Newsbits: New song from Collins, Twilight falls on Sad bassist, Hinterland bands...

• Scots indie-pop legend Edwyn Collins has revealed details of his first new material since the stroke in 2005 which left him barely able to talk, walk, read or write, never mind make music again.

The song is called 'I'm Feeling Lucky' and features on a new compilation album inspired by American gospel singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples.

The former Orange Juice frontman told BBC6 Music: "It's the first song after my stroke, it was difficult in a way but the lyrics are simple and direct. I like them simple and direct. 'I'm Feeling Lucky' is about positive music, it's inspirational in a way.

The album is out on Monday (15 Feb).

• Kilsyth noise-mongers The Twilight Sad have parted company with their bass player. Craig Orzel, known for his unusual on-stage headgear (and who also produces music under the guise of Orzelda), posted a typically intriguing letter on the band's blog page, where he explained his decision:

"It's been lots of fun but I feel that this is a good time to end it. Over the last couople of months I have been looking to do different things with my life and the full time commitment that The Sad demands is something I can't satisfy any longer. There has been lots of good times and I leave with no animosity between me and the other three."

We're sure Orzel will be back in some form or another and wish him all the best.

• As previously mentioned on UtR, Hinterland will return in 2010, and it has announced the first chunk of its line-up, as follows:

British Sea Power, Jeffrey Lewis, Hot Chip (Joe Goddard) DJ set, Friendly Fires DJ set, Hot Club de Paris, Wave Pictures, Greco-Roman Soundsystem, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Fenech Soler, Johnny Foreigner, Bleech, Make Sparks, The French Wives, Little Yellow Ukuleles, Ambulances, Kitty the Lion, Cooly G, Eclair-Fifi, Konx Om Pax

It's great to see two bands we featured on the blog last year - Ambulances and French Wives - in the mix, and hopefully there will be plenty more native talent on the roster come the event itself on 3 April.

Early bird tickets are a snip at £10.

• More familiar names have been added to the annual pilgrimage to Austin, Texas for the South By Southwest industry chinwag.

The Scottish Arts Council have named nine acts who have been given funding to attend next month's event. They are: Broken Records, Colin MacIntyre, Fangs, Frightened Rabbit, The Law, St Deluxe, Trembling Bells, Unicorn Kid and Young Fathers.

At the time of writing, other Scots due to fly out are: Twin Atlantic, Tommy Reilly, The View (visas permitting), We Were Promised Jetpacks, Kid Adrift, Hudson Mohwake, Codeine Velvet Club and recent UtR stars Django Django (pictured).

Will this be a fair representation of the best of new Scottish music? Let us know below.

• And finally... The NME takes a fair amount of flak for its editorial focus on haircuts, skinny jeans and generally bad music, but you've got to give them credit for publishing this letter, from Scott Longmuir (of Edinburgh band The Last Battle):



Can you tell the real bands from the fakes?

Words: Nick Mitchell