Archive for September, 2009

We were invited to the private showcase of Féfé last night at the  Cabaret Sauvage.

The setting is an old circus tent that twinkles with  lights in the dark as you cross a bridge over a small river. This venue has always been a great venue for Parisian artists seeking an  intimate atmosphere.

Féfé came on stage and the front row was already  packed with his biggest fans who he recognized and greeted first. Féfé has build up a loyal fan base through his time with Saïan Supa Crew; he is now out to persue his own career with the release of his album “Jeune à la retraite”.

The audience is  young and urban, a very friendly laid back crowd. Féfé kicked off on  his acoustic guitar with melodies that are a cross between soul,  bluegrass, interlaced with the edginess of hip hop and rap lyrical  delivery.

The first thing that strikes you is that he is funny, he is charming, he chats with the crowd like you would do with close friends. The music starts and the crowd is on their feet dancing. Féfé gives you that feel good factor you can only get around a camp fire with friends. He possesses this talent of capturing the audience and getting them to sing along. By the  second song, everyone was dancing and singing.

“C’est comme ça” was one of those songs where his incredible energy that just excited the crowd. Or perhaps it was because he jumped off stage to sing in the  middle of the crowd. “Mes verités” ,all acoustic with sensual harmonies, was also one of my favorites.

Féfé has one of those deep, soulful and authentic voices that reminds your of southern blues artists of the past. You DO need to check out for yourself and let us know what you think.

Click here to check out his artist page on Fanshake.

Dana

P.S: And just for you below some exclusive pictures of the show…

Warner & Youtube finally united

Warner Music Group and YouTube have settled their past grievances and signed a licensing agreement. For the user this will mean the return of Warner’s songs on the popular video sharing website over the coming months.

The dispute started over nine months ago when Warner’s music was removed from YouTube, as a result of an ongoing dispute between the two were an agreement could not be made.  This was a source of great uproar by YouTube users all over the world as even personal videos with Warner music where deleted systematically.

Although it is not a surprise for most of us as CNET an Adage.com both revealed the details of this renewed agreement over the past few weeks, users can rejoice to know that this dispute is now in the past and that they will be able to listen to their favorite music once again.

On the financial side, the agreement was reached such as YouTube and Warner would share the advertising revenue generated with the majority going back to the label.

“Under this new, multi-year global agreement, you will be able to discover, watch and share Warner music on the site,” YouTube said in a statement. “The partnership covers the full Warner catalog and includes user-generated content containing WMG acts.”

Source: Cnet News

Mobo Awards tonight in Glasgow

All eyes are turning to Glasgow as the Mobo Awards the global musical spotlight comes to Scotland for the first time.

As final preparations are made for tonight’s Music of Black Origin spectacular at the SECC, organisers have revealed the local performers who will be part of the dazzling show.

Dancers from Glasgow agency Erin Gavin Models will perform with former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland and DJ David Guetta.

Erin said: “The Mobos is one of the biggest events in the world so to perform at it is a dream come true.”

The routine has been choreographed by dancer Tony Miller, 30, who was approached by Virgin Records to take part in the show.

The Glasgow Gospel Choir will also appear with stars including Tinchy Stryder, N-Dubz and Chipmunk on a song for Warchild charity which will be part of the show’s finale.

Bob Gould, manager of the 28-member choir, said: “When I heard the show was coming to Glasgow I contacted the organisers. A few months later I got a call from a London record company asking if we would perform.”

“Hopefully it will be good for us in the future.”

Organisers have also revealed they have lined up some young Glasgow gymnasts to flip across the stage with the gold envelopes containing the winners’ names.

More than 50 young athletes turned up to audition for the job and it is being kept under wraps just who has been chosen.

Although there is only one Scottish awards nominee, Glasgow medical student Emilie Sande who co-wrote Best Song and Best Video-nominated Diamond Rings with rapper Chipmunk, the Mobo team is trying to encourage Scottish urban talent of the future.

Tonight’s awards ceremony, which aims to celebrate music of black origin by artists of any race, will go out live from the SECC on BBC Three.

