The Pixies and Franz Ferdinand look set to play headline dates at Dublin's Lansdowne Road this summer Although there’s no official confirmation yet, the word on the industry grapevine is that the Pixies and Franz Ferdinand are to play separate Lansdowne Road headliners between August 19 and 24. Both bands will be in gig mode then, with the Americans warming up for Reading (25) with a series of smaller European festival dates, and Franz playing the Chelmsford and Staffordshire V Festivals (20 & 21). More news on hotpress.com as we get it. In the meantime, there’s definite word on a new Frank Black solo album, Honeycomb, which is due on July 15 and finds him joined in the studio by such legendary musos as Steve Cropper, Buddy Miller, Reggie Young, Chester Thompson, Anton Fig, Billy Block, Akil Thompson, David Hood and Spooner Oldham. Enthusing about working with the Stax, Mosley Shoals and American Studios me, Black says: “This was the only time I’ve been in a studio and had the strange feeling I was witnessing something spiritual. When we were recording, those guys didn’t even look at each other, they closed their eyes and they meant it. I have never recorded with people who meant what they played so much.” We’re sure that’ll please Joey, Kim and David no end. Not to be outdone, Alex Kapranos has been talking about the direction the second Franz Ferdinand album is taking. “I’ve been listening to a lot of Dylan recently,” he confides. “I’m getting really into Highway 61 – it’s so good! That’s influencing more my lyrical style than anything. “We’re listening to a lot of Bowie too. A bit of the old glam stuff, but also Low, Station To Station and Heroes.” Songs earmarked for their sophomore effort include ‘Your Diary’, ‘This Boy’, ‘Wee Andy’ and ‘Evil Heathen’.