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Aussie electronic act the Midnight Juggernauts are poised for global domination.

Their hypnotic dance tracks have created a buzz in Australia, and press in Europe and Asia are taking notice, according to Undercover.

The Melbourne outfit have been capitalising on the hype with shows in London, Paris, Manchester, Barcelona, Beijing and Shanghai. The tour highlight will undoubtedly be an appearance at France’s Les Eurockeennes festival this weekend. The Midnight Juggernauts will take the stage alongside AIR, Arcade Fire and The Klaxons.

The band will release a new 12-inch, Road to Recovery, to coincide with the tour. They’ll be back on homegrown soil in August to celebrate the launch of their debut album, Dystopia.

Quirky songbird Kate Miller-Heidke has become the surprise success story of the year. Her debut album, Little Eve, has just hit the ARIA charts with an impressive number 11 debut.

The album’s achievements have surprised Kate most of all. The classically trained singer once described herself as “Alice in Wonderland who has drunk a little too much of the wrong potion.” Interesting, but not a typical recipe for commercial success.

To celebrate her newfound popularity, Kate is hitting the road. She’ll kick off her national tour on June 30 in Brisbane. Once she finishes her solo stint, Kate Miller-Heidke will join fellow indie “it” girl Missy Higgins on her regional Victorian dates. See Kate’s website for a complete list of tour dates.

Image source: Josh V-R @ Flickr

Antescene, as the name suggests, is an organisation dedicated to being “anti scene.” If you are too, you might want to get down to their first ever Australian event, happening in Melbourne this weekend. Irene’s on Pitt Street in Brunswick is the place to be to see a host of new and unknown bands.

Antescene is the brainchild of indie rocker Chris Chinchilla. He’s previously organized two Antescene events in London, first at an abandoned tyre factory, then a more upscale North London gallery.

“My idea is that it’s a loose thing,” Chris told Undercover. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be me that organises things. If someone in Sydney wants to do it, then they’re more than welcome to, whether they do it under that name or another name … as I’m sure they already do, that’s fine.”

The Contrast, Greengreengreen, Love is Science Fiction, and Chris’ band Macaca Mulatta will play the Melbourne Antescene gig on June 30. Tickets are available at the door for only $5.

Image source: Spall @ Flickr

Aussie expats The Scare plan to return home for the release of their latest EP, Bats! Bats! Bats!

The punksters, who hail from Queensland, relocated to the United Kingdom in 2005 where they hoped to find a more receptive audience for their frenetic live shows. This local success story created a buzz through Europe after touring with We Are Scientists and Gallows. They’re also favorites of the festival circuit, where they have played alongside The White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, and Daft Punk.

The Scare will play shows at Sydney’s Candy’s Apartment and Melbourne’s Click Click nightclub in July. Bats! Bats! Bats! hit record store shelves on June 23, and will be followed up by the release of The Scare’s debut album Chivalry on September 1.

Image source: Safetypinheart @ Flickr

Darren Hayes is set to release his third solo record, This Delicate Thing We’ve Made, in August.

Darren stormed up the international charts as the frontman of power-pop duo Savage Garden. However, his solo career to date has been lacklustre.

Perhaps the new album will fare better, as industry insiders say the new disc features unique electronic pop arrangements, which perfectly showcase his angelic vocals.

Eager fans can make up their own minds and preview film clips for two album tracks, “Who Would Have Thought?” and “Step Into the Light,” at Darren’s official website.

Darren is expected to tour Australia in spring to support the release.

This Delicate Thing We’ve Made will be released in Australia on August 20 through Darren’s Powdered Sugar label.

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The hottest bands in Australia, Silverchair and Powderfinger, are joining forces to present the tour of the year.

Powderfinger are riding high on the success of their latest release, Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. It hit the top spot in its first week in the charts, becoming the fastest selling album in Australia this year. Meanwhile, Silverchair’s double platinum newie Young Modern remains firmly in the top 20, 10 weeks after its release.

The Across the Great Divide tour kicks off in Silverchair’s hometown of Newcastle on August 29, followed by The Finger’s hometown of Brisbane. It will take in every Australian capital city and 14 regional centers, making this one of the biggest tours in Oz music history.

Playing small regional towns doesn’t phase the bands. They’ll take a customised tent on tour with them, allowing them to build a large venue in places too small for entertainment centres.

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Queensland rockers Sunk Loto have called it a day after an illustrious 10-year career.

The heavy metal band hit the big time when, as teenagers, they signed a record deal with Sony. They recorded two albums under the label, Big Picture Lies and Between Birth and Death. The band, which was working on a new album, cites creative differences for the split.

On a statement on their MySpace, Sunk Loto has thanked their “die-hard loyal fans, friends and family for sticking with them and making it all worthwhile.”

However, fans need not despair. Founding members Jason and Dane Brown are currently working on new material with their original bassist Robkaay. Guitarist Luke McDonald also plans to record music with a new project.

Here’s a clip of their song “Everything Everyway” to remember them by!

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He might be a Grammy-award winning country artist, but it seems some Aussies still don’t recognise the local hero.

The Daily Telegraph reported the country megastar was refused entry to the set of wife Nicole Kidman’s new film, Australia, after security didn’t know who he was.

The female security guard reportedly told Urban to shove off and “get a life.” After much persuasion, the guard then radioed her boss to report “there’s some bloke here named Keith Urban who wants to get on the set.”

The boss, who clearly was familiar with Australia’s hottest country export, personally escorted Keith to his waiting wife.

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Melbourne rockers Augie March are set to take the United States by storm when they release their chart-topping album Moo, You Bloody Choir.

Moo, You Bloody Choir is the third album from the Aussie indie band. No overnight success story, Augie March has slowly built a loyal fan base attracted to their poetic lyrics and complex melodies.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Augie March enjoyed warm receptions when they recently entertained music industry bigwigs in Los Angeles and New York. They plan to return to American for a more extensive tour to coincide with their album release in August.

In the group’s native Australia, Moo, You Bloody Choir went platinum and spawned the APRA Song of the Year, “One Crowded Hour.”

Jive/Zomba Records will release the album in America on August 7. The release will feature a bonus track, “There is No Such Place” and videos for “One Crowded Hour” and “The Cold Acre.”

The wait is over - rock supergroup Silverchair are back.

Their long-awaited fifth album Young Modern builds on the success of Diorama, with its orchestral bursts and fantastical lyrics. Young Modern raced to the top of the Australian charts in the first week of its release, and was certified double-platinum in less than a month. It spawned the monster hit single “Straight Lines” which also debuted at number one.

After impressing fans back home, Silverchair are keen to wow crowds in America.

Fans will get to hear the new songs live when The ‘Chair tour the United States and Canada later this year. The dates will include a main stage appearance at Chicago’s Lollapalooza Festival. While Silverchair played a handful of sold-out shows earlier this year, the band has not toured North America since 1999.

According to Undercover, Silverchair are currently negotiating with international record labels to release Young Modern throughout Europe.

Young Modern will be released in North America on July 24. Their American tour kicks off in San Diego on July 13.

Image source: Silverchair website