Friday 29 August 2008

Slash Hopes Blogger Who Leaked Unreleased Tracks - “Rots In Jail”

Kevin Cogill, the blogger suspected of leaking tracks from Guns N Roses' forthcoming album 'Chinese Democracy' was arrested in Los Angeles yesterday.

The 27 year old was taken into custody by FBI agents on suspicion of violating federal copyright laws. He later appeared in court, where his bail was set at $10,000, he could face up to three years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

The accused admitted that he posted nine unreleased Guns N Roses songs on his website in June, according to an arrest affidavit, reports the Associated Press.

A preliminary hearing on the matter is set for 17th September. Prosecutors claim that the leak may have caused "significant" financial losses for the band.

According to Latimes.com the band released a statement saying:

"Presently, though we don't support this guy's actions at that level, our interest is in the original source. We can't comment publicly at this time as the investigation is ongoing."

Former Guns N Roses guitarist Slash, who has not performed on the album, slammed the blogger saying "I hope he rots in jail. It's going to affect the sales of the record, and it's not fair. The internet is what it is, and you have to deal with it accordingly, but I think if someone goes and steals something, its theft."

Kevin Cogill's lawyer, Anthony Eaglin, has so far refused to comment.

Noah And The Whale – Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh – 15th August 2008

Edinburgh’s Cabaret Voltaire was packed full for the Noah and the Whale gig; the stage also looked a bit overcrowded.

The Edinburgh crowd was a real mix of people from all walks of life, young and old alike were excited by the London band, who romped through their dreamy, catchy, pop-folk tunes from their recently released debut album, Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down.

Their performance was both energetic and charming in equal measures with their carefully-crafted folk melodies and beautiful lyrics.

One of the highlights of the night was the sophisticated and moving performance of 2 Bodies 1 Heart with its soft subtle acoustics, elegant violin and beautiful lyrics.

The crowd show their appreciation as soon as they hear the distinctive intro of the whistling anthem Five Years Time. The crowd raised the roof when they played the fantastic set-closer, Rocks & Daggers.

These guys have definitely proved their worth to the Edinburgh crowd; I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of them for a long time to come. Noah And The Whale are just getting started!

Starlet

Cast Your Vote - The Vodafone Live Music Awards 2008

You can vote for your favourite live act, festival or tour at this years Vodafone Live Music Awards. If you cast your votes before 12pm on Monday 1st September you could be in with a chance of winning 2 VIP tickets for the event.

This year’s event will be hosted by Hollywood actress Juliette Lewis and T4 presenter Steve Jones. It will be staged at Brixton Academy on Thursday 18th September. There will be performances from The Ting Tings and Estelle.

Your vote will help give the live act that you love, the recognition they deserve. You can vote for as many categories as you like, but remember – you can only vote once.

The Ting Tings, Glasvegas, Foals and The Wombats have all been nominated in the live breakthrough category. This year's best live act nominations include The Verve, Kaiser Chiefs, Primal Scream and Muse.

The Verve have also been nominated in the best live return category alongside The Spice Girls, Led Zeppelin and James. Iron Maiden were also originally nominated in this category but they asked to be removed because they said they had never actually stopped touring.

Mark Ronson, Dizzee Rascal, Morrissey and Paul Weller have all been nominated for the best male category while Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Kate Nash and Estelle battle it out in the best female category.

In the Sony Ericsson tour of the year category, Sugababes' Changes tour, the NME Awards Tour 2008 and Girls Aloud’s Tangled Up tour are up for nomination. Nominees for best international act include the Foo Fighters, Jay Z, N*E*R*D and Kings of Leon.

Reading/Leeds, Glastonbury, T In The Park and Latitude are nominated for festival of the year.

For more information go to: www.vodafonemusic.co.uk/awards2008

Friday 22 August 2008

The Last Shadow Puppets To Play At BBC Electric Proms 2008

The Last Shadow Puppets, The Streets, Nitin Sawhney, Tony Christie, Wild Beasts and XX Teens are amongst the first names confirmed to play at the BBC Electric Proms 2008.

Wave Machines and The Maybes are also set to play shows, which will take place in London and Liverpool from 22nd – 26th October.

The specific dates each act will perform on are yet to be released, it has been confirmed that The Last Shadow Puppets will play in the Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall on the 24th October. Otherwise The Streets and Nitin Sawhney are set to play at the London Roundhouse.The festival which is dedicated to creating new moments in music, will kick off in Liverpool with legendary singer Tony Christie playing on the Royal Daffodil Ferry.

BBC Radio Merseyside's Dave Monks will introduce sets from local bands Wave Machines and The Maybes in the station's performance space, while rising stars XX Teens and Wild Beasts will perform in London.

Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture, is to co-host the BBC Electric Proms for the first time at venues including the Philharmonic Hall, Barfly and BBC Radio Merseyside.

In London, shows will return to venues across Camden including the Roundhouse, Barfly, KOKO, Dingwalls and the Electric Ballroom.

