After a long wait for the buzz process leading to their sophomore album, The xx have been making quite a bit of noise lately. When they announced a European tour, most believed it meant new material was near; when they debuted a new song at Chats Palace in London, fans became all the more sure.

Now The xx have taken the next big step: they’ve announced a few American dates, sadly, few in number due their lengthy European festival plans. Check out both their American and other tour plans below.

05-29 Bordeaux, France – Le Rocher De Palmer
5/30 Toulouse, France – Le Phare
5/31 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound
6/8 Turin, Italy – Traffic Festival
6/9 Porto, Portugal – Primavera Sound
6/15 Aarhus, Denmark – Northside Festival
6/16 Hultsfred, Sweden – Hultsfred Festival
6/22 Scheessel, Germany – Hurricane Festival
6/23 Neuhausen, Germany – Southside Festival
6/27 Haervic, Norway – Hove Festival
6/29 Arras, France – Main Square Festival
6/30 Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter
7/7 Gdynia, Poland – Heineken Open’er Festival
7/14 Joensuu, Finland – Ilosaarirock Festival
7/23 Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda
7/25 Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
7/28 Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Concert Theater
7/29 Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis
7/31 Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre
8/2 New York, NY – Terminal 5
8/9 Sibinek, Croatia – Terraneo Festival
8/10 Budapest, Hungary – Sziget Festival
8/11 St Pere, France – La Route du Rock
8/18 St Polten, Austria – FM4 Frequency Festival
8/19 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands – Lowlands Festival
8/31 Laois, Ireland – Electric Picnic
9/7 Isle of Wight, England – Bestival

Rock the Bells has essentially been the hip hop festival since its inception in 2004: when you begin your history as an event with one of Wu Tang Clan’s final performances featuring Ol Dirty Bastard, you can’t really help it. Since then, the festival has spread in both influence and locations, boasting an impressive lineup each – and every – year.

Sadly, this year the festival has shrunk locations to three, two of which are in California. Regardless, the cast of those set to appear is impressive as always. As per the norm, yesterday’s acts are performing albums in their entirety, perhaps most exciting are Method Man & Redman performing Blackout!. Also worthy of immediate attention are Missy Elliott & Timbaland, as well as Dipset, reuniting and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony performing E. 1999 Eternal. Other legends set to appear include Nas, Ice Cube, DJ Quik, Slick Rick, Prodigy, Too $hort, RZA, and even Salt-n-Pepa. Also big news is Hit Squad forming together as one, with EPMD, the afore-mentioned Redman, Das EFX, Keith Murray, K-Solo and DJ Scratch all present. Basically, it’s as big as ever.

However, somewhat more surprising is this year’s heavier inclusion of artists very much in the now. Indie kids will rejoice over Atmosphere, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul. Then there’s some bigger names, Kid Cudi, J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa, Yelawolf, Lupe Fiasco, and even (and most disappointingly) Mac Miller. Frankly, some might balk at some of the newer faces, but it will work in the festival’s favor, beyond the increased sales, where else can you get such an odd, motley crew of rap power players?

8/18 San Bernardino, CA – NOS Events Center
8/25 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
9/1 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

For those who have supported Big K.R.I.T. on his steady rise to prominence, take pride, your moment is almost here. While a pushback wouldn’t be surprising, we’re a month away from his debut’s, Live from the Underground, June 5th release, and it hasn’t budged.

So, the Southern spitter keeps forging ahead, and has now revealed his full tour plans in support of the album. Following festival appearances, the tour begins in earnest far from K.R.I.T.’s home in Detroit, check out every date and see if he’s hitting your city below. No word yet on who the “special guests” referred to on the poster are, stay tuned.

