Bootleg Beatles Looking for new John Lennon

The countries first and foremost tribute band the Bootleg Beatles, are on the look-out for a new John Lennon.

Formed over 30 years ago, the group have been the most sought after Beatles replicators on the music scene and are now looking for a new John Lennon to replace the current Lennon-alike, Neil Harrison who is retiring after 31 years with the group.

The bands flawless and authentic performances have wowed audiences and media alike.

Even former Beatle, George Harrison, was impressed enough to quip 'You probably know the chords better than I do!' after seeing their performance.

So, outstanding musicianship and vocals are a must - a physical resemblance to the great man himself wouldn't go amiss either!

The Bootleg Beatles perform over 30 UK theatres & arena shows a year, including their annual sell-out date at the Royal Albert Hall.

Last year saw the band tour South America & Europe as well as performing a headline set on the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

Auditions for the position is open to anyone and anyone with big aspirations and talent to match can apply by sending an mp4, CV and photo to auditions@bootlegbeatles.com.

Global Digital Music Sales Down 8-9%

Global revenues from recorded music sales were down 8-9% last year compared to 2009, according to figures released this week in the IFPI Digital Music Report 2011.

Revenues from digital sales across the world grew by 6% last year, now accounting for 29% of total income in the sector (around $4.6bn / £2.88bn). There are now more than 400 legal download services in the market offering between them 13m licensed tracks.

IFPI chief executive Frances Moore told Music Week, “What this report shows us is that we continue to operate in a very challenging market. There is no doubt about it. We continue to be crippled by piracy. But coming out of the report is an element of hope. There are many more legal services available. We are also taking action against piracy - whether it's LimeWire or Pirate Bay.”

While the drastically woeful situation in Spain was cited as a case of a country hit hard by piracy (music sales decreased by more than 50% from 2005 to 2010), a study of consumer behaviour found in Sweden was shown as an example of anti-piracy legislation helping to combat it – with 52% of illegal file-sharers in Sweden reportedly stopping or dramatically reducing their activities as a result of its implementation.

“As an industry, we remain extremely challenged,” concludes Moore. “But we believe that 2011 could be a pivotal year as we are seeing governments start to wake up. If those governments do what they need to - which is imposing a rule of law on the internet - then everything could look up for the industry.”

BRIT Awards 2011: The Nominations

Tinie Tempah leads the field at this year's BRIT Awards, after picking up four nominations.

The Pass Out rapper, who performed at the launch event with Ellie Goulding, received nods in every category that he was eligible for: British Male, British Breakthrough Act, British Album and British Single.

Mercury Prize winners The XX also look set for a good night at the awards and will do battle for British Group, British Breakthrough Act and British Album.

Plan B, Cheryl Cole, Ellie Goulding, Katy Perry and Kings of Leon all picked up two nominations each, while the British Single prize is dominated by X Factor stars, with Matt Cardle, Alexandra Burke, Olly Murs and Cheryl Cole all in the running.

There was no mention, however, of 2008 runners up JLS who, despite achieving two No.1 singles and a platinum-selling album last year, failed to pick up a single nomination.

The awards will be handed out at a glitzy award ceremony on Tuesday 15th February. Here's the full nominations list:

British Male Solo Artist
Mark Ronson
Paul Weller
Plan B
Robert Plant
Tinie Tempah

British Female Solo Artist
Cheryl Cole
Ellie Goulding
Laura Marling
Paloma Faith
Rumer

British Breakthrough Act
Ellie Goulding
Mumford & Sons
Rumer
Tinie Tempah
The XX

British Group
Biffy Clyro
Gorillaz
Mumford & Sons
Take That
The XX

British Single
Alexandra Burke feat. Pitbull - All Night Long
Cheryl Cole - Parachute
Florence & The Machine - You've Got the Love
Matt Cardle - When We Collide
Olly Murs - Please Don't Let Me Go
Plan B - She Said
Scouting For Girls - This Ain't A Love Song
Taio Cruz - Dynamite
Tinie Tempah - Pass Out
The Wanted - All Time Low

Mastercard British Album Of The Year
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
Plan B - The Defamation of Strickland Banks
Take That - Progress
Tinie Tempah - Disc - Overy
The XX - The XX

International Male Solo Artist
Bruce Springsteen
Cee Lo Green
David Guetta
Eminem
Kanye West

International Female Solo Artist
Alicia Keys
Katy Perry
Kylie Minogue
Rihanna
Robyn

International Breakthrough Act
Bruno Mars
Glee Cast
Justin Bieber
The National
The Temper Trap

International Group
Arcade Fire
Black Eyed Peas
Kings Of Leon
The Script
Vampire Weekend

International Album
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer
Eminem - Recovery
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Kings Of Leon - Come Around Sundown

Critics' Choice
Jessie J (Winner)
James Blake
The Vaccines

British Producer
Ethan Johns
John Leckie
Markus Dravs
Mike Pela
Stuart Price

Festival Awards Europe winners announced

The best European festivals, artists and promoters of 2010 were revealed at a sold out ceremony which took place at Groningen's Stadsschouwburg in The Netherlands, on the opening night of the 25th Anniversary edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag.

