is The Night)
20. Fattaru - Bättre

Challengers:
01. Mustasch - Black City
02. Broder Daniel - When We Were Winning
03. Paperboys - On The Low
04. AYA - Other Side
05. Kamera - Fragile

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Outlandish - Aicha
02. Lene Marlin - You Weren´t There
03. The Rasmus - In My Life
04. Mew - 156
05. Bad Cash Quartet - Midnight Prayer
06. Junior Senior - Rythm Bandits
07. Carpark North - Transparant And Glasslike
08. Lene - It´s Your Duty
09. Beats & Styles - Dynamite
10. José Gonzalez - Heartbeats
11. Killer - Naughty Boy
12. Looptroop - Don´t Hate The Player
13. The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
14. Fattaru - Bättre
15. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Skull Tattoo
16. Da D.o.n.s - She Don´t Know My Game
17. Bertine Zetlitz - Twisted Little Star
18. Da Buzz - Tonight (Is The Night)
19. The Lost Patrol feat. Lisa Miskovsky - Alright
20. Nu - Any Other Girl

Challengers:
01. Safri Duo - Fallin´ High
02. Paragon - Lev Ditt Liv
03. Dub Sweden - Ice In My Fire
04. Whyte Seeds - So Alone
05. Racing Ape - Daddy's

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. HIM - The Sacrament (FIN)
02. Xantom - Miss you (DK)
03. Beats and Styles - Dynamite (FIN)
04. Outlandish - Aicha (DK)
05. Lowe Motor Corporation - Soul of a pagan (FIN)
06. Lodger - Doorsteps (FIN)
07. Killer - Naughty boy (FIN)
08. Jonna Tervomaa - Rakkauden haudalla (FIN)
09. Lene - It's your duty (DK)
10. MEW - 156 (DK)

Challengers:
01. Redrama - Hang it up (FIN)
02. Iráfár - Eg sjalf (ICE)
03. Technicolour - Fireflies (FIN)

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In My Life
02. Outlandish - Aicha
03. Carpark North - Transparant And Glasslike
04. Killer - Naughty Boy
05. Mew - 156
06. Lene - It´s Your Duty
07. The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
08. Bad Cash Quartet - Midnight Prayer
09. Junior Senior - Rythm Bandits
10. Beats & Styles - Dynamite
11. Darude - Next To You
12. Da Buzz - Tonight (Is The Night)
13. The Lost Patrol feat. Lisa Miskovsky - Alright
14. Span - Found
15. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Skull Tattoo
16. Fattaru - Bättre
17. The Unisex - Take Me Higher
18. Bertine Zetlitz - Twisted Little Star
19. Looptroop - Don´t Hate The Player
20. Kurt Nilsen - She´s So High

Challengers:
01. Da D.o.n.s - She Don´t Know My Game
02. First Floor Power - Happy Endings
03. José Gonzalez - Heartbeats
04. Laze - Steppin´ Out
05. Lene Marlin - You Weren´t There

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Why have I not posted this before? Here's this week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. Xantom - Miss you (DK)
02. Lowe Motor Corporation - Soul of a pagan (FIN)
03. Beats and Styles - Dynamite (FIN)
04. Outlandish - Aicha (DK)
05. Lodger - Doorsteps (FIN)
06. Jonna Tervomaa - Rakkauden haudalla (FIN)
07. Don Johnson Big Band - One mc, one delay (FIN)
08. Killer - Naughty boy (FIN)
09. MEW - 156 (DK)
10. Bertine - Twisted little star (NOR)

Challengers:
01. HIM - The Sacrament (FIN)
02. Lene - It's your duty (DK)
03. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Skull tattoo (SWE)

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Outlandish - Aicha
02. The Rasmus - In My Life
03. Junior Senior - Rythm Bandits
04. Carpark North - Transparant And Glasslike
05. Mew - 156
06. Killer - Naughty Boy
07. The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
08. Bertine Zetlitz - Twisted Little Star
09. Lene - It´s Your Duty
10. Beats & Styles - Dynamite
11. The Lost Patrol feat. Lisa Miskovsky - Alright
12. Nu - Any Other Girl
13. Darude - Next To You
14. Span - Found
15. Kurt Nilsen - She´s So High
16. Fattaru - Bättre
17. The Unisex - Take Me Higher
18. Paperboys - What U Need
19. Looptroop - Don´t Hate The Player
20. José Gonzales - Crosses

