Real World

The day schedules for WOMAD New Zealand have been published today - the festival's only six weeks away.

Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman have been nominated for an Oscar for the song "Down to Earth" from the film Walle

This picture of one of Dengue Fever's guitars, captured earlier in the year as they recorded a Real World for a forthcoming Bowers & Wilkins Music Club release, seemed to want to find it's way out into the world today. The image of Barack Obama by Shepard Fairey has become a common sight since it's appearance here back in August.

Just launched on The Music Club is the Portico Quartet's 'Black and White Sessions' - they come highly recommended with their recent Mercury nomination. All you have to do is sign-up to get the first three tracks for free.

Footsteps, gunshots and the gentle percussion of a shaken Martini were amongst the curious sounds to be heard if you crept up to a darkened Big Room earlier in the year, but few were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the pictures beaming across the room onto the cinema screen hanging in-front of the glowing consoles. Mike Prestwood-Smith and Real World Post had brought the glamour of Bond to Box.

Their painstaking work on the sound mix for Quantum of Solace has been recognised with a BAFTA nomination in the sound category.

Amongst the natural highlights to be found in this months video update from Peter Gabriel are an Otter and a Kingfisher. Peter also tells us about the nomination of 'Down To Earth' from the Walle soundtrack at The Golden Globe Awards; which means he'll be seeing this months full moon hanging over Los Angeles, Charlie Winston's success in France with 'Like a Hobo' (which is also the music featured in this months update). holiday trips and various frosty and wet developments Real World.

Why not bring some instant Christmas cheer into the world by download the best Christmas album around. Hear it in the best possible quality by downloading in 'Apple Lossless' format, or go for smaller download of our 320 Kbps MP3 version. Both versions are only £5.99 from our store.

The London Times said...Pop CD of the week

...a great band, way-above-average guest contributions (from Solomon Burke, Tom Waits and Shelby Lynne, among others) and, obviously, the impeccable vocals of The Blind Boys of Alabama... Chrissie Hynde's In The Bleak Midwinter is lifted by a subtle guitar part from Richard Thompson; Aaron Neville's sweet lead floats above the Blind Boys' robust backing on Joy To The World; and it's no surprise that Mavis Staples's contribution, a barnstorming run through Born in Bethlehem, is the highlight of the album. A law should be passed forcing anyone who plays one of Cliff's Christmas ditties to play this immediately afterwards.

Whilst Peter Gabriel was in New York for the Witness Gala Dinner he gave an interview to BBC News explaining the rationale behind The Hub.

The Hub is now out of it's beta testing phase and officially launched to coincide with Human Rights Day, which today is marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Anyone who missed out on our latest WOMAD mailing can now read the newsletter on-line.

There are a limited number of these discounted tickets available, so if the myriad pleasures of a weekend at WOMAD Charlton Park next July figure in your plans, don't miss out on these discounted tickets.

The offer ends December 16th 2008 or before, depending on ticket stocks.

WOMAD is through to the next round!

Thanks to your brilliant support we've reached final leg of the UK Festival Awards. WOMAD Charlton Park 2008 has been shortlisted for the Best Grass Roots Festival award!

Again we call on all of you to help us jump this final hurdle and reach the winning posts.

Please vote for WOMAD