INDIE NEWS BEAT October 24, 2006 Edition

Posted by radiogetswild on 2006-11-01 20:49:05 (2079 views)

* Kobo Town Claim Their Independence * MusicDish Network's Miko Marks Nominated "Best New Country Artist 2006" * Classic Rock Band Bluebeard Taps MusicDish Network For Development Campaign * Prohibition Entertainment Releases New Traedonya Single Via Airplay Direct * WorkshopLive Supports Music Education With Gift Of Free Annual Music Lessons * Kirsten DeHaan - Industry Showcase R And R Oct. 26 * Nominations Now Open For Independent Music Awards: The Indies

Kobo Town Claim Their Independence

Toronto-based calypso act Kobo Town will officially release their debut album Independence to North American retail and online outlets on November 14, 2006.

Drawing heavily upon the sounds of traditional calypso, roots reggae and dub poetry, the album is a collection of stories which offer a running commentary on a wide variety of social and political themes including domestic violence, homelessness, globalization, the war on Iraq, and the various frustrations and betrayals of the post-colonial era.

Named after an historic community in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, where calypso was born, Kobo Town strives to recover the social conscience, satirical storytelling and strong acoustic/organic rhythms that characterized Trinidadian music in the past. But while the group's singer-songwriter Drew Gonsalves expresses a wish to "celebrate the musical and artistic traditions formed over the long years of our turbulent history", the tales that fill the album could be told anywhere.

The title of this album is intended to be hopeful and ironic at the same time: some of the songs offer a critical look at the "independence experiment" and its various failures and betrayals in Trinidad and elsewhere, while others aim to celebrate the musical and artistic traditions formed over the long years of our turbulent history. One track Abatina tells the tragic story of a girl trapped in an abusive marriage by her family's class aspirations, while another, St. James, uses a flood of rhymes and images to evoke both the desperation and celebratory spirit of a struggling neighbourhood in Port-of-Spain. And underlying the songs are bottle and spoon rhythms, syncopated flute and violin melodies, strumming cuatros, and heavy reggae bass lines which indicate a marriage between West Indian musics old and new Â a dialogue between a fading folkloric tradition and the sounds that prevail in our time.

Independence was co-produced by Lyndon Livingstone (David Rudder, Andre Tanker, Mighty Scrunter) and Drew Gonsalves at the Razorshop in Maraval, Trinidad. Independence will be available for download through CD Baby, iTunes, Music Discovery Network, Calabash Music and select online retailers. For more information or to hear advance tracks from the album, please visit, www.kobotown.com.

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MusicDish Network's Miko Marks Nominated "Best New Country Artist 2006" By New Music Weekly Magazine

New Music Weekly magazine has nomimated MusicDish Network country singer Miko Marks "Best New Country Artist 2006" for the 2006 New Music Weekly Awards being held on November 18th in Hollywood. Miko recently released the third single and first music video "Mama" (featuring Grammy winning Erykah Badu in the title role) from her full-length album "Freeway Bound" .

(i) Log onto http://www.newmusicweekly.com/nmwawards.php
(ii) Click "Vote Now"
(iii) Scroll down and cast your vote for Miko Marks as 2006 Best New Country Artist!

The announcement comes on the heels of a banner year for this country newcomer. Since signing with indie label Mirrome Records during CMA MusicFest, the singer/songwriter has opened for Warner Records artist, Ray Scott, and toured the states from California to Washington D.C. with the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, America's only touring black rodeo, now in its 22nd year. The album "Freeway Bound", recorded in Nashville with legendary producer, Ron Cornelius, has enjoyed airplay in 14 countries including the US, while the title track was used in Episode #102 of CMT's "Home Blitz with Habitat for Humanity."

Recognized worldwide as "New Music's Night," the New Music Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement for ALL Music artists, musicians, radio programmers, music directors, radio stations, and industry executives who work in America's most popular music genre. "The New Music Awards" features a wide variety of exceptional talent and is sure to provide outstanding entertainment and excitement throughout the show.

