They will be taking over Spaceland in Los Angeles for an evening to celebrate the songs of George Harrison and to support the Harmony Project, a non-profit organization that provides free music instruction to 750 youths, ages 6-17, in inner-city Los Angeles.

Performances of George Harrison songs by Ryan Ross (The Young Veins/Panic At The Disco), Robert Francis, Matt Popieluch (Foreign Born/ Fools Gold), Michael Runion, Amanda Jo Williams, Denver Dalley (Desaparecidos/ Statistics), Leslie Stevens (Leslie and the Badgers), The Whispering Pines, Mississippi Man, El May (Ben Lee/Luna), Andy Creighton (The World Record/Parson Redheads), Brian Whelan (The Broken West), Josh Charney (Le Switch), Eugene Edwards, John Hopkinson and more to be announced.

Music inspired crafts with the lovely ladies of the Coachella Valley Arts Scene, Special DJ Sets, Visuals, and more

A Tribute To George Harrison
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Spaceland, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
9 pm Doors
Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at door
21+ only

Ticket information + Purchase tickets

About When You Awake

When You Awake is a Los Angeles based company run by Jody Orsborn. The company is centered around the the music website, www.whenyouawake.com, that features daily music news, live show reviews, style finds and an extensive Mixtape Column, where bands such as Midlake, The Bees and Vetiver share Top 10 songs lists. When You Awake includes regular contributors from all over the United States, Europe and South America. Orsborn also hosts a two hour radio show every Monday from 2-4 pm PST on Little Radio.com and presents shows around town featuring musicians like Justin Townes Earle, Deer Tick and Leslie and the Badgers.

About The Harmony Project

Founded in 2001 and inspired by the Venezuelan program El Sistema, the Harmony Project is a non-profit organization with a vision of enhancing children’s lives through music. We accomplish this by bringing quality music instruction and ensemble playing to children
who otherwise would not have access to it; complementing music education with supporting resources and opportunities; and, fostering a community of families that actively support their children’s growth and development.

The Harmony Project provides free music instruction to 750 youths, ages 6-17, in inner-city Los Angeles where the high school drop-out rate is higher than 50%. During the hours of 3 to 8 p.m.-when children are most vulnerable to negative influences–we provide
instruments, private and group lessons, performance opportunities, field trips, and a variety of supportive resources. Students need not exhibit talent to remain in our program, just commitment. Parent participation is an important part of our success, thus far. Additionally, our cost-sharing partnerships with Los Angeles City College, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Los Angeles Unified School District has fostered a community that transforms young people’s lives by offering college credit and college scholarships.

Our evaluation partnership with RAND has allowed us to improve and refine our program over time, and we proudly report that 100% of our participants complete high school. For the past two years, the Harmony Project has been recognized by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities as one of the 50 best arts-based youth development programs in the nation. The Coming Up Taller Award is the nation’s highest honor for after-school arts programs.

For more information, go to:

When You Awake

The Harmony Project

Spaceland

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

(L) Eric Idol, Sir Paul McCartney, Olivia Harrison, Tom Hanks, Dhani Harrison

CD and Digital Collection Features Harrison’s Solo Hits, Remastered, Plus Live Recordings from 1971 Concert For Bangladesh

The Late George Harrison Honored Yesterday with Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Presentation

(L) Jeff Lynne, Sir Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Olivia Harrison and the son of the late George Harrison, Dhani Harrison

As music legend George Harrison was celebrated yesterday with a new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, Capitol/EMI announces Harrison’s first ever career-spanning solo hits collection, ‘Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison’, to be released June 16, 2009.

The new title will feature digitally remastered tracks in deluxe packaging, including an extensive booklet featuring previously unseen and rare photos. The collection will also be available for download from all major digital service providers.

‘Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison’ is the first release that will span his entire solo recording career, including the #1 Billboard Pop singles “My Sweet Lord,” “Isn’t It A Pity,” “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth),” and “Got My Mind Set On You.”

Watch “Here Comes The Sun” video:

The new title will also feature live recordings of three Harrison-penned Beatles songs, “Something,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Here Comes The Sun” from his 1971 all-star Concert For Bangladesh benefit at Madison Square Garden. The complete track list will soon be announced.

George Harrison is a twice-inducted member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a solo artist and as a member of The Beatles, and an 11-time Grammy Award winner for his recordings with The Beatles, Traveling Wilburys and as a solo artist.

