50 Bands I've Seen Live

I recently got sent a challenge on Facebook to name 50 bands or astists I've seen live. So always one for a challenge (especially when it involves a list) I wrote down the first 50 I thought of.

To maker it more tricky I tried to do it alphabetically and have two bands for each letter (that's why some aren't exactly my favourite acts!). I couldn't think of any for a couple of letters so some have more than two.

It showed just how much live music I've seen over the years, either at their own gigs or at festivals. This list is just the tip of the iceburg! How many can you list yourself?

1 Alabama 3
2 Airhead
3 Blur
4 Bjork
5 David Bowie
6 The Cure
7 Nick Cave (and the Badseeds)
8 Donovan
9 Dan Donnelly and friends
10 Ezio
11 Echo and the Bunnymen
12 Foo Fighters
13 Franz Ferdinand
14 Newton Faulkner
15 Goldfrapp
16 Gomez
17 Hot Chocolate
18 Inspiral Carpets
19 Jay-Z
20 Hobo Jones (and the Junkyard Dogs)
21 Kings of Leon
22 Kaiser Chiefs
23 The Killers
24 Leftfield
25 Lenny Kravitz
26 The Levellers
27 Paul McCartney
28 Manic Street Preachers
29 New Order
30 Orbital
31 Oasis
32 The Police
33 Pulp
34 Public Enemy
35 REM
36 The Raconteurs
37 Radiohead
38 Snow Patrol
39 Bruce Springsteen (and the E Street Band)
40 Squeeze
41 The Ting Tings
42 Travis
43 Underworld
44 The Verve
45 Velvet Underground
46 The Who
47 White Stripes
48 Yeah Yeah Yeahs
49 Neil Young
50 The Zutons

A pretty diverse list, I guess.

Guilty Pleasures - 5 things I love but maybe shouldn't

Big Brother

Probably one of the guilty pleasures that most would be least likely to admit to liking, Channel 4's annual summer marathon on "reality" madness is one of those programmes you watch with the notion that maybe your life isn't quite as bad as you thought.

Britain's Got Talent and the X-Factor may get more viewers but they're only really any good in the auditions stages, watching people who think they have talent delude themselves. Big Brother is like that all the way through!

Originally quite an interesting social experient it's become more a freakshow of wannabe's and extroverts prepared to humiliate themsleves on national TV in the vain hope of winning a possible £100,000 prize or a mediochum on z-list fame. You always wonder what you woulod do in the situations the prisoners of the BB house are thrown into and which housemate you are most like (sadly probably a mixture of Marcus and Halfwit for me this year!). And gawp through your fingers in embarressment and wonder why they don't walk (or even why they applied in the first place).

It's compulsive and definately a fine arguement for the "dumbing down" of television but it's car crash TV at it's best, am I excused by the fact I usually turn over to Newsnight when it's finished?

Queen's Don't Stop Me Now

Bohemian Rhapsody gets all the plaudits and everyone knows the the words but Don't Stop Me Now is a thrilling, unashamadly upbeat belter of a sing-a-long. With lyrics so happy and upbeat it ahould have a warning label for diabetics Queen's 1979 hit always leaves me with a huge smile and a soar throat from "singing" along at the top of my voice.

It just edges out the whole of the Flash Gordon soundtrack! And I wouldn't even call myself a huge fan of Queen, I usually find them too overblown and overtly camp.

Double Deckers

If you asked someone to name a chocolate bar they'd probably say a Mars Bar or even a Dairy Milk. But my favourite chocolate indulgence is Cadbury's Double Decker. It's a proper hunk of a bar, not like many of these new variations on a theme which seem to be just a way of addind more air to the confectionary by making it a gimmicky shape or an "exotic" flavour.

The Double Decker is a solid bar of chocolate, nougat and crisping stuff, a thick bite of chewiness and a fulling lump of sugary goodness. You can keep your boring Twix and Wispa's, give me a Double Decker any day.
Though I'm also partial to a dark chocolate Bounty too.

Dr Pepper

Like the Double Decker, Dr Pepper "fruit flavoured spakling drink" is overshadowed by the behemouth that is Coca Cola. But as a non coffee or tea drinker I get my caffeine (and far too much of my recommended daily sugar intake) from this little brother in the fizzy drinks market. I think I might be addicted but hey, what's the worst that can happen? (Don't answer that!)

Top Secret!

Probably my favourite "crap movie", Top Secret! is a spoof war/Elvis/Blue lagoon film from the gang that brough us the Airplane! and Naked Gun movies. Like those films it's a mismash of slapstick, visual and gag-a-second stupidness, with hundreds of quotable linesand Val Kilmer as a World War Two rock 'n' roll rock star thrown in.

It's daft, idiotic and, in my mind, one of the funniest films ever made. The characters are stereotypes (the group of French Resistant fighters are named things like Deja Vu, Chocoal Mousse and Latrine) and the jokes aren't the most sophiosticated at times ("What phoney dog poo?") but the overall effect is just as clever as Airplane! and a damn site betten than the modern spate of spoofs and American "comedies" like Scary Movie or Dude! Where's My Car?

Glastonbury 2009: The DeeDubya Awards

I got back yesterday from yet another majestic Glastonbury Festival. This year I tented it for the first time in about 8 years (rather than going in my campervan) which meant spendingh a lot more time with friends and hearing many more acts from the main stage from our camp. It was a lot more chilled this year, with less band chasing. Having said that I saw some brilliant acts, had wonderful sing-a-longs, great laughs, drunken dances, glimpses of random acts of weird and wonderness and generally getting away from the humdrum of real life for six days.

So, as this is The Blog of Lists, here are my "awards" of this year's best and worsts, based on last year's categories:

:: Best act:
Blur
Runners up: Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nick Cave and the Badseeds

:: Most disappointing act
Enter Shikari (not big and not clever!)

:: Best sing-a-long:
The whole of the Blur set! Truely one of the best sets I have seen at Glastonbury. I knew every song and the crowd seemed to be dancing, jumping,pogo-ing and swaying along to ever track. This is a high!

Runners up: Keep On Rockin' in the Free World chorus: Neil Young

:: Best cover:
Neil Young: The Beatle's A Day in the Life

:: Best food:
Thai stir fried chilli duck with vegetables

Runner up: The various uses of batter mix, used by BiggerHalls on his camping stove for breakfast everyday!!!

Best surprise: Bruce Springsteen joining The Gaslight Anthem on stage in the John Peel tent a few hours before his headlning set "Brooce, Brooce Brooce!!!!"

