Cowboy Junkies junkies in need of a quick fix will have to make due with a taste from the Timmins family various side projects in lieu of a new record. Chief music maker and Junkies guitarist Michael Timmins recently completed the score for the dark comedy indie release, "Niagara, Niagara," starring Henry Thomas ("E.T.", "Cloak and Dagger"), along with sometimes Junkies collaborater Jeff Bird. The film has a tentative Summer '97 release date.

Meanwhile, sister Margo just added background vocals to four Robert Earl Keen tunes and dueted on one, all to be included on his forthcoming record, "Picnic," set for on April 29. Margo will join Keen on stage at the Nashville Extravaganza on Feb. 19 and at South by Southwest in Dallas on March 15 to perform the recently recorded country diddies, "Undone," "I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight," "The Coming Home of the Son and Brother" and the duet, "Then Came Lo Mein."

Both Michael and Margo will be at New York's Bottom Line later this month to perform at the Townes Van Zandt tribute concert, along with Sonic Youth's Steve Shelly and his side project Two Dollar Guitar, Rosie Flores, Jonell Mosser, Tom Russell, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

New material from the entire band isn't expected until at least the fall. Currently, Michael Timmins is holed up with his wife in a cabin near Toronto writing material for the next Junkies' record and has only limited contact to the outside world.