|
INDIE
NEWS BEAT *
MECA Conference Extends Submission Deadline MECA Conference Adds 50 Showcases And Extends Submission Deadline
Held in Chicago May 12 - 15, 2004, the MECA Music Conference and Festival is a four-day forum of career advancement, educational and networking opportunities for serious musicians and a celebration of music for fans of all kinds. Conference organizers aim to make MECA as valuable to the music industry, musicians and music fans as other major music conferences like SXSW Conferences & Festivals and CMJ Music Marathon. "We are planning to showcase at MECA because we think it will be great for the Chicago scene," said Dino Kourelis of the Chicago-based rock band Lovehammers, "Lucky Strike Band to Band Combat" National Contest Winners and runners up in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest. "We're excited about the opportunity to perform and make new contacts in the industry at MECA." The band, voted one of the top 10 unsigned bands in America by Mars Music, has performed at SXSW and CMJ in the past. Submissions for MECA showcases are being accepted through January 31, 2003, for an entry fee of $30. Artists can enter online at mecaconference.com via SonicBids, the exclusive online submission platform for MECA 2004, or send an audio CD with at least three songs, a completed application form, payment and a press kit (including bio and photo) via mail. Complete entry details are available at mecaconference.com. Artists from around the Midwest and the nation will be chosen by an extensive panel of music journalists and industry professionals to perform on one of the four nights. Judges include Jim Peterik, Grammy-winning songwriter/producer of chart-toppers by Survivor and .38 Special and co-author of Songwriting for Dummies; Carmen Rizzo, Grammy-nominated producer/mixer/programmer; and Billy Zero, program director at the Unsigned channel of XM Radio. Unlike many music conferences, MECA offers more structured educational and networking opportunities for artists serious about a career in music. Working musicians can take advantage of more than 40 panels, workshops, performance clinics, one-on-one mentoring sessions and networking events. These educational sessions will cover all aspects of a career in music, from songwriting and A&R to performing rights and legal issues. Ultimately, more than 150 industry professionals are expected to participate in the panels, mentoring sessions and clinics. Registration details and a full schedule of events are available at mecaconference.com. MECA is organized by The Morrissey Group, owners and operators of ChicagoGigs.com, a unique music community serving the greater Chicago area with comprehensive coverage of both local and national touring acts. "Brave" The Debut Album From "The Bluefoot Project"
It's gorgeous soul funk trip hop from the UK with an outstanding vocalist in the shape of Rachel Modest. Over in England this album has been critically acclaimed, while recently in the US, it was the 5th most requested CD on KCRW and was one of just only four imports chosen for the British Phonographic Industry's "Best of British" 2003 campaign in Virgin Megastores USA. The Bluefoot Project are an amalgamation of urban heads based in West Yorkshire, England. Formed in 1997 and sharing a variety of musical backgrounds they set about fusing many different styles into a vocal-led, beat-driven, 21st century soulful funk with nods in the right direction to reggae, hip hop, gospel and leftfield. In 1999 they approached newly formed independent Chocolate Fireguard and started gigging the club and festival circuit in the UK. Following an amazing set at Glastonbury Festival in 2000 it was decided that the time was right to record their debut "Observations EP' Released in 2002, it hurdled the likes of Jill Scott and Jamiroquai to the 'sureplayer' review in DJ magazine (R&B page) while top tune "Soma" found its way onto the essential Chocolate Fireguard compilation "Taster ....... Sounds From The Funky Underground Volume 2" (also available in the US at Cdbaby and "Best Of British" Virgin Megastores USA) Over the years, The Bluefoot Project have grown musically together and are now widely known for their unique sound which combines influences like Massive Attack, Squarepusher, Lamb, Goldie, Stevie Wonder and King Tubby. Straight to the point and distinctly urban, they kick out a cool live soul with deep grooves over lush sample based technologies and produce clever, but airy song structures with enough space to let Rachel Modest's nebulous vocal experience shine through. Needless to say, their debut album "Brave" has been receiving some serious critical acclaim from the UK press: "what
an magnificent piece of work" Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC Radio One (track
"Concrete" was her "Breezeblock Bomb" of the week!) Canadian Rocker Richard Greig Releases self-titled Debut Album
Richard Greig reflects his talent as singer/songwriter/guitarist on all 10 tracks of the new CD. A superb blend with band members, guitarist Jason Edwards and drummer Jayson Bacho. Rock to the sounds of the overdriving, booty-shakin tracks "Dance for Me, "Electrify," "Drop 'D' Blues," the rockin "Burning Sky" and of course the inspirational "Send Me an Angel." "When people listen to my music I want them to feel good and have songs they can party to. There are many elements of songwriting, attitude and a combination of different styles used to create these songs. I like to see people feel what they hear and groove to the rhythm." One of the albums singles "Running With Nowhere to Hide," a story of a man running from the law, pulls at your heart. Targeted for radio, Dance for Me is the albums first single. Destined to set a trend in the modern rock world, Send Me an Angel willl capture your ear and your heart at the same time. Songwriters! Nashville Comes To New York! The New York City chapter of the NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) announces a special