Amhrán Gach Lá - Emmet Scanlan

A year after the earthquake in Haite and a much needed charity single is being released by Emmet Scanlan and What The Good Thought on itunes:








"Emmet Scanlan & WTGT Charity single 'A man may cry' available from itunes on Friday 25th March. ALL proceeds go to Haiti Haven Charity. www.myspace.com/emmetscanlan

Amhrán Gach Lá - Zombie Cops

I find it difficult sometimes to find quality when there are simply so many alternative rock bands on the go. One band which does stand-out for me though is Zombie Cops.

TAKING LIVES by zombiecops


See Zombie Cops tomorrow in The Mercantile.

Vantastival Mixtape

Have a listen to 10 songs from some of the best acts playing Vantastival in a few weeks!

Vantastival Lineup for 2011


Friday 29th April

Donal Dineen & Niwel Tsumbu
Windings

Windings - Cathedrals by OOAL

Louisiana Joyride
Bill Coleman
Rainy Boy Sleep
The Fontanels
DC Tempest
little xs for eyes
Adela and the Meanits

Adela & The Meanits - Kiss Me Frog by RisingStars

DJ Shane Tobler



Saturday 30th April

Duke Special
The Frank and Walters
The Cast of Cheers
We Cut Corners
Sounds of System Breakdown
The Dirty 9s

The Dirty 9s - Lucy Opus - The Acoustic Version by TheDirty9s


Preacher's Son
Pressure Drop
Anthony Furey and The Young Folk
The Fallen Drakes


The Fallen Drakes - Masquerade by kth0122

Identity Parade
Catherine Dowling
Indica
I'd Fight Gandhi
TKO

Hiding In The Corner by TKOHQ


Heroes in Hiding
The Amazing Few
She's a Beauty
The Casanova Wave
Saving J
The Butterfly Graveyard


The Butterfly Graveyard 'Writing You Off' by puremusicmanagement


Black Svan
The Cabin Fever Band
Ghost Estates
Fox E and the Good Hands

Please Me by Fox.E and the Good Hands


Reverend JM's Panic Worship
Resin
Cry Monster Cry
Saint John the Gambler
Gypsy Rebel Rabble



Sunday May 1st


Whipping Boy
Alabama 3 Acoustic & Unplugged
Wallis Bird
Jamie Lawson
The Cujo Family
The Hot Sprockets
Miracle Bell
The Riptide Movement
Sanzkrit
Prairie Dawgs


12 L. Momma Angels by Prairie Dawgs

Bipolar Empire
Sweet Jane
Cold Comfort
Beans on Toast


ARTMONEYART by Beans on Toast


The Barley Mob
The Gandhis
The Bluestack Mountain Boys
Von Shakes


Von Shakes - My Side by I-NV-U Records

The Kapitals
Geriko
Machine Gun Baby
Henrietta Game
Toy Soldier
Neptune City
Albrecht's Pencil
Jupiter and the Infinite
Norabelle
The Curtain Thieves

Bulletproof (Full Track) by The Curtain Thieves

Yukina
Kloe Humm
Chocolate Orange

Introducing: Valentine Black

Valentine Black is the alter ego of Kildare musician Peco Mc Loughlin whose latest politically charged single ‘Take me to your leader’ was released this month and is a cracking good tune.

Over the years Peco has shared the stage with a number of major artists, supporting acts like The Waterboys, Mundy, Bell X-1, Damien Dempsey, Duke Special, The Blizzards, The Coronas, Luka Bloom, Jerry Fish, Dirty Epics, Aslan and Something Happens.

http://www.reverbnation.com/valentineblack

Here's the single which I think is amazing with superb vocals and lyrics:


Take me to your leader by Valentine Black

Amhrán Gach Lá - Chayka

Kildare band Chayka are one of a handful of bands booked to play Saturday afternoon gigs in what is one of the last remaining places to buy music in Dublin City Centre; Oxfam Books on Parliamen Street.

Here's Chayka doing a killer version of Killer!





Here's details of the other gigs:


Oxfam Books, Parliament street, Dublin.

Live in-store gigs for April 2011:

Sat. April 2, 3pm
The Toby Reiser Quartet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADEUpcXYUlw

Arrow In the Sky
http://www.myspace.com/arrowinthesky


Sat. April 9, 3pm
Redkid
http://www.redkid.info/


Sat. April 16, 3pm
Synop'hat
http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Brigade-du-Swing/136256796414446



Sat. April 23, 3pm
Chayka.
http://www.myspace.com/chaykamusic



Sat. April 30, 3pm
Hamlet Sweeney & Friends
http://www.hamletsweeney.com

Jukebox Gypsy Interview [originally on 4fortyfour]

Jukebox Gypsy are a five piece acoustic folk band formed out of Liverpool. Their imminent Irish tour in support of the bands' second album entitled 'The Month' will see Jukebox Gypsy play venues in every part of the country. Here Isaac answers a few questions about the band, the songwriting process, their inspirations and previous Irish tours.