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Classic Rock Band Bluebeard Taps MusicDish Network For Development Campaign

MusicDish, an Internet music magazine publisher and artist marketing/development firm, announced the addition of Los Angeles cult rock band Bluebeard to its MusicDish Network roster. Through its online marketing and brand development campaign, the MusicDish Network will promote Bluebeard's first album of new material in over 25 years, "Deluxe With Reverb" .

MusicDish Network will conduct an intensive campaign in support of the band's new album, combining content development, syndication/street team, social networking and distribution. Bluebeard has already begun to make their presence felt on social networking sites such as MySpace, Number One Music iSound and LiveDigital (to name a few), while conducting a viral distribution campaign of the band's music and videos on major file sharing networks such as eDonkey.

Produced and published by new independent music label Shelter From the Storm Records, "Deluxe With Reverb" features a selection of new material, re-recorded and re-mastered songs from the band's late-70s heyday, and a hard-charging cover version of INXS' "Pretty Vegas."

"Check out their latest timeless classic. It is a great listen. You can hear in their material how they have inspired so many over the years. And the new material sounds just as new as it does 'classic'." - John Haseltine, Ball Buster

Bluebeard has been around for nearly 30 years and was a mainstay of the Southern California club scene in the 70s and 80s, playing dates with everyone from Van Halen to The Motels to Steppenwolf. They recently played a sold out appearance at L.A.'s Canyon Club, sharing a bill with Blue Oyster Cult. Their last full-length album, "Bad Dream," was released in 1978 and is a treasured collector's item among rock connoisseurs, with asking prices up to $500 per copy on on-line auction sites. Bluebeard received widespread critical acclaim in the U.S. (from the likes of Billboard Magazine, Cash Box, BAM and Radio Report), and was an underground favorite in Japan and Europe.

The tragic death in 2004 of Robert Barry Leech, the band's original lead singer and creative force, led the remaining members to reunite in honor of his memory with a singular focus to once and for all bring their brand of rock & roll to the world. "Deluxe With Reverb" includes a tribute to the past via a rockin' duet of The Rolling Stone's classic "Paint It Black," between Leech and new frontman Ellington Erin .

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Prohibition Entertainment Releases New Traedonya Single Via Airplay Direct

Prohibition Entertainment a NYC based boutique independent record label and AirPlay Direct have formed a marketing alliance in regards to R&B /crossover vocalist TRAEDONYA. Her single "BELOVED" will be delivered to radio stations worldwide via www.AirPlayDirect.com This will allow Prohibition to save a substantial amount of money by not having to send out hard copy promotional packages to radio stations.

"Radio servicing (just packages, not promotion) is a punitive cost to most independent labels and artists. Servicing can run into thousands of dollars and you have returns which will also increase costs" says A.K Smith-Ford , Founder of Prohibition. AirPlay Direct's FREE services will allow us to put the money saved into other key areas... marketing and promotion.

"TRAEDONYA is a Featured Artist on AirPlay Direct and radio programmers and music industry executives are able to check out TRAEDONYA at www.airplaydirect.com/music/bands/3117/

"AirPlay Direct's approach will continue the revolution and evolution of the music industry in the digital arena. Radio is an 'achilles heel' to most independent labels and artists because we can't compete for 'Clear Channel' against the big 4 labels. AirPlay Direct has helped to level the playing field." said A.K.

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WorkshopLive Supports Music Education With Gift Of Free Annual Music Lessons For Music Resource Center Members

The Music Resource Center, a multi-faceted music education center for teenagers, announced a donation of online music lessons and guitar supplies from WorkshopLive, which produces the most dynamic and engaging music instruction content on the Web. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia and originally funded by the Dave Matthews Band, MRC will receive a combination of annual subscriptions and introductory "Play Free" cards and other teaching materials from WorkshopLive.

The Music Resource Center uses the recording and performing arts to create a sense of empowerment and accomplishment in the urban community. Its mission is to educate and inspire urban youth and through music equip them with life skills for the future. They accomplish this mission through music education and performance opportunities, as well as life skills mentoring.

WorkshopLive is a unique educational platform that delivers personalized and completely individualized music lessons through a broadband Internet connection. Its patent-pending technology determines how each student learns best, then delivers the teaching options, lessons and learning environment that best suits the student's needs.

