Brian Wilson offers fans video directors chair
Brian is giving his fans an opportunity of a lifetime – to make the very first video for the single “Heroes and Villians” off his new album SMiLE which debuted on Billboard’s Top 200 album charts at 13. The record is now enjoying commercial success on a scale last seen by Wilson or the Beach Boys almost thirty years ago. Brian himself will be choosing the winner – the winner will be announced on January 20th. The winning video will be featured on MP3.com and BrianWilson.com as well as being featured in the upcoming live SMiLE DVD – coming out Spring 2005. The winner and a friend will also be flown to LA to meet Brian and catch a performance of SMiLE! Interested? Need more info? [ read more ] >>

Smile
In 1966, Brian Wilson began work on the follow-up to The Beach Boys’ now classic PET SOUNDS. Spurred by The Beatles’ visionary music, Wilson composed, arranged and produced the revolutionary “Good Vibrations,” which became the first million-selling #1 single in The Beach Boys’ history. Wilson continued, with lyricist Van Dyke Parks, to develop The Beach Boys’ next album. As “Good Vibrations” made clear, this album, intended to be called SMiLE, would surpass PET SOUNDS in its innovation. Before the album could be completed, a tumultuous set of circumstances caused Wilson to abandon SMiLE. .. [ read more ] >>
Brian Wilson : Smile >>
Brian Wilson web site >>

Genius Loves Company
Given the chance to sing with America’s premier vocalist, who could resist? On his final album, Ray Charles found himself paired with music icons including Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald, James Taylor, B. B. King, Willie Nelson, Van Morrison, Johnny Mathis, and Gladys Knight. The high spirits and good cheer -- not to mention the top-notch singing -- that pervade the album testify to the respect that Charles engendered and the passion he could inspire in others. Charles could sing anything, and here he gets a chance .. [ read more ] >>
Genius Loves Company : Ray Charles >>

Under My Skin : Avril Lavigne
Unapologetically original. Unabashedly in your face. Avril Lavigne's 2002 debut Let Go gave young women a defiant voice and set it to music they could rock out to. Fourteen million albums and eight Grammy nominations later, the Canadian chanteuse returns with Under My Skin but if you're expecting a whole lot of the same, you've got another thing coming. This is not a girl who rests on her laurels. Under My Skin opens with the dramatic tracks "Take Me Away" and "Together," which set the scene for the kick-ass guitars and radio-ready chorus of "Don't Tell Me," a song of willful female empowerment that picks up where "Complicated" left off. From there it's a one-two punch of three-chord guitar licks ("He Wasn't") and head-bopping optimism ("Who Knows") alongside swirling, brooding melodies ("Freak Out") and moody tracks ("Forgotten," "Nobody's Home") that reveal a darker side of Avril Lavigne.
Under My Skin : Avril Lavigne >>
Avril Lavigne web site >>

The 1st Annual FAR WEST Regional Conference
Los Angeles, June 3, 2004...Folk Alliance Region West, known as FAR-WEST, the western regional chapter of the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance has announced The 1st Annual FAR-WEST Regional Conference to be held October 29-31, 2004 at the Warner Center Marriot in Woodland Hills, CA. As a satellite organization of the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance, Far-West's goals are to bring together active members of the folk music community for the purpose of networking, professional development, education and advocacy. read more >>

NARM/AMERICANA CD SAMPLER ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR LINE UP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Americana Music Association has announced the artist roster for the first NARM/Americana CD Sampler, to be released August 3, 2004. The artists include Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Lucinda Williams, the Jayhawks, Ralph Stanley, Shelby Lynne, Jay Farrar, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash featuring Johnny Cash, BR549, Tift Merritt, Danny Barnes and more. In addition to the established artists featured on the CD Sampler, slots were awarded to new and emerging artists in an effort to help create awareness of upcoming talent. Artists include Anne McCue, Arthur Godfrey, Fairfax, King Wilke, and Lori McKenna among others. The full track listing and sequence will be announced in the coming weeks. read more >>

The First official 5 Points Songwriting Contest
Looking to become the next singer, rocker, rapper and/or songwriter? Here is your chance to get discovered by a well known production company in L.A., 5 Points. Come get discovered and start your dream.
Prizes include for the winning contestant(s) Free Trip to L.A. (hotel/airfare/per deium), Cash Prizes, and Production Deal (from a record company with Major distribution), Professionally Produced and Recorded Demo, Clothing provided by Live Mechanics and your song played on a major radio station(s). The music will be judged by air personalitites/dj of major Radio Stations, Top executives of Major Labels, American Idol editor(s), Producers, Singers and Songwriters. As well you might get a phone call when they are judging your music.
How to Enter The First official 5 Points Songwriting Contest >>

Simple Kid US tour
If you haven’t heard of him yet, you will soon. Simple Kid, a.k.a. Ciaran McFeely, has been wowing UK fans for over a year with his one-man sampletastic pop madness and he’s ready to unleash a full band tour on US audiences, followed up by dropping his first album for Stateside fans in June. The Irish Beck-meets-Badly Drawn Boy will kick off his premier US journey with a pair of Seattle dates on May 24 and 25 before rolling down the West Coast and then hitting a few choice spots across the country before ending up in Manchester, TN, for the Bonnaroo festival on June 11.
Simple Kid >>
Simple Kid web site >>

Diesel-U-Music 2004 launches this month with the national search for new music talent. Now in its fourth year, Diesel-U-Music has firmly established itself as the UK’s premier unsigned artist - support organisation, aiding real creativity within music at grass roots level. Diesel-U-Music offers aspiring new music talent the opportunity to work with the likes of NME, Wall of Sound, Fierce Panda, Jockey Slut and DJ Magazine to name but a few, gaining ongoing support and guidance from some of the countries key industry professionals. Previous winners, DJ Yoda, DJ Skully, Magikstar and Tom Vek are good examples of Diesel-U-Music being intrinsic in the nurturing of new artists, and a great launch-pad for further development in their music careers. The winners receive invaluable prizes ranging from: performing at the Diesel-U-Music Awards, performances at other UK and international events, label releases, studio time, management advice and media exposure
The categories represented for 2004 are:
Urban 1 (Hip Hop / R n B), Urban 2. (Drum and Bass / Garage), Dance (DJ compilation mix), Electronic, Indie-Rock, VJ.
2004 welcomes the strongest partnerships to date, with the UK’s most respected independent labels, publications and organisations all working together to develop and support Britain’s new music talent through Diesel-U-Music.
The Partners:
ATM, Bad Magic, DJ Magazine, e-Jay, Fierce Panda, FX Rentals, The Band Agency / In The City, Trust the DJ, The Hospital, Jockey Slut, McKenzie Group, Music Managers Forum, NME, SFH UK, Sleaze, Tense Magazine, Tummy Touch, Wall of Sound and Vital. Media support will be provided by Channel 4 for 4Music programming Additional awards will be presented at the ceremony in July for Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Contribution to music. Previous winners include: the legendary Isaac Hayes, Coldcut, Michael Eavis and Jazzie B.
How To Enter
Entrants can submit their demos to Diesel-U-Music at 55 Argyle Street, London WC1H 8EE. Closing date is 30th April 2004. Demos should be all original material and no more than six minutes in duration per track (excluding the Dance category for DJ mixes), with a maximum of three tracks. The accepted formats are Mini-Disc, DAT or CD and must be accompanied by a 100-word biography and, where possible, photograph of the entrant.
diesel-u-music.com >>