The first big non-SXSW show announcement of 2008 is here, and guess what: it's a massive dance party. Straight out of Paris, the electronic duo known as Justice will kick off their US tour at Stubb's on Monday, March 3rd. This is actually a small venue for the band - just a week after the Austin date, they'll headline Madison Square Garden. If you've not already heard Justice, start with Daft Punk or MSTRKRFT as sonic reference points, then add some scruffy beards and leather jackets. Justice also revel in the rock 'n' roll imagery, so their live show features a huge backlit cross (pictured at right) and stacks upon stacks of Marshall guitar amps to blow everyone right out of the venue. The band are touring in support of 2007 album †, which spawned the hit single "D.A.N.C.E." and was quite the critical darling as well. Their set at Coachella '07 was widely praised as a festival highlight, so this March gig should be something special....

Chris Rose, or Car Stereo (Wars), will ensure 2008 kicks off right, with a barrage of dance floor ready material that includes a fair share of samples and mash-ups, no doubt. Happy New Year!...

Spider House and the United States Art Authority, along with yours truly, want to keep you away from downtown this New Year’s Eve. Sure the shenanigans on 6th St. is always stirring but keeping within the cozy confines of the campus area is arguably safer and largely less expensive. Spider House hosts a solid line-up of DJ’s with a couple of live acts thrown in for good measure. Doors are at 8 p.m. and the $12 tickets can be purchased in advance via Front Gate Tickets....

Five years ago you never would have believed it, but it’s true: the harp is so in. And evidence of that is most acute in that elfin goddess of harpsterism, Joanna Newsom, who will be toting her really big harp—and the lilting wordplay that comes along with it—right on down to Austin this Saturday night. And no, it won’t just be her alone lighting up the stage and the eyes of adoring boys at Riverbend......

UPDATE: We called Frontgate this morning, and were informed that the tickets will indeed be general seated admission. Tickets will be $35 with a $5.50 service fee. As promised, here are the specifics (as many as we have) on the Joanna Newsom performance with the Austin Symphonic Orchestra in October we mentioned earlier this week. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning (August 30) at 10:00 a.m., through Frontgate Tickets, and they are $35 a pop.......

Let's get to it: ACL Fest organizers dropped the aftershow schedule yesterday, and it's fairly extensive. Stubb's, La Zona Rosa, The Parish, and Antone's will all host aftershows over the Thursday to Sunday that everyone is in town for the big event. Highlights include an intimate show from The White Stripes and Cold War Kids at Stubb's, an extra gig from Argentina's loungerific Gotan Project (also at Stubb's), appearances by Spoon, Common, and Queens......

Blonde Redhead's highly anticipated Austin appearance at Stubb's was cancelled mid-show due to the wrath of God inclement weather on Wednesday night. Disappointed fans, many of whom informed Austinist they had traveled from all around Texas and out-of-state, stood in the rain and mud for an hour and a half after openers Annuals had finished their set. The staff at Stubb's, silent throughout the evening about the impending doom status of the show finally......

Festivals: ACL 3-day passes are all gone. Oh, snap! Don't despair, though - day passes go on sale tomorrow for $50 plus $8 in service charges through Frontgate Tickets. For those with tickets already in hand, note that the official ACL Fest schedule grid will also be released any minute now. Get out your highlighters. Venues: After a couple of years of limited bookings, the Austin Music Hall is getting a facelift this fall.......

It's only June, but there is already some lineup shuffling happening over at ACL Fest. Let's start with the bad news: Irish singer/songwriter Damien Rice has departed from the bill, and no official reason has been given. All is not lost, though: Rice is still playing The Backyard in early July with Fiona Apple and David Garza. In better news, UK Britrockers Muse have joined the lineup, meaning that those who pined for Radiohead......

(Ed. Note) *Unverified rumor update: Austinist reader Nathan tipped us off to this curious post on the ACL Concierge site (the site for high-rolling package-buyers - insert crass package joke here). But if you are to believe the graphic on the right, Coldplay will be coming back. No wonder the fest is not being held during OU-Texas weekend, how would all the college girls get to see that dreamy Chris Martin?* Although the Austin......

Tired of Barton Springs? Spend this Sunday, April 3, at Pokejo's BBQ on W. 5th St. for the Choose Austin First .2K Run. This charity event benefits the SIMS Foundation, which according to their website, "...is a non-profit organization that provides access to low-cost mental health services for Austin musicians and their immediate families." Tickets can be purchased through Front Gate Tickets for $10, or $15 at the door. So, for the price of going......