The Strokes (pictured) are officially back in the studio working on their fourth studio album with producer Joe Chiccarelli. Check out some video footage of the guys at work here. Plus, the band is headlining several European festivals this year, which marks its first live-date announcement in four years … On March 2, the Low Anthem (who, according to us, released the best album of 2009) will issue a limited-edition seven-inch of single “Charlie Darwin,” with new and unreleased material. Download “Charlie Darwin” … The second Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tenn., will take place March 26-28, featuring a slew of unique and rare performances, including artist collaborations. The lineup includes Sufjan Stevens, Vampire Weekend, the National, Joanna Newsom, Andrew W.K., St. Vincent, the xx, jj and many others … Dangerbird Records has signed Minus The Bear and will release the band’s fourth album this spring … On March 4, the Guggenheim Museum in New York will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a site-specific performance by Animal Collective in collaboration with experimental visual artist Danny Perez. They will perform a new work called Transverse Temporal Gyrus that features original recorded music and visual projections, which will transform the museum into a kinetic, psychedelic environment … The Ravenna Colt is the new project by Johnny Quaid, former My Morning Jacket guitarist. Debut album Slight Spell is out now on Removador Recordings & Solutions, which Quaid co-founded with MMJ’s Jim James (Yim Yames?). Download “South Of Ohio” … Sloan just released a new compilation, B Sides Win: Extras, Bonus Tracks, And B-Sides 1992-2008. The band is currently touring the West Coast … Kings Of Convenience have postponed their upcoming U.S. tour to June due to “unforeseen circumstances.” All purchased tickets will be honored for the new dates, and for a limited time, ticket-holders will be able to download an exclusive track for free via their local promoter … The Sword is recording a new album with producer Matt Bayles and will open for Motörhead at SXSW on March 16.
—Emily Costantino
