Illustrious Cuban singer Omara Portuondo has made history twice this year.

In October, the remarkable vocalist, and only female star of the Buena Vista Social Club™, became one of the first Cuban artists in six years to obtain a visa to perform in the U.S., marking a cultural breakthrough in the strained relations between her homeland and the U.S.

On November 5, 2009, she also became the first Cuban resident to present at the 10th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, where she delivered the prestigious Song of The Year award.

She was honored again as the winner for Best Contemporary Tropical Album or “Mejor Album Tropical Contemporaneo” with her latest release ‘Gracias’ produced by Montuno Productions and released on World Village.

Although Omara Portuondo is a four-time Latin GRAMMY nominee, and won a “Premio Musica Brasileira” Brazilian Music Award last year for her duets album with Maria Bethania, as well as a Billboard Latin Music Award in 2005, this is her first GRAMMY award.

“I’m going to represent Cuba, because I think I’m going to be the only one that will be there,” Portuondo told the New York Daily News the day before the awards ceremony. “I’ll be there for all of the others.”

Portuondo performed two U.S. shows in October, for the first time since 2003, at UCLA’s Royce Hall and at the San Francisco Jazz Festival. Of her San Francisco show the Oakland Tribune wrote, “It’s impossible to say whether she handles the fast or slow numbers better. Whatever kind of song she’s singing at the time is the one that best suits her.” Portuondo returns in February of 2010 with concerts in Washington DC, Boston and New York City, among other major cities.

‘Gracias’, which was also awarded the Cubadisco 2009 Grand Prix in May, is Portuondo’s third solo album, and it marks a professional musical career spanning 60 years.

The New York Times declared that at 79 “her voice …is rich, shapely, dynamic, and still sultry”, and the Los Angeles Times called her “still a vibrant contemporary performer”.

She first found fame in her home country with Las D’Aida quartet, and throughout the 1970s and ’80s was a highly acclaimed solo vocalist. It was the Buena Vista Social Club™, however, that launched her into worldwide fame, along with such major figures as Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González and Compay Segundo.

‘Gracias’ was produced by Ale Siqueira, with musical direction from Swami Jr., and it features “some striking collaborations” (Songlines), with such guest artists as Jorge Drexler, Richard Bona, Cachaíto López, Chico Buarque and Chucho Valdés. It is a special gift from the artist to herself and to the songwriters for whom she feels the highest regard.

As the Montreal Gazette writes, it is “a highly personal collection of ballads… she packs a lot of feeling into this tender and nostalgic album.”

These are the songs she has always longed to sing.

Buy Music:

Omara Portuondo on amazon.com

OMARA PORTUONDO Tour Dates 2010

(Dates and information subject to change.)

February 2010

24 – Washington, DC – Lisner Auditorium
26 – Boston, MA – Harvard University Sanders Theater
27 – New York, NY – Town Hall

More Dates TBA

Omara Portuondo Official Website
Omara Portuondo MySpace

Victoria B.C. atmospheric rockers Jets Overhead, are about to embark on a cross-Canadian tour as the support act for synthpop sensation LIGHTS.

The 17-date tour begins in Vancouver on Saturday November 7th, travels as far east as Montreal and ends in London, Ontario on December 3rd.

Jets Overhead are touring in support of their sophomore album No Nations, out now on Vapor Records.

Watch video – “Weathervanes” @ Pianos, NYC:

FREE Download: “I Should Be Born” MP3

Earlier this year the band travelled to Beijing, China for a series of festival dates and have also toured across the U.S., Canada and Europe sharing the stage with Sam Roberts, Our Lady Peace, Tegan and Sara, Broken Social Scene, The Dears, The Stills, The Temper Trap, The Dandy Warhols, Powderfinger and The Frames.

Jets Overhead have also performed at the prestigious Neil Young Bridge School Benefit as well as at the CMJ, SXSW and Bonnaroo music festivals.

November/December 2009 Tour Dates – support for LIGHTS

(Dates and information subject to change.)

Nov 07 2009 The Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, British Columbia
Nov 09 2009 Alix Goolden Hall Victoria, British Columbia
Nov 10 2009 Mary Irwin Theatre Kelowna, British Columbia
Nov 12 2009 MacEwan Ballroom Calgary, Alberta
Nov 13 2009 Myer Horowitz Theatre Edmonton, Alberta
Nov 14 2009 Red Deer Memorial Centre Red Deer, Alberta
Nov 16 2009 The Distrikt Regina, Saskatchewan
Nov 18 2009 Louis’ Pub Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Nov 19 2009 The Garrick Centre Winnipeg, Manitoba
Nov 20 2009 The Outpost Thunder Bay, Ontario
Nov 22 2009 Capitol Centre North Bay, Ontario
Nov 26 2009 Kool Haus Toronto, Ontario
Nov 27 2009 Bronson Centre Ottawa, Ontario
Nov 28 2009 Studio JPR Montreal, Quebec
Nov 30 2009 Studio Theatre Hamilton, Ontario
Dec 02 2009 Ale House Kingston, Ontario
Dec 03 2009 Music Hall London, Ontario

Jets Overhead Official Website

Robert Cray has announced his UK tour dates. For thirty plus years Robert Cray has laid down track after track of good-time, uptown, low-down blues. He’s won five Grammy’s and been nominated for 11 more.

From classic titles ‘Phone Booth’, to highlights from his more recent releases ‘Poor Johnny’, whether addressing timeless themes of heartache and romance ‘The Things You Do To Me’ or this morning’s headlines ‘Twenty’, Cray delivers on a promise he’s been making since his first trip into the studio.

