Month: April 2017

Award winning concertina player, Cormac Begley, will be releasing his debut album in April! This, the first solo concertina album in traditional Irish music to feature bass, baritone, treble and piccolo concertinas will also be available in a exclusive limited edition hexagonal concertina packaging.

Cormac Begley’s concertina playing has been described as ‘a masterclass in timeless musicianship (Irish Times *****) and in 2014 he received the Sean Ó Riada Award for his concertina music. He plays in a number of duets including Liam Ó Maonlaí (Hothouse Flowers), Caoimhín O Raghallaigh (Hardanger D’Amore), Rushad Eggleston (Cello Goblin) and Libby McCrohan (bouzouki). He is a member of a trio (entitled ‘Concertina’) with Noel Hill and Jack Talty, and plays in the band Ré featuring Liam Ó Maonlaí, Maitiú Ó Casaide, Eithne Ní Chatháin (Inni-K) and Peter O Toole (Hothouse Flowers) and was also involved in the dance production by choreographer, Michael Keegan Dolan, entitled ‘Rian’.

Cormac has recently returned from Cuba where he played for President Micheal D. Higgin’s first state visit to Havana, Cuba. He has performed on this season’s Other Voices with Caoimhín O Raghallaigh (The Gloaming) and has featured on ‘This Ain’t No Disco – St. Patrick’s Day Special from New York (2017)’. In May of 2016, he performed with Caoimhín in the National Concert Hall’s Kevin Barry room and in October he performed again with gifted cellist, Rushad Eggleston. He will perform solo in the National Concert Hall in October 2017.

Cormac received funding from the Arts Council of Ireland to produce this album and speaking about his approach to recording the album, he says “All of the pieces of music that feature on this album instantly struck a chord with me the first time I heard them. My approach here has been simply to connect as honestly as possible with them and to produce a solo concertina album that highlight some of the instrument’s possibilities spanning across seven octaves”. Further he describes that “Each track is one take, recorded in St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, featuring one concertina and are all free from studio manipulation. I have sourced previously unrecorded music, other tunes within the tradition and I have written some music that features on the album.”

The limited edition album has been receiving high praise online! It is hexagonally shaped and designed to emulate the bellows of concertina. As you open the album you see the layers of the instrument and the mechanics of this complex instrument. A short video of the album in the past week has received over 43 thousand views. Speaking about the limited edition, Cormac explains that “creating the limited edition was one of the most enjoyable parts of the process” and he is “delighted that everyone involved, from the photography, recording, mixing and mastering to album artwork, were concertina players!”

Cormac is the founder of Tunes in the Church concert series (www.tunesinthechurch.com) and a residential Arts school on the Dingle Peninsula called Airt (www.airt.ie)

April Irish Launch Tour 2017

Cormac will be launching his album throughout Ireland in April and May by esteemed artists and musicians such as: Liam O’Neill, Tony McMahon, Mary Mac Namara and Paraic Mac Donnchadha.

April 28th: St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway
April 29th: Louisberg, Mayo (Féile Cois Chuain) –  Launched by Fiachna O Mongàin
May 1st – St. James Church, Dingle (Féile na Bealtaine)- Liam O’Neill (artist)

Limited Edition Album is available from Bandcamp: https://cormacbegley.bandcamp.com/

Singer/songwriter Sive is gearing up to launch her brand new album ‘The Roaring Girl’ in Bello Bar on Thursday 4th of May. This promises to be a unique gig with lots of new songs and arrangements performed with her full band, string players and backing vocalists. Support on the night will come from dramatic-pop-rock songstress Emma O’Reilly.

Last year, Sive ran a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign to complete the new album. Her first LP ‘We Are Moving’ was released to critical acclaim in 2012, and since its release Sive has toured extensively across Ireland, The UK, Europe and New Zealand, sharing stages with the likes of Kila, Mick Flannery, John Spillane and Gemma Hayes along the way. She was voted viewer’s choice to appear on RTE’s Other Voices in 2014 and has also performed on TG4’s Róisin, TV3’s Ireland AM, ARTE’s Metropolis (Germany/France) and ETV’s Terevisioon (Estonia).

