Norah Jones recently teamed up with Jimmy Kimmel for a very funny new performance of "YouTube's 12 Days of Christmas". The video was featured on the front page of YouTube.

Watch YouTube's 12 Days of Christmas:

Norah Jones, who will be launching a 36-city tour on March 5, 2010 in support of The Fall, was recently nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for her duet with Willie Nelson on "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from his album American Classic.

'The Fall' is in stores now.

Buy Music:

Norah Jones on amazon.com

Norah Jones on amazon.co.uk

Norah Jones 2010 US tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

March 2010

March 5 - Tulsa, OK - Brady Theater
March 6 - Kansas City, MO - The Midland
March 7 - Omaha, NE - Orpheum
March 9 - Des Moines, IA - Civic Center
March 11 - Akron, OH - E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall
March 12 - Louisville, KY - Whitney Hall
March 13 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre
March 15 - Madison, WI - Overture Hall
March 17 - St. Paul, MN - The O'Shaughnessy
March 19 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theatre
March 20 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
March 25 - Boston, MA - Wang Theatre
March 26 - Mashantucket, CT - MGM Foxwoods
March 27 - New York, NY - WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden
March 30 - Baltimore, MD - Lyric Opera House

April 2010

April 1 - Charlottesville, VA - The Paramount Theater
April 2 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
April 3 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
April 18 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
April 19 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Hall
April 21 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
April 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theater
April 24 - San Diego, CA - Spreckels Theatre
April 25 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater
April 28 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium
April 29 - El Paso, TX - Plaza Theatre

May 2010

May 1 - Austin, TX - Stubb's Bar-B-Q
May 4 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre
May 5 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater
May 6 - Mobile, AL - Saenger Theatre
May 8 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre
May 9 - Birmingham, AL - Alabama Theatre
May 11 - Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
May 12 - Charlotte, NC - Ovens Auditorium
May 14 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
May 15 - Atlanta, GA - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

'The Fall' is in stores now.

Norah Jones Facebook
MySpace
Norah Jones Official Website

Adelitas Way have had a great year and they do not want to end it without giving their fans a holiday present.

The band is passing along a Christmas card with their own rendition of "(I Can Hear) the Sleigh Bell Ring" to all of their fans.

Check out the audio here on BandWeblogs.com and listen as the Las Vegas rockers spread some cheer.

Head over to the Adelitas Way MySpace page to listen to the bands new single "Last Stand" and view a list of upcoming tour dates with Theory of a Deadman.

Listen: "(I Can Hear) the Sleigh Bell Ring"

Buy Music:

Adelitas Way on amazon.com

MySpace
Adelitas Way Official Website

the bird and the bee, the irrepressible L.A. duo made up of singer Inara George and keyboardist/producer Greg Kurstin, will be premiering the video for "Love Letter to Japan" - the lead single from their forthcoming album 'Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future' - Friday, December 19, 2008 on MySpace.

the bird and the bee on amazon.com

the bird and the bee on amazon.co.uk

The video was directed by Barney Clay who has worked with Gnarls Barkley, Dirty Pretty Things, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Zero 7, and Bonde Do Role.

The single for "Love Letter to Japan" was also released on iTunes on December 9. 'Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future' will be released by Blue Note Records on January 27, 2009.

'Tis the time of year, so in the spirit of giving the bird and the bee are also offering a free holiday song to their fans. "12 Days of Christmas" is currently available as a free MP3 download through their website: www.thebirdandthebee.com.

The song will also be KCRW's "Today's Top Tune" on December 25, 2008, and will be streamed all day on www.kcrw.org.

2008 was another eventful year for the bird and the bee. The duo's cover version of The Bee Gee's "How Deep Is Your Love?" appeared in Sex and the City: The Movie, they made their debut at L.A.'s much buzzed about Coachella festival, and they released Live at the Sands, an exclusive live EP for iTunes.