Runners up: Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon retuning the favour for Bruce during Born To Run, Damon Albarn getting "emotional" after This is a Low. Wanting to see all three headliners and really enjoying all their sets.

:: Loved:
Thursday night, getting so drunk I gained the nickname JellyDeeDubya, singing VERY loudly to (randomly) Queen's Don't Stop Me Now and Lionel Richie's All Night Long and trying to get the queue for the cinema tent (who were going to see Ferris Bueler's Day Off to sing Twist and Shout (and failing!)

Runners up: the view of a sunny site from the highest point in the flag field, the company, the atmosphere

:: Hated:
The fact that once past security in the Shangri-La area you couldn't turn back, had to walk all the way along the old railway track, running the whole length at the side of the area, THEN through the whole of Shangri-La itself although we didn't want to go in there, ending up coming out a few feet from where we started, if only we could have turned right instead of left.

Runners up: the trek to where we camped, but worth it in the end (great view, in ear shot of the Pyramid Stage)

:: Best improvement to the site:
The general organisation seems very good this year

:: Worst "improvement" to the site:
The lack of the "new" campervan field on the west side of the site. A couple of friends drove to this area only to find it wasn't there and they weren't allowed to sleep in the carparks (which was there). Luckily they had a tent and went onto the main site. It was advertised in all the official documkentation and maps so how many people were left queueing for hours only to find they'd have to go back out and do the same all over again on the other side of the huge site?

:: Glastonbury moment:
Neil Young's four reprises of Keep on Rockin' in the Free World.

Just as you thought he'd finished, he kicked off again (and it didn't seem indulgent or wrong, the crowd couldn't get enough). On the third he had the thousands watch waving their hands from side to side and the sea of arms was amazing, hands already in the air from clapping the "end" of the song only for Neil to start waving with a rye smile on his facing. Superb.

Michael Eavis's top five Glastonbury festival moments

Well, I'm off to Glastonbury Festival (again!) tomorrow so I thought I'd add a list of the festival's head honcho's favourite Glastonbury moments (as seen on the Guardian web site)

T Rex (1970)
'The sun was ­setting, everyone was watching, it was ­brilliant. It gave me the ­courage to carry on with the festival'

John Martyn (1979)
'He was in a good mood for a change. He was always drunk and slagging me off, we had quite a stormy relationship really. But on that occasion, at that moment in time, he was perfect'

The Smiths (1984)
'We had no fence around the ­Pyramid but it was the last year we could do that, because everybody climbed on stage and the band couldn't finish their set. I think they had a good time but ­Morrissey never admits to enjoying himself'

Oasis (1994)
'Not 1995 or any later, because they ­deteriorated with age, I think. But they were fantastic in 1994'

Radiohead (1997)
'I really wanted them to play again in 2008 but I got mixed up with the dates and they couldn't do it. I just think their ­performance that night, particularly of the song No ­Surprises, was very, very moving'

10 singing footballers

On this day in 793 Vikings raided Britain at Lindisfarne, off the coast of Newcastle. Today's list is about footballers who have, successfully or not, contributed their vocal "talents" to music:

• Paul Gascoigne and Lindisfarne - Fog on the Tyne: Former England and Tottenham boozy football genius joins the old Geordie folksters on this god-awful charity single.
• Kevin Keegan - Head Over Heels In Love: Another Geordie, only managed to reach number 33 in the British charts in 1979, though "It Ain't Easy" was a huge hit in Germany.
• Andrew Cole - Outstanding: Big Kev managed better than this rubbish R'n'B effort by the former Manchester United striker, which only got to number 69 in 1999.
• Michael Essien and Didier Drogba - Skin: The Chelsea stars get together and release an anti-racism benefit single
• Morten Gamst Pedersen : The Blackburn player is in a boy band The Players in his native Norway.
• Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle - Diamond Lights: The England and Tottenham stars missed a trick here, going under the name of Glenn and Chris with this tame slice of electro-pop
• Terry Venable - What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For?: Played for England, managed England, co-wrote a TV series (Hazell) and crooned. El Tel had it all.
• Carlos Tevez - The Manchester United (?) favourite is the front man for an Argentinian shanty town music band, Piola Vago.
• England 1982 World Cup Squad - This Time (We'll Get It Right): they didn't get it right, not the whole album or terrible tunes nor did they get past the first round in the World Cup.

Which Beatles album cover did Stuart Sutcliffe appear on?

Now there's a pub quiz question if I ever saw one. Stuart Sutcliffe was an early member of The Beatles who left before they hit the big time. Yet he still appeared on the iconic cover of the band's 1967 album cover, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.






It's difficult to imagine how utterly different not only the music but also the cover of this album was at the time of release: it was the first gatefold sleeve ever and also the first to print the lyrics for the songs. In this age of cd's and downloads the role of the album cover has diminished to some extent but Sgt Pepper will always stand out as a classic, a work of art in itself packaging one of the most influential records ever.



But all the people depicted (as life sized cardboard cutouts or waxwork figures), who are they? My first list in a long time is a list of people shown on the collage created by influential Pop Artist Peter Blake (it even won a Grammy for the artwork).

• Sri Yukestawar Giri (guru)
• Aleister Crowley (occultist, writer, mountaineer, poet, drug experimenter and yogi)
• Mae West (actress)
• Karlheinz Stockhausen (composer)
• W.C. Fields (actor/comedian)
• Carl Gustav Jung (psychologist)
• Edgar Allen Poe (writer)
• Fred Astaire (actor)
• Richard Merkin (artist)
• Das Varga Girl (by Artist Alberto Vargas)
• Leo Gorcey (actor) - painted out because he demanded a fee!
• Huntz Hall (actor)
• Simon Rodia (architect)
• Bob Dylan (singer/songwriter)
• Aubrey Beardsley (illustrator)
• Sir Robert Peel (politician and creator of the police force)
• Aldous Huxley (writer)
• Dylan Thomas (poet)
• Terry Southern (writer)
• Dion (di Mucci) (singer)
• Tony Curtis (actor)
• Wallace Berman (actor)
• Tommy Handley (comedian)
• Marilyn Monroe (actress)
• William Burroughs (ariter)
• Sri Mahavatara Babaji (guru)
• Stan Laurel (actor/comedian)
• Richard Lindner (writer)
• Oliver Hardy (actor/comedian)
• Karl Marx (philosopher/Socialist)
• H.G. Wells (writer)
• Sri Paramahansa Yoganandu (guru)
• Stuart Sutcliff (artist and former Beatle)
• Max Miller (music hall comedian)
• Marlon Brando (actor)
• Tom Mix (actor)
• Oscar Wilde (writer)
• Tyrone Power (actor)
• Larry Bell (artist)
• Dr. David Livingstone (missionary/explorer)
• Johnny Weismuller (swimmer and Tarzan!)
• Stephen Crane (writer)
• Issy Bonn (comedian)
• Sir George Bernhard Shaw (writer)
• H.C. Westermann (sculptor)
• Albert Stubbins (footballer)
• Sri Lahiri Mahasaya (guru)
• Lewis Carroll (writer)
• T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)
• Sonny Listen (boxer)
• Wax model of George Harrison
• Wax model of John Lennon
• Wax model of Ringo Starr
• Wax model of Paul McCartney
• Shirley Temple (actress)
• Albert Einstein (physicist)
• John Lennon (holding a french horn)
• Ringo Starr (holding a trumpet)
• Paul McCartney (holding a cor anglais)
• George Harrison (holding a flute)
• Bobby Breen (singer)
• Marlene Dietrich (actress)
• Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi (Indian political and spiritual leader) - painted out by request of EMI as they feared it would offend record buyers in India.
• Diana Dors (actress)
  