George Harrison on amazon.com

George Harrison on amazon.co.uk

Photo Credit: Lester Cohen/WireImage

George Harrison Official Website

WHO: The late music legend George Harrison
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO Leron Gubler
Accepting the star will be George Harrison’s wife Olivia and Dhani Harrison Speakers tba

WHAT: 2,382nd Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHERE: 1750 Vine Street in front of the legendary Capitol Records building

WHEN: Tuesday, April 14, at 11:30 a.m.

George Harrison was born on February 25, 1943 in Liverpool. After a stint playing with his group the Rebels, George, together with his schoolmate Paul McCartney, joined John Lennon’s Quarrymen. He was fifteen at the time, and the stage was set for The Beatles to emerge as the best possible news in post-War Britain.

Over the course of The Beatles’ career, Harrison played the role of guitarist, singer and songwriter. His contributions to The Beatles’ catalogue include “I Need You”, “Taxman”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun”, to name only a few. His lifelong interest in Indian culture advanced considerably through his friendship with Ravi Shankar and affected all of The Beatles and their musical explorations.

In the years immediately following the break-up of The Beatles, George released his first solo album ‘All Things Must Pass’ to worldwide acclaim, followed by further major recordings, the bulk of which went gold or platinum. One could argue that The Concert for Bangladesh, featuring George’s friends Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar, Leon Russell, Ringo Starr, and others, has had the greatest impact. As a response to a world crisis, it was like nothing that the music business had witnessed up to that point and earned a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1973.

In 1987 on the heels of George’s top ten album ‘Cloud Nine’ he formed the Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. “Handle with Care” was the Wilburys’ first single and it caught the world by surprise. The Wilburys would go on to earn a Grammy and are still remembered as the “supergroup” with no equal.

After a life of excursions in the arts and spiritual adventures, George Harrison passed away in 2001. The following year, A Concert for George was organized by Eric Clapton and Olivia Harrison. Filmed at The Royal Albert Hall his former bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne created a magical night. The event captured something of the warm and intense impact George had on those fortunate enough to know him well.

His songwriting was powerful enough to generate standards in the field. His love for humour and film turned him, almost inadvertently, into an important movie producer. And, without a doubt, his contribution to The Beatles left an indelible mark on that band’s music and character—we hear it still.

Martin Scorsese is currently directing a documentary feature about George’s remarkable life, and on April 14, 2009, Capitol/EMI will announce plans for a new George Harrison music release.

George Harrison on amazon.com

George Harrison on amazon.co.uk

Photo Credit: Chris Cuffaro/JGB Photo

George Harrison Official Website

thenewno2 announces the cd release and digital re-release of their debut album ‘You Are Here’. The re-released digital version will be available March 14, 2009 and the CD will be out March 31.

Watch Another John Doe video:

thenewno2 on amazon.com

thenewno2 on amazon.co.uk

The album is coming out through the band’s own Hot Records with Vagrant providing distribution and marketing services for the project. The band also announces some show dates starting with a February 11 show in Los Angeles at the Key Club and later that week they will make their New York City debut playing Brooklyn’s Union on February 15 and the Mercury Lounge on February 17.

Sandwiched between the New York dates, on February 16, the band will make its national television debut on Late Show with Conan O’Brien.

‘You Are Here’ was created by guitarist/synth/vocalist Dhani Harrison (son of late Beatle George Harrison) and drums/synth Oli Hecks. The album plays like a news ticker scrolling across the cultural landscape. Over the course of its creation – a process that took place outside London and inside Los Angeles – the world became a darker place, crippled by war, global warming and fiscal catastrophe.

Dhani Harrison and Oli Hecks are joined by Jon Sadoff on keyboards/guitar/vocals, Jeremy Faccone on guitar/vocals, and Jason Hiller on bass. This combo made a triumphant run of dates at Los Angeles’ Key Club every Tuesday for the month of September.

Word of mouth grew so that by the last show the club was beyond capacity. It was through write ups in LA City Beat and LA Weekly that national press started taking interest, with Rolling Stone featuring Dhani Harrison twice in their pages during the Fall months including the magazine’s Hot Issue.

For music and more information, go to:

TheNewNo2 Official Website

TheNewNo2 MySpace

On June 23, 2008 Apple Corps Ltd./Cirque du Soleil will release the feature-length documentary ‘All Together Now’ on DVD, which will be marketed and distributed worldwide by EMI Music.

The film details the story behind the unique partnership between The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil that resulted in the creation and launch of “LOVE,” the stage production still wowing audiences at The Mirage in Las Vegas, and the double Grammy-winning album of the same name. The film is dedicated to the memory of Neil Aspinall, an Executive Producer of the DVD.

