Month: October 2017

They’ve sold out their debut Irish headline tour, travelled around the world for showcases, and captured the hearts of rock fans around the world – now Bitch Falcon are back to make you fall in love with them all over again with brand new single, “Of Heart”.

Over the last few years, Bitch Falcon have combined their dangerously exciting sound with raw live performances that have cemented the band’s reputation as one of the most captivating artists around. Following a string of thrillingly unpredictable and euphoric shows everywhere from London to Montreal this summer, and a slight change of line-up with addition of bassist Barry O’Sullivan, the band return with their most melodic track to date.

Recorded in parts by Robin Ball in the now destroyed Bow Lane Studios and Orphan Recording Studios in Dublin before being mixed by Mick Heffernan,”Of Heart” has been a regular in their live set, and fans will be eager to hear its final form. Drummer Nigel Kenny says, “The song has been hidden away and kept from release while finalised the arrangement which changed gradually over the course of about 4 years. This track has a very strong, personal subject matter and as a result it was carefully cradled, cajoled, encouraged and moulded in to the final result.” Singer Lizzie Fitzpatrick’s vocals soar over the band’s signature hard hitting instrumentals; the result is a tune that is unmistakably Bitch Falcon while transcending into new and exciting territory

This is only fitting as they prepare to reach audiences across Europe having been selected for Eurosonic Noorderslag 2018. The trio will also embark on their second headlining Irish tour with two dates announced and more to come very soon.

“Of Heart” is available for pre-order on November 10, and available on all digital platforms on November 24.

Cork – Cyprus Avenue – November 18
Dublin – Whelan’s – November 25

www.bitchfalcon.com
www.facebook.com/b.tchfalcon
www.twitter.com/bitchfalcon
www.instagram.com/bitchfalcon

LIVE FINAL AT THE ASHE HOTEL, TRALEE | SATURDAY 4TH NOVEMBER | 8:30PM

SPECIAL GUEST BRONAGH GALLAGHER TO PERFORM ON THE NIGHT

The live final of the seventh annual IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition takes place on Saturday, 4^th November at The Ashe Hotel, Tralee, with a special guest performance from singer songwriter Bronagh Gallagher. Ten finalists have been selected from over 200 entries from across Ireland and beyond to perform their original song in front of a live audience and panel of expert judges. The winning songwriter will be presented with a cheque for €1,000, courtesy of Tralee Credit Union with a runner up prize of €300.

Christie Hennessy: A Celebration will open on Friday 3^rd November with The Troubadour Club, a showcase featuring some of the finest of Ireland’s contemporary songwriters.

The IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition takes place as a tribute to the life and music of one of Tralee’s most famous sons. Now in its sixth year, the competition has grown in stature over the years to become one of Ireland’s leading song competitions and continues to attract a high calibre of songwriters from Ireland and overseas, covering a broad range of musical genres. Previous winners have included Paul McDonnell, Dave Molloy, Alan Kavanagh, Enda Reilly/Christine Deady, Míde Houlihan and Katie O’Connor.

The ten finalists in the 2017 IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition are:

1.         Sinead Murphy | I’ll Wait For You
2.         Megan O’Neill | Why I Need You
3.         Mirenda | Go
4.         Curtis Walsh | Perfect Rain
5.         Peter Doran | Voices
6.         Robert Grace | Close My Eyes
7.         Nile St. James | Fell For You
8.         KARMS | All I Want
9.         NC GREY | Toxic Love
10.       Lorraine Nash | Snowflakes

Entry to the live final is free of charge. For further details about the event, contact IMRO at events@nullimro.ie or 01 661 4844.

The IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition is supported by Tralee Chamber Alliance, The Troubadour Club, Tralee Credit Union, The Ashe Hotel and Radio Kerry.

Dublin based 2 piece Vulpynes are making waves. Brimming with gritty originality, expect infectious hooks, snarling vocals and a visceral rhythm section. Since their inception 18 months ago, their aim has been to hone their craft through relentless gigging and dedication. Off the back of a consistently busy gigging schedule, the band have successfully grown a fanbase in Ireland and beyond.

This week the duo signed a record deal with Berlin based label Crownn Records (www.crownnofficial.com) and make their Berlin debut in December with label buddies The Stranges. Originally started in Dublin in 1998, Crownn Records expanded to the German market in the early 2000s and has released over 70 records to date.

Catch Vulpynes at one of the following UK and Ireland shows before the year is out.

