Julie Barela Mills, writer for the Dutch Rainbow Fanclan Legacy site, has officially announced The RITCHIE BLACKMORE Protege Shred Off 2011, which is in conjunction with the Induct Ritchie Blackmore Into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame site on Facebook (found here). The contest winner will be announced on Blackmore's 66th birthday, April 14th. More details to follow later this week, including the page to send the videos, etc.

LYRAKA songwriter/lead guitarist Andy DiGelsomina is slated to be a part of the three judge panel. More information will be available soon.

As previously reporetd, BLACKMORE’S NIGHT, the group featuring Blackmore (ex-DEEP PURPLE) and Candice Night, have confirmed more live shows in the US on the Autumn Sky Summer Tour 2011. The dates now include:

May

13 - Queens World Cafe Live - Wilmingtom, DE
14 - Sherman Theater - Stroudsburg, PA
19 - Berklee Performing Arts - Boston, MA
21 - Tarrytown Music Hall - Tarrytown, NY
22 - Bolton Center - Bayshore, NY

Blackmore's Night released their new album Autumn Sky on January 18th in North America via Spinefarm Records. The album was released in Europe on September 3rd. Recorded during Candice's pregnancy, Candice and Ritchie have dedicated the Autumn Sky album to their newly born daughter Autumn Esmerelda Blackmore.

According to a press release, with a career spanning nearly two decades, the band of minstrels has gained crossover success all over the world with its new genre of "Ren And Rock” music. The lyrics are inspired by nature and the myths and fairy tales they encounter on their international travels. The melodies, composed and arranged by Blackmore, encompass musical structure and the essence of melodies from the early 1600s. Blackmore's Night's last album, Secret Voyage, debuted at #1 on the Billboard New Age Chart and held that spot for four consecutive weeks. Blackmore's Night has appeared nationwide on PBS and Discovery channel specials, and has been awarded the Best Album of the Year and Best Vocal Album of the year by NPR New Age Reporter for their past 7 studio CDs.

Autumn Sky brings 14 new Blackmore's Night songs, plus a cover of 'Celluloid Heroes' from THE KINKS.

Autumn Sky tracklisting:

'Highland'

'Vagabond (Make A Princess Of Me)'

'Journeyman (Vandraren)'

'Believe In Me'

'Sake Of The Song'

'Song And Dance'

'Celluloid Heroes'

'Keeper Of The Flame'

'Night At Eggersberg'

'Strawberry Girl'

'All The Fun Of The Fayre'

'Darkness'

'Dance Of The Darkness'

'Health To The Company'

'Barbara Allen'

The first video has been released for the song 'Highland' and can be seen below: