layla and other assorted love songs deluxe edition

To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Derek & The Dominos album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which is released in deluxe edition on March 29th a competition has been launched on Facebook encouraging fans to submit a video of themselves playing the iconic riff from the classic track Layla.

Fans of the classic, budding guitar virtuosos and the musical minded alike are all  invited to submit their own versions of one of the most iconic riffs in rock music history.

The entries will be judged by founding member Bobby Whitlock and original engineer Andy Johns, to win a super collector’s edition of the album and one-off canvas of the artwork for this special release.

To take part in the ‘Layla Riff’ competition simply go to the Derek & The Dominos Facebook page and sign up, then follow these easy steps:

1)      Record yourself on video playing the classic solo to ‘Layla’.

2)      Upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo.

3)      Join the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/DerekAndTheDominosOfficial

4)      Post your video link on the Derek and the Dominoes official Facebook page wall.

5)      The winner will be contacted by private message on April 3rd

The SUPER DELUXE EDITION highlights include:

• Newly remastered and expanded 2-CD set of Derek and the Dominos: In Concert, recorded at the Fillmore East and remastered from the original master tapes.

• Reamastered high-fidelity, 180-gram reproduction of the original vinyl double album,

• A hardcover book, artfully designed with rare and never-seen photographs, and featuring four meticulously researched essays by noted music historian and author Ashley Kahn fashioned from new interviews with Bobby Whitlock, Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks, engineer Andy Johns, producer Albhy Galuten, guitarist Derek Trucks; plus historic interviews with Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, and producer Tom Dowd.

• Pop-up 3-D artwork and a high quality Layla art print based on the oil painting that graced the original album cover – “La Fille Au Bouquet” by Emile Theodore Frandsen de Schomberg – which has achieved cultural significance in its own right.

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is one of the most steadfastly revered musical treasures of its era. Its famous title track is still hailed as an essential rock guitar anthem, a signature tune of rock’s leading guitar hero, Eric Clapton.

Recorded in 1970 by Derek and the Dominos, the group was comprised of Clapton and top American musicians Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs music offers a timeless blend of rock, electric blues and Southern gospel influences that has shaped generations of roots-oriented musicians and music fans.

The competition will be open for submission till April 3^rd with the winner announced week commencing April 4^th.

Look out for the Buzzin Music Review of Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs and more chances to win a copy of this essential recording.

Blues Writer Music App

The Blues has been a major influence on countless major artists such as Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Fleetwood Mac.

Blues Writer is a writing, recording and sharing mobile application for songwriters, singers and musicians. The Blues Writer App for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is beautifully and thoughtfully designed to aid & assist the songwriting process.

Never be lost for words with the enhanced notepad containing Schirmer’s Complete Rhyming Dictionary, an industry standard including over 96,000 rhymes.

Once you’re ready, select from the 10 professionally recorded blues tracks included in the App, and record your song, live! You can then post your recording online and share it with friends, family and online community.

With its superb set of tools, Blues Writer is all you need to create stunning blues tracks in a flash.

Blues Writer App Features:

• Notepad, backing tracks, rhyming dictionary and recorder all in one place

• Record multiple takes and share them instantly

• 10 professionally recorded Blues backing tracks to sing or play over

For more information visit www.blueswriterapp.com.

Blues Writer App for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is priced £1.19 on the iTunes Store.

Bizarre Ball

After three years of London hosted shows the Bizarre Ball is going national and this year the Bizarre showcase of alternative music, twisted cabaret and freak show frivolity will feature in both London and Manchester

The first ever Bizarre Ball outside London will take place on FRIDAY 22 OCTOBER in Manchester, with headliners THE EIGHTIES MATCHBOX B-LINE DISASTER bringing the show to a riotous close.

Each year the Bizarre Ball delivers a delirious blend of incredible bands, twisted cabaret and freak show frivolity; chaotic club nights that are known on the London live scene as the greatest shows on earth. But don’t just take our word for it – here’s what Alice Cooper had to say about BIZARRE’s wild events:

“… just unbelievable – utterly great! It’s a terrific surprise to see so many people in amazing costumes. When we arrived we saw a load of girls strutting around on enormous stilts and blokes in stockings and suspenders – it felt just like home.” – ALICE COOPER

Aside from their renowned headliners, there will be dozens more performers each night to keep the audience swooning, gasping and dancing. And here’s what’s on the menu;

BIZARRE BALL MANCHESTER
FRIDAY 22 OCTOBER
THE RITZ
WHITWORTH STREET WEST
MANCHESTER M1 5NQ

EIGHTIES MATCHBOX B-LINE DISASTER
The psychotic rockers will have your bones rattling and your hair standing on end. They’ll bring their rumble ‘n’ roll to the Ball. Expect an intense show and very, very fine hair.

