The sights and sounds of the

PAGEfl

KT Tunstall is among i musicians participating in the Now Play It project

Edinburgh Mela

Can't stop the music:

Stars reach out to music fans with new digital guide to recreating their best-loved hits. Words: Anna Millar

spiring musicians are being ol'l'ered the chance to learn their craft from the music maestros

themselves this month. l'ollowing the launch ol'

‘Now Play It‘. a new digital video service developed to help ol‘l‘er a more instant and direct way ol‘ learning. to music lovers everywhere. Fans and musos alike are invited to log on and download the band or singer ol' their choice. where available.

Among the UK stars involved in the project are KT Tunstall. who gives a step b_v step guide on how to play the guitar on ‘Sudden|_v l See‘ and ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree'. Tunstall‘s ‘Suddenlv I See' featured in the Oscar-winning movie The Devil nan-x l’i'utlu and helped launch her career in America. The singer‘s new album is out next month. Meanwhile. Blur drummer Dave Rowntree is on hand to help with the band's ‘Song 2‘.

4 me LIST Aug—ts 88F :oo‘

lilsewhere. on the site. Supergrass guitarist (ia/ ('ooinhcs ol‘l'ers his thoughts on ‘Richard III‘ and Magic Numbers guitarist Romeo Stodart takes the wannabe p|a_\ er through 'This is a Song‘. The service is current|_\ downloadahle and can he tised h} ever_vonc l'roin ahsoltite beginners to advanced musicians. See wwwnowpla}it.com lor lull details.

In other music new s. l‘ran/ l’erdinand have co\ered David Bow ie‘s I977 single ’Sound and \ision' tor a new compilation marking the 4llth anniversat'} ol~ BBC Radio l. The album l'eattires contemporar} artists covering a song l‘rom each )car since the station's lirst broadcast in l‘)(i7.

Last but h_\ no means least. Travis have conlirmed two l'estival dates: one in September at l.a .\lercc—I)amm Festival in Barcelona; the other at the l-‘esti\al dc \ltisica indcpendiente dc [amigo/ti. /.at'ago/a in ()ctolicr.

ORAN MOR PRESENTS THEATRICAL GREATEST HITS

I It has proved to be one of Oran-MOr’s most popular exports, paving the way for many variations on a theme. In early September, the hip Glasgow venue will celebrate the success of its A Play, A Pie and A Pint with a special “best of’ week. Ae Fond Kiss and Tir Nan 09, two of Scotland’s most celebrated theatre productions, return to Glasgow for Oran MorE! to be showcased at the Mitchell Theatre from 3-8 September.

Written especially for Libby McArthur (River City, Taggart and Rab C Nesbitt), Ae Fond Kiss is a comedic yet touching play, about a middle- aged, down-on-her-luck prostitute, Lola, and her rendezvous with shy and naive 18-year-old Zed - Jim Webster-Stewart, (High Road, Casualty and Sea of Souls). Also showing is Dave Anderson's musical Tir Nan 09, the story of a Scottish exile on a fantastical journey around the world. Call the ticket line on 0870 013 2652 or see www.secxtra.com (AM)

I Sir Sean Connery has topped a poll as the celebrity most people would want to hear reading their emails and text messages. The survey was launched by Avaya Inc, a company which creates software to combat the dangers of listening to voicemails while driving. John Cleese, Darth Vader and Angelina Jolie also scored highly in the poll.

I Sixteen solo John Lennon albums; are now available to download on iTtines for the first time after a rleal was approved by the late Beatles WKii m Yoko Ono which may pave the way lot The Beatles catalogue to appear online.

I Classical music lovers around the world will be able to sit in a ‘virtual’ hall to listen to an online performance by a leading orchestra. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic will perform in what is billed as the first professional music concert in a ‘virtual online world’. The cyber event will be seen by visitors to Second Life website, following a slew of rock musicians who have already played there.

I Finally. the French teenager arrested for publishing his Own complete translation of the latest Harry Potter novel online Will not be prosecuted. According to the French publisher. Gallimard. the deCiSion not to sue for damages was made in agreement With Harry Potter author JK