So I know a lot of readers of TGTF are avid MySpace users, and quite a few of you are still at school… so did you know about the MySpace School Invasions?

It’s basically a popularity contest for schools, with the school with the most votes from the MySpace School Invasions page winning an exclusive party.

The prize includes an all-expenses paid party with live performances from rock band Fightstar and DJ sets from Kate Nash, The Wombats, and DJ Ironik. The school that receives the most votes on the profile will host the event.

As well as winning their own exclusive party, the school will receive £10,000 worth of music equipment and a music masterclass with an established band. As part of the workshop, the band will share tales of how they got started and offer tips and advice about getting into the music industry.

Interested? Why not log into your myspace account, head on over to the School Invasions MySpace.

After a wonderful summer of music festivals, it’s already time to start booking your tickets and buying your wellies for next year.  Despite the mud bath that was Bestival 2008, Rob Da Bank and the rest of his team are positive about next years festival and have released the ‘Early Bird special’ tickets today.

The Festival will take place at Robin Hill, Isle of White, starting Friday the 11th of September and coming to an end on the 13th.  For a limited period only, the fast and furious can buy a bargain adult ticket for just £120.  Not a bad price at for three days of music and mud.

Visit the Bestival web site for more information.

The Music have announced that they’re doubling their tour in size for October. These are in addition to their already announced tour dates.

Tickets go on sale for these new dates on Friday, 12th September.

Saturday 11th October - Whitehaven Civic Hall
Sunday 12th October - Scarborough Vivaz
Tuesday 14th October - Huddersfield University
Wednesday 15th October - Coventry Kasbah
Thursday 16th October - Middlesbrough Arena
Saturday 18th October - Holmfirth Picture Drome
Sunday 19th October - Keele University
Monday 20th October - Preston 53 Degrees

The Music have announced a string of tour dates mostly in Scotland for a weeklong tour of the UK in October.

Tickets go on sale on Friday (5th September) at 9am. Catch them at:

Wednesday 22nd October - Inverness Iron Works
Thursday 23rd October - Dunfermline Kinema
Saturday 25th October - Dundee Fat Sams
Sunday 26th October - Aberdeen Moshulu
Monday 27th October - Edinburgh Picture House
Wednesday 29th October - London Roundhouse

“We first played here about 10 years ago… and it’s just as hot as last time!” commented Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble mid-way through their sell-out set at Bristol’s Fleece. Hot wasn’t the word – crammed to the rafters, the tiny ancient pub has obviously seen some hot ‘n’ sweaty ones, but I’d imagine last night was right up with the sweatiest of them all.

Opening up the evening they did as they did in London: a short acoustic set, a quick break, and then a full electric set with lots of B-Sides and rareities. Perfect for the obsessive Idlewild fan, not so for those not so familiar with their rarer b-sides. A lot chattier than last time, Roddy took requests – a girl yelled for “Meet Me at the Harbour”, which they launched into instead of the setlisted “Gone too Long”

The intimate show served as a warm up for a festival the band are playing today in the South West, having been asked to play by the Levellers who organised it. Asking the crowd what goes on at a Levellers festival, he shrugged and said “I guess they drink a hell of a lot of cider!”.

The band were on fine form – as tight as ever, stopping mid-song and restarting in perfect unison, and managing to make old songs sound as fresh as anything a band newer than them have done in years. Roddy, seemingly at ease with their longevity explained how he’d just turned 32, and some of the songs had been around since he was just 17.

By the time they went off stage at 11:20 Idlewild had came, seen and conquered the south of England. When they’ll be back on tour is anybody’s guess, but we were just lucky to catch them at the top of their game.

No sooner than I put up the three videos on Monday than three more come along in quick succession.

Muse and The Streets: Who Knows Who
I love Muse, as you may have guessed. I used to hate The Streets but since I saw Mike Skinner at Wembley I’ve changed my views of them… so what better than the two of them together in a breakdancing video? Sounds crazy I know, but it just works. (Disclaimer: I receive a small payment for every one of you who watches this video)

The Coral: Being Somebody Else
Who doesn’t love these scousers? Exactly. Watch their new single below.

The Subways: I Won’t Let You Down
Old school style video for The Subways new one. Bitterness coming through from them? No, of course not!

The White Stripes did it. Sonny and Cher did it. Johnny and June, they did it too. Now Nashville based Magic Wands are the latest loved-up couple bringing music to our ears.

The fairytale began in 2007 when Chris became addicted to a song he found on MySpace. ‘Teenage Love,’ penned by Dexy, is about that kind of butterflies-in-tummy adolescent lust: “This teenage love has got me stuck / Come over now so we can fuck.”

He got in touch and soon they were on the phone ’til the early hours, writing songs for each other and sending gifts across the miles like toy lions, handwritten poems and a glowing heart lamp. Yes indeedy, they were in love.

