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When you are a new band, playing live is nerve wracking enough without having to worry about the front of house sound. Surely it’s enough to be concerned about whether your finely crafted and highly practised material will stand up to public scrutiny, or if you’ll make a tube of yourself by falling off the stage in front of the gathered mass of friends and family. Very important things both, but there are a number of simple things you can do to help yourselves and the sound engineer ensure you have the best possible sound coming through the PA. With that sorted you can worry less about the sound and more about whether you look like a tool in your new skinny jeans and winkle pickers.

First and most importantly arrive on time, en masse and fully equipped for your sound check. The sound check is as important as the live performance as this is the time the sound engineer will tune the PA system to get the best from your performance. He will tweak the system to suit your style of music, vocals and tone as well as familiarise himself with your set-up and any requirements you may have that are slightly out of the ordinary. It’s no good showing to your first gig five minutes before you are due to go on with an unexpected twelve piece choir and full brass section and expect the engineer to accommodate them and get them sounding their best. No doubt he will do his best, but the sound may not be as good as it could be and your performance may suffer as a result.

Arriving on time will allow you to have a relaxed and thorough sound check, to solve any little problems that might come up and for you to familiarise yourselves with the venue and stage layout.

Discuss your sound and how you want to come across to the audience with the sound engineer during your soundcheck. More than likely he will have never have heard you before and so will not know what sort of mix you require, so cannot be expected to magically guess what you want to sound like. You may not be able to get the exact sound your after due to limitations in the PA, poor acoustics in the venue or any number of reasons. But if you are on time, polite and constructive when addressing the engineer he will do his best to get you sounding as good as is possible with the equipment available to him and will more than likely look forward to working with you again.

Another tip is to consider your on-stage amplification purely as monitoring for yourselves and only turn them up loud enough for you to comfortably hear them. You may be used to winding your amps up to eleven in the practice studio, but doing that during a live performance can cause a number of problems. Firstly the sound engineer will have mic’ed the amps up and as such will be controlling they’re sound through the PA. The louder you have your amps on stage, the lower he has to have them through the PA and the less control he has over the overall sound mix, so you have a slightly messy and disjointed sound out front. Secondly, you will have on-stage monitoring so you can hear you vocals, as such the louder you have your amps, the louder the monitors have to be for you to hear yourselves. This increases the risk of feedback and can result in a slightly messy and disjointed sound on stage. So overall that’s a slightly messy and disjointed sound out front and on-stage and with everybody struggling to hear what’s going on everywhere. Not good. Trust the engineer to make the most of your sound out front and leave the volume dial on your amps alone. One way of improve your ability to monitor your amps is by sticking them on crates so they are closer to your ears and not pointing directly at your legs.

The tone of your amps can also prove to be problematic. Excessive treble will carry through the PA and result in a nasty jangly sound. This excessive top end is not always noticed by bands as by the time the sound has reached them from the amp it is ok, but bear in mind the position of the instrument mic. If you listen to your amp from the proximity of the mic, you’ll be surprised by how much more treble is evident. Adjust the settings on the amp from the position of the mic to get the best sound through the PA system.

Bad microphone technique is a common issue and can have a derogatory effect on the production of your vocals. Dynamic unidirectional vocal microphones of the type predominantly used for live vocals have a very specific area in which they pick up sound, usually within a couple of inches of the mic head. This design feature is to reduce the likelihood of other noises being picked up from around the stage helping to produce a cleaner sound and reduced chance of feedback. To get the optimum sound from the mic, try and keep within a couple of inches of the head, sing clearly and don’t move your head excessively when singing. This way, a fairly consistent signal will be picked up by the mic and your vocal won’t appear to be fading in and out. Also, try not to cup your hand over the mic head or hold the mic’ upside down as this will more than likely cause feedback.

Positioning yourself correctly on the stage can have a positive impact on your sound. More than likely you’ll have been trapped three feet apart from each other in a sweaty, rehearsal studio for weeks previously, so when faced with a nice, big stage, the temptation to get as far away from each other as possible is understandable. But try and stay compact on stage, particularly if you are only a small band, as this will not only help you hear each others amps better for monitoring purposes but will also prevent you looking and sounding disjointed and appear more of a cohesive unit.

Lastly, there are certain items that you should always remember as although the engineer may be able to help supply you with them, do not expect him to. There may be a time when he cannot and that may leave you in a pickle.