Challengers:
01. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Skull Tattoo
02. Zaki - Tonal
03. Racetrack Babies - It´s Ok
04. Da Buzz - Tonight (Is The Night)
05. Bad Cash Quartet - Midnight Prayer
06. Don Diego - Fagnani (Min Far)

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite. There's info about an Outlandish DVD contest at the top of the page, too.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Outlandish - Aicha
02. The Rasmus - In My Life
03. The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
04. Lene - It´s Your Duty
05. Junior Senior - Rythm Bandits
06. Killer - Naughty Boy
07. Mew - 156
08. Bertine Zetlitz - Twisted Little Star
09. The Lost Patrol feat. Lisa Miskovsky - Alright
10. Paperboys - What U Need
11. Kurt Nilsen - She´s So High
12. Looptroop - Don´t Hate The Player
13. Span - Found
14. Darude - Next To You
15. HIM - The Sacrament
16. Timbuktu - The Botten Is Nådd
17. Beats & Styles - Dynamite
18. Moneybrother - Stormy Weather
19. Nu - Any Other Girl
20. José Gonzales - Crosses

Challengers:
01. The Monotypes - Tonight
02. Carpark North - Transparant And Glasslike
03. Paris - Disco Fever
04. Fattaru - Bättre
05. The Unisex - Take Me Higher

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In My Life
02. Outlandish - Aicha
03. Junior Senior - Rythm Bandits
04. The Lost Patrol feat. Lisa Miskovsky - Alright
05. Killer - Naughty Boy
06. The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
07. Kurt Nilsen - She´s So High
08. Timbuktu - The Botten Is Nådd
09. Span - Found
10. Bertine Zetlitz - Twisted Little Star
11. Darude - Next To You
12. HIM - The Sacrament
13. Paperboys - What U Need
14. Don Johnson Big Band - One MC, One Delay
15. Paula Lobos - It´s Your Life
16. Outlandish - Guantanamo
17. Nu - Any Other Girl
18. C21 - She Cries
19. José Gonzales - Crosses
20. Moneybrother - Stormy Weather

Challengers:
01. Mew - 156
02. Moder Jords Massiva - Sound And Sense
03. Lene - It´s Your Duty
04. Beats & Styles - Dynamite
05. Jay Kid - Blame It On The Boogie
06. Looptroop - Don´t Hate The Player

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Crunchy Frog has posted a whole bunch of pics from their recent label showcase in Malmö featuring Mew, First Floor Power, Baby Woodrose, Dub Sweden and more.

Junior Senior finally get a proper US release this week and are already gathering all sorts of positive reviews. Head over to Supertanker.tk for links. In other news, the band is set to appear on the 'Late Show with Craig Kilborn' on CBS on August 15 and the new Sharon Osbourne show sometime in September (assuming the program makes it to air).

Bands scheduled to play the Crunchy Frog-sponsored Vibracrunch fest in Malmö, Sweden on August 22: Mew, Powersolo, Baby Woodrose, Superheroes, Learning from Las Vegas, Hank, Dub Sweden and First Floor Power. More info: http://www.crunchy.dk/asp/default.asp?News_Id=82

MTVE.com has posted a bunch of video footage from Roskilde, including songs from Turbonegro, The Cardigans, Mew, Cato Salsa Experience, The Raveonettes and more.

Glad midsommar!

Paola's updated summer tour schedule:

06/21 - Järva, Folkets Park
07/05 - Borlänge, Peace and Love
07/10 - Arvikafestivalen
07/11 - Varberg, Nöjesparken
07/17 - Skellefteå, Trästocksfestivalen
07/26 - Helsingborg, Dunkers Kulturhus
08/15 - Göteborgskalaset

Finnish death-metal supergroup Chaos Breed report that their "Unleashed Carnage" demo is being picked up for release by an as-of-yet unnamed label. They'll probably throw some other material on the disc, too. Assuming all goes well, they hope to have it out in time for the Tuska festival on July 11.