The first single to be taken from the album, ‘Hoverfly’, was nominated for Song of the Year and Video of the Year at the Nós Music Awards 2017.

“Brimming with invention and life…compelling.” – Stephen White, The Last Mixed Tape

Tickets are available from http://sive-album-launch.eventbrite.ie

To  find out more about Sive visit www.sivemusic.com

 Talent scouts from The Voice UK are coming to the Irish Youth Music Awards in search of singing talent.

Having crowned winner Mo Adeniran earlier this month, The Voice UK are scouting for brand new talent for their 2018 series and will visit the Irish Youth Music Awards, organised by Youth Work Ireland. Taking place in Croke Park on Saturday 22 April, the Voice UK will watch nearly 40 young musicians performing across 2 stages on the day.

Speaking today, Justin Jeffreys, ITV Publicity Manager for The Voice said: “The Irish Youth Music Awards was earmarked for the calibre of the talent it attracts”.

Marking its 10 year anniversary this year, the Irish Youth Music Awards is Ireland’s only all island youth focused music awards and festival. The national event will feature nearly 40 young musicians aged 12 – 19 from across the country representing their community while also gaining business experience in the music industry. Performers on the day have been chosen to represent their region following performances at local live selection nights organised by Irish Youth Music Awards and Youth Work Ireland. All performers are supported by a team comprising of all other contestants from their region who take on individual music industry roles.

The overall winner of the Irish Youth Music Awards will win recording time in a professional recording studio, a recording session in RTÉ 2FM’s legendary Studio 8 and a full backline provided by Music Maker Dublin. They will also produce an album of their own original tracks released on physical CD with a professional design. Last year’s IYMAs album stormed the Irish compilation charts entering at number five. The album will be digitally distributed worldwide through all major outlets including iTunes and Spotify.

Tickets for the Irish Youth Music Awards National Day are available from Eventbrite priced €20 including booking fee here. The event is an all ages, alcohol free event. Group tickets are also available for youth clubs, projects or schools priced €120 (including booking fee) allowing admission for six young people and two youth leaders on the day. Group tickets must be booked by April 18^th and are available here.

“The Irish Youth Music Awards is a youth music educational programme helping young bands and musicians aged 12-19 to learn new skills within the creative and music industries and acts as a stepping stone between further education or employment opportunities. Aimed at creating teamwork and friendship at local level, the Irish Youth Music Awards also provides first hand work experience for participants in all areas associated with the music business such as PR, stage management, graphic design, photography and much more. The Irish Youth Music Awards National Day allows participants to perform live in Croke Park and attend the invaluable workshops and panels as part of the Education Hub. We are also excited to have RTE 2FM broadcasting live from the event for the first time this year.” said Irish Youth Music Awards Director Barry Lennon.

The Irish Youth Music Awards have also announced details of their Education Hub which brings together some of Ireland’s top music industry professionals supported by BIMM Institute Dublin. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to sign up for the Education Hub which will feature music industry panels, masterclasses and workshops in vocals, song-writing and more. Visit www.iymas.ie for full education hub schedule and the biographies for music industry professionals featured.

The Education Hub industry panel will feature Director of Music Content at RTE 2FM Alan Swan, BIMM tutors Mick Roe, Artist and Label manager at Faction Records (All Tvvins, James Vincent Mc Morrow and Jape), Liza Geddes, Music Publicist for Choice Music Awards, Domino Records and Hard Working Class heros, James Byrne, founder of the label Any Other City (Girl band and Villagers) and Paul Kenny (Session drummer who has played on Jools Holland, The Sydney Opera House and Coachella festival).