• Drum mat – a vital addition to your drummer’s gear. Without it the kit will make its way slowly across the stage and into the audience. Lack of a mat usually results in the extensive use of the sound guy’s vital and surprisingly expensive gaffer tape to secure the kick drum.

• Electrical adaptors – ensure you have sufficient extension reels and adaptors to support all you gear. The engineer may only have enough to cover the PA equipment so, again if you really have to plug in all fourteen of you effects pedals make sure you have sufficient power supplies to do so.

• Audio cables and adaptors – make sure you have enough guitar leads (including spares in case of breakdown), as again the engineer may not carry spares. Also if you are plugging in keyboards, click tracks or decks have the correct leads or adaptors to plug them into the PA – usually either ¼ inch jacks or XLR.

• To be nice to the engineer – He will have been there four hours before you mucking around with cables and lugging heavy equipment around to make you sound half decent and will be there two hours after you’ve disappeared down the pub to muck around with cables and lug heavy equipment around, so be nice.

Professional PA hire companies such as Audiorent.co.uk have highly experienced, professional and approachable engineers who will be more than happy to discuss any aspect of your set-up or performance. It is the engineer’s job to get the best from your music and ensure that the audience can focus on your performance rather than any anomalies in the sound, so if you follow the simple tips given above the chances of that are greatly increased.

If you need any information about the hire of PA equipment for your bands live performances or any aspect of PA, lighting, backline or AV hire in Nottingham and throughout the UK, contact Audiorent.co.uk on contact@audiorent.co.uk or call us on 07951164194.

On this article we will review how the first Rio street carnival bands were organized in Brazil and why they became a tremendous success over the last 3 years! Rio Street Carnaval bands, also called “Blocos de Carnaval”, “Blocos de Rua” or simply “blocos” – (pronounced blo´ku sh in Portuguese) are some of the names given to “free for all” popular groups of revelers & merry-makers in Rio. As you will see below, Rio street partying has been re-energized over the last years, and today most of the young, beautiful and lively Cariocas remain in Rio and take part in some of the 450 “Blocos de Carnaval” existing in town. These street Carnival bands, groups or “blocos” are identified by their names, types of songs they play or neighborhoods where they were established in. Some of the reasons for the recent success of these “blocos” is that everyone is free to express themselves in their own style at the “marching routes” and also since there is no competition between the bands. You don´t have to pay a dime to join and it´s, by far, Rio´s most popular, democratic and vibrant carnival expression. Here, you will discover how the Carnival bands/groups were born and survived through the culture of Carnaval in Brazil.

On this small history of Rio´s street carnival, you will also understand why they became an impressive fever over the past 4 years, and recruited in one evening more than 700,000 people in Rio´s most important financial avenue. We will also describe their historical origins, nature, and appoint some of the most famous and irreverent “blocos de Carnaval”.

Origins of the Blocos de Rua – Street Carnival Bands

“Blocos de Rua”, in accordance with some carnaval historians, represent modern versions of old “cordões” (earlier forms of Carnival processions and parades in Brazil). At first, only a small group of people used to participate on this popular expression. Initially, most of them were bohemians who spent the nights in Rio´s South Zone bars, where the bands were created – but, independently on the ‘non slept hours’, still had energy to party all day long on the Rio streets….(And sometimes would end up their partying time with a refreshing sea bath at the beach. ) Slowly, these individuals started to organize themselves and draw attention from other members of Rio´s society, including Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) musicians, artists, and workers from very different professional backgrounds.

The first official “bloco” – Banda de Ipanema – arose in the 60’s, inspired by Rio party maker Albino Pinheiro, and some friends who saw in the city of Ubá, ( in the state of Minas Gerais) a small musical band parade on the streets of the tiny city. Albino, who used to get together with famous Rio de Janeiro bohemians like Darwin Brandão, Claudio Pinheiro, Jaguar, Ziraldo, Ferreira Gullar, Ferdy Carneiro, Roniquito, China, Armando Rosário in the bars called “Zeppelin”, “Veloso” and “Jangadeiro”, hurried to get everything organized for the first parade of their band.

This first “bloco” promoted a parade in Rio streets for the first time in 1965, having 30 shy revelers dressed in white suits, carrying musical instruments which they did not know even how to play. (They left this task to the Navy Marines Band, hired to cheer the parade.) From then on, these Cariocas re-discovered the nineteenth century revelers´ formula of having fun, in a free, irreverent and healthy way.

Banda de Ipanema street band inspired the creation of similar bands and “blocos”, all of them aiming at having great enjoyment in a closer environment. These lively revelers also wanted to promote the revival of the neighborhood / local Carnaval merry-making, which was forgotten and had lost some space for the Carnival Balls. Each of these bands also revealed and reveal to a certain extent, the particular way of living and thinking of members of that specific band.

The second street band created in Rio de Janeiro was Leme’s, founded a few years after the “Banda de Ipanema”. Its official 1st parade took place on February 6, 1971 when a small group of revelers delivered the number one member certificate to the Governor in charge Negrão de Lima. Having no competitive spirit, and having many of its components living in Ipanema, Banda do Leme came up with a more ambitious parade program: leaving every Saturday in February and on the four days of the Rio Carnaval. Some directors, like Alfredo Carlos and Pinheiro soon realized there were economical problems in this task. Having no sponsorship, Alfredo thought it would not be difficult to obtain some money from the neighborhood residents, but considered this method inefficient: Who would be in charge? He thought soon the band would lose its authenticity, whilst transforming the band into a “club”.

In 1973 for example, trying to solve this problem, owners from Restaurant “La Fiorentina” at Leme wanted to pay 50 per cent of the expenses case the band gathered in front of that establishment, but this proposal did not move forward since it would break the band´s tradition to gather on Atlântica Avenue, corner of Rua Antonio Vieira Street. Resisting to many obstacles, “Banda do Leme” thrived through the 70´s and 80´s presenting in its parades artists like Emilinha Borba, Clovis Bornay, Brazilian popular singer Tim Maia, conductor Erlon Chaves, Sérgio Bittencourt, Haroldo Costa, and Iris Letieri to name a few. Some of these celebrities and personalities would march in the parade in old and colorful convertible cars, most of them offered by the executive Salomão Saad.

Nature and Characteristics

One of the main differences from street bands from regular samba-schools is that they include brass instruments in their orchestra. Samba-schools by definition are not allowed to have bass instruments like saxophones, trumpets, trombones and also according to the Carnival Regulation Committees in Rio. Another important differentiation aspect is that the Blocos invite everyone to join at the marching route; you don´t have to be a supporter or affiliated with the band. A third important difference between Samba-schools and the “blocos” is they follow a pre-determined route on the streets, and not at the Sambadrome. (Some of the “blocos” though, prefer not to follow any route and play still on a square or in particular corner of a street.) The fourth important differentiation point is the clothing: Members may come dressed anyway they want, in carnival costumes, bathing suits, plain clothes, special T-shirts, or simply not dressed. Finally, samba-schools have a number of pre-determined of wings and each of these wings are dressed accordingly to the Carnival Producer or Costume Director. In case of the Rio Street Carnaval bands, there are no “wings” – everybody is packed up in a mega flock of people. (The only exception is the musician’s wing.)

The “blocos de rua” today are still being created when groups of friends with a common interest (neighborhood, work place, leisure etc.) decide to march together with a carnival orchestra. At a second moment, the carnival street band usually creates its own flag, color and themes, etc. which will be used at the parade. Finally, they have to register with the tourism department in Rio. You can start up a “carnaval bloco” with 30 members, and if you are lucky and successful, you can find drive more than 500,000 people to your “own” parade. This is the beauty of the street bands. Everything is possible.

Today, we can surely point out that the “Blocos de Rua / Blocos de Carnaval” reflects Rio´s current Carnival charm and style, and are certainly in vogue amongst native Cariocas and Brazilians from all of the country. In 2010, the police department of Rio estimated that 3 million people took part of Rio´s street carnival partying, beating Salvador at Bahia. Some of the best “Blocos de Carnaval” are located at Ipanema, Santa Teresa, Copacabana, Botafogo, Flamengo, Leblon, Gávea, Jardim Botânico, and Tijuca. There is even a street band at the charming Paquetá Island at Rio´s Guanabara Bay! Below, readers can find a current list of the most diverse, lively and fun Street Carnaval Bands in Rio de Janeiro:

Badalo de Santa Teresa
Bafo da Onça
Bagunça Meu Coreto”Banda De Ipanema
Bangalafumenga
Bloco da Ansiedade
Bloco das Piranhas
Bloco de Segunda
Bloco Imprensa Que Eu Gamo
Carmelitas
Cordao Bola Preta
Cordão do Boitatá
Empolga as 9
Imprensa que Gamo
Mulheres de Chico
Orquestra Voadora
Simpatia E Quase Amor
Volta, Alice

Next time in Rio, try not to miss some of these colorful and diverse “blocos de carnaval”! Authors note: On this article, the Portuguese terms “blocos de carnaval, “blocos de rua” and “blocos” were used at different moments to help the understanding of new Carnival texts readers. They all have practically same meaning and are synonyms to a certain extent.

