The good news: I’ve been invited to see Dlugokeckisupport the Proclaimers at the South by South West music conference in Austin, Texas.

Unfortunately I am not going by plane, boat or courtesy of Rolling Stone magazine: it’s the virtual world of Second Life that’s calling and I’m off to a bar called The Blarney Stone.

If you are unaware of Second Life then think of it as a computer generated world in which you control a character that can interact with all the other inhabitants.

You can buy land, buildings and clothes and it has become established enough for a few small countries to open embassies.

Early this Sunday morning (3am) you can take your character to the Blarney Stone and watch a live feed of Dlugokekci’s gig which, according to the organisers, is a first for South by Southwest.

However live music in Second Life is nothing new and it’s thought a dozen or so similar events happen every day.

But it is an apt reminder that keeping on top of technology is a must for musicians and followers alike.

The virtual world will not replace real, in your face, gigs but you need to find an audience at least Second Lifers are pro-active.

In this case where band and fan part company will be the start time and possible graphic card limitations on the computer.

But it won’t be long before bands will be adding Second Life accounts to their portfolio of Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube.

First published in the Southern Daily Echo Friday March 20th