While in rock band Glyder, Barry Kinane toured all over Europe and opened for international acts like Metallica and Slash while releasing two albums with European rock label SPV/Steamhammer/Sony BMG.  Kinane’s interest in local history and original music were married together as he continued writing after Glyder split in 2010. A turn in musical direction saw Kinane winning the prestigious Sean McCarthy Ballad writing competition in Listowel, Co. Kerry in 2014.  This was followed up with release of ‘The Hills above the Valley’ in 2015, a collection of musical stories of his home village Ballyknockan, Co. Wicklow which was acclaimed in Irish music magazine.

“Kinane has a rare gift of taking the stories of life and relatively recent history to weave magical musical tales that are like short stories of the highest quality…” Nicky Rossiter – Irish music magazine

The music of ‘The Old Grey Cobblestone’ was performed on May 26th 2018 at the Pearse Lyons Distillery, St. James’ Street when Barry Kinane was selected to be part of the International Literature Festival Dublin. The album is themed around Dublin history and folklore. Kinane’s father’s family lived and worked in that area of Dublin city while Kinane worked there as a tour guide there for two years. Each song is a story, like Peg Plunkett the 18th century high society madam in ‘The Ballad of Peg Plunkett’, famous street characters like Thomas Dudley aka ‘Bang Bang’ in ‘The Day Bang Bang Lost His Gun’, the famous street poet Michael Moran aka Zozimus in ‘The Blind Bard Of The Liberties’, and relatively unknown tales of Dublin in ‘The ‘Sack Em Up’ Sexton Of St. James” and many more fascinating stories told in song and poetry.

The album features Paul Kelly on fiddle and mandolin and a guest appearance of one of Ireland’s greatest songwriters, John Spillane on guitar.  The album was produced by Kinane and Willie Headon at Poppyhill Studios, Naas Co. Kildare and recorded in April 2018. The cover art is by Beatrice O’Connell.

The album will be available on all digital platforms from October 31st

https://www.facebook.com/batkinanemusic/

The follow up single to his No.1 selling independent album ‘Dance With Me’ with his band The Swing Cats in 2017, ‘The World’s A Stage’ features World Scratch Champion – DJ Flip with clear hip hop/urban influences heard throughout.

Following on from sell out shows at both The National Concert Hall and The Olympia Theatre last year, Luke and his band The Swing Cats will return to Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on April 20th, 2019. Tickets go on sell Friday Sept 28th from ticketmaster.ie

Filmed in Dublin earlier this year Luke’s TV Special “Luke Thomas and The Swing Cats live @ Twenty Two” will air on October bank holiday Sunday 28th on Virgin Media Two.

Resulting from his TV special recording at the Twenty Two club in Dublin, Luke was invited to host a brand-new monthly variety show “Sunday Night Live” at the venue from Sunday 23^rd September.

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Tipperary Peace Convention has announced details of the 2018 Tipperary Song of Peace event on Saturday October 6th, which will include for the first time a School Peace Choir section.

Announcing details of the event, Peace Convention Secretary Martin Quinn said that he his very excited at the level of interest the event generates. “This is a major event for Tipperary Town and it is wonderful to see songwriters, composers and singers, come from various parts of the world to promote the message of peace. The School Peace Choir section is a great addition to the programme and I am really looking forward to hearing the choirs perform and to the energy that they will bring to the event“.

The International Song of Peace Final has 10 finalists from Ireland, England, Wales, USA and Australia. The Irish standard bearers in the final come from Tipperary and a Galway/Dublin combo.

The 10 songs in the International Song of Peace Final are;

Song A – ‘The World is Calm’ composed by Cecil G. Wood from Wolverhampton, England.

Song B – ‘The Open Road’ composed by Jon Cunningham from Kent, England.

Song C – ‘Doesn’t Have To Be A Dream’ composed by Sophie Bartlett & Ciarán Coffey from Tipperary.

Song D – ‘More Love’ composed by Joe Topping from Wirral, UK.

