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Vh1 Goes Soft

PR reports: Christopher Cross sails his way up to the #1 spot as his song, "Sailing," tops the VH1 countdown special as the most softsational soft-rock song. Dim that lava lamp, pour a chalice of white zin, and cuddle up to the velvety-smoothest two-hour special in VH1's history with favorites from artist like Chicago, Bread, Styx, Hall and Oates and Lionel Richie. 

The 2-hour countdown special, "40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs," premieres Friday, June 1 at 9 PM*. It's all the soft rock hits of the seventies and eighties complete with commentary from a panel of celebrities, comedians, journalists and soft rock experts. Topping the list is Christopher Cross with his #1 hit song "Sailing" from his 1980 self-titled debut album. The hit song won Grammys for best new record, song and arrangement of the year. 

As an added bonus, we'll reveal the touchy-feely tunes' hidden back-stories, along with the whereabouts of their creators. Viewers will indulge in sax-heavy, irony-free classics from the likes of America, Barry Manilow, Air Supply, Toto, Doobie Brothers, 10cc, Kenny Loggins, Captain & Tenille, Mr. Richard Marx, and dozens of other gentle giants. 

For more info on "40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs," viewers can go to the full story link. [and tune in to see how many Jive Davis inspired songs end up on the list] - Click Here for the Full Story 

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North by Northeast Gets Bloody

PR reports: BLOOD RED SUN has been added to the impressive roster of artists at the 12th annual North by Northeast festival in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This will mark BLOOD RED SUN's first appearance at the famed music and film festival that this year runs June 7th through 10th. The band will anchor the line-up at Clinton's Tavern on Saturday June 9th. They are slotted to take the stage at 12:30 AM (technically Sunday morning).

Making up the songwriting nucleus of BLOOD RED SUN are lead singer and guitarist Jason Nadeau and lead guitarist Justin LaVallee. The talents of drummer Jessica Corchia and bassist Matt LaFontaine round out the group.

Aiming for a Fall 2007 release for their debut album A Nation of Saviors, BLOOD RED SUN relied on the production talents of Britt Myers (Suzanne Vega, Mates of State) to simultaneously capture the nuance and grandeur of BLOOD RED SUN's complex sound. "Music is made from the urgency of change," Nadeau says. "Britt understands that and was able to play on my tendency to write about negative space to create a recording we are incredibly proud of."- Click Here for the Full Story 

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With Passion / Daath Tour

PR reports: When two of the heaviest, most thought-provoking bands in metal join together for a special series of shows, minds will be blown and bones will be broken all at once. Catch WITH PASSION with Daath during their very limited run across the Southwest US and Mexico.

Here are the updated dates:
WITH PASSION w/ Daath
06.08.07 CALIFORNIA Vacaville - Soccer Nation
06.13.07 ARIZONA Tempe - The Clubhouse 
06.15.07 MEXICO Mexicali - El Jardin Silencio
06.16.07 NEVADA Las Vagas - Cheyenne Saloon
06.17.07 CALIFORNIA Victorville - Trilogy
[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Rock for Tots?

PR reports: THE SIPPY CUPS -- the San Francisco rock-for-kids group that the Los Angeles Times called "the Flaming Lips of the toddler set" -- will visit the East Coast and Midwest for the first time this summer. Their SUMMERLOVE 2007 tour see THE SIPPY CUPS perform at such esteemed venues as New York's Central Park Summerstage and Philadelphia's Fillmore at the TLA, as well as Lollapalooza in Chicago and the Austin City Limits Festival in Austin, TX. The Sippy Cups will also continue their participation in the "House Of Kids" series at House Of Blues venues in Cleveland and Dallas, as well as performing select dates closer to home in California.[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Digital Stax

PR reports: Stax Records, the classic soul label that has been reactivated this year by Concord Music Group on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, has announced plans to offer gems from its catalog for digital download exclusively through iTunes in North America for 90 days. The music will be offered on other digital retail sites after the initial 90-day period.

Each of the initial 10 Short Stax collections will include three tracks: two top hits plus a third hard to find gem from the Stax vault. The 10 key Stax artists are: Booker T & the MGs, The Dramatics, The Emotions, Eddie Floyd, Isaac Hayes, Albert King, the Soul Children, the Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Carla Thomas and Rufus Thomas. Phase two of the Short Stax series will offer ten more EPs July.

Stax will offer five full albums never before released on CD to be made available as online albums exclusively.[see full story to find out which ones]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Astrella Celeste Coming to US

PR reports: As her Euro-buzz crests with a high profile performance slot at the prestigious 2007 Isle of Wight Festival and a surge of oversees radio airplay, pop-jazz chanteuse ASTRELLA CELESTE is heading to New York City to kick off the June 4, 2007 digital release of her U.K. hit single, "Dream" and promote her guest appearance with her father on his upcoming PBS television special. The Donovan Concert: Live in L.A, will start airing nationally the same week "Dream" goes on cyber-sale and will be featured on the iTunes home page. (Check local listings for airdates and times.)