Robert Cray’s virtuosity has led to collaborations with luminaries such as Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry and Bonnie Raitt.

His new album ‘This Time’ is realised on his own imprint Nozzle Records and arrives at a vital juncture in the musician’s career, marked by creative renewal and a key reunion with an old performing partner, bassist Richard Cousins.

Buy Music:

Robert Cray on amazon.com

Robert Cray on amazon.co.uk

Robert Cray July 2010 UK tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change. Go to Robert Cray’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.)

Fri 2 Jul Liverpool Philharmonic Hall £28.50 – £33.50
Sat 3 Jul Leicester De Montford Hall £28.50
Sun 4 Jul Norwich Theatre Royal £22.00, £25.50, £28.50
Mon 5 Jul Brighton Dome £24.50, £28.50, £38.50
Wed 7 Jul London Barbican £32.50, £38.50
Thu 8 Jul Manchester Bridgewater Hall £28.50, £38.50
Sat 10 Jul Cambridge Corn Exchange £28.50, £38.50
Mon 12 Jul Birmingham Symphony Hall £28.50, £38.50
Tue 13 Jul Glasgow Royal Concert Hall £28.50, £38.50
Wed 14 Jul Gateshead Sage £28.50, £38.50

Ticketmaster 0870 534 4444, Ticketline 0870 444 5556 and See Tickets 0871 220 0260

Robert Cray Official Website

The band will then appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” performing on the outside stage on November 12th.

The tour will feature Switchfoot playing Hello Hurricane in its entirety, followed by fan favorites from its previous records.

The band will be collecting donations for local food banks along the tour route, so fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable items to the shows. (See below for tour itinerary and a list of food banks that will receive donations.)

Switchfoot is also launching a new website, www.theworldyouwant.com, which will spotlight goodness, beauty, and truth in everyday life. Fans are invited to contribute stories about people they know who are making this world a better place and the band will read some of these contributions from stage during the tour.

Recorded with producer/bassist Mike Elizondo (Rilo Kiley, Eminem, and Pink), Hello Hurricane is the group’s seventh full-length and its first on Atlantic Records.

Lead single “Mess of Me” is getting airplay at Modern and Active Rock radio stations and is climbing the Modern Rock radio chart. “The Sound,” another track from the album, has been tapped by Verizon Wireless for its national ad campaign for the BlackBerry® Storm™ 2.

Fans who pre-order Hello Hurricane will immediately receive a free download of “Mess of Me” and four videos. They have five pre-order options to choose from: the standard CD edition; deluxe CD/DVD edition with approximately 60 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage and studio performances; vinyl with CD; the Collector’s edition (Hello Hurricane CD, deluxe DVD, an additional CD with studio outtakes and more, limited edition poster and 84-page hardcover book); and the digital download edition. For additional information or to pre-order, visit ITunes or the band’s web site www.switchfoot.com.

At the end of October, Switchfoot – comprising of Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar) – will take the stage for Yahoo! Music’s new live concert program, “Maximum Performance Guitar Hero 5.”

Jon and Chad will be featured in an upcoming episode of “Road Trip Nation” airing on PBS stations in November. Check local listings or watch the episode at www.roadtripnation.com/watch/ anytime after its November 5th debut on KLCS TV in Los Angeles and Orange County. MySpace will premiere Hello Hurricane the week before its release and the band will be interviewed on “The MySpace Music Feed” on Monday, November 9th.

Switchfoot is the subject of an upcoming Rolling Stone “In the Studio” feature and will be on the cover of Relevant Magazine’s November/ December issue. Jon has also penned two articles recently: his piece on charity in your own backyard will be in the November issue of Alternative Press and he’s written on the nature of heroism for The Huffington Post.

He also recently participated in filming an innovative online game called “The Climate Challenge,” for Oxfam (www.oxfamamerica.org/music).

“When you play the game, you will feel the urgency. We have to start acting now on climate change. There is literally no time to waste,” says Foreman. The game will launch in late October at The Climate Challenge.

Hello Hurricane, Switchfoot’s first studio album since 2006’s Oh! Gravity, which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200, acknowledges life’s storms while managing to find an element of hope in them. The band tracked more than 80 songs at its self-built home studio before narrowing it down to the 12 that appear on the new album. (Fans can check out the four-minute trailer, “The Making of Hello Hurricane,” at www.switchfoot.com.)

Buy Music:

Switchfoot on amazon.com

The Hello Hurricane November / December 2009 Tour Dates (+ food banks):

(Dates and information subject to change.)

11/8 San Diego, CA E.C Performing Arts Center – N/A
11/11 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy Theatre – L.A Regional FB
11/13 Scottsdale, AZ Martini Ranch – St Mary’s FB Alliance
11/14 Tucson, AZ The Rock – Community FB of Tucson
11/16 Oklahoma City, OK Diamond Ballroom – Regional FB of Oklahoma
11/17 Dallas, TX House of Blues – North Texas Food Bank
11/18 Austin, TX The Parish – Capital Area Food Bank
11/20 Houston, TX Warehouse Live – TBA
11/21 New Orleans, LA The Parish – Second Harvest FB
11/22 Nashville, TX Exit In – Second Harvest FB
11/24 Atlanta, GA The Loft – Atlanta Community FB
11/27 Anaheim, CA House of Blues – Second Harvest FB
11/28 Ventura, CA The Majestic – Food Share
12/3 Charlotte, NC Amos’ Southend – TBA
12/5 Richmond, VA The National – WDYL Snowball – N/A
12/7 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live – TBA
12/8 New York, NY The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza – Bowery Mission
12/9 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club – TBA

For the latest tour dates, music and information, go to:

Switchfoot Official Website
Switchfoot on twitter
Facebook
Myspace
YouTube
The World You Want

Fan sites -

Land of Broken Hearts
We’re Awakening

‘Rebuilt By Humans’ debuts at Number 3!

