Perform at Glastonbury with Kirsty Almeida

One of 2010’s most exciting musicians, Kirsty Almeida has developed an extraordinary opportunity with Talenthouse, to select a talented musician to join her on stage at the Glastonbury festival on Sunday 27th June 2010. The Glastonbury festival is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious music festivals and the chosen musician will perform the song "If You Can't Make Me Happy" with Kirsty and her band.

All you have to do is submit a video of yourself playing your instrument to Kirsty's song, available for download once you click participate. You are more than welcome to submit a video of a previously recorded performance, if you prefer. Unique instruments are encouraged but all instruments are welcome.

Flights and accommodation will be provided for the selected musician as well as an opportunity to rehearse with Kirsty prior to the event. In addition, the top 20 voted artists will have an opportunity to receive a portion of $2,000 (USD).

To enter visit http://www.talenthouse.com/

Danish court rules ISPs must continue to block The Pirate Bay

Music Week has reported that a ruling in the Supreme Court of Denmark has reinforced that telco Telenor has a continuing responsibility to block its users from accessing The Pirate Bay.

This upholds previous rulings in lower courts in Denmark but Telenor opposed these rulings and began an appeal process in 2008.

The ISP has had to block access to The Pirate Bay for two years after the IFPI took legal action.

This ruling in relation to Telenor will also apply to other ISPs in the country.

Telenor had argued in its appeal that it was not the responsibility of ISPs to block access to sites offering illegal content.

A ruling in Norway last year, however, said that Telenor did not have to block access to The Pirate Bay in the country.

ALBUM REVIEW: Karen Elson, The Ghost Who Walks

Maybe I was a bit cynical about international supermodel Karen Elson’s move into music. Her husband is Jack White of the White Stripes, who produces and plays drums on The Ghost Who Walks, her debut album.

This incredibly elegant and haunting album features 12 songs, 11 original compositions by Karen and 1 cover of a song originally by her Citizens Band cohort Rachelle Garniez. There is much to enjoy about the album, the title of which refers to a nickname Elson endured at school in Oldham.

On her debut disc, Elson spins intriguingly unsettling tales of lost love, dashed hope, romantic betrayal and various crimes of passion witnessed only by the full moon.

She infuses the gorgeous title track with a sinister yearning, whilst the fragile The Last Laugh recalls the haunted country twang of Loretta Lynn.

Elson sounds more at ease with country blues and murder ballads, bringing a convincing, lonesome quality to the lovely Lunasa and The Last Laugh.


Tracklisting:

1. The Ghost Who Walks
2. The Truth Is the Dirt
3. Pretty Babies
4. Lunasa
5. 100 Years from Now
6. Stolen Roses
7. Cruel Summer
8. Garden
9. The Birds They Circle
10. A Thief at My Door
11. The Last Laugh
12. Mouths to Feed

Gorillaz Replace U2 at Glastonbury

Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis confirmed today that Gorillaz will take over U2's headline slot on the Friday evening.

The promoter has moved quickly to secure the headline replacement after U2 were forced to cancel when Bono injured his spine during rehearsals for the band's forthcoming tour.

The confirmation will see Damon Albarn headlining the Pyramid Stage for the second year in a row after Blur's festival closing performance in 2009.

"This is going to be Gorillaz' only UK festival appearance, and it'll be a massive audio visual spectacle which will really ignite the Pyramid on the Friday night, with Muse, then Stevie Wonder to follow," says Eavis.

"I'm very excited about Gorillaz' show coming here because they're so open to guests and collaborations. The alchemy of Friday's show is going to be astonishing: a perfect, contemporary way to kick off the 40th anniversary celebrations.

"I am so grateful for the enthusiasm of the media and the whole of the music industry for their willingness and eagerness to support us in what could have been a crisis."

The festival organiser reveals that Gorillaz stepped in to offer their services in the wake of U2's call-off.

A statement attributed to band member Murdoc says, "We're like some great big horrible warship pulling in to the Bay of Glastonbury to save the day. It was us or The Beatles and they split up years ago. The previous soldiers got pulled from duty last minute so it's up to my Plastic Beach naval cavalry to sail in and sort the battlefield out. I can assure you though, I'm bringing extra troops. Loads of them. Glastonbury will be ours…cutlasses drawn, trumpets ready. We're coming in…"

T Break Stage - Line up of Unsigned Bands for 2010

Tennent’s annual search for the best fresh unsigned Scottish talent to play the T Break Stage at T in the Park, has delivered 16 remarkable acts.

