Billy Talent For Soundwave?

On stage at Brisbane's The Hi-Fi last night, Canadian punk rock band Billy Talent reportedly let a few details about their near future plans slip; notably that they would be returning to Australia for the 2013 Soundwave festival.

Time Off magazine's Benny Doyle was in the crowd and commented that frontman Benjamin Kowalewicz spent a fair amount of time in between songs dropping hints about the band returning for the festival.

“First he apologised to fans that they hadn't been back in over three years, saying that they would make it up to everyone very soon. [A] few "Soundwave" cries went up,” Doyle told theMusic. “Then later on he asked what everyone was doing February next year, asked who was going to go to Soundwave. Guitarist Ian D'Sa jumped in then and turned to Ben, saying 'We should probably do Soundwave?'

“Then at the end after their encore he said that although he is not supposed to mention it, Billy Talent will be back in early 2013.”

When approached for comment this afternoon, a representative from Soundwave simply told theMusic that “Nothing is confirmed yet.”

The first announcement of Soundwave bands dropped mid-week, with Metallica leading an enormous number of punk, metal and rock acts in what some are calling the festival's biggest line up yet. A second announcement of bands for the festival is set to happen soon, though no specific date is known as yet.

@thrashmama1 2. Second announce is good festival all by itself!

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 7, 2012