Following his second album ‘Rebuilt By Humans’ going straight in at number 1 on iTunes, and number 3 in the album charts, Newton Faulkner announces his brand new single “Over And Out” set to be released on November 29, 2009.

Watch Over and Out video:

Although he has only just embarked on his current sold out tour, he has also announced a new must-see 14-date UK tour, starting in Galway on 27th February 2010 and finishing at London’s Hammersmith Apollo on 17th March 2010. Tickets went on sale Friday 9th October.

‘Rebuilt By Humans’ is the follow-up to his debut album, the Number 1, million-selling ‘Hand Built By Robots’ – which spent over 10 months inside the Top 40 Album Chart, and became one of the Top 20 Biggest Selling UK digital albums of all time, producing massive hit singles like “Dream Catch Me”, which spent an outstanding 43 Weeks in the Top 100.

There’s a good reason why the Brit-nominated the acoustic-guitar virtuoso Newton Faulkner’s second album is called ‘Rebuilt By Humans’. At the start of this year, the singer-songwriter broke his wrist in France and dislocated his entire right hand. Faulkner nearly lost the movement in his hand and after a series of painful procedures by French medics and a career saving operation at home in the UK, Newton was successfully rebuilt by humans and within days was back doing what he loves most, playing his guitar as taught by the legendary Eric Roche.

Newton says, “I wanted to avoid the classic second album thing of complaining about how great things have gone and all the hard work. I had brilliant fun making this album, and hopefully it sounds that way”.

Thanks to the fans and to the doctors, Newton Faulkner is back on the live circuit and can’t be missed.

Buy Music:

Newton Faulkner on amazon.co.uk

Newton Faulkner on amazon.com

Newton Faulkner 2010 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

February 2010

27th Galway, Radisson Hotel
28th Belfast, Ulster Hall

March 2010

1st Dublin, Olympia
3rd Edinburgh, Picture House
4th Leeds, Academy
5th Bristol, Colston Hall
7th Sheffield, City Hall
8th Cardiff, St David’s Hall
9th Plymouth, Pavilion
11th Bournemouth, Opera House
12th Birmingham, Symphony Hall
14th Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
15th Manchester, Apollo
17th London, Hammersmith Apollo

Tickets are priced £17.50, except Galway and Belfast £22, Dublin 22 euros, Cardiff and Birmingham, £17.50 /£18.50 / £19.50 and London £18.50

For the latest tour dates and information, go to:

Newton Faulkner Myspace
Newton Faulkner Official Website

The Wildhearts announce special Christmas shows + special birthday show for Ginger!

After the resounding success of latest album ‘Chutzpah!’, The Wildhearts are back on the road this winter. Having sold out shows across the country, including a night at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, the band are back to give The Wildhearts faithful what they want – more insane live shows!

With a host of UK and Scandinavian dates booked, the tour also takes in a special show for lead singer Ginger’s birthday on 17th December, 2009 dubbed ‘Ginger & Friends’. Tickets here.

Ginger said, “I can’t wait to tread the boards with the guys again. The last tour showed us what we’re capable of, and now I’m in the gym getting in proper shape to see exactly what we can achieve. This is just the start, just watch us go.”

The Wildhearts December 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

2 December – Göta Källare Stockholm
3 December – Sticky Fingers Gothenburg
5 December – The Rock Copenhagen
9 December – Klubi, Tampere
10 December – Nosturi Club Helsinki
12 December – Kellari, Joensuu
17 December – Relentless Garage, London (Ginger’s birthday)
21 December – Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
22 December – O2 Academy Islington, London

The Wildhearts on MySpace
The Wildhearts Official Website

Transfer is poised to release their full-length album aptly titled, Future Selves.

Earlier this year, the band secluded themselves in their studio for a month to write the record. Tucked away in the canyons in North San Diego among the influence of coyote howls and cricket bows, they created a collection of songs with poignant and chilling lyrics and sounds broad enough in range to deem undeniable.

FREE Download: “Losing Composure” MP3

While exhibiting all the grandeur of British rock, yet rooted in the gritty allure of the American west, Transfer beseeches personal discovery. You can either experience Transfer by being fully immersed within a good pair of headphones, or, preferably, get caught up in the intensity of their unusually captivating and dynamic live performance.

With the impending release of their digital-only second full-length release, Future Selves, Transfer stands poised to win over unsuspecting listeners and to elicit praise for its remarkably savvy take on the art of rock music.

That rare act that successfully merges evocative songwriting with pristine musicianship, the ambitiously detailed aesthetics of Transfer’s studio recordings frequently draw comparison to My Morning Jacket, while the personally resonating lyrical content often invokes the specter of Jeff Buckley.

However, this is not a group content to feel either bolstered or confined by its influences, and with each new release Transfer’s sound has grown more expansive, balancing soulful instincts with wildly charismatic rock as you can hear listening to their first single “Losing Composure”.

Engineered and mixed by bassist, Shaun Cornell with help from Mark Needham (The Killers), this record proves to be Transfer’s most ambitious work that has the potential to get under peoples skins.