The DVD’s total running time is 122 minutes, including the 84-minute documentary film and bonus features. The film and extras are presented in DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and Dolby Digital Stereo.

‘All Together Now’ faithfully recounts how the “LOVE” project came into being, borne from the personal friendship between George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte. George saw how the twin talents of Cirque’s artistry and The Beatles’ music could be fused into something new and totally original.

The director, Adrian Wills, records early meetings between the Cirque & Apple Corps Ltd. creative teams, as well as contributions from Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison discussing how The Beatles’ music can be used in a different way. We hear about the decision to utilize the combined talents of Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin to produce what became a 90-minute soundscape created from The Beatles’ multi-track recordings and how this new audio adventure was being quietly worked on in the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England whilst the first creative ideas for the show were being formulated in Montreal, Canada.

These early stages of the project were all filmed, as were the first rehearsals at the Mirage Hotel theatre in Las Vegas, which was completely rebuilt with a one-of-a-kind sound system and complex round staging to house the “LOVE” show. George and Giles Martin, the show’s Musical Directors, were involved every step of the way with the remarkable Cirque du Soleil creative team, performers and backroom staff.

It wasn’t all “plain-sailing” and there has been no attempt to disguise some of the disagreements that took place along the way regarding how some of the songs would be portrayed visually. These creative differences, a necessary part of the overall process of bringing “LOVE” to its most vibrant life, illustrate the participants’ love and respect for the music and vision of The Beatles.

In addition to their roles within the main feature, George and Giles Martin, along with engineer Paul Hicks, also pop up in another piece titled “Changing The Music” which reveals in fascinating depth how the music was created and the challenges they faced. They explain how they sourced some of the individual instruments and effects and how they were encouraged to experiment.

The ‘All Together Now’ documentary and bonus features provide a fascinating insight into the creative skills and passion that went into making this project a groundbreaking critical and commercial success.

DVD contents

‘All Together Now’ documentary (84:00)

Bonus Features:

Changing The Music (22:00): A behind-the scenes look at the decision-making process for the “LOVE” concept and music production.
Music In The Theatre (07:00): A look at the process of creating the “LOVE” show’s unique audio design.
Making ‘LOVE’ (09:00): A backstage pass to explore the design of “LOVE,” including the art direction, costumes, props, screen imagery and the use of The Beatles’ voices in the “LOVE” stage production and its soundtrack.

DVD technical details
1 x DVD-9
PAL and NTSC
All regions

The Beatles – All Together Now on amazon.co.uk

All Together Now on amazon.com

Cirque du Soleil

The Beatles

Jools Holland shows what friends are for as he releases his twelfth studio album in as many years on 15 October, 2007 on Rhino. Entitled ‘Best Of Friends’ this album is a personal collection of some of Jools Holland’s best loved and most memorable tracks from his collaborations over his last six albums.

Featuring world class artists from across the musical spectrum, ‘Best Of Friends’ sees Jools join forces with legends and luminaries of the music industry, including giants such as Bono (“If You Wear That Velvet Dress”), Sting (“Seventh Son”), Tom Jones (“Think”), Chrissie Hynde (“Out Of This World”) and a cover of “I Put a Spell on You” with Mica Paris and David Gilmour, whose distinctive guitar style gives the song an entirely different tangent.

The album also features a brand new remix of the track “Horse To The Water” with vocals provided by the great George Harrison. Co-written with his son Dhani this is one of the last songs George ever wrote. Jools described the experience by saying: “George Harrison is one of the true giants of popular music. This was probably the orchestra’s greatest honour of all, to back George on a brand new song that he had written”.

Contemporary collaborations featured on the album include Norah Jones (“In The Dark”), The Stereophonics (“First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”), India Arie singing of her home state with “Georgia On My Mind” and KT Tunstall, who lends her rich vocals to “Darkness on the Face of the Earth.”

In addition to previously released material, the album contains two brand new recordings with soul songstress Ruby Turner (“To Love A Child”) and the ever delightful Lulu on “Where Have All The Good Guys Gone?”, both of whom will appear with Jools on the forthcoming Autumn tour.

Other highlights of the album include tracks such as “Snowflake Boogie” with the late Edwin Starr, “Oranges And Lemons Again” with Madness lead singer Suggs, and “Mabel” with soul and country music pioneer Solomon Burke and guest appearance by guitar maestro Eric Clapton.

