Month: August 2017

Niall Connolly returns with his 8th studio album and tour. ‘Dream Your Way Out of This One’, released 15th September, evokes the longing to keep a hold of our humanity amidst the fractured and fragile status of the current social climate. The album is a response to a perilous modern zeitgeist: an attempt to understand, to resist, and, ultimately, remain hopeful. ‘Dream Your Way Out Of This One’ is Connolly’s most political album to date conjuring imagery of conflict and its consequences, both past and present.

Exploring his experience as an immigrant in a society as it stratifies, atomises, and shows the potential to fray, Connolly observes the effects of political climate on family as well as society. Written amidst the social tempests that call into question all we take for granted, Connolly depicts the change in how we now respond to this unmasked world. Echoing the poetry and defiance of songwriters from turbulent decades past, Connolly brings a multicolored palette of emotion to this 12-track album. ‘Dream Your Way Out of This One’ is a collaboration between Niall Connolly and his long-term New York band: Dennis Cronin (Vic Chesnutt, Guided By Voices, Lambchop, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Vitamin-D), Chris Foley (Arlen Roth Band, Mother Feather, Susan McKeown, Michael Brunnock, Thisway), Len Monachello (All Night Chemists, Thisway) and Brandon Wilde (All Night Chemists, Thisway, Black Bunny). It also features guest performances by Deni Bonet (R.E.M., Cyndi Lauper, Sarah McLachlan and more), Javier Más (former multi-instrumentalist with Leonard Cohen) and Glen Hansard. Together they have created Connolly’s finest album to date.

‘May 12th, 1916- A Song for James Connolly’ explores the political through the personal. Told from the point of view of James Connolly’s daughter, Nora, and his wife, Lily, listeners experience the layers of a life behind a historic figure.This song’s creation was the result of a challenge from the great Dublin singer Susan McKeown in preparation for the centenary of 1916, and draws on factual documents and interviews with Nora Connolly.

‘Artificial Lake’ as lead single asks the listener to question their perception of the reality being offered to them. Yet it’s also a call to find joy despite the loss of innocence. “I know, I know, it’s an artificial lake/but the swans are real, and the trees look great.” With it’s 90’s feel and punchy hook, ‘Artificial Lake’ encapsulates the essence of ‘Dream Your Way Out of This One’ – a succinct and formidable building block for an album of encompassing scope. A highly engaging and entertaining storyteller and performer, Connolly has played international festivals including Glastonbury, Prague Fringe Festival, Cork Folk Festival, Acoustic Festival Düsseldorf and Cuala NYC. He will embark on 17-date tour across Ireland where he will bring his new collection of stories to the stage and sitting room. Dream Your Way Out of This One was produced by Brandon Wilde in the songwriter’s adopted home in Brooklyn and mastered by Ruairí O’Flaherty in Los Angeles.

“Terrific. Disarming and beautifully crafted folk-pop. Connolly is a witty storyteller and a not-to-be-missed songsmith.” – The Chicago Tribune

“Among the most vibrant, poignant, and authentic indie folk artists in New York City.” – No Depression

IRISH TOUR DATES

September 14 – Harbour Bar, Bray
September 15 – Jolly Roger, Sherkin Island
September 16 – Jolly Roger, Sherkin Island
September 17 – Monk’s Lane, Timoleague
September 18 – Logue’s, Carrigart, Donegal
September 19 – The American Bar, Belfast
September 20 – Fealty’s, Bangor
September 21 – Spirit Store, Dundalk
September 22 – Bennigan’s, Derry
September 23 – TBA
September 24 – House Concert, Waterford
September 25 – Mick Murphy’s, Ballymore Eustace, Kildare
September 26 – The Sky and the Ground, Wexford
September 27 – Whelan’s, Dublin (Full band gig)
September 28 – Roisin Dubh, Galway(Full band gig)
September 29 – Coughlan’s, Cork (Full band gig)
September 30 – House Concert (Full band gig)

www.niallconnolly.com

The Revs were an indie rock band from Kilcar, County Donegal in Ireland.

The group consisted of three childhood friends; Rory Gallagher (named after the famous blues guitarist Rory Gallagher and who had previously released the album 20th Century at the age of 18) on bass guitar and vocals, John McIntyre (guitar, vocals) and Michael O’ Donnell (drums, percussion).

The Revs formed on the eve of the 2000 millennium with an aim to “change the face of Irish music”. And, in so many ways they did. The Revs became a house hold name in Ireland from 2000. Having played the Main stages of Slane, Witnness and Oxegen and supporting The Hives, Muse and Snow Patrol, the band became known for their committed and high energy performance.

