“All That Ever Happens” is the latest single and video from Dublin based Italian songwriter, Giuliano Nistri. The video is the first to be released from Giuliano’s current album, “All the Songs in One Night”.
The video was created by Music Shoots and was directed by Tomasz Bereska and Giuliano.
“All the Songs in One Night” is now available on iTunes . Check out www.giuliano.ie for details of upcoming gigs.
“The Wicklow Ways” is a newly written work for orchestra by Irish composer, Vincent Kennedy, and comprises 73 young Wicklow musicians performing on violin, recorder, ukulele, guitar, piano and a whole host of drums and tuned percussion instruments. The piece will receive its world premiere this Sunday, 22nd March in the Mermaid Arts Centre in two concerts at 3pm and 4:30pm.
Vincent Kennedy was commissioned by Wicklow County Council under the Per Cent for Art Scheme and on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow to engage with four schools across County Wicklow to create the piece. Four workshops have taken place in each school – Scoil Chaoimhin Naofa, Gleann da Loch, Co. Chill Mhantain; St Laurences National School, Kindlestown, Greystones, Co. Wicklow; Lacken National School, Blessington, Co.Wicklow; St Cronans National School, Vevay Road, Bray, Co.Wicklow – since September 2014 , engaging the young musicians in fun and challenging ways, inspiring them to perform to the best of their abilities and reach new heights in their musical development.
Speaking of the project, Vincent said: “Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland, has always had a special place in my life and heart. Therefore receiving the commission to write The Wicklow Ways presented me with an opportunity to write music that celebrates the beauty and loveliness of the place and its people and also some of what it means and has meant to me. This experience has also been very important to me because as a seven year old in CBS Westland Row I got the chance to take up music and it changed my life. To be involved with these wonderful young people at the beginning of their music education is tremendous. To experience their enthusiasm, their sense of fun in learning, their kindnesses, their beautiful smiles and laughs, and to see how they have grown musically through the process has been inspiring.”
He added: “I have also experienced some of why they are doing so well and that is down to their brilliant and enthusiastic music teachers, their class teachers and assistants, the support and enthusiasm of the school principals and their dedicated staff and the support of their families and Wicklow Music Generation.”
Along with the children of the WOW Orchestra (Wonderful Orchestra of Wicklow) Aisling Seery plays “Rain, Water, Life” on Piccolo, Descant and Treble Recorders, Eamon Sweeney performs “Glendalough” on classical guitar, Sinéad Finegan premiers “Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh” on Violin with Svetlana Rudenko on piano, Terry Clancy gives the first performance of “Sea and Sky Blues” on Alto Saxophone, Rama Block beating his drums leads us on “A Night on Sugar Loaf Mountain” and James Dunne takes us on a journey by “Steam Train from Greystones to Bray” up and down his Xylophone.
The Wicklow Ways by Vincent Kennedy from Contemporary Music Centre on Vimeo.
The Wicklow Ways is one of four new music works commissioned by Wicklow County Council and produced by the Contemporary Music Centre under the Per Cent for Art Scheme on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow. These commissions have involved some 300 children and young people between the ages of 6 and 16 across County Wicklow.
Tickets are €6 (single ticket) and €12 (family of four). Bookings online via Mermaid Arts Centre or by phone 01 272 4030.
Úna Keane releases stunning new contemporary classical piece for piano: “The Flight of the Heron”
Irish composer Úna Keane releases her new piano composition “The Flight of the Heron” on Friday 20th March 2015 on iTunes. Recorded live at The National Concert Hall, and featuring an innovative music video directed by Mark Henderson, “The Flight of The Heron” draws inspiration from elements of the natural world, cinema and literature, as with much of Keane’s work.
“I suppose you could label my music ‘contemporary classical with a twist’,” says Keane. “I like to use a mix of clean, pristine piano as well as a more deconstructed, minimalist approach. It’s really about telling a story, and keeping it simple.”
The works of Arvo Pärt, Dario Marianelli and Ludovico Einaudi have played an important role in the development of Keane’s musical ideas, and she believes it is time for a contemporary Irish composer to reach the global stage with the digital generation. Although her primary focus is now on composition, Keane has also delved into singing and songwriting, releasing her debut album ‘Trees’ in late 2010, to critical acclaim (HotPress **** The Irish Times ***). However, Keane has found her passion in writing and orchestrating instrumental work.
She is currently studying Film Scoring and Orchestration with the Berklee College of Music in Boston. “I’ve always had a fascination with film, and especially with how a musical score can shape a storyline or character, and how this in turn affects the viewer from an emotional point of view. It’s such a great collaboration”.
Keane releases an EP of instrumental work this summer, with an album to follow in 2016.
“Gather Up the Devils” is a synth heavy slice of darkness by Steve Lynch, featuring the vocals of Masha.
The song is the closing track for the cult horror film “Let Us Prey”. The “Let Us Prey” score has received widespread acclaim, including the award of “Best Music” at the Toronto After Dark Festival.
“The score of this film is perfect, especially with its very riveting motif of a consistent beat that puts the audience in a state of trance and excitement of the situation to follow” (Quip Mag)
“Composer Steve Lynch delivers a menacing electronic score that excels at creating atmosphere and elevating tension” (Cinematically Enigmatic)
“The exciting action, bloody executions, and suspenseful shootouts are made freakishly tense due to a phenomenal score by Steve Lynch. It channels the very best of the famous John Carpenteresque electronic style and O’Malley combines it with the crisp cinematography of Piers McGrail in order to create a nightmarish atmosphere and mood.” (ThyCriticMan.com)
A new work by Irish composer Linda Buckley will be premiered at Up Close with Music presented by Concorde at the RHA Gallery on Sunday 29 March. Performances feature new Irish music in an international context and take place from 2.30 – 4.30 pm. Music from Ireland, USA, Iceland, Hong Kong and the UK will be performed by Concorde.