More than 80 artists are to appear at the BBC Electric Proms 2008 and each performance will aim to create a new musical experience. Whether collaborations between new and established acts or new material performed for the first time, audiences are guaranteed to see and hear something truly memorable whether at the venue, watching and listening on the BBC, interacting with red button technology or on mobile.

Tickets will go on sale on the 17th September. There will also be further additions to the line up revealed then.

Rage Against The Machine Set To Headline 1st Day Of Reading Festival

Rage Against The Machine will headline on the main stage at the Reading Festival tonight, Friday 22nd August.

They will take to the main stage for their headline slot after sets from Queens Of The Stone Age and The Fratellis. Other acts set to perform on the Main Stage are Biffy Clyro, Serj Tankian and Dizzee Rascal.

Going head-to-head with the rockers are Babyshambles, who are set to headline the NME/Radio 1 Stage. They will play after sets from the likes of The Wombats, Vampire Weekend, MGMT and Pete And The Pirates.

Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip headline the Festival Republic Stage. They will play after Does It Offend You Yeah?, Late Of The Pier, Friendly Fires and These New Puritans.

This is the first year the BBC Introducing stage, which showcases a host of new up and coming acts, has featured at the three day event.

The weekend forecast is expected to be a mixture of sun and showers at the Reading site while Leeds is expected to be rain free for almost the entire festival.

Friday 15 August 2008

MTV Video of The Year Nomination For The Ting Tings

The Ting Tings' 'Shut Up And Let Me Go' video has been nominated for video of the year at this year's MTV Music Video Awards in the US.

The ceremony, which will be hosted by Russell Brand, takes place at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on Sunday 7th September.

The Salford duo, who have also been nominated in the best UK video category, will be up against Britney Spears ('Piece Of Me'), the Pussycat Dolls ('When I Grow Up') and the Jonas Brothers ('Burnin' Up').

Nominees for the award were chosen after MTV.com users voted for their favourite videos from the past year.

Nominees Foo Fighters, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Slipknot and Linkin Park are set to compete for the title of best rock video.

Mark Ronson signs The Rumble Strips

Mark Ronson has signed British five-piece The Rumble Strips to his own record label, the first band on Ronson's new Allido label.

Mark Ronson is also set to produce the second album by The Rumble Strips. Recording will take place this September, with a view to releasing some time early next year, spring 2009.

It is the follow up to their acclaimed debut album, Girls and Weather, which reached number 70 in the album chart in September last year.

Ronson explained in a statement how he first became aware of The Rumble Strips when he heard their cover of Amy Winehouse's 'Back To Black', the original of which Ronson produced."I came across The Rumble Strips through their cover of 'Back To Black', and Amy and I agreed it was kind of better than our own," he said."I picked up their album and fell in love with it," he continued. "Then I decided I wanted to sign them to my label and work on their next album. It was really as straightforward as that. We're all very excited about this."

The Rumble Strips are due to tour the UK in October.

Friday 8 August 2008

New Acts Set To Rock Edinburgh Fringe Crowds This Sunday

The Performing Right Society (PRS) supports new music by giving new talent a platform to perform....

Nine acts have been chosen to play on the PRS New Music Stage in Edinburgh this Sunday, 10th August 2008 from 11am to 5pm.

PRS New Music Stage is aimed at showcasing new music, giving more new talent the chance to perform in front of the Edinburgh Fringe crowds.

Around five hundred acts from all across the UK applied online for the chance to perform at this years event.

A panel of industry judges had the unenviable task of selecting just nine acts from the five hundred.

Fringe Sunday attracts over 200,000 visitors annually and is the family day of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The PRS is excited to showcase a variety of new music spanning across a number of genres including rock, folk, experimental, pop and jazz at the New Music Stage in The Meadows, Melville Drive.

XFM DG, Jim Gellatly will get things underway at 11:30 before the following acts take to the stage:

11.50 - Dave Arcari, Glasgow
12.25 – Molloy, London
13.00 - Juzzie Smith, Australia
13.35 - Punch and the Apostles, Glasgow
14.10 - Eliza Wren Payne, London
14.45 - Luva Anna, Dundee
15.20 - Tom Hickox, London
15.55 - We See Lights, Edinburgh
16.30 - The Vibrants, London

For more information, go to: www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/PlaytheFringewithPRS

Enemy Frontman Injured during Very First US Gig

The Enemy were performing their first ever American gig at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, Illinois when frontman Tom Clarke sliced off the end of his finger.

Clarke told NME.com, "I managed to slash the end off my finger playing guitar - there was f**king blood everywhere.”

Despite his injury the singer managed to battle through the rest of the set.
After the set a doctor ordered the Coventry trio to cancel their appearance at the Osheaga Festival in Montreal, Canada.

The band are still scheduled to appear at the Troubadour in Los Angeles tonight (07Aug08).

Clarke said the accident was "an occupational hazard."