Song E – ‘Seems To Me’ composed by Andy Redferan from Queensland, Australia.

Song F – ‘Love Lifts Me Up High’ composed by Don Gnecco, Georgia, USA.

Song G – ‘For Life’ composed by Nicki Allan and Johanne Levy, Leeds, England.

Song H – ‘All We Need’ composed by Natalie Price, Texas, USA.

Song I – ‘Stick Together’ composed by Daniel and Bianca Taylor, Llandundno, Wales

Song J – ‘Oceans of Peace’ composed by Karen Cross from Galway and Rob Martin from Dublin.

The Schools Peace Choir features 6 Primary Schools from Tipperary and Kildare.

Martin Quinn says that the Schools section is an inaugural event that he hopes will become a regular part of the Song of Peace. “It is great to see a willingness by schools to be part of this event in promoting peace through music and song and I am really looking forward to hearing them perform. It is also very fitting that a Perpetual Cup in memory of the late and much loved musician and music teacher, Danny Ryan, is being presented by his family to the winning school and I want to thank the Ryan Family for this lovely gesture“.

The School Peace Choirs are;

Leugh National School, Thurles, a country school just two miles from Thurles Town.

Shronell National School, Lattin, a rural, 4 teacher Primary School overlooking the majestic Galtee mountains.

Scoil Iosef Naofa, Roscrea, is a vibrant and energetic school nestled in the heart of Tipperary in Roscrea Town.

St. Brigid’s Primary School, Kildare, is a Catholic, co-educational school in the heart of Kildare Town.

Monastery Primary School, Tipperary, is a senior boy’s Primary School situated in Tipperary Town.

Scoil Mhuire Primary School, Knockavilla, is a school with strong academic traditions situated near Dundrum in Tipperary.

The International Song of Peace and School Peace Choir Contest will take place at the Tipperary Excel on Saturday October 6th at 7pm. Tickets are now on sale from the Tipperary Excel at 062-80520. Booking is strongly advisable.

Irish singer LAOISE makes an electrifying return with her new ‘80s-pop inspired single ‘AGAIN’, out on Friday 21 September. The track is co-written and co-produced by Richey McCourt and Seán Behan, and is taken from her upcoming second EP, set for release in early 2019.

Speaking of the track, LAOISE says, “I had been struggling to write at the beginning of the year actually. I was finding it hard to take in everything that was happening around me. Women’s health and our rights were being debated here in Ireland at every corner you turned, and some things weren’t very nice to hear.

Becoming 21 and understanding what it means to be a woman amidst all of this chaos was overwhelming, and the way I dealt with it was writing this song. I sat down at the piano and I wrote the bones of the song in about 15 minutes back in March, it just came pouring out of me as if it had been suppressed for too long. It was quietly confident, and we all worked to pull that confidence to the forefront. Listening back now, I can hear that it’s not just about other people deciphering what I’m worth, that’s for me to decide.”

21-year old LAOISE (pronounced Lee-sha) writes dreamy, ambitious and frank pop songs about relationships and heartbreak, often with darker, moodier, more introspective lyrics and juxtaposed with upbeat electro and synth production. ‘Again’ is a sign of exciting things to come from the Irish pop star; the track makes a statement, as does she. A world away from the usual Irish exports of singer-songwriters with guitars, LAOISE records, produces and releases her music completely independently. She totally commands her own brand of bold, glittering, gutsy electro-pop – paving the way for Irish-born pop music.

Originally from Galway in Ireland, LAOISE has spent the summer performing at a string of festivals, including opening the main stage at LIMF, as well as appearing at Longitude and Electric Picnic. Having tested out her new material over the summer, she has brought the energy from the crowds into studio to delve deep into who ‘LAOISE’ really is – Ireland’s newfound answer to pop.

Taking her cues from the silky production of acts like Tove Styrke, Troye Sivan and MO and incorporating elements of synth, indie and alternative – LAOISE’s music is deeply inspired by household names like Kate Bush and David Bowie, as well as the different musical personas of Taylor Swift.

