Hearing aid campaign for Mats collected 300 000 SEK

The kickstarter campaign for Swedish keyboardist Mats Öberg quickly reached the goal of 100 000 kronor (SEK). 
It took only 24 hours. The project ended on April 26 and has gathered 314 000 SEK.
Mats who is blind since birth suffers from increasing hearing problems. Traditional doctors have not been able to help him. The money will now allow Mats to go to the US and try a special type of hearing aid. Let's hope it will work out for him!

https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=109&artikel=6942203

https://radiodupree.blogspot.se/2018/04/urgent-hearing-treatment-fundraiser-for.html

ABBA release newly recorded music

Photo: Abbasite.com

The news hit us today by total surprise; ABBA have recorded their first new songs for 35 years.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/27/abba-announce-first-new-songs-for-35-years

https://abbasite.com/articles/a-message-from-abba/

https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=478&artikel=6942256

Urgent hearing treatment fundraiser for Mats Öberg

Swedish keyboardist extraordinaire Mats Öberg has increasing big problems with his hearing. Traditional doctors have not been able to help him. Now his long time pal, drummer Morgan Ågren, has started a kickstarter campaign so that Mats can afford to try out a special type of hearing aid in the US.

Mats is blind since birth and music is his occupation and VERY important for him.

If you want to know more and maybe also help out, go here.

The project ends on April 26.

Mats Öberg has played with artists as Frank Zappa, Mikael Ramel, Napoleon Murphy Brock and Jonas Knutsson.

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets to play early Pink Floyd

Former Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has formed a band called Saucerful of Secrets. 
Tickets for their four London concerts in May are already sold out.

https://www.planetrock.com/news/news/rock-news/nick-mason-to-perform-early-pink-floyd-with-new-band-saucerful-of-secrets/

Hear Donald Fagen guesting on Derek Small's "Memo To Willie"!

"Smalls Change feels much like the Spinal Tap reunion album from 1992, Break Like The Wind — if the original This is Spinal Tap soundtrack remains a peerless, note-perfect parody of musical moronicism (much like the film itself), both Break and Smalls Change are amusing additions to the canon with their own twists to share."

Quote from the NPR article accompanying the first listen to the debut album by fictional bass player Derek Smalls (i.e. Harry Shearer) from the likewise fictional hard rock band Spinal Tap.

So you can approach it more or less negatively or choose to go the positive route and enjoy the songs for what they are played by a plethora of great musicians:

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers)
Gregg Bissonette
Larry Carlton
David Crosby
Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
Taylor Hawkins
Jim Keltner
Danny (Kootch) Kortchmar
Russ Kunkel
Michael League (Snarky Puppy)
Jane Lynch (actress/singer)
Steve Lukather (Toto)
Judith Owen
Snarky Puppy Horns
Joe Satriani
Paul Shaffer (David Letterman, SNL, etc.)
Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Richard Thompson
Steve Vai
Waddy Wachtel
Rick Wakeman (Yes)
Phil X
Dweezil Zappa

Funny liner notes and more here:
http://www.sacksco.com/pr/derek_smalls.html

The album is released April 13 but you can here it via the link now.

https://www.npr.org/2018/04/05/599148952/first-listen-derek-smalls-smalls-change-meditations-upon-ageing