TWO exciting music names have announced live gig dates at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Finnish rockers The Rasmus and cool cats Franz Ferdinand will both be playing at the venue on separate autumn tour dates.

The Rasmus, whose music has been described as rock, with strong melodies and a catchy chorus, will be playing the hall on Tuesday, November 2.

Their debut UK single In The Shadows, was released in April this year, and it became a massive hit. This is being followed up by the new single, Guilty, taken from the album, Dead Letters.

"Each song is a letter to somebody," says singer Lauri, about the album.

"It could be an apology, confession or cry out for help.

"In addition, the band endlessly watching horror movies coloured the making of the album.

"We watched so many horror movies that each of us had nightmares!

"My lyrics are always personal and every word has a meaning that reminds me of something that has happened."

Pauli the band's guitarist, has been recognised as a star producer after scooping producer of the year at the Finnish Grammy 2001.

"The best advice I've been given is that if you have knowledge, share it," he says.

Aki is the band's drummer, and Eero who has been described as the calmest man in the band plays the bass.

"The album is darker, moodier and dreamier than anything we have done before", says Eero.

Franz Ferdinand who are also playing The Civic, caused a musical stir when their first single Take Me Out from their self-titled debut album received world-wide acclaim.

They released their new single, Michael, through Domino Records last Monday.

The band recently shot the video for the single in Berlin, which features a cameo appearance by Michael, an acquaintance of the band and the actual subject of the song.

Franz Ferdinand are Alex Kapranos on vocals and guitar, Nick McCrathy on vocals and guitar, keyboards, Bob Hardy on bass and Paul Thomson on drums.

Catch them at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Sunday, October 17.

Tickets for Franz Ferdinand and The Rasmus are £13.50 for each gig.

Buy tickets from 01902 552121, or www.wolvescivic.co.uk

Lion steps back to sixties

BLUES and Soul band Somethin' ELSE will be playing at the White Lion, Astwood Bank, near Redditch to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The Redditch band, which is fronted by energetic showman and vocalist Richard Smith, has a line up of guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, tenor sax, and backing vocals.

They will be playing three sets of their mix of 1950's rock 'n' roll, blues classics, 1960s pop and soul favourites at the charity gig on Friday, August 27.

Doors open at 7.30pm and Somethin' ELSE will begin their first set at 8pm.

Admission is free, and there will be collections for the Macmillan Nurses charity.

Somethin' ELSE was chosen to open the recent Droitwich Music Festival at the Castle Hotel.

Hot Rods gig

THINGS will be hotting up at The Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street, Worcester when Eddie and the Hot Rods play a gig there.

The band are touring to promote their new album called Better Late Than Never.Catch them at the venue on Friday, August 27.

For more information visit Eddieand-thehotrods.com

Dr Teeth munch into Marr's

HOT on the heels of headlining two prestigious jazz festivals, The Dr Teeth Big Band will be storming back to Worcester's Marr's Bar, this month.

The jive and swing heroes have recently played the Upton-upon-Severn jazz festival and a string of shows at the Birmingham International Jazz Festival.

On Saturday, August, 28 the boys will encourage the crowd to dance when they play their brand of boogie, along with new tunes at The Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street, Worcester.

Bandleader Simon Kemp says the new material is "very much in the Dr Teeth tradition of paying tribute to the masters of swing and jive while also updating the ideas for a modern shot-in-the-arm."

"The new stuff rocks,"he says.

The band have been playing regular shows at The 100 Club in London, and Jools Holland's Jam House in Birmingham, among others.

The Ferret Convention

ROCK band The Ferret Convention will be performing live at The Railway Hotel, Evesham in a special charity performance.

The event, which takes place on Saturday, August 28, has been arranged to raise funds for The Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust.

Sue Sollis, the mother of local teenager Tracy Sollis, founded the trust in memory of her daughter.

The Trust financially supports Chemotherapy Sensitivity Testing, a procedure which can identify the most effective treatment according to a patient's genetic make up.

The Ferret Convention, a five- piece band will perform music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Admission is free.

DJs' party

TWO DJs will be celebrating their first year of DJing in a double celebration at Koolwaters club night in Bristol.

DJ Vass from Malvern and DJ Gaunty from Worcester will be playing a six-hour set in the second room of Club Castros, Old Castros, Bristol on Saturday, August 21.

Headlining at the all-night event will be world leading female DJ Lisa Pin-Up.

Party revellers can also enjoy the sounds of Marc Vedo.

plus other guests and residents.

The event is part of Koolwaters fourth birthday club tour.

The club will be touring around the UK this month to places such as Creation in Stoke, and Dance Academy in Plymouth as part of the birthday celebration.