Drawing from her combined influences, LAOISE thrives on being able to experiment with her music and the characters, concepts and emotions she’s able to portray with each release. She has created her own brand of glittering yet gritty electro-pop that she presents to us today.

LAOISE online

www.iamlaoise.com
www.facebook.com/laoisemusic
www.instagram.com/laoisemusic
www.twitter.com/laoisemusic

Dublin indiegazers, Galants, release, ‘Follow’, the second single to be taken from their forthcoming sophomore EP via Zen Ten Records on 21st September.

‘Follow’ heralds a change of pace from the band’s previous offering ‘In Vain’ and is prefaced with thundering drums and a sense of melodic urgency that unrelents throughout. Reflecting on the
psyche of the crowd and pressure to use the decisions of others as a mental shortcut to navigate life, the track represents the race towards escapism. In seeking to meld the power pop of Hüsker Dü and guitar haze of 90s alt bands such as Swervedriver and Catherine Wheel, Galants continue their celebration of what’s gone before and reflect it back into a new beginning.

Upcoming Live Dates:
5 October 2018 – Pharmacia, Limerick (supporting The Altered Hours)

Social Media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/galantsband
Twitter: http://twitter.com/heygalants

While Alex & Echoes can deliver anything from straight-to-the-point bangers to moody slow-burners, they’re eager not to define themselves by a single sonic approach. Chvrches and Disclosure are artists the duo admire, but their sound can go anywhere from its core electro-pop component.

Their latest track ‘I Wish You Were Here’ flavours their cocktail of bass and beats with some power ballad bombast. It’s a song that would clearly shine when stripped right back to just vocals and piano, which reveals that Alex & Echoes have a timeless heart at the centre of their contemporary productions.

Be sure to catch them at their debut headline show in Dublin’s The Button Factory on the 27th of September 2018.

RTÉ 2FM and MCD are delighted to announce the return of The 2FM Xmas Ball in aid of The ISPCC, which will take place at 3Arena on Friday December 14^th, 2018.

Following the success of last year’s event, which raised over €480,000, RTÉ 2FM and MCD have come together again to host the biggest Xmas Ball yet in aid of ISPCC. Headliner Hozier will be joined by Walking On Cars, Keywest, Wyvern Lingo, Chasing Abbey, Wild Youth and Brave Giant to perform live on the night. The 2FM Xmas Ball will be hosted by all 2FM presenters including Nicky Byrne & Jenny Greene, Eoghan McDermott, Bernard O’Shea, Jennifer Zamparelli and Keith Walsh, Tracy Clifford and more.

You can celebrate Christmas with Ireland’s top music acts at the 2FM Xmas Ball in aid of The ISPCC – Tickets €39.50 go on sale at 9am this Wednesday, September 26^th and can be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets nationwide, via the 24 hr hotline: 0818 719 300, or online at www.ticketmaster.ie.

Caroline Downey, President of The ISPCC and producer of the 2FM Xmas Ball, said: “Once again the ISPCC Childline is indebted to the amazing musicians who are giving up their time to perform at The 2FM Xmas Ball in aid of the ISPCC. We are truly privileged to have their support along with 2FM, the team in MCD and the 3Arena. We will continue to help children all over Ireland who use the services of the ISPCC and Childline and We Will Never Give Up On A Child. Ever.”

Head of RTÉ 2FM and Radio Strategy, Dan Healy said – “2FM is thrilled to partner with the ISPCC for the fourth year. The drive that Caroline Downey and her team have to do in order to make this night so special, which in turn raises a half million euro, needs to be seen to be believed. As ever the line-up is stunning. It really feels like we are in the golden age of Irish music and what a night we will all have. I can’t wait to hear Hozier raise the roof when he sings ‘Nina Cried Power’. Let’s raise another half a million for the ISPCC- ISPCC CRIED POWER.”