The Revs released their debut “Sonictonic” in 2002, a live album recorded at Temple Bar Music Centre in Dublin (Now the Button Factory).

After 3 albums and countless tours of Europe, Australia and the US they called it a day in 2006.

In its early days, the band’s music courted controversy with its attacks on manufactured pop; for example, the group’s single “Louis Walsh” targeted Louis Walsh (titled by many as the Svengali behind Westlife and Boyzone).

The Revs take it all back after 10 years! The boys are looking forward to sweating it out once again after 10 years on August 26th to a long since sold out audience lucky enough to get tickets for the band’s reunion show at Whelan’s Main Room, Wexford Street, Dublin.

Photo: (c) Christy McNamara 2017

Pale Rivers are a five piece Alternative/Rock/Pop band based out of Cork, Ireland. Having spent the last year writing and refining their songs and recordings, they currently are set to release their third single ‘West Point’ on 29th August.

Recorded at Orphan Studios in Dublin with Gavin Glass producing the track, and Kieran Lynch(R.E.M, U2, Elvis Costello) on mixing duties. Following on from their previous releases ‘August 6th’ and ‘Heart Throb’, this track sees the band exploring darker territories both sonically and thematically.

https://www.facebook.com/palerivers/

Irish singer-songwriter Ailbhe Reddy has just signed a worldwide publishing deal with BDi Music.

BDi Music are a hugely successful Grammy winning music publisher.

Ailbhe plans to release a new single in September followed by an extensive recently announced tour of Ireland and the UK.

She plays an MCD promoted show at Whelan’s in Dublin on 21st October.

www.ailbhereddy.com

‘If You Love Me’ is the 2nd single taken from his Velvet Cake – 4 track EP, released back in April. Teamed up with Nathan Barlow again, the film maker responsible for previous project as Lucid and Love Dies. Produced by Diffusion Lab.

‘The Velvet Cake EP’ has already received strong support from press and media in Ireland and abroad, including Annie Mac and Phil Taggart in BBC Radio 1. Jafaris provided his explanation to his latest project:

“The ‘If You Love Me’ video is almost like a continuation or second part to the ‘Love Dies’ video, as a man who was on the edge and broken in the streets of Dublin, looking to make amends with the woman he loves to no avail, he finds himself distant from society that’s why he lives in a warehouse in the middle of nowhere. He secluded himself and he’s almost useless until this mysterious woman comes out and hands him a ring which is a metaphor for purpose. Now that he’s been given reason to go on, he tries to make sense of it all but not once forgetting about the love of his life, which is shown by him writing a letter using the lyrics to the song as a memory of her. With anything great though, there are always people who are praying for your downfall, the pursuit in the video is representing anyone who is against you fulfilling your purpose “haters” is what we call them. The men in the video are out to take the ring from him but now that he has a chance to make things right with his life there’s no way he’s letting it go… without giving too much away just know it’s to be continued…”

All we can say, part 3 is coming…for now, enjoy “If You Love Me” on YouTube/Spotify

Live Shows:

1/2/3  Electric Picnic | Rankin Wood Stage + Other Voices Stage

www.dflrecords.com

Ivy Nations have had quite the summer following the release of their single “Live By Design” last spring. Their single received national airplay, they dominated the Irish festival scene with performances at Sea Sessions, Indiependence and the main stage of Castlepalooza, their debut music video premiered on UK blog, London on the Inside, and they traveled to London for their first ever overseas headline show.

Now, partnered again with their producer, Phil Magee (Kodaline, The Script, The Blizzards), the Dublin-based dance rock group are taking no breaks and returning with their fourth single, “Sentimental Hearts”. As with their past singles, the instrumentals and lyrical content often reflect opposite emotions with the lyrics being much darker than the music itself may sound. “The song is about a boy who lives in his head, but craves the truth,” says lead singer and lyricist, Joe Kiernan, who often writes about other characters. “He dreams of past lives as a superhero; carving up the present, confronting his fears, and restoring his faith.”

“Sentimental Hearts” is available everywhere on September 29, and you can hear it performed live at Electric Picnic as Ivy Nations take the Play the Picnic stage on Saturday night.

www.ivynations.com
www.facebook.com/ivynationsofficial
www.twitter.com/ivynations
www.instagram.com/ivynationsofficial
www.soundcloud.com/ivynationsofficial

Forced to leave his drumming career behind after dropping a piano on his foot during his studies at Sir. Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Tiz McNamara was forced to change instruments and re-audition half way through his three year degree. The injury to his foot was so severe it left him unable to walk for five months with doctors fearing the need to amputate!

The new path of singing and playing the guitar has been a revelation as his debut single went on to be streamed more than 2.3 million times on Spotify as well as featuring in Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and on BBC Radio 2.

His live highlights include supporting Brit award winner James Bay, Other Voices, and Sound City Liverpool.

‘Slippery Slope’ is a beautifully understated folk song with subtle nods to R&B. Tiz has built his live following this year by performing at Sea Sessions as well as Main Stage slots at both Indiependence and Castlepalooza Music festivals. He and his band have a busy few months ahead with their Electric Picnic slot kicking off their September tour of Ireland and the UK before Tiz departs for a Canadian tour on September 27th taking in more than 25 shows.

“Rarely has an EP given off such prominent real love, until greeted with this radiant bestowal; truly mind-altering.” GETINTOTHIS, Liverpool (EP review).

“Wow, I don’t know what to say, it’s hard to find any words when something over powers you like that, amazing. I am so glad you starting writing songs” Gaby Roslin, BBC London.

“Wondrously numbing, Tiz McNamara has the ability to serenade a million sinking ships with his soothing vocal flicks and joyously tasteful guitar strokes, invading imaginations with the songwriter’s Irish heritage.”  Lauren Jones, Liverpool, Echo. 

Live Dates:

Sept 1st –  Stradbally, Electric Picnic
Sept 10th – London , Green Note
Sept 11th – London, Green Note
Sept 14th – Dublin, Whelans,
Sept 15th – Kerry, Nelliefreds
Sept 21st – Laois, Kavanaghs, Portlaoise
Sept 22nd – The Mariner, Bantry
Sept 23rd – Roscommon, JJ Harlows
Sept 24th – Belfast, The Black Box

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Tebi Rex are an alternative hip-hop duo based whose style can fluctuate from catchy, upbeat pop to strikingly dark and complex lyricism. Following the success of 2016’s ‘Black Enough’  their first single of 2017, ‘Everything You Say Is A Poem’, picked up major radio support from the likes of 2XM, 98FM, RTE Pulse and Beat 102, as did the (sort of) summer anthem ‘Icarus’.

In their latest music video they and fellow duo Elkin tackle the most iconic romantic moments in film and music history, taking the message of the song one step further by creating a video that not only spoofs your favourite romantic comedies (featuring Taylor Swift, Heath Ledger, Ingrid Bergman, John Cusack and Humphrey Bogart) but also acts as a social critique of a system that perpetuates unrealistic standards about what love looks and acts like. They’re also fairly bitter and petty so there’s that too.

Love is quick, love is cruel. It is envious, it is boastful, and arrogant.
It dishonours those around you, it is self-serving, it is easily angered, it keeps all records of wrongs.
Love does not delight in what is pure but rejoices in all that is petty . 

 It always attacks, always faults, always chokes, always disappoints.

Tebi Rex Facebook

Tebi Rex Twitter​

Irish Hiphop group Loud Motive have returned with the release of their new single “July 16th” featuring talented singer songwriter Sallay Matu Garnett “Loah” and co-produced by Chris Kabs and Loud Motive. Following the release of Honda Accord, the boys give us a different side to their music. With steady lyrical jabs accompanied by a smooth instrumental inviting evocative guitar strings, July 16th is reassuring us that they are more than capable of bringing something different to the table. Soothing vocals by Loah compliment the track and adds a little more to the atmosphere.

With a youthful video shot in the early stages early July directed by Stephen Beatsmith, Loud Motive have given us a vibrant piece of work. A well crafted sample of this era’s explosive scene, Loud Motive are sure to blow up in a major way.

‘July 16th’ will be available for download on all major platforms shortly.

http://www.loudmotive.com/

Date: Wednesday 22^nd November
Time: 1.00pm – 4:00pm
Location: IMRO, Copyright House, Pembroke Row, Dublin 2, D02 HW59
Bookings: (FREE event – Booking essential) events@nullimro.ie

CMU MD and Business Editor Chris Cooke provides a beginners guide to music copyright, explaining how song and recording rights make money, how music licensing works, what the law says about copyright infringement, and why safe harbours have been such a talking point of late.

Topics covered include:

• The different music rights.
• The controls that come with the copyright.
• How music licensing works.
• The collective licensing system.
• What the law says about copyright infringement.
• The safe harbours debate.

Chris has written about the music business daily for nearly fifteen years, and is a leading expert on the sector, often commenting on it for other media, most notably the BBC.

He also has hands-on experience working on music and marketing projects involving artists, labels, brands and media. An experienced trainer, Chris brings insider insights, practical experience and legal training to his teaching.

CMU Insights provides training to hundreds of music industry professionals each year via our own seminar and masterclass programmes, in-house training for music companies like Sony Music, ie:music and ATC Management, and sessions for members of industry organisations like BPI and IMRO.