Channels air all sorts, from R&B singer Ashanti giving fans a Q&A and preview of a new track whilst removing her nail varnish, Nicki Minaj’s madness, and a peek at Snoop D-O-double G getting his hair done.

As watchable as individuals like Snoop are, mundane scenarios only serve as entertainment for so long, and there are better sites to illicitly stream live sports. Ustream’s cachet is the ever-growing band of acclaimed (within the underground) DJs and producers logging in to broadcast direct at whoever is tuned-in online.

With complete creative control and little technical fuss, it’s understandable why the trend has caught on since it surfaced popularly last year. A 21st Century broadband-enabled evolution of bedroom DJing, once solitary actions become public with viewers invited into the streamers homes. Shout-outs and lo-fi productions add pirate station-esque charms.

Whether a soon to pass fad or the beginnings of a new movement, the (u)streams keep on coming.

From an admittedly London-centric perspective here’s a selection of recommended shows:

> Oneman, regarded as kick-starting the UK trend with his Yard Sessions.

> Night Slugs from Bok Bok.

> SpaceBass Yardcasts.

> Monday nights at 9 when Lukid goes ocean deep, a favourite example of his eclecticism switching from Chopin’s  ‘Raindrop’ to Arthur Russell.

> Deadboy Soundboy.

> Sunday afternoons with Mr Beatnick.

> Glasgow’s Jackmaster (whose Drexciya special takes your mind to another level).

> And Worldwide Award-winners, Floating Points and Fatima, rolling out their Eglo music. Check their Twitters for announcements (that’s Kyle Hall in the background…).

You streaming?

Three podcast updates from the heavyweight We Are… crew (Paul Camo & Lukid) now

available from their blog. Go reward yourself, bug out in the archives and then beseech

them mans for more regular updates. If you don’t already know, you can also find them

crunching knowledge in SHOOK mags regular ‘Data Reduction’ feature.

We Are…Podcast

We Are…In Space

We Are…Buying Lukid’s ‘Foma’ album

We Are…Exciting Our Retina

The first Lend Me Your Ears in May was banging with Robert Mitchell live, Mark Pritchard, Paul White, Domu and Dorian Concept! And a raffle.  Fullest respect to Niamh for arranging such excellence. More info here.

Yes these listings are somewhat London-centric, but at least this is one is south of the river, yippee!