Besterberg

Paul Westerberg's post-Replacements career will be the subject of the upcoming compilation Besterberg. Due May 17 via Rhino, the 20-track set covers the artist's three major-label albums for Sire/Reprise and Capitol, his two more recent full-lengths for indie outfit Vagrant and one song from his Grandpaboy alter-ego.

This is good news for any of you who have missed Westerberg's solo career to date; check it out. His album Folker was a borborygmus pick of 2004.

Local art springing from the woodwork

For some reason, I started thinking about our local visual arts festival this morning, so I googled up the website and put the three weeks of Oxfordshire Artweeks into my diary; this year it's 14 May to 5 June.

The first Oxfordshire Artweeks took place in 1981. The idea of artists inviting the public into their homes and studios proved so successful that it has been replicated all over the UK. Oxfordshire Artweeks is now the largest open studio festival of visual art in the country.

A free guide is available from shops,libraries, art galleries, museums and hotels around Oxfordshire. In the guide you will find locations and opening hours of hundreds of artists' studios; some of these are expansive and impressive, some are small back bedrooms. The quality of work does vary, but then, beauty is in the eye... etc.

Well I know what I like.

The magic of Artweeks has been both the ability to interface direct with the artists in their studios, and to acquire work at modest prices. We have a mission to make a purchase every year.

She was only a coalminer's daughter, but...

A snippet from Billboard:

Veteran country artist Loretta Lynn will be honored with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award April 11 during the 2005 CMT Music Awards. Originally titled the Video Visionary Award, it was renamed last year in honor of Cash, who received the second such accolade in 2003. It has also been bestowed upon the Dixie Chicks (2002) and Reba McEntire (2004).

In first round nominations, Lynn is also up for the female video of the year award for "Miss Being Mrs." and collaborative video of the year with Jack White for "Portland Oregon." The latter also netted a nomination for director Sophie Muller. First round voting for the awards ends today (March 10) on CMT.com. Final nominations will be announced on Wednesday and voted on by fans through the site.

A borborygmus pick of 2004, I strongly recommend that you pick up a copy of Van Lear Rose. If you are not into country music, tell yourself that it was produced by Jack of The White Stripes, so it can't possibly be country. Enjoy.

Old time and bluegrass music loss

Following a struggle with liver cancer, Joe Carter, 78, passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2005, shortly before 5 p.m. One of three children born to A.P. and Sara Carter, Joe was a beloved personality and performer at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia.

He and his sister Janette spent most of their lives in the southwest corner of Virginia, where their parents and Maybelle Addington Carter formed the world-famous Carter Family trio that began recording in 1927.

Are you tired of paying speeding fines?

1) Tie these balloons to your car

2) Drive as fast as your car will go

3) All other cars will get out of your way

4) Tell the police you thought they were real

Click here to see!

I was in your band, Madge

From the BBC

Rock guitarists Eric Clapton, Brian May and Jimmy Page were among musicians greeted by the Queen at a reception to honour British musical talent. When the Queen asked "what do you do?", Queen guitarist May said that he had performed on the roof of Buckingham Palace at the Golden Jubilee concert.

"Oh! That was you, was it?" the monarch replied, before asking Clapton how long he had been playing the guitar.

Never get your Queens confused - which one tied her mother down?