Robert Palmer has apparently covered Nicolai Dunger's "Dr. Zhivago's Train" on his new album "Drive". Weird.

Mom Pop Records, the label that will be releasing Your Halo is a Radar and Soviac in the US, is offering a free six-song sampler for those who might be interested. Simply head on over to their website and leave your address in the guestbook.

Eye Will Drown Records and Räka Produktion have set up a new festival at DIXI in Falköping, Sweden this coming November 11 called the Betong Festivalen. Bands set to play include Rentokiller, Set My Path, Liquid Phase, Troublemakers, Frost and The Mischief. For more info, go to the Räka site or email eyewilldrown@hotmail.com.

Those of you lucky folks with Roskilde tickets can view the full schedule here: http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/object.php?obj=32f000c&code=45

Laakso has finished recording sixteen new songs, some of which some will end up on the forthcoming debut full length album. Band member David Nygard says, "We are very satisfied so far. Feels like it's more alive and boiling than the EP. Jari [Haapalainen, Bear Quartet], the producer, made us scream and destroy instruments. Of course we left a few tender, acoustic numbers too, for the girls..."

MIC Norway put up a profile on Emmerhoff & The Melancholy Babies today.

Via DJ Martian comes this profile on Mew in The Guardian. Is Denmark the new Sweden?

Here's an e-card for the song "Let´s go dancing" from the new Danish band The Fashion.

Trapdoor Fucking Exit has put up the video for the song "Short Term Investment", recorded live at Umeå Punkfest in 2001. Check it out.

Amulet recently filmed a video for the single "Breaking News". They say it "involves a low key gig at an abandoned house and a deathdefying girl in a van who brings terror to the city of Oslo." I'll let you know if they post in online.

Turbonegro's complete festival schedule for the summer:

06/02 - Flippaut festival, Bologna, Italy
06/05 - Ruisrock, Turku, Finland
06/12 - Hultsfred Festival Hultsfred, Sweden
06/20 - Kick off Festival, Wiesen, Austria
06/21 - Southside Festival, Neuhausen, Germany
06/22 - Hurricane Festival, Schlessel, Germany
06/27 - Roskilde Festival, Denmark
06/28 - Open Air, St Gallen, Switzerland
07/05 - London, Meanfiddler (clubshow) UK
07/12 - T in the Park, Kinross, Scotland, UK
08/07 - Nordland Musikkfestukke, Bodö, Norway
08/08 - Öya festivalen, Oslo Norway
08/09 - Wrightegaarden, Langesund, Norway
08/23 - Reading Festival, Reading UK
08/24 - Leeds Festival, Leeds, UK

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. Outlandish - Guantanamo
03. A-Teens - Perfect Match
04. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
05. Jennifer Brown - Weak
06. HIM - Funeral of hearts
07. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
08. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
09. Melody Club - Cover Girl
10. Darude - Music
11. Mew - Comforting Sounds
12. Kwan - Shine
13. Equicez - Live From Pass It
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
15. Elin Sigvardsson - Where To Start
16. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
17. Paragon - Försök Förstå
18. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz
19. Surferosa - Neon Commando
20. Homy - Bus Stop

Challengers:
01. Jon - This Side Up
02. Antique - Moro Mou
03. Fireside - All You Had
04. The Concretes - You Can´t Hurry Love
05. Kamera - At Work
06. C21 - She Cries

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Labrador Records is now distributed by Mortes Nois in Estonia. For more info email mrnois@hot.ee.

Dolores Records has announced they will be releasing a limited edition CD single for the new supergroup Vanessa and the O's on June 10. The band features ex-members of Popsicle along with James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins and is described as electronic pop in French. Crazy, eh? More info soon.

