Skip to main content

Month: February 2012

IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
MUSIC TO THEIR EARS!
THE OPERA HOUSE CORK SCOOP
THE IMRO NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARD 2011

 The headquarters of the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) was packed to capacity last night (Tuesday 28th February) for the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2011. Cork Opera House CEO Mary Hickson was on hand to accept the premier accolade of IMRO National Live Music Venue of the Year, which was presented by IMRO Chairman and legendary Moving Hearts man Keith Donald and IMRO CEO Victor Finn. Electric Picnic took home the Irish Festival of the Year Award.

RTÉ’s Jenny Huston hosted the evening, which celebrates the live music community in Ireland, the behind the scenes people in venues up and down the country, from owners to bookers, front of house staff to sound and lighting engineers. IMRO Regional Venue of the Year Awards were presented with The Grand Social in Dublin winning the Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year Award; the Connacht Award went to the Róisín Dubh in Galway; Cork’s Cyprus Avenue won the Munster Live Music Venue of the Year Award; the Mermaid Arts Centre in Wicklow was awarded the Leinster (excluding Dublin) Award, while Voodoo in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal took home the Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year Award.

In addition, Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes presented Hot Press Readers Awards to the O2, Dublin, The Academy, Dublin and the Róisín Dubh, Galway.

Of the awards, Victor Finn, CEO of IMRO said: “The contribution that live music venues and festivals make to local economies is often not recognised and their value in a social and cultural sense within communities is priceless. We are delighted to recognise the contribution that these first class facilities make and to celebrate their achievements”.

IMRO Live Music Venue Awards 2011

IMRO National Live Music Venue of the Year 2011
The Cork Opera House
 

Winner selected from all shortlisted venues below

IMRO Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year 2011
The Academy 
The Button Factory 
The Grand Social – Winner 
Vicar Street 
The Olympia 
  
IMRO Rest of Leinster Live Music Venue of the Year  2011
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly
The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow – Winner
The Watergate Theatre, Co. Kilkenny
Wexford Opera House, Co. Wexford
  
IMRO Connacht Live Music Venue of the Year 2011
The Dock Arts Centre, Co. Leitrim
Town Hall Theatre, Co. Galway
Roisin Dubh, Co. Galway – Winner
Hawk’s Well Theatre, Co. Sligo
Roscommon Arts Centre, Co. Roscommon
  
IMRO Munster Live Music Venue of the Year 2011
Cyprus Avenue, Co. Cork – Winner
Crane Lane, Co. Cork
Cork Opera House, Co. Cork
Theatre Royal, Co. Waterford
University Concert Hall, Co. Limerick
  
IMRO Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year 2011
Allingham Arms Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal
McGrorys, Culdaff, Co. Donegal
The Abbey Hotel, Donegal, Co. Donegal
Voodoo, Letterkenny, Co Donegal – Winner
Ramor Theatre, Virginia, Co. Cavan
  
IMRO Music Festival of the Year 2011
Castlepalooza  
Electric Picnic – Winner 
Live @ The Marquee Cork   
Sea Sessions 
Oxegen
Vantastival 
Templebar Trad Festival
Indiependence 
Temple House Festival
Galway Arts Festival

Storyfold – ‘The Sweetest Silence’

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Artist Spotlight.

Storyfold-'The Sweetest Silence'

Storyfold release their brand new single ‘The Sweetest Silence’ on Friday, March 23rd – with pianist Lindsey Hogan taking lead vocals for the first time. The band also embarks on a mini Irish tour that includes headlining Whelan’s, Wexford Street the same date. It will see the 5-piece return to the venue following their sold out show there last May.

The Sweetest Silence is the 4th single to be taken from their debut album ‘Rocket Science’ and is already a fan favourite. The song was included in music blogger’s 2UIBestow’s ‘Best 10 Songs of 2011’. He said:
From the first few seconds of this track you know this is a special tune. Lindsey’s lead vocals are delightful and work so well with Paddy’s backing vocals. This is a fantastic uplifting song that deserves to played loud!