Read the exclusive Transfer interview on BandWeblogs.com!

Transfer November 2009 tour dates (more dates to be announced shortly):

(Dates and information subject to change.)

11/6 San Diego, CA @ Beauty Bar
11/7 San Diego, CA @ Beauty Bar
11/9 Los Angeles, CA @ Viper Room
11/13 Seattle, WA @ High Drive Seattle
11/14 Bellingham, WA @ The Rogue Hero
11/19 Sacramento, CA @ Old Ironsides
11/20 Chico, CA @ Lasalles
11/21 San Francisco, CA @ El Rio

Transfer on MySpace
Facebook
Transfer Official Website

The album follows the phenomenal success of POM’s third release, 2007’s Famous. Famous proved the band’s consistency to deliver to not only their fans, but on all business platforms.

Buy Music:

Puddle of Mudd on amazon.com

One single off of Famous, “Psycho,” earned Billboard Magazine’s highest honors – #1 Mainstream Rock Song of the Year, #4 Hot Modern Rock Song of the Year, as well as Mainstream Rock #2 Artist of 2008. Radio and Records posted “Psycho” as the #1 Rock Song of 2008, #2 Active Rock Song of the Year, and POM earned their Number 3 status for Rock Artist of the Year.

Recording Volume 4 in Vancouver and Los Angeles, Puddle Of Mudd (POM) smartly re-enlisted the talents of Brian Howes, who produced the aforementioned Famous and John Kurzweg, who produced 2001’s album, Come Clean.

“Even though we hate messing with success, we felt adding newcomer Brain Virtue to the producer mix would be a welcome change,” said frontman Wes Scantlin. “What we got is 10 tracks of exactly what we were looking for,” adds Scantlin.

In addition to singer/guitarist Wes Scantlin, bassist Douglas Ardito, drummer Ryan Yerdon and the return of guitarist Paul Phillips on guitars round out the POM line-up.

The band’s 2001 debut album Come Clean generated four #1 alternative and rock radio hit singles (”Blurry,” “She Hates Me,” “Control” and “Drift And Die”), with “Blurry” becoming the most played track on Modern Rock Radio for 2002 and scooping the ASCAP award for most played song of the year. 2003 saw the release of their follow up Life On Display, which featured the top 5 radio hit “Away From Me” and the top 10 hit “Heel Over Head.”

The first single from Volume 4, “Spaceship,” will be available to fans October 27th on Amazon.com and iTunes.

For the video, the band hired Petro Papahadjopoulos to create the visual component that will include guest appearances by Nitro Circus, action sport legends – Travis Pastrana, Jolene Van Vugt, Jim DeChamp, Andy Bell, Erik Roner, “Streetbike” Tommy Passemante, Jeremy Rawle, Gregg Godfrey, and Hubert Rowland.

“It’s easy and predictable to say I’m most proud of this record,” says Scantlin, adding “but I think it’s more appropriate to say I’m most proud of what we’ve accomplished as a band to this point.”

The music business has gotten nothing but more difficult over the years, since the band’s debut. But an unfazed Scantlin is quick to credit not only their ability to write ear-friendly songs, but to credit the fans that react to them.

Says Wes, “We’ve not only navigated the minefield successfully, but we’ve laid our own on the battlefield that is this business. As self-sufficient as ever, we virtually depend on the fans to come through for us – and because of that, this band is built for the future.”

October/November/December 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

10-26 Columbia, MO The Blue Note
10-28 Missoula, MT Wilma Theater
10-30 Edmonton, AB CA Shaw Conference Center
11-01 Billings, MT Shrine Auditorium
11-03 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
11-04 Seattle, WA El Corazon
12-04 Estero, FL Germain Arena

Buy Music:

Puddle of Mudd on amazon.com

For the latest information on Puddle of Mudd including music, news and tour dates visit:

Puddle of Mudd Official Website

November, December 2009 UK tour dates

“Watch The Sun Come Up” video + remix on BandWeblogs.com

Following a series of his own live dates, Example has met his match and is about to join the UK’s mouthiest and biggest female superstar Lily Allen as the headline support on her UK tour.

The 17-date UK tour kicks off in Sheffield on 16th November, 2009 and runs through to 17th December at London’s Brixton Academy.

Example burst onto the scene earlier this year with the release of the demonic club track “Hooligans” and went onto to dominate the summer with the smash hit “Watch The Sun Come Up” leading The Guardian to label him ‘a brilliant pop tinged superstar in the making’.

Live, Example’s energy is limitless and his show is a no holds barred performance – his raps are razor sharp and his newfound love of all things pop comes through with killer choruses in tracks like the single “Watch The Sun Come Up” and the Calvin Harris produced “Time Machine”.

Fans will also be treated to a sneak preview of new single “Won’t Go Quietly” and hear some Example classics like “Me & Mandy” and “Dirty Face” as well as the most recently released and totally deviant “Hooligans” which earned Example the tag of ‘dysfunctional electro pop sensation’ by the NME.

Zane Lowe, Nick Grimshaw, Annie Mac, Judge Jules, Jo Whiley, Chris Moyles, Sara Cox and Pete Tong at Radio 1 all sing his praises, and Pete invited Example out to Ibiza this summer to perform on his live show with other specially invited guests Florence and the Machine and Pendulum. Zane also asked him to do a live PA during his show at Eden.