Hi Isaac, how did the five members of Jukebox Gypsy come together.


Hi Peter, The coming together of the different members of the band has been kind of a cumulative process but we first started as a three-piece in Liverpool in 2007. Dave, Ben and Johanna all lived in a big ol´ converted pub called The Spekeland, which used to house a lot of bands and that's where I first started playing with Ben and Dave. We went around as a three piece for a good while and eventually took the act on the road in Ireland. Johanna came along for the ride and it was only after a good few gigs that we realized she had a gorgeous voice and should naturally be singing with us! Having her sing with us really brought everything together. We started going over to Ireland to tour pretty regularly after that and met Bean when we played at the Shack in Athlone. Bean is great at picking songs up real quick and with us not having a bassist at the time we were grateful he was willing to join in on the debauchery of the road! We've come a ways since then but that's how it all came together.


What inspires the band to make music together?

I'd say we're inspired to play together by the way the songs are transformed and really come to life when we give them the proper band treatment. Getting to take those songs on the road and see them change even more after they've been gigged for a while really keeps us going when we´re touring.



How would you describe your music and 'Jukebox Gypsy' as a band?


It's hard to put a genre on the music as we all write in different styles but there are definitely a number of common characteristics. We´re an acoustic band and have always put a lot of emphasis on harmonies and acoustic guitar work. All five of us sing so the songs can range from having three to five part harmonies depending on what fits. Most of us take our influence from folk or folk-rock music but my influences come more from the American strain, Johanna takes hers from old English folk songs. So even within our common interest in folk music we cover a lot of ground. As for Jukebox Gypsy as a band, well, it's a mess! No, I'm kidding. We´re all pretty easy-going people and the way the band has grown, with us all writing songs, means there's no one person that leads. Some people may see this as a bad thing but it means we get to cover a lot of different styles and it keeps everyone in the band on their toes.



On your debut album it states that all songs were written by the band collectively. Could you go into a bit of detail explaining the songwriting process of Jukebox Gypsy?


Usually one of us will write the lyrics and basic chord structure of a song and then present it to the others. Then we play it for a while, get familiar with it and try to work out some harmonies and guitar parts. Often the songwriter will sing the lead part and the rest of us will embellish with harmonies but we also do a lot of swapping around. On our new album ´The Month´, that's coming out in April, we´ve tried to split things up more by sharing verses or having another member of the band sing the lead part. Because we all sing and play various instruments, it gives us a lot of freedom to change songs around and record them as we think they should sound. Particularly in the studio we do a lot of experimenting with different arrangements for the same song. Eventually we'll settle on one arrangement, gig it a lot and watch it change into something else again!


Instead of asking the usual question about musical influences I'll ask you if there's any unsung personal hero who has guided yourself or the band over the last number of years?


A few years back Dave brought 'Post Office' by Charles Bukowski on the road with him. Ben and I both read it in the same week and have been living by his philosophies ever since. After reading Post Office, we went through his other books pretty fast. The way he can describe the brutal honesty and (usually) misery of a situation in one line is what captivates me. For Ben its a little different. Being into horse racing, drinking and lots of women, they're actually quite a like!





There's real diversity on the debut album. The song topics and musical style changes with each song to great effect. What are the main themes and musical styles of the new album 'The Month'?


The new album is probably more diverse than our first one. Musically, its got folk, country, jazz, gospel blues and even some 80s rock! With us all contributing songs, we really haven't put any limits on whats 'allowed' on the album or not. We've just been interested in strong songs, whatever the musical style may be. Topically, I think a lot of the album is a reflection on all the time we've spent together gigging through Ireland and some hard times we went through. We chose 'The Month' as the title track because it's about a month that we were on the road and everything just went tits up. Those times are important because they can make or break a band, so Im happy to say we made it through in one piece.


Jukebox Gypsy are touring Ireland in April for the fourth time! What's the response been like in Ireland to the band?


When we first came over we had about 15 gigs booked and we ended up staying for months. We've had such a better response in Ireland than we could ever have imagined in England--maybe because of the strong cultural tradition of acoustic music in Ireland or because we all like a few drinks in return for a song (another good tradition). That first tour we really didn't know anybody except David McLynn, our promoter, and we travelled with a whole bunch of camping gear just pitching tents where ever we could. The first night we were in Ireland we pitched up two tents in the cemetery of Enniskerry and were awoken in the morning by construction workers having their tea. I was worried they were gonna tell us off but they were friendly as hell. That first time around in Ireland we did a lot of busking, impromptu gigs in pubs for pints and getting to know people. Since then the tours have been more and more organized and now we've got 30 dates booked for April alone.


Are there any bizarre spinal tap memories of the previous three tours of Ireland you want to share?

