Rice bound for the BRITS on the eve of O re-release

As revealed before Christmas on hotpress.com, February 20 finds a new version of Damien Rice's O making it into the shops.

Along with the original album, there's a bonus DVD featuring studio performances of 'The Blower's Daughter', 'Cannonball' and 'Volcano'.

All of which means that O's 101-week residency in the Irish charts is likely to be extended by, oh, another couple of years.

On the live front, Rice makes his maiden voyage to Iceland on March 19 for a solo show in Reykjavik's NASA club. He's also been added to the bill at the Bonnaroo Festival which takes place in Manchester, Tennessee from June 11 to 13. Tickets for what's been described as "a mini Woodstock" can be purchased online at www.bonnaroo.com

Meanwhile, it's fingers-and-everything-else-crossed as Damien battles it out with Beck, 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake and Sean Paul tomorrow at the BRITS for 'Best International Male Solo Artist'.