OneRepublic’s highly anticipated new album Waking Up hits stores Tuesday, November 17th, but fans can hear the tracks early by visiting the band’s MySpace.

Waking Up includes the single “All the Right Moves,” as well as the tracks “Secrets” and “Good Life”.

In celebration of the release, OneRepublic will perform a live, online concert on Monday November 16th, at 5pm PST / 8pm EST.

The concert will take place at the Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, and will be powered by Ustream.

Fans will then be able to chat with the band via Ustream’s Social Stream that integrates Twitter, Facebook, AIM, and MySpace.

Buy Music:

OneRepublic on amazon.com

OneRepublic on amazon.co.uk

Visit Ustream.tv for details and to watch OneRepublic on Monday.

OneRepublic MySpace

OneRepublic Ustream Link

Twitter

OneRepublic Official Website

John Mayer, who has sold over 13 million albums worldwide is building up for the release of his eagerly anticipated fourth studio album out November 23, 2009.

Produced by John with Steve Jordan the LP also features Pino Palladino and Ian McLagan.

From what we’ve heard, this is definitely the record that will catapult John to massive UK success.

John Mayer is currently the second-most-followed artist on Twitter with more than 1.5 million tweeters following his humorous and entertaining tweets.

Buy Music:

John Mayer on amazon.com

John Mayer on amazon.co.uk

For music and more, go to:

MySpace
John Mayer Official Website
John Mayer on Twitter

This stripped down set will be broadcast LIVE on Ustream to allow fans to be a part of the audience of this intimate gathering.

Additionally, fans will be able to participate and make song requests by using Ustream’s chat tool as well as Twitter updates. This event marks the first time that Twitter and Ustream have been utilized for a live concert broadcast. With over 780,000 Twitter followers and very highly regarded live performances, this is a perfect fit for Matisyahu and fans alike.

Catch the live performance at 5pm PST on September 3, 2009 at Ustream.tv/matisyahu and Facebook.com/matisyahu

In the last few months Matisyahu has invited fans via Twitter to follow him on the road and participate in exclusive listening sessions at WheresMatis.at and is currently inspiring people to strive for change through his “One Day for Change” initiative where participants can tweet and upload videos expressing “ideas for change.”

Matisyahu’s new album ‘Light’ is in stores now.

Buy Music:

Matisyahu on amazon.com

Matisyahu on amazon.co.uk

Matisyahu on Ustream.tv
Facebook

Twitter Official Website

Matisyahu Official Website
MySpace
Matisyahu on Twitter

If you’ve been following ‘Jamgate’ and Jam TV with Calvin Harris, you’ll know that he had a 20 tweet rant about a TV feature that he was asked to film where he was supposed to open a jar of Jam (that had been glued shut) by comedienne Holly Walsh.

He didn’t like the feature and started his JamTV channel on Youtube. That feature was filmed for PocketTV, something he didn’t know until now.

All the other artists asked to take part took it in good humour and the footage will be included in this week’s Pocket TV show on Thursday.

Pocket TV decided to release a little teaser, the original footage of Calvin getting stroppy:

Also, www.twitter.com/pockettvshow are still giving away a Sony Ericsson W995 when they reach 1000 followers!

Follow PocketTV on Twitter

PocketTV on YouTube

Last week, The Raveonettes announced their intention to throw back the curtain and allow fans access to the recording of their still-in-progress fourth album, due this Fall via Vice Records.

After unveiling a succession of studio demos, the band announced via Twitter on Friday a duo of live chats emanating from Denmark, where Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo are hard at work on LP4.

Powered by Ustream.tv, the live video chats will take place on Tuesday and Thursday (June 18th) of this week at 3pm EST – on Tuesday with Sharin, and on Thursday with Sune.

The new album, and the handful of demos released last week – “Last Dance,” “Boys Who Rape,” and “In & Out Of Control” – will serve as a starting point for discussion.

Both chats will take place at the band’s recently launched microsite, designed to house album demos, studio photos, live chats and more album goodies to be announced soon.

Go Here To Sign Up For Access To Live Chats

Buy Music:

The Raveonettes on amazon.com

The Raveonettes on amazon.co.uk

For More Information:

The Raveonettes on Twitter
MySpace
Vice Records

I’ve been a fan of social networks for awhile now, and over the years have tried a few. Some stuck, some didn’t. Twitter seems to be one that’s sticking. So far so good. I like Twitter. I like it a lot.