As for past Spinal Tap moments … some of them are definitely to vulgar to mention here! But we've had some cracking times. On the first time over to Ireland, we got to play a radio show in Belfast on FEILE FM. It was a live show and because of a computer error a Britney Spears song came on instead of us. That was our introduction to radio. A couple of years later we were meant to play on the radio near Mullingar somewhere on a pretty established radio show so we were excited to play it. As we were driving to the station the host of the show called out for us on air, asking where the hell we were. As it turned out, we'd gotten the time wrong by an hour and had managed to piss off the host and a choir of old ladies who were waiting to get on. There was another classic moment where we were busking and got asked to come and play at this party. We had no money or anywhere to stay and hadn't eaten for about two days. When we turned up it was a hong kong millionaires party, they had hired Edith Summerville's house in Cork and hired loads of servants. The band was treated to fresh lobster and champagne all night.


How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?


Fans-to-be are welcome to join us on our website, our SoundCloud page and Facebook . We try to keep everyone up to date on the website so if you don't have Facebook no worries!

Waves by Jukebox Gypsy



Tour Dates:

Fri 1st - The Widows, Belturbet, Co. Cavan
Sat 2nd - Spells Bar, Ballaghdareen, Co. Roscommon

Sun 3rd - The Passionfruit Theatre, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Mon 4th – The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Tues 5th - The Candlelight Sessions, The Sky and the Ground, Wexford Town
Wed 6th - New Music Club at Brazils, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Thurs 7th – The Hole in the Wall, Kilkenny City
Fri 8th - The Mall Pub, Kileshin Rd, Carlow, Co. Carlow
Sat 9th - Skellys, Ballymahon, Co. Longford
Sun 10th – Maud Millars, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
Mon 11th – The Roisin Dubh, Galway
Wed 13th - The Sitting Room Sessions at DeBarras, Clonakilty
Thurs 14th - Crane Lane Theatre, Cork City (Midnight)
Fri 15th - Kennys, The Village Inn, Lahinch, Co. Clare
Sat 16th - The Locke Bar, Quay St, Limerick
Sun 17th - John Daly's, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath


Tues 19th - The Ruby Sessions @ Doyles, College Green, Dublin

Wed 20th - The Zodiac Sessions @ Bruxelles, Grafton St, Dublin
Thurs 21st - Dimestore Recordings night at Sweeneys, Dame St, Dublin
Fri 22nd - Suicide Awareness Concert at Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Sat 23rd - JJ Harlows, The Square, Roscommon Town
Sun 24th - The Sky and the Ground, Wexford Town
Tues 26th - Boyles of Slane, Co. Meath
Wed 27th - New Music Club at Brazils, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Thurs 28th - Campions, Cashel, Co. Tipperary


Fri 29th - The Snug, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Sat 30th - 'The Grass Is Always Greener' hosted by James O'Connor at Napper Tandy's, Stradbally, Co. Laois

May
Sun 1st - The Gonzo Theatre, Cavan Town

http://www.jukeboxgypsymusic.com/
http://soundcloud.com/jukeboxgypsy/sets/
http://www.facebook.com/jukeboxgypsymusic

Amhrán Gach Lá - Large Mound

I love the concept behind Large Mound's new album release.

On the 25th of each month Large Mound are releasing a new song. This month's track is called 'Gypsy Bride' and it's a great tune.

Isn't the artwork brilliant!

Single Review: The Riot Tapes - Photograph

Photograph is the first release from Dublin band The Riot Tapes and it's a pretty tasty tune that showcases their energy and talent.

I do echo what Harmless Noise wrote about The Riot Tapes in that you have to have a perspective that The Riot Tapes are a young band who not long making music together. The band have a respectable online profile and are their own PR machine! The buzz they've manufactured for themselves is however backed up by wonderful guitar based pop which is designed to make life seem sweeter.


Elaine's vocals are quality throughout the single 'Photograph' and the lyrics are catchy. The guitar riffs build up nicely to the chorus which along with the drum-beat almost makes it impossible not to nod your head or tap your foot. Yes ... yes it's radio friendly indie pop which reminds me a little of Texas with a splash of Garbage but that's good .... isn't it?


Check out the single and if you really like you can go buy it through i-tunes.

The Riot Tapes - Photograph (single) by the riot tapes

Links:

http://theriottapes.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheRiotTapes?v=app_178091127385
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/theriottapes

Amhrán Gach Lá - Tupelo

Irish rootsy blues band Tupelo are playing Whelans this Saturday night which will be reviewed for this here blog!

Here's a track from the band's debut album here:

TUPELO - Figure It Out from evilelvis on Vimeo.

Tupelo are also playing this interesting Music Festival in Co. Clare on the June Bank Holiday!