Bad Taste Records is the label of the month over at the Danish radio program New Rocking Sounds which airs Tuesdays at 8pm on 93.7 in Århus. They'll be interviewing Last Days of April, Logh and various others from the roster along with playng tunes from said bands. Be sure to check it out or wait for the clips to hit the online archives.

Listen to "Mattias Alkbergs Begravning" from Planekonomi, another band featuring Mattias from Bear Quartet. More info here. Look for 2 EPs this fall and a full-length sometime next year.

One of my pals over at indieworkshop.com reviews the new Flaming Sideburns album today.

"No one has satisfactorily explained why a country of 4.5 million generates so much music: is it the dark winters? Subsidised music lessons? Rubbish TV?" - John Bungey, The Times (UK)

Norweigan music appears to be making quite a few headways beyond their borders as evidenced in this article from MIC Norway. Turbonegro and Jaga Jazzist might be the first names to come to mind for most folk, but now there's also Beady Belle, Tord Gustavsen, Per Arne Glorvigen, and St. Thomas to pay attention to.

Johnny Bråttom Records will be holding a record release show on May 30 at Kulturkammaren in Norrköping for their forthcoming "Svensk Populärmusik Volym Två" compilation. The bands scheduled to appear are Slagsmålsklubben, recent Dolores-signees Cdoass, Bremen Brotröster GmbH, Björn Kleinhenz, and The Flu. As for the tracklisting of said comp, it is as follows:

01. Cdoass - The Box
02. Niccokick - Run, Run, Run
03. Björn Kleinhenz - How Long Is The Night?
04. Slagsmålsklubben - Filter Fabric Facts (DJ Upperkurt Instrumental Remix)
05. Idiot Savants - Daily Routine
06. Music 77 - Kameror
07. Pete Thompson - Folk Song
08. Lola Barbershop - Ticket To Happiness
09. The Kid - Baton Rouge
10. Junip - Turn To The Assassin
11. The Topeka Twins - Hunting Song
12. Menteroja - Call Me
13. Bremen Brotröster GmbH - Greater/Better
14. The Flu - Golden Hair
15. Celestine - Sunflower
16. José González - Heartbeats
17. Café Polymorf - A Good Time
18. Quit Your Dayjob - Pissing On A Panda
19. Joni - Frank Xerox
20. Ane Brun - Are They Saying Goodbye?
21. Sandy Mouche - A Year

Aftonbladet reports that famed Swedish videomaker Jonas Åkerlund is working with Blondie on the single "Good Boys" in LA. The new album ""The Curse of Blondie" comes out around September or October. Åkerlund's previous credits include artists such as Satyricon, Madonna, Metallica and The Prodigy.

This new album will be 'harder' than the previous one and more guitars. To sum it up: a groovier album!

That's Peter Tägtgren of Pain describing work on the new album. He says he's already finished all of the backing music along with five of the thirteen vocal tracks and should be able to have it out sometime this fall on Stockholm Records.

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
02. Alcazar - Alcazarized
03. Eddie Meduza - Live(s)!
04. v/a - Fame Factory volym 5
05. Moneybrother - Blood panic
06. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
07. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
08. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
09. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
10. Jill Johnson - Discography
11. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
12. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
13. Antique - Blue love
14. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
15. Monia - Söderns hjärtas ros
16. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
17. Elin Sigvardsson - Saturday light naive
18. Simson Dupont - Simson Dupont
19. Fame - Give me your love
20. The Sounds - Living in America

Tomas Ledin is going on tour in support of his new live album "I Sommarnattens Ljus" which comes out on June 2. The dates so far:

07/08 - Öja Slott, Öja
07/19 - Bergs Slussar, Linköping
08/03 - Stadsparken, Örebro

The lineup for Sommarrock, which takes place July 10-12 in Svedala, Sweden: Mikael Wiehe, Bubbles, Joddla w/Siv, Advance Patrol, The Ark, Danne Stråhed, Häjkån Bäjkån Band, The Mo and Di Leva.

