MANILA, Philippines—A British-Filipino band named Firefalldown has landed in the regional semi-finals of the Surface Unsigned Festival in England.

The event, said to be the largest of its kind, brings unsigned bands to the attention of the UK music industry and attracts more than 4,000 bands from southern England alone.

Firefalldown is composed of Jon Blaylock (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Hodgson (drums) and Joel Sablayan (bass).

Formed in the UK a year ago, the band says it was influenced by P.O.T. and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others. “Our songs usually have a line or two in Filipino,” says Jon, Firefalldown’s songwriter whose mother is Filipino.

The band is set to shoot a music video with Pancho Esguerra (director of Bamboo’s “Probinsyana” and “So Far Away” videos), and release a single in time for a promotional tour in Manila this month.

Visit www.firefalldown.com or call 774-8145.

Amy’s aborted session

Mark Ronson, the British DJ and record producer who won three Grammys for his work with Amy Winehouse, has aborted her recording session for the title song of the upcoming James Bond film.

“I’m not sure Amy is ready to work on music yet,” Ronson was quoted to have said. It’s been rumored that Leona Lewis will replace Winehouse on the Bond song.

MTV Asia Awards

The all-male hip hop dance group Jabbawockeez, pop/R&B singer-songwriter Leona Lewis, alternative rock bands OneRepublic, Panic at the Disco, and The Script, Korean boy band Super Junior and power-pop group The Click Five are performing as guest artists at the 2008 MTV Asia Awards to be held on Aug. 2 at the Arena of the Stars in Genting, Malaysia.

Of the awards’ 16 categories, 10 will be determined by MTV viewers’ votes for the Favorite Artist.

Chicosci, Sandwich, Sponge Cola and Urbandub are nominated in the Favorite Artist Philippines category. Log on to the official website www.mtvasiawards.com or the WAP site, wap.mtvasia.com/maa to vote.

Free download card

FM radio station Magic 89.9 is giving away a free download card of Cambio’s special version of its song “You Wear Me.”

Dubbed as the “Sunrise Sunken Garden Acoustic Jam” version, the track was performed live at the UP Diliman campus.

Tune in to Magic 89.9 for the whole month of July or visit www.fliptunes.net/store/youwearme.

Email pconcepcion@inquirer.com.ph