Buy Music:

Example on amazon.co.uk

“Watch The Sun Come Up” video:

“Watch The Sun Come Up” (Devil’s Gun Zeitgeist Remix) alternative video:

Lily Allen headline support – 2009 UK tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

NOVEMBER 2009

MON 16 SHEFFIELD ACADEMY
TUE 17 MANCHESTER APOLLO
WED 18 MANCHESTER APOLLO
FRI 20 BOURNEMOUTH BIC
SAT 21 PLYMOUTH PAVILION
SUN 22 SWINDON OASIS
TUE 24 BIRMINGHAM NIA
WED 25 GLASGOW SECC
FRI 27 LONDON BRIXTON ACADEMY
SAT 28 LONDON BRIXTON ACADEMY

DECEMBER 2009

TUE 08 DUBLIN 02
WED 09 LIVERPOOL ARENA
THU10 NOTTINGHAM ARENA
FRI 11 CARDIFF ARENA
SUN 13 BRIGHTON CENTRE
TUE 15 LONDON BRIXTON ACADEMY
THU17 LONDON BRIXTON ACADEMY

The new single “Won’t Go Quietly” will be released on 11th January 2010, followed by the eponymous album in April.

To get to know Example better go to:

Example MySpace

Example Official Website

The Temper Trap are thrilled to announce details of their live plans for the New Year across the UK.

The band have spent the past ten weeks creeping up on the nation’s psyche with the captivating single “Sweet Disposition” – from their stunning debut album ‘Conditions’, released in August.

“Sweet Disposition” spent its early life in the lower reaches of the Top 40 before scaling the heady heights of the Top 10 in mid-October, going on to become one of the year’s success stories with over 150,000 sold and (still) counting…

Following their recent sell out show at London’s Heaven, the upcoming sold out Christmas show at London’s Koko on 21st December and news of the first Shepherd’s Bush show selling out in double quick time; The Temper Trap have now confirmed their biggest UK shows to date including an extra show at 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire as follows.

Watch “Sweet Disposition” video:

The Temper Trap April / May 2010 UK tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

April 2010

27th Bournemouth O2 Academy 08444772000
28th London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire SOLD OUT
29th London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire 08444772000

May 2010

1st Cardiff University 02920781458
3rd Nottingham Rock City 08713100000
4th Birmingham O2 Academy 08444772000
5th Norwich UEA 01603660352
7th Liverpool O2 Academy 08444772000
9th Manchester O2 Academy 01618321111
10th Newcastle O2 Academy 08444772000
11th Leeds O2 Academy 08444772000
13th Glasgow ABC 08444999990
14th Edinburgh HMV Picture House 08444999990

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 30th October 2009 through all usual outlets / box offices priced at £13.50 outside London and £15.00 in London (subject to booking fees).

www.livenation.co.uk www.ticketweb.co.uk
www.gigsandtours.com www.alt-tickets.co.uk

Buy Music:

The Temper Trap on amazon.co.uk

The Temper Trap on amazon.com

For the latest music and information, go to:

The Temper Trap Official Website

The Saw Doctors Acoustic Performance and Signing
Borders
120 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0JR
On Tuesday 27th October, 2009 @ 6.30pm

Ireland’s best loved rock band celebrates the release of their new album To Win Just Once: The Best of the Saw Doctors with an intimate acoustic appearance and signing.

Fans and media are invited to a unique London appearance from The Saw Doctors, who will be playing four acoustic songs and meeting fans to promote the release of their new album To Win Just Once: The Best of THE SAW DOCTORS, out on Universal Music / UMTV.

The album, which contains the band’s very best and most-loved songs including “Hay Wrap”, “N17″, the recent Irish No.1 cover of the Sugababes song “About You Now”, and their latest single “She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not”, is the first element of a very busy Christmas for the Saw Doctors, who will be touring the UK and Ireland in November and December.

Buy Music:

The Saw Doctors on amazon.co.uk

The hard working Saw Doctors will be making a further 3 appearances to meet fans and sign albums across the UK in October as follows:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

October 2009

Wednesday 28th October Leeds
Signing Only 6.30pm
Borders Briggate / 94-96 Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NP

Thursday 29th October Manchester
Signing Only 6.30pm
WH Smiths, Trafford Centre, 34 Peel Avenue, Mancs M17 8BA

Friday 30th October Glasgow
Signing Only 5pm
WH Smiths, 53/55 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8AH

Watch “She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not” video ft the Irish female volley ball team:

The Saw Doctors UK and Ireland November / December 2009 tour dates

(Dates and information subject to change.)

November 2009

Fri Nov 20 Belfast Spring & Airbrake
Sat Nov21 Belfast Spring & Airbrake
Fri Nov 27 Newcastle Tyne Theatre
Sat Nov 28 Glasgow Barrowland
Sun Nov 29 Wolverhampton Wulfrun

December 2009

Tues Dec 1 Lincoln Engine Shed
Wed Dec 2 Coventry Warwick Arts Centre
Fri Dec 4 Liverpool Philharmonic
Sat Dec 5 London 02 Shepherds Bush Empire
Mon Dec 7 Falmouth Princess Pavilion
Tues Dec 8 Bristol 02 Academy
Wed Dec 9 Cardiff Sub 29
Fri Dec 11 Manchester Apollo
Sat Dec 12 Leeds Academy
Sun Dec 13 Norwich UEA
Tues Dec 15 Oxford 02 Academy
Wed Dec 16 Sheffield The Plug
Fri Dec 18 London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

ABOUT THE SAW DOCTORS

The band’s remarkable resurgence over the past year has brought them to a whole new audience who will welcome this opportunity to soak up the songs that have delighted Saw Doctors fans since 1990, when they scored their first No1 with I Useta Lover.