Also, we used to the word “carnival” to express the general pre-lent festivity expression and “Carnaval” to specify the Brazilian version of the Carnival, which is appropriately called “Carnaval”.

Promotion and marketing can do a lot for bands but let’s be honest, don’t make it your first concern. Spend time honing your craft, write good songs and lyrics, and build up a local fan base first before you start becoming concerned about reaching out to new people.

There is an argument that if you are good enough, word of mouth will spread and people will flock to you anyway. That is not how it always works in the real world, but if you promote yourself heavily when your music doesn’t deserve it, you will eventually get found out. So the first rule should always be: be as good as you can be.

After this, you can really start to consider how to promote yourself and spread the word about your band. Securing radio airplay sounds like the great option, but how possible is it to do?

Radio airplay for Indie & Unsigned Bands

If you are a new or small act with no budget or following, you are not going to get on commercial radio. If your song is amazing and instant classic you may but if this was the case, you’d also likely have record companies pounding down your door as well. Commercial channels need to sell advertisements and they draw people in by playing songs that a large number of people know and like, it’s a business and they are only doing their job, even if it is not great for you.

However, the advance in digital technology and the internet has improved matters and there are areas you can make work for you.

The Indie 500 and related options

If you have not heard of this option, the Indie 500 is a collective that will allow you to load up three of your tracks and they will make them available to 500 college, internet and public broadcast radio stations for free. It’s no guarantee of success but if you believe in your songs, it can be a good opportunity to gain exposure for your band. The site has a forum and community links so you can further promote your music and chat to others in a similar situation.

MadeLoud Indie Music Community

MadeLoud is another indie music community dedicated to helping bands reach more fans by allowing unsigned artists to sell direct on their site verses taking more time to get approved on sites such as CDBaby or iTunes. MadeLoud allows bands to keep 80% on music and merchandise. Currently there is no charge for signing up and artists can upload an unlimited amount of songs. Similar to Indie 500 there are also message boards, blogs, music reviews, videos, and personal profile pages.

CDBaby & iTunes

While it does take more time and effort, promoting your music in all music communites possible is the way to go. In order to get approved by CDBaby you have to submit and wait a couple of months.

Moving forward by taking advantage of situations provided by communities like these are a great tool for up and coming bands to increase awareness about themselves without costing any money. Just think you have the potential to reach all of these groups and people without buying blank CDs or mailing them around the country.

Many of these sites will offer features like having an artists page where you can write a bio about yourself and offer more contact details or perhaps list upcoming gigs. A lot of focus is given to social networking sites, but using sites which allow you access to radio stations can bring in further benefits and project your music to a more captive audience.

The beauty of it is lies in the fact that it does not take too long to set up which means you should be able to undertake many other promotional campaigns at the same time. A new act should not place all their hope on particular channel and having a spread of campaigns will increase your chances of reaching new fans.

15 Influential Punk Bands

by Nicole Lero

Source: HotPopRock

While this list is in no way inclusive of all influential punk bands — you would need to list hundreds — this list is a good representation of many punk bands that have helped to shape a scene over the years — as well as sibling scenes such as goth, emo, and hardcore.

01. The Ramones – This NYC band really helped to start it all in the mid-1970s and influenced countless others to follow in their shoes in their decades-spanning career.

02. The Clash – While this band is more mellow than a lot of the more influential punk bands of the 70s and 80s, their subversive messages were also able to reach a wider audience than many, which is incredibly punk.

03. The Sex Pistols – Sure, they were more style than substance, and many people believe they were manufactured to create a trend… but what is more influential than that?

04. Bad Brains – This early DC hardcore band influenced many bands over the course of their career. Although they had strong reggae influences, they were one of the definitive hardcore bands of the 1980s.

05. Rites of Spring – Also hailing from DC, this band is one of the most influential bands in the emo genre, and is often credited with starting the movement.

06. 7 Seconds – One of the first straight edge bands, the played a poppier style of music than many of their counterparts in the scene, but were instrumental in starting it off.

07. Minor Threat – This band truly brought straight edge to the punk masses, with a single album of songs about not drinking, smoking, or doing drugs.