Here's the line-up:

Two days, Three stages, 24 hours of mindblowing musical madness…

THE BIG TOP, THE ISLAND, and THE ASTRAY STAGE

Many more eclectic confirmations to come over the following weeks, get your TICKETS now!

THE BIG TOP (The biggest of toppers)

Imelda May
Peter Hook and ‘The Light’ present Joy Divisions Unknown Pleasures
The Amplifetes
Those Dancing Days
Mathew and the Atlas
Scott Mathews
Ellen and the Escapades
Ben Howard
The Travelling Band


THE ISLAND (The beats and the rhythmical)

Jamie xx
Electric Wire Hustle
The Nextmen featuring MC Wrec
Africa Hitech (aka Mark Pritchard and Steve Spacek)
Shigeto Live
TY and Big Ted
Paul White Live
DJ Lefto
Serocee
Bass Clef
Flako
Debruit
Fulgeance
Trojan Sound System
Sir Vinyl
Falling Up
Johnny
Wildcookie (aka Freddie Cruger and Anthony Mills)


ASTRAY STAGE (The wonderfully wyrd)

Friska Viljor
Le Galaxie
Kate Walsh
Ivan St John
Strays
James Owen Fender
Brother and Bones
Sleep Thieves
Tupelo
Miracle Bell
O Emperor
Masters In France
Intinn
Rooftop Anthem
Zombie Computer
Woodpecker Wooliams
Satellite Generals
Israel Cannan
Nicholas James Mallins
Battle for 2nd Place
Better Rabbit
Laura Sheeran
Hugo Kensdale
Dead Red Light
Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters

Amhrán Gach Lá - Resurrection Fern

You can now stream a bunch of songs taken from the Resurrection Fern album released last year.

Have a listen to the song I chose as the best song of 2010:


03 Brothers by Resurrection Fern


The other songs on Soundcloud can be heard here: http://soundcloud.com/resurrection-fern

Amhrán Gach Lá - Kiernan McMullan

Friday is cover's day on the blog so I have Imogen Heap's 'Hide and Seek' performed by the wonderful Kiernan McMullan from a studio in Nashville.





You can also download this track for free from here:

www.kiernanmcmullanmerch.com

Have a great weekend!

Brad Pitt Light Orchestra's New Miracle 4 Daffodil Day

Go on get this single here for €2 which goes to the Irish Cancer Society!






BPLO are playing the next Clockwork Apple gig upstairs in Whelans on April 8th.

Listen to Little X's For Eyes and Seeping into Cinemas here:


Chet - little xs for eyes by Clockwork Apple


Seeping into Cinemas - Dour Hour by Clockwork Apple

Midweek Round-up #4

With the weather being good to us and the clocks going forward this weekend there are a serious amount of great gigs being organised for the next few weeks and months.


Here's the best of them:

EleventyFour's EP Launch is a must gig for me!

Impatient Patient by eleventyfour


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The Best Monthly Sessions night I've never attended is on this coming Wednesday in The Stag's Head.

Here's the super line-up:


Fia Rua | http://www.fiarua.com/

Robotnik | http://www.robotnik.mu/



POETRY

Erin Fornoff

THEATRE

Roger Gregg (Crazy Dog Audio Theatre) | http://www.crazydogaudiotheatre.com/


COMEDY

The Brownbread Players | http://www.youtube.com/thebrownbreadmixtape


Check out Fia Rua's video for Shakier featuring Jinx Lennon





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I've just checked out the EP by The FitzaFrenic and I'm really getting into it. I love the 80's sound of this track along with a funky guitar solo!


Full Moon Party by TheFitzafrenic

Supperb support comes from Seven Days and Me & The General

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Almost every decent Drogheda band are playing this:

Rightly taking their place as headline band are Huey & The Hobgoblins:

Breaking Down (Feat. Darina Markoff) by Huey And The Hobgoblins



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This Saturday in the wonderful venue The Cobblestone are ....

The Young Folk used to be Anthony Furey & The Young Folk!

The Young Folk - Way Down South by RisingStars



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I love this line-up also for next Wednesday night:

These three bands are going to be mega soon so seeing them together for a worthy cause raise my interests!

Check out the brilliant A Plastic Rose:


Mother It's Time by A Plastic Rose

New Music from Estel

I got some great news this morning when I found out there's some new music from Irish Alternative Legends Estel.



On April 9th, Estel, are releasing No Fi, Lo Fi Hi Fi, a collection of various rare and previously unheard tracks from their eclectic 12-year career.

This is the fun part of the press release: No Fi, Lo Fi, Hi Fi will be released on a limited run of 150 cassettes.

Here's the first two tracks to be streamed on Soundcloud:

One Deep Breath by Quarter Inch Collective


Crunch Crunch (It's So Quiet) by Quarter Inch Collective


The album will be available to download through Quarter Inch Collective here: http://quarterinchcollective.bandcamp.com/

Amhrán Gach Lá - Pete Courtney

Pete Courtney is playing a “one of these kids thanksgiving” show on the 10th anniversary of the album’s release on Monday April 25th. Ten years ago when Pete was gigging and flogging his debut many people thought it would be Pete and not Damien/Mundy/Damo D to become a household name.

