Coldplay round-up: The Pierces, iTunes festival, Moving To Mars & Mat Whitecross, Kidneybeanz, £310 signed guitar

The Pierces have been announced as support to Coldplay at the iTunes Festival at The Roundhouse in London on 22nd July, so say Entertainment Focus online. Coldplay’s Guy Berryman co-produced The Pierces hit album You & I, which recently entered the charts at No.4, and which was partly recorded in Coldplay’s studio in north London.

Meanwhile, staying with the iTunes festival, Apple has launched the new, free iTunes Festival London app, which allows iOS users to watch a live stream of the 31 day long music event online, according to ITProPortal. The move will eventually prove beneficial for those who live far away from the capital, yet don’t want to miss the music-feast in offering from the iPhone maker. Apple will also make CDs of all the live performances available during the event. However, this new app people will be able to see the events both live and after each concert has ended. Apple did not disclose how long the footage will remain available. Apple will also provide viewers with the schedules for participating artists and bands and an exclusive photo archive from previous festivals; the iTunes Festival is now in its fifth year.

Has Coldplay's latest announced track, 'Moving To Mars' been inspired by a film of the same name? It's the title of a movie directed by none other than Mat Whitecross, director of a handful of Coldplay's music videos including the recent Christmas Lights. Here's the description of the film: Moving to Mars charts the epic journey made by two Burmese families from a vast refugee camp on the Thai/Burma border to their new homes in the UK. At times hilarious, at times emotional, their travels provide a fascinating and unique insight not only into the effects of migration, but also into one of the most important current political crises - Burma. [thanks jc90 & Guppywarlord]

Coldplay have come out in support of the Kidneybeanz Trust by donating their track "Fix You" to the Kidneybeanz TV and cinema commercial, according to the BizCommunity website today. "The Coldplay soundtrack has been an absolute coup for us," said Annemarie Wagner of the Kidneybeanz Trust. "The trust has only been in existence for four years and the commercial will really help raise awareness of the work we do supporting children with severe kidney disease. The visuals were already totally mesmerising, but now with the Coldplay soundtrack to help drive the message home we have a brand message that is extremely powerful."

A rare signed Coldplay guitar from the A Rush Of Blood To The Head era has been sold on eBay - for just £310. Coldplayer, savillechris, accepted the cash as a quick sale due to relocation. The guitar auction was described as follows: You're looking at a signed Coldplay guitar. This Item was obtained from a reputable dealer in the Orlando, FL area 5 years ago. This item includes the guitar and a rare signed photo of the band. Both are signed in silver by all members of the band. The albums Parachutes and A Rush Of Blood To the Head are displayed also. I'm selling all my memorabilia as I'm relocating from the UK to the USA.