By using Twitter as a networking tool, I’ve been meeting some interesting people. Mostly music related because that’s my main interest, but there are also some people that I’m following just because they seem interesting. There are also some tech related twitterers that I follow because I like to keep up-to-date with the online tech industry.

Before I found Twitter, about a year ago, I knew that I wanted something like it. Because I’ve been spending more time lately publishing press releases and other people’s music reviews, my blogging has been lacking. Which is disappointing really, because I do enjoy it. The good thing, though, is that Twitter has allowed me to keep up with blogging – just on a different platform, and with shorter entries. Much shorter. 140 characters per tweet.

So Twitter has helped me to get back on the blogging saddle as well as meeting some cool people. Its become a great place for community. Special almost.

Through Twitter, I was asked by Oxford City Guide (@OxfordCityGuide) to review Swedish band Baskery at The Jericho Tavern in Oxford. It ended up being a great night out and I really enjoyed their music.

In the review, which included a short write-up of local Oxford band InLight, I noted that it would be great to see InLight play as a full band, as that night they were there as just a 2-piece. Well. Lead singer Charlie happened to see this, got in touch with me, and then invited me to see the full band play, which I did, and that then lead to an interview with Charlie for Band Weblogs. That’s just two bands as examples, that I’ve been turned on to because of Twitter.

My latest Twitter story is not affiliated with music – but baseball. I’m following someone (@GallagherMeow) who tweeted that he made a list of his ten favorite Red Sox players of all time. After following the link back to his blog, I noticed, in my opinion, a couple players were missing, so I replied to him on Twitter asking “Where’s Jim Rice and Fred Lynn?” because they happen to be my favorite Red Sox players of all time. He didn’t reply back, but that’s okay…he pretty much answered that question by writing up his own personal top 10.

The next day I opened up my email and saw that: “Jim Rice (Ask14) is now following your updates on Twitter”. I just sat there for a minute and had to digest the information. I re-read the sentence and clicked on the link. I was pretty excited.

I added a message on Twitter – “I can’t believe it. Is that the REAL Jim Rice following ME??? @Ask14″ hoping that I might get an answer.

Sure enough, a couple hours later I received a tweet from the real Jim Rice, “Yes. How are you?”. I was walking on air for awhile after that. Growing up in NH/VT area, when I was very young, Jim Rice was like a hero, along with Fred Lynn. Probably because my dad and my brother really liked them.

So, my “inner child” certainly came out the day Jim Rice unexpectedly got in touch and asked me how I was. Warm fuzzy childhood memories came rushing back, and the feeling of what me as a little girl might have felt like if I had met Jim Rice then.

The meeting wasn’t in person, and some might think Twitter is just a silly site they can’t figure out, but it’s because of Twitter that these wonderful experiences have happened.

Jim Rice – Ask 14 Official Blog

Jim Rice on Twitter

Follow me on Twitter!

Jenny May on Twitter

By: Jenny May – BandWeblogs.com

Ben Walker, best known around the internet for his “The Twitter Song” is getting ready for the innovative Ben’s Big Gig event, taking place in Oxford, England on May 1, 2009.

I first ‘met’ Ben on social networking site Twitter, and after reading a few of his ‘tweets’ and learning about Ben’s Big Gig, I was curious to find out more about the humorous singer/songwriter based in Oxford.

Watch The Twitter Song – “You’re No One If You’re Not On Twitter” video:

Ben Walker exclusive interview with Jenny May:

Jenny May: How and when did you discover Twitter?

Ben Walker: I first tweeted at 6:07 PM Apr 18th, 2007 and apparently I was “up too late”. It took a while to get into, to find the good people. I got a real boost when I met a whole room full of interesting Twitter people at the Tuttle Club in London in early 2008. They still meet every
Friday morning at the ICA, and I go along whenever I can.

Which social network are you currently using the most and why are you using that particular one the most?

Twitter, for sure. Because that’s where all my people are. I talk to people I know on Twitter every day (and plenty I don’t). For video updates, I’m really into 12seconds.tv. I guess there’s something about having to create something short and succinct that appeals to me.

Are there people that you’ve met in person after first meeting on Twitter? If so, can you give one or two examples of how that happened?

Absolutely. When I first went to Tuttle I met a guy called Steve Lawson (@solobasssteve), who is a bass legend and social media enthusiast. He introduced me to dozens of people on Twitter (musicians, techies or both) whom I later met at events like Amplified09 and Twestival. For me Twitter is about finding and engaging with like-minded people, so they are often the people you are likely to meet in real life too.

