AUDIO -- Remember the Summer of Love? Second Life residents that don't remember the 1967 event will get a chance to experience the 2007 version in Second Life on August 3 and 4 in the AUDIO sim.

The original start of Summer of Love took place as a "Human Be-In" in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district 40 years ago. According to Wikipedia, the key ideas explored at the first official "hippie" gathering were "personal empowerment, cultural and political decentralization, communal living, ecological awareness, higher consciousness, and political consciousness."

"I feel there is a new-wave of social change taking place," said Chris Hambly (Audio Zenith in Second Life), organizer of the virtual version of the Summer of Love. "We are continually seeing social network after social network spring up where people really do want to share, give and follow."

Hambly, founder of ACHUB - the non-profit branch of distance learning school for music technology Audiocourses.com Ltd. - said the group brings together people in Second Life and the real world to organize events, share knowledge and immerse themselves in emerging technologies.

The goal of the SL version of Summer of Love is to "bring about a sense that a social change is upon us, and we are all living and breathing that," Hambly said.

On both days of the event, residents can expect to hear a different musical act every hour as well as view art exhibits and peruse galleries of artists' wares. There will also be sculptures displayed throughout the sim. All entertainment and displays are free of charge.

Hambly says there have been few challenges planning and organizing the 48-hour long, continuous event on the Audio sim.

"The idea is to let the community and the participants run with it themselves, I just provide the conceptualization and everyone organizes themselves," Hambly said. The London resident has been involved in several large SL events where only a few people organized everything, and he felt that they lacked an "organic flavor."

Scheduled performers include singer/songwriter Rich Palmer (Rich Desoto in SL); acoustic folk singer Dallas Horsefly; band Jimmy Golding and the Rocking Daggers; instrumental guitarist Rob Van Niel (Picker Apogee in SL); and popular SL performers Slim Warrior and Matthew Ebel.

Independent musicians, poets, and artists interested in participating can IM Audio Zenith or email chambly@gmail.com for details. Hambly is also seeking Ambassadors to volunteer to work during specific time slots. To learn more about the event, join the Audiocourses group in SL or visit the Summer of Love wiki at http://audiocourses.pbwiki.com/summer-love.