Sufjan Stevens’s newest album Carrie & Lowell – a folky, frequently Simon & Garfunkel-esque survey of the musician’s rocky childhood – is being widely touted as his best. He returns to the UK for his first tour in four years in August (28 Aug-6 Sep, tour starts The Helix, Dublin); he’ll also be making an appearance at Salisbury’s End Of The Road festival (4-6 Sep, Larmer Tree Gardens) …
With their small June gigs completely sold out, post-hardcore cult faves Brand New have announced a series of mammoth shows for the autumn (10-22 Sep, tour starts Albert Hall, Manchester) …
Self-aware indie foursome Spector will play their only non-festival gig in London in June (The Dome, NW5, 11 Jun) in anticipation of their as-yet unnamed second album…
The reliably dubious Ariel Pink plays a truncated tour in June (13-17 Jun, tour starts District, Liverpool) …
Finally, Wild Beasts have announced two northerly warm-up shows in preparation for their Suffolk set at Latitude festival (Summerhall, Edinburgh, Jul 15; The Old Fire Station, Carlisle, Jul 16)
