Three random but unusually cool concert announcements today:
*Depeche Mode is certainly hipper than usual in Minnesota State Fair terms, where the '80s synth-pop heroes are booked to play Aug. 27 (a Tuesday night). Not counting the band's stint at the South by Southwest Music Conference this week, the grandstand concert is only the third U.S. date on the tour behind its new album, "Delta Machine," which arrives March 26. Look for ticket info from the fair in a few weeks (the gig is currently excluded from other pre-sale options being offered on the tour).
*Best new artist Grammy nominees the Alabama Shakes were a sweltering hit inside First Avenue last summer, and now the club has booked them outdoors July 28 at the Cabooze Plaza. Tickets ($30) go on sale Friday at noon via First Ave outlets. Seen on "Saturday Night Live" a few weekends ago (posted below), the soul-rockers will still be touring behind their lone album. However, singer Brittany Howard is featured on a new Jack White-produced cover of a song by "Search for Sugarman" star Roridguez that comes out tomorrow as a single on White's Third Man Records.
*Dour art-rockers the National have also clearly outgrown First Ave, so they are booked to perform at Roy Wilkins Auditorium on Aug. 6. Tickets ($35) go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through the Wilkins box office and Ticketmaster. The Ohio-bred, New York-based critics darlings have a new album due out in May.
