‘Lizard’ the new EP from O Emperor is released on March 2nd.
Like its predecessor, the album ‘Vitreous’, the EP is an entirely self-recorded affair coming about over the space of a week’s jamming at the band’s “Big Skin HQ” in Cork City.
Irish composer, Patrick Cassidy, has been nominated by ASCAP for Film Score of the Year for his original score for “Calvary”. The ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards give their members an opportunity to honour their peers in the film, TV and video game music world. The winners will be revealed at the ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards on March 9th.
Speaking from his home in Los Angeles this week, Patrick said: “I am delighted that ASCAP has nominated Calvary in the Film Score of the Year Category. Composers’ Choice nominees are hand-picked by a select group of composers, film and TV industry leaders, so it’s a great honour to be have been chosen by other music professionals for such a prestigious nomination.”
The Calvary score has also received a nomination for a Cue Award, the official awards of Tracksounds.com in the category of Best Dramatic Score. The score was previously nominated for the Discovery of the Year Award at the 14th World Soundtrack Awards.
Cassidy has composed the music and worked on the soundtrack for numerous films including ‘Hannibal’, ‘Veronica Guerin’, ‘King Arthur’, ‘Layer Cake’ and ‘Kingdom of Heaven’.
The nominees for 2014 FILM SCORE OF THE YEAR are:
Patrick Cassidy – Calvary
Jóhann Jóhannsson – The Theory of Everything
Mica Levi – Under the Skin
Gary Yershon – Mr. Turner
Hans Zimmer – Interstellar
Twelve songs will go head to head in the Pan Celtic National Song Contest 2015 which will be held in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow on Saturday, 7 March at 8pm.
Sponsored by IMRO in association with Gael Linn and Glór Cheatharlach, the composer of the winning song will receive a cash prize of €1,000 and the song will go forward to represent Ireland at the Pan Celtic International Song Contest to be held in Derry in April.
The twelve finalists are:
Sharon Ní Chuilbin – “Tá Dóchas Ann”
Helena Byrne – “Is Tú Grá”
Pádraig Mac Domhnaill – “Oíche na Gaoithe”
Brighdín Carr – “Árainn Mhór”
Marcus Mac Conghail – “Is Cuma sa tSioc”
Eilín Ní Bheaglaoich – “Deoraí”
Tiarnán Ó Sé – “€50,000,000,000”
Bríd Ní Chionnaith & Róisín Nic an Starraí – “Imithe”
Colette Nic Aodha – “Oileán”
Damian Mac Gabhann & Aidan Cranny – “Imigh a Dhamhsóir”
Enda Reilly & Séamus Barra Ó Súilleabháin – “Go Beo go Deo na nDeo”
Lorna, Laine, Eoghan, Evelyn & Kiarán Ó Maoileáin – “Anseo”
The judging panel will be made up of Seá Ó Sé, Liam Lawton and Pádraigín Caesar.
All are welcome. Tickets @ €10.
Enquiries to 087 2857048, 059 9158105 or pancelticcarlow@nullgmail.com
The Flaws are back with an infectiously catchy new single, “That’s What You Get”. The video is currently being premiered over on MUZU.tv and the single is set for release on 5th March.
The single launch will take place on the same night in Whelan’s, Dublin with support on the night from Acrobat and Elephant.
If you can’t catch The Flaws at Whelans, they will be playing The Spirit Store, Dundalk on the 27th March, IMRO Live Venue of the Year Dolan’s of Limerick on 24th April and Vantastival on 2nd May.
www.facebook.com/theflaws
The Flaws – That’s What You Get Official Music Video on MUZU.TV.
