After touring Australia late last year with superstars Elton John  and Ed Sheeran , Irish troubadour Foy Vance , below, returns for a headline tour kicking off at Mojos on   September 10 (tickets from Oztix). Byron Bay folk-soul singer Kylie Lionhart   supports. The return visit is in honour of Vance's third album, The Wild Swan, the first released via Sheeran's Gingerbread Man Records. The album is out on   May 13. 
 Go North West young men 
Perpetual tourists in recent years and Triple J Hottest 100 victors, the Rubens  ride back as headliners of the annual North West Festival  in Port Hedland. The rest of the line-up for the centrepiece of the Pilbara's Weekender from   August 19-21 will be announced on   May 18, along with first-release tickets.
 Enter Enter Shikari  
English post-hardcore heroes Enter Shikari  hit our shores in   September for capital city gigs promoting latest album, The Mindsweep, released last year. Fellow UK outfit Hacktivist  join the St Albans quartet at the shows, which wind up at Metropolis Fremantle on   September 24. Tickets go on sale today from the usual outlets.
 Metallic strings 
Finnish classical-metal maestros Apocalyptica  bring their unique blend of Metallica and Wagner to Australia, starting a four-date tour at Capitol on   September 21. The quintet, comprising  three classically trained cellists, drummer and singer, have released eight albums in the past 20 years. Tickets go on sale on Monday from tickets.destroyalllines.com.
 Black is back 
Andy Black , the solo project for Black Veil Brides  frontman Andy Biersack , launches his debut album, The Shadow Side tomorrow. The Ohio native backs the release with Australian dates, including a gig at the Astor Theatre on   September 1. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday from the usual outlets.
 Folk for the fire 
Local nu-folk and country purveyors Stoney Joe  launch their third album, Fuel For the Fire, at Babushka, Leederville, on   June 4. Galloping Foxleys , Simone and Girlfunkle  and DJ Senorita  Loop  support. Tickets from Oztix.