28th of October – Garbos, Castlebar (with Bitch Falcon, Shardborne and Atheos)
9th of November – Fibber Magees, Dublin (with Kiss My Acid, Krokodil DC)
17th of November – The Fiddler’s Elbow, Camden
18th of November – The Bird’s Nest (Loud Women Presents) Deptford, London

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEYYLCQ8gMs
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vulpynes
Twitter: www.twitter.com/vulpynes

With releases in Sweden, Germany, New York and Ireland Leo Dynamic1 releases “Fly Again” in collaboration with Christina Marie Piper who wrote the lyrics and recorded the vocal. Christina Marie was a finalist in the Voice UK 2014.
This is the latest in a number of releases from Leo Dynamic1, Songwriter/Producer, this year. Previous songs, “Time Is On Our Side” has 230,000 hits on Youtube, “Baby Baby” 175,000 on Youtube and currently being played on radio in the UK, Europe and the USA. This follows on from two top 10 hits with Sony Music Germany, “Sing Forever” and “Like I do” with DJ Shog.
He has been awarded 2 songwriting awards so far, this talent was enhanced from a songwriting group hosted by Jack Ponti, former band mate of Jon Bon Jovi. His writing skill has led to 5 placements on MTV USA.
‘Fly Again’ is a dance song with a good festival vibe that anyone from teenagers to oldies can relate to, all about being hurt by love and starting again……how many of us have done “Fly Again” with a new love. The song really gets you hooked early, something Leo Dynamic1 learnt from his boxing career. Not wanting his hands to go to waste, his father made sure his hands stayed flexible in the boxing ring, by sending him to piano lessons! Makes a change from singing into the hairbrush.

Follow Leo Dynamic1 on ……  FACEBOOK| TWITTER | SPOTIFY 

Reekus Records is proud to announce a unique release from Dublin Punk band Hooligan, featuring the great Christy Dignam of Aslan on vocals. ‘(Justa Nother) Teenage Rebel’ is a cover of The Outcasts much loved paean to familial teenage angst, written by Martin Cowan and released into the Belfast Punk scene in 1978.

As a lifelong Aslan fan, Hooligan frontman Dave Linehan credits his invlovement in music to the encouragement he received from Dignam after an Aslan gig over twenty five years ago. After reconnecting, Dignam was enamoured by Linehan’s story, and the two agreed to collaborate on a single. As yet another form of reconnection, the single will be released on Dignam and Aslan’s original label Reekus Records, who’s founder Elvera Butler first launched their break through single ‘This Is’ in 1986.

The new collaboration gave their first live performance at a launch for the single at the Grand Social last week. The single was recorded and mixed by Al Cowan at Sonic Studios in Stoney-Batter,with a gritty punk -style video by Neil Elsworthy.

‘(Justa Nother) Teenage Rebel’ pays tribute to The Outcasts power, intensity and Punk DIY asthetic, with the enthusiastic approval of surviving members Martin and Greg Cowan.

Penrose are a 5 piece band put together by Darragh Mc Grane and can now be described as a solid Indie Pop band with catchy uplifting indie songs and anthems that have “attitude” and stick in your head. Mixing the pop sensibilities & harmonies of The Beatles / ELO, the snarling vocals of Richard Ashcroft (The Verve) and the rhythmic acoustic guitars of Oasis, Penrose are a truly powerful force…live and on record. The band mixes their 60’s and 90’s influences bringing them together and putting a modern feel and attitude to the music they create.

The band successfully grown their following by charting their first their debut EP “Live for the Dream” at NO.3 in the Irish charts to a sell-out house of fans & media at The Grand Social. The band then released there critically acclaimed single ‘Melody’ which charted at No. 10 in the Irish charts and was picked up by all Irish national radio stations such as Today FM, FM104 and RTE, with a TV appearance on RTE’s TwoTube.

Having released 3 more singles ‘Sign On’, ‘Harmony’ and ‘Let’s Go Out’ with a string of summer dates and sell out shows in the UK and Ireland Penrose were invited back to the UK by Alan Mc Gee (Creation Records) to play gigs as part of the Musicians Against Homelessness campaign taking place across the UK. They were then asked to support one of their main influences and heroes Aslan as part of the Made in Dublin Revisited gigs that took place in Vicar Street last December and have been invited back to support them again this year. With festivals such as Sea Sessions, Indiependence and Electric Picnic all having the band on their bills this year they are releasing their lead single ‘Better Man’ from their debut album ‘Still Climbing’ which will be released early spring 2018.