  

As well as the known "famous" people the collage also includes:
a wax hairdressers' dummy, Legionnaire from the Order of the Buffalos, The Petty Girl (by Artist George Petty), a cloth Grandmother Figure of Jann Haworth, a cloth figure of Shirley Temple by Jann Haworth, a Mexican candlestick, a television set, a stone figure of a girl, a statue from John Lennon's house, a trophy, a four-armed Indian doll, a drumskin designed by Joe Ephgrave, a hookah water tobacco pipe, a velvet snake, a Japanese stone figurine, a stone figure of Disney's Snow White, a garden gnome and a tuba! A guitar and the word "Beatles" are made of flowers.

Have I missed anything/anyone out?

Mercury Music Prize nominations 2008

On the day I finally got round to buying last year's winner Klaxon's Myths of the Near Future (in the HMV sale) this year's nominations for the Mercury Music Prize have been announced. With Amy Winehouse overlooked last year maybe one of the five female solo artists will scoop the prize. For the first time Coldplay haven't had their album nominated and The Ting Tings - a very "Marmite" band (I happen to love both) - have also missed out. It'll also be interesting to see Radiohead win it with their unique (at the time) way they released it, by passing the record industry - see here.

Considered to to one of the top awards in the British music calendar, the Mercury's always prompt discussion. Not owning any of the albums (I've been so slack this year, it's all been about live music)I can't comment on the list's possible winners, but here it is:

:: Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
:: Radiohead - In Rainbows
:: British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
:: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
:: Burial - Untrue
:: Estelle - Shine
:: Adele - 19
:: Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim
:: Rachel Unthank and the Winterset - The Bairns
:: Neon Neon - Stainless Style
:: Portico Quartet - Knee-deep in the North Sea
:: The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement

Glastonbury: the DeeDubya Awards

This is my "greatest" list of this year's Glastonbury festival. What impressed me at this year, my awards if you like:

:: Best act:
The Swell Season
Runners up The Verve, The Raconteurs, Crowded House

:: Most disappointing act
Vampire Weekend

:: Best sing-a-long:
The Drugs Don't Work: The Verve
Runners up: She's So Lovely: Scouting for Girls, Weather With You: Crowded House

:: Best cover:
Newton Faulker: Massive Attack's Teardrop
Runners up: The Feeling: Aha's Take On Me

:: Best food:
Glastonbury Rugby Club Chili Wrap
Runners up: Welsh meat and gravy oggie, buffalo burger

:: Best fancy dress:
Officer's Tiger
Runners up: Bus and G's Smurfs

:: Best flag spotted:
A tiny pennant on a huge stick that read "flag"
Runners up: "I slept with Chris Moyles"

:: Loved:
The weather
Runners up: the company, the atmosphere

:: Hated:
Having to leave
Runners up: the bit of rain we had (meaning we missed The Levellers)

:: Best improvement to the site:
The bigger John Peel Stage with screens outside

:: Worst "improvement" to the site:
No speakers ouside the John Peel tent so you couldn't hear what was on screen

:: Glastonbury moment:
Arm in arm with friends singing Hallelujah with Leonard Cohen on stage, the sun going down over the Pyramid Stage, turning around and see tens of thousands of people in the field doing the same, smiles on faces. THAT'S why I go to Glastonbury.
Runner up: The Swell Season playing their Oscar winning song, Falling Slowly, The fingertip Mexican wave towards the stage, orchestrated by Neil Finn of Crowded House

Glastonbury Festival - The Greatest

Well it's over for another year but the memories will last a long time. Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts 2008, the world's greatest festival, was a triumph, after the nay-sayers predicted doom. After a few years mud baths (especially 2005 mega-downpour and 2007 quagmire) and the controversial top billing of a rap artist for the first time (Jay-Z) the media were predicting that after the boom years of the 00's, Glastonbury was starting to show it's age, it's popularity waning (tickets didn't completely sell out until the Friday of the festival, when they usually sell in hours). Luckily, they pulled it out of the bag, the weather (more or less) smiled on Worthy farm and the atmosphere, bands and general all round organisation proved why it's the grandaddy.

After the last two washouts it was Sally's last chance and she said she wouldn't go again if it was wet. Apart from a bit of rain Thursday night/Friday morning the weather was glorious and she now knows what all the fuss is about. Any sludge soon dried up and it was easier to get round that before. I've been going since 1993 and she never believed what it was like dry but we managed to see more bands at more stages than ever: List number one, I saw bands on the Pyramind, Other, Jazz World, John Peel, Park, Avalon, Leftfield, Fire and Dance and Acoustic Stages).

Meeting up with loads of mates from our internet forum at the Cider Bus on Wednesday night and outside the Leftfield tent (fancy dress! photos here LINK) on Thursday prolongs the festival which the media would have you think starts with the main stages on Friday.

Ok, this is the Blog of Lists so on with the business at hand. Although Glastonbury is so much more than the music (it has comedy, cabaret, theatre etc) the music is the main draw for me. Nothing better than lying in a field in the sun, beer in hand listening to a wide variety of brilliant music. So, deep breath here's a list of bands that I saw/heard the whole or majority of their sets in order:

(from outside the Leftfield tent whilst having our fancy dress party! Married to the Sea, The Daisy Riots, he Seal Cub Clubbing Club, Elle S'Appelle, The Rascals, The Pie Tasters, The King Blues, The Slackers)
Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs
Vampire Weekend
Alabama 3
The Ting Tings
Fun Lovin' Criminals
Franz Ferdinand (unbilled set)
Seasick Steve
Crowded House
The Wombats
The Raconteurs
The Swell Season
Jay-Z
Carnival Collective
Dan Donnelly and Friends
Newton Faulkner
Jack Penate
Scouting for Girls
Goldfrapp
Leonard Cohen
The Verve

Also part sets of the following acts (either beginning after another act, the end, waiting for the next act or just wondering past on a journey elsewhere):

The Feeling. Jimmy Cliff, The Gossip, Martha Wainwright, Joan Armatrading, James Blunt, Will Young, Glenn Tilbrook and the Fluffers, Neil Diamond,plus random unknown acts on smaller stages like the bandstand, the fire show and a great Australian reggae duo in the Tiny Tea Tent!