ROLO TOMASSI
Having recently completed a support tour with Biffy Clyro, a headline Jan 2010 UK tour and a recent support slot with Enter Shikari and The King Blues, Rolo Tomassi have gone on to release their second album ‘Cosmology’ to rave reviews. ‘Confident and flippantly original…wherever they go next, it’ll be interesting’
Bizarre Magazine 4/5

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE
Manchester based DIY rock band Obsessive Compulsive are creating a big noise on the UK underground music scene. With their dark, grungey rock anthems energetic live shows and punk attitude they have built an army of hardcore fans across the UK and beyond.

THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS
After 15 years of shocking all over the world, the UK’s most famous freaks – led by the bloodthirsty Dr Haze – will be making jaws drop and the audience wince at both the London and Manchester shows.

DESMOND O’CONNOR
The debonair host with the most – and a disturbing repertoire of sinful songs – DESMOND O’CONNOR will be returning as compere of the BIZARRE BALL, still wielding his ukulele like George Formby from hell.

BIZARRE’S ALIX FOX
Loved by readers for her action-packed articles about learning to sword swallow, experience underwater bondage and wrestle dwarves, BIZARRE writer ALIX FOX is also an established presenter in her own right. Co-hosting both BIZARRE BALLS with DESMOND O’CONNOR, you can expect puns of steel and wit that’s faster than a speeding mullet from this high-energy spunky Northern monkey.

LOLA POPS
Discovered by BIZARRE at the first BIZARRE BALL in 2008, LOLA POPS is Manchester’s naughtiest burlesque performer, who gleefully mixes striptease with forensic science to create unforgettable shows.

DJs
Frankie D (Club Noir / Electrogogo)
Simon Price & Cherry Foxxx (Spellbound & Stay Beautiful)
JD Dislexic (Rockbottom)

TICKETS
£16.50 plus booking fee (£13.50 plus booking fee students and BIZARRE subscribers) Wegottickets.com – Ticketweb.co.uk – Bizarremag.co.uk

Take a look at what sort of fun and games you can look forward to at the Winter Bizarre Ball by checking out the following video footage from the Bizarre Ball earlier this year which featured a performance from Gallows;

BIZARRE BALL LONDON
SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER
THE SCALA
275 PENTONVILLE ROAD
KING’S CROSS
LONDON N1 9NL

THE DAMNED
The first punk band to release a single, The Damned are truly deserving of the tag ‘legends’. With a string of classic songs under their bullet belts Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible’s blistering live show thrills old-school punk fans, cult junkies and hardcore kids alike. And with their latest album ‘So, Who’s Paranoid’ gathering critical praise they remain a vital and fresh proposition.

THE TIGER LILLIES
Martyn Jacques, founder of the Tiger Lillies in 1989, spent his early years living above a Soho brothel and his songs detail the pimps, prostitutes and drug addicts he lived amongst. Their surreal style has been described as darkly humorous, making for an utterly compelling live show that fuses influences from burlesque and English music hall with the spirit of punk and gypsy song.

THE GHOST OF LEMORA
Formed in London in 2001, The Ghost of Lemora have risen to the top of the pile in UK alternative scene with a heady mix of glam, post-punk and dark rock.

THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS
After 15 years of shocking all over the world, the UK’s most famous freaks – led by the bloodthirsty Dr Haze – will be making jaws drop and the audience wince at both the London and Manchester shows.

DESMOND O’CONNOR
The debonair host with the most – and a disturbing repertoire of sinful songs – DESMOND O’CONNOR will be returning as compere of the BIZARRE BALL, still wielding his ukulele like George Formby from hell.

BIZARRE’S ALIX FOX
Loved by readers for her action-packed articles about learning to sword swallow, experience underwater bondage and wrestle dwarves, BIZARRE writer ALIX FOX is also an established presenter in her own right. Co-hosting both BIZARRE BALLS with DESMOND O’CONNOR, you can expect puns of steel and wit that’s faster than a speeding mullet from this high-energy spunky Northern monkey.

DAMIEN S FEAR
The Damien S Fear Undead Freak Show is one the sickest and bloodiest live shows of this century. Having spent the last 8 years refining the art of pushing his body to the very limits, Damien has created a show that incorporates body staples, beds of glass, nailing his hand to a sledgehammer, glass eating and breaking slabs of concrete over his crotch to create half an hour of chaos fueled, rock n’roll mayhem. Basically, he’s one sick puppy.

DJs
Mark Jones (Back To The Phuture, Wall Of Sound)
Frankie D (Club Noir / Electrogogo)
White Mink
Bi-Polar Men

TICKETS
£22 plus booking fee (£17 plus booking fee students and BIZARRE subscribers)
Wegottickets.com – Ticketweb.co.uk – Seetickets.com – Bizarremag.co.uk

The BIZARRE BALL is sponsored by Bizarre magazine.

