Hooray!! It’s the festival for sofa louches again this weekend. Yes, this time all over the world via the internet, TV and radio, ladies and gentlemen, Glastonbury is here again.

So there’s no need to go trudging through the swamps and bogs of Pilton to see some obscure musical act in the middle of nowhere. Now we can view the whole thing on our TVs at home or in the car or anywhere I suppose.

Once I’ve digested the usual morsels of the day, I gather up a clutch of lagers from the fridge and then tune the box to the good old BBC for what I hope to be an evening of quality alternative entertainment. The first band I saw on Friday was White Lies. They were nice. Pretty tunes for a pretty evening. The highlight of their set had to be the Bruce Springsteen cover of “Dancing In The Dark”.

Then I pressed the red button as they so often tell you to do, and was confronted by Lady Ga Ga in her glittery world of confuser gender. Playing through all of her current favorites. I think “Poker Face” is mine.

Lilly Allen, God bless her, she is turning into quite the young festival princess and being as she has been coming to this place since she was a child, I suppose she has some sort of right to the title. Her set is fun, with Lilly wearing a purple cat suite and purple wig, flirting with the audience as she entertains everybody by playing all of her hits.

For my money, and to be honest, there isn’t a lot of it, Neil Young is the saviour of the night. This man is one of the last living legends left on this planet and he really brings it to the table tonight.

Mighty is the word you would have to use to describe Neil Young’s presence on stage. The last song of his set was “A Day In The Life”, a Beatles cover. Well you have to see the performance. He ends up tearing the strings from his guitar whilst still playing it. My words will not do this great man justice, so you will just have to check out his live performance to understand what I am saying!

Watch “A Day In The Life” video on YouTube

Neil Young on amazon.com

Neil Young on amazon.co.uk

Neil Young Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

Yim Yames (Jim James from My Morning Jacket) is set to release ‘Tribute To’, an EP of George Harrison covers, on August 4, 2009 on ATO Records.

John Lennon once said he didn’t believe that musicians created emotions in their listeners. Rather, he believed that an artist’s role is to bring feelings to the surface that already live deep within us. Thus, while all human beings are connected to one another in some way, there is a special bond we feel with the artists that help us shine a light within our own core.

A few days after George Harrison passed away in 2001, Yim Yames was moved to record this six-song EP of Harrison covers, paying tribute to a man that he never met, but with whom he felt a special connection. The tracks have a serene quality that mourn the loss of a legendary spirit while celebrating his enduring influence.

On the EP, Yames performs beautiful renditions of four cuts from Harrison’s classic album ‘All Things Pass’ as well as two of the Beatles tunes that he penned.

These six tracks have a raw, minimalist feel – featuring little more than Yames’s vocals and acoustic guitar. With all the space, the room in which the tracks were recorded truly serves as another instrument in the mix, creating an ethereal aura for a backdrop.

From his warm, multi-layered vocals on opening track “Long Long Long” to his near-whisper at the end of album closer “All Things Must Pass,” Yames sings in a fittingly intimate manner.

In the album’s liner notes, he refers to Harrison as “a prime example of the healing power of music.” These words apply just as much to this EP. As the final chords on ‘Tribute To’ ring out, one can’t help but feel a deep, satisfying sense of catharsis.

‘Tribute To’ Tracklist:

1.) Long Long Long
2.) Behind That Locked Door
3.) Love You To
4.) My Sweet Lord
5.) Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
6.) All Things Must Pass

For those who can’t wait until August to hear Tribute To, you can get a taste by checking out “Behind That Locked Door,” currently available for download on YimYames.com.

Topspin will also give fans the opportunity to download the entire EP via YimYames.com a full month before it hits stores. Beginning on July 7, 2009, fans can purchase and download a digital copy of the album immediately, and pre-order the CD and a limited edition vinyl for delivery on the August 4th release date.

A portion of the proceeds from the EP will go to the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, an organization that provides shelter to farm animals that have been rescued from cases of abuse, neglect, and abandonment.

For more information, please visit the WFAS website:

Woodstock Farm Animal Santuary Official Website

Fans who order the limited edition vinyl will also receive a t-shirt and brochure from WFAS so they can learn more about the charity.

