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Month: March 2012

Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters | ‘That Old Chestnut’ and Live Dates

That Old Chestnut

Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters will release their brand new single ‘That Old Chestnut’ taken from the critically acclaimed debut album ‘The Devil In Music’ on Saturday 31st March. The single will be FREE to download from http://foxjawbountyhunters.bandcamp.com – and will be accompanied by the unveiling of the band’s latest eerie spine-chilling music video, featuring actress Joanne Ryan of TG4’s Ros N Rún.

Currently working on their second album to be recorded this summer, Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters will be taking time out to play two shows this month. They take the stage at The Academy, Dublin on Friday March 30th for the latest installment of Phantom FMs ‘Phantom:Live’ series and play a hometown show in Dolans, Limerick on Sat March 31st.

Visit: www.phantom.iewww.dolans.ie & www.foxjawbountyhunters.com for more info on these shows.

UPCOMING DATES

March 30th – The Academy, Dublin

March 31st – Dolans, Limerick

www.foxjawbountyhunters.com
www.twitter.com/fjbh
www.youtube.com/foxjaw
www.facebook.com/foxjawbountyhunters
www.breakingtunes.com/foxjawbountyhunters

The Original Rudeboys | Debut Album Release

The Original Rudeboys head to HMV Grafton St on Friday 23rd March at 4pm.  The Dublin trio will be performing live and signing copies of their highly anticipated debut album This Life. 
 
The Dublin Acoustic Hip Hop YouTube Heroes release their debut album after almost one year since their formation. In that short time The Original Rudeboys have made a huge impact with over 1,100,000 views on their You Tube channel and with 20,000 + Facebook friends. 
 
The future looks bright for the boys with the release of This Life which includes ten original tracks, produced by the highly acclaimed Jake Gosling, producer of Ed Sheeran’s million selling debut album +
 
The debut single from the album Stars in My Eyes peaked at #3 on iTunes while their new single Travelling Man released recently continues to secure massive radio airplay.
 
To mark the album release The Original Rudeboys are hitting the road performing at venues across the country. With the release of This Life the time has come for The Original Rudeboys to make their mark on the Irish music scene.

The Gandhis – After Autumn

Featuring the single “Hunting”

Irish Release Date 30/03/12 on 1969 RECORDS

thegandhismusic.com  ~ 1969Records.com

::: LIVE :::

March 31 Friday – Album Launch Showcase 1pm in Tower Records, Wicklow St. Dublin 2

April 15 Sunday – The Pavillion, Cork

April 27th Friday – Album Launch Show, Whelans, Wexford Street, Dublin 2

May 27th Sunday – Roisin Dubh, Galway

“After Autumn” will be released on March 30th with a weekend of Pop-up gigs around Dublin followed by a nationwide tour and a few gigs in the UK. These shows will be listed on the website.

 

It always takes a period of time for real substance to filter through. Similarly, friendship, creative aims and an understanding of what is required for a life filled with music.

Almost three years ago, Irish band The Gandhis released their debut album, You Are My Friend. It was wrought from the twin engines of hard-nosed ambitions and creative frameworks that had been honed some years previously. Back then, the band (Conor Deasy, guitar/vocals; Aidan McKelvey, guitar/vocals; Niall Cullen, bass; Barry O’Reilly, drums) had graduated from being a college band into something more serious. Influences ranged from The Coral and Beach Boys to The Beatles and Captain Beefheart. Ambitions, meanwhile, were high yet grounded in music fandom and heritage.

“We just wanted to have an album out,” recalls Aidan. “I remember saying to have an album and to hold it in my hands would be good enough for me. It wasn’t the limit of our ambitions, obviously, but for a first step that was what we wanted.”

Conor’s ambition was of wanting “to be in a real band, and putting out a real album on a real record label. I wanted a bona fide album that you could go into a shop and buy – and, also, to make a proper recording in a real studio and to fully realise the songs, to construct them.” Ambitions fulfilled, then, with a personal bonus that wasn’t, perhaps, previously considered. “Now, the more you get into it, the more you realise you want to do it every day.”

You Are My Friend was released on highly regarded Irish indie label, 1969 Records, and announced to the world a band that was able to engage with the heavy hitters. The album’s upbeat music was leavened with a reflective lyrical content that referenced tragedies of various kinds (a legacy of all the band members having studied history in college), yet the record remains an appealing, trustworthy calling card.

“I think we all felt that if everything went awry,” says Aidan, “then the first album was something we would always have. It was like having a childhood ambition totally filled – and it was exactly what we were at, and where we were at.”

“The album launch was a particular highpoint,” remembers Conor. “There was such a sense of achievement, and excitement, about it and the band.”

