AFTER politely declining an invitation to join Courtney Love's new band, former Babes In Toyland leader Kat Bjelland is returning to the rock fray with Katastrophy Wife. On Sunday, May 25 Kat plays Fibbers in York on the closing night of a 13-date British tour.

With new recruits Andrew Parker and Darren Donovan, Katastrophy Wife have recorded an album's worth of new material, slated for autumn release. The first single, Liberty Belle, will be released through independent label Integrity Records on June 2.

Fibbers manager Tim Hornsby says: "Leading this Riot Grrl mob, Kat Bjelland is still writing all the songs, her trademark growl and chilling screams setting the tone. Gone are the bleached tresses she once shared with former best friend/worst enemy Courtney Love, but she rocks as hard as ever."

This gig has been organised by the North West branch of Ladyfest, as a non-profit show, and the bill also features Hooter, Heroic Trio and Brutal Tinkerbell.

- THE Blueskins make their Fibbers bow on Monday to promote their debut single, User Friendly, a "120-second voodoo boogie with a twist of harp".

Billed as a beautifully unrefined quartet from the Wakefield area, they have grown up as "true believers in the blues, Bob Marley and bottomless bowls of cereal", and have played together for just over a year, writing such tracks as Lager And Lime, Love My Guitar, Give Me Your Hand and Blue Sneakers.

The band leader is guitar-playing singer Ryan Spendlove, a former boxer and art-school dropout, who is joined by 17-year-old fellow guitarist Richie Townsend, Spendlove's old school friend Maff Smith, on bass, and college mate Paul Brown, on drums.

User Friendly, recorded in the wilds of Snowdonia at "a place where the grass is good", will be released on June 9.

- THE Fibbers weekend kicks off tonight (23rd) with a rescheduled performance from Goth band Killing Miranda. The gig was postponed in January and tickets for the original performance are still valid. Support comes from The Hommos, DJs Zero and Glenn Psychosis.

Tomorrow night sees Fibbers playing host to the Complete Stone Roses. And what band could they be a tribute to? You guessed it - everybody's favourite Madchester icons, The Stone Roses. So pull on your best flared strides because even the Stone Roses' very own Mani says: "They're a good little band, the first time I saw them it was quite weird, but I think they're doing the songs justice. Tonight they sounded better than we did before we split."

On Tuesday, Fibbers hosts an EP launch for four-piece band The Stanleys, who have drawn diverse comparisons to the likes of The Waterboys, The Jam and The La's. Their debut EP, Ride Again, will be available on the night, and support comes in the form of The Awesome Faces and Sonara.

On Wednesday, the second round of the Battle of The Bands enters heat four, and Fado Rock, Ask My Cat, Ryan Shirlow and The Bloody Marys will be going head to head.

On Thursday comes the chance to see Customer 1000 in action, with support from High Sound, The Longblondes and The Hideaways. For ticket info on all Fibbers gigs call 01904 651250 .

Updated: 09:49 Friday, May 23, 2003