The programme features:
Performers in the February concert are Paul Roe, clarinets; Elaine Clark, violin; Martin Johnson, cello; Dermot Dunne, accordion; and Paul Kiernan, trumpet – Concorde’s student performer for the 2015 series.
Up Close with Music is supported by a Project Award from the Arts Council in partnership with the RHA Gallery.
Sunday 29 March 2015
2.30 – 3.15 pm & 3.45 – 4.30 pm RHA Gallery, Ely Place, Dublin 2
Admission Free…early arrival advised!
STILLROOM are back with the second single, “Keep on Walkin'”, from their debut album “Good To Be Alive”. Dead Dogs Eye is the production company behind the bands latest video. Shot stylishly in black and white and featuring some familiar faces from the cast of hit dramas Love Hate and Red Rock, the video tells the age old story of the strong vs the weak.
The classic rock merchants from Dublin released “Good To Be Alive” last year followed by a nationwide tour. The album was recorded at Ashtown Studios, produced by Tommy O’Sullivan and mastered by Aidan Foley and is available on iTunes here.
Keep an eye on Stillroom’s Facebook page for details of their upcoming gigs. In the meantime, check out the video for “Keep on Walkin'” here:
https://soundcloud.com/stillroom
Sligo Jazz Project has been inundated with bookings for its 10th Anniversary summer school event, 21-26 July 2015. 
The international summer school and festival, held in beautiful Yeats Country in the northwest of Ireland, has grown into one of the most unique and best value events of its kind in the world, with participants flocking from all parts of the globe each year to spend a week with some of the finest jazz players on the planet.
The stellar 15-strong 2015 faculty includes Grammy winning US saxophone legend Ernie Watts, vocalist Liane Carroll and this year’s guest of honour, US recording legend Chuck Rainey (Steely Dan/ Aretha Franklin etc). For the first time in its ten year history SJP hosts a Band-in-Residence, The Impossible Gentlemen, a wonderful quartet of UK and US musicians: Steve Rodby, bass, Gwilym Simcock, piano, Mike Walker guitar and Adam Nussbaum, drums, who will give ensemble workshops as well as individual masterclasses.
The long list of previous musicians who have inspired and educated in Sligo is impressive, including Rufus Reid, Jean Toussaint, Norma Winstone, Alan Broadbent, Kenny Werner, Ian Shaw, Alan Barnes, John Taylor, Ulf Wakenius, Anita Wardell, Cleveland Watkiss, Paul Wertico and Paul Clarvis.
Along with the summer school programme, all participants gain admission to every concert in a truly world-class jazz festival. The line up includes all the above summer school faculty members plus festival opener, world music star Dhafer Youssef , Dublin City Jazz Orchestra and many more.
SJP artistic director Eddie Lee describes an action packed week that requires some stamina from participants: “Our workshops take place from 10am-4pm each day, with twice daily jam sessions at 6 and 10pm till late and an 8pm festival concert each evening too, so it’s pretty full-on, but the camaraderie that is built throughout the week between participants and the teaching faculty of musicians is really special. The week culminates in a Sunday afternoon concert by all participants, we expect between 80 and 100 onboard so I advise early booking. Early bird rates apply to bookings paid for before the end of May”.
Fees are from €330 for the six day programme. A limited amount of subsidized quality accommodation is also available. For the full faculty and booking information, see sligojazz.ie
Sligo Jazz Project is Supported by IMRO
Born in Dublin but now plying her trade in London, Roberta Howett is a double whammy of talent and beauty which comes along very rarely indeed. A finalist on X-Factor in 2004, she has worked since on developing a successful career as a musician and songwriter, and is now ready for a solo release.
A feast of world-class music, dance and workshops descended on Kilkenny over the weekend for the third annual Kilkenny Tradfest with the likes of Leonard Barry, Sweeney’s Men, Seo Linn, Lisa Hannigan & Dylan Haskin’s ‘Soundings’, all performing in venues and unique spaces across the city. 
Tonight (Monday), a host of free events take place across the city along with a double headline show in Set Theatre with Donal Lunny & Paddy Glackin, Pauline Scanlon & Notify.
St Patrick’s Day welcomes Mary Black in Langton’s and a free concert in Kilkenny Castle (outdoor) with Sharon Shannon and Steve Cooney.
At the heart of these St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, is the annual parade, funded by Kilkenny County Council, taking place on Tuesday 17th at 1pm. Local community groups and organisations, as well as clubs, schools and businesses will take part in the parade, in what is always a fantastic event full of celebration and entertainment.
This year for the first time the Tri-city High School marching band from Kilkenny Minnesota will visit their twinned city. The grand marshall’s for the Parade are none other than Tomm Moore and Paul Young from Oscar award nominated Cartoon Saloon’s Song of the Sea.
For more information and booking, please log onto www.kilkennytradfest.com
TICKETS:
All tickets available from kilkennytradfest.com
As former frontman of The Laundry Shop, Robinson paid his Rock n’ Roll dues playing “a ton of sweaty gigs in every shit-hole imaginable”. Despite huge critical acclaim and a growing following, Robinson struggled to keep a steady line up together and ultimately decided to go solo.