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

Leaving the chart:
(10) Randy "A Man in Uniform"
(11) Solomon Burke "Soul Searching"
(12) Fireside "All You Had"
(13) Magnus Carlson "Jag ber dig"
(16) Queens Of The Stone Age "Go With The Flow"
(18) The Go-Betweens "Caroline and I"
(19) David & The Citizens "New Direction"
(20) Hot Hot Heat "Bandages"

The full details for Finland's Koneisto Festival has been released. Some of the artists scheduled to appear include Björn Torske, Ralph Myerz & Jack Herren Band, Erlend Oye (acoustic set + "magnificent singing DJ set"), Datarock, Jori Hulkkonen, Rinneradio (feat. Dj Slow, Siiri Nordin and MC Paleface) among many others. The acclaimed electronic music festival was the first of its type for all of Scandinavia and the selection of performers "seeks to establish an interesting balance between commercial and experimental music" over the event's 9 stages. It all goes down in Helsinki from July 25-27 and more info can be found from the fest's official website.

Blabbermouth reports that HIM will be touring Europe in support of Ozzy Osbourne and Godsmack this September. I'll keep you posted.

I fixed a typo in one of the Madrugada mp3 links. Sorry about that. They should all work okay now.

Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg will be holding a club three times a week all summer long called, ahem, Sommarklubben. Besides the usual DJs spinning there will also be live music. Scheduled so far:

06/06 - Royal Beat Conspiracy, Sparks of Seven
06/28 - Shout Out Louds, Homy
07/12 - David & the Citizens

More info when I get it.

The (International) Noise Conspiracy report that they are featured on a DJ Spooky mix that comes with the latest edition of Adbusters Magazine. Other artists including on the comp include Fugazi, Bad Brains, Sun Ra, and Public Enemy so check it out.

More entries on the ongoing media blitzkrieg from The Sounds - here's a number of upcoming American TV appearances they have scheduled:

05/22 - Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC, recorded in Las Vegas last week
05/26 - The View on ABC
TBA - Subterranean on MTV, more info to come

The Hellacopters have published their complete summer tour schedule:

05/31 - Donigton (GB) Download
06/07 - Nurburgring (D) Rock Am Ring
06/08 - Nurnberg (D) Rock Im Park
06/13 - Hultsfred (S) Hultsfredsfestivalen
06/14 - Berlin (D) Berlinova
06/15 - Oslo (N) Norwegian Wood
06/21 - Scheessel (D) Hurricane
06/22 - Neuhausen OE (D) Southside
06/27 - Kiruna (S) Kirunafestivalen
06/28 - Bonn (D) Rheinkultur
06/29 - Roskilde (DK) Roskildefestival
07/04 - Oulo (SF) Oluoln Yöt
07/05 - Turku (SF) Ruisrock
07/16 - Helsinki (SF) Olympiastadion w/The Rolling Stones
07/22 - Stockholm (S) Cirkus w/The Rolling Stones
08/02 - Korso (SF) Ankarock
08/30 - Jerez / Cadiz (ESP) Serie Z
09/12 - Stockholm (S) Gröna Lund
09/13 - Vitoria Gasteiz (ESP) Azkena

Burning Heart's latest signees Sparks of Seven have finally updated their website.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. A-Teens - Perfect Match
03. Outlandish - Guantanamo
04. HIM - Funeral of hearts
05. Darude - Music
06. Jennifer Brown - Weak
07. Kwan - Shine
08. Mew - Comforting Sounds
09. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
10. Equicez - Live From Pass It
11. Melody Club - Cover Girl
12. Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck - One Good Moment
13. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
15. The Jessica Fletchers - Let´s Go
16. Paragon - Försök Förstå
17. Surferosa - Neon Commando
18. Moon Gringo - Buzz Aldrin
19. Homy - Bus Stop
20. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz

Challengers:
01. D-Coy feat. Acorn - I´ll Be There
02. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
03. Charlie´s Magazine - Something That I Missed
04. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
05. Elin Sigvardsson - Where To Start

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Project-X will be having a record release show on May 31 for their new album "Modus Operandi" at Ground Zero in Växjö.

Here's the lineup for the 5th Fucking North Pole Festival which takes place over the next three days in Tromsø, Norway.