This Saturday sees three acts perform in Bello Bar (under the Lower Deck, 1 Portobello Harbour, Dublin 8). Doors open at 8:00pm and tickets are €8 and can be purchased here: https://www.ticketea.ie/exploding-eyes/
Exploding Eyes 
are a heavy Psych Rock Power Trio based in Dublin, Ireland. The band comprise of Brian Gallagher on drums (Humanzi, The Mighty Stef), Robbie Brady on bass/vocals/theremin (The Things, Cheap Freaks) and Al Dodd on guitar/vocals (Cheap Freaks, DC Pakt). Their sound draws influence from the likes Cream, John Mayall, Eno, Kim Fowley and the UK underground psych scene of the 60s and 70s, such as Deviants, Pink Fairies and Andromeda. In their short time together they have released one single ‘I Panic’ to much critical praise and built a reputation as one of the best live bands on the local circuit. They are currently working on their yet to be titled debut LP with Detroit producer Jim Diamond (White Stripes, Dirtbombs) which is slated for release late 2015.
You can follow Exploding Eyes on Facebook.
TWINKRANES are an experimental Rock band from Dublin. The group was formed in Dublin in 2007. In 2008 the group came to the attention of Andy Votel (Finders Keepers Records) who expressed a keen interest in releasing the groups music through the label, a touring single “Fizz Nor Feedback” followed which was well received & would become the precursor to the critically acclaimed Debut album “Spektrum Theatre Snakes”. In 2009 the album “Spektrum Theatre Snakes” was released the album melded the worlds of Motor driven kraut, Space-rock, Avant pop, Psychedelic & Drone. NME hailed the album as incredible and awarded the album a 9/10. 2014 saw the release of a split 7” vinyl with Dublin post rockers Halves while the majority of the year has seen the group holed up at their studio in Dublin. Currently working as a trio 2014 has seen the group filter and re-imagine TWINKRANES impenetrable electronic Rhythms, experimental soundscapes and drones at their home in Black Pitts with a view to releasing new music in 2015.
You can follow TWINKRANES on Facebook.
WILD ROCKET plays space metal. WILD ROCKET plays heavy psychedelic punk. WILD ROCKET endures. WILD ROCKET lives. The band was formed in the past and continues to exist through the present and into the future. The band is located in Dublin, Ireland and consists of men from across the landmass. These men; Cian, Niall Jon and John have a vast combined knowledge of music, all having performed with many other bands in the past and present. Within the band there is percussion, a machine for creating synthetic sounds and two flavours of stringed instruments, one high one low. Having successfully released their debut album GEOMAGNETIC HALLUCINATIONS in 2014 the band continues into 2015 with more live shows and recordings set to expand even more consciousnesses into eternity.
You can follow WILD ROCKET on Facebook.
Irish singer/songwriter/producer Liz Madden has just launched her brand new album, “Legacy”. The album comes seven years after Liz’s first solo album, “Going Home”, and is a collaboration with Irish guitarist and producer, Fionán De Barra.
“Legacy” was recorded in New Mexico and Philadelphia and was produced by Liz and Fionán. The album features guest artists Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies and Eamonn De Barra of Slide. Original tracks “Mockingbird” by Liz and Fionán and “White Willow”, co-written with Katie Carpenter of Jezzebelle, feature on the album.
The album is uniquely produced and was mixed to include Irish language chants with the English vocals and heralds a new sound in the Celtic-Folk genre. The album was mixed by Fionán de Barra and mastered by Lou Judson. “Legacy” will be released on March 3rd by Valley Entertainment NY.
Distributed by Discord in England, Sony in the states and various distributors worldwide.
Tucan 
is delighted to announce the release of their second studio album ‘Towers’.
This second album comes six years after their first studio album (Aliquot Strings 2009) and it is their first since the band expanded to include brass and strings. Produced by Torsten Kinsella (God Is An Astronaut), these new compositions are subtle and melodic though cinematic in their scope and arrangement, and represent a musical evolution for the band.
The album is set for release on 27th March in Ireland and 30th March in the U.K on the ‘ Quiet Arch ‘ label. The Belfast based label’s ethos is to release original material from “left of mainstream… on beautifully designed vinyl and digital platforms”. This is the first album to be released on the label.
“Tucan have reinvented themselves, and created the beautiful ‘Towers’ album… they’ve brought us something distinctly Irish, but not in the conventional sense. Here’s an album that will live long in people’s hearts and minds.” – Dan Hegarty (RTE 2fm)
The album will be available on CD, Digitally and also on a limited edition heavyweight vinyl.