Music stars Jermaine and La Toya Jackson, JLS, N-Dubz and Tinchy Stryder will be among those walking down the red carpet tonight.

Scott Taylor, head of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “I’ve just seen the soundchecks and they look pretty good. The visuals which will be beamed to TV will be amazing.”

Paul Bush, of EventScotland, added: “It’s going to be a real ‘wow’ atmosphere. It will be a fantastic night for Glasgow and Scotland. Everybody’s talking about the Mobos - it’s the hottest ticket in town.

Source: EveningTimes

Madonna & Jesus Luz

According to reports Madonna is set to marry the 22-year-old model Jesus Luz before the end of the year even though they have been dating for less than a year.

The pop star had met the brazilian model last December at a photoshoot for W magazine where the two of them posed for a series of provocative photos, few weeks before Madonna’s divorce from filmmaker Guy Ritchie was finalised in January.

Biorgrapher Taraborrelli told Hello! magazine, “The pop queen has been dating Jesus since January and it is thought the pair may marry before the end of the year.”

“Madonna is crazy about Jesus and has been telling close friends and family that ‘I could definitely see myself marrying him. Yes, it’s definitely on the table.’”

Taraborrelli quotes a relative as saying, “She knows that’s what Jesus wants. She has a lot of wonderful memories of both of her weddings. She doesn’t want to slip off and do it quietly. She definitely wants a big and rather fantastic affair.”

It seems like the 51 year old pop legend, who divorced her first husband Sean Penn in 1989, refuses to allow her previous romantic failures to keep her from throwing a lavish ceremony.

Source: Yahoo! News

Lily Allen and Dizzee Rascal

Lily Allen is not retiring.

The ‘Fear’ singer announced she was quitting the music industry on her blog few days ago, where she wrote: “Just so you know, I have not renegotiated my record contract and have no plans to make another record. I do, however, remain a fan of new music, so this is not some selfish crusade.”

Her announcement had raised a lot of controversy, where on one side fans where asking Lily Allen not to retire from music and on the other side fans were criticizing her position on the file sharing debate.

One of the fans called Dan Bull wrote an open letter to Lily Allen about the file sharing debate as the following video shows:

Lily Allen’s spokesperson played down her claims, saying: “She is not quitting pop music and is still promoting her current album, which is why she said she is not thinking ahead to another record.”

Days after the announcement, the 24-year-old star has revealed plans to tour with ‘Bonkers’ rapper Dizzee Rascal next March.

Lily Allen, whose latest album ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’ has sold 1.5 million copies, said ‘I’m really looking forward to playing these special shows - I’m a massive fan of what Dizzee does”

Dizzee Rascal, who scored in the past 12 months, three Number One singles with ‘Dance Wiv Me’ and ‘Bonkers’ and latest single ‘Holiday’ declared ‘Lily and I have both worked well in the past so it’s no doubt these shows will be nights to remember’.

Tickets for both shows go on sale on Friday 9th October at 9am. However, fans can buy tickets from 7th October when they pre-order Lily Allen’s new special edition CD/DVD of her album ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’ from HMV. The album will be available to pre-order from Monday 28th September and is released through Regal Records on November 16th.

Lily Allen and Dizzee Rascal’s co headline arenas dates are as follows:

Friday 5th March Manchester MEN Arena
Sunday 7th March London O2 Arena

Tickets are on sale Friday 9th October @ 9am

Lili Allen’s Website

Dizzee Rascal’s Website

Lily Allen’s “It’s Not Me, It’s You” on Amazon: Buy It!
Dizzee Rascal’s “Tongue N’ Cheek” on Amazon: Buy It!

Source: Music-News.com

"I am Ozzy" released on October 1st

Fans of Ozzy Osbourne will have the chance of meeting him for the release of his new book, ‘I Am Ozzy’.

the ‘Godfather of heavy metal’ will visit HMV’s flagship Oxford Street store in London’s West End on Friday 2nd October 2009 and will be at the store from 6.00 pm to meet fans and sign copies of his new book which is published by Sphere on Thursday 1st October 2009.