Workshops for individual musical disciplines will also take place on the day. These include a drum workshop with Paul Kenny, who has toured with James Vincent McMorrow, Jape, and German band Get Well Soon. Danny Snow, who has toured extensively all over the world with Villagers and Cathy Davey, will be offering a bass workshop. Vocal workshops are courtesy of Shelley Bukspan who has collaborated with and arranged backing vocals for artists such as Mary Black, Bronagh Gallagher and many indie and contemporary young Irish acts. Ray Boyle who has collaborated and played with a broad range of artists, including Baby shambles, Suede and the virtuoso violinist Cora Venus Lunny will be hosting a guitar workshop. Colm Quearney will be hosting a Songwriting Workshop, Colm has co-written songs with Jerry Fish, The Pale and Bronagh Gallagher as well as performing as a session guitarist with Cathy Davey, Damien Dempsey and Mundy.

IYMAs partners and supporters include The Department of Children and Youth Affairs, RTÉ 2FM, BIMM Institute Dublin, LinkedIn Learning, IMRO, Music Maker, Gaisce – The President’s Award and Youth Action Northern Ireland.

For More Information:
www.iymas.ie
www.facebook.com/irishyouthmusicawards
https://www.instagram.com/official_iymas/
https://twitter.com/officialiymas

Bronagh Gallagher and Saoirse Casey have just been announced to perform at the next IMRO First Cuts Showcase at Abner Brown’s. The May edition of the monthly showcase, will take place on Thursday 11^th May at 8.00pm. Admission is FREE but due to limited capacity tickets are limited to two per person and booking is essential: email events@nullimro.ie

IMRO First Cuts Showcases at Abner Brown’s feature the best up and coming as well as established Irish acts. In the intimate setting performers are given the opportunity to debut new tracks along with their current material. Performance highlights and interviews with all acts who perform are later streamed online at www.IMRO.ie and across IMRO’s social media channels. To date, showcases have featured Marc O’Reilly, Ailbhe Reddy, Mark Geary and Farah Elle.

Bronagh’s acclaimed new album ‘Gather Your Greatness’ is her third album of original material. A strong personal statement and expressly honest, the record is the second of Bronagh’s to be self-produced, determined to make the sound of the recording live up to the emotional heart of the lyric. 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.

Newcomer Saoirse Casey joins Bronagh on the night. Widely tipped to be one to watch by many in the music industry, Saoirse has just finished writing her debut album, ‘An Infant Star Collapses’, and hopes to release it in 2017.

Abner Brown’s is not only the coolest barbershop in town, it’s also one of Dublin’s most unique venues. The unlikely Rathmines venue has already seen performances from hundreds of acts such as Ash, Gavin Glass, Duke Special, David Geraghty (of Bell X1 fame), The Young Folk, Molly Sterling, Mundy, The Hot Sprockets and many more. REM’s Michael Stipe has even paid a visit.

IMRO is a national organisation that administers the performing right in copyright music in Ireland on behalf of its members (songwriters, composers and music publishers) and on behalf of members of the international overseas societies that are affiliated to it. Music users such as broadcasters, venues and businesses must pay for their use of copyright music by way of a blanket licence fee. IMRO’s Mission is to protect, promote and develop the collection and distribution of music royalties; foster music creation and promote the value of music to the creative, cultural and business communities in Ireland.

Tickets for IMRO First Cuts at Abner Brown’s are FREE but due to limited capacity booking is essential.  To reserve tickets please email events@nullimro.ie. Tickets are limited to two per person.

For More Information:
http://imro.ie
https://www.facebook.com/AbnerBrownsBarbershop/
http://www.bronaghgallagher.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SayonaraKitty/

IMRO’s Songwriting & Production Masterclass with Gerry Leonard took place on 10 January 2017, the video of which can now be viewed online.

