I thought it would be a good idea to post useful links for different aspects of all too do with music. I split it into the categories: Promotion/Gigs, Songwriting, Recording, Free Software and Misc.
Please help the list grow by replying with any links and Ill update the list. The emphasis is on free services. It could be good to make this a sticky '

Promotion/Gigs
http://getagig.info/about  - directory of music promoters and venues in the uk.
http://www.fanbridge.com/ - Free website for managing email lists and hooking up you myspace/twitter/facebook pages
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/introducing/ - submit your music for a chance of local airplay and showcase gigs with the beeb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7ANYvXP1hY&feature=youtube_gdata_player - a lot of BS in this vid, but it does name-drop almost every social site aimed at bands so is a useful resource to get your music on relevant sites
http://hypem.com/#!/ - mp3 and music blog aggregator. Great to find relevant blogs to submit your music to.

Songwriting

Recording
Take a look at cheap recording tips in the recording forum!
http://www.soundonsound.com/ - One of the best recording magazine websites. Lots of content and tips

Free Software
http://www.reaper.fm/ - an excellent, free Digital Audio Workstation
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ - Another free audio recording utility
http://traverso-daw.org/ - free audio recording
http://www.kvraudio.com/ - All about audio plug-ins/VST. Has a huge database of commercial and free VSTi's and plug-ins

Misc.
http://unsignedbandreview.com/ - a collective of music/audio professionals who review music submitted by unsigned bands. Be warned - it can take AGES for your music to be reviewed
http://soundcloud.com/ - free audio file hosting and playback
http://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html - One of the best music retailers in Europe. Sells everything to do with playing and creating music, and has a great line of its own budget equipment

That looks brilliant thanks for posting!

Superb stuff Ramshackles. The Reaper DAW looks excellent. I'm certainly gonna give it a try.

I tried Reaper a little while ago and back then it was very capable but a little lacking in its editing utilities compared to the commercial daws. People say it has improved no end since then.

Again - if you have any useful links, post here and ill add them to the list!

Great post Ramshackles - I've made it into a sticky