See the next post for my "best of"s of the festival.
View my photo's here LINK

The MOJO Honours List 2008

Now, MOJO is a music magazinr I don't think I've ever bought. It tends to celebrate the old classic rock music of times gone by and more "AOR" of today. They held their annual awards ceremony last night and the magazine's music policy is reflected in it's winners.

Five of the MOJO Honours List categories are contemporary, best-of-the-year type awards, voted for online by the readers. Even these acts (rather than all the inspiration type awards) are retro sounding; Duffy (sounds like Dusty Springfield), The Last Shadow Puppets (Scott Walker) and the rest of the awards went to acts that have been around for decades (and many are playing Glastonbury Festival next week)..



The MOJO Breakthrough Act -
The Last Shadow Puppets

The MOJO Song Of The Year -
Duffy (Mercy)

The MOJO Roots Award -
Toots Hibbert

The MOJO Les Paul Award -
John Martyn

The MOJO Vision Award -
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (Julien Temple)

The MOJO Catalogue Release Of The Year -
Pillows And Prayers: Cherry Red Records 1981-1984

The MOJO Medal -
Dave Robinson

The MOJO Compilation Of The Year -
Juno OST

The MOJO Legend Award -
Irma Thomas

The MOJO Classic Album Award -
My Bloody Valentine (Loveless)

The MOJO Maverick -
The Fall

The MOJO Hall Of Fame -
The Specials

The MOJO Hero Award -
Motörhead

The MOJO Inspiration Award -
John Fogerty

The MOJO Best Live Act -
Led Zeppelin

The MOJO Outstanding Contribution To Music -
Paul Weller

The MOJO Lifetime Achievement Award -
Genesis

The MOJO Classic Songwriter -
Neil Diamond

The MOJO Icon Award -
Sex Pistols

Keep music live!

It's been a great year of live music for me, including the biggest gig I've ever been to, the Foo Fighters at Wembley Stadium on Saturday (with encore support by Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones of Ledd Zepplin!). It was immense and they raaawked, man! Truely (as Dave Grohl would say) fuckin awesome. Thought I'd better mark the occasion with a list:


Great bands I've seen live this year (in no particular order):

Foo Fighters
The Police
The Who
Kaiser Cheifs
Ezio
The Levellers
The Killers
Bjork
Supergrass
The Futureheads
The Kooks
Manic Street Preachers
Arcade Fire
Babyshambles
Klaxons
The Enemy
Beetroot Kings
The Runners

...and with Glastonbury Festival just weeks away, Beetroot Kings single release gig next weekend, REM (supported by Editors and Guillemots) in August, Bearded Theory part II in October, Beautiful Days festival and even Boy George to come, it's not all over! Long live live music!

If you don't know some of the above bands then I recommend you check them out, cos these are the cream of the crop of bands I've seen in the past 12 months.

Eurovision Song Contest 2008

The huge farce which is the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Belgrade this weekend and surprise surprise the eastern block countries voted for the neighbours resulting in a win for Russia. The United Kingdom entry, by Andy Abraham, came joint last (with Germany and Poland with just 14 points) as no one likes us, no matter how good the song was (not great but better than Spanish effort, some singing pirates and a 75 year old rapper).

I didn't actually watch it but the results are listed below. We were far too buy having a party for Sally's birthday (where I rewrote the words to the Kaiser Chief's Ruby, the horrendous results can be heard here, along with some photos - link. A lot more entertaining!

1. Russia - Artist: Dima Bilan - Song: Believe - Points: 272
2. Ukraine - Ani Lorak - Shady Lady - 230
3. Greece - Kalomira - Secret Combination - 218
4. Armenia - Sirusho - Qele, Qele - 199
5. Norway - Maria - Hold On Be Strong - 182
6. Serbia - Jelena Tomašević feat. Bora Dugic - Oro - 160
7. Turkey - Mor ve Ötesi - Deli - 138
8. Azerbaijan - Elnur & Samir - Day After Day -132
9. Israel - Boaz - The Fire In Your Eyes - 124
10. Bosnia & Herzegovina - Laka - Pokušaj - 110
11. Georgia - Diana Gurtskaya - Peace Will Come 83
12. Latvia - Pirates Of The Sea - Wolves Of The Sea 83
13. Portugal - Simon Mathew - Senhora Do Mar (Negras Águas0) - 60
14. Iceland - Euroband - This Is My Life - 64
15. Denmark - Vânia Fernandes - All Night Long - 60
16. Spain - Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - Baila El Chiki Chiki - 55
17. Albania - Olta Boka - Zemrën E Lamë Peng - 55
18. Sweden - Charlotte Perrelli - Hero - 47
19. France - Sébastien Tellier - Divine - 47
20. Romania - Nico & Vlad - Pe-o Margine De Lume - 45
21. Croatia - Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents - Romanca - 44
22. Finland - Teräsbetoni - Missä Miehet Ratsastaa - 35
23. Germany - No Angels - Disappear - 14
24. Poland - Isis Gee - For Life - 14
25. United Kingdom - Andy Abraham - Even If - 14

Actors that sing

This is not an excuse just to have a picture of the luminous Scarlett Johansson, honestly. She has an album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, out in the past couple of weeks, cover versions of, of all people, Tom Waits (who I love) with backing support from people like David Bowie and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It's had mixed reviews, I haven't heard it myself but it sounds an odd combination. It makes me think it would never have been made had she not been the movie star she was.

It also made me wonder if the records in the following list would have been made if the singers weren't actors.