A panel of industry experts hand-picked the acts to showcase from July 9 to 11.

The panel of judges, including representatives from Tennent’s Lager’s partners DF Concerts and BBC Radio 1, and other industry representatives listened to almost 1400 demos to select the 16 most exciting acts to showcase.

The following acts will now join a stellar line-up of the finest in international and home-grown talent at this year’s T in the Park:

 Be Like Pablo
 French Wives
 Fridge Magnets
 Kitty the Lion
 Kobi Onyame
 Lightguides
 Make Sparks
 Mitchell Museum
 Mopp
 Night Noise Team
 Stanley Odd
 The Draymin
 The Ray Summers
 The Seventeenth Century
 Three Blind Wolves
 Washington Irving

George Kyle, Head of Sponsorship at Tennent’s Lager says: “It’s another impressive line up for the T Break Stage this year and we’re delighted that for the 15th year running Tennent’s can again give unsigned bands a platform at T in the Park alongside some of the best home-grown and international headliners in the world today. All the best to the bands involved."

And Dave McGeachan of DF Concerts added: “Yet again, it’s been an incredibly difficult decision as the level of new talent applying for T Break has been phenomenal. These 16 acts represent the most exciting new Scottish music around and I can’t wait to see them take to the stage at T in the Park”.

Vic Galloway of BBC Radio 1: “It's always a pleasure to exclusively announce the T Break finalists on my Radio 1 show each year, and I look forward to doing it once again. It's been extremely tough for the panel this year with more entries than ever before, getting slimmed down to this final 16. However that only proves how strong, vibrant and diverse the Scottish scene is just now. T Break is now an essential part of T in the Park, and a brilliant showcase for emerging, under-the-radar bands to play a World-class festival in front of 85,000 people. These bands are superb, so make sure you get into that tent and check them out over the weekend!"

Save 6Music: Second BBC 6 Music Protest takes place tomorrow

The campaign to save 6 Music has confirmed a second protest against the proposed closure of BBC 6Music will be held tomorrow, Saturday 22 May outside Broadcasting House in London’s West End. The protest will start at 12noon and last two hours.

Featured in the event will be speeches from 6Music DJs Andrew Collins, Liz Kershaw, Tom Robinson and Cerys Matthews plus a guest appearance from Ed Byrne.

The first protest 'event' held at the end of March in a bid to save the doomed radio station from closure had a good turnout, lots of people and even a few bands.

Georgina Rodgers, co-founder of Save BBC 6 Music organising committee, said: “With the BBC Trust Consultation closing on the 25th May, this is our last chance to get our message across about how much 6 Music means to its million plus listeners.”

She added, “We have kept up the pressure and action from the moment the proposed closure was announced, and we hope that we have got our message across that 6 Music is a jewel in the crown of the BBC that should not only be saved from the axe, but should be nurtured.”

Listening figures at 6music have soared since its possible closure was announced. The digital radio station recently broke the 1m listener mark. Online listeners have increased by 50% in the past year.

N-Dubz to Headline Free Festival in Dumfries

Thousands of people are expected to attend a free music festival in Dumfries this summer after pop trio N-Dubz were confirmed as the headline act.

Youth Beatz, an event organised by Dumfries and Galloway Council, will be held at Dock Park on 31 July. The council said the festival was aimed at 12 to 25-year-olds.

N-Dubz have had eight UK Top 40 singles, including a Number One and two platinum selling albums and their most recent UK tour was sold out. They have also been confirmed for this year’s Glastonbury Festival and at T4 on the beach.

Youth Beatz 2010 is a free interactive event for young people to have fun, take part and be better informed about relevant issues, services and opportunities.

Jack Groom, the Provost of Dumfries, said: "Youth Beatz 2010 is an opportunity for our whole community to show support of our young people, through engaging with them in an environment which they own and want to be in.

"Alongside providing information for young people which will help them access services and new opportunities, Youth Beatz 2010 is about young people enjoying themselves." He added.

The event will also include local musicians, community groups, family attractions, and a guest appearance by Freddie from the TV show Skins.