Gerry Leonard is a Dublin born guitar player, songwriter and producer now based in upstate New York. As part of the New York scene Leonard’s distinctive ambient style has led to his working with many great artists over the years. A highlight was becoming music director / guitar player for David Bowie on his last year long “Reality” world tour and DVD (2003/2004). Apart from Bowie’s previous two records, “Heathen” (2001) and “Reality” (2003) and the subsequent tours, he is also featured on the penultimate David Bowie record titled “The Next Day” and had two co-writes with David on the album, “Boss of me” and “I’ll take you there”. “The Next Day” came out on March 12 2013. Gerry also performed at the Brit Awards Tribute to David in February 2016.

Leonard produced and helped co-write the last full album for Suzanne Vega. “Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles” came out in February 2014 and has been very well received garnering 4 star reviews from Q and Mojo music magazines. He has also produced and arranged the new album from Suzanne based around the life and works of the author Carson McCullers. This new 10 song album called “Lover Beloved” was released in the fall of 2016.

Having just come back from Spain where he worked with Manolo Garcia for 2 months, playing stadium shows in all the major cities in Spain and starting work on Manolo’s new record, Leonard is currently touring with Suzanne Vega promoting the last record and showcasing the new “Lover Beloved” material. The current show is a duo show featuring the sublime vocals of Ms Vega and some more “Spooky Ghost” style arrangements of her songs, that are using Leonard’s unique style of looping and ambiences. Highlights include stripped down versions of “Blood Makes Noise”, “Tom’s Diner” and “Jacob and the Angel” from the last record. The shows have been receiving standing ovations on the current world tour.

This past January saw the completion of two production projects. Along with the completion of the new Suzanne Vega record “Lover Beloved”, Leonard completed a record for Czech Band Vsichni Svati(translates to All Saints). The record ” Jednou to Skončí ” was released in March 2016.

In other works as a producer he has recently worked with up and coming artist Ari Hest. The album “Fireplays” was released in October 2012 to great praise and reviews. Other productions include platinum artist Donna Lewis, “In The Pink” released in May 2009, emerging artist Donnie Mortimer “Ten Eventful Years” released September 2010, and the Czech band Czechomor. Their record titled “Mistecko” went gold in May 2011.

Further credits include recording and touring as guitar player and music director for artists such as Rufus Wainwright (“Want One”, ”Want Two”, “Release the Stars”), Laurie Anderson (“Bright Red”), Duncan Sheik (“Humming”, ”Phantom Moon”, ”Daylight”, ”White Limousine”, “Whisperhouse”), Roger Waters (“The Last Mimsey Soundtrack”).

When not touring or recording with these international artists, Leonard heads up his own project, Spookyghost. Under the name Spookyghost, he has recorded two solo albums. The first recording simply called “Spookyghost” was primarily an ambient guitar record, made in his New York apartment in 1998. His second, “The Light Machine” (2002) has been described by David Bowie as “Quite the most beautiful and moving pieces of work I have possessed in a long time.” A third Spookyghost album is currently in the works.

In movie soundtrack his guitar playing is featured in “The Deep End” and “Bee Season” both scored by Peter Nashell and released on Fox Searchlight Pictures. He is featured on the Roger Waters end title song “Hello” written for “The Last Mimsy” on New Line Cinema. He has also completed his first original score for an independent movie called “32A” released to festivals in 2008.

The 2017 Good Eating Guide to Ireland was launched, and 2017 Annual Awards presented, by The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD in The Conrad Hotel, Dublin on the 10th of April this week. The event was attended by 125 food industry owners and representatives from all parts of the country.

On the night the IMRO sponsored Best Chef Awards were presented to Jonathan Keane of The Lodge at Ashford Castle who won Best Chef Connaught, Alan Foster of Tedfords, Belfast who won Best Chef Ulster, Kevin Arundel of  The Chop House, Dublin who won Best Chef Leinster and Jenny Flynn from Faithlegg House Hotel, Waterford who won Best Chef Munster.  Graham Neville of Restaurant 41 was the winner of Best Chef Overall. (Featured image.)