08. The Stooges – Mixing garage rock and punk, this band put together different elements to create a unique sound that many have emulated over the years. Further, Iggy Pop’s stage presence was so intense, it changed the way people thought of punk rock performers forever.

09. The Damned – Dressed like vampires and playing spooky music that walked the line between punk and what is now known as goth, this is a band that was a true trailblazer in terms of re-defining, and creating, a genre.

10. Misfits – This New Jersey band, which focused (and still does) on primarially horror themes is essentially the first horror-punk band.

11. The New York Dolls – While their singer is best known as Buster Poindexter, back in the day, David Johansen and his crew, including the legendary Johnny Thunders, pushed boundaries and opened minds with both their appearance and music.

12. Fugazi – When Minor Threat ended, the band’s singer Ian MacKaye tried different projects, and one of them was Fugazi. This band is also instrumental in what has become known as modern-day emo.

13. The Rezillos – This Scottish band with both male and female vocals made punk rock fun, with silly songs and wacky, offbeat rhythms. They influenced many bands, including the B-52’s.

14. NOFX – Not the world’s most serious band, NOFX proved that you can play fast, snotty punk rock with a sense of humor, but more importantly, actual talent.

15. Blondie – While many women would love to claim the title of “the queen of punk rock,” there is no doubt that Blondie’s lead singer Debbie Harry holds it, and it still looks wonderful on her, even today.

Here’s hoping this list helped to explain some of the roots and influences of modern punk rock music.

Source: HotPopRock

If you are a “Music Artist” desiring to have “Major Exposure” for your Band and Songs, but you only have little Promotions and Marketing funds as a budget to promote yourself and your music, Internet (the super highway) Promotion is the way to go.

There was a time India Bands had to have Major Money from Major Sources to get Major Exposure for your music… not anymore! Independent Artists can now promote and market your own music through many Internet Outlets such as; Radio, Social Sites, Blogs, Communities, Web Directories, Digital Distribution and more. But if you as a band don’t have the time to promote yourself, or perhaps you just don’t know how to, then consult with a reputable company that can help you achieve your “Major Marketing Goals” at affordable India prices.

It’s a big help in promoting “Music Online” when you can find Internet & College Radio Stations that will play your songs on the Radio. For the “Independent Musicians and Singers”, Internet Radio is definitely a savior!  Your “Original Songs” can now be heard throughout the Whole Wide World.  But remember, radio is only one portion of many other outlets for the Music Artists to use, especially if their plans are to have a successful Promotions Campaign that gets Major results.

Placing yourself and your music on every site possible may sound like a tab bit too much, and for many it is. But if you really want to see Major results with only having low budget money, then you need to write articles, upload your music to social sites, to communities, submit to web directories, blogs…find digital distribution that will place your music in Major Online Retail Stores etc… There is no excuse! The Internet has made Major Resources a lot more accessible for Music Indie Artists to grasp, and the playing field has become more of a common ground for both the Indie and the Major labels alike.  The internet is the stepping stone used now to reach Millions of possible fans, friends and music industry contacts!

For example, Independent Record Label “Bell Time Records” released Rnb Artist “Tamalaneh”, and took her new Cd “I Know You’re Gonna Like This” and promoted it on just about every music related website, blog, social site, community site web directory on the internet. Anybody can do it if you’re willing to do the time consuming work it takes to get the job done. Here are a couple of free music outlets you can submit your articles and songs to for starters:  Current.com has now The Indie Music Show, another outlet!! Thank you current. L.L Cool J. has BoomDizzle etc… these music sites are free!

Music bands need to produce promotional materials to boost music sales and music show engagements. People will be aware of a certain band through marketing materials like stickers, posters and mugs. In addition, these kinds of promotional items can also be used by people as decorations and displays.

Some people who are interested in design love decorating their personal things, rooms and houses with items that interest them. For music enthusiasts, pieces of memorabilia or promotional materials from their favorite bands can be used as decorative items.

Printed Stickers – Often times, bands resort to sticker printing as a method of producing creative marketing prints. Stickers are good marketing tools because they can be put in many flat surfaces like walls, cabinets, doors, notebooks and guitar. Band stickers appear in different sizes and designs. These kinds of prints may include images related to music, motivational texts, or band photos. Fans and supporters may display these stickers anywhere they want.

Poster Prints – Creating band posters is very common among music bands. These posters are used to promote a band’s shows, gigs, concerts and other musical activities. It is also a creative idea to put the design of a band’s album cover. This way, a specific band will be able to promote their music to people. Poster prints are bought by fans and kept as memorabilia. Most of the time, people bring their favorite band’s poster for autograph signing. In addition, band posters can also be used as decorations in rooms and homes.

