Been a long time since we rock -n’ rolled. Well actually it’s only been two months but, you know what, we missed you and we missed putting out a fine music magazine. Our time was well spent though, launching a new look website (nominated for Irish music site of the year by the way) and working on a plan of action that would enable us to get State to as many people as possible for as little as possible.

And so State is now free, and you don’t get much littler than that. It is also available to pick up in over 200 locations over the next week and will be stocked in more places all the time. State is also going on tour and will be available at upcoming gigs from Fight Like Apes, The Blizzards, Skinny Wolves, Messiah J and The Expert, Super Extra Bonus Party and Phantom 105.2′s First Friday. If you’d like to stock it in a shop, café, bar, venue or whatever, get in touch. If for some reason you can’t get a copy, subscribe with us and we’ll send you one. In the meantime you can always read a version here on this very website (see below).

Apart from that, very little has changed here at State. We’re still dedicated to bringing you a mix of the biggest artists in the world alongside the new, the old and the plain fascinating. This month’s cover stars Kings Of Leon are making a bid to become one of the former and aren’t doing that bad. State Assistant Editor Niall Byrne met up with the band in London to hear why they want stadium status so bad and why they don’t particularly care for their first two albums. Fight Like Apes are just starting on their ascent but are already creating a huge stir – we spent the summer with them as they prepared to release their debut album and threw in a stunning exclusive photo session to boot.

The Virgin Prunes may have done their time on the frontline but there’s is a unique story. Gavin Friday looks back on their mission to bring art and anarchy to 1980′s Ireland. In their own way, The Roots have been a similarly radical force in their own world of hip-hop. We hear how they did it and why they consider Obama a ray of light. Mike Skinner of The Streets, meanwhile, searches for the answers to the big questions and tries to find a way forward.

Last time we were here, we were genuinely excited about the state of the Irish music scene. We still are, maybe even more so. In this issue The Blizzards talk rock -n’ roll instead of sex and drugs and why they need to grow up in public. Messiah J & The Expert have made one of the albums of the year but still aren’t happy, we hear why. Circuit Breakers previews the Dublin Electronic Arts Festival, DEAF to its friends. On the new band front, we hail Talula Does The Hula, the Japanese Popstars and Rarely Seen Above Ground. And that’s not to mention Scarlett Johansson, Morrissey vs the far right, Faith No More, Blog Standard, Brendan Canning, Beijing and the misery of Irish restaurants. All for nothing – now that’s what we call value for money. Enjoy.

For your convenience, there are now three ways to get a copy of State:

1. Pick it up – see our list of stockists.

2. Subscribe or Buy Online for the cost of postage and packaging.

3. View Online right here in our viewer. Click magazine to enlarge.

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