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Month: July 2010

Johnny Duhan | The Burning Wood

"Truly a beautiful piece of work. There is something primary, if not primal, about the album. It speaks to the human being  who comes to these questions with nothing but a flimsy raft of  openness buffeted on an ocean of doubt and fear.” John Waters

The Burning Word is the first completely new album Johnny Duhan has produced in many years. The dove emerging from the lick of fire on the cover is symbolic not only of the fact that the songs are spiritual but also that the collection has evolved from one of Johnny’s last studio albums, Flame, and may one day merge with it.
 
Over the years Johnny has received letters from people all over the world telling him that the spiritual dimension in his songs has helped them through times of crisis as well as marking occasions of celebration. This contributed to his going below the surface of his faith for this work.

In the opening song, The Coat, the listener is asked to lay aside doubt and put on a garment of faith so as to make a journey in a cold season to a place of prayer. An invitation to a spiritual meal is extended in The Flame is Lit. Emily Dickenson’s This World is not Conclusion choruses the unfathomable mystery of our world and heralds an afterlife. Wonders catalogues a series of miracles that stem from Christ’s charitable nature, and Surrender gives in to the declaration of faith of the Lord’s Prayer. 

The incarnation mystery at the centre of the title song, The Burning Word, reflects on the paradox that pain lies at the heart of the joy of creation. Song of the Bird grew from a boyhood memory of arriving home with an injured bird which Johnny’s mother allowed him to keep in the garden shed till it was strong enough to fly. The Storm chronicles Johnny’s father’s exemplary courage after a family tragedy. Sure Amen is a hymn for the weary and doubtful. Part of a Tribe, an anthem for community. And finally, Old Story charts an epiphany experienced after a dawn mass.

 
Johnny Duhan
Biography
 
“Peerless.”  The Sunday Times
“One of our great songwriters.”  Christy Moore
“One of my favourite songwriters.” Ronnie Drew

 
Johnny Duhan started his career as a fifteen year old front man in the Limerick beat group Granny’s Intentions, the most popular band in Ireland in the mid to late 60s. After rousing Dublin with their soul touch, they moved to London (one of the first Irish bands to do so), were signed to the prestigious Deram label, released a string of singles and one album and disbanded before Johnny was twenty one. Though plied with offers to front other bands, Johnny turned his back on the popular music industry and started writing folk songs, poetry and prose. Known for his fierce independence and integrity as an artist, he has condensed a body of work spanning 40 years into a quartet of epic albums – Just Another Town, To The Light, The Voyage and Flame –  which correspond to the four chapters of his recently published lyrical autobiography, TO THE LIGHT.
 
Johnny’s songs like The Voyage and Don’t Give Up Till It’s Over are sung all over the world in a variety of languages, thanks to the focus put on them by Christy Moore, The Dubliners, Mary Black and hosts of other Irish and international singers. A new album, The Burning Word, is due to be released on the 15 August 2010.
Latest News

DAVID DOWNES RECEIVES AN EMMY® NOMINATION

DAVID DOWNES RECEIVES AN EMMY® NOMINATION FOR “OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION” FOR CELTIC WOMAN – SONGS FROM THE HEART: Live at Powerscourt House & Gardens

David Downes has received the distinct honor of an Emmy® Nomination for “Outstanding Music Direction” for his work on Celtic Woman’s most recent PBS TV special – Songs From The Heart, Live at Powerscourt House & Gardens. He acted as music director, orchestrator, arranger and composer of the special, which also resulted in a CD and DVD release. The television show was directed and produced by Alex Coletti.
 
David’s fellow nominees include Marc Shaiman for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, David Foster for “Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christma”, Sheila E. for “In Performance at the White House”, “The Kennedy Center Honors” for Rob Mathes and Rob Berman for the “Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony”.
 
The ceremony will take place in the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles in August 2010.
 