:: Nick Berry - Every Loser Wins - highest UK chart position: No 1

:: Clive Dunn - Grandad - No 1
:: Windsor Davies and Don Estelle - Whispering Grass - No 1

:: Bennie Hill - Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West - No 1

:: Lee Marvin - Wanderin' Star - No 1

:: Jimmy Nail - Ain't No Love - No 1

:: Telly Savala - If - No 1

:: David Soul - Don't Give Up On Me Baby - No 1

:: Bruce Willis - Under the Boardwalk - No 2

:: Dennis Waterman - I Could Be So Good For You - No 3

:: Anita Dobson - Anyone Can Fall In Love - No 4

:: Kate Winslet - What If? - No 6

:: Don Johnson - Till I Love You - No 16

:: Edward Woodward - The Way You Look Tonight - No 42

That's not to mention William Shatner, John Travolta, Judy Garland, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Dale, Richard Chamberlain, Danny Kaye the list is far too long, unfortunately. Can you think of any?

Ivor Novello Awards 2008

The 53rd Ivor Novello awards for the best in British song writing (as opposed to performance) were held today and Amy Winehouse won the two awards for her song Love is a Losing Game, best song musically and lyrically. Phil Collins, who won the international acheivement know what for, perhaps for moving to and staying in Switzerland!) thanked the gorilla from the Cadbury's ad for taking In the Air Tonight to number one for the third time.

Winehouse turned up late to the ceremony, on the day she was announced as special guest to play the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, behind headliner Jay_Z. That bodes well for a cracking, on-time performance from the troubled singer.

The Ivors are considered the top awards in songwriting. It's nice to see talent like the Squeeze frontmen, Difford and Tilbrook (who I'm seeing ater in the year as Squeeze having seen both solo) and Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmore being recognised, and Radiohead winning best album. Here is the list of winners:

:: Best song musically and lyrically:

Love Is A Losing Game - Amy Winehouse

:: Best contemporary song

People Help The People - Cherry Ghost

:: Best television soundtrack

Oliver Twist

:: Best original film score

Atonement

:: PRS most performed work

Shine - Take That

:: Best-selling British song

Beautiful Liar - Beyonce and Shakira

: Album award

In Rainbows - Radiohead

:: International achievement

Phil Collins

:: Ivors Inspiration award

Jazzie B

:: Ivors classical music award

Jonathan Dove

:: Outstanding song collection

Gabrielle

:: PRS outstanding contribution to British music

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook

:: Songwriter of the year

Mika

:: Special international award

Diane Warren

:: Lifetime achievement

David Gilmour

Added note: Bearded Theory rocked!

Bearded Theory festival was brilliant. Great crowd, great organisation and most of all great fun. The bands were great: unfortunately Dan Donnelly pulled out but The Runners were a fantastic replacement one of the highlights) and one to watch: a spiky, indie band with great songs and the stage presence f a band much bigger. Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs got everyone singing along, the Beetroot Kings were fabulous and should go far (first single release next month), Dreadzone Sound System rocked the dance tent and the open mic stage in the tea tent was inspired, and great fun.

The only complaint could be the weather, aftre two blazing hot weekends it was a little damp and cold. The buzz on the multitude of festivals forums (including the official one) is very good. Well done everyone involved and see you again next year.

Here's a few of my photos. link
And videos of my cousin Al and buddy Keef (who had never played together before) playing on the Open Mic Stage. link 1, link 2

Bearded Theory: the summer starts here

Well, I'm all packed and ready to go for my first music festival of the year, Bearded Theory, a small charity gathering in Derbyshire. It's going to be brilliant. Sally (my wife) has been heavily involved in organising it (with a little help from me) after the organiser asked for volunteers. She's actually on site now, sorting out last minute preparations and shivering in a tent.

All the profits are going to Oxfam. The ethos of the whole festival is one "for the people, by the people", with everyone mucking in. Even the bands are doing their bit, some have even bought their own tickets so the money goes to Oxfam. Keep an eye out for this one next year because there is a major buzz about this one.

So today's list has to be the line-up of Bearded Theory, check out their web sites (click their names, most have examples of their music), there are some great acts appearing and I can't wai

3 Daft Monkeys

"We welcome back the wonderful Monkeys to HEADLINE Bearded Theory 2008. 3 Daft Monkeys are one of the biggest and best festival bands around. The 2007 festival scene has seen them make ground breaking appearances at festivals such as Beautiful Days, Glastonbury and Solfest. Whether it's Celtic, Balkan, Gypsy, Latino, Cornish or other World Music you are drawn to, you will hear it's influences in their self written music. Add to this the band's varied backgrounds from Dance, Dub, Punk, Reggae and Traditional Folk, and you have a stunning combination. The Exeter based Monkeys have released a new EP called "Go Tell The Bees" which is available in all good record shops; all is set for this threesome to hit the big time and deservedly so!!"

Beetroot Kings

"Beetroot Kings are a Mansfield based five piece folk/rock/indie band who formed in May 2007. Gary Armstrong lead singer, guitarist and songwriter in The Beetroot Kings states "Luckily we live within a very musical environment and the rest of the line up are all local lads with a passion for the music we have produced”. The sound and style is unique yet palatable to just about any music enthusiast and thus the band has gained a strong following. So now it is for you to listen and hopefully love what The Beetroot Kings have done and will continue to do. THE CALLING E.P is the first studio release from THE BEETROOT KINGS "

Tarantism

"It’s all about dancing, always has been, from tribal drums, mediaeval pipes or a frenzy of voices. To sweaty pub back-rooms, banging nightclubs, free festivals & parties or anywhere there is a beat! Dance music embraces all of this history & Tarantism bring all of these influences into their songwriting & performance, weaving traditional instruments & styles with ska, punk, funk & dub. Along with contemporary lyrical content & imaginative arrangements this produces a unique mix of infectious dance rhythms & memorable tunes, real music that is fun & uplifting!"

The True Deceivers

"The True Deceivers were formed from the ashes of The Blazing Homesteads. Homesteaders Nick Bliss (guitar and vocals) and Mark Mitchell (fiddle, mandolin and vocals) teamed up with former Plenty frontman Graham Firth (lead vocals and guitar). They were joined on bass by Dee Coley (also a former Homesteader) and on drums by Jamie Legg (Eat The Sofa/ Jonson). The line up was completed by Nick Legg whose lighting and effects create the perfect ambiance for The True Deceivers unique brand of roots/ rock. Expect fiddle driven riffs, catchy tunes and great harmonies – a live experience not to be missed."