Promotional Mugs – Mugs are also considered as band promotional items and giveaways. Mugs can be used as marketing tools or decorative pieces. These items are also useful for people. Promotional mugs can also be used for coffee, alcohol drinks and other beverages. For a more creative idea, people can simply put pens and pencils on a mug, and display it on top of a table. Children can also put shells, beads and colorful marbles on the mugs, displayed on the living room.

With creativity, people can make use of the said promotional items in decorating their rooms and houses. Band promotional materials can be transformed into creative decorative pieces that can accentuate personal things, rooms and houses.

Inspired by the successes of previous years “A Fight for Fame” once again is all set to set the stage on fire. You might have heard or even attended our music shows- the Battle of the Bands and we are once again ready to repeat the history. “A fight for Fame” once again invites all the Music Bands to take part in our Battle of the Bands and see what the future has got for them in its pockets.

Usually it is seen that a Battle of the Bands is a stage performance where a group of Music Bands perform and compete with each other. They are judged by some extreme talented stars. But what “A Fight for Fame” is trying to do is that we are organizing all local musicians to perform at a single stage. The Battle of the Bands here is not for some promotion or some charity. It is purely dedicated to the performers who have been held by circumstances to come out and show their extreme talent to the world. Its an effort to infuse a new life to the local American music that is there present in the streets of United States but on the solid platforms is loosing its identity.

A Fight for Fame is an organization of musicians, philanthropists, business professionals, visionaries and entrepreneurs who with their hearts, minds and souls are bound together by one vision and goal to provide tangible resources and opportunities to unsigned music artists while focusing on community development and international compassion projects. We are searching for those talented youth are bound by restrictions to help them bring out their talent to the global audience. And our battle of the bands is a step in the same direction.

Prove it for a chance to great venues and win amazing prizes. Join A Fight for Fame and rise up to fulfill your dreams. Our extreme judges will be selecting a number of bands from each region and they will be presented over the national stage, where they have to compete with other bands and make a place to at the final spot. A Fight for Fame to take you to the heights that are most deserved by a talented band you have.

Either you are a part of Rock Band, Pop Band, Indie Band, Metal Band or any other. The stage is set and the lights are on. The audiences are ready and so is A Fight for Fame. All you have to do is to come up and join hands with us. Prove it to your family, to your friends, your neighbors, to us and to this whole world that you have got some thing in you. Something that can shake the listeners, something that can fire up the stages, some thing that can make the audience go mad. So what are you waiting for?? Come on join the battle of the bands by A Fight for Fame. We will be polishing your talent and you band. For more information you can log on to us at: www.AFightForFame.com

Toronto is an entertainment center due to its culture and the exceptional life of its inhabitants. It is also a tourist destination due to its ability to satisfy visitors with diverse preferences and tastes. This is also due to its numerous tourist attractions and scenic sites. Despite being, one of Canada economic centers, it also serves as a favored honeymoon destination to many wedding couples. There are numerous clubs in the city that offer diverse range of music services to revelers. Examples of these include live music bands headed by live music musicians. These musicians specialize in diverse genre of music that range from jazz to rock live bands.

Live music bands have qualified DJs who posses a wealth of knowledge in favorable music and music trends. They also possess skill and agility while mixing music depending on the occasion. For example, in a wedding setting, the live band DJs chooses songs relevant to complement the mood of the event. An example includes Babylon productions, which offers live music services in assorted ceremonies.

During wedding ceremonies, guests could prefer jazz music because of its calming effect. These performances take place in wedding receptions. In the evening, the couple may decide to have a wedding dinner event. Depending on nature of audience present, the DJ chooses music that the crowd would love. When the audience is comprised of young people, live music musicians may decide to perform live rock concerts to entertain the wedding couple and the invited guests. When majorities of the guests are aged people, the musicians perform softer music. Apart from weddings, live music musicians perform their shows during corporate events and business meetings. In such occasions, the musicians perform songs relevant to the occasion. At such occasions, the crowd expects energetic performances due to the happy mood among the corporate members.

In some situations, corporate members have serious meetings. Under such settings, the live music musicians perform slow music in between the sessions. This helps to relieve the tension and serious mood among corporate members. Other occasions where live music musicians offer their services is during birthday parties. Such events are preferably held on open grounds or within closed rooms. Some clubs in Toronto have created spacious rooms on the rooftops ideal for such events. Such rooms offer revelers dancing space and an opportunity to have a scenic view of the city.

