"What's That? (a Radiohead Project)" is a 6-piece group of Minneapolis-based musicians devoted entirely to the presentation of the music of Radiohead. Embracing the experimental nature of Radiohead’s music, the group utilizes improvisation and unique arrangements of Radiohead's most challenging and popular material, while remaining true to the originality of the compositions.

“What’s That? (a Radiohead Project)” has been generating a buzz around Minneapolis, which has not seen a concert by Radiohead in more than a decade. Musical Director and keyboardist, Marc Z., says he formed the project out of a desire to bring Radiohead’s music to the Twin Cities. “When I saw that Lollapalooza in Chicago was as close as they were coming this year, I wanted to bring something to the fans in the Twin Cities who deserved to hear this music performed locally.”

“What’s That? (a Radiohead Project)” strives to deliver a fresh and spontaneous approach to their interpretation of Radiohead's music. “We try to avoid mimicry and imitation as much as possible,” Marc says, “while at the same time remaining true to what makes the music so original in the first place.” Like their namesake, the group incorporates a fair amount of improvisation into their performances, while also developing unique arrangements of the material. “Our goal is to embrace the experimental nature of Radiohead’s music, while delivering a quality live experience for all the people who’ve connected with this music over the years,” Marc said.

Members of “What’s That? (a Radiohead Project)” were recruited entirely through an ad placed on Craigslist. “Quite a few people responded and asked to audition,” Marc says. “When I pointed them towards the most challenging Radiohead songs and asked, ‘Can you play this?’ a lot of them stopped returning my e-mails. But luckily, the ones who stuck with it are the ones in the group today.”

The group’s current set list includes nearly 30 of Radiohead’s most innovative and popular material, ranging from the multi-platinum album, OK Computer, to its equally successful follow-up, the experimental Kid A, to this year’s name-your-price download, In Rainbows.

Two performances are also scheduled for December. The first will be a free, all ages 1 hour set at The Whole Music Club, Coffman Union, University of MN campus on December 4. Immediately following this will be a full evening’s performance at The Terminal Bar on Friday, December 5, with “EXIT STAGE RIGHT,” a tribute to the Canadian progressive rock group Rush.

More information about the group is available on their homepage, located at www.radioheadproject.com, and also on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/radioheadproject

Steve Cochrane is a self-taught guitarist/vocalist/songwriter who entered the musical arena with grand artistic ambitions. Throughout the 90s, he released a trilogy of albums bearing a trademark epic style. “A kick in the uplifting end of our soul”. “Musically invigorating and compositionally dynamic”. "A symphonic prog lover's wet dream". These were typical comments, along with favourable reviews and considerable airplay throughout Europe, various pockets in the US and in Quebec.

Fast-forward to the current century and a new album called With Or Without, which takes a leaner song-based approach with emphasis on acoustic guitar and vocals. Still, the prog/art rock influences shine through in the intricate arrangements, fluid guitar stylings and in the lyrics, which are often surrealistic and philosophical.

It begins with a brief finger-picked acoustic prelude, then “Key to the Sea” bursts forth with aggressive strumming and a muscular bass line. “The Greatest Since Rembrandt” offers a tongue-in-cheek look at pretense in the art world before surrendering to memories of youthful serenity in ‘Swans”. The final four tracks flow together to create an epic of sorts, including the dramatic “Abandon Ship” and the uplifting closer “Rise Like the Sun”. Unlike most of the CDs that are coming out by the thousands these days, With Or Without is an album that is meant to be listened to from beginning to end.... repeatedly.

If you wish to learn more about Steve Cochane and hear tracks from his first three albums, visit www.spiritcompass.com