Rev Hammer

"Rev Hammer regards his music not so much as a passport to fame and fortune but as a ticket to ride. He learned to play guitar and sing at the same time and wisely thought busking was the best way to get to a standard where he could play publicly. Rev spent 18 months busking in the streets before he dared stand on a stage. By combining traditional and modern folk styles with jokes and idle banter he is able to create a warm and friendly atmosphere in even the coldest rooms. He is at his best however, when playing small intimate rooms where the audience can feel part of the show. Rev’s song writing has been featured on recordings by a variety of contemporary artists including The Levellers, whose version of “Maid Of The River” featured on their No1 album “Zeitgeist”. REV HAMMER’S FREEBORN JOHN is a musical biography of the radical Civil War unsung hero JOHN LILBURNE, who spoke out for the common man against oppression by the Royalists and then later against Cromwell himself. Rev is one of the country’s foremost modern folk singers. "

Hobo Jones and the Junkyard King

"Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs are one of the more unusual acts playing in the UK today. Basically a skiffle band who can skiffle almost anything (including The Pussycat Dolls!) but also a comedy band who will keep you laughing all night while enjoying their own brand of musical entertainment. They seem to make themselves at home anywhere they play; from the corner of a small pub to a large outdoor stage, it doesn't matter where this band play, they can adapt their act to fit any type of venue. The band have supported Dr. & The Medics, Chas & Dave & Bad Manners, won the Maidstone Busker's Festival, played many weekend festivals including Run To The Sun, VW Expo, The Bath & West Bike Show and Beautiful Days Festival. Dressed in tattered suits and top hats, they grab your attention wherever they go and their tongue in cheek comedy & rock n roll skiffle will have you tapping your feet, laughing and singing along in no time."

Dan Donnelly

-unfortunately couldn't make it

Felicity Kicks

"Playing mainly original songs written in a collective environment Flick, as the bands affectionately known, aims to bring you high energy emotive rock music with an emphasis on melody and structure. Now in their fourth year and with more than twenty years live experience between them, Flick are gradually forming a musical style all of their own, which leaves live audiences wanting more and not knowing why! When asked what who they sound like the band cannot say, but quote influences including AC/DC, The Wildhearts, Foo Fighters, Guns and Roses, Pearl Jam and Therapy. Flick pride themselves on being a professional live act and strive to both entertain and tell it like it is. "

Freedom

"Freedom is the perfect accompaniment for any festival. Not having him playing would be like not bringing scrumpy cider to a festival! Freedom has years of experience in music game and is the grandfather of acoustic music. Freedom is at his best around a campfire singing festival and folk anthems to an appreciated crowd. He will cover almost anything you throw at him and he pulls it off every time. Don’t just expect singing expect story’s of his colourful life and jokes as bad as Jonny Rotton`s socks. His music and personality brings togetherness wherever ever he plays. We are over the moon he agreed to play at Bearded Theory 2008."

Gail (plus special guests)

"Gail is Britain’s undiscovered queen of folk. Gail has strong vocals that match the legendary Joan Baez and passion for music that can rival Jonny Cash. Gail has been long overlooked for the quality musician which she is. Gail is not afraid to cover sing-a-long anthems which always go down a storm wherever she plays and will surprise you with her own songs such as the beautiful “This Land”. Gail has played at countless festivals over the years such as Wessex Gathering, Lammas Festival and has supported prestigious artists such as Mc Dermott’s 2 Hours and Last Nights Fun. Get your singing voices in order; Gail is back at Bearded Theory!!"

There is also a ball (with everyone dressing up on the Friday night), special surprise guests and the following DJ's doing sets in the dance arena:

Dreadzone Soundsystem

Avante Garde

Bez23

Mr B

Tall Sarah.

There is a reason that it's called Bearded Theory, something about a drunken episode with the organisers in Amsterdam but the great thing is that everyone has been asked to wear a beard, with a prize for the best. I've attempted to cultivate a little one on my chin which someone at work described as a "brazilian". Hmmm.

Glastonbury Festival official line-up

Well, here it is, this year's line-up to the biggest festival of contempory performing arts in the country, Glastonbury. This is my annual pilgramage to escape the rat-race and have a few beers in a field listening to some excellent music. Today was the official date of the line-up announcement but they were leaked online on Tueday. I've been a bit slack with the blog (a couple of important football matches got in the way!) so here, a last, the list (for the main stages - this excludes all the dance stages, any entertainment on the Thursday night and much more - more info here):

Pyramid Stage
Friday: Kings of Leon - The Fratellis- Editors- Gossip- The Feeling- KT Tunstall- Get Cape Wear Cape Fly- The Subways-Kate Nash

Saturday: Jay-Z - Very Special Guest - Manu Chao - The Raconteurs - James Blunt - Crowded House - Seasick Steve - The Hold Steady - Shakin Stevens

Sunday: The Verve - Leonard Cohen - Goldfrapp - John Mayer - Gilbert O'Sullivan

Other Stage

Friday: Panic at the Disco - The Enemy - We Are Scientists - Foals - The Hoosiers - Ben Folds - Vampire Weekend - Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong - Hilltop Hoods

Saturday: Massive Attack -Hot Chip - Elbow - Duffy - The Wombats - Neon Neon - Black Kids - The Golden Silvers - The Travelling Band

Sunday: Groove Armada
-The Zutons - Pigeon Detectives- Mark Ronson- Scouting for Girls- Jack Penate- Newton Faulkner- Black Mountain- The Hoodoo Gurus- Emmy The Great

Jazz World
Friday: Jimmy Cliff- Estelle- Fun Lovin Criminals- Special Guest- Candi Staton- Alabama 3- Special Guest- Phantom Limb- Mankala

Saturday: Ethiopiques- Buddy Guy- Imagined Village- Joan Armatrading- Eric Bibb- Massukos - The Blessing- Special GuestBedouin Jerry Can Band

Sunday: Special Guest- King Solomon Burke- Eddy Grant- Dub Colossus- Asere & Billy Cobham- Balkan Beat Fox- Almasala- Portico Quartet- Sense of Sound

John Peel Stage
Friday: Jamie T- The Cribs- Reverend and the Makers- The Kills- The Ting Tings- The Young Knives- Lightspeed Champion- Make Model- Patrick Watson- Roy World

Saturday: Biffy Clyro- The Futureheads- Band of Horses- The Black Lips- Vampire Weekend- The Courteneers- British Sea Power- Holy Fuck- The Teenagers- Hilltop Hoods- Emmy the Great- Dogtanion

Sunday: The National- Spiritualized- Crystal Castles- Brian Jonestown Massacre- The Stars- Rocket Summer- Friendly Fires- The Whip- Yeasayer

The Park
Friday: Pete Doherty- Dizzee Rascal- John Cale- Special Guest- Edwyn Collins- The Duke Spirit- Operator Please- Sons & Daughters- Santogold- Beggars- Magic Wands- Island Line- The Langley Sisters

Saturday: CSS- Battles- MGMT- Very Special Guest- 'Music Through Unconventional Means' With Shlomo's Vocal Orchestra & Special Guests- Kool Keith & Kutmaster Kurt- Special Guest- Alphabeat- St Vincent- Jape- Eugene MacGuiness

