Franz Ferdinand "Truly Gobsmacked" at Mercury Music Prize Win, North American Tour with The Futureheads Launches Tonight

Although Franz Ferdinand were the hands-on favorite to win the award, Kapranos was coy in his acceptance while he praised the current UK music scene, saying, "We really didn't expect to win this. We are truly gobsmacked. We feel very chuffed, very honored, particularly this year when we're surrounded by such fantastic bands. I think everyone deserved it more than we did. I think the bands this year reflect a trend in the UK towards fantastic music. I think we're living in good times right now."

Meanwhile, the band is still hard at work on a new record. As previously reported, Dan the Automator is involved in production on the record, and in fact has already completed a song earmarked for a future single with the group, entitled "Can't Stop Feeling". Kapranos told MTV of the collaboration: "He's been a big influence on us, because he's got no respect for genre. He doesn't give a damn whether something is dance music or rock music or hip-hop. If it's good, it's good, and he'll use it."

For now, though, the studio will have to wait, as the band is headed out on a massive North American tour with The Futureheads starting... oh shit! Today! The Futureheads, whose own totally-fucking-rad self-titled debut was released in the U.S. this week (perhaps you caught the review), are tagging along for the better part of the U.S. jaunt, and we certainly hope an opening slot for The Franz will give the up-and-coming Brit post-punkers a taste of the exposure they so Adam Richly deserve. Following their U.S. swing, Franz Ferdinand (sans Futureheads) will head back to the welcoming arms of Europe, where they'll tour out the better part of the year in style:

09-09 New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom *
09-10 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory *
09-11 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle*
09-12 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade *
09-14 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room *
09-15 Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater *
09-16 Austin, TX - Stubbs BBQ *
09-17 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
09-19 San Diego, CA - SDSU Open Air Theatre
09-20 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland (Futureheads only)
09-22 San Francisco, CA - Concourse *
09-24 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *
09-25 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
09-26 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *
09-29 Minneapolis, MN - The Quest *
09-30 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre *
10-01 Toronto, Ontario - The Docks *
10-02 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
10-03 New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom
10-11 Belfast, Ireland - Ulster Hall
10-12 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
10-13 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
10-15 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowlands
10-16 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowlands
10-17 Wolverhampton, England - Wolverhampton Civic Hall
10-19 Newcastle, England - Northumbria University
10-20 Exeter, England - Exeter University
10-21 Bradford, England - St. George's Hall
10-23 Portsmouth, England - Portsmouth Guildhall
10-24 Leicester, England - DeMontfort Hall
10-25 Manchester, England - Apollo
10-28 London, England - Brixton Academy
10-29 London, England - Brixton Academy
11-01 Lille, France - Aeronef
11-02 Nantes, France - Trocadeiere
11-03 Clermont, France - La Cooperative
11-04 Paris, France - Zenith
11-10 Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle
11-11 Dresden, Germany - Schlachtof
11-12 Munich, Germany - Townhalle
11-14 Hamburg, Germany - Dock

* with The Futureheads

Franz Ferdinand: http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk
The Futureheads: http://www.thefutureheads.com