2011was a special year for the band. They released their Top 10 debut album ‘Rocket Science’, were invited by the GAA to play to 40,000 people in Croke Park at an All Ireland Quarter-final and they continued to establish their reputation for cracking live shows at Sea Sessions, Arthur’s Day, Indiependence and several other venues and events. The band also enjoyed extensive radio airplay for singles The Battle (two IMTV Award nominations), Delphine Wakes and Another Year.

Storyfold Tour Dates
• Feb 29th – UL Charity Week, Limerick
• March 23rd – Whelan’s, Dublin (€10  – tickets on sale Ticketmaster & WAV)
• March 30th – Danny Byrne’s, Mullingar
• April 26th – The Purples Sessions, Boyle’s of Slane
• May 19th – Hype Music Festival, Longford
• May 26th – Swan Lane, Navan
 
For further information on Storyfold:
www.storyfold.net ● www.facebook.com/storyfold ● Follow them on Twitter: @storyfold

IMRO Songwriter Retreat Inspires Album Title Track for Cathy Jordan

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Artist Spotlight.

IMRO Songwriter Retreat Inspires Album Title Track for Cathy Jordan

Musician and vocalist, Cathy Jordan, long time member of multi-award winning traditional Irish band Dervish, has just released her highly anticipated debut solo album All The Way Home, featuring a title track composed at the most recent IMRO Songwriter Retreat. The album, which has been some twenty years in the making, features many of the most notable names in the folk world, both at home in Ireland and abroad.

In November 2010, Cathy joined forty other songwriters for a week of songwriting and performances at the Brook Lodge Wells and Spa, Wicklow as part of the IMRO Songwriter Retreat. Being Cathy’s first experience of an IMRO Songwriter Retreat, she recalls how she was a little anxious beforehand. “I didn’t quite know what to expect, I found myself quite nervous as I drove to it, what if I’m not creative, what if I can’t write under time pressure, what if I can’t write with others, maybe I’m not a real songwriter at all. All these things went through my head en route; I nearly turned the car around.”
 
However, the musical journey into the unknown paid off for Cathy – “it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and creative weeks of my life, not only did I get to meet and write with amazing songwriters I also managed to get the title track for my first solo album.”  While Cathy had the idea for song All the Way Home in mind for some time, the IMRO Songwriter Retreat setting created the opportunity to bring it to life through her collaboration with new co-writers, Enda Cullen and Ian Smith, both seasoned songwriters and regular attendees at the IMRO songwriter events. “I found the co-writing process exciting, challenging at times, but thoroughly enjoyable. It’s also a great way to turn ones ideas into fully fledged songs in an afternoon.”
 
Among the twelve tracks on the album All the Way Home, produced in Sweden by acclaimed producer, multi-instrumentalist and long time collaborator Roger Tallroth, are traditional ballads Cathy would have heard sung in the family home from an early age. Performing these songs with family and friends was a fundamental part of family life and became embedded in Cathy’s musical psyche. These are songs that now represent the tradition of her childhood, a tradition that has experienced a renaissance of interest in recent times. For this reason Cathy wanted to reintroduce these songs to a new generation with a vibrant and contemporary energy, whilst retaining some of the traditional methods of how they were intended to be performed. To achieve this Cathy worked with acclaimed musicians such as Roger Tallroth (guitars), Gustaf Ljunggren (lap steel/banjo/piano) and Lars Andreas Haug (tuba) of Sweden, Ireland’s Andy Irvine and the distinctive sounds of singer song-writer Eddi Reader with whom she duets on Eileen McMahon.  Also featured are Michael McGoldrick on uilleann pipes, Rick Epping on concertina and harmonica, Seamie O’Dowd on fiddle and Liam Kelly on flute.
 
Cathy’s four original tracks on the album also include a co-write with Brendan Graham (who previously co-wrote the phenomenally successful hit song You Raise Me Up).  The track The Road I Go tells the story of the restlessness of youth, of a young person bored with the familiar surroundings and experiences of home and longing to see the world and what it has to offer, yet well prepared by a strong sense of place and family.
 
A UK launch and performance of All The Way Home took place on January 20th 2012 at Tron Glasgow as part of the Celtic Connections Festival 2012.  Irish performances have included January 26th at the Button Factory as part of the Temple Bar TradFest and January 25th and 27th in Strokestown Park House and The Model, Sligo respectively. Cathy will soon be announcing new tour dates in Ireland to showcase her long awaited solo project.
 
For further information on All The Way Home and upcoming performances visit www.cathyjordan.com.

CMC Host Student New Music Marathon

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

CMC Host Student New Music Marathon

Composition and performance students at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama will be taking part in the annual marathon of new music presented by Contemporary Music Centre on Friday 9th March. The eight-hour marathon takes place in The Theatre in the Conservatory of Music and Drama, Rathmines from 10:30am and will be followed by a reception hosted at CMC.

Numerous concerts of new music take place throughout the day, programmed by Glen Austin, composer and PhD candidate at DIT and Dr Kerry Houston, Head of Department of Academic Studies, DIT. A panel discussion on developing relationships between composers and performers, featuring members of the Conservatory teaching faculty and chaired by Jonathan Grimes, Information and Digital Services Manager, the Contemporary Music Centre, will take place at 2pm.

Composition and performance students from all around Ireland including the University of Ulster, Magee (Derry); Trinity College Dublin (TCD); NUI Maynooth; University of Limerick (UL), and the Dublin Institute of Technology Conservatory of Music and Drama itself are all participating in the event, which has been organized each year since 2006 by CMC.

The concert programmes for the day will be an eclectic mix of new instrumental, electroacoustic/acousmatic, mixed-media and live electronic pieces. The Contemporary Music Centre will document the marathon throughout the day with video coverage and a special video podcast will be on the Centre’s web site www.cmc.ie after the event.

The Contemporary Music Centre would like to acknowledge the support of the Dublin Institute of Technology Conservatory of Music and Drama for hosting this year’s marathon. Admission to all concerts during the day is free.

For further details see www.cmc.ie and www.dit.ie/conservatory

The Contemporary Music Centre’s annual Student New Music Marathon
Dublin Institute of Technology Conservatory of Music and Drama
Rathmines Road
Dublin 6

9 March 2012          Open to the Public        FREE ADMISSION
 
1030am – 11am         Registration and Coffee/Tea
11pm – 1pm              Concert Programmes
1pm – 2pm                Lunch
2pm – 3pm                Panel discussion
3pm – 530pm            Concert Programmes with coffee break
530pm – 630pm        Concluding remarks and wine reception

The Coronas-‘Mark My Words’

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

After another sell out tour in December, which included SIX nights in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, and The Coronas-'Mark My Words'following on from the success of the their massive hit single “Addicted To Progress”, The Coronas are back with their 2nd single from their 3rd album “Closer to You”. Just over 2 months since it’s release on Nov11th, “Closer To You” is the band’s fastest selling album to date and has already gone platinum in Ireland.
 
“Mark My Words”
Out NOW on iTunes / 3ú Records
The 2nd Single From the Platinum Album “Closer to You”
www.thecoronas.net
 

A Great Song Is Still The Answer

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

A Great Song Is Still The Answer

The Music Show – RDS, Dublin – Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February. Presented by Hot Press, in association with RTÉ 2fm.
 

Songwriting Panel

Sunday 26th – 4.30pm – A Great Song Is Still The Answer

The panel on songwriting will begin with ”Effin’ Songs”,  Brendan Graham’s attempt to answer the question –  ‘How did you write the effin’ song?’- along with special guests Brian Kennedy and Eimear Quinn.