All parties involved with the 2FM Xmas Ball are providing their services free of charge on the night including artists, organizers and 3Arena. The complete funding of the concert goes towards the financial support and aid of the 24-hour phone-line and the ISPCC services dedicated to helping children.

Tickets €39.50 go on sale this Wednesday, September 26^th AT 9AM from the following outlets:  Ticketmaster outlets nationwide, 24 hr hotline: 0818 719 300 24 hr, or online: www.ticketmaster.ie

The ISPCC is the national child protection charity in Ireland.  Everything it does is focused on empowering, protecting and supporting children. The core aim of all of the ISPCC’s services is to build psychological resilience among young people.

The ISPCC provides services across the country which are focused on building children’s resilience and improved mental wellbeing. Childline, the 24-hour national listening service, responded to 381,911 contacts from children last year. The volume of calls to Childline indicates that many children and young people in Ireland seek a listening ear and Childline is there when they may they feel as though there is nowhere else they can turn. Childline is unique in its availability, accessibility and affordability to children. It can be accessed from anywhere in Ireland and is a free service for children and young people aged up to 18. Childline uses systems that children are familiar and comfortable with, including phone, text and online chat service options.

The ISPCC, through its services, helps children cope with issues that affect them such as isolation and loneliness, bullying, mental health difficulties, cyber safety, drug and alcohol misuse, trauma, violence and abuse.  Close to 80% of the funding required to provide these services comes from the generosity of the Irish public, individual or corporate donations.  The ISPCC also depends on the commitment of its volunteers who give their time to listen to, and mentor, children across Ireland, and provide an invaluable support to a generation of children who need help. In 2017 these volunteers provided 55,645.5 hours of voluntary service to children. Without these incredible people, who gave their time voluntarily, the ISPCC could not maintain the level of services provided.

Spies mark the release of the 4th single from their upcoming album with the announcement of their biggest headline show to date. The band will play the Button Factory in Dublin on December 14th to celebrate the release of their long awaited debut LP, ‘Constancy’. ‘Constancy’ will be released in full on November 23rd through Dublin independent label Trout Records. The band have begun taking pre-orders for the record which will be pressed on limited edition 180gm heavyweight vinyl.

In 2016, Spies followed the release of their acclaimed ‘Sea Creature’ EP with an extensive tour including several dates with Wolf Alice. After a two year absence from social media and live performances, the band unexpectedly returned with singles ‘Young Dad’, ‘Uriah’ and ‘Ho Chi Minh’ earlier this year. Their new electronic sound received praise from both from UK and Irish press (DIY, Line of Best Fit, Nialler9, The Thin Air, etc.). The summer of 2018 saw them play sold out shows in Dublin and London while also making an appearance at Electric Picnic.

New single ‘Broadstone’ shows a side to Spies unlike anything they’ve produced before. Like many of the songs on ‘Constancy’, Broadstone began life in Inch, Co. Kerry during a writing trip. Returning to Dublin, the song came into its own as the band began experimenting with new sounds. With upbeat guitar riffs and Brazilian percussion, Spies combined their synth-rock sound with samba rhythms, paying homage in equal parts to Quincy Jones and James Murphy.

Singer Michael Broderick penned the song as a love letter to the area of Dublin City he’s been living in over the last few years – “’Broadstone ‘is one of the 3 neighbourhoods that make up present day Phibsboro. It’s where I was living during the writing of ‘Constancy’,  it’s really the setting of the album for me. I was living with Morgan from Saint Sister and her boyfriend Rory who’s a documentary maker, so our flat was a hotbed of creativity. I wanted to capture a snapshot of that time in a song.”

Gig Tix: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/spies-at-the-button-factory-constancy-album-launch-tickets-50442335383

Album Pre-Order: https://www.musicglue.com/spies/shop

‘Constancy’ Tracklisting:

Ho Chi Minh
Young Dad
Uriah
Broadstone
Airport Inquests
Strange Fast
Watchman
Constancy
Red Oak
Love is a Dream

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