Formed in 1986, The Saw Doctors were helped along the road to fame and fortune when they were taken under the wing of Mike Scott of The Waterboys who saw them during their six-week residency at the Quays Bar, Galway. Scott took them on tour with The Waterboys and produced their rousing, singalong debut single, N17, which does for the West Of Ireland what Route 66 did for America.

Despite their abiding love of Ireland, The Saw Doctors’ refuse to see their native land through rose-tinted glasses and have never shied away from controversy. They parodied catholic confession in Bless Me Father, took a hilarious swipe at a disgraced former Bishop of Galway in Howya Julia, and appeared live on TV at the 1991 IRMA Awards with singer Davy Carton dressed as a priest and the rest of the band dressed as altar boys.

Perhaps the best-publicised departure from the fold came in 1993, when keyboardist Tony Lambert jumped ship after winning approximately one million euros when he hit the jackpot in the Irish Lottery. It’s interesting to reflect that he quit the band after winning just once. Had he remained, he’d have won twice, when the band hit No1 again last year with their rousing cover of The Sugababes “About You Now”.

Current Line-up

Davy Carton: Vocals, Guitar
Leo Moran: Guitars, Vocals
Anthony Thistlethwaite: Bass Guitar, Saxophone
Kevin Duffy: Keyboards, Vocals
Eimhin Cradock: Drums, Vocals

Buy Music:

The Saw Doctors on amazon.co.uk

For the latest tour dates, music and more, go to:

The Saw Doctors on Facebook
MySpace
The Saw Doctors Official Website

Watch “Finders Keepers” video

You Me At Six Alternative Press Fall Ball tour dates (below)

It takes a special kind of band to be able to write instantaneously catchy, hook-driven pop-rock songs whose appeal cuts across generations, continents and gender.

In the recent past, US-based bands like Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco made it look easy, and now, a new generation of young bands has emerged to take up the cause.

FREE Download: Save It For The Bedroom MP3

Leading the way is the undeniably impressive You Me At Six, whose bittersweet, sugar-coated hooks and hard-rocking riffs have fans jumping, sweating and singing to every word from shore to shore.

Watch “Finders Keepers” video:

You Me At Six began as most bands do: friends coming together and playing music to pass the time.

United by their love of bands such as Fall Out Boy and Blink-182, the South East England based quintet started out practicing in their garages and playing shows for friends.

Buy Music:

You Me At Six on amazon.com

You Me At Six on amazon.co.uk

Slowly building a fan base across the UK, thanks in part to MySpace, You Me At Six began touring the country, letting their fan base grow organically.

By the summer of 2007, with over a million plays on their MySpace page, the band played a support slot to a sold out crowd at London’s Underworld club and it was clear this band was a cut above.

Kerrang! Magazine ran an ‘Introducing’ feature on the band soon after, marking the beginning of what promises to be a very long career for Josh Franceschi (singer), Max Helyer (guitar, backing vocals), Chris Miller (guitar), Matt Barnes (bass) and Dan Flint (drums).

After touring in support of bands like New Found Glory, Angels & Airwaves and Fall Out Boy among others, You Me At Six recorded and released their debut album, Take Off Your Colours, for UK based label Slam Dunk Records in late 2008, which debuted at number 25 on the UK charts.

The band’s wave of success soon reached US shores, where they caught the attention of Epitaph Record’s owner and founder Brett Gurewitz.

The band signed to the label at the beginning of 2009 and Epitaph re-released Take Off Your Colours in the US with additional songs that July.

Virtually a household name in Britain, it’s no surprise that You Me At Six already have an established army of fans in the US awaiting their arrival. The band’s revival of fun-loving, care-free spirited pop-rock is infectious and spreads with each lyric on Take Off Your Colours.

Listeners fall fast for the band’s teen-relevant lyrics of heartache, bad breakups, jealousy and the frustrations of love and the non-stop rockfest of single-worthy sing-alongs like “Gossip,” “Save It For The Bedroom,” “Take Off Your Colours” and “Finders Keepers” (available exclusively on the re-release).

Take Off Your Colours proves without a doubt the band has the ability to craft some of the catchiest pop-rock anthems that this new generation of rock bands has to offer.

The re-release of Take Off Your Colours is only the beginning for You Me At Six. Following a slew of European festival dates including Rock Am Ring and Download Festival, the band played the last three weeks of the Vans Warped Tour in August.

Latest 2009 tour news:

From the band’s MySpace blog:

Due to frontman Josh Franceschi coming down with bronchitis, You Me At Six are sad to announce they will be temporarily dropping off of the AP Fall Ball Tour. The affected dates include October 16 in San Diego, October 17 in Tucson and October 18 in Phoenix. The band will rejoin the tour on October 20 in San Antonio, subject to doctor’s ok.

You Me At Six 2009/2010 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change. Go to You Me At Six Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.)