Both had come from a punk background and wanted to start afresh with something different. ‘Kiss Me Dead’ was the first song they recorded together. Over the internet.

Seperated by 2000 miles, the lovestruck pair decided that their future was together. Chris drove to Los Angeles where they hit it off- playing guitars, visiting old churches and wearing crowns they bought at a magic shop.

The couple finally made the move to Chris’s home in Tennessee where they started recording under the name Magic Wands, taken from Dexy’s favourite gift from Chris.

But the music isn’t quite as sickly as you would expect. Think David Bowie’s Goblin King. They’re a bit dark, a bit rebellious and very sexy. They will put a spell on you and you will like it.

With Chris giving us fuzzed-up guitar riffs and Dexy playing the role of a nu-rave Blondie, you can catch the Magic Wands touring America accompanied on stage by a five foot stuffed lion.

This is a tale about love, dreams and growing up. And it has a very happy ending.

MP3: Magic Wands - Black Magic
MP3: Magic Wands - Teenage Love

Magic Wands will release an EP in the Autumn.

Ladytron: Runaway
This may not be my favourite Ladytron track ever, but just about anything they do is fine by me!

Ben Folds: Hiroshima
From his new album, initially I wasn’t such a big fan of this first single… however it’s grown on me. Reportedly recorded on the back of a “Rock this Bitch” in Germany, it’s no “Brick”, but very tongue in cheek… just why we love Ben.

Gnarls Barkley: Reckoner (Radiohead cover) live
Personally I think Gnarls Barkley are a bit old hat - sure, Crazy was good, but the rest just sounds the same to me… however this glorious cover of Radiohead’s Reckoner is pretty darned good…

Dead Letter Office may be a slightly strange name for a band, but don’t be put off by it - they’re possibly one of the best rock outfits on the unsigned scene at the moment.

Having self financed the recording of their debut album late last year, they’ve now been working with Gavin Monaghan who has worked with the likes of Editors, The Twang, and the Kings Of Leon. He specifically asked to work with the band after he heard the album, and the resulting songs are easily the best the band have produced so far.

In their 3 year history they’ve supported such giants as Howling Bells, The Young Gods, Future Of The Left, 1990’s and Tiny Dancers - an impressive list for a band of such youth. Their debut album contained two of my favourite tracks of recent times, the dreamy and layered Smokescreen, and the stellastarr*-esque Paper Aeroplane Pilots, and is one of the best unsigned albums you should have in your collection. New double A side single “Chairkickers” and “The Comeback Kid” is released in two weeks time, which shows a distinct progression for the better - surely it’s only a matter of time before this innovative and exciting group get signed and go onto bigger and better things?

MP3: Dead Letter Office - Smokescreen
MP3: Dead Letter Office - Paper Aeroplane Pilots

Dead Letter Office’s new single is out on 25th August, and will be available from their website then.

With their quiffs, red lipstick and vintage shirts, you’d be forgiven for thinking this rockabilly trio had just stepped out of the 1950’s. Meet Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, the North London siblings who count Ray Charles and Little Richard as the muse for their latest boogie woogie offerings.

They have already supported Razorlight and Mika and are set to release their second album. The twist to this Von Trapp hillbilly affair? These kids are just 15, 17 and 20.

“Since we were little we’ve always been playing music together at home as a family,” Kitty says.

“Our dad used to sing to us at bed time, songs like ‘Honolulu Rock a Roll a’ and Louis Prima’s ‘Buona Sera.’”

“It’s just the music we love because it makes you feel good. It has a good energy and a live raw sound.

“Most of all it makes you want to dance because it rocks!”

They have built a huge word-of-mouth audience through a string of gigs and festival appearances. And that’s not all. The brother and two sisters play guitar, piano, banjo, harmonica, double bass, ukulele, trombone and accordion between them.

“We are definitely a musical family,” Kitty says.

“We had a double bass which my dad used to sit me on top of while he played, and we had the odd harmonica lying around that we could fiddle with.”

“Dad showed us a couple of chords on the guitar and we just picked it up from there. “

They came together almost by accident at a country and rockabilly jam seven years ago. When asked onstage, they played an impromptu version of ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ with Lewis on the banjo, Kitty on drums and Daisy on accordion.

Their passion for vintage music led to their compilation ‘A to Z - Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - The Roots Of Rock n Roll’ being named one of the Guardian’s 2007 ‘Albums Of The Year – 5/5′.

Now they are set to release their second album- a mixture of the covers their Dad used to sing to them, along with new material like ‘Buggin’ Blues.’ The album leads with the new single ‘Going up the Country’ - a summertime jam with harmonica solos and handclaps galore.

Ooo Wee, make way for the coolest kids in town.

‘Kitty, Daisy & Lewis’, the album, is out now on Sunday Best Recordings.