In birthday parties, the musicians thrill the crowd with fast-paced music that allows guests dance however; this depends on age of guests in the event. Aged people prefer live slow performances, which helps them reminisce on the events of days long past. Other events graced by these musicians include engagement parties often held by young people therefore, the musician perform energetic shows. Toronto has many live music agencies, which offer affordable services to their clientele. They have created websites where one checks their service fees. One also books their service online to save on travel expenses. Due to the existing stiff competition, live music services are ideally affordable. One should book for these services prior to the occasion to avoid last minute rush especially during the festive seasons in Toronto.

There are so many choices in music today. With cultures crossing more than ever, and the US being the ultimate melting pot that it is, it’s no wonder that Latin music is hitting an all time high. It’s not easy hitting the charts with Latin music though. Critics are tough and artists have to be able to cross cultural boundaries now more than ever to be heard and kept on the charts. These top 5 latin music bands and artists have proven they have a sound worth hearing and rhythms guaranteed to lift you off your seat.

Spanish Harlem Orquestra

Since their arrival in 2000, Spanish Harlem Orquestra (SHO) has established itself at a standard bearer of comtemporary Latin music. Directed by world-renowned pianist, arranger and producer Oscar Hernandez, the thirteen-member all-star ensemble has reintroduced the Classic sounds of New York City Salsa to music lovers worldwide. Their performances are filled with energy rhythmic fire and passion. Simply impossible to remain seated during one of their shows.

Son De Cali

Son De Cali, is regarded as one of the most promising and dynamic music groups on the music scene. Consisting of ex-Grupo Niche singers Javier Vazques and Willie Garcia.

Son De Cali delivers an explosive mix of tropical music rooted in traditional Colombian sounds.

Tiempo Libre:

Two-time Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre is one the hottest young Latin bands today. Equally at home in concert halls, jazz clubs and dance venues, the members of the Miami-based band are true modern heirs to the rich tradition of the music of their native Cuba.

Tiempo Libre’s members were all classically trained in Cuba’s premiere conservatories at a time when it was illegal to listen to American songs on the radio. Now, the group is a hit in the U.S. and abroad, celebrated for its incendiary, joyful performances of timba, an irresistible, dance-inducing mix of high-voltage Latin jazz and the seductive rhythms of son.

Charlie Cruz:

Charlie Cruz, who today divides his time between Puerto Rico and Tampa, grew up in the small town of Naguabo. His love of salsa began as a 10 year old, when he became a backup singer in the orchestra of his father, Fonzy Cruz. The more he was exposed to music, the more he loved it. As he gained stage experience and worked with established salsa hit makers, Cruz realized how much he truly loved the genre. His life changed drastically when he was invited to perform at a concert and share the stage with top acts like Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle and Tito Nieves. As a result of this performance, he was signed by Sir George Records. Under this label, he produced such hits as “Bombon de Azucar” and “Amarte es un problema.” “Dejala que Baile,” the first single off Mas de mi, features an upbeat, catchy flavor that will have every salsa fan swinging their hips on the dance floor.

Aventura (bachata)

Aventura is one of the most unique and innovative artists on the scene today. After more than ten years of sparring in the music business, these four young, dynamic guys with a seldom-seen chemistry continue to auto-produce soulful, original music that gleams with excellence. They are the first “Bachata-boy band,” the first band to fuse the essence of bachata with R & B, hip hop and other American pop styles; the first Bachata band to perform in English, Spanish and “Spanglish.” When Aventura performs its songs, Dominican/Caribbean culture fuses with the vivid tapestry of New York’s dynamic melting pot.

With the recent rise of groups in the UK such as Arctic Monkeys and Arcade Fire, the internet is proving its worth more and more in the music industry. As traditional formats decline in use, the internet is providing independent musicians with a myriad of possibilities for promoting their music. Indeed, unsigned bands can reach their audiences without needing a record label.

Emerging artists used to spend most of their time down at the post office, licking envelopes, sending off cassettes and making further copies of their cassettes. Looking back, it seemed like the dark ages. Today’s indie music scene sees many bands sat at their computer screens, looking for new ways to promote their music. The emergence of several top bands over the last few months thanks to the Internet is proof that the cream will always rise to the top, and using the net, they have every chance of doing so.

