Let Me Run’s “Like A Fish” is available for free download here. The song is off the band’s debut album, Meet Me At The Bottom, which will be out on Jan. 20th.

Jessica Simpson will be at the Showroom in the IP Casino, Resort and Spa on Feb 20, 2009. The show starts at 9pm. Tickets are on sale now. Tickets start at $75 and are available online through www.ipbiloxi.com and www.ticketmaster.com. Guests must be 21 or older to attend the show. No refunds or exchanges will be permitted.

Ernie Ball and John Mayer have partnered together to offer one band or artist a once in a lifetime opportunity to play live on the main stage of the Mayercraft 2 alongside John Mayer, Guster, O.A.R and more. More details can be found here.

http://www.essencemusicfestival.com

Coming off its most successful year ever with more than 270,000 attendees this past July, the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL returns to New Orleans July 3, 4 and 5, 2009 with headliner Beyoncé. In celebration of the event’s 15th anniversary, the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL will offer a 15% discount on select tickets from December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009.

The annual weekend of entertainment and empowerment–hailed by USA TODAY (7-7-08) as having “achieved a balance of old-school homage and cutting-edge innovation at the Superdome”–will once again dazzle and uplift with an unprecedented three days of cultural celebrations over the festive Fourth of July holiday weekend. As in past years, musical performances are slated for the New Orleans Superdome and empowerment seminars are set to take place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

“As we plan the Essence Music Festival’s 15th anniversary in New Orleans next July, we are looking to create an environment that celebrates our history and looks to our future,” said Michelle Ebanks, president, Essence Communications Inc. “We invite everyone to join us as we mark this milestone occasion with friends old and new.”

With more than twelve musical performances a day from some of today’s greatest African-American artists, the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL sets itself apart from other music events around the world by including three full days of empowerment seminars. The empowerment seminars–which are free of charge–are open to the public on a first come, first served basis. Initial seminars for next year include Women’s Day: Getting the Life You Deserve featuring Dr. Juanita Bynum (Friday, July 3); State of Black America II: Realizing the Dream hosted by Roland Martin (Saturday, July 4); An All-Star Tribute to Bishop T.D. Jakes (Sunday, July 5).

The 2008 outing featured headlining performances from Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Chris Rock and Rihanna, with Empowerment Seminar appearances by Tyler Perry, Dr. Bill Cosby, Rev. Al Sharpton, Mayor C. Ray Nagin, Hill Harper, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Juanita Bynum and Tom Joyner. As the event concluded, concert attendees learned that platinum singer-songwriter-producer and actress Beyoncé would make her third appearance at the 2009 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL. Look for announcements about additional performers and seminars in early 2009.

With some of the biggest names in entertainment and the nation’s most influential speakers, artists, authors and leaders, the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is the nation’s largest annual gathering of African-American music and culture. What began in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine has now grown into one of the country’s “Top 10 Leading Brand Events” by Advertising Age.

In its 15-year history, the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL has featured an array of performers including Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Chris Brown, Destiny’s Child, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Kanye West, The Isley Brothers, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige, The O’Jays, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams.

The 2009 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC and produced by Rehage Entertainment. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI).

General admission daily tickets are available for $51, $67 or $79; floor seats are $92 and $121; Gold Circle tickets are $173; all plus applicable service charges. Note: the 15% discount only applies when tickets are purchased for all three days and does not apply to floor or Gold Circle tickets. To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 800-277-1700.

Matt Pond PA’s new EP, The Freeep, can be downloaded here. This is like an early Christmas. Maybe some local bands will give away some nifty free songs to fill your virtual stockings.

If you are a college student who enjoys Christian pop/rock music and are interested in an unpaid internship with a major label, please contact Jay or Andrew at labelscouts@gmail.com. Those interested in this position should have their ear to the ground in the Christian music scene, be available for a weekly conference call, have the ability to upload music to an FTP server (set up by the label), and free time to see shows. The internship can be performed from anywhere in the United States.