•  Rush goes acoustic

Plunkett: an English boy and an Italian girl.
Both Ian and Lara had a love for music from a very early age.
After studying music at Rome, writing and recording with the ambient project Ex Machina and alternative electro pop group Otero, Lara became a partner and A&R of the Dune Records, an independent italian label based in Florence.
Ian had always played in bands and after finally finding like minded musicians the electro pop/rock band ‘Pukromo' was born. In late 1999 Pukromo signed to Dune Records recording their debut album ‘Promise Me Kill Me' during 2000.
Life’s funny sometimes and although the label and band folded, Ian and Lara got together.
Frustrated by the mechanisms and ties of the music biz and tired of their ‘electronic’ past, they focused on their emotions, on themselves. Without any thought or the pressure of trying be anything other than that. Themselves.
In 2006 their debut album ’14 Days’ was released. An acoustic orientated, intimate album of alternative contemporary folk rock. The album received an unexpected critic and listener's acclaim through the internet leading them to being featured artists on some of the most important independent music sites throughout the world. Many of the songs have also since been used in two American independent films: Dave's Date (Forbidden Foot) by Natasha Guruleva (Accent Works) and A Hell Shared by Karl Rose (Current Production).
2008 sees the release of Plunkett’s second album ‘Folk Songs’. Contrasting its predecessor, although still remaining alternative contemporary folk rock, the sound and feeling of the album is much more direct with as much emphasis on the lyrics as on the music.

With a desire to only write songs and move people, Plunkett choose to remain independent artists and work outside of the mainstream music business.

Plunkett make Independent music for independent minds.

To know more about Plunkett and their upcoming releases visit their website www.plunkett-music.com.

•  Short and Sweet.
•  Simon and Garfunkle Like
• cool river

Victor Stellar was born on September 1, 1971, in Russia, in Moscow. He began the creative activity in 1998. He is the composer and sound director, working in a genre of electronic music, loves to experiment with the sound. At the end of 2005 appeared the first album "Virtual wars". In July, 2006 is released a double album under the name "GLADIATOR". In December, 2006 is released the album under the name "DAY and NIGHT". In May, 2007 is released the album under the name "Romantic".

Simon Collins –“Time for Truth”
Simon Collins, 28, was born in London, England. He, along with his mother and sister relocated to Vancouver, Canada when he was five. It was at that time that his father, rock legend Phil Collins, began teaching him how to play the drums. Simon spent a great deal of time on tour with Genesis and his father. It was then and there that he honed his skills as a competent drummer. Now it has become self evident that he inherited his father’s ability as a performer, composer and musician on drums, piano and
vocals. By the age of fourteen he began composing and producing his own material on the path of his own solo career. In 2000 Simon relocated from his home in Vancouver, Canada to Germany where his debut album "All of Who You Are" released on WEA Records immediately entered the German charts. The LP was released in over 30 countries worldwide, selling over 100,000 copies in Germany alone. The first single "Pride" was charted all over Eastern and Western Europe. The second single "Shine Through" co-written with Howard Jones, also became an instant radio hit.
With Simon relocating back to Canada, we present his second LP "Time for Truth" revealing a greater artistic depth that was not heard on the previous record. It proves him to be prolific not only as a singer/songwriter but also as a producer and multi-instrumentalist. Picking up where his father left off, Simon Collins has created a record that people can escape into and which has the timeless feeling that can only be captured by great song writing. He has the talent and the creative insight to confidently follow in his father’s footsteps while leading his own generation toward a new perspective and positive outlook. "Time for Truth" is a sonic evolution. It is an album written with the message from the current point of view that we all share as a new generation on the planet. A theme that searches for the common spiritual and celestial ground we all share with each other. Simon achieves his message through vast soundscapes and lush ambient plateaus, driven by a fusion of both electronic and organic beats, while interweaving heavy influences of Euro-trance and techno. Simon has embraced his electronic roots with this recording and in turn written strong, confident material that swirl in pop harmonies, generating a contemporary style of new wave.
With musical high lights such as the title track and epic opener "Time for Truth", and the sensitive and heartfelt ballad "Hold On" plus the alluring and hook filled "Out on the Playa", the listener is lead on a journey through time space and left with contemplative thought and irresistible melodies. Think of the lush and precise production of "Massive Attack" and "Depeche Mode" with the inspired and uplifting song writing of "Cold Play" and "Radio Head". With sometimes-unorthodox hooks and ambitious arrangements, balanced with clever and well-timed commercial appeal. It is a crafted work of sonic art at many levels. Therefore, It is no wonder that he decided to title the LP "Time for Truth". This new work offers the true vision and multi-faceted artistic capabilities of Simon Collins.

•  Very Phil...
•  Phil Collins, is he still...