It will go on to discuss what it is that makes a song that becomes part of the canon, the extraordinary reach of a brilliantly crafted song, and how it can take on a life of its own. Plus – where does the money go – and how can the artist ensure that he or she gets the deserved reward?

Brendan Graham (Novelist/Songwriter) + Brian Kennedy and Eimear Quinn

Eddi Reader (Singer/Songwriter)

Thomas Walsh (Pugwash)

Ken McHugh (Autamata)

Moderator: Colm O’Hare

As an IMRO member, you get an Access All Areas pass for this special rate:
 

One-day €10
Weekend €13

Enter the password: IMROAAAPASS
when you visit www.ticketmaster.ie/promo/h0xtfg?camefrom=CFC_IE_AFF_HP_TMS_IMRO%20brand=ie_musicshow

Fran Garry-‘Right Now’

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Artist Spotlight.

Fran Garry-‘Right Now’
The album ‘Right Now’ on release from February 24th, 2012, is a long time dream realised for singer/songwriter Fran Garry.  She has been working as a professional singer and musician for many years but has always wanted to write and record her own music.  The turning point came when she became a student again while her own children were in secondary school.  She graduated from U.L. in 2006 with a B.A. in History and English and then returned to her first love, music, to pursue post-graduate studies at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.  She graduated in 2007 with an M.A. in Community Music.  Fran had been writing poetry and lyrics for many years but while in U.L. the flood gates opened for her writing. 
 
Creating new music became a major new focus for Fran.  In addition to writing practically every day with her fellow students, she opted for two composition electives with renowned composer, Michael O’Súilleabháin and wrote five songs for assessment.  One of these songs “Home Sweet Home” can be heard on the forthcoming new album.  “I feel the M.A. in Community Music changed my life, mainly because it changed my whole approach to writing. it gave me a chance to get the best out of myself and others.” says Fran.  Alongside her work as a singer and musician, she  facilitates creative music and singing workshops in the education sector and in various community settings.  “It’s simple” says Fran “I love sharing my music with people and I especially love encouraging people to write their own music, sing and express themselves through music or any other creative medium.” 
 
Fran plays bass and acoustic guitar, and also dabbles in piano!  She wrote and arranged all the songs on this new album and co-produced it with James Blennerhassett at his studio, the ‘Doghaus at Robin Hill’, near Boyle, Co. Roscommon.  James played all the bass tracks and Fran feels privileged to have some of Ireland’s finest musicians featured on the album including Bill Shanley, Ewan Cowley, Dave Hingerty, Liam Bradley and her husband Pat Marnane on piano.  13 year old Louise Blennerhassett also added some beautiful cello to the track ‘Platform 2’.  ‘I Am Music,’ another song on the album, won second place for Fran at the 2009 Clonmel National Song Contest. 
 
Fran has lived for music for as long as she can remember.  Born in Navan, Co. Meath and now based in Tipperary, Fran and her three sisters grew up with an instinctive love of music.  Her mum, Mary, sang and her dad, Frank, has been a member of the Navan Silver Band for most of his life.  She says that Navan was a great town to grow up in because of its great musical traditions with many opportunities to participate in musical groups, bands and shows.  She was involved in choirs and folk groups from an early age and has facilitated and directed many such groups since leaving Navan.  She and her husband Pat are firmly committed to the arts, especially for young people.  In addition to gigging together, they also work as choral/musical directors and musicians for many school and community concerts and musicals. 
 
Fran has three children, all pursuing their own dreams in the creative arts.  Simon is Vice President Of Product Design at Deviant Art in Hollywood, California, Clare is a final year student at IADT, studying Model-making , Design and Digital Effects for TV, Theatre and Film, while Conall is a first year art student at NCAD and a gifted graphic designer.  Indeed, it was Conall who designed the artwork and website for Fran’s ‘Right Now’ album.  Fran is very proud that all three were involved in the design of the album.  Clare designed the ‘Frandemonium Records’ logo, while Simon acted as an advisor on the  entire project.
 