Article by Gina Turner

Have you ever walked into a place and felt like you were in on something special? The Julep Room, located in the cellar of Aunt Jenny’s restaurant in Ocean Springs, is a shining example of a well kept secret raising its voice and spreading the news: Original Music Lives Here.

The Julep Room’s roots run deep and far, mingling with music since even before it became one of Elvis’ favorite Coast haunts. The venue is the home of the oldest (and for a long time ONLY) all-original Songwriters Nights, known as the premier spot for singer-songwriters and bands to showcase their original music to an appreciative crowd. Not only that, but it’s faithfully remained the most consistent venue in the area, hosting live music of every persuasion six to seven nights a week.

The cellar also puts a new twist on tapping into the spirits, as local lore will tell you the place is more than just a nice place to have a drink…it’s been regarded as a nice place to see a ghost too (and THAT is a whole other history best told by one of the many ‘regulars.’ Stop in sometime and ask about it.)

It’s all of these things and more that makes The Julep Room so special amongst its peers. And what pushes it over the edge of ‘awesomeness?’ – THE PEOPLE who frequent it. The people, the sounds, the visual (floor joists hanging just overhead, just the ‘right’ lighting, the spirit of a cozy pub, the musicians, the folks behind the bar culminate to make the Julep experience once for the books. Curious? Go see.

On Friday, December 12, 2009 from 10pm-2am, The Julep Room and local performer Gina Turner are teaming up for a Toys For Tots drive. The night will feature music from Gina as well as early performances by Anthony Ainsworth, Matt Hoggatt, and Danielle Thomas – three of the area’s greatest songwriters. ADMISSION FOR THE EVENING = 1 NEW, UNWRAPPED TOY and there will DEFINITELY be some surprises in store. So, if you’ve never stepped a foot into the cellar, December 12th is a fantastic night to do it. If you’ve been there before but not in a while, December 12th is a fantastic night to revisit. If you’ve been looking for a reason to celebrate the season in the most spirited mix of music, magic and mostly importantly – charity – December 12th is the best day of the whole year to make a trip over…and, well…under!

Man Without Wax has released “Kansas City Shuffle” as a free download on their myspace page. This band is underrated.

The Riverboat Gamblers’ new album, Underneath the Owl, will be released on March 10th, 2009. Their first single, “A Choppy, Yet Sincere Apology,” is available for free download here.

Lydia’s “I Woke Up Near The Sea” is the free single of the week on Amazon.com.

Good Old War’s next single, “Weak Man,” can be downloaded for free over at Fuse.

Graham Wright of the Tokyo Police Club is giving away his free solo EP, The Lakes of Alberta.

Download a free mp3 from No Age right here. I’m a free song downloading whore.

(PRESS RELEASE) U.S.-based, Nationally-distributed Music Book Publisher Rock ‘N’ Roll Books is seeking bands- unsigned or otherwise- who grew up on and were musically influenced by legendary alt-rock band the Meat Puppets for inclusion on a Bonus Music Sampler that will be included with an authorized book on the band being released in 2009.

This is NOT a Tribute compilation, so in other words, we are not seeking COVERS of Meat Puppets tunes, but rather are featuring ORIGINAL ROCK/METAL bands on the sampler who sound derivatively alike or similar to the Meat Puppets in some manner (be it songwriting, vocal range, riffs, etc) performing an ORIGINAL song on the compilation. The sampler will be sold with each copy of the book, and each participating band will receive promos, as well as mention in all press materials, and the opportunity to be part of the first and only authorized book by/on the band.

Interested bands should email meatpuppetsinthestudiobook@yahoo.com with a web link (myspace preferably) where we can check out your sound before getting back in touch with further details regarding a formal spot on the cd sampler. Please also reference this specific comp in your reply. Visit www.myspace.com/meatpuppetsinthestudiobook for more info on the project as well!