Sunday: My Morning Jacket- Tunng- Vetiver- Caribou- Laura Marling- The Mystery Jets- Kathryn Williams & Neil Macoll- The Cave Singers- Alberta Cross- Mumford and Sons- Alan Tyler & The Lost Sons- Redbridge Brass Band

Acoustic
Friday: Seasick Steve- Sinead O'Connor- Newton Faulkner- Arno Carstens- Eddi Reader- Camille O'Sullivan- Eleanor McEvoy- Devon Sproule- Acoustic Stage Blues Club with Grainne Duffy

Saturday: Gilbert O'Sullivan- The Swell Season Featuring Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova- Glenn Tobrook & The Fluffers- Seth Lakeman- Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders- Thea Gilmore- Sid Griffin & The Coal Porters- Emily Maguire-Acoustic Stage Blues Club with Grainne Duffy- The Travelling Band

Sunday: Joan Baez- Suzanne Vega- The London Community Gospel Choir- Stackridge- Tom Baxter- Tift Merritt- Foy Vance- A coustic Stage Blues Club with Grainne Duffy- Amsterdam- Lazenby

Avalon Stage
Friday: Sharon Shannon & Big Band- Xavier Rudd- Hazel O'Connor- The Man They Couldn't Hang- Ron Sexmith- Kissmet- Hobo Jones and the Junkyward Dogs

Saturday: The Proclaimers- Will Young- Alabama 3 Unplugged- The Handsome Family- The Wurzels - Rachel Unthank & Winterset- Bacalao- Malarchy- One String Loose

Sunday: Katie Melua- Blazin' Fiddles- Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara- John Tams & Barry Coope- The Baghdaddies Big Band- The Family Mahone- Rafven- Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet- Prison Love

Queens Head

Friday: DJ Tayo's Tracksuit Party- SingStar- DJ Smash n' Frab- Singstar- DJ Smash n' Grab- Singstar- Kate Nash- The Script- Young Knives

Saturday: Dj Sean Rowley- SingStar- DJ Sean Rowley- SingStar- DJ Annie Mac- SingStar- Pigeon Detectives- White Denim- Ron Sexsmith- Teddy Thompson- Duke Spirit- The Modern Skits- Stephen Pretwell or The Accidental- Red Letter Day- Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong- The Holloways- Catpain- Babel- Team Waterpolo

Sunday: DJ The Voguettes- SingStar- DJ The Voguettes- SingStar- DJ Soulsavers- SingStars- Elbow- Noah and the Whale- Florence And The Machine- Congregation- Dengue Fever- Dawn Kinnard- Cocknbullkid- Ladyhawke

Left Field
Friday: John Byrne- David Ford- Frank Turner- Beans on Toast- Alabama 3- The Holloways- Kate Nash- Jenners Field- Charlotte Campbell- Dance for Life- Tawiah- Heve Jones- Buddha Tears- Dockers MC- Brit School Presents - Dance for Life

Saturday: - New York Fund- Lazy Habits- Reverend and the Makers- Get Cape Wear Cape Fly- Neville Staple- The Krak- The Mentalists Rock Against Racism- Cars on Fire- Flykiller- Alex and the Drummer

Sunday: - Night of Treason- Neck - Billy Bragg- Dirty Pretty Things- Bluetones- Build a band youth music- Movie - Jail Guitar Doors- Phil Jupitus- The Beat- Left Field Rally with Tony Benn- Carnival Collective

and a few other acts:

Theatre & Circus: The 2 Ladies • 3cubed • 4 Poofs and a Piano • Airealism • Andi Neate • Andrew Maxwell • Andy Parsons • Angie Mackman •Attila the Stockbroker • Black Eagles • Blackskywhite • Brendan Burns • Bruce Airhead • Cascade • The Cholmondeleys & The Featherstonehaughs •Coreo Hazzard • Dare • Dino Lampa • Ed Tudor-Pole • Fidget Feeet • Flameoz • Fraser Hooper • Glen Wool • Guy Pratt • Half Human Video • Hard Shoulder• Ian Cognito • Jeff Green • Jonathan Kay • Joolz & the New York Alcoholic Anxiety Attack • Josey Long • Keth • Kevin Eldon • Mike Raffone • Missfitz• Mitch Benn • Nick Wilty • Nina Conti • Norbi • The Others • Ole • Robin Ince • Rod Laver • Rory Motion • Russell Howard • Shep Huntley • Sierra Maestra• Siyaya • Starfiz • Stargazing • The Stephen Frost Improv Allstars • Steve Gribbin • Twisted Cabaret • Yvette Du Sol

Shangri La: 12 Stone Toddler • 40 Thieves Orckestra • Amigos • Babyhead • Bearlesque • Bison • Black Twang • Blackblock • Brothers Bab • The Chump DJs• Crystal Distortion • Cuttashine • Dead Silence • Deekline & Wizard • Digs & Whoosh DIY • Don Bradmans • Double Edge • Dubfex • Dynamo Rhythm Aces• Gaz Mayall • Gypsy Delica • Heyseed Dixie • The Holloways • Iiyak • J-Star & McHoney Brown • Jaipur Kawa • Kartel Records • Kid Harpoon •Last Man Standing • Last Man Standing Saloon • Latin Dub Sound System • Lazy Habits • Marner Brown Beans on Toast • Mr Psik & G-Cut • Mudsun• Nathan Flute Box • Natty 4D • Natty Florence And The Machine • Neville Staples (Two Tone) • No 1 Station • Orb Benga And Skream Vagabond Boogaloo• Pronghorn • Ratfinks • Rob & Steve Smokescreen • Robyn Hytchcock • Routes2roots • Shantel and the Bucovina Club • Sick Note • Smerins •Stranger Than Paradise Club • Tofu Love Frogs • Vjamm All Stars • Warlords Of Pez • Wax & Inferno

Kidz Field: Bell and Bullock • Black Cat Theatre • Bodger & Badger • Carolin Emerson • Chris Woz and Picklelily • Christine Willison and Mitzi • CoreoHazzard • DNA • Eventuality • The Foolhardy Folk Circus Clowns • Goffee • Goronwy Thom • Jasmine • John Row • Keep Fruity, Acting Up • MainbraceTheatre • Mike Hares • Monkey Shine Theatre • Mr Mike and Mr Maynard • Nicada Puppets • No Strings Puppet Theatre • Noisy Oyster • Norbi • ParasoleProductions • Pekkos Puppets • Prof. Panic • Seikou Susso • Sidney Sloane • Sirkus on Foot • Steve Tasane • Strawberry The Clown • Tallulah Swirls •Tippety Twig and the Pond Monster • Zu Ariel Dance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who says it's expensive at£160? What choice. I think it's an excellent line-up. I've seen a few and am seeing others later in the year but me and Sally got our highlighters out the other day and despite a few clashes we've more or less planned who we'd like to see.