Fran feels that you really can make your dreams come true if you pursue them.  You just have to believe in yourself and find the right people to join you on your journey.  When not immersed in music, she finds some ‘me time’ when she’s running.  She has run six marathons since 2004, including four New York City Marathons and two Dublin City Marathons, the latest being 2011.  All have been run in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
 

METEOR CAMDEN CRAWL DUBLIN – MAY 11TH & 12TH, 2012

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

METEOR CAMDEN CRAWL DUBLIN – MAY 11TH & 12TH, 2012

May 11th & 12th 2012 marks the launch of the METEOR CAMDEN CRAWL DUBLIN, a brand new live music event, taking place in 15 Dublin venues between Camden Street and Temple Bar. Rather the opposite of what its ‘pub crawl’ title implies, this Crawl is a music connoisseur’s dream. The eclectic line up will boast more than 100 hotly tipped International and Irish live acts, along with some very special guests. The METEOR CAMDEN CRAWL DUBLIN 2012 will be a marvelous two day musical adventure across Dublin city and isthe first ever sibling event of the original Camden Crawl  which has been running annually in London since 1995.

The line-up for the METEOR CAMDEN CRAWL DUBLIN has been democratically selected by an invited panel of many of Ireland’s best known DJ’s, promoters, media and music heads, who will each host venues on the Crawl. The initial line-up confirmed to appear includes Alarmist, Becoming Real, Clock Opera, Dutch Uncles, D/R/U/G/S, Hands Up Who Wants To Die, Jogging, LaFaro, Laura Sheeran, Lemonada, Lethal Dialect, Le Galaxie, little xs for eyes, Last Days of 1984, melodica deathship, Tieranniesaur and We Are Losers.

The METEOR CAMDEN CRAWL DUBLIN will be a great opportunity for music fans to discover tomorrow’s next big thing and the hugely affordable one pass system makes witnessing the best emerging talent accessible to everyone. Tickets, which are exchanged for wristbands, allow unlimited access to all venues, outdoor stages and after show parties and include a free programme guide and album featuring the acts performing in 2012. Individual venue line ups and timings remain a mystery until the opening evening to enhance the exploratory spirit of the festival. Crawlers are advised to arrive early as ‘headliners’ and surprise guests may appear at any time or venue.

Set to take place Friday 11th and Saturday 12th May, tickets for the METEOR CAMDEN CRAWL DUBLIN are available as single day or weekend passes. Tickets are on sale from 9.00am Thursday 16th February from Entertainment.ie, Ticketmaster, Tickets.ie, Wavtickets.com and HMV stores across the country. Weekend Tickets €40.00/Day Tickets €25 (excluding booking fee).Tickets are to be exchanged for wristbands which allow free entry to each of the participating venues throughout the festival as individual capacities permit. Wristbands and programmes announcing the full line ups and timings for the event are obtainable from 5pm – 10pm each day at the ticket exchange point located at Whelan’s, Wexford Street, Dublin 2.

The Camden Crawl in London launches the UK festival season each spring. The award winning event has become an internationally recognized calendar fixture renowned for showcasing the forthcoming year’s most hotly tipped live music artists alongside special guests to sell out audiences since its inception in 1995.  Historic Camden Crawl’s featured landmark performances by such modern day luminaries (and legends) as Adele, Snow Patrol, Amy Winehouse, Mogwai, Florence & The Machine, Hot Chip, Plan B, Biffy Clyro, Frank Turner, Foals, Mumford & Sons, Example, Friendly Fires, Professor Green, The Cribs, Laura Marling, The xx, Villagers , The Temper Trap and many many more. Visit www.thecamdencrawl.com/ archive for full previous line ups.

Beginning with the METEOR CAMDEN CRAWL DUBLIN this May, Meteor customers will be able to avail of great competition prizes through their social networking channels and tickets through their customer loyalty programme, “Meteor Goodies”. They will offer customers opportunities to see some of the best emerging artists from both home and abroad before they hit the festival circuit this summer.