Inara and Greg also kept busy with side projects; Inara released 'An Invitation' - her second solo album and a collaboration with legendary composer and arranger Van Dyke Parks - to wide acclaim, while Greg produced the entirety of singer Lily Allen's upcoming album 'It's Not Me, It's You'.

The band is looking forward to an exciting 2009 with the release of the full-length follow-up to their self-titled debut. 'Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future' is definitely new sonic terrain for the bird and the bee. Every bit as beguiling as their debut, the album retains its predecessor's lithe melodies and Brazilian influences, but takes its stylish '60s pop deeper into the psychedelic period of the Tropicalia era.

The band will be announcing their 2009 touring plans in the New Year.

the bird and the bee MySpace
Facebook

the bird and the bee Official Website

RCA has released the Elvis Christmas Duets album, the first ever album of Elvis Presley duets, and the his first Christmas compilation too!

Elvis Presley Christmas Duets on amazon.com

Christmas Duets: Limited Edition Digi Pack on amazon.co.uk

To produce this collection of 11 new recordings, RCA have revisited the original studio masters to painstakingly separate Elvis' vocals from the instrumentation, allowing contemporary artists to duet with Elvis on these legendary recordings. The results are truly amazing and create a whole new Christmas album for a whole new generation to enjoy.

This release marks yet another milestone in Elvis Presley's legacy, 31 years after his death, and the limited deluxe edition CD, beautifully presented in a die-cut soft pack is the perfect gift for all Elvis fans.

To give Elvis Christmas Duets a continuity of sound and quality, RCA has secured the vocal talents of the some of the best known and biggest selling contemporary Nashville stars.

From Martina McBride who's duet of Blue Christmas is incredible through to LeAnne Rimes, Carrie Underwood and Olivia Newton John... this is truly the most impressive collection of female contemporary country artists you'll find on one album. Not only that but they're dueting with the King Of Rock 'n' Roll Elvis Presley!

"We are so pleased that these accomplished artists are collaborating with Elvis in this unique way to make exciting new versions of his Christmas songs. I am sure Elvis would be proud to have worked with them," says Priscilla Presley.

RCA have also created a stunning video for lead album track "Blue Christmas" featuring Martina McBride. The country superstar was just shy of two when Elvis Presley filmed his 1968 "Comeback" TV special. This year, she steps back in time forty years to join the King of Rock 'n' Roll on stage.

Video producer George Flanigen comments, "There's a spot between (guitarist) Scotty Moore and Elvis that's open, like somebody should have been sitting there," says Flanigen. "We're like, 'We could probably figure a way to put her with Elvis.' We scoured the footage and picked shots of Elvis throughout the whole special to be able to put them together. There are shots where he and Martina share the frame, where he looks over at her, where she looks back at him and sings and smiles."

McBride filmed her parts in front of a green screen. "It took four weeks" to piece together, Flanigen says.

Watch Elvis Presley & Martina McBride - "Blue Christmas" video:

In order to create these classic 'duets' Sony BMG used the most advanced and sophisticated audio technology available. For songs that were recorded on one track, mono, musical beds were created to perfectly match the instrumentation and arrangements contained on the originals. In the case of songs that have been recorded in multi-track where Elvis' vocal is isolated on a single track, the vocal was simply dropped for a given verse or chorus, making room for the duet artist.

To be as faithful as possible to the original recordings, the fabled RCA Studio B in Nashville - the same studio that Elvis recorded the 1971 original Christmas session in, was used.

Elvis Presley Christmas Duets Track list:

Blue Christmas with Martina McBride
I'll Be Home For Christmas with Carrie Underwood
Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) with LeAnn Rimes
Santa Claus Is Back In Town with Wynonna Judd
Silent Night with Sara Evans
White Christmas with Amy Grant
Merry Christmas Baby with Gretchen Wilson
O Little Town Of Bethlehem with Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town
Silver Bells with Anne Murray
O Come All Ye Faithful with Olivia Newton-John

Bonus Tracks:

The First Noel (2008) Elvis Presley
If I Get Home On Christmas Day (2008) Elvis Presley
Winter Wonderland (2008) Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley Official Website

Jazz/Pop musician Jacqui Naylor will be playing a holiday show at World Café Live in Philadelphia on Sunday December 21st, 2008.

