The Decemberists to Preview Full New Album at SXSW

The Decemberists have announced that they will preview their entire forthcoming album at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas next month.

The quintet will play all 17 songs from their fifth studio album, 'The Hazards Of Love', in sequence when they headline NPR's music showcase at Stubb's on March 18.

The band will be joined on stage by Lavendar Diamond’s Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden, who sing guest vocals on the album.
Also, South by Southwest has announced the launch of a social networking site that allows registrants to interact with one another, build their personalized conference schedules, join exclusive groups, form a network with other attendees and send each other public or private notes.

My.sxsw.comis also built to integrate with other networking sites including Twitter, Flickr and Facebook.

"We've always wanted to provide a space online for registrants to network before, during and after the 10 days in March that they spend in Austin," said Scott Wilcox, CTO of SXSW, Inc.

"We have tried to use the feedback we've received over the years to provide social networking opportunities for SXSW registrants."

The South by Southwest music festival is set to take place March 18-22 at various venues throughout Austin.

Erykah Badu Twitters Birth of Her Daughter

Erykah Badu gave birth to a baby girl this weekend — and twittered about the experience.

Universal Motown Records Group, the singer's record label, says the baby was born Sunday (February 1) at 1:30pm and both mother and daughter "are doing fine." The father is Badu's boyfriend, rapper Jay Electronica.

The couple blogged about the birth on the Twitter Website. Badu said she had a home birth that lasted about five hours and that she didn't use painkillers.
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Badu, whose real name is Erica Wright, has a son and a daughter from previous relationships.

She released her fourth studio album, 'New Amerykah, Part One (4th World War)', last year. 'Part Two' will be released this month.

B-52's Fred Schneider to Write a Children's Book

B-52's singer Fred Schneider might very well be the next J.K. Rowling. He is considering writing a children's book.

Schneider alerted fans to his kid’s book desires at his MySpace page. "I’m glad you like the children’s book idea," he wrote. He said that he even had a working title 'Petting Zoo Horror’.

"I started working on the first chapter, so here goes," he writes. "The day turned steel gray, and a chill descended upon Twinkletown Petting Zoo.
"Suddenly, all the children started screaming. Not their usual obnoxious screams, this was different and very ominous."

That is as far as he has gone, so lets see if Fred can write a kids book quicker than it took to put of the B-52’s 'Funplex' album.

The book might take a while. B-52’s have another tour coming up. A South American tour is planned for April. During February, B-52’s will play come dates in the USA and

Linkin Park Invite Fans to The Recording Studio

Linkin Park are giving fans a chance to win a studio view of the band recording their next album.

To qualify, they ask that you register at Socialvibe.com/musicforrelief and add the site to you MySpace, Facebook or any other social networking site you may use.

The person who invites the most friends to view their page will receive an invite to watch Linkin Park record their next album in Los Angeles.

'Now' Compilations to Be Turned into TV Show

A TV show based on the 'Now That's What I Call Music' compilations is set to be made.

'American Idol' creator Simon Fuller, who owns the TV rights to the brand, said the programme would promote new artists and aswell behind the plan.

Fuller owns the rights to the compilation brand, and plans to use it to launch a show that will boast an "interactive" chart and will promote up-and-coming bands as well as established acts, reports BBC News.
"This show will be nothing like 'American Idol', Fuller said. "It will be a new take on music programming."

Bob Mercer, CEO of the 'Now...' franchise, told Billboard, "The intent is to take that brand and that trust in that brand and establish it as a TV show with the same elements."

"We'll probably form our own pop chart so the public can be involved."

Paul McCartney, Cure, Killers to Headline Coachella

Paul McCartney, The Cure and The Killers will headline the Coachella festival on April 17, 18 and 19 respectively at the California bash.

Other acts confirmed to be playing at the event include Morrissey, Amy Winehouse, My Bloody Valentine, Franz Ferdinand, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV On The Radio, Leonard Cohen and Conor Oberst.

Paul Weller, Fleet Foxes, Beirut, White Lies, The Courteeners and are also among those playing.

Visit Coachella.com for more information.

Bloc Party Expand US Tour Dates

Bloc Party have announced that they will expand their US tour this spring.

The tour, which kicks off in Boston on March 19, will now reach to the west coast, concluding in Seattle on April 25.

Newly added cities include Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Oakland and Portland.

The band are supporting their third studio album, 'Intimacy'.
The newly added tour dates are:

Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium (15)
Santa Fe, MEX Alameda Poniente (17)
Oakland, CA Fox Theater (20)
Portland, OR Roseland Theater (22)
Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market (24, 25)

Chris Cornell Announces Second London Gig

Chris Cornell has announced details of a second London gig, after his show at the Scala on February 23 sold out.

The star will now also play London's O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on March 2, a week before he releases his new album 'Scream'.

'Scream' sees the former Soundgarden and Audioslave man team up with producer Timberland to create a continuous piece of music that he says is inspired by Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'. It is released on March 9.

Tickets for the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire gig are on sale now.

Stevie Wonder Recommends More Blind-Friendly Technology

Stevie Wonder has Recommended technology companies to make products more suited for use by the blind.

The soul star, who was born blind, said it would take “very little” for manufacturers to improve their products.

"When you can ... make it accessible and make it possible, you should just include that in the overall picture,” he told the BBC.
“You have a growing number of people, aging people that will need things to be more accessible as well as the hundreds of thousands of blind people in the world - so just let's keep it real.”

Wonder, who owns a Blackberry and iPod, said manufacturers of touchscreen phones should make adapters to sit on top of the screen.

Despite his calls for change, which have been back by National Federation Of The Blind in the US, the singer also praised how technology had aided the blind.

“I think just as having access to information, being able to read books, electronic brail, and digital information that are accessible has made things far easier for a blind person,” he said.

Tricky Announces Huge US Tour Dates

Tricky has announced the dates of an extensive US tour this spring, which includes a stop at Austin's South by Southwest Festival, where he'll perform with DEVO.

The famed trip-hop artist will kick things off in Farmingdale, New York on March 2 before playing shows in cities including Miami, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland. He'll wrap things up in Seattle on March 28.

In addition to playing songs from his most recent album 'Knowle West Boy', Tricky will delve into his back catalogue on this tour.

He's also announced the release of a digital single 'Puppy Toy' to coincide with the start of the jaunt. The single will include previously unreleased b-sides, remixes and videos for the song as well as 'Council Estate', and is set for a March 3 release.
The tour dates are:

Farmingdale, NY Crazy Donkey (March 2)
New York, NY The Fillmore at Irving Plaza (3)
Miami, FL Langerado Festival (6)
St. Petersburg, FL State Theatre (7)
Charlotte, NC Neighborhood Theatre (9)
Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head Live (10)
Boston, MA The Roxy (11)
Chicago, IL Epiphany (13)
Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Hall (14)
San Antonio, TX The Scout Bar (18)
Austin, TX - SXSW with Devo Austin Music Hall (20)
San Diego, CA Belly Up (23)
Anaheim, CA House of Blues (24)
Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theater (25)
San Francisco, CA Mezzanine (26)
Portland, OR Doug Fir (27)
Seattle, WA Showbox (28)