“This is perhaps the most prestigious award David Downes & Celtic Woman have received to date and it is well-deserved. Manhattan Records are extremely proud of the always stellar performances delivered by Celtic Woman as well as the tremendous effort the entire creative and technical team contributed towards making this TV special and related DVD such a huge success.” remarked Blue Note / Manhattan Records President Ian Ralfini.
 
The Emmy® nominated PBS TV special began airing in December as part of the network’s quarterly pledge drive, immediately yielding outstanding viewership results and demonstrating the extraordinary ability of Celtic Woman to transcend their performances from a live concert into a viewer’s home. Upon release in January 2010 the companion DVD debuted #1 on the Billboard DVD Music Video Chart. The visually stunning DVD also translates to the live concert stage in the Songs From The Heart tour.
Spotlight

Colm Ó Snodaigh to Host IMRO Traditional Music Seminar at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Ireland’s biggest traditional music festival, will take place this year in Cavan from 16th – 22nd August. As part of the festivities, the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) will be presenting a traditional music seminar hosted by renowned songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Colm Ó Snodaigh.

Representatives from IMRO will also be present at the Fleadh Cheoil throughout the weekend of Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August, providing information for songwriters, composers and arrangers of traditional music.

Date:  Friday 20th August
Location: Farnham Arms Hotel, Main Street, Cavan
Time:  6pm – 7pm

Entry to the seminar is free of charge, but spaces are limited so booking is essential. To reserve your seat, please email membership@nullimro.ie.

Colm Ó Snodaigh, has been a member of Kíla, one of Ireland's most innovative and exciting bands, since 1988. His instruments are flute, whistle, harmonica, saxophone and djembe, and he also sings. As part of Kíla, Colm has performed in countries throughout the world at various festivals and venues. Kíla have created their own distinctive style of world music with traditional Irish roots, which has won over audiences around the world through their eight recordings to date and their spectacular live performances. An established singer songwriter, Colm also released a solo album in Irish, "Eist", in 1994 and is currently working on his second album. He has also co-written works with Kíla for various film, theatre and dance productions. For further information see: www.kila.ie
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ADD TO MQ

Hard Working Class Heroes – 2010

Thursday 7 / Friday 8 / Saturday 9 October

Dublin – Andrews Lane Theatre, The Button Factory, The Mercantile, Pravda, Sweeney’s, Twisted Pepper and The Workmans Club
 
Hard Working Class Heroes returns to the streets of Dublin over the weekend of Thursday 7/ Friday 8 / Saturday 9 October for its 8th consecutive year.
 
Taking place in Dublin City Centre the festival is now once again calling on the best of Ireland’s bands to register to secure a slot to play at the event. Applications will be through FMC’s own “Breaking Tunes” site (log on to www.hwch.net and click on the “BANDS APPLY HERE” button). Closing date for applications is July 30. The judging panel for applications will be made up of writers, A&R and music industry people from around the globe as well as international festival programmers.
 
Once again, Ireland’s photographers are being called on to submit their finest music related shots for a chance to feature in a HWCH Photographers Exhibition. Photographers’ applications will also be via www.hwch.net – simply click on the “PHOTOGRAPHERS APPLY HERE” button and follow the instructions. This year’s call for photographers will add the renowned photographer  Glen E. Friedman to the judging panel.
 
And keeping up its high standard of additional events and activities there will be HWCH panels, mentor sessions and more with a host of international delegates on hand to share their wisdom and experience (thanks to the generous support of  The Arts Council, Culture Ireland and IMRO). As always Hard Working Class Heroes promises a spectacular collection of music and fun for the whole weekend.
 
 
Latest News

Waterford Act Hits UK Top 10 Club Charts

For the third week in a row Waterford-based duo Blumenkraft has carved itself a place with the dance music elite by holding a position in the UK Upfront Club Charts with a current placing at #8 ahead of Kylie, Christina Aguilera and Paul Oakenfold.