Watch "Easy Ride From Here" video:

Jacqui Naylor on amazon.com

Jacqui Naylor on amazon.co.uk

Jacqui is best known for her signature "acoustic smashing" technique - singing jazz standards of rock classics or vice versa. In the holiday spirit, Jacqui's performance will include some tunes from her album 'Smashed For The Holidays' (which made the top ten list for USA Today, Boston Globe, Washington Post, and Jazziz among others).

Picture "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" over Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," and "Santa Baby" sung to the groove of Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Mak'er" ... Jacqui sings a holiday standard while the band plays a well-known rock tune, seamlessly combining classic rock and holiday classics.

Jacqui will also be performing songs from her latest CD, 'You Don't Know Jacq', which includes more unique smashing collaborations like Gershwin's "Summertime" over the Allman Brothers' "Whipping Post" and Rogers/Hart's "My Funny Valentine" over AC/DC's "Back in Black," along with new original tracks.

For music, tour dates and more, go to:

Jacqui Naylor Official Website
Jacqui Naylor MySpace

Oi Oi it's Christmas!

Welcome to the Punk Rock Advent Calendar. In the true spirit of Punk Christmas we present you with Twenty Five completely FREE Punk Rock Christmas songs for your listening / downloading delectation!

Punk on amazon.com

Punk on amazon.co.uk

Each song comes with its very own classic punk intro/riff/solo "borrowed" from a variety of all-time punk classics. Singalong with your turkey to the festive noise, whilst at the same time playing "Spot The Punk Cliché". The Ruts, The Ramones, The Pistols, The Jam and many, many more - they're all in there somewhere!

Jimmy Severe, whose punk guitar and shouty voice spread his fame throughout the pop music world of Coley Park and the rest of West Reading, was born and brought up in the small flats. The story goes that he traded a bushel of Beano comics for his first guitar. When Severe attended the School of Hard Nuts, the guitar went along with him and helped pay for his beer. When an injured leg ended his career as a centre-back it was only natural for him to turn to his guitar as a means of support.

He found out early on that playing the songs of others, especially good old singalong classics, was far more fun than writing his own self-indulgent dirges, and soon joined up with the Blue Christmas Boys, a bunch of local punks who specialised in bringing vitriolic cheer to the local estate at Christmas time with their very special interpretations of Yuletide classics.

In putting together The Punk Rock Advent Calendar, Jimmy & The Boys picked the ones that portray all sides of the season - from revelry to irreverence - from "White Christmas" to "Mary's Boy Child" - with strictly for drinking songs like "Senor Santa Claus" and "The Merry Christmas Polka" for good large measures.

For music and more, go to:

Punk Christmas - Advent Calendar - Official Website

Plastic Punk Records MySpace

After a busy and successful year of (mostly) touring, Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring return with a gorgeous new single, 'Winter'.

Their Hearts Were Full of Spring on amazon.co.uk

THWFOS on amazon.com

The slow-burning success of their debut single "A Questions of Trust" has gained them steadfast support on local and national radio (they can now count the BBC's Huw Stephens, Tom Robinson, and Steve Lamacq amongst their fans) and a string of UK festival shows - from the arty (London Short Film Festival) to the boutique (Gocstock, Foxfest) and culminating in show-stealing performances at two of the UK's biggest and best: Latitude and The Big Chill.