LIVE SHOWS:

Nov 18th, Dublin, Whelans

Dec 9th, Dublin, Powerscourt Centre, Simon Community Charity Gig

Dec 29th, Dublin, Vicar Steet (ASLAN support)

Website | Youtube | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify 

The Swing Cats latest album ‘Dance With Me’ is out now. The first single to be taken from the album, is an original track written by the band, ‘Dance Like Nobody’s Watching’.

Drawing on the musical expressions of Luis Prima, The Ratpack and Luis Jordan, The Swing Cats blend a tastefully contemporary dynamic to the hits of the swing/dance era, one that is resonating with audiences nationwide.

Some of the highlights of this past year for Luke Thomas and his popular ensemble include invitations to Áras An Uachtarain, performances at celebrity weddings and sell out shows at The National Concert Hall and the Spiegeltent in Wexford. 

With two Number 1 albums to their credit to date, and the band in the midst of their most successful year to date, together with The Olympia Show & the band’s new album falling on the same date, here’s to Friday October 13^th bringing The Swing Cats continued good fortune. 

“Easily one of my favourite musical acts in the country” – President Michael D. Higgins

“Great band, great sound” – Ryan Tubridy

IMRO would like to extend their condolences to the family and friends of musician Eamonn Campbell who passed away following a short illness yesterday, 18th October.

Drogheda born Eamonn began playing music professionally in the 1960s, performing with The Dubliners until their retirement in 2012  when he joined a number of the surviving members in The Dublin Legends. He is said to have passed away peacefully yesterday surrounded by his wife and family.

Paying Tribute on their face book page The Dublin Legends said, “We are very sad and devastated to announce that our friend and colleague Eamonn Campbell has died after a short illness. Eamonn was a true Legend and brilliant guitar player. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife and family. He will be greatly missed by all his friends and fans around the world. We are heartbroken and we thank you all for your thoughts and prayers at this time. Seán, Gerry & Paul ‘The Dublin Legends’.”

Yes, the Tragedy of Dr Hannigan. The tragedy in question being this poor individuals very existence being the manufactured monster of two evil genius morons. You see, Dr Hannigan is the love child of one Mr Tony Wright & one Mr Dean Stevens.

Mr Tony Wright, known to the Police (Sting etc) as VerseChorusVerse, is the founding ex member of ASIWYFA. He downed his instrumental chops some years ago now and dived headfirst into songcraft & penning ill advised band bios. His last release was 2015s, Say & Do, which charted at Number 1 on Amazon & Number 19 on the UK album charts. How? We’ll never know. Somehow this idiot has a book to be published soon too. Wonders never cease.

Mr Dean Stevens, evil genius producer & multi-instrumentalist mangler, known to Sting & his mates occasionally as Deany Darko, is the other maniacal yet willing contributor to this musical maelstrom. He is the slider/fader pusher mastermind behind capturing the gargantuan talents of acts as diverse as Thomas Leeb to Sabrejets, amongst many others.

The Tragedy of Dr Hannigan is their warning to the larger world. What is the one thing that one should do with a Tragedy? Why, to learn from it of course.

Don’t do as these malevolent snake oil salesman have done to the embattled and poor lost soul of the tragic Dr Hannigan. Sacrificed to save their own souls through his own creation.

But oh my, do they know how to jam.

Get on board, turn it up & enjoy.

If not for you, for The Tragedy of Dr Hannigan

Their debut album, “Fawkes Ache”, is released digitally worldwide on 24/10/17 through Kobalt Music with a full band album launch at the Belfast Empire on 8/11/17.

“Traipsing a tightrope between Alabama 3, Tom Waits & Grinderman; this is not music for those of a nervous disposition. This is music to get arrested to, music to ask forgiveness to… this is The Tragedy of Dr Hannigan” Phil Taggart, BBC Radio 1
“Meaty, beaty, big & bouncy; this is blues power with a proper Rock n Roll heart…Epic” Ralph McLean, BBC
“The Tragedy of Dr Hannigan will certainly grab your attention…the latest guise of Tony Wright; watching his career unfold is fascinating. Constantly evolving and experimenting; long may this continue” Dan Hegarty, RTE
“Character driven tunes…darkness with a wry smile…extremely hooky” Stephen McCauley, BBC
“Great track…I can see Big Bird dancing to it!” Tim Wheeler, Ash