Blumenkraft is Ireland's new Electro-Pop sensation consisting of Swiss Producer Marc Roosli and Irish singer-songwriter Kiki. The name 'Blumenkraft' which means 'Flower Power' in German, was born out of Marc's Swiss-German name – Roosli – meaning 'little rose' but is also a reference to electronic music icons 'Kraftwerk'.
Roosli grew up in the midst of the burgeoning Swiss techno scene of the early 90s. After the classical piano training of his childhood he swiftly swapped his piano for a Korg, Commodore & set of decks in his teenage years when he began crafting his own sounds. In 1994 Marc met with Kiki, a talented songwriter and singer. The couple settled in Ireland but it wasn't until early 2009 that Kiki & Marc decided to start a musical project together in an effort to get creative again after putting the children to bed! “We are not really TV watchers…” says Kiki “so instead we turned to the studio!” And so was born Blumenkraft.

Blumenkraft's debut single 'Skinny’ (2009) went on to become a massive club anthem. Now Blumenkraft are back and have teamed up with Drum & Bass MC ‘IreeMC’ to record their second single ‘Fresh Times’. Making a strong entry into the UK Club Charts at number 36 before jumping to a 17th place and now holding its current Top 10 position at number 8 (source: Music Week), Blumenkraft’s new release is rapidly putting the duo on the map.

Fresh Times is a catchy dance/pop anthem featuring Blumenkraft’s now trademark future retro sound and Kiki’s clever verbiage. The ‘Fresh Times’ release includes the original mix, full of hooks with a chorus that will have clubbers and radio listeners screaming for more.

Blumenkraft’s new single ‘Fresh Times’ is out now on iTunes, Amazon and all major download stores worldwide and on CD from select outlets in Ireland.

More information about Blumenkraft can be found at www.blumenkraft.info
 

Spotlight

Fighting With Wire

The headliners for Glasgowbury 2010 are primed and ready to go and in their own words, they’ve never been more excited about a gig.

Cahir, Jamie and Craig, the men and monsters who make up Derry’s Fighting With Wire, are all set to leave their mark all over Glasgowbury 2010 with a performance that will put them back on top of the pile.

And after being forced to pull out of least year’s headlining slot to begin work in America on album number two, the punk rock trio have never been more energised about a performance.

“It would almost have been more appropriate for us to headline last year with Man Vs Monster just out and on the back of everything that we were doing it would have been the perfect end to that cycle," said the band's frontman Cahir.

“But we’re extremely excited about Saturday – because this is our comeback, and to do it on Glasgowbury’s big birthday is just something else.”

The long wait for the follow up to Man Vs Monster is almost over and Bones Of The Twilight will, says Cahir, see the light of day in the new year.

“We’re going to try and play as best a rock show as possible and get the craic going. So hopefully people will join us for the celebrations.”

Glasgowbury 2010 takes place this Saturday 24th July and a number of tickets are still on sale.

See www.glasgowbury.com for full details

Spotlight

FUTURE OF MUSIC DISTRIBUTION AND PROMOTION

Kilkenny County Council Arts office in partnership with Kilkenny Arts Festival is delighted to be hosting a free public seminar discussing the future of music promotion and distribution. The unprecedented pace of change in the music industry in recent years has created a host of new challenges and opportunities for musicians, audiences and industry professionals. But how are changes to the way music is sold, shared and enjoyed affecting the music industry, and how should musicians respond? What do music fans really want, and how can they get it?

Through an open discussion with key industry insiders, including musicians Pierce Turner and Robert Hacker Jessett (Morton Valence), Edison Waters (Vibe Music Management), Susan Gill (9Music Research) and Laurence Macken (Irish Times) this session will challenge conventional thinking about the business of music, and explore new ways of creating, promoting, and distributing it.

