Social networking site, MySpace has completely transformed the way we discover and listen to our music. Aspiring musicians are uploading their music everyday to an audience of over 100 million people, worldwide. It’s famously known for assisting in the launch of artists such as Lily Allen and Arctic Monkeys and this week, MySpace has chosen to reveal the eight most popular musicians on the site for this year.

So, who reached the number one spot? Well, unusually, it’s an act that’s not released any material since way back in 2005. The band in discussion are also non-human. Guessed yet? Well, Damon Albarn’s virtual band, Gorillaz (pictured top), is the act that’s surprisingly topped the poll, beating the likes of Amy Winehouse, Oasis and Coldplay. The animated group, who’s hits include ‘Feel Good Inc’ and ‘DARE’, have had a crazy 11,498,760 hits on their MySpace page and boast of 682,875 friends.

Coming in second place is Welsh metal band, Bullet for My Valentine, with an impressive 596,885 mates. Comments on the seemingly worshipped band’s profile include “i will never get over how aswome u guys r!” and “OMG I LOVE U GUYS U RULE U WILL ONE DAY RULE THE WORLD”. The ‘Hearts Burst Into Fire’ band are currently preparing to embark on a tour around Australia and New Zeland, take parting in the awesome ‘Big Day Out’ festival.

Check out the complete list compiling MySpace’s eight most popular acts of 2008, here:

1. Gorillaz (682,875 friends)
2. Bullet for My Valentine (596,885 friends)
3. Amy Winehouse (542,268 friends)
4. Coldplay (525,110 friends) (pictured top right)
5. Lily Allen (462,159 friends)
6. MIA (399,858 friends)
7. Oasis (353,484 friends)
8. Imogen Heap (351,484 friends)

Massive “event” gigs currently seem to be in favour at the moment, with Live8, Live Earth, Princess Diana’s concert, and last night saw one of the biggest to date, and most worthy: 46664, to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday and also to raise awareness of his AIDS charity’s work.

You’ve probably heard about it in the press - the whole Amy Winehouse will she turn up / won’t she turn up situation, the issue over whether Nelson Mandela was even going to go himself. Then there was the impressively long list of stars attending: Gordon Brown (seen chatting to Nelson Mandela through Simple Minds’ frankly tedious performance - we would have done too, if we could have without shouting at each other), Will Smith, Quincy Jones and Lewis Hamilton actually turned up, whilst others could only be bothered to send a video (including Victoria Beckham, who got one of the most savage boo-ings known to man-kind).

In amongst the notable guests was some of today’s (and yesterday’s) best (and worst) performers, culminating in a show-stopping five song set from Queen that showed they still have what it takes to wow a huge audience. We also saw amazing performances from Amy Winehouse (who still has the power to wow with her voice after all she’s been through recently), Will Smith and Zucchero. A lot of artists were ones that we weren’t familiar with, however certainly opened our eyes up and featured a lot more variety musically than the rather biased Live8 and Live Earth events.

After the jump: a blow by blow account of the evening

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Amy Winehouse has announced details of two further London dates at the Brixton Academy in mid December.

She’ll now play:

Sunday 16th December - Brixton Academy
Monday 17th December - Brixton Academy

Tickets are available from Ticketweb now, though the Sunday tickets are almost all gone.

Photo taken from Media Eater’s flickr stream.

London based boozer Amy Winehouse has announced a UK and Ireland tour in November and early December. You catch her at the below dates… if she turns up and doesn’t have “exhaustion”.

Monday 12th November - Manchester Apollo
Wednesday 14th November - Birmingham NIA
Friday 16th November - Glasgow Barrowlands
Sunday 18th November - Newcastle Academy
Tuesday 20th November - Blackpool Empress Ballroom
Thursday 22nd November - London Brixton Academy
Friday 23rd November - London Brixton Academy
Saturday 24th November - London Hammersmith Apollo
Monday 26th November - Brighton Centre
Tuesday 27th November - Bournemouth BIC
Wednesday 28th November - Cardiff Arena
Saturday 1st December - Dublin EDS
Monday 3rd December - Belfast Waterfront

Tickets are on sale now.

Photo taken from Media Eater’s flickr stream.

The ever brilliant Eden Sessions have been announced, featuring many of this years biggest acts. The sessions have been moved forward from throughout August to now throughout July, which probably won’t make much difference to most people.

Monday July 2nd - James Morrison
Tuesday July 10th - Rufus Wainwright
Tuesday July 17th - Amy Winehouse
Wednesday July 18th - Lily Allen
Saturday July 21st - Bright Eyes
Sunday July 22nd - Pet Shop Boys

None of the bands are particuarly shite, but there aren’t any that I’d make the effort to drive for four hours for.

Tickets are on sale for all dates now, with the exception of Pet Shop Boys who go on sale at 6pm on next Tuesday, April 24th.

As I mentioned yesterday, the rest of the Somerset house gigs have been announced, with an impressive lineup. I’d quite like to see most of these bands… but obviously I probably won’t get a chance.

Thursday 12 July Mogwai in surround sound
Friday 13 July Kasabian
Saturday 14 July Bert Jansch featuring Beth Orton and Bernard Butler
Sunday 15 July Guillemots
Monday 16 July Lily Allen
Tuesday 17 July Mika
Wednesday 18 July Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Thursday 19 July The Roots
Friday 20 July Amy Winehouse
Saturday 21 July Hot Chip

Presale is now available here