What is the best pop song written in the last 20 years?

Complicated (Avril Lavigne). Pure cheesy pop. I’ve been studying pop songwriting for a while, and that’s the song I go back to every time for the perfect combination of formula, hooks, production, beat, lyrics and attitude. It’s certainly not the best song, but it’s the best pop song.

What has the response been like to your song “You’re No One If You’re Not On Twitter” aka The Twitter Song?

It’s been huge. I still get a couple of comments and 10-20 new followers/subscribers on Twitter and YouTube every day who find me through that song. It was written as a bit of a joke, to amuse the people I knew on Twitter, but at the same time it was a bit of a cheeky experiment. I tried to write the ultimate Twitter song: open with a hook, have a funny video, make some in-jokes. Now it’s had 300,000 views and I have a lot of nerdy fans.

How would you describe your music?

English, quirky, satirical pop. I try to make all my songs entertaining. They are not always funny, but there’s always an undercurrent of humour.

You grew up in Oxford. Have you played/collaborated with many bands/musicians here?

Yes and no. I’ve been around the Oxford music scene for ten years now, but always on the edges. I’ve guested on keyboards with A Silent Film. Once. I had a year-long residency at the QI Club, playing with my band every Sunday night, and we jammed with loads of local musos there.

Where is the first place in Oxford that you would want to take someone new in town to?

The Firry Mic. I just discovered the Tuesday night open mic at the Fir Tree (Iffley Road), and it’s brilliant. It’s just a room packed with positive people, and the friendly atmosphere gives the songs a real boost.

Why did you choose Summertown in Oxford as the location for Ben’s Big Gig?

I chose Summertown for a few reasons. First, I wanted to see if it was possible to put on a Big Gig in a theatre as an independent musician, and the North Wall is the perfect venue. Everyone’s downsizing and playing house concerts these days. I love a house concert, but I wondered whether we couldn’t try upsizing too. Second, Summertown is my spiritual home. All of my songs have a North Oxford vibe (posh, green, jaunty). Third, I needed a venue that could handle my social media requirements. I needed wireless, a projector screen and cabaret tables. Again, the North Wall is perfect for that. And they love to be involved in interesting, experimental and fringe projects.

How have you been planning Ben’s Big Gig; what is on the agenda for the day?

I’ve been Twittering, crowdsourcing, blogging and videoing my heart out for the last couple of months, and it’s all starting to come together. The most exciting thing for me is that I have a couple of really talented performers to share the stage with. George Chopping has been touring with John Hegley, and is one of the funniest people I’ve ever seen. He’s compèring the evening. And Tom Greeves is opening the second half with a set of genius stand-up comedy. It’s going to be a real variety show. And along with all that, we will be broadcasting the whole show live on the internet and feeding the responses from Twitter, 12seconds, Flickr etc. back into the venue on the giant screen, so the internet audience will be able to interact with the live audience.

Who would you want to spend the day with – someone that you haven’t met in person – and what would you do?

Ben Folds. I would get a piano lesson from him. And drink tea and chat in the breaks. I’m a legendary pianist, but I envy the control he has on the keyboard. In the nineties I learned every Ben Folds Five song note for note. I recommend it for anyone who wants to play pop piano.

Do you have any musical influences? If so, who?

Ben Folds. The Band. David Bowie. Ray Davies. Julian Cope. Little Feat. Queen. Avril Lavigne.

How do you prefer to record music? What equipment are you using?

When I’m taking it seriously, I use Pro Tools on my MacBook and an MBox. I rarely need more than two channels, because I’m always recording alone. If I’m recording with the band, I borrow stuff. But these days more and more I’m recording on my phone (the Nokia N95 has great video) or the camera and internal mic on my laptop and uploading it straight to YouTube. My music isn’t “sit down with headphones and a candle and appreciate the production” music. It’s “check out this link on tinny headphones at work” music. It’s not that I don’t love well-produced music. It’s just not what I’m doing. I need a quicker turnaround.

How often do you write songs?

When I’m writing, I write every day. And I’ll usually write, rewrite and record a song in four or five hours over two or three days. Last summer I wrote 50 songs in 90 days as part of an online challenge. Half of them were great. The other half are crap but amusing. I’m not writing much at the moment, but once the Big Gig is over I’ll get back on the horse.

Do you really hate mornings?

No. I love mornings. I get up at 6am most days to work on music stuff. But not when I registered the domain five years ago. I’ll keep using it, though. It’s fun, and it’s a name to which a lot of musicians can relate.