With over 15 million users, more than 22 million mobile downloads a month, and a catalog of over 1.5 million mobile ringtones, wallpapers, videos, and games, Myxer is the largest and fastest growing site for advertising-supported and premium mobile content (music and more) in the U.S. Myxer makes the mobile music experience easy and fun - for consumers, artists, and content owners. Myxer has radically simplified mobile so that ANY artist can create, sell or share their mobile content without any expense or technical know-how. With over 100,000 bands and 5 million + unique visitors per month, Myxer’s growing community is a testament to that engaging experience. Plus, we work with all major carriers and over 2200 handsets.

The company is made up of former musiciansand technology gurus. The Myxer team has combined their passion for music and their expertise in Internet technology to provide artists with:

* Free Marketing Tools- Myxer’s ‘get started in mobile’ package leverages the company’s easy-to-use technology and provides artists with a simple way to sell or give away their ringtones. The package includes great online and mobile marketing tools, such as MyxerTags and MyxerCodes.

* MyxerTags are the easiest way for a band to deliver ringtones and other mobile content directly from their own website, MySpace profile or blog. Like a simple widget, bands can simply copy and paste html embed code from Myxer’s website to their site. And since the MyxerTag Widget embed code is displayed on each ringtone page on Myxer, fans can also easily post and share their favorite bands’ ringtones on their own web pages.

* MyxerCodes are short, recognizable text message “key words” that give fans easy access to mobile content and artist information directly from their phones, or from the web. Artists and bands can create personalized MyxerCodes or VanityCodes, so fans and friends can text ‘BandName’ to MYXER or go directly to www.myxer.com/BandName.

* New Audiences -Providing artists with access to a new audience of millions of people looking for free and premium mobile music content.

* New Release Promotion - Delivering a red carpet treatment to artists interested in promoting their new releases -generating as many as 5,000 to 15,000 downloads in only 24 hours. We recently promoted the new release by Thievery Corporation, featured on Myxer’s homepage. Check out: http://demo.myxer.com/post/51722164/thievery.

* Fan Lists - Connecting with fans via a text messaging fan list and delivering instant updates directly to their audience’s phones.

* Social Networking Applications- Newly released customizable storefront widgets for MySpace, Facebook and websites help artists easily get their mobile content in front of their fans.

Myxer has been receiving industry accolades and recognition for their Mobile Music Toolkit for artists, as well as their innovative technology and business success. They were just chosen by the Independent Music Awards to partner with them on the creation of a brand new ringtone category. They won for Best Mobile Toolkit at the Mobile Entertainment Forum and they’ve been selected to speak on panels at industry events like the Billboard, MMA and MEF conferences.

Leading brands are utilizing the Myxer mobile platform for integrated web and mobile web campaigns, including McDonald’s, CW Network, 20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures, and adidas to name a few. You can see some of their current and past brand partners at http://demo.myxer.com/. Record Labels and artists can also leverage Myxer’s platform and audience with features on the home page, across the site and marketingmessages embedded in SMS and WAP pages.

Myxer’s music partnerships include a distribution agreement with The Orchard, a global leader in digital music and entertainment, and IRIS Distribution, a leading independent music digital distribution and marketing company. Through The Orchard partnership Myxer has added over 1 million new ringtones to their unprecedented mobile content library. Myxer is converting tracks from The Orchard’s huge catalog that never existed as ringtones before via an automated process. These newly converted ringtones feature artists from around the world, spanning every genre and era.

Additional distribution agreements include relationships with many established Indie Labels, including Red Eye Distribution (www.redeyeusa.com), a leading Indie distributor, and Century Media (www.centurymedia.com/us), the leading Hardcore, Hard Rock, Metal label.

Indie Vision Music is offering a new compilation featuring all the best hits from their past compilations plus a few rarities and fun stuff. This is all being offered completely for free and without any strings attached. The file is 178MB so download here.

Here is an acoustic version of “A Little Goes A Long Way” that Aura has set to record this month. It’s a work in progress. Check it out and leave some comments for the guys.

The Sword are offering a free download of their track “How Heavy This Axe” taken as the next single off their upcoming record.

Eyeball Records has made their newest compilation, Eyeball Awareness Volume 3, available as a free download courtesy of yesterday’s Election Day. We need to elect presidents more often.

I love free stuff!!!