More than one thousand guitar, bass and keyboard lessons will be available to MRC players and teachers of the revolutionary Internet learning system, any time, day or night, whenever and wherever they can make a high-speed Internet connection. WorkshopLive is also making available its library of publications from the National Guitar Workshops, an affiliate of the online learning company.

"American culture and society is experiencing one of the worst times for arts education in the past 30 years," said Sibley Johns, Executive Director. "Throughout history, the benefit of these programs to individuals and communities is indisputable. While the situation cannot be reversed overnight, this important donation from WorkshopLive is a giant step in the right direction. It's a perfect combination of music lessons and technology, both of which appeal to students at every level. The first music lesson is the first step on a wonderful journey."

Besides individual subscribers, local music teachers will be able to utilize the WorkshopLive services for group lessons that serve all levels of playing from beginner to advanced guitar lessons.

"From a state of the art facility to cutting edge music education programs, the Music Resource Center is poised for a period of tremendous growth internally as well as externally," said John Ross, Director of Marketing for WorkshopLive. "Music enriches our lives, and MRC represents an example of hope. It is a privilege to be associated with this great organization, and help them achieve their goals of bringing about both individual and social transformation."

"The demand for these community music education programs like the Music Resource Center in Charlottesville are flourishing throughout the nation," Ross added. "The MRC works with more than 700 players annually, which more than demonstrates the demand for music lessons in a single local community. WorkshopLive wants to support as many programs as we can to be a significant part of bringing more guitar, bass or keyboard players back to music."

Staff members and volunteers from the Charlottesville music community provide lessons to MRC members in a variety of subjects including guitar, bass, keyboard, voice, and music theory, which are all part of WorkshopLive's current or intended curriculum offerings. All MRC lessons are free, and scheduling may vary depending on instructor availability. With WorkshopLive, the scheduling limitation is eliminated.

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Kirsten DeHaan - Industry Showcase R And R Oct. 26

Out And About In NYC: Kirsten DeHaan is a nineties-style punk-pop dynamo. Her new 3-song EP is drawing comparisons to Belly and U2, which is fair enough, but her live set is rawer and more punked out. This dualism may simply be in the nature of the pretty, driven, biker-haired Indianan-turned-New Yorker, or it may be smartly planned - or both. In any case, it makes her recorded music potentially radio-friendly in more than one circuit - grown up Gen-Xers, college rock, maybe even the Avril LaTween set. A combination of talent, personal intensity and looks might soon turn Kirsten DeHaan into a major indie player...
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/10/20/065800.php

Kirsten DeHaan - Industry Showcase
R and R
Thurs. Oct. 26 9pm
416 W 14th Street
9th ave and Washington

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Nominations Now Open For Independent Music Awards: The Indies

Canadian Music Week is calling all independent recording artists to apply for The Indies - the 2007 Independent Music Awards. The event will kick off the CMW 07 festivities held in Toronto on Wednesday, March 7, 2007. Applications are due on November 15, 2006.

This year's submissions will be taken exclusively through Sonicbids at www.sonicbids.com/indies2007. Submission rules and regulations can be obtained from the CMW Web site at www.cmw.net.

Presented by inDiscover.net, The Indies celebrate outstanding achievement in sound recording. The awards are limited to independent artists and cover some 14 different genres of music. Winners in 27 of the 30 categories are decided by both a public vote and an industry vote. Four new categories have been added for 2007, including Live Artist/Group/Duo Of The Year, International Single Of The Year, International Breakthrough Artist/Group/Duo Of The Year, and International Video Of The Year.

The Indies celebrate the best in Canadian and International independent music. Last year's sold-out event was hosted by Jian Ghomeshi and featured performances by Stars, Elliott Brood, Figurines, The Road Hammers, Rosette, Cursed, The Parachute Club, and The Pursuit Of Happiness. Past years' winners include The Arcade Fire, Bedouin Soundclash, City and Colour, The Trews, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Alexisonfire, Kataklysm, Death From Above 1979, Hot Hot Heat, Default, The Weakerthans, Fidgital and Dashboard Confessional.

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