How would you like to see the future of music?

I like the way it’s going. I want to see musicians weaned off the old record company model and rediscovering the real connections that can be made with music. In my ideal future, musicians would concentrate on making better music and connecting with people. At the moment they tend to do one or the other. I have much more to say on this, but I’ll save it for my blog.

For more information about Ben’s Big Gig, which takes place on May 1, 2009 in Summertown, Oxford, go to:

Ben’s Big Gig Official Website

ihatemornings (Ben Walker) on Twitter

Ben Walker’s blog on ihatemornings.com + music and more

Ben Walker press on Band Weblogs

It’s one small step for man, but one giant step for music.

Moonalice, the Bay Area act that features musical all-stars including GE Smith and Barry Sless, is going where no band has gone before – a real-time Twitter concert.

Always at the forefront of the latest digital developments, Moonalice will post their upcoming CD release show and party on April 3, 2009, at Slim’s in San Francisco at www.twitter.com/moonalice.

Immediately following each song during the show, Moonalice’s sound team will take that song’s audio, digitize it, upload it and “Tweet” about its availability – all before the group finishes playing the very next song. This is the first time that any artist has broadcast a concert in real time on the Twitter platform.

Twitter CEO Evan Williams says, “We are amazed by all the new ways people are using Twitter, and what Moonalice is doing exemplifies this to the core. Twittering a live show is a new and profoundly cool way for a band to reach its fan base and beyond. We hope to see more of this as bands see the value of connecting to their audience in new ways.”

In addition to Smith (Saturday Night Live house band, Hall & Oates, Bob Dylan) and Sless (David Nelson Band, Phil Lesh & Friends), Moonalice includes veteran players Pete Sears (Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship), Ann McNamee (Flying Other Brothers, Ann Atomic), Jimmy Sanchez (Boz Scaggs, Bonnie Raitt), Roger McNamee (Flying Other Brothers) and occasional seventh member Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna).

On April 14th, 2009, Moonalice will release their self-titled debut studio effort. The band entrusted legendary producer T Bone Burnett to help transform the highly regarded Moonalice live act into a gem of studio wizardry. Burnett recently won both “Record of the Year” and “Album of the Year” Grammy Awards for his work on Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’ ‘Raising Sand’.

Listeners are sure to notice the sound quality of Moonalice, due not only to its sterling musicianship and exceptional production, but also because it features Burnett’s innovative new XO?E (CODE in Greek letters) mastering technology. In addition to the CD, the DVD-V is packed with a high-resolution stereo version (24-bit/96 kHz), as well as optimized MP3, AAC and FLAC formats, plus two music videos. The entire package comes at the price of a regular, single CD.

In addition to their Twitter CD release show, Moonalice is currently racking up the miles on a nationwide 2009 tour (see www.moonaliceband.com/tour for full schedule). At every show, the audience receives a free, limited edition poster, as well as local updates to the Moonalice legend. All posters are four-color offset lithographs, created by San Francisco’s finest poster artists.

For more information, visit:

Moonalice Official Website

Moonalice on Twitter

Oxford born singer-songwriter and YouTube sensation, Ben Walker, is truly a modern day bard. His careful exploitation of web based communication tools and social networking sites have gained his quirky and satirical songs a worldwide following.

Since 250,000 viewers tuned in to YouTube to watch his song “You’re No One If You’re Not On Twitter”, it has become the unofficial anthem of Twitter worldwide.

Watch “The Twitter Song” video:

Now Ben is using the internet to create a new gig concept.

Ben’s Big Gig will be a concert with a difference at the North Wall Arts Centre in Summertown, Oxford on 1st May, 2009.

Not only will the gig be streamed live over the internet for his global fan base to enjoy, but screens within the venue will display real-time messages, photos and videos from fans around the world who want to join in. Ben’s Big Gig promises to be a truly interactive experience that is already a hot topic on Twitter!

Musician and social media expert Steve Lawson describes Ben as “a very clever man. He writes wonderful catchy songs, and then comes up with funny, engaging and interesting ways of letting people know about them. Once you’ve found him via one of his myriad internet presences, it’s all about the songs. Fortunately, they’re fantastic. I’m a big fan.”

Ben’s satirical songs explore the characters that are close to his heart: the North Oxford greenie, the lovelorn geek, the frustrated trendoid, and even celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall. The gig will feature Ben on the piano and guitar, backed by bass and drums and joined by many special guests – not forgetting collaborators and audiences from around the web and across the globe.

