Month: April 2015

LAB Records is delighted to announce the signing of 17-year-old Irish singer / songwriter Eve Belle – with her debut single ‘Too young to feel this old’ is available on May 18th.

Based in the tiny rural town of Gortahork in County Donegal, Eve first captured the imagination of discerning Irish fans and industry alike during a trio of performances at the iconic Ruby Sessions in Dublin, an acoustic night famous for hosting the likes of Ed Sheeran and Hozier early in their careers.

Belfast based wordsmith, Malojian, announce the release of his new album ‘Southlands’ on May 18th. The highly acclaimed artist has received support throughout Ireland and the UK, securing airplay nationally and recording a session with BBC Radio 2. The first single, ‘Communion Girls’ is the perfect introduction to the album sound and gives a little taste of what you can expect from this release.

Not the first time these two artists have performed on the same stage. Cork Singer Songwriter Cormac O’Caoimh will open this very special concert having just received an excellent 4 star review in Mojo magazine, the biggest selling music mag in the world. He wil be accompanied by Martin Leahy. Following on will be world renowned Dublin based Classical Guitarist and Composer Pat Coldrick who has just released his latest album Cityjam.

Forming a tapestry of styles very different from each other but held together by the threads of creativity, artistry and vision for this instrument and lyrics by O’Caoimh, which define him in so many ways. Audiences are in for a thrilling mix of superb world class performances.

Iconic Irish songwriters Pete St John and Finbar Furey were among the recipients at the 2015 Lord Mayor’s Awards earlier this week, awarded for their contribution to the life of Dublin city.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke selected four individuals and two organisations for this year’s honours.

Broadcaster Áine Lawlor and former Dublin football Dessie Farrell were also recognised for their contribution to the city, along with youth addiction service H.O.P.E. Hands on Peer Education and the volunteers of the Inner City Helping Homeless group.

Speaking at the award ceremony in the Mansion House, Mr Burke said “the individuals chosen deserved special thanks for their contribution to the sports, social and cultural life of Dublin, while the two groups had worked tirelessly to help those in need in their communities.”

Previous winners include writer Maeve Binchy, sports broadcaster Jimmy Magee, broadcaster Marty Whelan Dublin  chief executive of Chernobyl Children International Adi Roche, Olympic gold medallist Ronnie Delany, the Capuchin Day Centre, Merchant’s Quay Ireland and St Andrew’s Resource Centre charities and singer/songwriter Imelda May

The profile of unique Irish singer songwriter Miles Graham has been steadily growing in Britain. It might have something to do with recent live performance on BBC Radio 2’s Weekend Wogan in Jan 2015 and the talented Irishman has been capturing attention on UK radio throughout since, with many top presenters including Graham Norton, Jo Whiley, Jonathan Ross, Ken Bruce giving the Dublin native regular spins on BBC Radio 2 and respectively on Cerys Matthew’s BBC Radio 6 Music show. Cerys Matthew’s saying ‘He blew me away’ on her show after attending his show at KPH, London in Feb.

The 9th annual Sonic Vigil, Ireland’s primary improvisation and sound art event, is set to take place on Saturday 2nd May in St Anne’s Church, Shandon, Cork City. This year’s special guest will be Christina Kubisch, the renowned multi-award winning German composer, recordist and installation artist. Kubisch’s work spans multiple media and includes an extraordinary number of performances at many of the world’s most significant festivals, recordings on many different labels, and diverse solo exhibitions. Kubisch appears at 6 pm.

Every year since 2007, Cork has played host to Ireland’s most significant free improvisation event. SONIC VIGIL brings together outstanding improvisers, sound artists and field recordists from Ireland and abroad in a multi-hour celebration of cutting-edge, radical sonic experimentation. 18 remarkable musicians are placed into a randomly-generated timetable, producing instant, unknowable and unexpected interactions: sounds of kaleidoscope beauty, teetering on a tantalising abyss of risk make for an immersive, mesmerising and ever-evolving experience.

Hein Schoer, musician and soundscaper and developer of the remarkable Sounding Museum – a trans-cultural exploration of the sonic identity of our world – appears at 4 pm.

The event takes place from 2pm to 8pm. Audience members are free to come and go as they please, and are invited in amongst the musicians, encouraging an exploratory approach to hearing and allowing an exceptional sense of intimacy that breaks down performer/audience divides. Unparalleled anywhere in Ireland or abroad, SONIC VIGIL displays an approach to performance and sound that is unique, extraordinary and inspiring.

Sonic Vigil is supported by Cork City Council, Gruenrekorder and the Goethe Institute. Sonic Vigil 9 is managed by Danny McCarthy, Mick O’Shea, Karen Power, Irene Murphy and John Godfrey.

Sonic Vigil 9 features Arif Ayab, David Bremner, Mikael Fernstrom, John Godfrey, Paul Hegarty, Anthony Kelly, Danny McCarthy, miXile, Harry Moore, Irene Murphy, Katie O’Looney, Mick O’Shea, Robin Parmar, Karen Power, Caroline Pugh, Nick Roth, David Stalling, Sean Taylor. 

Admission €5

Irish artists, LIZ MADDEN (Vocalist/Songwriter/Producer) and FIONAN DE BARRA (Guitarist/Producer) have just been nominated for this years New Mexico Music Awards.  Their arrangement and production of the original song “White Willow” written by Liz Madden and Katie Carpenter (of the Irish duo JEZZEBELLE), has been nominated in the Folk category. The awards take place on May 30th in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “White Willow” is taken from Madden’s new album LEGACY which has just been released on the Valley Entertainment label.

Liz and Katie are having great success with their songwriting collaboration, winning Best Irish Entry and Runner up in last years International Song of Peace contest and making the final of the 2014 Christie Hennessy Song Contest.

www.lizmadden.co