PARTICIPATING VENUES

Whelans,Button Factory,Grand Social,Twisted Pepper,Workman’s Club,Village,Speakeasy,

Mercantile, Upstairs @ Whelans, Bernard Shaw, Electric Lounge + more to be announced

 

www.thecamdencrawl.com                                                                    

 

@thedublincrawl/ #dublincrawl                                                 

 

facebook.com/camdencrawldublin   

World Premier For Vincent Kennedy Composed Musical

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

World Premier For Vincent Kennedy Composed Musical

On Thursday 8th and Friday 9th March the world premiere of the musical The Heart of Truth takes place. Vincent Kennedy was commissioned under the per cent for art scheme by Gorey Educate Together School to write and develop the musical and has been working in the school for a year now.

Vincent had Gwen Brennan write the original story. Gwen is part of the artistic team Vincent has brought together for this wonderful new musical. The team also includes the Director and Playwright Declan O’Brien, the Musical Director Ronan Dooney, the Visual Artist Niamh Murphy and the choreographer Edel McDevitt who is also a teacher in the school. Additional Lyrics and lines have been written by Declan O’Brien and Vincent. The pupils of the school helped to shape the whole production with their suggestions and talents and the result is beautiful collaborative enterprise. The musical encompasses the ethos of the Educate Together school philosophy. As part of the process the primary school pupils received singing, musical, drama and comic acting lessons. The musical score comprises 11 new songs and additional musical interludes scored for a professional band of piano, synthesiser, percussion and saxophone.

‘Music has been a faithful friend: always there to uplift, distract, colour and comfort. I write music to enrich life and take my inspiration from many sources and possibilities, like a bee using the nectar of different flowers to produce a unique honey.‘ Vincent Kennedy.

Composing for Games Module by Games Music Ireland and Windmill Lane Recording Studios

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

Composing for Games Module by Games Music Ireland and Windmill Lane Recording Studios
Games Music Ireland and Windmill Lane Recording Studios present:
 
Composing for Games Module
 
Dates: March 21-22-23 / 2012
Time: 10:00am / 5:00pm
Venue: Windmill Lane Recording Studios 20 Ringsend Road, Dublin 4.
 
The module will take place over three consecutive days. The course offers up-skilling and training in technique for composing in the field of digital games.
 
Platforms supported by the course are Pro-Tools, Logic and Reason. Also provided is a Mac computer and keyboard. The module will be delivered by Mick Kiely.
 
The cost for the three day course is €380.
 
To book a place contact: gamesmusicireland@nullgmail.com
 
Places are secured on a first come basis.
 
Day 1
Morning session.
• Introduction.
• A brief history of music in games.
• The rapid evolution and demand for music in games
• Understanding a game brief
• Composition, Film v Games.
 
Lunch
 
 Afternoon session.
• Game score demo
• How the score works interactively in the game.
• The importance of loop progression.
• Creating the evolving score illusion
• Useful tips and tricks.
 
Day 2
Composers will be assigned a brief and will work with the platform of their preferred choice in a compositional exercise where they will compose and construct a game score with interactive capability. Composers will receive one on one support during this session.
 
Day 3
Final touches to the scores, analysis and discussion.
The module closes with a talk on plans for the future.
 
About Mick Kiely
Irelands first AAA games composer with a firm understanding of music and it’s place in the digital games industry. Well connected internationally with music professionals in the games industry. Also composing professionally for TV and film, he has a clear understanding of the requirements and necessary transitions needing to be made in order to cross successfully from these media to that of music in games. With a reputation for innovation and trend setting, he pioneered music production techniques successfully implemented in AAA computer game play. Mick will attend important lectures at GDC 2012 to insure this module optimises the latest technologies.
  • 1
  • 2

About IMRO

Music Creators

Music Users

Supporting Music

Keep up to date with IMRO news and events

Modus | Ireland best web agency Dublin, Ireland.

Please select login