Netroots Nation in Second Life is thrilled to add another live performer to our Music Marathon line up.  The amazing kelvinblue Oh will be performing at 4 pm 5 pm on the ballroom stage.

**Website**
http://www.myspace.com/knavybluesontherun

**Youtube***
You can view movies of Kelvinblue Oh playing in Second Life on this page:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kelvinblue+Oh

It ain’t the blues if you ain’t paid the dues.” Born in 1953 in Houston, Texas, Kevin got his first guitar when he was 9 years old. But Kevin’s epiphany came one day when his father grabbed his guitar, wanting to play. Then he took a bottle and started playing slide and when Kevin heard that, He told himself, ‘Man, that’s what I wanna do.’ And it’s what I’ve been doing since.” From his very first band , Blues on the Run, to his incarnation in the virtual world of Second Life as solo bluesman Kelvinblue Oh, Kevin has been faithful to his music, earning him the the title “The Real Deal” from a loyal and still growing army of fans. Kevin came under the spell of some of the greatest influences like Albert Brooks, Jimi Hendrix, Lynnyrd Skynnrd and ZZ Top-style.” From the early 1980s, Kevin earned a name as a guitarist of the unique Zydeco sound. Through that decade and the next, Kevin would play guitar in several Zydeco bands, even touring England. From 1991, he spent five years with Step Rideau’’s Zydeco Band, with whom he played several US cities and cutting three CDs. A friend invited him to try out what was then a still little known virtual world on the Internet. “I came in, but there werent many ppeople there, so I left,” Kevin recalls. About a year later, he decided to give it another try and returned to find Second Life the phenomenon it is today. The friend, Jenzza Misfit, “helped set me up and then let me play and I’ve been doing so ever since.” While much about Second Life, including the live music scene, is about experimenting and pushing the limits, Kevin, or Kelvinblue Oh, and his beloved Fender Strat, Miss Blue, have proven that even in this virtual world, it is still soul that counts. From lowdown roots blues to boogie woogie to flaming covers of his idol Hendrix, Kevin has become a real star in Second Life, which has allowed his honest performances and down home humor to instantly connect him with an international audience that knows and holds on to real talent when they see it. And most everyone who watches him knows his many original songs by heart and “sing” along with him. It isn’t unusual either for someone in the audience to say they’re jamming along to Kevin on their own guitars or keyboards or some other instrument in RL or real life. Kelvinblue Oh, international music star.

But first…..

Saturday, December 20th is an all day music marathon at the Netroots Nation ballroom to raise funds for the Inaugural bash and for our other upcoming Netroots Nation in Second Life activities.

The party starts at 1pm with the brilliant live musical performers Pillowfish, followed by BlindBoink Parham.

After the live performances, djs Rocky Torok, Dano Bookmite, Rodolpho Teardrop, Jane2 McMahon, Zathras Afarensis, and Revpaperboy Boozehound take over and will keep the music playing until 10pm or when the last dj falls over.  We will have contests and give aways all day.  Don’t miss the party!

Join us at the Netroots Nation ballroom - SLURL to Netroots Island

About Pillowfish:

http://www.pillowfish.co.uk/

Bohemian art-folk duo Pillowfish are eclectic yet cohesive, combining folk traditions, political song, accomplished musicianship, and a distinctive delivery.

Lyrically sparkling original songs featuring Tom Drinkwater’s acerbic vocals and intricate bouzouki, and Helen Bell’s inventive violin and viola countermelodies.

“a distinctive originality … intriguing songs are twinned with constantly moving melody lines that belie the well crafted care and attention to detail at the core of the duo’s work … stimulating, inventive and rewarding” - Rock’n'Reel magazine

“immediate and markedly individual presence … nobody else on the current scene sounds quite like them” - David Kidman, Netrhythms

“Great songs, played superbly with intrepid musical skill and liveliness.” - Kath Tait

“a really great sound and terrific musical interaction” - Al Parrish, Tanglefoot

About BlindBoink Parham:

http://www.mick-martin.com/

Mick Martin is an acoustic guitar solo artist. He plays “Traditional American Folk”, music on an acoustic guitar. The styles that Mick plays include “Country Blues” and “Appalachain Folk” music. Mick has shared the stage with Sonny Terry and Brownie Mc Gee, Bill Monroe, Keith Whitley, Tom Rush, Noman Blake, Robin and Linda Williams, Barbra Mandrell, Vince Gill and many others in the music industry over the years.

