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Month: April 2016

Daithi Announces New Single And Tour Dates

Daithi released his EP Tribes in February and the next single from the EP is ‘April’ featuring Dublin singer-songwriter Sinead White.

This follows the 2015 big track, ‘Mary Keanes Introduction’, which was nominated for a Choice Music Prize and 2016’s ‘Love’s On Top.’

The EP is available on limited 12” vinyl and well as digitally from Daithi’s Bandcamp

Speaking about the EP Daithi says: “The first single, Mary Keanes Introduction, was a real game changer for me, because it was the first track I released inspired by a new direction. I want to write dance music that’s not just inspired by traditional music, but by the culture, the scenery and atmosphere of the West of Ireland. Tribes is the start of me going in that direction, it’s full of nature sounds and samples from this part of the country. Even for that simple reason, this EP means way more to me than anything I’ve released so far. I hope people enjoy listening to it as much as I did creating it.”

Daithi will be touring around Ireland and abroad this summer, and you can catch him at –

Apr 28 – UCD Terminus – Dublin
Apr 29 – Dolans – Limerick
May 05 – Rivoli – Toronto, Canadian Music Week
May 05 – Drake Underground – Toronto, Canadian Music Week
May 12 – Whelans – Dublin (late show)
Jun 25 – Sea Sessions – Bundoran

You can also follow Daithi on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.

Artist Spotlight: Those Black Marks

Those Black Marks are a newly established four-piece rock band based in Dublin, Ireland. Each of the members gained a wealth of experience playing in various bands in their local music scene.

In March 2015 Sean Watmore (vocals), Liam Redmond (Guitar), Eamon Mc Evoy (Bass) and Daymo Moran (Drums) first played together, establishing a musical chemistry that speaks for itself.

Following a period of intensive gigging Those Black Marks entered the studio with material written by chief collaborators Watmore and Redmond. The material recorded by the band has already received commendations from musical luminaries such as Jeff Beck, Black Francis and Tom Waits. The ethos within the group was to capture the energy of their live performances whilst creating music that stands out from the crowd. The result of which is their confident debut album Darwinian, which mixes contemporary rock with undertones of the 90’s grunge era.

Their debut album titled Darwinian will be available from June 3rd.

You can follow Those Black Marks on Facebook, Twitter & SoundCloud.

Debut Release by Robert Grace out May 12

Hailing from Graignamanagh in Co. Kilkenny, Robert Grace releases his debut EP ‘Talk To Me’ on May 12th.

Robert grew up in a house immersed by traditional Irish music as his father plays in well know local trad band ‘Keltic Cats’. Before long Robert was learning the guitar and wrote his first song aged 12.

By aged 18 Robert had won a number of national & International songwriting awards including the Glinsk International Songwriting Award.

In recent years Robert has developed into a songwriter/producer/performer of note and wrote three and co-produced four tracks on Homeown’s recent chart topping album released on Sony Music. He has also co-written with some of the best known songwriters in the UK including the following:

Dan McDougall (The Wanted, The Shires)

Blair MacKichan (Paloma Faith/Sia/Lily Allen)

Phil Thornalley (Natalie Imbruglia/Pixie Lott)

Josh Wilkinson (One Direction / 5 seconds of Summer)

David Munday (Tina Turner/Pixie Lott/Belinda Carlisle)

Currently inspired by performers ranging from SIA to Jack Garrett to Twenty One Pilots Robert releases his eagerly awaited debut EP on May 12th

iTunes Pre Order

https://itunes.apple.com/album/id1103587865?ls=1&app=iTunes

Good Eating Guide 2016 Awards | Winners Announced

Dylan McGrath’s ‘Taste at Rustic’, South Great Georges St. Dublin is the overall winning restaurant 2016 in the annual Good Eating Guide To Ireland award presentations announced in the Conrad Hotel, Dublin last night (Mon. 18.04.16).

Best chef award went to Derry Clarke, L’ Écrivain, Baggot St., Dublin. The Seafood Bar, Dawson St. Dublin, took Best Newcomer Award while Best Value Award went to Roly’s Bistro, Ballsbridge, Dublin. The Oliver St.John Gogarty, Temple Bar, Dublin headed the Gastro Pub category. Best Tourist Venue Award went to The Courtyard, Sober Lane , Cork and best hotel Restaurant went to Hugo’s, Druids Glen, Co.Wicklow.  The Cinnamon Restaurant, Ashbourne, Co Meath took the Best Family Friendly award for the second year in succession. A total of 28 Awards were presented in categories which included awards for provincial winners.

