by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Casiokids - Finn Bikkjen! (MP3)

Casiokids, who just wrapped up a short tour of the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, will be heading back to the States next month for a few select dates, including an Oct 3 stop at Glasslands. Tickets are on sale now. They haven't played New York since our pre-SXSW party at Knitting Factory back in March.

Since then, it's been a busy year for these Norwegians. Casiokids' album, Topp stemning på lokal bar, was released earlier this year on Polyvinyl which collected all of the band's singles from the last two years. Both the CD and the vinyl come with a bonus disc worth or remixes. You can download single "Finn Bikkjen!" above, and the charming video for the song is at the bottom of this post.

More recently, Casiokids were awarded one million Kroner ($160,000) by the band A-Ha (who are retiring this year) as one of four winners in a competition to find Norway's most promising acts. Hopefully they won't spend it all on new equipment -- the rummage sale keyboards are certainly part of the band's charm.

All Casiokids tour dates, plus that "Finn Bikkjen!" video, are after the jump.

Continue reading "Casiokids schedule some dates, got money from A-Ha"

Last July, Magne mentioned in a radio interview that a-ha would return to America in 2010, and fans have been waiting eagerly since then for news of US tour dates. The wait is over...

Back in 2005, a-ha played a single show in America, at Irving Plaza in New York on September 12. The concert sold out in 52 minutes and fans from all over the United States traveled to New York for the one-off show.

A-ha's "farewell tour" visits the United States for only three dates. Two of them (May 6-7) are at Nokia Theatre in NYC, and tickets are on sale (@ noon). The third show is in LA and that is on sale today too.

Martin Sexton is playing Nokia Theatre on June 5th. Tickets are on sale (@ noon)

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for The Specials show at Terminal 5. Updated North American tour dates (all four of them) below.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Sia show at Terminal 5. How was her appearance with Gonzales at Joe's Pub last night?

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Drive By Truckers / Langhorne Slim show at Webster Hall.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Frightened Rabbit show at Webster Hall.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Black Keys show at Central Park Summerstage.

Pitchfork Music Fest tickets go on sale today too.

Sharon Jones, Ringo Starr, and Porcupine Tree tickets went on sale earlier today.

Girls, Owen Pallett, The Bronx, The Soft Pack, Japanther, Washed Out, Monotonix, Album Leaf & other tickets went on sale today too.

Continue reading "A-Ha, The Specials, Martin Sexton, Sia, Black Keys, Drive by Truckers, Frightened Rabbit & other tickets"