Editorial: Dry January goes out the window...

By DanVF on 12 January 2012

If it refers to the fact that not much happens this month, Bloc Party knocked that on the bonce early doors by confirming their return, but is it that big a deal? David Hillier investigated for us.

If the phrase meant booze-free, it unfortunately turned to booze-full for me with Coldplay and James Blake picking up gongs at Festival Awards Europe on Wednesday. Michael Eavis collected his Lifetime Achievement honour, pushing for another ten years, after which we cracked on with our new band discovery plans at Eurosonic 2012. Keep updated here.

Will Howler and Tribes still be around in a decade? On the basis on their album reviews (Howler here, Tribes there), they look to be in good stead. Much like Coachella who went mammoth with their line-up announcements including the return of Dr Dre, though Refused and At The Drive-In reunions were the real office talking points.

Another one was the news that Black Sabbath axe-man Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with cancer. As yet, it hasn’t changed the band’s plans to headline Download Festival 2012 and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Talking of getting better, do bands get better with age? Well, find out for yourself by looking at the big reunions of 2012 with Alex Fahey or checking those acts set for a big return this summer with Fiona Madden.

And finally, make 2012 the year of the rave again but reminiscing about The Prodigy who will make it 20 years at the top this summer. Chris Swindells rolls back the years for the Download headliners.

Have a great week!

Dan and the VF Team

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