But that, as they say, was then. The innate giddiness of successfully recording and releasing their debut album was soon replaced with a what-happens-next shrug of the shoulders. The band filled their days by extensive gigging after the debut was released, but swiftly learned two important things: there was little or no time to write new material, and the songs from the debut had been played so many times it was as the life and soul had been sucked out of them.

Every cloud, however, has a silver lining, and as the blind ambition that fashioned You Are My Friend slowly got its sight back, the realisation that a new batch of songs was bubbling away slapped the band in the face. “There’s no denying that the lull following the debut album certainly influenced the songs written after that,” says Aidan. “Personal issues were involved – some long-term relationships broke down – so it was a low period for us.”

A somewhat more pragmatic reason for the lack of gaiety was that all members of the band had quit their jobs in order to commit themselves to music fulltime. “I’m really glad we did that,” admits Conor, “because I always resented the time I was spending in work. Committing to the band was the best thing we could have done – even if it was terrible financially.”

Which is where The Gandhis’ story (so far) starts to get really interesting. Commitment to anything changes your perspective; commitment to a creative pursuit adds a sharper edge. No jobs equals no steady money, and the sporadic monetary nature of gigging around Ireland will hardly give a landlord reasons to be cheerful. Cue a conundrum: your mind is at rest because you know you’re doing something you’ll always want to be doing. Result? Happiness. Yet you can’t do anything in many areas because you don’t have any money. Result? Depression.

We all know, however, that when creative types become depressed they often come up with the goods – which brings us neatly to The Gandhis’ follow-up album, After Autumn.

“The first album was written over a long period of time,” explains Aidan, “so the themes were quite widespread. The second album, however, was more concentrated so there’s a narrower thematic sense to it. The lyrics are a lot better, I think, and far more personal.”

“The struggle is how to deal with what has happened to us personally,” outlines Conor, “and how to move on from that. I suppose that’s the difference between being young and maturing – you don’t have that sense of real optimism you once had; it gets battered out of you, and so you just have to get on with it.”

Shaped over a long weekend in a remote village in County Clare, during the biting winter chill of 2010/2011, After Autumn leaps ahead of its predecessor by virtue of its subtle – and natural – change of musical direction. Assured, pastoral and sonically astute (the album is mixed by noted engineer/producer Steve Shannon), if you’re looking for an early contender for Album of the Year you’d be hard pressed to look any further.

“How would we describe the music?” Conor is pondering this one. “That’s difficult, but one of the touchstones would be The Band. The nature of the pastoral elements on the new album is good, I reckon – I like the folksiness, and the acoustic instrumentation, which we wouldn’t have really used before.”

“After Autumn is about struggle and whether that results in change, or changes your outlook,” comments Aidan. Conor agrees: “The album is very much about growing up, maturing, dealing with getting older, and how you face the challenges that occur because of certain experiences.”

We said at the start that it always takes a period of time for real substance to filter through. With After Autumn, The Gandhis have readily achieved what they set out to do. Aims realised. Ambitions sorted. Job done.

98FM’s Brand New Act 2012

The standard of Irish music in 2012 is, according to many critics, at its highest ever.  A music scene to be proud of has quickly emerged over the last few years with each year producing more and more great new acts.  Totally Irish and 98FM want to look for Ireland’s next great new band; a band that combines creativity and musical capability with a hint of originality….So if you’re a member of an up and coming Irish band, or know of someone who is, then check out the details below to find out how you could become 98FM’s Brand New Act 2012!

 Entry Requirements

  • Bands must submit a sample of their music consisting of  a maximum of 3 songs only.
  • Submissions must be original.
  • Submissions will be only be accepted in a physical format or by mp3.
  • A written bio of the band must be included in the entry. This should not excede more than 150 words.
  • This is a competition for unsigned bands only.
  • Closing date for entries is Fri 30th March 2012.
  • Please state clearly in your entry, whether by post or email, that you are entering the competition.

 Judging

  • A shortlist of the top 5 bands will be drawn up by a panel of judges.
  • These 5 bands will be announced on Totally Irish on Sunday April 8th.
  • The winner will be based on the band who receive the most votes.
  • Voting will be open for one week following the announcement of the shortlist.
  • The winning band will be announced on Totally Irish on Sunday April 15th.

The Prize

The winning band will receive:

  • 2 days recording time in Windmill Lane Studios.
  • The opportunity to support some of the top names in Irish music in the Workman’s Club on Thursday April 26th 2012.
  • A song playlisted on 98FM.
  • An interview on 98FM.