Decided by a combination of public vote and industry juries, Festival Awards Europe is the only event solely dedicated to recognising the contributions and achievements of the event organisers and performing artists that generate billions of Euros for local economies and brighten up the summer for tens of millions of festival-goers each year.

More than 350,000 votes were cast by fans to decide the winners in the following categories:

Best Major European Festival: Heineken Open'er Festival – Poland

Best Medium-Sized European Festival: Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival – Ireland

Best Small European Festival: 5 Tauron Nowa Muzyka Festival – Poland

Best New European Festival: Temple House Festival – Ireland

Best Indoor Festival: Rolling Stone Weekender – Germany

Best European Festival Line-Up: Oxegen – Ireland

Best Newcomer: Florence and the Machine

Best Headliner: Muse

Festival Anthem of the Year: Muse - Uprising

Celtic Connections Gets Under Way with Torchlight Procession

Scotland's biggest winter music festival, Celtic Connections, gets under way later with a torchlight procession through Glasgow.

Pipe bands will lead hundreds of people in the torchlight procession from George Square at 1645 GMT to the main venue at the Royal Concert Hall.

Now in its 18th year, the annual winter music festival will include a line-up of some of the world’s finest folk, roots, world, traditional, indie and jazz performers.

About 1,500 artists are expected to perform in more than 300 events across 14 venues between 13 and 30 January.

The festival also features a 70th birthday tribute to Bob Dylan, who has long acknowledged his debt to Scottish folk music.

The American singer-songwriter has been invited to attend the event at the Royal Concert Hall on 24 January.

The winter festival has grown dramatically since it first began as a way of filling the Royal Concert Hall's January schedule.

Jessie J Tops BBC Sound of 2011 Poll

Hot new talent, Jessie J, has won the coveted BBC Sound of 2011 poll. With her debut single Do It Like a Dude currently at no. 4 in the UK iTunes download chart and climbing rapidly up the Official UK top 40, it seems the poll's predictions are pretty spot on.

The poll is compiled using comments from 160 key music critics and broadcasters, so is highly regarded as an indication of which upcoming artists will make a significant stamp on the music scene this year.

Others artists in the top five include James Blake, Jamie Woon and Clare Maguire. Previous winners include Ellie Goulding and Adele.

The 22 year old had already made a name for herself as a songwriter having penned tracks for the likes of Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Miley Cyrus. But when she wrote Do It Like a Dude for Rihanna she was encouraged to record it herself.

Jessie is currently playing a series of live shows, some of which are already sold out. Here are the dates but check out her website for ticket availability.

15/01 Brighton - Coalition
17/01 London - Scala
21/01 Glasgow - ABC2
22/01 Manchester - Day & Night
23/01 Bristol - Thekla
06/02 London - Barfly

Glastonbury Festivals Emerging Talent Competition Opens Monday

Every year the organisers of Glastonbury Festival open the main stage to promising new artists via their Emerging Talent Competition.

This, the seventh annual search for bands who are currently unsigned to play on one of the Festival’s main stages at this year’s event, kicks off at 9am on Monday 10th and January and will last until Monday 17th January.

The competition is open to unsigned bands or solo artists from the UK and Ireland and is free to enter and open to any musical genre. In order to enter each participant must visit the Glastonbury Festival website during the week and supply a direct link to a webpage where at least one song can be heard. This can be either an official website for the performer or MySpace, YouTube etc.

Once the entries have been collated, a panel will help compile a longlist of 120 acts which will then be whittled down to a shortlist of 10 artists by a selection of judges including Glastonbury organisers Michael and Emily Eavis before the live finals at Pilton Working Men’s Club in April will decide the winning act.

Last year over 16,000 entries were received and after a hard-fought competition run over 2 nights and streamed live, clear winners were Leeds based Ellen and the Escapades.

Previous winners have included The Subways, The Deadbeats and The Travelling Band.

If you fancy a chance of playing at the Festival, go to www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk next week.