Almost all artists have band pages nowadays. In fact, it seems to be the first step on the way to internet recognition. A band page will commonly feature a news page, a separate page for downloading music for free, a photos page, and a contact page. These band pages are, in effect, business cards for musicians. The website receives promotion on various music websites and forums, and the band can create their own image through web branding.

The majority of band pages are very simple. Some carry an internet radio feature on the home page, others allow you to simply download the music in mp3 format, others have lyrics and features on the group, but the intention is always the same: to get people to listen to the group’s music.

However, the limitation to a band page is that unless the band promotes itself through other means, i.e. through forums, internet radio stations, flyers at concerts, etc., the website will receive very few visitors.

Internet radio is becoming more and more popular. Sites like www.bluebeamradio.com function largely thanks to emerging artists who wish to promote their music, creating a partnership that brings a community of musicians together. By allowing groups to register for free and to post their mp3s, these radio stations are becoming an essential stop for new bands and independent musicians wishing to create a buzz about themselves.

The idea is catching on. Many listeners want to listen to one particular genre, and are frustrated at mainstream radio offerings. By finding an internet radio station that fits their needs, they are introduced to new bands. New bands, in return, are being given an audience that has already decided which genre they want to listen to, and internet radio stations like Blue Beam Radio, for example, offer the top-rated bands prizes, such as a concert in New York. The potential to be heard is enormous; it simply requires time in front of the computer!

So while internet radio stations offer streaming music, people will always want to download music for free online. While the music industry is clearly unhappy about free downloads of mp3s or other music formats, listeners will always find ways of sharing their music, it seems. Emerging artists are today taking advantage of that by scouring the internet for sites that offer free music downloads, and literally giving their music away.

The disadvantage to this is that most people will not automatically download online music from a group that they do not know. Almost all sites that offer free music for download operate using a search engine, and users search directly for a group. However, word of mouth on the internet means that when a band is being talked about, people will actually search for that particular band. The best example of this, as mentioned at the top of this article, is the Arctic Monkeys.

Hailing from Sheffield in the UK, the Arctic Monkeys’ success is due entirely to word of mouth on the internet. Their music is pure indie. Raw, punky, and blessed with no shortage of attitude, the buzz around the Arctic Monkeys started on blogs, and started to snowball. They were offering free mp3 downloads via their own website, which was a very basic portal including downloads, photos, future concerts and latest news. Once the buzz started growing into a shout, their music was available on internet radio stations, music download sites, blogs linked to blogs linked to blogs… very soon, they became the first band to reach number 1 in the UK through internet downloads!

What started off as a music curiosity became a music event. The band were soon appearing on national television, and even on the news, as their album sold more copies on its first day of release than the first releases of Oasis or The Beatles.

What happened in Sheffield can happen anywhere in the world. The internet has brought bands and listeners together at an international level – the rap artist at his home in Seattle can reach the rap fan at his home in Singapore, the independent musician in New York can reach the indie fan in York… but it is also interesting how communities are forming at a local level.

The internet is providing emerging artists with opportunities to create a buzz around their latest concerts, generating an audience that would previously have taken a great deal of legwork to gather. Through mailing lists, online flyers, blog and forum entries, a music event can be publicised many ways. The more innovative a group becomes, the more chance it has of reaching its public.

Local music forums have popped up all around the world. Indie bands will always look for a solid local fan base, and it is thanks to the internet forum that they have found this. Using their forum post signature to promote their website, these bands post flyers, concert information and more, and even share information about how to find concerts, where to buy equipment, and recording techniques. When looking for a local community of listeners, indie bands can easily find local communities of bands who are doing the same thing. While seemingly these bands rarely get the chance to meet each other unless they are playing a gig together, the internet gives them the opportunity to discuss and promote 24 hours a day.

In truth, the internet is simply offering an extension to the old “local scene” that existed before it. Indie music has grown over the last few years largely because of the adaptability of independent musicians to the internet, and because of their community spirit. While prior to the internet, a local music scene would have been limited to a handful of bands, today it is much easier for a group to break onto the local music scene, as long as they have a strong website, a strong image, and of course, good music.

And in the end, the essential truths of the music industry will always bear out. If you don’t have the music, you won’t make the grade. Listeners are canny people, and they will always filter out the good bands from the average bands, regardless of how good the website is, or how persistent the promotion is. However, as indie music flourishes, so do the best bands, and if they are on the right internet radio stations, if they can create the right buzz around themselves, and if they can reach their audience, emerging artists today have every chance not just of increasing their audiences, but of getting a contract with a record label.