Born to rock royalty as the middle daughter of Donovan and embraced throughout Europe as "The �60s Love Child with the 21st Century Spirit," Astrella is scheduled to arrive June 25 in New York City for several days of industry meetings, showcases and media activity while re-acquainting herself with the country where she spent much of her unusually blessed childhood and a portion of her adult life. The Astrella Celeste CD Release Party, with The Brilliant Mistakes as her backup band, will be Wednesday, June 27 @ Gonzalez y Gonzalez, 625 Broadway (betw. Houston & Bleeker). Show time 7 p.m. FREE admission. Info: 212.473.8787.- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Deep Purple Deluxe DVD

PR reports: Eagle Rock Entertainment, through two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, will release on June 12 They All Came Down To Montreux: Deep Purple Live At Montreux 2006 as a deluxe 187-minute two-DVD set (Eagle Eye Media, $19.98) and CD (Eagle Records, $13.98). Prebook date for both is May 18. On June 26, an HD-DVD version will be released.

No other band is so closely identified with Montreux as Deep Purple because of the song "Smoke On The Water" and its signature first line. That's why, in 2006, the band was chosen to close the final night of the 40th annual fest in Switzerland. DP's lineup is stronger than ever. While on tour to promote its current Rapture Of The Deep CD, its gig last year on this prestigious stage proved totally triumphant. Singer Ian Gillan, guitarist Steve Morse, bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice and keyboardist Don Airey plowed through a glowing set of 16 songs�one of which, "Too Much Fun," was written specifically for the occasion.[see full story for tracklisting and upcoming tour dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Paradise Lost At Download

PR reports: As a result of the phenominal response to Paradise Lost's �return to form' new album �In Requiem' we can now confirm that the band have been added to this years Download bill. Vocalist Nick Holmes comments "After the great response we had 2 years ago it's fantastic to have the opportunity to play such a prestigious festival again and be able to showcase some of our new album there"

PL will be performing on The Dimebag Darrell Stage on Sunday 10th June � time to be confirmed
- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Nazanin Border Tour

PR reports: International music sensation and Bodog Music artist Nazanin is preparing to hit the road on tour in support of her debut album Someday that was released nationwide on April 24th. All of the dates will be at select Border's Bookstores around the country. This will give her chance to not only perform, but to speak on her human right initiatives. 

The title track single from this already acclaimed album continues to climb the charts every week and has reached the top 20 at FMQB Adult Contemporary (AC) radio in America this week. The video for this track was downloaded nearly 140,000 times in only 10 days. She also is going to be Glamour Magazine's "Hero of the Month" in their July issue.[see full story for dates]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Chocolate NPR

PR reports: The Music Maker Relief Foundation is proud to announce that Durham NC's own Carolina Chocolate Drops have been asked to perform on the National Public Radio show Prairie Home Companion on June 22nd, 2007. This performance is a prelude to the band's release Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind (2007 Music Maker Recordings) on June 26th, 2007. The Prairie Home Companion show is a continuance of the Chocolate Drops' landmark year which has also included their now legendary performance at the most recent Merlefest where the band set the record for merchandise sales for all time, a upcoming visit to the Newport Folk Festival, The Philadelphia Folk Festival and many more. [see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Peter Himmelman Sets Release

PR reports: Peter Himmelman's tenth studio album is titled The Pigeons Couldn't Sleep. "The pigeons are different things to different people," says the acclaimed veteran singer-songwriter. "Old ghosts, bad politics, broken expectations, wars of all shapes and sizes . . . It's a restless world out there; nobody can sleep � even the birds feel the vibrations." 

The first recording on the artist's new Thirty Tigers/RED-distributed label Himmasongs Recordings will come bundled with a free value-added DVD, a feature-length documentary, Rock God. The 65-minute film begins in the �70s with footage of Himmelman's notorious Minnesota new wave band, Sussman Lawrence (whose members all had hair to die for), and traces his development musically, culturally and religiously (Himmelman is an observant Jew). The journey is punctuated by revelations and laughs as Himmelman and band tour on the heels of his last album, 2005's Imperfect World. The film is for anyone attempting to carry a dream into reality. . . and also for those who let it go along the way.

List price for the combined CD and DVD package is a lean $16.98. Street date is set for August 21, 2007.
[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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Jesus Lizard Live Screenings

PR reports: Special one time screenings of THE JESUS LIZARD "Live" at VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE US presented by MVD Entertainment Group starting Tuesday, June 5th. MVD Entertainment Group will be coordinating screenings of this documentary in promotion of the DVD release on May 15th. Cities include:

CHICAGO
Delilah's - 2771 North Lincoln Avenue - Chicago, IL
Tuesday, June 5th @ 7:30 pm - Doors @ 7
FREE TO THE PUBLIC - 21+

NEW YORK CITY
Southpaw - 125 Fifth Ave - Brooklyn, NY 11217
Tuesday, June 5th @ 9pm - Doors @ 8
FREE TO THE PUBLIC - 21+

BOSTON - featuring a performance by Gang Green hosted by producer Chuck Prefontaine
The Middle East � 480 Massachusetts Ave - Cambridge, MA 02139
Tues, June 5th @ 7pm
$5 in advance / $7 day of show - 18+
[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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All Smiles Kicks off Tour

PR reports: All Smiles' new album Ten Readings Of A Warning has been making fans out of everyone who hears it, and now Jim Fairchild is ready to bring his delicate compositions on the road. No stranger to the stage, having toured with his band Grandaddy, as part of Modest Mouse and now he's setting out with friends Menomena, who guested on Ten Readings. The indie-rock double-bill will be touching down in the following cities:

All Smiles/Menomena Tour Dates

June
1 Seattle, WA - Neumos
6 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
7 Sacramento, CA - Blue Lamp
[see full story for more]- Click Here for the Full Story 

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