This is the event you've all been waiting for. Only 2 years late, but in central London on Sun 24th Aug at 229 The Venue we have having a party to officially launch TunA the Day.

We have 5 amazing acts including Official Secrets Act, Red Box Blue, Lizzy Spit and Murmur as well as a DJ set from Millimetre.

With 2 bars, a late licence until 3am and the chance to buy exclusive TunA merchandise there can't be many better ways to spend a Sunday eve - and it's a bank holiday the next day!!

All this for just £10 with profits going to The Marine Conservation Society.

Here are links to a couple of organisations that we are more than happy to support for reasons that don't need explaining.

The Marine Conservation Society

Green England

Don't leave it to others!

Planning a trip to the Edinburgh Festival this year? Then you must try to catch 2 Drummers Drumming at The Bongo Club daily @ 4.30pm from Weds 30th July. It's the history of the music business from the 60's to the 90's and beyond as experienced by a pair of tub thumpers; Maurice Bacon from The Love Affair and Matthew Priest of Dodgy.

Solactious tales about the likes of Jagger, Moon, Prince and The Stone Roses as well as audience participation, celebrity contributions and some actual drumming. For more info click here.

A monthly I get is The Word. It's packed with witty and considered jounalism from the likes of Mark Ellen, Andrew Collins, David Hepworth and Jim White and is an excellent mix of music, film, DVDs, books and gigs.

Best of all you get a terrific covermount CD with each issue.

To subscribe call 01795 592853 or visit www.wordmagazine.co.uk

The Jazz Cafe in Camden has a great line up over the next few months including Rachid Taha, Sharon Jones & The Dapkings, Spainish Harlem Orchestra, The Fatback Band, Salsa Celtica, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tinariwen, Lloyd Cole and The Average White Band.

For more info call 0870 060 3777 or CLICK HERE

Hanging around their tent at the Wychwood Festival recently waiting to get a CD signed, reminded me what a thoroughly good magazine Songlines is (and what jolly nice folk run it).

If you are into folk, roots, fusion and other types of global music then it's a top read.

The covermount CD you get is worth the cost (which is very reasonable anyway) alone.

If you are into global roots and grooves there is a charming online broadcast that goes out every Tues between 7-9pm.

You can listen to Gondwanasound live online at www.sheffieldlive.org or listen again by clicking here

For those of you that like your music loud and atmosphere sweaty there is the stonkingly good Church of Noise who host regular classic rock and metal nights in Cambridge.

If you can pick it up on your reception I can also recommend Neil Jones' sunday night rock show on Star 107.

The sadly defunt Zodiac on the Cowley Road Oxford has been transformed into The Carling Academy @ Oxford and has got some rather stonking acts coming up over the next few months including We Are Scientists, Calexico, Glen Tillbrook, Cara Dillon, Bellowhead and The Saw Doctors.

To book (without huge booking fees) go to We Got Tickets or call 0844 4772000

This book is so apt I've decided to make it the official TunA read.

I'd recommend any music fan, of any age, with a sense of humour to get a copy 'coz you are bound to find yourself or somebody you know in it.

You can also read Tom Cox in The Times and Sunday Times (for those of you that have the time to read the papers) and I've added a link to Tom's site on My Space.

Order it for just £7.49 inc. p&p

Another I'd fully recommend is 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Essential reading for album-files starting in the 50's and going through to (nearly) the present day.

Order it online for just £15.49 with FREE delivery

The Roundhouse in Camden has iconic status and staged some of the most memorable gigs on the 60's & 70's including one's by Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and The Who.

After closure in the 80's it's back bigger and better than before. Those appearing over the next few months include; Joan As Policewoman, British Sea Power and My Bloody Valentine.

There must be something in the water around Sheffield because not only do they have the excellent Gondwanasound, but also the groove laden and totally excellent Africabeat.

You can listen to it every Thursday between 7-9pm

or as a podcast whenever you darn well please!