It is Pete’s first headline gig in Whelan’s since 2004.

'One of These Kids' is one of my favourite ever Irish albums. I'll be in Whelans for sure.

Get yourself a free download of the album's closer here!

Amhrán Gach Lá - Gavin Friday

Get your free copy of Gavin Friday's new song 'Able' taken from Gavin's new album called 'catholic' [with a small c] in exchange for an email address!

‘catholic’ is released on Rubyworks on Good Friday, 22nd April, 2011

Live at Boyles - March 31st

I'm really delighted with this line-up for Thursday Week at 9PM in Boyles of Slane:

Listen to the acts here:

Adela & The Meanits

Adela And The Meanits - Boogie by RisingStars


Arrow in the Sky




Fox.E and the Hired Hands

Sunday's Whore by Fox.E and the Good Hands


Caithríona Mongey

Amhrán Gach Lá - Noise Control

I love writing about festival line-ups. http://www.larkinthepark-ni.com/ takes place over the May Bank Holiday and it has a very tasty line-up.

2011 Main Stage

Friday 29th, April, 2011

ATHLETE
INME
Mojo Fury
Noise Control

Saturday 30th, April, 2011

Razorlight
Tinchy Stryder
Cashier No9
Furlo
Colenso Parade
Microlip
A Plastic Rose
Indigo Fury
High Output


Sunday 1st, May, 2011

The Divine Comedy
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Foy Vance
Kyle John Suckling
The Beat Poets
Belfast Community Gospel Choir
Silhouette
Katie & The Carnival



Here's a track from Noise Control's debut album released last year:

02 Culture by Noise Control


Buy your tickets here: http://www.hmvtickets.com/larkinthepark/events/1691


Ticket Info:


Weekend Camping Tickets (inc. Disabled)
• Individual entry for weekend camping
• No under-18s permitted unless on a family ticket.
Price £99

Weekend Family Camping Tickets
• Permits 2 adults and 3 children entry for weekend camping in separate family campsite
• Under-18s admitted only on a family ticket. Two adults for family ticket must be over 21.
Price £198

Day Tickets
• Individual entry for single days
• Under 18s day tickets also available
• Under 12s go free with full paying adult over 21
Price £40

Album Review: Favourite Sons - The Great Deal of Love

There's a certain element of luck when you find the perfect album to suit your mood, outlook and personality. 'The Great Deal of Love' is an album I can't stop listening to. I adore this album.

I got a little buzz a few weeks back when Favourite Son's singer and former singer with Rollerskate Skinny Ken Griffin contacted me with a link to his band's second album. Shoulder Voices from 1993 was as important to me in my teenage years as Nevermind or Ten was! Rollerskate Skinny even got to do the 1994 Lollapalooza tour. The band broke up around 1997 with Ken Griffin taking a musical hiatus until around 2004 when from a New York base he formed 'Favourite Sons'. The 2006 debut 'Down Beside Your Beauty' is a superb indie album.


Moving on five years and 'Favourite Sons' are booked to play the Cork X Southwest Festival and are about to release the album entitled 'The Great Deal of Love'. I've already said about that for me at this moment the album is perfect. It's a funny, quirky, catchy and engaging album which draws the listening into the depths of the songs.


Safe For All Seasons by FavouriteSons


The album kicks off with 'Safe for all Season' which is a solid opener. The ultra catchy 'Sweet Upon The Vine' follows with it's effective backing vocals, engaging lyrics and uplifting trumpet. The vocals from Ken Griffin are as good as I can remember from back in the early 90's and the lyrics are just as engaging. The Calexico-esque 'Pretty Young Blood' at only 98 seconds has to be one of the best short songs ever. While these tracks at the beginning of the album shine it's the tracks near the back end of the album which really impress!


The title track has all the best lines. The catchy chorus of 'I love. I love. I Love to watch you live your life the wrong way, expecting way too much out from the day' is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking. Ken's vocals draw you into the song and you're with him when he changes his outlook on his subject by encouraging her to 'live your whole life the wrong way'. This is followed by another wonderfully written track 'For Dear Life' with it's uplifting lyrics and similes. I also adore the lyrics of the track 'They Call Me Coco Rushdie'.


If Jack L became the front man of Calexico I'd imagine this to be the resulting album. Every song is quality on the album. Some of them trickle without much impact but those tracks which I discussed are so engaging and thought-provoking that I can't recommend this album enough.


