(Just Updated) Attention bands - Want to gain the exposure of some of Atlanta's prominent music industry professionals and book your summer gigs in front of thousands of people playing On the Bricks, the East Andrews Fall Music Festival, AthFest, Atlantis Music Conference, Turner Field, and more? Andrews Upstairs is presenting the next installment of their March Bandness competition, and a few slots are still left! You can find out all of the information such as bands performing, how your band can enter, prizes, etc. on AMG's official March Bandness page.

Our friend Moseley just turned us on to Gizoogle, a 'translator' that turns websites into bling. Click here to check out to see what the AMG site would look like if we were tricked out, rollin' on 20s, and drinking Cristal out of chrome wheels. It's pretty damn great.

Atlanta Music Guide Music Award 'Best Band' winners Second Shift are currently in the studio with producer Geoff Melkonian (Five Eight, The Whigs, The Drexlers) working on their debut full length album. The band is taking a break from recording this week as their lead singer/rock star-in-training Jonathan Baker is headed off to the Grammy's. The first Second Shift record is set for a May release, and lots of great things are in the works for the Atlanta five piece. www.secondshiftmusic.com

Check out our latest live show review on The Redwalls from their sold out show with Keane and The Zutons at the Roxy!

Join Sorted Entertainment every other week for the AUDIO iPod Party at Salt! Anyone can bring his/her iPod or mp3 player, plug in, and spin for about 15 minutes. The next iPod party will take place February 15th at 7:30pm. Salt is located at the corner of 5th and Juniper streets. As AUDIO grows, 'PODsters' will have to sign up or take a number and go from there. There will also be several theme nights for you to show off your best Metal, Indie Rock, 80's, etc. selections. This trend has been going on for a while in other cities, so come out and see what the fuss is all about!

Reminder - For those local bands wanting the chance to perform on the Locals Only Music Midtown stage this year, you must get your press kit & application in by February 11th - No exceptions. For the application, visit www.musicmidtown.com.

Read up on Atlanta Music Guide's Featured Band for February - Steadlur! These brothers will be rockin' the BMI "See It Hear First" Showcase this Thursday at Smith's Olde Bar, so come on out and see the band whose turned the heads of many Atlanta music fans and label reps. The BMI showcase is a great opportunity for everyone to catch some of the Southeast's most prominent local acts before they become big. BMI-affilliated writers are welcome to join other musicians and music industry professionals for the 730 Atlanta / SunTrust pre-show reception featuring an acoustic set from Brash Music recording artist Taylor Hollingsworth . Closing the night will be Warner Brothers recording artists World Leader Pretend . For showcase information, etc. visit BMI's Showcase Page.

First they sold out the Cotton Club, and then they sold out the Roxy. Now Interpol are returning to Atlanta on Monday March 21st, and at the rate the band's fanbase has grown, they just might sell out the Tabernacle this time. Tickets for the show will go on sale this Saturday February 5th at noon and will be $23 in advance and $25 day of show (if there are any left). www.interpolny.com

Vinyl, one of Atlanta's best music venues, is no more. But don't worry, because things are about to get a hell of a lot better. The club is being turned into a Park Bench Midtown, which will be a regular bar with live music from acts like Cary Pierce of Jackopierce. Touring bands that played the Cotton Club and Masquerade now have a new home with the expansion of the Earthlink Live Music Complex. The top floor will house a new 10,000 square foot live music venue called The Loft (Vinyl 's new name). The grand opening week kicks off February 24th, featuring DJ Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys. The opening weekend will culminate in a show Saturday February 26th featuring Pleasure Club, Sons of William (Joe Stark), Family Force 5, and Taylor Hollingsworth. Other great bands coming to The Loft soon include Ash, The Bravery, Hot Hot Heat, Louis XIV, and Citizen Cope. 99X listeners can access the presales for both shows starting February 2nd at 10am via Ticket Alternative. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Saturday February 5th at 10am. www.theloftatl.com | www.vinylatlanta.com

Anyone heading out to the desert with us...? The lineup for the 2005 Coachella Festival has been officially announced. The two day concert will be held April 30 & May 1st and feature Weezer , Coldplay , Doves , Gang of Four , New Order , and many many more at the Indio, CA festival. www.coachella.com

Check out AMG's latest concert review of the sold out Arcade Fire show last week in our features section. A review of Friday's sold out Keane show will be on the site soon as well. Make sure you check in tomorrow for February's featured local band!

Ticket Alternative has just completed a deal to sell advance tickets for shows at The EARL through 2 retail locations in Atlanta. Soon you'll be able to buy tickets for most shows at The EARL from Criminal Records' store in Little 5 Points and directly from The EARL for upcoming shows like Ambulance LTD , Crooked Fingers , and Mono . The deal means you'll now be able to save money and have your ticket in advance to show off to your friends!