Buy Music:

Yim Yames on amazon.com

Yim Yames Official Website

Two years after the death of iconic poet and musician Ivor Cutler, his family have announced a new release of ‘A Flat Man’, Ivor’s final album.

Originally released on Creation Records in 1998, this much-sought-after album has been unavailable since 1999. The release also marks the launch of Hoorgi House Records, a new company set up by Ivor’s family, which is destined to become the major label for Ivor Cutler material.

Jeremy Cutler, Ivor’s son, says: “Ivor was a prolific artist but his work can be hard to locate. We not only aim to bring back into circulation some on the material which is currently unavailable, but also look to release new material which has never been publicly available before. Ivor has fans all over the world and Hoorgi House will help to ensure that they can continue to enjoy his work.”

Ivor Cutler, recently revealed as the inspiration behind Franz Ferdinand’s song “Jacqueline”, counted John Lennon, Bertrand Russell and Billy Connolly amongst his fans.

He recorded 21 live sessions for John Peel, appeared in the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour film, and published over 30 books and 10 albums. Often called Scotland’s alternative poet laureate, Ivor died on 3 March 2006, aged 83.

‘A Flat Man’ is released on 17 March 2008, with a new sleeve featuring Ivor’s artwork, and notes by his son Jeremy:

“This is possibly Ivor’s darkest collection of songs, stories and poems. The macabre is permeated, however, with veins of nostalgic sweetness. Ivor’s humorous mastery of the inappropriate is also here, together with his granite acuity.” – Jeremy Cutler

Title: A Flat Man
Artist: Ivor Cutler
Label: Hoorgi House Records
Release Date: 17 March 2008
Catalogue number: HHCD01
Format: Mid-price CD
Playing time: 50mins 50secs
Distribution: Proper Music
Digital Distribution: Kudos
48 Tracks including: “A Bubble or Two”, “I Ate a Lady’s Bun”, “Living Donkey”, “My Next Album”, “I Built a House”, “Knocking at My Door”.

Ivor Cutler on amazon.co.uk

About Hoorgi House Records

The label was established by Ivor’s family in 2007 to ensure the continuing availability of Ivor Cutler material for new and existing fans, and to extend the range of material available. ‘A Flat Man’ is the label’s first release; further releases are in the pipeline. The name Hoorgi House is taken from a story of that title in Gruts, Ivor’s first published work. Ivor Cutler’s own illustration of the story is the logo of the new company – an appropriate flag to hoist over the extraordinary realm of the creative and productive Cutler.

Hoorgi House Records Official Website

About Ivor Cutler

Ivor Cutler, loved by generations of fans for his unique brand of music and poetic humour, published 30 books, produced 10 record albums, and was a phenomenal stage presence for 50 years. He is also famous for his radio work – especially his 21 sessions for the legendary John Peel.

For more information, go to:

Ivor Cutler Official Website

Last Sunday, December 9th, The 79th Royal Variety Performance aired on ITV in the UK. The show took place in Liverpool at the Empire Theatre, in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

One of the standout performances of the night was by Seal. He opened the show with a great version of “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”. The other performers on stage along with Seal were quite interesting – there was a lot going on. Stilt walkers, acrobats, a choir and more, all with a Beatles-esque ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ feel about it.

For information, and more acts that performed on the show, including Bon Jovi, Teatro and Joan Rivers go to: 79th Royal Variety Performance on Band Weblogs.

Seal also performed his positive and uplifting single, “Amazing” off of his fifth studio album, ‘System’. It’s good to see Seal back on the scene. He really is a class act, no doubt about it. With his white suit and scarf that night, he looked like a million bucks.

It’s no surprise that “Amazing” was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance category!

Watch Seal and Heidi Klum video – People Magazine Shoot with “Amazing” as background music:

Seal has a blog! His website is in blog format and features entries and videos. Seal’s wife, model Heidi Klum is in some of the videos that are posted as well – like the People Magazine shoot. The blog is a great place for fans to keep up to date on Seal’s music, news and everyday life.