Win a VIP ticket package to Manchester’s Bizarre Ball at www.facebook.com/bizarremagazine

lexapalooza 5th anniversary festival

The Lexapalooza Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary this year and returns to The Flowerpot on October 9th with yet another stellar line up in aid of the Breast Cancer Campaign.

The event opens at mid-day on Saturday and the fun continues through ’til 11pm. Entrance to the festival is free although organisers do ask for a voluntary donation of at least £3 per person.

Featuring a wealth of upcoming and firmly established artists, this year sees the stage being shared by; Ben Marwood, Chris T-T & The Hoodrats, Cairan Lenehan, Carnivores, Daniella Maria, Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun, The Justice Force 5, Kill Chaos, The Leano, Left Side Brain, Patrick Baney, Punks Not Dad,Sanjuro, Something Beginning With L and This Lonely Soul.

Along with the music, this year guests will also find a Bake Sale, Raffle, the ever-popular ”Share The Love”, and an exclusive Xtra Mile Recordings Shop offering the opportunity to get 15% off vinyl and CDs from the XMR catalogue.

All the proceeds from these events go to the charity Breast Cancer Campaign. Their mission is to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research and to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure. Lexapalooza has so far raised over £6000 for Breast Cancer Campaign with its previous annual one-day events, and aim to raise at least £1000 at this year’s event.

The stage is set and in the words of the organisers, ‘With something for everyone, Lexapalooza invites you to come down and rock your tits off!’

THE FLOWERPOT
SATURDAY OCTOBER 9TH, 2010
147 Kentish Town Road, London, NW1

Please note: Due to the Flowerpot’s door policy, this event operates on a first come, first served basis only. There are no advance tickets, and there is no guest list.

Doors open at 12 noon. The curfew for live music is 11pm.

STRICTLY OVER 18s ONLY. ID MAY BE REQUIRED.

The Crookes

The indie pop wonders The Crookes have launched their own special ‘advent’ style website, with special daily treats ranging from festive covers to free downloads and guest appearances from friends of the band.

The site went ‘live’ on Sunday December 13th, so there will be a few doors already waiting to be opened. Special guests on the site include Reverend and the Makers and Richard Hawley, with John McClure and Steve Lamacq on board hosting the daily treats.

In addition, the band will be offering a free download of Chorus Of Fools for the duration of the project. A work of winsome, jangly magic, it’s one of the band’s best-loved numbers and a fine illustration of why The Crookes Myspace page regularly clocks up hundreds of visits every day.

Visit the 12 Days Of Crookesmas here.

What they are saying about The Crookes:

“One of the bands I’m most excited about this year. The Crookes have ambition and flare and a singer with a beautiful voice; one of those special, poetic voices which dips and soars above their jangling guitars.” Steve Lamacq

“I heard a brilliant band last night called The Crookes, who are superb…. really good.” Richard Hawley

254 air guitars set new world record at Reading Festival

Charity ActionAid and two hundred and fifty four Reading festival goers broke the Guinness World Record for the largest air guitar ensemble

Hundreds of revellers kicked off Reading Festival by joining charity ActionAid to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people playing air guitar in unison. Gathered together in the ‘Bollocks to Poverty’ tent, the 254-strong crowd collectively rocked it out to the Bon Jovi classic ‘You Give Love a Bad Name.’

Led by ‘expert’ air guitarist Dave ‘Wildman’ Pickles and partner Ricky ‘Gorgeous’ Jones, the crowd were given an air guitar warm up lesson before the big moment. As the first chords of the famous tune rung out through the tent, all fingers were poised and ready to strum their stuff- and once the music kicked in, the raucous crowd didn’t disappoint….

In the packed, hot and sweaty tent, the two hundred and fifty four revellers rocked and rolled, plucked and twanged hard enough to make even the most hardcore rock god proud.

Official adjudicator, Erica Holmes-Attivor, from Guinness World Records was on hand throughout the attempt to check all participants were playing their air guitar non-stop throughout the track.

“This was one rowdy and unruly crowd, but I kept a close eye on them and checked all were playing their air guitar correctly. We are proud to announce ActionAid have broken the Guinness World Record for the largest air guitar ensemble.” – said Erica Holmes

Anella Wickenden, who heads up the youth team at ActionAid, said: “This is our seventh year at Reading and we always have a fantastic response from people who want to get involved and join in the fight against global poverty.

“We want to say a big thanks to everyone who joined us to break the world record. The atmosphere in the tent was electric. Who needs real instruments when you’ve got hundreds of Reading fans all armed and ready to rock their air guitars?”

For more information visit www.actionaid.org.uk/bollocks