Favourite Sons - The Great Deal of Love [12 out of 12]

Sweet Upon The Vine by FavouriteSons


Links: http://www.facebook.com/favouritesons
http://www.youtube.com/user/FavouriteSons

Amhrán Gach Lá - Whipping Boy

I'm delighted to hear that Whipping Boy has been added to the Vantastival line-up.

Here's a live version of Twinkle I found floating about on Soundcloud:

Twinkle by wbest

Amhrán Gach Lá - Nina Hynes

I've written this on Friday knowing full well that last night at the Irish Blog Awards one of two things happened. Either Harmless Noise or this blog get even more recognition for their hard work or the Irish Blog Awards will slap the back of the establishment.



I may in fact be happier if Nay gets the award than this blog. Even though our musical tastes barely overlap Harmless Noise is essential daily reading for anyone wanting to hear new Irish music.


Here's a beautiful tune from an artist we both share a passion for!


11 Turn on by ninahynes

http://ninahynes.bandcamp.com/

Amhrán Gach Lá - Declan O'Rourke

Declan O'Rourke is back with his third studio album entitled 'Mag Pai Zai'

The album leads with the single ‘A Little Something.’

TRACK LISTING:

1. Slíeve Bloom
2. Time Machine
3. A Little Something
4. Be Brave and Believe
5. Lightning Bird Wind River Man
6. Langley’s Requiem
7. Dancing Song
8. Caterpillar DNA
9. Orphan Wind Song
10. The Hardest Fight



http://www.declanorourke.com/


Have a listen to track two 'Time Machine' from a New York gig at the back end of 2009.

Amhrán Gach Lá - Elaine Mai

Friday is covers day in the 'Amhrán Gach Lá' daily feature. This post should blend with the introduction posts as today's cover comes from someone I've yet to feature on the blog.

Elaine Mai recorded this version of Lady Gaga's Telephone for RTE Pulse and can be heard and downloaded here:

Elaine Mai - Telephone by scottdb


Galway's Elaine Mai is also the lead singer with Go Panda Go and has been receiving a lot of attention from DJs and bloggers. From checking out her tunes I can see why!

Tour Dates:

19 Mar 2011 21:00 The Workman's Club, w/The Casanova wave & Go Panda Go

26 Mar 2011 19:30 The Button Factory, Strange Brew @The Button Factory

6 Apr 2011 21:00 Roisin Dubh, The Roisin Sessions

Links: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elaine-Mai/163900536958378?sk=wall

http://www.breakingtunes.com/elainemai

Happy St. Patrick's Day

U2 are still the reason why we have such a great and expansive musical culture in Ireland. They have continuously raised the bar [recently regarding touring over album quality] and have done unquantifiable good to our country!


Here's a live set from U2 Live at Mexico.


u2BBC Radio360 by u2enmexico


Happy St. Patricks Day

Amhrán Gach Lá - Fling

Happy St. Patrick's Day

To finish my mini traditional music series I'm going to finish with a song from the best traditional folk band in Ireland; Fling.

Fling from Galway bring together traditional Irish songs and blend them with Russian/Eastern Europe sounds to create a unique sound for the future! The band are busy recording their debut album and I can see them being mega in the folk world.

Check out this traditional track here:


Jack the Buck by Fling


Now check out this Dylan-esque folk song here:


Friend of Mine by Fling



Links: Facebook

Twitter

Midweek Round-up #3

It's been a few weeks since I did a round up of events happening. Also since the blog makeover I think gig posters are looking very clear & readable on the blog.


Here's the first event I wish I was at! Tomorrow from 3PM!

...................................

Here's aother gigi I'd love to be at: Friday 18th March in SXSW:

Creekside Stage

1:00 Pint Shot Riot(London)
2:00 O Emperor(Waterford, Ireland)
3:00 Sweet Jane(Dublin, Ireland)
4:00 Funeral Suits(Dublin, Ireland)
5.00 Revolver (Paris, France)
5.45 The Mighty Stef(Dublin, Ireland)
6.15 7.00 Bob Geldof and Band (London)
7.15 BP Fallon and his band (Dublin & NYC)

Cantina Stage
12:30 Rarely Seen Above Ground (Killkenny, Ireland)
1:30 Leo Rondeau (Austin, Texas)
2:30 Skiggy Rapz (Netherlands)
3:30 Hell & Lula (Los Angeles, CA)
4:30 Ham Sandwich (Dublin, Ireland)
5:30 The Lost Brothers (Navan & Armagh, Ireland)

MOONLIGHT HOURS (Cantina Stage)
9:00 Gavin Glass (Dublin, Ireland)
9:45 Thee Attacks (Copenhagen, Denmark)
10:30 Sour Soul (Mexico City)
11:15 Grand Atlantic (Brisbane Australia)

GAVIN GLASS: SINGLE- BLEED (RADIO EDIT) by GoodSeedPR


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This Friday is the launch of Ross Breen's album in Crawdaddy.