Ben comments, “Cabaret 2.0 is the working title I’m using for the gig. Not only is it going to involve lots of live connections to and from the internet with video, Twitter messages and photos, but the most interesting part is that they have ‘crowdsourced’ all the planning and promotion (even this press release!). My fans are a smart bunch of people, and I’m asking each of them to help with the promotion in their own way.”

Ben has already got his online fan base involved in helping him to promote his Big Gig. Within 24 hours of issuing a request on Twitter, fans from America, Canada and France had used a publicly editable wiki page to help write his publicity copy for the event. In the same way that he’s conducted live video song writing sessions on the internet in the past, Ben will also be documenting his progress and the results of his Big Gig to help other musicians.

Ben comments, “It’s the creative and collaborative attitude of social media users that has propelled my songs across the world. I’m using the same medium to give something back. I’ve already streamed live song writing sessions to inspire budding songwriters and I’m documenting my Big Gig experience to help other musicians who are looking to do something similar.”

Of course, Ben’s Big Gig, is not just a virtual concert. For those attending the gig at the North Wall Arts Centre on the 1st May, it promises to be a very entertaining and interactive experience.

Tickets for Ben’s Big Gig are on sale at £5 for students or £10 for adults. They can be purchased by phone from the North Wall box office on 01865 319450 or online:

Ben’s Big Gig tickets

The gig will also be streamed live on the internet at the same address.

Ben Walker – ihatemornings.com Official Website
Ben Walker / ihatemornings on twitter
Ben’s Big Gig on tumblr

Tweet. Meet. Give.

On 12th February 2009 175+ cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water.

The Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers in cities around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to support charity: water projects.

Swedish cities participating in Twestival: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Norrköping, Linköping.

Stockholm Twestival:

Venue: Timbro offices, Kungsgatan 60.
Time: 19-21
Ticket price: 150 kr per person
Capacity: 115 people

Program:

Key speakers:

* Roland Poirier Martinsson – Timbro Media Institute “Social Media Phenomenon”
* Thomas Bjelkeman-Pettersson – akvo.org “Water, Sanitation and Akvo”
* Magnus Lindkvist – Trend spotter “social entrepreneurship, and the future of the developing region”

Music:

* Sofia Talvik
* The Deportees

Refreshments: light refreshments served.

Special thanks to our sponsors Timbro, Tweetmeetup and Bluewals.com for making this charitable event possible.

For tickets to Twestival Stockholm and the latest details about the event please visit:

Stockholm Twestival

Twitter: @sthlmtwestival

Twestival Official Website

charity: water

Twitter

On Thursday 12 February 2009, for 24 hours, cities around the world will be hosting “Twestivals”, volunteer-run, fundraising events for people who know each other through the micro-blogging service Twitter.com.

Inspired Twitter communities are making plans to come together through the power of the internet. Twitter users from every continent will be forging local and global connections, to raise money for a good cause and in the spirit of fun, change, charity and communication.

The global event, described as “a ‘tweet-up’ with a social conscience”, will be raising money to support charity: water, a not-for-profit bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

There are currently over 100 cities officially signed up to participate, including London, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Beijing, Sydney, Melbourne, and Lima.

Meanwhile Twestival also offers a great opportunity for noncapital cities to host events, allowing for a wide spread of regional networking within countries, states and regions. City representatives keen to participate, give their time to the cause – and have a great night – continue to come on board; so for the full and changing list of cities, or to get involved yourself, go to www.twestival.com.

The event has formed global sponsorships with selected partners including Amiando and TipJoy who will be donating funds and resources to the event.

In London where the first Twestival was held in 2008, will play host to 500 at East London’s Shoreditch studios, tickets will be available via London’s city page on www.twestival.com.

Amanda Rose, one of the organisers of Twestival, said “We’re already blown away by the global reception and how keen people are to invest their time and energy for free, to the Twestival and get behind charity: water. Social tweet ups like this are a great way to meet the faces behind those avatars while raising a lot of money for a fantastic cause. Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers and 100% of all event proceeds will go directly to support charity: water projects in developing countries, which will positively impact the lives of thousands.”

charity: water commented: “We are beyond excited, this is such a fantastic event for charity: water in both scale, and nature. The need for, and right to clean water is universal, so I’m delighted we’re a cause that the international Twitter community is embracing”

#twestival
#twitter

charity: water Official Website

Twestival Official Website

Twestival.fm – Twestival Music! Bands and artists are currently volunteering music. Go to the website for more information.

Twitter