Submissions

Submissions must be sent to either:

a) By mail:

Totally Irish
98FM
The Malt House
Grand Canal Quay
Dublin 2

b) By email:

totallyirish@null98fm.com

The Irish Composers’ Collective Presents Izumi Kimura & David Bremner

National Concert Hall
March 29th, 8.30pm

€10/€5

The Irish Composers’ Collective are delighted to announce that this month’s concert will feature ICC member David Bremner and Izumi Kimura, performing seven brand new works for piano duet, exploring both the minuscule and massive, earthbound and celestial, natural laws and human relationships. Both performers specialise in contemporary keyboard music, and together should prove a formidable musical duo.
David Bremner is a pianist, organist and composer based in Dublin. he is recognised as a persuasive advocate of new music, both as soloist and accompanist and has premiered more than thirty new works. Originally from West Cumbria, UK, he moved to Ireland in 1999 following an Organ Scholarship at Keble College, Oxford. he has studied piano with Mary Lennon, and organ with David Sanger and Mark Duley. David is currently Assistant Organist and Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and has also performed with many of Dublin’s leading ensembles, including the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, New Dublin Voices and the Crash Ensemble. He is currently completing a PhD in Composition at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama under the supervision of Gráinne Mulvey, and is a member of the Irish Composers’ Collective. He is the co-director of the music production company Béal, and set up the band The Open Rehearsals, who explore improvised music theatre.

Japanese born but Irish resident, Izumi Kimura is a highly acclaimed practitioner or contemporary piano music. Izumi has performed extensively

throughout Ireland as a solo, orchestral and chamber musician, and she has numerous broadcasts on RTÉ Lyric FM, RTÉ One and others. She has worked with some of the leading performers and ensembles from both classical and jazz, including the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Crash Ensemble, Benjamin Dwyer, and Métier among many others. She has performed at many festivals in Ireland and abroad, including RTÉ Living Music Festival, Boyle Arts Festival, Dublin Dance Festival, Dublin Fringe Festival, Ghent Street Festival of New Music, and Music 21’s ‘Brazil Now’. ‘Artes Da Irlanda, Hoje!’ in Sao Paolo. She has given many premieres of works by Irish and international composers, including a number of pieces that were written especially for her. Her solo piano album of Japanese and Irish music ‘Asymmetry’ has been chosen by broadcaster Karishmeh Felfeli “one of the most original creative and stimulating recording of 2010 to be heard on an Irish label, an absolute revelation”.

Programme:
Massimo Davi – Ephemeroptera
Sebastian Adams – Prayer for Four Hands
Ryan Molloy – Sliabh Geal gCua
Daniel Barkley – Nexus
Conal Ryan – Transfigure
Peter Moran – For Hands
Dennis Wyers – Jupiter Moons Suite

The challenge of writing for piano duet, as one of the composers puts it, “inverts the normal problems of writing for piano: rather than having too few fingers at their disposal, you now have too many!” It is a challenge that the seven composers for this piece sought to answer, each in a different way, and with different subjects, from the infinitesimal to the celestial. Massimo Davi‘s Ephemeroptera may be based on a rather unusual theme, the life of a Mayfly, but it describes a very beautiful premise: it is an intangible, fleeting set of miniatures describing in but a few minutes the allegory of life. In contrast, Dennis Wyers attempts to capture the massive, in his Jupiter Moons Suite, a set of five movements inspired by the different atmospheres on the planet and its moons. Peter Moran‘s For Hands is also concerned with the natural laws that govern sound in both micro and macro, the natural harmonics and resonances of sound, in this case of the piano itself. The set of miniatures, composed through a process of improvisation, is essentially a set of variations that use a single melody as a springboard to timbral exploration. Conal Ryan‘s Transfigure is similarly textural and timbral in intent, altering the piano sound itself, and distributing spatial arrays of an ever-distorting harmonic series. Ryan Molloy and Daniel Barkley eschewed the heavy concerns of nature and physics in favour of the ultimately human in their works, with Barkley’s Nexus written for his sister and making use of more traditional rhythms and harmonies, and Molloy’s Sliabh Geal gCua exploring an Irish traditional air of the same name and the process of aural transmission so intrinsic to traditional musics. Sebastian Adams chooses not to tell us what his piece is about, so you’ll have to come to listen to it instead!

Keep up to date on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the composers, performers and their works.

Tickets for Izumi Kimura and David Bremner cost €10/€5 conc.
and are available from The National Concert Hall Box Office at www.nch.ie
or 01 417 0000.
The Box Office is open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm.