Video link: Seal and Heidi People Magazine Shoot

Seal’s Blog

Seal on Myspace

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs

Adam Holzman (Director of Miles Davis’ band), Pat Thrall, (Guitarist: Hughes and Thrall, Meatloaf, Asia) Steve Lillywhite (Simple Minds, U2, Talking Heads), Nir Z (Drummer: Genesis, Chris Cornell, Joss Stone, John Mayer)

From the geniuses behind The Beatles, through to the producers of everyone from Madonna, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Dire Straits to John Mayer and the Rolling Stones, record producers from all over the world came to New York to pay tribute to this wonderful recording studio complex, built in an old Con-Ed building in what was then the no-go area of Hell’s Kitchen.

Jimmy Bralower, (Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Billy Joel, Hall and Oates) and Geoff Emerick (Beatles including Sgt Pepper)

Since then, Avatar Studios has created three decades of the most popular music ever made. In fact, it would be almost impossible for you NOT to have at least one record in your collection made at Avatar.

The legendary Al Kooper with “Late Show With David Letterman” drummer, Anton Fig

To hear just a tiny selection of these hits – please go to our iMix on iTunes.

“If only those walls could talk.”

Photo credit: Alison Hartwell

For more information about Avatar Studios, please go to:

Avatar Studios Official Website

The public’s desire to see tribute bands has reached an exciting climax. Recently, CBS Sunday Morning featured a segment on the growing popularity of tribute bands and why people love to watch them perform. The Beatles repeatedly top the list of crowd pleasers having spawned no less than 40 tribute acts. Now 1964…The Tribute return for their unprecedented eighth concert at New York City’s Carnegie Hall on January 12th at 8pm, remaining the only tribute act ever to play that hallowed venue.

After a year that has seen 1964…The Tribute sell out the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado for a fourth time and perform live on the CBS Early Show the band is delighted to bring their pitch-perfect representation of the Beatles into the hearts of fans, young and old. 1964…The Tribute’s always crowd thrilling rendition of “Twist and Shout” had the entire Early Show studio dancing just as it is sure to do at Carnegie Hall.

The reviews agree: Bill DeYoung of the Scripps Newspaper syndicate said, “I’ve watched a dozen faux Beatles bands over the years, and this was heads up and hands down the very best I’ve seen.”

Todd Kleffman of the Advocate Messenger echoes 1964’s claims of being the most accurate stage representation of the Beatle’s touring years, “1964 has gone to great lengths to recreate the Beatles’ act to the last detail, using replica Rickenbacker guitars and duplicating the Liverpool accents in their on-stage patter.”

1964’s shows are always affairs to remember and often sell out early; this one will be no exception. Get your tickets now so there’s no chance you’ll be left without a seat when the first note is played.

Tickets may be purchased through the Carnegie Hall box office by calling (212) 247-7800 or by going online to Carnegie Hall Official Website. Tickets range from $30-$75.

1964 The Tribute Official Website

John played bass guitar in pit orchestras, jazz bands, and talent shows, throughout his High Schools days and in between all of that activity he took lessons in piano, string bass, and electric bass. As a student at the University of Arizona, John was one of the first people in the nation to play bass guitar in a major university marching band using a big Peavey amp on wheels which ran off a golf cart battery. He has been writing songs and making one-man-band multi-track recordings since he was 14. The Beatles and music of that era, continue to inspire a quest to improve his songwriting and create new music harkening back to that time.

Not your typical indie musician, John Gassere does his part for mankind as a special education teacher with at-risk High School students. With the summers off and other vacations afforded in his profession, it allows him to work on musical projects such as the recently released Sugar. Plum. Plastic.

The weight of the world and all its problems melt away while listening to pop-rock nuggets such as the Sgt. Pepper era “Purple Streets.” The album is a magnificent tribute to the Fab Four and the memorable pop-rock music of that time. John feels it’s important to write and sing the type of music you want, regardless of what the trends are because if it’s good music people will listen. And this most certainly applies to Sugar. Plum. Plastic. with all of its catchy melodies and Beatlesque grooves.

Stop by to visit the Roddo Fab Industries new website for updates, downloads and more.

Contact: John Gassere
Company: Roddo Fab Industries
Address: 3841 Rue Voltaire, Indianapolis, Indiana 46220
Tel: (317) 465-0028
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