Next Tuesday, January 20, The Reading Rooms plays host to the aggressive rockers, now officially signed to Epitaph Records alongside the likes of Tom Waits, Nick Cave and the late, great Joe Strummer, as well as some of the biggest cult indie-punk bands on the planet.

The Boston-based band hope the signing is the icing on the cake of their 13-year career, having pushed the boundaries of their abrasive sonic art while never forsaking their heaviness, vision or integrity.

Converge have constantly challenged the ever-shifting definition of “hardcore” with their undeniably influential prior releases, Petitioning The Empty Sky, When Forever Comes Crashing and Jane Doe.

All three albums rank high on the “must-own” lists of many aggressive music fans and have established Converge as one of the underground’s precious few leaders in a sea of followers.

They’ll begin recording their Epitaph debut and long-awaited fourth album in March.

Tentatively entitled You Fail Me, it’s the follow-up to the critically-acclaimed Jane Doe, which was released in 2001, and is due to hit the shops in the summer.

Lead singer Jacob Bannon said, “We’re pretty confident as artists and genuinely happy about the move. We’ve become part of a diverse, quality roster with Epitaph, rich in both history and integrity.

“We’ve struggled for years looking for a supportive label to call home and after a decade we’ve found it.”

Advance tickets are £8.50 from Groucho’s.

It’s OK though, because thankfully Gary and Neil haven’t sold out and entered the Eurovision Song Contest, it’s actually the European leg of a new worldwide live music competition being held at the Mean Fiddler, where they stand to win $10,000!

It’s a huge accolade for the lads because they’re one of only 14 bands on the Continent to be invited to appear at the launch.

Forget about artificial Pop Idol-style competitions and all the other glorified karaoke rubbish, The Global Battle of the Bands is the real deal with real bands playing real music — live.

Encompassing all musical genres, the competition strives to bring the best un-manufactured new talent in the world to a wider audience. Every year local qualifying heats and national finals will be organised in countries around the world, with the winners of these going forward to The Global Battle of the Bands World Final.

It’s a fitting accolade for Mexico given that they’re the uncrowned kings of such competitions locally.

They began playing their own material in late 2002, have played dozens of gigs in Tayside and beyond and have even managed to release their debut album Toucan Rok!, featuring a multimedia section, which has proved popular with fans, selling over 500 copies in just a few months.

To kick off the competition The Global Battle of the Bands European Launch Event will feature 14 invited bands from all over Europe chosen on the strength of their music and live performances.

The winning band on the night will win the BOB Awards’ Best New Band in Europe title and $10,000.

The best bands on the night will be also eligible to go on to The Global Battle of the Bands World Final, to be held in November, which carries a first prize of $100,000 and the BOB Awards' Best New Band in the World title.

The now-famous extravaganza of live blues, boogie, rock and roots music is seemingly set in stone in the city’s summer calendar, taking place this year over the weekend of Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July.

It wasn’t always the case, having been launched by local blues fans worried about the demise of the Dundee Jazz Festival, featuring only nine bands in six venues in one afternoon.

Thanks to a combination of sheer perseverance and hard work, copious amounts of goodwill and an outstandingly-fine feelgood factor, the festival has gone from strength to strength, and now attracts around 10,000 music fans to more than 120 live performances in 30 city centre venues.

As has been the case every year since its inception, the committee are expecting to announce an even bigger line-up of bands and venues this year.

Already the interest from the musicians has been unprecedented, with a large number of European artists desperate to take part alongside British and American acts.

Sounds like the tenth anniversary will be the best yet!

Local businesses wishing to become involved or to sponsor the Blues Bonanza can contact the festival committee by emailing ianwhyte_9@hotmail.com or write to Dundee Blues Bonanza, 22 St Andrews Street, Dundee DD1 2EX.

Influenced by everything from Metallica to Radiohead and U2, with singer Louise’s vocal style likened to everyone from Skin to Edie Brickell, Lexxi play emotive, melodic and powerful music to leave the listener breathless and desperate for more.

Lexxi began in March 2002 when Louise and Andy banged supermarket trolleys together at 4 am one day.

Once Louise (also rhythm guitar) and Andy (lead guitar) developed their writing skills, recruiting Craig (bass) and drummer Fraser along the way, the foursome have been preparing themselves for the big stage through mini tours in the far reaches of Scotland, playing back rooms and local pubs, plus support slots in Glasgow’s King Tut’s with the likes of Jason Mraz.

Dundee rockers Denver provide support, doors open around 8.30pm.

n S & M, featuring various members of Dundee rock group Saz, are at Drouthy Neebors, plus support, tomorrow night.

n The Doghouse hosts Blues House on Saturday night, starting at 9pm. As usual, it’s free entry.

n Saturday afternoon blues at Deacon Brodies features Independence between 3 and 5pm.

n A short trek up the “Conchie” to the Bread at 5pm will catch the Gary Miller Blues Band with Alan Wheeler.

n Blairgowrie’s Erichtdale House is the venue for Tim Elliott and Sandy Tweedale, aka Blues Not Trouble, on Friday night.

n The Dundee Jazz Club starts its 2004 season at the Rep on Friday, January 30. First-off it’s the ever-popular Alex Yellowlees Hot Club, recreating the spirit and the music of the Stephane Grappelli/Django Reinhardt band, swing with improvisational flair.

The concert starts at 10.30pm and tickets costing £4.50 (conc. £2.50) are available from the Rep.

n Various members of former Dundee band Rubber Tree Plant make an appearance at Mickey Coyle’s on Sunday night when sisters Maggie Ferrie and Paula Fenwick show off their vocal and songwriting talents.

They’ll be supporting former Plant's lead singer Jock Ferrie, Lyle Osborne and Frank Rossiter.

Emergenza is an official scouting agency for Columbia/Sony (Germany) and the festival is a massive worldwide event, involving over 2500 concerts a year, that has seen 21 bands signed to Columbia, Island Records and PGA in the last two years.

After battling it out in local, regional and national heats, the winning bands will then find themselves heading for Germany for an open-air festival, and the overall winner will receive a two-week, four-date US tour supporting major acts from the Sony record label!

Even for the bands who don’t make it through to the national finals, there’s a chance to showcase live in front of music industry people and win prizes like Stingray basses, OLP guitars, Crate digital amps, Mapex drums and microphones.

Local heats are expected to take place, over three rounds, around Easter, although no set dates have been confirmed as yet, at either the Doghouse or the Westport Bar, the Reading Rooms and Fat Sams, with successful bands progressing to the bigger venues.

The closing date for band applications is this Sunday, January 10, so you'd better get your skates on.

Registration costs £40 per band, but for that the first 260 bands get Ernie Ball bass and guitar strings, and drum sticks and skins.

To register, send your band details to the secure website www.emergenza.net.

A confirmation reply will be sent back to you and bands can then visit Sound Control in Castle Street where you can pick up an official enrolment form to be filled in and posted to Emergenza UK, Kings Wharf, Suite 409-409a, 298-301 Kingsland Road, London E2 4DS.

Good luck.