Jade's Music Blog

Hello,
I've been away for a couple of days, and worst of all I left my iPod at home, so I'm now revelling in having music once more! I've spent the last few days desperately trying to hear something even slightly musical - I've even enjoyed phone ring tones and terrible shop muzak.
I come back to find more emails than I know what to do with. One of the more exciting is from John Hyatt, of eighties post-punk band The Three Johns, who has launched some solo stuff.

It's a busy week for music in Merseyside.
Tomorrow sees Duke Special starting their national tour at the Barfly, on Thursday rock gods the Palominos play Birkenhead as part of the Hotel California's Loaded night and on Sunday
Grace play the Academy.
Click on the link below for pictures and to find out more.

Four Merseyside bands are coming over all Summer Holiday and heading down to London in a double-decker bus on Thursday to play a one-off showcase, and best of all they're offering fans the chance to come along for the ride.
The four - The Cubical, The Pedantics, The Regimental and The Wild Eyes are heading down to the Enterprise in London to show the new sound of Liverpool.

It's been a busy morning. I've been chatting to the handsome, charming and generally fabulous Jack Savoretti and all is good. The only depressing thing was that Jack is (23) tried to get away with calling himself an old man. I'll just get my pension book then!
The phone hasn't stopped - again, there's a great selection of music in and around the city, and big business is looking to capitalise on Merseyside talent. Click on the link below to see more.

Towers of London have offered us an exclusive chat next week, and if you have any questions you'd like me to put to Donny Tourette and the band I'd love to hear them!
You may of heard of this lot through Celebrity Big Brother or the constant pictures of them out and about with various members of the Geldof family or maybe just through their reputation for their live shows, but now they are on their way to Barfly on March 8 to strut their stuff.

Drumroll please.... We would like to introduce our first ever blog competition.
In the run-up to Valentine's Day we're offering a musical love package to set your heart a-flutter for the best entry and all you have to do is leave me a comment by clicking on the link below and telling me why you deserve to win.

This week is something of a musical feast on Merseyside.
Tomorrow night the Alterkicks and Eugene McGuiness play a Valentine's night gig at Korova in what promises to be something extra-special.
As if that wasn't enough, Thursday and Friday see the NME Indie Rock and Rave tours come to Liverpool with sold-out dates.
Liverpool lads the Alterkicks are back in town after filming the video for their single Good Luck in London. They will be supported by the sensational LIPA trained singer/songwriter Eugene McGuinness. He has already been playing for over a year around Liverpool’s music venues and, according to his MySpace, “anywhere he can afford the train to”.
Tomorrow night's Echo carries a preview for the Korova gig - click below for more information.

It's been a frighteningly busy week, but I've got details of a great competition, that's bound to appeal to all you unsigned Merseyside bands and artists!
This competition will give local bands / singer-songwriters / girl bands / boy bands something they all want, free studio recording time - and a few other extras to give them a hand with getting ahead in the music industry.
The prize is one day in Parr Street Recording Studios to do a high quality demo of 1 or 2 tracks, engineered by one of their top studio engineers.
The band will also be mentioned in my music column in the Echo and we can help get you onto local radio and get a photo shoot done.
Click on the link below to find out more...

Check out today's music page in the Echo - we've got an interview with Brit winner Amy Winehouse ahead of her sell-out date at the Liverpool Academy where she talks about her 15 minutes of rehab, plus details of how you young folk could play at Glastonbury this year.
I've also done the Arts page - opposite to the Music page today. We've got an interview with Coronation Street's Ken Barlow, actor Bill Roach, and info about the latest exhibition at Tate Liverpool, and other cultural goodies.
I told you I was having a busy week!!!

The fabulous Frank Sidebottom plays at the Magnet tonight, and I managed to grab a mini-interview with the great man himself, including getting his top five tracks of all time.
If you've never seen Frank live then make sure you get down there early for a good view - this man is a legend.
Click on the link below to find out more...

Tonight sees a trio of Liverpool’s finest unsigned acoustic musicians taking to the stage in Acoustic Slice, what is quickly becoming one of the most interesting showcases in Merseyside.
Acoustic Slice continues to grow in popularity, reflecting an increasing interest in folk and acoustic music across the region.

On the eve of their national tour, which kicks off in Manchester, Leeds five-piece the Kaiser Chiefs are getting ready to wow the crowds. But this time there are no stripy blazers or black eyeliner.
They have chosen a different look for their new album, Yours Truly, Angry Mob. Frontman Ricky Wilson and chief songwriter Nick Hodgson, both 29, are looking very un-rock `n’ roll in matching black buttoned up cardigans, with Ricky sporting red skinny jeans.
“I don’t get rock `n’ roll,” Ricky says. “I don’t get all that smashing up the hotel rooms. The next morning, someone’s mum has to come and clean up afterwards. That’s not rock `n’ roll - rock `n’ roll would be buying her a holiday.”

They are the band you could take home to meet the parents, the group who did those catchy songs of indeterminate yearning, tailored for mass consumption, that have been all over the radio for the past couple of years. Tim Rice Oxley of Keane talks here about their new tour, Tom's rehab and why they're looking forward to coming to Manchester.

I was walking through town the other day and I was amazed by the quality of the buskers.
What a fabulously musical city we live in!
I love buskers! They never fail to brighten my day with their cheery soundtrack of the city.
Do we have the world's best buskers here in the North West?
Loads of the big bands and artists I speak to started out busking.
Are you a busker? Or have you seen a great busker anywhere? Do you put a few pennies in their guitar cases?
Post your busking best busking stories and photos in the blog I've set up about thison my myspace site www.myspace.com/jades_music_page and we can revel in a celebration of the music of the streets!