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Report: Winehouse Arrested, Released; Stipe States New R.E.M. LP Out April 1

Amy Winehouse, whose longing for jailbird hubby Blake Fielder-Civil forced the cancellation of her U.S. tour, was arrested in London today (Dec. 18), and may join her spouse behind bars on charges of perverting the course of justice, Skye News reports.A little backstory: Fielder-Civil, who allegedly beat bartender JamesKing then — once assault charges were issued — attempted to bribe himinto retracting his statement, has been behind bars since November.But, as any wiz may spot, Fielder-Civil’s production assistant workdoesn’t exactly pay anywhere near the £200,000 he reportedly offered asa bribe to the barkeep. Enter Winehouse, the breadwinner. According toreports, Winehouse has been released from an east London Police Stationon an unspecified amount of bail, and will return “on a date in earlyMarch pending further inquiries.”

Stipe States New R.E.M. LP Out April 1

Adding to an already busy year, you know, one chock full of live DVDs, live residencies, and side projects, R.E.M.as you may remember — are in fact prepping a new studio album, the follow up 2004’s Around the Sun. When’s said material available, you ask? Well, according to the band’s frontman Michael Stipe, the album will arrive on April 1. But beware, for as the date connotes, he could be pulling our chain.

“Let me tell you a secret: we have a great fucking record in the bag,” Stipe said at a recent fundraiser in New York City, gigwise.com reports. “It’s a big change. It’s coming out on April Fool’s Day.”

A quick look at the calendar will reveal that April 1 is in fact a Tuesday — promising!

Foos Prep ‘Bigger Show’ for Tour

Remember the Foo Fighters‘ recently announced U.S. tour in support of their sixth studio album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace?Well, the band certainly hopes so, and is “stepping it up” to make surethose in attendance won’t forget the performance any time soon. “We’realso bringing out a bigger show than we’ve ever done before,” bassist Nate Mendel told Billboard.com.”We did this acoustic tour last year with an eight-piece band, andwe’re bringing that band along for our regular rock show this time.”

Thetour kicks off Jan. 16 in Sunrise, Florida, hitting cities nationwidethrough March, and will feature “a main stage” and “an acoustic stage.””We’re splitting the setup in dynamics and also in physical location,”Mendel said. But unfortunately, the show may lack one spark: “no pyro,”Mendel said.

Pela Map Winter/Spring Mini-Tour

In support of their latest record, Anytown Graffiti, Brooklyn-based rock quartet Pela will hit the road in February, toting songsmith Liam Finn on all dates. The eight-date jaunt will kick off with a show in Brooklyn alongside Apollo Sunshine, and then brave the snowy highways of the U.S. while en route to cities like Chicago, Seattle, Portland, and Denver.

Pela tour dates: 2/27, Brooklyn, NY (Music Hall of Williamsburg) *
2/29, Chicago, IL (Schubas)
3/1, Minneapolis, MN (400 Bar)
3/4, Seattle, WA (TBD)
3/5, Portland, OR (Doug Fir)
3/7, San Francisco, CA (Bottom of the Hill)
3/8, Los Angeles, CA (Spaceland)
3/10, Denver, CO (Hi-Dive)

(* w/ Apollo Sunshine)

Johnathan Rice, Matt Costa Team for 2008 Jaunt

Possibly to serenade broken hearts to health in the wake of Valentine’s Day, Scot troubadour Johnathan Rice and singer/songwriter Matt Costa will join forces to deliver fans a double dose of somber, acoustic ditties beginning with a gig in Chicago Feb. 22, Filter reports. From there Rice and Costa, offering tunes from Further North and forthcoming LP Unfamiliar Faces,respectively, will hit Toronto, Boston, New York, and Atlanta, amongothers, before closing off the outing in March 9 in Nashville.

Johnathan Rice and Matt Costa tour dates:

2/22, Chicago, IL (Double Door)
2/25, Ann Arbor, MI (Blind Pig)
2/27, Toronto, ON (Phoenix Theater)
2/28, Montreal, QC (Le National)
2/29, Boston, MA (Paradise)
3/1, Brooklyn, NY (Music Hall)
3/3, New York, NY (Bowery Ballroom)
3/4, Philadelphia, PA (First Unitarian Church)
3/5, Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
3/6, Carrboro, NC (Cat’s Cradle)
3/8, Atlanta, GA (The Loft)
3/9, Nashville, TN (3rd & Lindsley)