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MUSIC Second Life meets real life at Thursday is “Live UK Night” from the Bedford by Saxonbard Santana, UK Correspondent
 This description fits the Blarney Stone in Dublin just as well as it does The Bedford in London. Both offer a great environment for relaxing, light-hearted banter and good live music. The main difference being that the Blarney Stone is in the Dublin sim in Second Life while the Bedford is located on a concrete South London street corner in the massive multiuser environment we know as real life. Every Thursday, however, the two become intrinsically linked when the Live UK Artists night at the Bedford is streamed live into the Blarney Stone. Ham Rambler, owner of Dublin Second Life, (www.dublinsl.com) is at the Bedford every Thursday and produces the show live on the audio streaming site Shoutcast. He is also in the Blarney Stone to keep an eye on things, disproving conventional wisdom by being in two places at the same time. Last Thursday, this Seventh Sun reporter teleported into the Blarney Stone to catch the show. Next week, I will be using more primitive means of transport to pop down to the Bedford to see what it is like on the other end of the ethernet. On entering the Blarney, I was instantly greeted by the hostess on duty—Brucie Lusch on this occasion—and a chorus of other hellos from the welcoming locals. All typed with a “/” first so that the clickety-click typing sounds would not disturb the music. Always a bit of a wallflower, I declined the dance animator and found myself a seat in a booth to watch the four-act show. Firstly, the usually solo artists, Roger Askew and Wendy Lloyd, performed a set together, playing some upbeat acoustic songs interspersed with witty banter. There is obviously good chemistry between these two. It was very entertaining. The crowd at the Bedford thought so too, as I could hear them laughing on the stream. Next up, Pete Roe’s haunting voice soothed over the crowd with his introspective lyrics and songs about his native Bristol. He was followed, and nicely balanced out, by the bluesy, gravel-voiced Vince Freeman playing what I am sure was a steel resonator guitar. I wish I could have seen. Perhaps I should suggest a video stream? On last was the “London (but still a bit New York)” as she describes herself, Gillian Glover. Soulful but edgy, winding up the show with an emotive performance that left my feet itching to get out and see the real thing. The experience of live music in Second Life is obviously different from what it is like in real life. I doubt there will be as much chatting during the live show, and I am also pretty sure I won’t be wearing my slippers at the Bedford next week. Performed Live Thursday, June 14: Performing Live Thursday, June 21:
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