Billboard Bits: Coachella, Move Against AIDS, Partridge

Although the 2005 edition of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts festival is still some five months away, the rumored lineup for the event has been circling the Internet like wildfire this week. According to online posts, the two-day bill at Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif., would feature David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M., Wilco, PJ Harvey and Franz Ferdinand, among many others.

However, event organizers tell Billboard.com the rumored bill is not correct, and that offers have only recently began going out to prospective bands. What’s more, the exact date of the 2005 show will not even be confirmed for another month or so, according to Goldenvoice president Paul Tollett, whose company promotes Coachella.

This year’s festival, held in late April, drew record crowds of 50,000 fans each day to hear such acts as the Pixies, Radiohead, Kraftwerk and the Cure.

— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

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Hip-hop artist Lil’ Kim and actress Rosie Perez will co-host Move Against AIDS: Return of the Dance-a-thon, to be held Dec. 11 in New York. The event will boast music supplied such DJ’s as Junior Vasquez, Danny Tenaglia and Tony Touch, as well as performers 3LW and Martha Wash.

Move Against AIDS will be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center and proceeds will benefit Gay Men’s Health Crisis. Registration is free via the organization’s Web site, although a minimum pledge of $75 is required for entry on the night of the event.

— Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.

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XTC frontman Andy Partridge has added backing vocals and guitar work to a re-recorded version of the Milk and Honey Band single “Boy From the Moon.” The original song appears on the band’s debut album, “The Secret Life Of,” released earlier this year in the United Kingdom on Partridge’s own Ape label.

Although issued as a promotional radio single, the cut is also available in a limited edition of 500 discs, backed with the album track “Way Too Long,” through the Ape Web site. The label has also released several “Fuzzy Warbles” volumes of previously unreleased vault recordings by Partridge.

— Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.