05/27 – Shakopee, MN @ Soundset Festival
06/14-16 – Hultsfred, SE @ Hultsfred Festival
07/05-08 – Roskilde, DK @ Roskilde Festival
07/11 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall
07/12 – Cincinnati, OH @ Madison Theater
07/13 – Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
07/14 – Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theater
07/15 – Iowa City, IA @ Blue Moose
07/17 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada
07/18 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
07/19 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater
07/20 – Ft. Collins, CO @ Aggie Theater
07/21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
07/23 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne
07/24 – Vancouver, BC @ Fortune Sound Club
07/25 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
07/27 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
07/28 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Caralyst
07/29 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones
07/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater
07/31 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory
08/01 – San Diego, CA @ Porter’s Pub
08/02 – Tempe, AZ @ Club Red
08/03 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater
08/04 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
08/06 – San Antonio, TX @ The White Rabbit
08/07 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
08/08 – Jackson, MS @ Hal and Mal’s
08/10 – Orlando, FL @ The Beachum
08/12 – Ybor City, FL@ The Ritz

With a new album approaching it was just a matter of time before underground hip hop king Aesop Rock made some tour plans. That time has come, check out the dates for the relatively lengthy supporting tour below, and look out for Aesop’s album, Skelethon, come July 10th.

05-27 Shakopee, MN – Soundset Festival
07-13 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
07-15 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
07-19 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
07-20 Vancouver, British Columbia – Venue
07-21 Seattle, WA – Seattle Block Party
07-23 Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue
07-24 Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
07-27 Madison, WI – Barrymore Theatre
07-28 Chicago, IL – Metro
07-30 Toronto, Ontario – Mod Club
07-31 Montreal, Quebec – Corona Theatre
08-02 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
08-03 New York, NY – Irving Plaza
08-04 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
08-05 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
08-07 Atlanta, GA – The Loft
08-09 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
08-10 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
08-11 Austin, TX – Mohawk
08-13 Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theater
08-14 Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theater
08-15 San Diego, CA – Belly Up

Seattle’s big festival has revealed its lineup for the year. Taking place September 1st to the 3rd, tickets come with a price tag more reasonable (only $110 for the entire weekend) than many, admittedly larger, counterparts. Of course, this isn’t to say Bumbershoot hasn’t amassed a noteworthy list of performers.

Among the acts set to appear are M83, Jane’s Addiction, Passion Pit, Mudhoney, M. Ward, Low, The Vaselines, The Jayhawks, and (sigh) Skrillex. Even Tony Bennett is set to perform.

These acts will more or less serve as headliners, backed by an impressive supporting cast, including Why?, Yelawolf, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Ty Segall, Big Sean, Fujiya & Miyagi, Blitzen Trapper, Mac Miller, Oberhofer, and Keane. Visit the festival’s official site for tickets and the entire lineup.

Photo by Philip Cosores

If you missed Battles last time around then don’t fret – you may well get the chance to see them as soon as next month if you happen to be lucky enough to live in or near one of the places they’re visiting on their newly announced tour. The tour is in support of their recently released remix album Dross Glop, but they’ll still be playing the original versions of the songs, we assume. Either way it’s going to be frenetic and you should go. Dates are below.
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Photo by Philip Cosores

The second coming of Godspeed You! Black Emperor only continues to grow in proportion. It’s old news that the post-rock gods are playing All Tomorrow’s Parties and the Pitchfork Music Festival, but now the band has revealed incredibly exciting news for those unable to make either of those events: a concise tour, starting up in October. Check out all the dates below.

7/14 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
9/23 Asbury Park, NJ – ATP I’ll Be Your Mirror NJ
10/1 Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
10/2 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
10/3 Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
10/4 Carrboro, NC – Cats Cradle
10/5 Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
10/6 Birmingham, AL – Bottletree
10/7 New Orleans, LA – Tipitinas
10/9 Austin, TX – The Mohawk
10/10 Austin, TX – The Mohawk
10/11 Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre
10/12 Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom
10/13 Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall
10/14 Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre

D’Angelo may still be the reigning king of soul, but he’s been breaking music lovers hearts for years with his time away from music, not to mention a few personal struggles. Then, early this year, he began performing a few shows in Europe. The music world, quite rightly, freaked out. Now, for Americans, the real excitement can begin.

The crooner is set to appear at the Essence Music Festival, in New Orleans. This marks D’Angelo’s first American performance in ten years. That’s no small event. Essence, July 6-8th boasts many other artists, including Aretha Franklin, Charlie Wilson, Mary J. Blige, Estelle, Eve, Trey Songz, and Keyshia Cole. The legend’s third album is also rumored to be approaching, and one can only hope this means more U.S. shows in the future.

When a legend gets themselves up to tour, it’s no small affair. Moreover, it’s something worth flipping out over. Leonard Cohen has revealed the dates for a world tour in support of his latest album, Old Ideas. More importantly, at least for Americans, was today’s revelation: Cohen’s U.S. dates. Check out all the dates below.

Leonard Cohen 2012 Tour Dates:
08/12 – Ghent, BE @ St. Peter’s Square
08/14 – Ghent, BE @ St. Peter’s Square
08/15 – Ghent, BE @ St. Peter’s Square
08/17 – Ghent, BE @ St. Peter’s Square
08/18 – Ghent, BE @ St. Peter’s Square
08/21 – Amsterdam, NL @ St. Peters Square
08/22 – Amsterdam, NL @ St. Peters Square
08/25 – Copenhagen, DK @ Rosenborg Castle
08/26 – Aalborg, DK @ Molleparken
08/28 – Bergen, NO @ Bergenhus Festning-Koengen
08/29 – Halden, NO @ Fredriksten Festning
08/31 – Gothenberg, SE @ Tradgardsforeningen
09/02 – Helsinki, FI @ Sonera Stadium
09/05 – Berlin, DE @ Wuhlheide
09/06 – Monchengladbach, DE @ Hockey Field
09/08 – Kent, UK @ Hop Farm
09/11 – Dublin, IE @ Imma
09/12 – Dublin, IE @ Imma
09/14 – Dublin, IE @ Imma
09/24 – Verona, IT @ Verona Arena
09/28 – Paris, FR @ Olympia
09/29 – Paris, FR @ Olympia
09/30 – Paris, FR @ Olympia
10/03 – Barcelona, ES @ St. Jordi
10/05 – Madrid, ES @ Palais Desportes
10/07 – Lisbon, PT @ Pavilhao Atlantico
10/31 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Center
11/03 – Denver, CO @ 1stBank Center
11/05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre
11/07 – San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion
11/09 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
11/11 – Portland, OR @ Rose Garden
11/12 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
11/16 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
11/18 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
11/20 – Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
11/23 – Chicago, IL @ Akoo Theatre
11/26 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
11/28 – Montreal, QC @ Belle Centre
12/02 – Quebec City, QC @ Colisee Pepsi
12/04 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
12/07 – Ottawa, ON @ Scotiabank Place
12/13 – Kingston, ON @ K-Rock Centre
12/15 – Boston, MA @ Wang Theatre
12/18 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
12/20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center

Many have been wondering – for quite some time now – when The xx will roll around with their sophomore album. It appears that time may finally be upon us. Well, almost, at least. The restrained British indie rockers have announced a slew of shows throughout Europe, which, we can only hope, means they have an album to tease or promote. Also shared by the band, via their facebook, was the ambiguous image above. A sliver of the album cover, perhaps?

05-14 London, England – Electrowerkz
05-15 London, England – Chats Palace
05-18 London, England – Battersea Arts Centre
05-29 Bordeaux, France – Le Rocher De Palmer
05-30 Toulouse, France – Le Phare
05-31 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound
06-08 Turin, Italy – Traffic Festival
06-09 Porto, Portugal – Primavera Sound
06-15 Aarhus, Denmark – Northside Festival
06-16 Hultsfred, Sweden – Hultsfred Festival
06-22 Scheessel, Germany – Hurricane Festival
06-23 Neuhausen, Germany – Southside Festival
06-27 Haervic, Norway – Hove Festival
06-29 Arras, France – Main Square Festival
06-30 Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter
07-07 Gdynia, Poland – Heineken Open’er Festival
07-14 Joensuu, Finland – Ilosaarirock Festival
08-09 Sibinek, Croatia – Terraneo Festival
08-10 Budapest, Hungary – Sziget Festival
08-11 St Pere, France – La Route du Rock
08-18 St Polten, Austria – FM4 Frequency Festival
08-19 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands – Lowlands Festival
08-31 Laois, Ireland – Electric Picnic
09-07 Isle of White, England – Bestival