The group are launching their album in their three ‘home spots’ around Ireland, followed by an extensive national tour.
Launch dates:
Three songwriters
are to play a very special “in the round” show next month. Two of Ireland’s foremost singer songwriters, Dubliner Eoin Glackin and Donegal man Mickey Harte will join with New Yorker Rachael Sage for a very special show upstairs in Whelan’s Dublin on Sunday March 1st.
Following a busy end to 2014 promoting his latest single “Rain Finally Came”, Eoin Glackin will soon be heading for Germany for the release there of his album of the same name. Eoin has been making lots of new fans with many appearances on radio and online over the last few months including performances on The John Murray Show, Newstalk Breakfast and Joe Duffy’s Christmas Eve live show.
Hailing from New York Judy Collins has described Rachael Sage as “a great gift… of incredible talent and beauty,” while Billboard magazine reckons she is “the stitch between the great rock and pop traditions of the past and what those traditions have wrought in the hypermodern world of the present.”. Rachael will release her latest album “Blue Roses” on March 9th celebrating it’s launch in Ireland with this Whelan’s show.
Singer-songwriter Mickey Harte has been a mainstay of the Irish contemporary music circuit for well over 10 years. Career achievements include multiple Platinum records, Meteor Awards, regular RTE TV appearances, plus hundreds of concerts for audiences large and small across Ireland as well as Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, The UK, The Netherlands, and the USA. Mickey’s latest album is “Forward to Reality” and his new single will be released at the start of March.
Tickets to the event can be purchased here and are priced at €10: http://www.whelanslive.com/index.php/wav-tickets/eoin-glackin-tickets-2/
Irish band Cronin start 2015 with the pre St Patrick’s Day release of their Nelson Riddle EP.
The lead track is named after the Legendary string arranger who worked with Frank Sinatra and also wrote the 60’s Batman TV theme tune.
The 4 track Ep Recorded in the brothers own studio, Transmission Rooms Ireland, the EP features guest performances from a raft of musical friends & heroes including Terry Edwards (Tindersticks, PJ Harvey, Gallon Drunk) on string arranging, Helen Turner (The Style Council) on Keys, The Frames brothers Karl and David Odlum on track Overlooking Paris and former JJ72 singer Mark Greaney for their homage to the late Gene Pitney with their version of “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart”.
Belfast based wordsmith, Malojian, has just announced the release of his new album ‘Southlands’, due to be available on May 18th. ‘Communion Girls’, the first single from the album, is out on 16th March and gives a little taste of what you can expect from this release.
Stevie Scullion (Malojian) said, “I didn’t really intend to start another album so soon after my debut, The Deer’s Cry. I had been writing a lot of new songs and wanted to demo them, so I asked Michael Mormecha (drums) if he fancied helping out. We started with Communion Girls at Mikey’s studio (Millbank). I knew straight away that I wanted to record the whole album there.
Millbank itself is really interesting. There’s a lot of history about the place. It’s still a working farm so there’d be all sorts of stuff going on that you wouldn’t get in a conventional recording studio. The whole process and environment kept making me think of Dylan and The Band at Big Pink. Very chilled out & a lot of fun. Rural and real.
We recorded loads of stuff, always trying to capture a live performance as the foundation and then building from there. We actually had an album after 10 days, however things started to take off a bit with The Deer’s Cry so suddenly we were touring more than usual – and Southlands got put on hold.
Every time we came back to finish it, I had new songs – I was dealing with a lot of personal stuff (illness, death, the birth of my son) – and I think it’s all there in the songs. What I’ve ended up with sounds like a proper band record – rather than just a singer songwriter with some session guys.
The album was mixed at the end of 2014, in a small cottage overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, in a remote part of County Donegal. No phones. No internet. Just peace and quiet and nature. It felt like the perfect way to wrap up the album.”
Keep an eye on Malojian’s website http://malojian.com/ for tour details soon to be announced.