With the summer - and festival season over - they made a long-overdue return to the studio to start work on their new project, an idea which started to grow back in the Spring when they were invited to sing to the bees of the Royal Festival Hive. They learned the song after which they were named to serenade the bees, and then started to kick around ideas for other cover versions which would be fun to do. When they struck upon the idea of making them all seasonally-themed those idle notions quickly crystallised into a proper plan. And this is it:

There'll be one double-a-side single released every season for the next year - four in all, starting with this 'Winter' release, and all free-to-download exclusively from our good friends at God Is In The TV Zine from 15th December 2008. The tracks will be seasonal cover versions, specially selected and recorded to soundtrack the season we're entering.

So for 'Winter' we're presented with Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring's unique new interpretations of Fleet Foxes' "White Winter Hymnal" and Neil Young's classic "Winterlong". You get the idea ...

And as well as the free downloads, the handsome devils at Strange Torpedo Records will also be issuing a very-limited-edition CD release of each single, to be sold exclusively at live shows.

The first of these comes with a special presentation box designed to house all four CDs, so you can add each new one to the box as it's released. These are sure to become collector's items in no time!

'Winter' was recorded by Their Hearts Were Full of Spring in September/October 2008 at Bedrock Studios. Produced by Markus.

A - White Winter Hymnal
(Robin Noel Pecknold)
Taken from Fleet Foxes' eponymous 2008 debut album.
Suggested by Geoffrey Lofthouse.
Vox - Markus, Maeve, Vicky, Ian, Emmet, Matth
Guitars - Emmet and Markus
Bass - Matth
Banjo - Emmet
Organ - Markus
Percussion, Church shoes - Markus
Size 11 Doctor Marten's - Mr. Andrew Gary Smith
Distorted ramblings - Ian

AA - Winterlong
(Neil Young)
Taken from Neil Young's 1977 album 'Decades' and later covered by The Pixies as the B-side to 'Dig for Fire' in 1990.
Suggested by Rich Grierson.
Vox - Markus and Maeve
Plucked guitars - Emmet and Markus
Bowed guitar - Ian
Musical saw - Vicky

For music and more information, go to:

Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring Official Website
MySpace

Glasvegas, one of the biggest breakthrough bands of 2008, have topped off an amazing year by making the race for Christmas number 1.

William Hill place their single "Please Come Back Home" at 33/1, the same odds as major pop artists such as Girls Aloud and The Pogues, and obove Beyonce, Britney Spears and The Killers.

Glasvegas on amazon.co.uk

Glasvegas on amazon.com

The track is available from December 1, 2008 via iTunes, and will also come on the limited edition Christmas EP 'A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss)' which is available exclusively from the band's website.

'A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss)' was recorded in Transylvania and includes The Concentus Choir singing "Silent Night" (in English and Romanian) at St Nicholas Church in Brasov. Two songs, "Please Come Back Home" and "Cruel Moon" have been taken to radio.

The tracklist for the EP is:

Please Come Back Home
Cruel Moon
Careful What You Wish For
F*** You, It's Over
A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss)
Silent Night / Noapte de vis

Watch "Please Come Back Home" video

Having just returned from their first American dates, Glasvegas tour the UK and Ireland, with White Lies in support November and December.

The tour will see the band play their biggest headline shows to date and has already included closing the BBC Electric Proms with Oasis, headlining the opening night of this years Mencap Little Noise Sessions at the Union Chapel, as well as a show with Echo & The Bunnymen in Liverpool at the Echo Arena (27th November) and a free performance at Edinburgh's Hogmany Street Party (December 31st).