Download Ross's impressive EP for free here:




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Wednesday 23rd March is the date for the next Where The Mugic Happens:

FREE IN & FREE OUT....

7PM - 11:30PM

WEDNESDAY 23RD OF MARCH

Line up:
NOISE MACHINE
http://www.myspace.com/noisemachinemusic

THE BARLEY MOB
http://thebarleymob.weebly.com/

THE AMAZING FEW
http://www.myspace.com/theamazingfew

ARROW IN THE SKY
http://www.myspace.com/arrowinthesky

Grab yourself a copy of Arrow in the Sky's wonderful EP; 'Winter's Requiem'





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If you don't catch Arrow in the Sky on Wednesday in the Button Factory fear not as you can catch them with The Hot Sprockets and Yngve & The Innocent in The Grand Social:

I was delighted when I heard this tune on Rick O'Shea's radio show the other day!

Beautiful music!

Draw A Line by Yngve & The Innocent



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May Bank Holiday Festival in Slane: The Sibin Festival

There are five stages including a Reggae and DnB stage along with a

BAND STAGE:

The Infomatics
Mutefish
The Hot Sprockets
The Cujo Family
Cold Comfort
The Whipround
Guilty Boy Association
New Secret Weapon
Gypsy Rebel Rabble
Veroa

Here's a track from The Whipround:

Shanty Town by The Whipround by Natty Growler






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Yesterday the Navan Live line-up was announced:

There's some high profile support slots for newer bands like Henrietta Game, The Lost Brothers and Red Queen Contest at Navan Live.

The Navin Live crew even went for 2 posters!

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Amhrán Gach Lá - Damien Dempsey

Of all the troubadours who made it big a decade ago Damien Dempsey is the one artist continually working and re-inventing himself with every album. I thought the last album of old traditional ballads was amazing and this version of The Rocky Road to Dublin is of the highest quality!


Damien Dempsey - The Rocky Road To Dublin by 2uibestow


Catch him in Drogheda tonight and in Ashbourne tomorrow:

St. Patrick's Day LIVE IN THE ASHBOURNE HOUSE HOTEL

Thursday, 17th March
Doors open @ 8pm
Tickets available from hotel reception, ticketmaster.ie and tickets.ie priced €22.50

Amhrán Gach Lá - Wicker Bones

Wicker Bones are doing their best to keep the tradition of Irish ballads alive and well. The band is Keelan Byrne - Bouzouki, Dylan Curran - Violin, Ian Grahame - Mandolin, Neil Holland - Bodhran and Bryan Dunphy - Guitar and Vocals and are off to Amsterdam for a gig in Mulligans Bar on St Patrick's Day.


Link: http://soundcloud.com/wickerbones


01 Planxty Irwin - The Parting Glass by WickerBones

Irish Music is not just 4 Paddy's Day #4

Part 4 of my series examining the best of Dublin Session nights: [Much of this post appears here: http://4fortyfour.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/for-the-turnstiles-dublin-music-sessions-feature/#more-991]

The Glor Sessions Poet and host Stephen James Smith kindly answered a few questions about The Glor Sessions.

When and where is The Glor Sessions?
Every Monday in the basement of The International Bar, 23 Wicklow Street Dublin 2: http://www.international-bar.com/


What has been your favourite moment at The Glor sessions?
Hard to name but one, so I will have to just name a few things I love about it. 1. the energy created in the room, be it the banter or intimacy. 2. The surprises when I throw it open to the floor, from real genius to just plain madness. 3. Taking it to different festivals such as The Electric Picnic, Festival of World Cultures and The Dublin Writers' Festival to name a few. 4. just get your ass down and see for yourself....


Any Spinal Tap or bizarre moments you want to share?
There have been many it is the nature of the night, but once there was a guy who collapsed down the stairs just opened the door and shouted ballistic.com it was hilarious and still talked about. That is just the tip of the rather large iceberg though.


Name the one artist, band or poet who impressed you the most!
Poet John Cummins, he just got up very unassuming and stormed the stage in his very tranquil way. He had us all in the palm of his hands and took us on a magic journey. Again though I am very lucky to attract a lot of great acts that have wowed us in a similar fashon.


Using youtube, soundcloud or any other media pick one track or poem which best sums up what your night is about!
Here is a playlist of soem vids from the night so see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/mrstephenjamessmith


Sell yourself with links!
It is Dublins only weekly night of music, spoken word poetry, story telling and madness and all for free. It is a proper sessions where folks listen, the quality is high, while it's is not for the faint of of heart but stick with us and you will come out feeling rewarded with words making you laugh and cry. Simple miss it and miss out!
live ustream streaming:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/stephenjsmith
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheGlorSessions
my site but it is currently crap! http://stephenjamessmith.com/Glor.html
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mrstephenjamessmith


For Seachtaine na Gaeilge: http://www.snag.ie/ we will be having a focus on the cupla focal, so we have some of the best musicians in Ireland down to play a few tunes in the native teanga and a couple as beala fresin.

