Graham has just announced details of his new band Hopper. Hopkins was backed by an all star last night for his debut live engagement In Galway. A man of many talents, Graham is the prinicple songwriter and vocalist, handing over sticks duties to Binnser of The Frames, while Joe Chester from Ten Speed Racer played guitar and Gavin Doody from Turn strapped on a bass. Hopper have recorded an EP which should see the light of day in the coming months.

There must be some mighty Irish band magnet residing in Chicago right now, as following in the footsteps of The Frames, Steve Fanagan and Joan of Arse, Adrian Crowley is the latest local luminary to record tracks with Steve Albini in Chicago's Electrical Audio studio. Crowley recorded and mixed eleven tracks in five days with Tom Haugh on drums and Kate Ellis on cello. As Albini is currently working with so many Irish artists, one wonders whether it would be worth his while opening up shop this side of the pond.

Other album news this fortnight – Damien Frost should have a CD released some time in August (to be recorded by Bassetti) which will be preceded by a split 7" with Melt Banana to be released around the middle of July. They're also in the planning stages of a UK tour with Montana Pete for late Summer and another one with Baseball Fury around Christmas. Upcoming completed recordings due for imminent release in the summer months include long players from The Jimmy Cake, The Redneck Manifesto and Joan Of Arse... In move that could herald the era of Glasgow becoming the new Chicago, The Dudley Corporation are nipping over for a four day recording session in the illustrious Chem 019 studio built by the seminal Glaswegian label Chemikal Underground. The very same facility gave birth to Mogwai's debut Mogwai Young Team plus much of The Delgados' material.

Finally its great to see that at over 816 people have thrown their weight behind Phantom FM and have signed a petition to get the kind of quality music radio that we so badly deserve. b

You can access the petition and register your support at www.phantomfm.com