The full dates, with White Lies in support, are:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

November 2008

Thu 27th Liverpool Echo Arena (with Echo & The Bunnymen)
Fri 28th Bristol Ansom Rooms SOLD OUT
Sat 29th Swansea Sin City 01792 654 226
Sun 30th Cambridge Junction SOLD OUT

December 2008

Mon 1st London Shepherds Bush Empire SOLD OUT
Wed 3rd Nottingham Trent University SOLD OUT
Thu 4th Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall SOLD OUT
Sat 6th Sheffield Plug (0114 241 3040 www.the-plug.com)
Sun 7th Leeds Met University SOLD OUT
Mon 8th Manchester Academy SOLD OUT
Wed 10th Preston 53 Degrees (01772 893000 www.53degrees.net)
Thu 11th Hull University (01482 466264 www.seetickets.com)
Fri 12th Newcastle Digital SOLD OUT
Sun 14th Dublin Whelans SOLD OUT
Mon 15th Belfast Spring &Airbrake SOLD OUT
Tue 16th Glasgow Barrowlands SOLD OUT
Wed 31st Edinburgh Hogmany Street Party (Waverley Stage)

Glasvegas Official Website
Glasvegas MySpace

'Connie Talbot's Christmas Album' is set for release 24th November, 2008 on Rainbow Recordings.

After melting the hearts of the nation on 'Britain's Got Talent' last year, what's left for a 8 year old kid from the West Midlands to do?

Answer: Go on to sell over a quarter of a million copies around the world of her single, "3 Little Birds" and her first album, 'Over The Rainbow'. She's also been to the Far East and has even appeared on Oprah and on the Ellen show in the USA to an audience of 3 million!

Watch video - Connie Talbot on the Ellen Show:

Connie Talbot on amazon.com

Connie Talbot on amazon.co.uk

But there's more:

This summer Connie was even asked to perform at Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund Annual Gala Dinner at Lords Cricket Ground-high praise indeed!

Connie's extraordinarily young career began when she was 18 months old singing into a Karaoke machine and pretty soon it was obvious that she had a natural gift that didn't need the Brit Academy to nurture. Now she has her own Nintendo Wii game called 'Sing Along With Connie' coming out in February 2009.

Connie is now going to release a brand new album of Christmas songs on 24th November, 2008 and it's called, 'Connie Talbot's Christmas Album'.

The album was recorded at Connie's home this summer and is a mix of classics and modern Christmas tunes. Some songs were recorded in a big band style such as: "Let It Snow", "Rockin Around The Christmas Tree", "Jingle Bell Rock", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and "Frosty The Snowman".

The remaining songs were recorded in a more traditional style such as "Do You Hear What I Hear", "When A Child Is Born", "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", "Merry Christmas Everybody", "Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem" and "Ave Maria". There are also 3 bonus tracks: "Walking In The Air", "Silent Night" and "White Christmas".

Connie Talbot Official Website

Connie Talbot MySpace

The five royal Princes of The Hives Nation have teamed up with the Queen of Queens from Queens, Cyndi Lauper, to record the best holiday song this side of White Christmas (ok... maybe Silver and Gold as well).

The Hives and Cyndi Lauper "In A Christmas Duel" will be released via The Orchard on December 1st, 2008 in the UK and one day later on December 2nd in the US. As an early present to fans who have found themselves being particularly awesome this past year, the single will be exclusively available for free download via the band's website throughout Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, November 28th through Sunday, November 30, 2008.

While some would expect one of those warm-your-toes-by-the-fire-while-snuggling-up-to-your-loved-one-between-sips-of-hot-cocoa-and-smooches-under-the-mistletoe type of songs, The Hives and Cyndi Lauper offer more of a unique take for this holiday season. Let's just say that the pair get a little scrappy. It also features a piano. Yay.

The Hives explained, "It may sound weird and come as a surprise to some, but we had to. It came to us. It landed in our lap and was way too good to shake or toss. We knew we had to record it. A sign if you will." Cyndi Lauper offered "this goes to show even rat sideswipers can have a good Xmas too."

So there you have it. The Hives and Cyndi Lauper bring you "A Christmas Duel", wrapped in a box with a huge black and white bow atop.

Also, be sure to check out The Hives performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, November 20th.

The Hives Official Website
The Hives on amazon.com
amazon.co.uk

Cyndi Lauper Official Website
Cyndi Lauper on amazon.com
amazon.co.uk