The 76 page Guide features over 150 hotel, restaurant and public house eating establishments in virtually every county in Ireland. 20,000 copies have been printed and are available free of charge at local tourist information offices or any of the Guide’s featured hotels, restaurants or participating pubs. A well established diners’ reference, the 2017 Good Eating Guide to Ireland is the 18th.annual edition of this publication.

A special feature attaching to this year’s Guide is its publication in full on its unique web site www.goodeatingguide.ie. Entrants listed in the Guide will be given site administration rights to add up to the minute offers or other relevant information to their entries during the course of the year.

An exciting time for the tourism and hospitality industry, Irish Restaurants are displaying innovative and creative eating experiences in addressing expansive market conditions through flexible pricing, value menus and special offers. Recognising that cost and value for money has become a critical element in the food and drink industry, the Good Eating Guide to Ireland offers the reader a comprehensive choice based not only on price but also the variety of menu of the Irish food industry.

Imaginative content and menu design has become an increasingly important factor in choice. Ireland’s reputation for the production of quality beef, lamb, dairy products and seafood is the cornerstone of the restaurant sector. An exciting part of this process has been the emergence of artisan food producers, organic growers and natural cuisine which has become central to the unique Irish eating out experience.

http://goodeatingguide.ie/

Mark Daly is set to release a brand new charity single on 27th April titled “Your World” with all proceeds going to ‘Brothers of Charity’ as part of Autism Awareness Month. The song, inspired by Mark’s three year old son, will be launched at a charity night on 29th April in The White Horse Ballincollig. Tickets for the show priced €15 are available now from www.markdalyofficial.com

Rock vocalist, Mark Daly, hails from Cork, Ireland. An established singer/songwriter, Mark has worked with some of the best in the business; including American super group, Operation: Mindcrime. The group, which is led by vocalist Geoff Tate (formerly of Queensryche), who has sold over 25 million records and has secured a Grammy nomination as well as participating in an abundance of world tours. Other band members of Operation: Mindcrime include the likes of musicians from bands Disturbed, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake and AC/DC.

In 2010, whilst living in Spain, Mark formed the critically acclaimed rock group, The Voodoos. The band went on to perform all over Europe (including the 2011 MTV EMAs) before venturing to the US to record their self-titled album in Seattle, Washington. Kelly Gray producer of Candlebox and Queensryche records produced the album. The album sold thousands of copies across Northern America, gaining a plethora of fans as they toured in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, the band’s progress went into hiatus due to an issue with the record label they signed with the previous year.

In 2015, the Cork man was approached to work on a trilogy concept album with Operation: Mindcrime after striking up a good working relationship with lead vocalist, Geoff Tate. Geoff also featured on The Voodoos track, ‘Facing my Demons’. In September 2015, the first instalment of the trilogy album entitled ‘The Key’ was released. The project was praised with most appreciable reviews and featured Mark’s stellar vocals on the track ‘Life or Death?’ Part two of the trilogy album, ‘Resurrection’ was released September 2016 and features three tracks from Daly; including ‘Healing My Wounds’, ‘The Fight’ and ‘Invincible’.

The future is bright for Mark who recently released his debut solo EP ‘The Hearts Reminder’ (released on Nov 25^th 2016) along with a powerful music video for the debut track also titled ‘The Hearts Reminder’ it generated 50,000 views on Facebook in its first week along with flying up to Number 2 in the Irish Rock downloads chart. Channelling influences from the likes of Counting Crows, Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam & Blue October, Daly brings some fresh & current mainstream rock to the table here.

After the successful release of ‘The Hearts Reminder’ Mark returned to the studio working with producer Christian Best on a brand new charity single titled ‘Your World’ that was written about Mark’s Three year old son who has Autism, all proceeds of the track will be going to ‘Brothers of Charity’ who worked closely with Mark’s son & family that will be released April 27th as part of Autism Awareness Month.

www.markdalyofficial.com

Chris O’Brien and Graham Murphy of recording studio The Production Suite were presented with an IMRO Award for their production skills on The High Kings No. 1 album, ‘Grace & Glory’.