The award  presentations were made by popular Dun Laoire Rathdown TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor.

The Good Eating Guide Restaurant Awards is a project organised by publishers of the  Good Eating Guide to Ireland with results based on votes cast by participating  restaurateurs.  The publishers specialise in publications aimed at home and overseas tourism markets. Its’ stable of publications includes The Golfers Guide to Ireland, the Good Eating Guide to Ireland, and other tourism related bespoke publications.

The Good Eating Guide Awards are sponsored by IMRO

Be Part of IMROs What’s Your Soundtrack Campaign

We want to know the pop that makes your customers shop or the rock that keeps your business rolling!

We want you to be an ambassador for our new ‘What’s Your Soundtrack? print, online and radio advertising campaign. Why? Because, by being an IMRO licence-holder, you’ve already demonstrated your support for music creators. So we thought we’d offer the chance for your business to reach a new nationwide audience.

If you’d like to take part, just tell us what the soundtrack to your business is – a list of three songs by Irish or international artists that enhance your workplace for customers or employees.

Send your soundtrack and contact details to soundtrack@nullimro.ie and we’ll get in touch with you.

Or visit www.imro.ie/music-users/whats-your-soundtrack/ to tell us your soundtrack and to learn more about IMRO’s What’s Your Soundtrack? campaign. us

Bronagh Gallagher releases new album “Gather Your Greatness” on May 27th 2016

 “One of the purest, clearest talents I know, a fabulous singer, bursting with raw Irish soul. Striking and original songs and an effortlessly brilliant band”. Brian Eno

“Bronagh has always felt the music deeper than anyone I know, she also writes songs that are pitched at the same level of excellence and meaning. They sound instantly old world and yet vital and new. If you steep yourself in the good stuff for long enough you become a worthy channel, at least that’s what we all hope as songmakers. She cuts to the heart of what it is to be a singer. She’s a real star and always was.” Glen Hansard

“Bronagh Gallagher’ is a superb recording artist. She nods repeatedly in the direction of the ‘60s and early ‘70s to marvellous effect with the band conjuring a delicious gospel feel under Gallagher’s gripping vocal. Bronagh Gallagher has the poise and the artistry to evoke the full flavour of music created decades back and a world away, capable of bridging the gap between the music of then with the vitality of now. This suitably eponymous record is a triumph for Bronagh Gallagher herself.” Jackie Hayden, Hot Press

Bronagh Gallagher has announced details for Gather Your Greatness, her third album of original material, and first in four years, which will be released via Salty Dog Records on May 27, 2016, distributed by AMS.

A strong personal statement and expressly honest, the record is the second of Bronagh’s to be selfproduced, determined to make the sound of the recording live up to the emotional heart of the lyric. Gather Your Greatness will be preceded by the release of the album track ‘Crimes’ as the first single with UK and Irish dates to be confirmed shortly.

Rightly regarded as one of the great soul voices in Ireland, Bronagh Gallagher was raised in Derry and now lives in Dublin. At the age of 17, whilst still a St Mary’s schoolgirl, she was cast as Bernie McGloughlin in Alan Parker’s film about a Dublin soul band, The Commitments. Since then her music has alternated with film roles (Pulp Fiction, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Sherlock Holmes) plus theatre work (War Horse, The Street Of Crocodiles) and TV drama (Pramface, The Street, You Me And the Apocalypse). However she maintains a special place for singing, writing and performing music.

Informed by a love of girl groups like the Shangri Las, producers like Phil Spector and Shadow Morton, WillyDeVille and his Chicano street smarts and the narrative sweep of Ennio Morricone and Scott Walker, the backdrop to Gather Your Greatness came as a response to some difficult challenges in Bronagh’s life: “It’s been the toughest record of all. There’s a brilliant and wonderful side to life – usually connected to music. But there’s the very tough times as well and the stuff that life brings you that you don’t expect. And the stuff that life doesn’t bring you and you do expect.”

