Month: December 2011

A Christmas song written by Keith Donald, Paul Brady and Ralph Murphy, has reached the number one spot in the Most Active Indie Charts in Canada this week.

“Workin’ Hard at Christmas” is a unique song: first, it's about all the people who work when the rest of us are having fun, and it mentions people like nurses, firemen, radio presenters, the coast guard and 'ma stuffin the turkey'. Secondly it's a unique collaboration between the Canadian songwriting guru, Ralph Murphy, the legendary Paul Brady and jazz clarinettist, Keith Donald.

The song was released in Canada this year, performed by Paul Brady and Canadian singer, Terri Clark.

http://soundcloud.com/hoobadooba/working-at-christmas
 

Wishing you a happy and creative 2012.
 

Download Online Card Here
 

IMRO Office Opening Hours For Holiday Period
 

The IMRO office will be closed from Monday 26th December to Monday 2nd January (inclusive)

Singer-songwriter Pete Courtney is releasing a charity single in honour of his late mother, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

“White Roses”, due to be released on 2nd January, was Pete’s mother’s favourite song of his, and all proceeds from this special recording will go to The Irish Hospice Foundation and Regional Hospices nationwide.

“White Roses” features guest performances from Cathy Davey, Mundy, Julie Feeney, Vyvienne Long, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Una Monaghan, Mick and Johnny Cronin and Duncan Patterson.  

www.petecourtney.com

US–based Irish composer Brian Byrne, has received a Golden Globe nomination for his song “Lay Your Head Down”. The song, performed by Sinead O’Connor and co-written by Glenn Close, features on the Rodrigo Garciá directed, “Albert Nobbs”, and has been nominated in the Best Song category. The film score was composed by Brian and performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

“Albert Nobbs”, set in 19th century Ireland and co-written by Glenn Close and John Banville, also received Golden Globe nominations in the Best Actress (Glenn Close) and Best Supporting Actress (Janet McTeer) categories.

Brian Byrne has worked as a composer, conductor, songwriter, arranger and pianist in the US and Europe since relocating to LA from Ireland in 2003. Brian won an IFTA for his score of Irish sci-fi comedy, “Zonad”, and then went on to score indie drama, “The Good Doctor”, featuring Orlando Bloom.

Brian’s previous film work includes conducting and arranging the scores to Jim Sheridan’s Oscar-nominated “In America” and Kristen Sheridan’s drama, “Disco Pigs”.

Most recently Brian was commissioned to write a fanfare for Her Majesty the Queen's state visit to Ireland.

‘I See a Demon’ is the first single from the debut album, ‘Before the Sunset Ends’ by Candice Gordon.

Kíla will play their annual Christmas gig in Temple Bar Meeting House Square on Friday 23rd December, under the covers of the brand new retractable canopies! Visitors to Temple Bar will have noticed the construction work going on in the square and the wonderful spectacle of the canopies being tested. Kíla’s performance will be the first ever concert played under their protective cover!

Youth Mass Announce Video and Release Date for Debut Single Wide Eyes
 
Irish band Youth Mass have announced the release of their first official single, Wide Eyes, on 06th January 2012, with accompanying video directed by Daniel O’Connor (floppymedia.org).
 
The single, which follows on from the critically acclaimed free download Tony Don’t You Worry (released in 2011), will be available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, Spotify and Last.fm from Friday, 06th January 2012.
 
After ending 2011 on a high, supporting The Naked and Famous in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin, and a successful stint at Irish Festival, Hard Working Class Heroes, the band are currently working on their debut album with Shane Cullen (K9 Studio), due for release later in 2012.
 
Press for Youth Mass:
‘Tony Don’t You Worry is a piece of lo fi loveliness, a gem of a track, you’ll uncover a gorgeous sonorous melody and some fabulously warpy guitar, wonderfully weird stuff’ Celina Murphy Hotpress Magazine

 ‘I’m getting a certain excited feeling in my gut, post post rock to take your breath away’ mp3hugger
‘Reminds me of the higher end indie tunes I loved when I first started going to gigs’ Harmless Noise

“Gorgeous, with earnest, beautifully written lyrics that are perfectly underscored by strong vocals and cinematic, elaborately developed guitar work and narratively styled instrumentals. I think it's safe to say we're completely sold on Youth Mass’ whatstheruckus.com

              
www.thisisyouthmass.com
www.facebook.com/thisisyouthmass
Twitter: @youthmass