The Production Suite are a production team whose versatility extends across a broad range of musical styles, having produced and written songs with artists as diverse as; Human League, Clannad, Westlife, The Stunning and many more. They have also contributed to film scores including Neil Jordan’s Breakfast on Pluto.

The High Kings ‘Grace & Glory’, released in 2016, is the band’s sixth album. ‘Grace & Glory’ features 12 songs all performed in the inimitable High Kings style including ‘Grace’, ‘Ride On’ and a version of ‘Spancil Hill’. The album also features the song ‘Schooldays Over’ which the band performed to great acclaim on the recent RTÉ Centenary Concert. In addition to this, also featured is a special version of ‘Hand Me Down My Bible’. The version on the album features a third verse, written especially for The High Kings by Phil Coulter. The song was originally written by Coulter for The Dubliners in 1970. The High Kings are Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden and are seen by many as the true heirs of Ireland’s folk heritage.

http://www.theproductionsuite.com
https://www.thehighkings.com

It’s taken over 17 years but Garageland have finally announced details of their much awaited compilation album, Garageland Volume 1, out on Garage Records on April 14th.

Since 2001 Garageland has been helping generations of bands through unique projects The Garage Gigs and The Irish Youth Music Awards (including The Script, Ham Sandwich, Delorentos, Kodaline, Niamh Crowther, Fight Like Apes, Royseven, The Immediate and literally thousands of others) forge their own trail through the formative stages of the careers. Some have gone on to huge things, some haven’t.

“Rather than focus on the past, with this record we’re looking at what’s around now and the next generation of artists who are coming up and we are genuinely excited about.” Dermot Lambert, Garageland Director.

Featured on the album are Roisin El Cherif, Rob Corcoran, The Klares, Niamh Crowther, Swordfish, Pills For My Nerves, Animal Gangs, Dissesion Rising, Fuzz Gigolo, Inhaler, Key, Lavelle, Shag Haired Villains, Conor Walsh, The New 52 and The YaYa Vuze.

The album is being launched with a special show in The Button Factory on April 13th featuring 9 of the artists from the album.

Third Smoke are  group of multi-instrumentalists that deliver a performance of raucous gang vocals and sweat combined with the fluid swapping of instruments throughout. Expect a live show built on controlled mayhem and powerful vocal interplay.

On the back of a busy 2016 including supporting Ham Sandwich, Glen Hansard and the Minutes, the summer of 2016 saw Third Smoke return to Longitude and Electric Picnic, whilst also appearing at Sea Sessions, Indiependence, Vantastival and more.

A rainy weekend in March was spent shooting up in the depths of the Dublin Mountains. All whilst navigating the tail end of storm Ewan – which was set on busting both heads and camera equipment alike!

“Maybe In Time” is a song written and demoed over the course of three years. It is a song about finding love and the search for meaning behind the changes that the passage of time brings to our experience of reality.

Recorded with Karl Odlum (The Frames, Ham Sandwich, Kila) and Joseph Edwards (Elephant, We the Oceanographers, Just Mustard).

Video shot and directed by Nathan Barlow.

Third Smoke play Groove Festival in Bray on August 19th

“Dundalk-based indie-folk band Third Smoke have been developing their multi-vocal style on once-off singles and ‘Maybe In Time’ is another fine step in the right direction of the power-in-numbers style.” Nialler9

“Excellent new Irish music from Third Smoke – Their brand new single ‘Man Made Fire’ is an epic salvo from one of our most interesting bands.” Ed Smith, Today FM.

“…whatever genius binds Third Smoke. The Dundalk band are deservedly on the rise and their combination of Fleet Foxes-esque harmonies, Beatles-inspired melodies and deft playing is enough to ensure smooth ride. Watch this space” Phil Udell, State.ie