The Contemporary Music Centre continues its 2012 Salon series with Simon Mawhinney (piano)

The Contemporary Music Centre’s new music::new Ireland salon series 2012 continues on 28 March with composer/performer Simon Mawhinney (piano). The event takes place 6pm – 7pm, Wednesday 28 March 2012, in the Kevin Barry Room of the National Concert Hall.

Works on the night include Simon Mawhinney – Flux from Reflux; Eduard Zatriqi – Selections from Ten Pieces for Piano; Ryan Molloy – Sliabh Geal gCua and a premiere of a new work by Simon Mawhinney Tirsogue    

Simon Mawhinney is a composer/performer from Co. Down.  His work is regularly commissioned and performed by leading performers and ensembles throughout Europe.  Most recently he has written a sheaf of compositions for performers in Iceland, four of which were premiered in Reykjavik in June 2011.  He has a particular interest in works of longer duration and a recording of the 45-minute Hunshigo (for violin and piano) was released by Altarus Records in 2009.  In 2012 his most ambitious composition so far will be premiered in Belfast – a large-scale cycle of compositions for solo bass flute and computer. Simon Mawhinney’s repertoire as a pianist ranges from Elizabethan virginal music to the most contemporary works. In 2008-09 he celebrated Messiaen’s centenary with a series of performances of Vingt Regards, all of which received standing ovations.

From Pomeroy in Co. Tyrone, Ryan Molloy began his musical life on the fiddle. The piano soon followed in his teenage years and it is in this instrument that Ryan now specialises. Aside from international performance work, Ryan is currently studying for a PhD in composition with Simon Mawhinney at Queen’s University, Belfast. Ryan is also a performance tutor at Queen’s and an experienced peripatetic tutor. His recent compositions include Sætre Brygge for piano, Mise Éire for eight solo voices and a community music piece for a large ensemble. Ryan’s string quartet Third Epistle to Timothy was one of three winners of the West Cork Composition Competition 2010 and premiered in the West Cork Chamber Festival in June 2010. Ryan’s work attempts to bridge the divide between traditional Irish music and contemporary Irish music by incorporating elements of traditional music in his composition.

Eduard Zatriqi received a first class BMus degree (2009) and MA with distinction (2010) from QUB and is currently studying for a PhD in Music Composition under the supervision of Dr Simon Mawhinney. In 2010, the Ulster Orchestra workshopped the third movement of his Symphony. Furthermore, he was one of three selected winners of the West Cork Chamber Music Festival (2011) with his Piano Trio. Additionally, Eduard composes music for Spark Opera Company. To date, the company has performed his two chamber operas – Van Helsing: The Opera Exclamation Mark (2009) and The Monster in the Dark (2012). During the production of The Monster in the Dark, Eduard received guidance and advice from Judith Weir.

The CMC new music::new Ireland salon series aims to encourage newcomers and enthusiasts alike to engage with the music of Irish composers. Each performance takes place in an informal atmosphere with dialogue encouraged between composers, performers and audience. This is the Centre’s nineth series and salons will take place across the year on the last Wednesday of each month, apart from the summer months (June, July and August).

The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland’s national archive and resource centre for new music. The Centre is supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.  The Centre would like to thank the National Concert Hall for the use of the Kevin Barry Room for the salon series.

Admission is free for the new music::new Ireland salons but booking is strongly recommended. To book please contact the National Concert Hall on tel: 01 417 0000  www.nch.ie . For further information on the performer and composers involved contact Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Tel: 01-673 1922 or email: khennessy@nullcmc.ie, web site: www.cmc.ie

 

 

The Contemporary Music Centre presents

new music::new Ireland salon

6pm, 28 March 2012, FREE ADMISSION

Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall, Dublin 2

 

Simon Mawhinney (piano)

Simon Mawhinney | Flux from Reflux                             

Eduard Zatriqi | Selections from Ten Pieces for Piano         

Simon Mawhinney | Tirsogue (premiere)                             

Ryan Molloy | Sliabh Geal gCua                             

 

Admission Free | Booking Recommended | tel: 01 417 0000  | email: info@nullnch.ie | web site: www.nch.ie

Information from The Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar | web site: www.cmc.ie

Protobaby-‘The Spark’

Protobaby
Protobaby

“HOT PRESS ONE’S TO WATCH, NOW SET TO DELIVER”

Fluorescent, the new single from Protobaby was released on Friday 9 March 2012.

The Spark, the debut album will be released on Friday 23 March 2012.

Fluorescent, the third single to be taken from Limerick’s Protobaby debut album The Spark is available from iTunes and other digital stores.

Following the controversial Traditions single with it’s Youtube banned video and the very well received first single/video State Of Affairs it is another slice of Protobaby’s modern rock that will
also be accompanied with a new video on release day.

