Gwen Stefani is a smart gyal. She balances being a superstar musician, a super mom, a stylish fashion line and makes it all look easy. The Love. Angel. Music. Baby mama played a concert this week in San Diego, recently ravaged by wildfires, that will raise funds for the victims of the devastation. The proceeds from the concert will go back into the community via The San Diego Foundation’s After-the-Fires Fund 2007. ([More →])

Mavado is turning out to be the Jamaican artist of the year! His debut album on VP Records Gangsta For Life The Symphony of David Brooks blazed up the charts this summer and continues to win new fans with its dance-friendly rhythms and heartfelt lyrics. But despite his tuff exterior, the Real McCoy has a heart of gold. Now he’s sharing some of that gold with the Jamaican community, especially the youth. I’ve been receiving reports this week of a new charity organization that Mavado created in order to connect the island’s public schools to the information super highway. Mavado recognizes the importance of internet access in public schools to enhance education. ([More →])

Die-hard punk fans in the US are probably familiar with the record labels Hopeless and Sub City. These 2 labels have consistently released quality, loved-by-the-underground-massive, punk music from bands like Fifteen, Jeff Ott, Mike Park, Thrice, The Weakerthans, Against All Authority, Atom And His Package, Har Mar Superstar, Nobodys and Scared of Chaka. What you may or may not have been aware of, is that both record labels exist to make the world a better place. Little did we know that those Fifteen albums we bought (and still have, despite not listening to them anymore) were actually helping disadvantaged kids get some fresh opportunities! ([More →])

Oxjam, the Oxfam music festival, announced its preliminary lineup today. Oxjam is no ordinary show, it is an umbrella for 3,000 music events that take place in the UK in October. Oxjam is considered a movement – different musicians, artists, promoters and party people come together each year to try to raise money and awareness for Oxfam. Oxfam is a UK charity whose mission is to end poverty worldwide. So, you can see why it would take such a large event to accomplish such a HUGE goal.

The Klaxons are one of the headliners of this year’s event, and their very own James Righton describes Oxjam thus:

For us, Oxjam is the highlight of the festival season because everyone gets to make the noise themselves. The only thing more exciting than putting on your own event to help fight poverty is knowing that you’re part of a movement of thousands of gigs, club nights and events right across the country.

That’s right, Oxjam needs your help putting these events together! Each year they put out the call for musicians and promoters to organize events as part of the greater movement. And besides a feeling of accomplishment and the satisfaction that you are making the world a better place to live, you might also get featured on MTV. So, if you are in the UK or plan on being there in October, you might want to join the fun!

OXJAM Partial LINEUP 2007

Klaxons
The Kooks
DJ Shadow
Kasabian
Kaiser Chiefs
Merry Men
the Matadors
The Furze
Yer MoMMa
Lost Without Cause
The Clerks Band
The Bakery Girls
Mirno

That’s a lot of K in a lineup… 40,000 musicians total are expected to be involved, so don’t expect a full lineup from me! :) To find out more about any of these bands, and to see other bands that are involved in Oxjam 2007, go to the Mtv Oxjam page…

LINKS

Mtv Oxjam page
NME report
Oxfam website