Is there anyone there you would recommend?

Glastonbury 2008 ticket day

Well, today's list could have been a number of things: something on the protests at the London Olympic Torch parade about China's human rights record and their recent treatment of Tibet (too political), the death of Charlton Heston, former great actor and misguided President of the NRA (too political again!).

The fact I've been creating an Interactive Glastonbury 2008 Map as an exercise in learning Adobe Flash has also added to this.

So, what's really been on my mind today: Glastonbury Festival tickets went on sale today and we (and our friends) all managed to get them. The ticket lines were snarled up, never even got through on the phones, but with help from friends (and after securing tickets ourselves, us helping other friends) we're off on our annual pilgrimage to may favourite past time, the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts!

Though there rumours one of the headliners is pulling out (maybe it's Jay-Z cos of his recent marriage to Beyonce, can't see her in a pair of wellies) and possibly being replaced by Kylie (she had to pull out a few years ago because of her breast cancer), here is a list of some of the rumoured and confirmed artists as of today:

Confirmed (all confirmed by organiser, Michael Eavis):

Pyramid (main stage) headliners:

Kings of Leon

Jay-Z

The Verve

Confirmed by the Eavis' or the bands themselves:

Alabama 3

Simon Atkinson and the Ben Marcato Trio

Joan Armatrading

Audioporn

Bodger & Badger!

British Sea Power

Solomon Burke

CSS

Jimmy Cliff

Leonard Cohen

Neil Diamond

Pete Doherty

Dreadzone

Duffy

Editors

Elbow

Elle S'Appelle

The Enemy

Estelle

The Feeling

The Fratellis

Goldfrapp

Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs

Hot Chip

Johnny Action Finger

Seth Lakeman

Massive Attack

Andrew Motion

Kate Nash

Gilbert O'Sullivan

Pronghorn

Red Route

Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra

Stackridge

The Wombats

The Wurzles

Rumours, nothing confirmed but looking likely (for example, things on their MySpace pages mention their appearance):

3 Daft Monkeys

Adele

Band of Horses

Booka Shade

Carnival Collective
Cerys Matthews

The Courteeners

Dizzee Rascal

Fatboy Slim

Futureheads

Get Cape Wear Cape Fly

The Golden Silvers

The Gossip

Groove Armada

Buddy Guy

Jim Bob

Lupe Fiasco

Foals

Hayseed Dixie

The Krak

The Levellers

Lightspeed Champion

MGMT

Neon Neon

Hazel O'Connor

Panic at the Disco

The Proclaimers

Chris Rea

Seize The Day

Sex Pistols

Scouting for Girls

Sons and Daughters

Stereophonics

System 7

The Subways

John Tams

Team Waterpolo

The Ting Tings

Vampire Weekend

Way Out West

Amy Winehouse

Yes Sir Boss

Young Knives

Will Young

50 Best British Albums

To celebrate 50 years of great British music, Q magazine (in conjunction with HMV) has published the results of a readers poll to name the 50 best British albums ever. Readers were asked to list their three favourite British albums of the last 50 years (released between 1958 and 2008).

As always there are a few surprises and it shows the readership of the magazine, quite conservative and older than the NME crowd for example... and fans of the Manchester band at positions 1 and 2 (and 14 and 22!). No surprise that The Beatles have the most albums n the list, with five.

The biggest surprise for me is Keane being in the top ten (and again at number 13) and not a single female makes the list. What are your thoughts?

1 Definitely Maybe - Oasis

2 (What's The Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis

3 OK Computer - Radiohead

4 Revolver - The Beatles

5 The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

6 Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

7 London Calling -The Clash

8 Under The Iron Sea - Keane

9 Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd

10 Urban Hymns - The Verve

11 The Bends - Radiohead

12 Abbey Road - The Beatles

13 Hopes And Fears - Keane

14 Don't Believe The Truth - Oasis

15 Violator - Depeche Mode

16 The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths

17 A Night At The Opera - Queen

18 Whatever People Say I Am - Arctic Monkeys

19 The White Album - The Beatles

20 Never Mind The Bollocks - Sex Pistols

21 Rubber Soul - The Beatles

22 Be Here Now - Oasis

23 Absolution - Muse

24 Rio - Duran Duran

25 Parklife - Blur

26 A Rush Of Blood To The Head - Coldplay

27 The Holy Bible - Manic Street Preachers

28 Origin Of Symmetry - Muse

29 IV - Led Zeppelin

30 The Wall - Pink Floyd

31 Up The Bracket - The Libertines

32 X&Y - Coldplay

33 Who's Next - The Who

34 Black Holes And Revelations - Muse

35 Back To Black - AmyWinehouse

36 Songs Of Faith And Devotion - Depeche Mode

37 Word Gets Around - Stereophonics

38 The Fat Of The Land - Prodigy

39 Different Class - Pulp

40 In Rainbows - Radiohead

41 Hunky Dory - David Bowie

42 Favourite Worst Nightmare - Arctic Monkeys

43 Everything Must Go - Manic Street Preachers

44 Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

45 Behaviour - Pet Shop Boys

46 Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie

47 Parachutes - Coldplay

48 Exile On Main Street - Rolling Stones

49 Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division

50 Let It Bleed - Rolling Stones

Leeds and Reading Festival line-up

I've been a bit slack on the blog front recently. That's because I've been so busy but also because I've been learning Adobe Flash and have been working on drawing up a map for this year's Glastonbury as a Flash project. You can see it here.

Another of this summer's big festivals has announced it's line-up and tickets went on sale tonight. And what a great line-up it is (if you like your rawk). So here's this year's list of the best acts playing at both Reading and Leeds over the August Bank Holiday weekend:

Rage Against the Machine
The Killers
Metallica (who's Enter Sandman is my alarm every morning!)
Queens of the Stone Age
Manic Street Preachers
The Raconteurs
The Fratellis
Editors
The Enemy
Bify Clyro
Babyshambles
The Cribs
The Wombats
The Subways

Vampire Weekend
Dirty Pretty Things
Feeder
Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly
Slipknot
Tenacious D

Bloc Party
...and more

Not a bad line-up and certainly looking better than Glastonbury. But hey, Glasto is Glasto and there's so much more than just the music.