The Spark, the 11 track debut album will be available on physical cd and download from all good stores and digital stores.

Protobaby will be launching the album with a hometown gig in Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick on Friday 23 March 2012 followed by a number of dates in Cork, Dublin & Galway.

For further information contact: protobaby@nullgmail.com

www.protobaby.com
www.facebook/protobaby

KEITH MOSS first single on Reekus and Stags Head gig Sunday March 18th

The latest Reekus signing, the singular KEITH MOSS, has his first release on the label this March.  Hitting the airwaves just in time for excesses of the Patricks Festival celebrations,  “The War Outside Our Door” is a pertinent comment on the culture of binge drinking and anti-social behaviour.   Keith has played with a number of bands including ‘Autophony’  with Marc Aubell, and most recently ‘Pig’ with Marc Aubell and Laura Sheeran, as well as doing session work for Miss Laura Flynn and Margaret Healy.  Now, with his power trio The Brotherhood, Keith is putting the finishing touches to his album ‘What Eludes You Moves You, which is due for a summer release.  The single is available on iTunes and all leading digital sites from Friday March 16th, while 3-track physical copies are available at gigs and from the Reekus webstore.

Keith Moss and the Brotherhood launch their single with a semi-unplugged set at Stag’s Head Raw on Sunday next March 18th, with label mates Saccade, the ideal way to wind down after Paddy’s Day.   Doors 8pm / Adm 8 euro.

Super Hanz – New EP

Super Hanz-New EP

“We are not a supergroup yet”, ‘We are not SuperTramp or the Super Furry Animals’, so says the Kildare based 4 piece Indie combo SuperHanz. Lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Stephen Fagan says that the Band are happy to leave behind a string of Battle of the Bands victories and says that it is now time for the band to move to the next phase of its development and become more widely known to a greater audience.

“The experiences that we have gained playing live since we were sixteen has been a great help to us he says, but added ‘that the recently competed four track EP recorded at Westland Studios with the assistace of sound engineer and producer, Alwyn Walker, will show everyone what we are capable of”.

The four songs which are a mixture of Indie rock against an urban backdrop are a fresh look at an everlasting theme. They show a songwriting ability and performance of a maturing group who now in their early twenties are ready for anything. 

Backing vocalist and bass player Nicky Kilduff looks forward to further studio work and taking the band to the next level. He said he expects the youth and vitality of the band will be reflected in their current and future work. 

Superhanz are : Stephen fagan, Nicky Kilduff, Rory McLoughlin, David Pearson. 

They can be contacted at superhanzmusic@nullyahoo.ie, www.facebook.com/Superhanzmusic, www.breakingtunes.com/superhanz

The Herbert Cello Quartet

The Herbert Cello Quartet

Cello Quartet Tour 28th of March – 31st of March,

Presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and touring award
 
The Herbert Cello Quartet
 
The Herbert Quartet is formed of four Irish cellists Ben Cashell, Peggy Nolan, Aoife Dennedy and Paul Grennan who studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. They had first met when they were very young at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, they started to play together in the prestigious RNCM cello ensemble where they were inspired to set up their own cello quartet.
 
Their members have performed extensively around England and Ireland in venues such as The Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall and the National Concert Hall of Ireland. Two are currently working with the Halle and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras. Their careers are very diverse :Ben has played with Mercury award nominees Eveything Everything, Paul is heading off on a European tour with the Icelandic musician Olafur Arnalds, Peg plays in the award winning period string Quartet, The Borromini, and Aoife is involved with outreach teaching in Dublin. This diversity of careers has helped influence their musical programming, which ranges from Rossini, The Cinematic Orchestra, Fitzenhagen and a newly commissioned piece by the Irish composer Michael Doherty.
 
They are embarking on their first tour of Ireland with funding from the Music Networks Performance and touring award. They will be playing at a mixture of venues that mirror the music they will be performing: a combination of new and old; Muse to Mozart and from Block T in Smithfield to Calary Church in Wicklow.
 
They will also be giving workshops at three of their old primary schools. Where they hope to share their love for the varied repertoire of the cello, and inspire the next generation of Irish Cellists
 
Programme to  include
 
Michael Doherty Petits Four, suite for 4 cellos (world premiere)
Muse, Medley for Four cellos
Fitzenhagen, Konzert waltz
Piazzolla , Oblivion and La Muerta da Angel
Cinematic Orchestra, To build a home
 
 Presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and touring award Calary Church,
 
8.00pm, 28th of March
€15/ €10(concessions)
Booking no. 01-2818146
 
Email. derekneilson@nulleircom.net.

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