20 Oct 2009 Alternative Press Fall Tour – White Rabbit San Antonio, Texas
21 Oct 2009 AP Fall Tour – The Door Dallas, Texas
22 Oct 2009 AP Fall Tour – Warehouse Houston, Texas
24 Oct 2009 AP Fall Tour – Culture Room Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
25 Oct 2009 AP Fall Tour – Freebird Jacksonville, Florida
27 Oct 2009 AP Fall Tour – House of Blues Orlando, Florida
28 Oct 2009 AP Fall Tour – Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
29 Oct 2009 AP Fall Tour – Rocketown Nashville, Tennessee
30 Oct 2009 AP Fall Tour – Amos Charlotte, North Carolina
31 Oct 2009 AP Fall Tour – The Norva Norfolk, Virginia

1 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – 9:30 Club Washington, Washington DC
3 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Northern Lights Albany, New York
5 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – House of Blues Boston, Massachusetts
6 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Toad’s Place New Haven, Connecticut
7 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Starland Ballroom Sayreville, New Jersey
8 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Crazy Donkey Long Island, New York
10 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Crocodile Rock Allentown
11 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Irving Plaza New York, New York
12 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Town Ballroom Buffalo, New York
13 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Guvernment Toronto, Ontario
14 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – House of Blues Cleveland, Ohio
15 Nov 2009 AP Fall Tour – Altar Bar *rescheduled date* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
29 Nov 2009 Jaahalli w/ Paramore Helsinki, Finland
30 Nov 2009 Arenan w/ Paramore Stockholm, Sweden

1 Dec 2009 *Venue upgraded* – KB Hallen – w/Paramore Copenhagen, Denmark
3 Dec 2009 *Venue upgraded* – Docks – w/ Paramore Hamburg, Germany
4 Dec 2009 *Venue upgraded* – Huxleys – w/Paramore Berlin, Germany
6 Dec 2009 *Venue upgraded* – Palladium w/Paramore Cologne, Germany
7 Dec 2009 Casino De Paris w/Paramore Paris, France
8 Dec 2009 013 w/Paramore Tilburg, Netherlands
10 Dec 2009 SOLD OUT: SECC Arena w/Paramore Glasgow
11 Dec 2009 NIA Arena w/Paramore Birmingham
12 Dec 2009 02 Point – w/Paramore Dublin
14 Dec 2009 SOLD OUT: CIA Arena w/Paramore Cardiff
16 Dec 2009 SOLD OUT: MEN Arena w/Paramore Manchester
17 Dec 2009 SOLD OUT: Brighton Centre w/Paramore Brighton
18 Dec 2009 SOLD OUT: Wembley Arena w/Paramore London

20 Feb 2010 Soundwave 2010 Brisbane
21 Feb 2010 Soundwave 2010 Syndey
26 Feb 2010 Soundwave 2010 Melbourne
27 Feb 2010 Soundwave 2010 Adelaide
1 Mar 2010 Soundwave 2010 Perth

Buy Music:

You Me At Six on amazon.com

You Me At Six on amazon.co.uk

You Me At Six MySpace
You Me At Six Official Website

After an eventful summer full of festivals, recording and heat avoidance, Newcastle quadrilateral Little Comets are set to release their first single on Columbia Records, “Adultery” on 26 October.

Signed in early 2009, the band released tiny debut ‘One Night In October’ in February, en-gen-de-ring support from the likes of Huw Stephens, Zane Lowe and Sara Cox. Following a nationwide tour in April and a quick-snap performance at the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend, Robert (vocals), Micky (guitar), Mark (drums) and Matt (bass) trouped off to France to finish recording an actual album.

Watch “Adultery” video:

Creating songs to counter-act the chill factor of their sandblasted, opaque north-eastern rehearsal facilities, their music has a genuine, refreshing degree of energy currently lacking in the British indie scene. But to contrast the band’s warm grooves, Robert’s lyrics represent the more broken parts of life, exploding scenes from kitchen sinks and other testing relationship dramas.

“Adultery” exemplifies such a juxtaposition, as a winding tale of “subtext and lies” and “sullied back doors” interjects with a rhythmic and melodic optimism mining the same rich seam as acts like Vampire Weekend, Modest Mouse and Black Kids.

Blended with surges of Morricone from all manner of sources (kettles, sofas and peculiar percussion), the self-produced single is neatly tempered by the mixing skills of Rich Costey (Glasvegas / MGMT). The track has already had early radio support from Zane Lowe, Jo Whiley and Fearne Cotton at Radio 1 and Jonathan Ross at Radio 2, and is receiving heavy rotation on MTV2 and NME TV.

Eschewing traditional avenues of playing to an audience, Little Comets have instead preferred the more intimate and spontaneous mixture of bingo halls, lecture theatres, tiny-implausible-venues and trams that themselves and their growing legion of fans frequent.

They will be taking this leaf-defeating live set around the UK and Ireland this early-Autumn as friendly guests of The Twang and Noisettes…wow.

“fun-loving, melody-tastic guitar monkeys.” – Huw Stephens

Little Comets October 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

With The Twang:

15 October LONDON Koko
16 October BRIGHTON Concorde 2
17 October NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
18 October MANCHESTER Ritz

With Noisettes:

19 October LEEDS Uni
20 October MANCHESTER Ritz
22 October OXFORD Academy
23 October BIRMINGHAM Academy
24 October SOUTHAMPTON Uni
26 October LONDON Shepherds Bush Empire
28 October NEWCASTLE Academy 2

Little Comets MySpace
Little Comets Official Website

Hellbillies rejoice, the Master of monster mayhem, Rob Zombie, is returning with exactly what you’ve been waiting for, HELLBILLY DELUXE 2!

The follow up to the 1998 triple platinum smash Hellbilly Deluxe will be the latest masterpiece from Zombie which is set to hit stores November 17, 2009.

The album, produced by Rob Zombie himself, features the first single “WHAT?” which has just been made available for fans to check out.