The book will relate Ozzy’s days on the road, and will include legendary stories like biting the head off a live bat, Ozzy losing his best friend and writing partner Randy Rhoades in a tragic plane crash. The book will give the chance to his biggest fans to know of the real heartbreak he suffered during those days of excess.

Now, having sold over a hundred million records both with Black Sabbath and as an award-winning solo artist, Ozzy has five children and lives with his wife Sharon in California and Buckinghamshire.

Because of time constraints access to the event is limited. 300 wristbands will be available from the store on the day of the event from 9.00 am on a first come first served basis, one per customer only, no reservations.

“I Am Ozzy” is available on Amazon for pre-order: Order it!

Source: Music-News.com

"This is It" now on sale

Tickets for the most highly anticipated film of the year went on sale to the general public throughout the UK on Sunday, September 27.

Fans form the UK have been able to book tickets 12.01am on Sunday morning at http://www.thisisittickets.co.uk or via all the usual cinema websites and telephone booking lines.

The first screenings open to the general public in the UK will take place from 4.00am on Wednesday October 28.

If one cross the Atlantic and travels from the East to the West coast of the United States, one will meet the bravest Michael Jackson fans who are willing to do anything to attend the premiere in Los Angeles.

Music lovers in Los Angeles desperate to be the first to see This Is It camped out for three days.

Monique Kirby, who waited in line with her young daughter said: “It was worth it. It was worth the wait.”

The movie, made up of rehearsal footage for MJ’s This Is It residency, is not released until October 27, and will only be shown in cinemas for two weeks.

For more information visit the official site: http://www.thisisit-movie.com/

The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame

According to NME, Red Hot Chili Peppers, LL Cool J and Kiss are among the first-time nominees aiming for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, according to a dozen-long list of finalists released by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

The new nominees will have to face returning candidates like The Stooges and ABBA. The 500 music industry voters will select five of the 12 nominees for induction in January.

“It’s a real honour to be nominated in our first year of eligibility,” said Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith to Billboard.com. “Obviously the Hall Of Fame has excellent musical taste,” he added.

An announcement of the inductees is due in January, while the 25th Annual Induction Ceremony will take place on March 15 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

While the voters are selecting the inductees, the Hall Of Fame is also preparing for its 25th anniversary concerts on October 29 and 30 at New York’s Madison Square Garden with performances by U2, Metallica, Stevie Wonder and Simon & Garfunkel already among those confirmed.

A nine-DVD boxset titled ‘Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Live’ and a book, ‘The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: The First 25 Years’ are also planned to be released to coincide with the celebrations.

The full list of nominees is as follows:

ABBA
The Chantels
Jimmy Cliff
Genesis
The Hollies
Kiss
LL Cool J
Darlene Love
Laura Nyro
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Stooges
Donna Summer

Artists are eligible for induction 25 years after their first single or album release.

Empire of the Sun

According to NME, Luke Steele, singer of Empire of the Sun declared that he has not been in contact with his bandmate Nick Littlemore for five months.

According to Steele, the second half of the band has “disappeared” from Empire of the Sun. The frontman says he doesn’t even know where his collaborator is living at the moment, reports ABC.

“He disappeared about five months ago and I haven’t really heard from him,” Steele said. “Last I heard he’s in Canada and then he’s in Vegas. [But] as my dad always says, you’ve got to keep the show on the road.”

Littlemore, who is also a member of Pnau, hasn’t feature in the last two videos of Empire of the Sun ‘Standing On the Shore’ and ‘Without You’.

When asked if Littlemore was still in the band, Steele’s response was: “I really don’t know. He’s just left me with the baby.”

Steele said he is currently putting the final touches to Empire Of The Sun’s debut live shows, which are due to take place at Australia’s Parklife music festivals starting in Brisbane on September 26. He has drafted in Adelaide band The Swiss to be his backing band for the shows.

Luke Steele also announced that he is almost done writing a new album for his other band The Sleepy Jackson, and confirmed that he plans to bring Empire of the Sun’s live show overseas next year.

Time will tell us if the famous Australian duo Empire of the Sun will continue on the same track or become a solo.