It seems like great things are happening for our friends at Vinyl. Stay tuned on Friday for the big announcement... www.vinylatlanta.com

GIVEAWAY - 99X has announced their lineup for their annual 99X Sinners Ball. Atlanta Music Guide is giving away two pairs of tickets for this awesome event sponsored by Beck's Bier and Bacardi! All you have to do is email us at info@atlantamusicguide.com with the name of the venue the Metalsome Monday band plays every week, and you'll be entered in our drawing. It's that easy! The winners will be notified this Monday January 31st!

The Mardi Gras bash will take place February 5th at Kenny's Alley at Underground Atlanta and feature music from Better Than Ezra , local act Y-O-U , the Metalsome Monday live heavy metal karaoke band, along with performances from the Dollsquad Cabaret in between the sets. Tickets are on sale now through Ticket Alternative for $15.00 plus service charges. www.99x.com | get your 99X Sinners Ball tickets
Last week's Atlanta Music Unites benefit shows were a great success, and it helped raise thousands of dollars for the earthquake and tsunami victims in South Asia. Kudos to all of the bands, companies, and people involved. Click here to see photos from several of the shows, including the finale, taken by Zack Arias of Usedfilm.com.

The only thing worse than a shitty band is shitty spam. The worst 2 offenders so far this year are Chancemusic and this Emergenza Festival thing. It's ok to get an unsolicited email once about something you might be interested in. In fact, that's how we find out about lots of stuff, but repetitive emails to every single one of our accounts is complete bollocks.

U2 has just revealed that the first leg of the band's Vertigo tour will kick off March 28 in San Diego, CA. The band will be accompanied throughout the U.S. by Kings of Leon and then head over to Europe in June. No Atlanta date has been announced yet, but it is expected that the band will hit more American cities with the tour's second leg in the fall. www.u2.com - If you're looking for U2 tickets in Atlanta, check out 2-tickets.com.

Just announced - Sixthman , the company behind the Rock Boat and Rock Slope, are presenting Rock Fore Dough on Tuesday April 5th in Augusta, GA. The concert will take place at First Tee of Augusta the week of the Master's Tournament and feature Hootie and the Blowfish, Sister Hazel, Edwin McCain, Josh Kelley, and the Pat Blanchard Band. Proceeds from the event will go towards The First Tee, an organization whose mission is to create affordable & accessible golf facilities for underprivileged youth and those who would not normally have exposure to the positive values of golf. For more information, visit www.rockforedough.com. Click here to purchase your tickets.

The speakers and line up for 2005's South by Southwest (SXSW) is shaping up. The annual music conference, now in its 18th year, will feature Led Zeppelin co-founder Robert Plant as its keynote speaker. The conference has just added Brian Wilson on to discuss his recent album SMiLE as well. Larger confirmed acts include Billy Idol, Elvis Costello, Doves, Fatboy Slim, The Donnas, Sleater-Kinney, and Nada Surf. www.sxsw.com

GIVEAWAY - If you're one of the people lucky enough to have snagged a ticket to the sold out Keane show at the Roxy next Friday, then make sure you get there early to catch the opening bands. People have already caught on to The Zutons, but the first band on the bill, The Redwalls, is also a must see. The AMG staff loves their debut disc, Universal Blues (click here to listen to the record online) , which has an impossibly retro sound, drawing influences from surf rock, soul, and early-era Beatles. Since we wanted to give our readers a chance to hear what we can't stop talking about, the Atlanta Music Guide is giving away 3 copies of The Redwalls sampler, featuring songs off of their forthcoming Capitol Records debut; and we'll throw in 3 signed posters as well. Just email info@atlantamusicguide.com with your name, address, & a phone number, and the first three people who enter will win! www.theredwalls.com

Atlanta Music Guide will be sponsoring BMI's "See It Hear First" rock showcase Thursday February 3rd at Smith's Olde Bar. The showcase will highlight several of BMI's most promising Southeastern acts. Headlining the night will be Rehab, who found success in 2001 with their modern rock hit "It Don't Matter." Also on the bill are Atlanta's Steadlur and Elevation, along with Charleston-based band The Young Republicans. Come on out for a night of great music from bands that will soon invade the airwaves. Doors are at 8:30, and the show starts at 9:00pm. BMI-affilliated writers & publishers are welcome to the Writer, Artist, & Industry Cocktail Reception at 7:00pm, featuring an acoustic performance from Brash Music's newest artist, Taylor Hollingsworth. For more information, check out BMI's Showcase Page.

The Echo Lounge shut it's doors on Saturday. The details are still coming across, but AMG has learned the Kingsized show on January 8th was the last show. With the closing of Masquerade just around the corner, Atlanta will have lost 3 clubs in almost as many months..

Whether you're a band in need of rehearsal space or a kid just getting into music, AMG's newest sponsor, This House Rocks, can help you fulfill your rock 'n roll wish. The complete rehearsal and lessons facility was started by several partners, including Jeff Carlisi of .38 Special. This House Rocks offers musicians a chance to meet each other and form bands, fully equipped rehearsal spaces, music lessons for several instruments, and more. To check them out, visit www.thishouserocks.com, and be sure to let them know we sent you!