Time is running out to enter your song in The Rock Boat Washed Ashore Concert Cruise 2004 Song Contest . Sponsored by BMI , the contest winner will win cabin accommodations and airfare for two to Miami, Florida (departure city), as well as an opening acoustic spot on the bill aboard The Rock Boat. BMI is looking for great Rock, Pop and Americana songs from BMI-affiliated songwriters who are serious, unsigned performers. Log on to http://bmi.com/showcases/200407/rock_boat.asp for further details and to download the contest application. Hurry! All applications must be postmarked no later than August 23, 2004 . www.bmi.com

GIVEAWAY - Want to snag a copy of Rubyhorse's newest release, Goodbye To All That? Just shoot us an email at info@atlantamusicguide.com telling us what famous Beatle played on the band's last record to qualify, and we'll draw three winners on Friday. Check out our latest addition to the Atlanta Music Guide Features section - an insightful interview with the Irish lads of Rubyhorse , and their opinions on Atlanta, signing to local indie label Brash Music , and the trials and tribulations of the modern music industry. To read the Rubyhorse interview, click here.

99X has this year's Upstart Fest part two almost ready to rock. According to their newsletter, this time around, the Atlanta radio station will bring Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand (who sold out the Cotton Club during their last visit here) Las Vegas natives The Killers, Scissor Sisters , local rockers The Whigs , and Delays, along with more un-announced acts back to the Masquerade Music Park September 12th. www.99x.com

The Beastie Boys are invading Atlanta on their Pageant Tour. The crazy trio rocks the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Friday October 15th. Tickets go on sale this Saturday August 14th at 12pm, but there is a pre-sale for all 99X Freeloaders.

The Atlanta chapter of the American Cancer Society is throwing its 19th annual 'Party With A Purpose.' The concert/silent auction/dinner is a benefit featuring Ed Roland of Collective Soul , Emerson Hart of Tonic , and Butch Walker , playing together on one stage. Local acts Serene and Screen Door are set to play as well. The event is 21 and up - general admission tickets cost $50, which also includes a complimentary buffet and 2 drinks. VIP tickets cost $85, which includes a VIP pre-event party at Andrews Upstairs with complimentary hors d'oeurves, a meet and greet with the musicians, admission to the VIP balcony with gourmet catering, reserved seating, and a VIP bar - and to top it off, you're helping out a great cause. Tickets for Party With A Purpose are available through Ticket Alternative. For more information, visit www.partywithapurpose.com.

Turner Field 's My South Rocks concert series continues past the Summer and into the Fall. Atlanta Braves patrons can now see some of the Southeast's popular bands. The newly announced acts include The Lost Trailers (August 13), Y-O-U (August 27), and Urban Sophisticates (September 10). The music starts at 6pm outside in the Turner Field plaza area. To find out more information, visit the official Atlanta Braves website at www.atlantabraves.com.

For those who just can't wait, Sony/Epic is having a listening party August 20 and 21st from 7-9pm for the upcoming Butch Walker album, "Letters." The party will take place inside the Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar, and there will be giveaways as well. Walker's CD hits stores August 24th, and he was also recently named Rolling Stone's "Hot Producer" for 2004. www.butchwalker.com

The International Acoustic Music Awards are now accepting submissions. IAMA is open to all independent artists and labels. There are 8 different categories: Folk, Americana/Roots/AAA, Instrumental, Open*, Bluegrass/Country, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo. There will also be an Overall Grand Prize awarded. Judging is based on excellence in music performance, songwriting/competition and originality. All songs submitted must be postmarked by November 9 '04 or earlier. Winning songs will be heard on 'Acoustic Cafe', a nationally syndicated radio program and on XM Radio. For more information, visit www.inacoustic.com.

7-piece jazz/funk ensemble, Cadillac Jones , is heading out on it's first East Coast tour. The dates include a headlining show at The Knitting Factory in NYC on Friday August 27th, ending with an appearance at the Sun Ray Fest in Athens, GA, along with Kevin Kinny, the Radiators, Robert Walters 20th Congress, and many others. For a complete list of dates and more details on Cadillac Jones, check out their very amusing website at www.cadillacjones.com and for more on the Sun Ray Music Festival, check out www.sunraymusicfestival.com

We finally did it and sold our souls to MySpace. If you haven't checked out the site that is easily kicking Friendster in the ass, now's the time to do so. Check out the Atlanta Music Guide account at www.myspace.com/atlantamusicguide for featured shows, links to Atlanta band profiles, and a media player with songs from previously featured artists. It is a bit addictive, so don't say we didn't warn you....

Atlanta band 7-10 Split release their new album, "Kill The Messenger" this Tuesday on New School Records. The CD also contains the video for the band's college radio single, "The Battle of Shiloh." www.7-10split.org

The line-up for the 2004 Voodoo Music Festival has been announced. The New Orleans equivelant to Music Midtown, Austin City Limits, and the like features an eclectic selection of artists and will take place October 16 - 17. Beastie Boys , The Pixies , Black Rebel Motorcycle Club , Sonic Youth , Polyphonic Spree , The Killers , Snow Patrol , Phantom Planet , The Thrills , Metric , and tons more acts are scheduled to perform. Tickets for the event go on sale August 2nd at 10:00am. www.voodoomusicfest.com

Open Mic Madness is right around the corner, and artists - it isn't too late to submit your application! The six night single music elimination tournament starts August 16 at Smith's Olde Bar . Bands who have sold less than 20,000 records and are not on a major record label are eligible, and it is free to apply and perform. This year's winner will get to play the sold out 2004 Rock Boat , recording time with producer Don McCollister (Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins, Sister Hazel), 1000 retail ready CDs, gift certificates to Ken Stanton Music , and more. Previous Open Mic Madness winners include The Whigs and Bain Mattox . See who comes out on top at the finals August 21st, where The Whigs and Y-O-U will headline the event. www.openmicmadness.com

The seventh annual Atlantis Music Conference came to a slaphappy finale with breakfast and Karaoke at Vinyl Saturday night. The 5-day music bonanza featured performances by over 300 artists and informative panels on the music biz. Highlights included the packed scenester party The Devil Stole the Beat at Cosmopolitan , the ASCAP showcase (featuring Red Letter Agent, The Whigs and Trances Arc) and the filled to capacity 99X showcase at Velvet Underground (which some of us didn’t get in to). For pictures, reviews, and more details, check out our Atlantis Music Conference Wrap-Up!

If Metalsome Monday heavy metal karaoke isn't enough for you, the 10 High now presents Kara-okee-dokee Tuesday nights. The classic country live band karaoke kicks off August 3rd. Doors are at 8pm, and tickets are $5.00. Advance tickets are available via Ticket Alternative.

There is a new radio station in town called DAVE FM . Infinity Radio's Z93 recently switched formats and began playing a wider mix of music. In the first hour that we tuned in we heard U2, The Verve, Oasis, Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty and the Rolling Stones. There are no DJ's on air yet, but there will be. DAVE FM presents Blues Traveler at the Variety Playhouse on August 5th. For more info visit www.929davefm.com

Atlanta band Abyss will be performing on the Sirius Stage at the Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Puddle of Mudd, 12 Stones concert July 24th at HI-FI Buys Amphitheater. Check out their website for more info at www.abyssonline.net

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