Featuring long time guitarist Conor Brady and Cian Boylan on Hammond Organ Rhodes and Wurly (and also responsible for the 11 piece string section arrangements), the record swings perfectly on ‘Hand On My Heart’, a nod to Rod Stewart And The Faces. On the blue-tinted ‘Stranger’, she drops in specific references to Whelan’s Bar in Dublin and a real-life character, The Duchess. There is personal content there, surely. “As a songwriter I faced the fear head on with regards to excavating myself and telling it from the heart, that’s what the great soul singers and writers have done and continue to do…I’m not afraid to be brutally honest now or hide behind a character anymore. I’m blown away by how people just connect with pure honesty and that’s what helps us all get through…”

“Conversely, ‘Lonely Girls’ looks to the tribulations of others. “That song is about life long friends of mine that have found the whole relationship thing so disappointing in their lives. There are so many preconceptions in your youth that you’ll grow up to have the fairytale house and husband but for many they still look for their equal partner and live with a huge sense of lack and that they have failed in this area in their lives and I believe “Be proud of what you do have and look after your own mind and self, that’s the path”. Elsewhere, Marie McKee can be found singing guest vocals on the opening track ‘Can You Hear Me’ and Brian Eno singing BVs on the uplifting ‘Radio.’

As she finished the record, Bronagh also widened her perspective – making lyrical references to organised religion, greed and State-induced sources of anxiety on the final and closing track ‘Heal Me’. ‘I have the courage now to express my deep concern for where humanity is at and what we will leave behind…It stems from watching how we react on a personal level and global level in the many Wars we still have raging… What is really going on behind the ruling headquarters with regards to the arms trade and human beings insatiable appetite for control and power over each other…”

“Working for many years in live theatre productions with world renown companies like Theatre De Complicite and The National Theatre in London, you learn about where you should be expending your energy and preserving it, about the importance of a group ensemble on a creative and performance level and what works best, that’s been my preparation for the performing with my band. It’s all led up to this moment…

www.bronaghgallagher.com

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Lisa Hannigan Announces Irish Tour Dates

Singer, songwriter, and musician, Lisa Hannigan is set to embark on a highly anticipated Irish tour this summer. Previewing songs from her forthcoming third studio album, to be released later this year, the tour will see Lisa play a mix of unique and intimate venues across the country.

Since the release of her debut solo album Sea Sew, Lisa has toured the world and collaborated with artists as diverse as Ray LaMontagne, Richard Hawley, Herbie Hancock, Glen Hansard and  Aaron Dessner. Sea Sew went double platinum, was nominated for the Choice Music Prize and the Mercury Prize in the UK, and saw Lisa play bewitching guest spots on the likes of Later…With Jools Holland, The Late Late Show, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and The Colbert Report. Lisa’s sophomore album, Passenger, released in October 2011, went straight in at Number 1 on its first week of release and earned Lisa yet another Choice Music Prize nomination.

Lisa has since been stretching her musical expertise in many directions including lending her voice to two of Stephen Price soundtracks- Fury and the Oscar winning score for Gravity. Lisa also performed on the Oscar Nominated animation, Song of the Sea, this time not only singing but also making her acting debut alongside Brendan Gleeson.

Since 2013, together with broadcaster Dylan Haskins, Lisa has been fronting the critically acclaimed arts podcast, Soundings, which has seen the pair interview guests such as Panti Bliss, Harry Shearer, and Sharon Horgan.

Lisa’s most recent collaboration saw her write and perform with The National’s Aaron Dessner. The duo showcased their music at Cork’s Sounds From A Safe Harbour last summer and are set to perform together once again this time at the up coming Boston Calling Festival, M.A.

Aside from these numerous projects, Lisa has been devoting time to writing and recording her solo material. Her third studio album is set for release later this year.

Tickets for all Irish dates  go on sale Wednesday, 13th April at 9am, and Lisa will be supported by the Ye Vagabonds.

You can follow Lisa on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.