In support of the new album Zombie will blast off on tour in Phoenix, AZ on October 29th, Las Vegas, NV on the 30th, and a very special Halloween event on the 31st in Hollywood, CA hosted by Uncle Seymour Coffins also seen recently in HALLOWEEN 2.

Rob Zombie will be accompanied by his longtime band mates – guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D, and drummer Tommy Clufetos. This is the first headline tour since 2007 and will have other ghoulish delights in tow including openers Nekromantix and Captain Clegg & the Night Creatures last seen rocking Haddonfield and Michael Myers in Zombie’s new film HALLOWEEN 2.

The tour will usher in Zombie’s forthcoming album Hellbilly Deluxe 2 – Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls and the Systematic Dehumanization of Cool (Geffen), a companion to 1998 original.

Selling over fifteen million albums worldwide, Zombie is one of Geffen Record’s top selling and the longest running artists on the label. He has written and directed five feature length films, directed dozens of high profile music videos, contributed recordings to multiple soundtracks, and authored several comic books.

HALLOWEEN 2 (2009) took hold of the box office recently, following-up his record breaking blockbuster re-imagining of HALLOWEEN in 2007.

In 2005, Zombie assaulted the film world with the critically-acclaimed THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (Lionsgate), the follow-up to his already cult classic HOUSE OF 1,000 CORPSES (Lionsgate 2004).

TRACK LISTING:

1. Jesus Frankenstein
2. Sick Bubblegum
3. What?
4. Mars Needs Women
5. Werewolf, Baby!
6. Virgin Witch
7. Death and Destiny Inside The Dream Factory
8. Burn
9. Cease to Exist
10. Werewolf Women of the SS
11. The Man Who Laughs

Rob Zombie October/November/December 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

Oct 29 Dodge Theater – Phoenix, Arizona
Oct 30 The Pearl – Palms Concert Theater – Las Vegas, Nevada
Oct 31 Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, California
Nov 1 The Grove – Anaheim, California
Nov 3 San Jose Events Center – San Jose, California
Nov 5 The Great Salt Air – Magna, Utah
Nov 6 The Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, Colorado
Nov 8 The Brady Theater – Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nov 10 Austin Music Hall – Austin, Texas
Nov 11 Verizon Wireless Theater – Houston, Texas
Nov 13 Palladium Ballroom – Dallas, Texas
Nov 14 Uptown Theatre – Kansas City, Missouri
Nov 15 The Pageant – St. Louis, Missouri
Nov 16 Murat Theater – Indianapolis, Indiana
Nov 17 Akron Civic Center – Akron, Ohio
Nov 19 Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nov 20 Roy Wilkins Auditorium – St. Paul, Minnesota
Nov 21 Val Air Ballroom – Des Moines, Iowa
Nov 22 Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, Illinois
Nov 24 Broadbent Arena – Louisville, Kentucky
Nov 25 The LC Pavilion – Columbus, Ohio
Nov 27 The Fillmore Detroit – Detroit, Michigan
Nov 28 The Sound Academy – Toronto, Ontario
Nov 29 Metropolis – Montreal, Quebec
Dec 1 Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, New York
Dec 2 House Of Blues – Boston, Massachusetts
Dec 3 Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, Connecticut
Dec 4 Electric Factory – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dec 5 9:30 Club – WASHINGTON, Washington DC

Buy Music:

Rob Zombie on amazon.com

Rob Zombie on amazon.co.uk

“What?” audio link at imeem

For more information go to:

Rob Zombie MySpace
Rob Zombie Official Website

White Rhino Completes Debut Album to Kick Off West Coast Tour.

2009 is the year of the White Rhino.

White Rhino’s eponymous debut album, which was recorded at Stinson Studios in Austin, Texas, features 38 minutes of gritty vocals ploughing through psyched out guitar riffs and pummeling drums.

The album is a fusion of epic rock sounds, melding together the driving growl of Motorhead, the unique psychedelia of Boris and the brash cockiness of Queens of the Stone Age. Its subject matter takes on a socio-political fury, with references ranging from the Symbionese Liberation Army and French Labor Strikes of 1968 to such current cultural clashes as the recent rioting in Greece.

Lead singer Michael Anthony Gibson says when asked about the content, “Our goal with this album was to capture the intensity of a full blown riot.” The result is an ambush of rock, often spiraling into sections of cathartic heavy distortion. It’s a sound that the blog 979 Represent describes as “salt-of-the-earth working man hard rock”.

The album is completely self-produced from pre- to post-production. By footing the bill for studio time, mixing (for which Gibson is credited), and mastering, the band boasts complete control over the quality of their music. Even the album case was silk screened by hand and features the band’s intrepid logo.

Gibson adds, “It was a grueling process at times, staying up late into the night mixing the album, but we’re proud of it and we’ve been getting nothing but positive responses. It’s something we can really call our own.”

The arrival of the album comes just in time for a west coast tour that includes New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.

Following in White Rhino’s rebellious DIY aesthetic, the band has opted out of hiring a tour manager or agent and, instead, worked through the logistics of booking and promotion on their own.

Fans can look forward to the same powerhouse performances that White Rhino has become recognized for. Gibson commands the stage, often jumping into the crowd with guitar in hand; bass player Andy Anderson climbs over speakers while drummer Wes Cargal is a blur of drumsticks and hair. The tour is scheduled to kick off on October 16, 2009 at the Mohawk in Austin.

For tour dates, music and more information, go to:

White Rhino MySpace