The CD also comes with a bonus DVD that contains real gems for established and new fans alike with footage taken from the recording sessions across the Jools & Friends albums. This includes an exceptional, previously unreleased, 49-minute long documentary, which features an extensive interview with Jools, cut with exclusive footage documenting the creation of songs on “Best Of…Friends”, with stars from the album such as Sting, Bono, KT Tunstall, Solomon Burke, Eric Clapton, Tom Jones, Lulu and Edwin Starr, not to mention people like Shane MacGowan, Ronnie Wood, Sugababes and Robert Plant also making an appearance. The bonus DVD also contains a selection of music videos and an interview with former Squeeze drummer and long time Jools collaborator, Gilson Lavis.

This spectacular collection of Jools’ best loved collaborations will follow his first ever autobiography which is released through Penguin Books on 4th October. ‘Bare Faced Lies And Boogie Woogie Boasts’ is a marvellously witty memoir by Britain’s most popular pianist and bandleader.

Jools Holland has had a fascinating life. From playing on bombsites as a boy in south-east London, to skiving off school and then rocketing to international success with Squeeze, the first twenty years of his life were eventful, chaotic and colourful.

From playing pubs in the East End docks as a teenage greaser, presenting The Tube and Later With Jools Holland, to leading his rhythm & blues orchestra and selling millions of records this century, it is his passion for music that has made Jools Holland into a doyen of the music scene and it is passion which suffuses the pages of this fascinating and delightful autobiography.

Watch video footage from Jools Holland’s new CD/DVD:

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Coinciding with the release of ‘Best Of Friends’ Jools will embark on a 32-date UK tour. Kicking off on the 26th October, Jools Holland, performing with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, will tour the UK with special guest Lulu and will play two dates at London’s Royal Albert Hall. See below for full list of dates.

Jools Holland – ‘Best Of Friends’ Tracklisting:

CD 1

1) Tuxedo Junction
2) Where Have All The Good Guys Gone? with Lulu
3) Out Of This World with Chrissie Hynde
4) Snowflake Boogie (2007 remix) with Edwin Starr
5) In The Dark with Norah Jones
6) Horse To The Water (2007 remix) with George Harrison
7) To Love A Child with Ruby Turner
Enjoy Yourself with Prince Buster
9) First Time Ever I Saw Your Face with Stereophonics
10) Seventh Son with Sting
11) Just To Be Home With You with Shane MacGowan
12) Darkness On The Face Of The Earth with KT Tunstall
13) The Return Of The Blues Cowboy with Joe Strummer
14) I Put A Spell On You with Mica Paris & David Gilmour
15) Rock Me with The Blind Boys Of Alabama
16) Georgia On My Mind with India Arie
17) Think with Tom Jones
18) Valentine Moon with Sam Brown
19) Oranges And Lemons Again with Suggs
20) Mabel with Solomon Burke & Eric Clapton
21) If You Wear That Velvet Dress with Bono

CD2 – Bonus DVD

1) Best Of Friends – The Story
2) Gilson Lavis – Interview
3) I’m In The Mood For Love – with Jamiroquai (video)
4) Oranges And Lemons Again – with Suggs (video)
5) It’ll Be Me – with Tom Jones (video)

Jools Holland Autumn Tour Dates 2007:

Dates could change! Go to Jools Holland’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

October

Friday 26 Norwich UEA
Saturday 27 Bradford St Georges Hall
Sunday 28 Ipswich Regent Theatre

November

Thursday 1 Nottingham Royal Centre
Friday 2 Nottingham Royal Centre
Saturday 3 Cambridge Corn Exchange
Sunday 4 Oxford New Theatre
Thursday 8 Brentwood Centre
Saturday 10 Harrogate International Centre
Sunday 11 Harrogate International Centre
Thursday 15 Leicester De Montfort Hall
Friday 16 Leicester De Montfort Hall
Saturday 17 Manchester Apollo
Wednesday 21 Reading Hexagon
Thursday 22 Bristol Colston Hall
Friday 23 Cheltenham Centaur
Saturday 24 Portsmouth Guildhall
Wednesday 28 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Thursday 29 Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Friday 30 London Royal Albert Hall

December

Saturday 1 London Royal Albert Hall
Wednesday 5 Sheffield City Hall
Thursday 6 Sheffield City Hall
Friday 7 Glasgow SECC
Saturday 8 Glasgow SECC
Friday 14 Plymouth Pavilions
Saturday 15 Bournemouth Bic
Sunday 16 Birmingham NIA
Wednesday 19 Newcastle City Hall
Thursday 20 Newcastle City Hall
Friday 21 Cardiff CIA
Saturday 22 Brighton Centre

Jools Holland ‘Best Of Friends’ (CD + DVD) at amazon.co.uk

Jools Holland Official Website