As a child in Appalachia Mick Martin grew up listening to the mountain music that was a natural part if his surroundings, which is evident in his unique sound and guitar picking style - it’s true “Country Blues”. Mick’s mom was a singer. Her one sister a harmonica player and the other a guitar player and singer had played on the radio as a trio. Other close relatives who lived in the deep and rolling hills of Appalachia played the fiddle and banjo while calling square dances. Mick’s aunt ,who is 89 years old, still sings “Old Southern Gospel” music as she did in church more than 80 years ago. As a young adult Mick traveled around the country playing music, supporting himself financially by performing as both a solo act and with a band. He also has a passion for teaching and taught “ACOUSTIC GUITAR” for several years at “The Music Emporium” which is now located near Boston, Mass.

On his new album titled “Revelator” - Mick Martin has reworked old blues and jazz songs by the likes of Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, and Blind Willie McTell. Musicians of this kind are quite a rare breed today. They played with true emotion, and played because they loved to. They had no ulterior motives, no hopes of glory and fame… they played the blues.

It takes someone special, someone that has lived a particular type of life - to relate to this type of attitude and rewrite music of this kind while maintaining its integrity. Mick Martin has done just that.

Drop by the booth to pick up a great book on Etopia. This is a book you drag to the ground and read. If you are new to Second Life, do this where one of the Netroots Nation mentors can help you.

In your box of Etopia freebies, you will also find a bamboo bike. Ride this around Etopia Island or Netroots Nation Island. Here’s my little secret. I also fly this bike around my home island because I think it makes me look like the wicked witch of the West. But that’s just me.

If you time it right, you may even find a librarian at the Librarians of Second Life booth at Netroots Nation in SL. Catch Sonja Morgwain, and she will help you out.

Watch the video, pick up schwag, and hang (with) the rich at the Billionaires for Bush booth at Netroots Nation in SL.

The question on my mind, and I know I’m not alone, is: for whom does the billionaire next poll?

Brian Sayrs believes that every neighborhood’s aspirations should be cherished and supported. Brian has organized grassroots communities to achieve neighborhood goals, and will continue to do so as Spokane, Washington County Commissioner.

Sounds like a politician, doesn’t it? But he’s actually a nice guy. Check out Brian Sayr’s website, his blog, and his Daily Kos diary.

Oh, and if you seek Spokane Skytower in Second Life, ask him what he thinks of this guy Brian Sayrs.

Until the new store is ready, visit their virtual store and drop by their booth at Netroots Nation to see a few of their recommendations for progressive books you don’t want to miss. Say “Hi!” to BookemJackson. She’s been around at the NN in SL events this week.

Read Seattle Tammy and Seattle Dan’s book reports at Jesus’ General. The question on everyone’s minds, of course, is: when will they become Hoquiam Tammy and Hoquiam Dan?

Yesterday, I and I took the Netroots Nation in SL CEO stock car racing at BlogHer ‘08 REACH! Whoa! This is the most wickedly fun thing I’ve done in Second Life for a long time. This is a complete and unequivocal WIND UP. Add to your must do list.

The best way to find out what is going on at BlogHer in Second life is to follow Queen Tureaud blogging the experience on BlogHer.

You want to know where the women bloggers are? They are at BlogHer. If you are registered, hurry over. BlogHer ‘08 in Second Life ends today. If you want to go and can’t, register early next year. BlogHer always sells out, even when it’s free.

This after hours club has music, drinks, food, games, and movies every week. It’s like Mystery Science Theatre without the bad movies. These are great movies every Sunday at 7:00pm SLT.

July 17 - Special Netroots Nation Thursday 9 pm, The Corporation
July 20 - Duck Soup
July 27 - Harold and Kumar go to White Castle

August 4 - Be Here to Love Me - the Townes Van Zandt Story
August 11 - The Day the Earth Stood Still
August 18 - Hair

Notice that first item? TONIGHT! Special for Netroots Nation tonight, The Corporation at Red Zeppelin starting 9pm SLT.

Drop by the booth on the south side of Netroots Nation Island. There is free, uh, stuff to be had there.

Netroots Nation in Second Life is a very popular place! But don’t worry, we have several different places to watch the Netroots stream if the Netroots sim is full. Just click on one of the following locations and be whisked away.

Wellstone’s Donkey
InWorld Studios Amphitheater
Commonwealth Island 1
Commonwealth Island 2
Commonwealth Island 3
Commonwealth Island 4

To insure that everyone has an enjoyable time, please observe the following rules to help reduce lag:
*No weapons
*Please remove items such as jewelry, boots, or other attachments that are prim heavy or have “bling” scripts.
*Please remove or turn off scripted items such as Mysti-tool.

For more information on fighting lag, please visit the second Life blog here.