5/15 @ Driv: Amulet (Oslo), Turdus Musicus (Tromsø), Dominic (Bodø)
5/16 @ Driv: Misvær Ska Forening (Bodø), Lame Ducks (Oslo), Square (SWE)
5/16 @ Tvibit: Gatas Parlament (Oslo), Amulet (Oslo), Drunk (Oslo), Turdus Musicus (Tromsø)
5/17 @ Driv: DK (US), Os Replicantes (Brasil), Drunk (Oslo)
5/18 @ Driv: Mohammed(Horten), Los Fastidios (Italia), Nikkeby Lufthavn (Tromsø)

FNPF is the biggest independent rock festival in northern Norway and takes place twice a year. The next occurance is scheduled for sometime around September/October. More info here.

The German Phono Academy recently awarded Norway's Midnight Choir with a best album award in the rock/pop category for the album "Waiting for the Bricks to Fall". The award is given every quarter by "key industry representatives and respected music journalists" and qualifies the band for the album of the year competition.

This year's Nordic Council Music Award will be granted to an ethnic music artist. The nominees who will be competing for the 47k EUR prize:

Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra (DK)
Outlandish (DK)
Kimmo Pohjonen (FIN)
Gjallarhorn (FIN)
Kári Sverrisson (Faroe Islands)
Sigurður Flosason and Pétur Grétarsson (Iceland)
Steindór Andersen, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Sigur Rós (Iceland)
Mari Boine (NOR)
Solo Cissokho (NOR)
Ellika Frisell (SWE)
Ziya Aytekin (SWE)
Anna Thastum Kuitse (Greenland)

Read more. Previous winners of the prestigious award have been Sunleif Rasmussen (2002), Palle Mikkelborg (2001), and Kaija Saariaho (2000).

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
02. v/a - Fame Factory volym 5
03. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
04. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
05. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
06. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
07. Simson Dupont - Simson Dupont
08. Jill Johnson - Discography
09. Antique - Blue love
10. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
11. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
12. Moneybrother - Blood panic
13. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
14. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
15. Elin Sigvardsson - Saturday light naive
16. Gloria - People like you and me
17. The Refreshments - On the rocks
18. Roxette - The pop hits
19. The Sounds - Living in America
20. Mauro Scocco - Beat hotel

Aftonbladet has also published a short article discussing Magnus Carlson's (of the Weeping Willows) forthcoming solo album that he collaborated with Eggstone and film director Lukas Moodysson on. The record is called "Ett Kungarike För En Kram" and it hits stores on June 30. (in Swedish)

The Ark, Dom Galna Hundarna, The Narcissists, Shout Out Louds, Lola Barbershop and P-Danielsa are among the groups now confirmed for the Storsjöyran fest happening in Östersund this summer.

The guys from Looptroop are all hard at work on new projects. Promoe is in the process of doing a new solo album with a single to come in June. The other two guys, Cosmic and Embee aka Casual Brothers, have a new EP that also comes out in June that features a guest appearance by Christian Kjellvander of all people.

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

Leaving the chart:
(07) N.E.R.D. "Things Are Getting Better"
(09) Miss Universum "Fertilize"
(12) Millenia Nova Ft. Iggy Pop "Rockicide"
(13) The Knife "You Take My Breath Away"
(14) Radiohead "There There"
(15) Florence Valentin "Allt dom bygger upp ska vi meja ner"
(17) Ed Harcourt "Watching the Sun Come Up"
(18) Audio Bullys "The Things"
(19) Zwan "Lyric"

The Dandelions have added one more date to their upcoming London tour. The full itinerary is now as follows:

05/22 - Gaz's Rockin' Blues
05/23 - Dragon Bar
05/24 - Cobden Club
05/26 - The Beachclub at Notting Hill Arts Club (new)
05/27 - Eyelash at Pop

Lullacry and Naglfar have both announced that they will be making their US debuts at this year's Milwaukee Metalfest which takes place July 25-26. The new Lullacry single "Alright Tonight" comes out May 23 on Spikefarm Records and Naglfar's latest album "Sheol" came out last month.