The Line up includes.....


MUSIC FROM:


FIACH: http://www.fiach.net/

ENDA REILLY: http://www.endareilly.com/

ROSS BREEN: http://www.rossbreen.com/

PEARSE MCGLOUGHLIN: http://www.walkperson.net/

DANNY KELLEHER


POETRY FROM:

PHIL LYNCH

BRENDAN HICKEY: http://www.myspace.com/brendanhickeypoet


Here's a video of Fiach singing 'So I' as Gaeilge.




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The Lazy Band

The Lazy Band are currently holed up in Bewleys Cafe Theatre on Grafton st, Dublin playing a FREE gig every monday evening at 8 PM. It's a lovely little room with a full bar too!

Amhrán Gach Lá - Clannad & Bono

By virtue of growing up in Ireland; Irish music was everywhere around me except in my immediate family. There was more chance of finding Michael Jackson or Now LPs in my house than anything by Planxty or Moving Hearts. It meant that the first introduction to Irish music was through the few glimpses of Enya on Top of the Pops and from loving the theme tune to Robin Hood by Clannad!

When 'In A Lifetime' became a hit, it kicked in a love for Irish music!

Clannad & Bono - "In A Lifetime" by i-luso




Here's that theme to 'Robin Hood':

Irish Music is not just 4 Paddy's Day #3

On Sunday's in Dublin there's a choice of four sessions gigs to attend. They all give valuable airtime to new singers and bands hoping to gain a few friends and fans along the long road of a music career! [Much of this post appears here: http://4fortyfour.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/for-the-turnstiles-dublin-music-sessions-feature/#more-991]


The Ivy Sessions

The Ivy Sessions takes place every Sunday from 8.30 in The Ivy House in Drumcondra. I've never made the trip there myself but I know they can attract some excellent artists as well as providing a platform for local talent.

http://www.myspace.com/theivysessions

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Saucy Sundays


Saucy Sundays is a new live music session happening in the The Grand Social (AKA Pravda). It will run from 4pm until 11pm every Sunday with a line up of fantastic musicians from all round the country.

This is the brain child of Singer/Songwriter Lisa Mc Laughlin and Joey Sauce (The Hot Sprockets). With the aim of bringing fantastic music to your Sunday Afternoons..

Today's line-up is:

NICO FITZ
http://www.muzu.tv/nikofitz/nico-fitz-live-muzutv-music-video/778986?country=ie&locale=en

TOM WHYTE
http://www.myspace.com/tomwhytemusic

AOIFE SCOTT
http://www.myspace.com/aoifescott

ELAINE MAI
http://breakingtunes.com/elainemai

GARRY O BRIEN
http://www.myspace.com/garryobrienmusic

Seems by GarryOBrienMusic

TONGUE BUNDLE
http://www.myspace.com/tonguebundle

VALENTINE BLACK
http://www.myspace.com/valentineblack


Take me to your leader by Valentine Black

LEAVING LAS VEGAS
http://www.myspace.com/officialleavinglasvegas






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The Apollo Sessions - Fiach tells us about The Apollo Sessions

When and where is The Apollo Sessions?
Every Sunday in the Bleeding Horse, Camden Street. Usually kicks off about 9pm.

What has been your favourite moment at The Apollo sessions?
There's been lots but I'll always remember the performance of Bill Danoff. He co-wrote Country Roads and Afternoon Delight. The whole crowd sang along at the top of their lungs, complete with Anchorman sound effects.

Any Spinal Tap or bizarre moments you want to share?
Not at the Apollo Sessions but years ago I used to run an open mic in the Mezz and the ceiling caved in under a waterfall. It was about a foot away from the sound-desk. Somebody had left the shower on in the hotel upstairs and when the pressure had built up too much the ceiling collapsed. We found a wheelie-bin outside and stuck it under the waterfall. Mental night!

Name the one artist, band or poet who impressed you the most!
The standard is very high every week. A few of our regulars are very impressive songwriters: Eric McGrath, Maire Digan, Garret Baker, Andy O'Neill, Smith....the list goes on.

Sell yourself with links!
http://www.facebook.com/apollosessions
http://www.myspace.com/apollosessions

Using youtube, soundcloud or any other media pick one track or poem which best sums up what your night is about!
This is the Bill Danoff performance of Afternoon Delight. You can hear some people don't know all the words but they don't care, they're getting involved. That's the kind of thing that makes the Apollo Sessions great craic.




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The Sunday Roast

Free Music & Free Roasties on a Sunday evening in The Merantile on Dame Street

Link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sunday-Roast/57594006610?sk=info



Tonight's line-up:

Wyvern Lingo, Inter Alpha, Fletchers, The Altered Hours and Neon Wolf


Daydream Parade by alteredhours