 

Tour Dates

June 2nd Riverbank Theatre, Kildare
June 3rd Cunninghams, Kildare
June 5th The Black Box, Belfast
June 8th De Barras, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
June 9th Connolly’s, Leap, Co. Cork
June 10th St Luke’s, Cork
June 11th The White Horse, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
June 14th The Set Theatre, Kilkenny
June 15th The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
June 18th Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin
June 19th Balor Theatre, Donegal
June 20th The Greyhound, Kilkee, Co. Clare
June 21st Kenny’s, Lahinch, Co. Clare
June 23rd The Belltable Theatre, Limerick
June 24th Interlude Festival, Dublin
June 25th Roisin Dubh, Galway

Protobaby release their eagerly anticipated second album ‘Cosmic Heart’

‘Cosmic Heart’ is the band’s first album release since the return of front-man Colm McGuinness in 2015 and the release of 2012’s very well received debut ‘The Spark’.

‘The Spark’ tour saw the band play all over Ireland, the UK and Europe, including appearances at numerous festivals, TV/radio appearances and even gracing the cover of a special edition of Hot Press Magazine!

Singles State of Affairs, Traditions (accompanying Video was banned by Youtube), Fluorescent and Only A spark were featured in regular rotation on local and national radio stations.

Heart’ will be released on Limited Edition Blue Vinyl (includes CD) with a vinyl only bonus track (a cover of the Depeche Mode classic ‘Enjoy The Silence’). Cosmic Heart will be available at local record stores and online at protobaby.bandcamp.com!

Lead single ‘Popstars’ along with an accompanying video is out 27th March!

Cosmic Heart Tour Dates:
Sat April 9th Album Launch Party – Kasbah Social Club, Dolans, Limerick
Wed April 27th Crane Lane Theatre, Cork
Fri April 29th Whelans, Dublin
Sat May 21st The Thirsty Scholar, Waterford.

Check protobaby.com for more tour dates and updates!
www.protobaby.bandcamp.com (Order Record here)

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hally releases his rendition of Bowie’s “Starman” in aid of The Irish Cancer Society

Following the passing of David Bowie, musician and producer, Hally, was moved to record his rendition of “Starman”. He slowed it down and stripped the song back to just a vocal and piano. Other instrumentation was added including a cello performance by Vyvienne Long and backing vocals by Saoirse Casey. hally composed his own personal tribute to Bowie in the outro section quoting the names of many of his classic songs and molding them into lyrics. The music video is an intimate portrayal of a man attempting to replicate the face makeup wore by Bowie in the “Life on Mars” video.

The “Starman music” video can be viewed from the 7th April 2016 on hally’s website, YouTube and The Irish Cancer Society website. A digital download can be purchased via the website and will also be available in all well known online music stores over the coming days.

100% of all sales of the single will be donated to The Irish Cancer Society. Everybody involved in the production of this Single & video have given freely of their time.

hally is an independent musician and producer working from his studio in County Kildare, Ireland. Later this year he will be releasing a body of work called “Peeling Onions”, a four volume album of eclectic songs, beatnik rants, sound landscapes, orchestral movements and raging jazz standards. He will release a song every week for 52 weeks. hally is currently producing an album with Saoirse Casey which is due for release in August 2016.

Web: www.hallymusic.com
Stream: soundcloud.com/hallymusic/starman-by-hally/s-shtHp
Donation: give.everydayhero.com/ie/starman-charity-single-by-hally

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Christy Moore : Journey : RTE 1 Sunday & Monday Night

“Christy Moore: Journey”, is a provocative and powerful film shot over a 5-month period on the road and produced by Bang Bang Teo.

For 50 years Christy has sung about the issues that have deeply affected him. This is a deeply personal and human film, revealing Christy’s often times controversial actions and opinions, which make him truly unique.

“Christy Moore: Journey”, is all about the songs. These songs give voice to those who need a voice and give a real and raw perspective of life as it is in all its guises. The songs give shape to who we are and what we are. They also reveal a man who has dedicated his life to the craft of songwriting and who has stood up to be counted. The songs guide us through the journey from the Irish in London in the sixties and on through the issues and events that shocked and shaped us to the present day and what we have become.

Christy Moore: Journey comes in 2 x 1 hour episodes and will be screened on RTE1 at 9.30pm on Sunday the 10th and Monday the 11th of April. At the age of 70, Christy finally agreed to make a film, the only film that will ever be made on his eventful life.

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