Kilkenny Arts Office
76 John Street
Kilkenny
Sunday 8th August @4pm

Admission to this event is free. Come early to avoid disappointment! To book a place at this event, please email niamh.finn@nullkilkennycoco.ie
 

Latest News

Music Recording Assistance Opportunity 2010

Dublin City Council in partnership with Axis Arts & Community Resource Centre, Ballymun are currently taking applications for the Music Recording Assistance Opportunity. The recipients of this award will receive 2 days rehearsal time and 1-day studio time in the Underground Music Studios in Axis, Ballymun towards an original music recording. An independent expert panel will assess the applications. The Recording Opportunity is for new recordings only. No completed packaged CDs can be funded. Only works in progress will be considered. The Award is open to all forms of Music and to people born or living in Dublin City (administrative area).
 
About the Underground Music Studios, Axis Ballymun
The Underground Music Studios consist of two rehearsal studios and a “live room” with industry standard Protools recording equipment. For further information log on to www.axis-ballymun.ie
 
To apply, send a written application CV of musical career/ experience, a copy of the recording on CD, and a lyric sheet if relevant, to:
 
 
Making Tracks – Music Recording Assistance Opportunity
C/O Ann Marie Lyons
The Arts Office
Dublin City Council
The LAB
Foley Street
Dublin 1
 
Tel: 01 222 7305
E-mail: annmarie.lyons@nulldublincity.ie
 
Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 3rd September 2010
 

Latest News

SACRED GROUND New Single from GOOD INTENTIONS

SACRED GROUND is the new single from Good Intentions. After 25 years four members from the original 80s line ups have got together again to write, record and play original music. Since Christmas nearly 40 new songs have been written!

The new single, SACRED GROUND, is a celebration of Dublin, where all the guys hail from. ‘There’s no where better, no where to be found, Dublin is the place I love, it’s like walking on Sacred Ground, Sacred Ground’ The chorus says it all. A positive, uplifting rock ballad with a great feel good factor. The message will strike a chord with everyone, no matter what City, Town or Parish they come from. Pride in your home place and yourself,  time to park the recession, remember how good we all are and let Ireland shine in the world once more.

Good Intentions comprises: John O’Grady, Kieran Farrell, Ian Bolton and Tony Floyd Kenna. John O’Grady has been into music since he was a Kid. His Dad taught him Banjo and Guitar and gave him a love for traditional music. He also plays piano and writes all kinds of music, including classic/melody only. John likes collaborating on songs and his past partnership with Tony has been revived. John and Tony were of course in school together, where a passion for music and songwriting brought them together. John is responsible for Tony playing bass, having one day suggested that Tony should go and buy one!

Kieran Farrell started his musical career at age 14 and during the 70s and 80s, when live music in Dublin was an everyday thing, he played with many Dublin bands. These included Orient, Music City, Gypsy, Maggies Farm, Good intentions, Sound Proof and Face To Face. Having retired in 84 to work, raise kids and buy houses, Kieran has dusted off his two Stratocaster guitars and is getting stuck into both playing and developing his songwriting.

Ian Bolton just loves playing his drums, particularly his new Yamaha ones with custom heads and hardware. Ian was also busy in the 70s and 80s and played and recorded with many bands including Sodium Rock, Maggies farm, Bareheart, Aragorn, Good intentions, and Soundproof , the embryonic Face To Face. Ian was the one who regularly asked over the years ‘when are we playing again?’

Tony Floyd Kenna started writing songs with John in the latter days of their school life in Synge Street, Dublin. At John’s encouragement he took up Bass and played/wrote/recorded with lots of Dublin Bands from the late 70s thru’ to the late 80s. These included Sodium Rock, Maggies Farm, Rocky DeValera & The Grave Diggers, Bareheart, Aragorn, Good Intentions, Soundproof and Face To Face. He also spent these years sound engineering and served on the council of IASC (the then songwriters association). Retiring from the professional music life in 1988 Tony says that it’s just great to be back playing and writing and having fun with his friends all over again.

Sacred Ground is released on July 22nd. Not content with just doing a single Good Intentions have included four
more new original songs in the release.

http://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/sacred-ground/id379903463
http://breakingtunes.com/goodintentions

Latest News

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