workshop and open mic/showcase featuring the group's "Adopt-a-shop Pro," Tim Buppert, on Sunday, February 29, 2004. An "Adopt-a-shop Pro" is, in the parlance of the NSAI, a mentor assigned to a particular chapter. Buppert, an award-winning songwriter best known for having penned Kevin Sharp's number one, SHE'S SURE TAKING IT WELL, and Yankee Gray's ANOTHER NINE MINUTES, is also a widely sought-after session singer in Nashville and a drummer who performs regularly with several popular Nashville bands. The workshop will focus on various aspects of the craft of songwriting--and is suitable for beginning- as well as professional-level songwriters. Buppert will be doing an in-depth review of three songs submitted by NSAI members, using the songs as a jumping-off point for discussing particular aspects of the craft suggested by either the strengths or the flaws in the submissions. As is customary at NSAI workshops, every effort will be made, as time permits, to include brief critiques of all attendees' songs. Buppert will also be talking at some length on the subjects of melody and groove (this refers to the rhythmic feel of a song). Elvis Presley Now Best Selling Solo Artist In U.S. History With a large crowd of fans gathering to celebrate Elvis Presley's birthday, RCA Records and BMG Strategic Marketing Group, both part of BMG, with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced at a ceremony on the grounds of Graceland Mansion this morning that Elvis Presley now stands as the best selling solo artist in U.S. history. "Elvis Presley, quite simply, is an American icon," said RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Bainwol. "As such an important musical, historical and cultural figure, we're thrilled to be able to make this announcement. We will continue to work closely with BMG to make sure that there will be more exciting news about the Elvis Presley catalog in the near future," concluded Bainwol. "It is incredibly gratifying to have the certifications to back up what many have long held as an article of faith, that Elvis is the best selling solo artist in U.S. history," said Joe DiMuro, Executive Vice President, BMG Strategic Marketing Group. "I'd like to thank the RIAA and our team who worked tirelessly to complete this audit and help secure Elvis' historic achievement." Apple Computer Inc And Garageband.com Agree To Share Name Garageband.com, the internet's largest legal source of free MP3 music, and Apple Computer have signed an agreement to share the name "GarageBand." The deal was signed in April 2003 but kept confidential by both parties until now. Apple Computer has paid Garageband.com a one-time fee in order to use the name "GarageBand" for its music-creation software, part of the Apple iLife suite launched this week. Garageband.com will otherwise retain its original rights to use the name for a vast range of products and services. "We have tremendous respect for Apple's vision and leadership in the digital music space," said Ali Partovi, CEO of Garageband.com. "We've always shared their goal of empowering musicians, and today we're excited to share with them our name. Now, any musician can create music on Apple's state-of-the-art GarageBand software and promote their recordings on Garageband.com's award-winning web services." Last Call: 2004 Kweevak.com CD Of The Year Awards Submissions This is the last call for bands and artists to submit their CDs for inclusion in this year's 2004 Kweevak.com "CD of the Year" Awards festivities. This year will mark the fifth anniversary of our independent music awards and we will once again nominate several dozens CDs for this year's "Viewer's Choice" and Kweevak "CD of the Year" awards. To be eligible for nomination your CD must be sent to Kweevak.com under our CD membership listing program. All CDs that are sent to us under our membership program get listed in an exclusive artist page and are also are considered for CD review, main page feature and airplay on our (2) Kweevak Radio programs. GoGirlsMusic.com Turns Eight Years Old In 1996, Madalyn Sklar had a vision of bringing together female musical artists around the country. Eight years later that vision, GoGirlsMusic.com, has grown beyond her wildest dreams. Sklar's dedication to female musicians across the county has propelled GoGirlsMusic.com into the oldest and largest online community of independent women musicians. Since its inception, GoGirlsMusic.com has become a welcome destination for women in music, offering them many opportunities for showcasing their talents, networking with industry insiders and educating themselves at GoGirls sponsored events. In the last four years, Sklar has raised the awareness of the website by producing the GoGirlsMusicFest, Invasion of the GoGirls, Last Band Standing, and other GoGirlsRock! events. In addition, she has spearheaded over 70 benefit showcases for various organizations including American Liver Foundation, Nicole Brown Charitable Foundation, Rock Œn' Roll Camp for Girls and more. She has also served on music panels presented by the organizers of 2NMC, DIY Convention, and Rockrgrl. Beatles Tribute Festival Set For Cleveland, Ohio The year is 1964. For The Beatles, it is a year of firsts. "Meet the Beatles," the first Beatles album, debuts in the United States. In February, The Beatles make their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, and they embark on their first American tour. The Beatles' "Second Album" climbs to the #1 spot on the LP charts in only its second week of release, making it the first album ever to reach #1 that quickly. Beatlemania is conquering America. This summer in Cleveland, August 6-8, Beatles tribute festival "Abbey Road on the River" remembers the revolution. Beatlemaniacs (and their children) can "Come Together" to experience the thrill original concertgoers did at Cleveland's Public Auditorium as the world's best "Fab Four" tribute bands play for 3 days on the very stage John, Paul, George and Ringo did forty years ago.
|
