Month: November 2018

With Aled Jones’ and Russell Watson’s IN HARMONY being this week’s BBC/UK Album Chart Highest Entry at No.8, and straight in to No.1 on the BBC Indie Album Chart, comes the 40^th time that You Raise Me Up, written by Norway’s Rolf Løvland and Ireland’s Brendan Graham has been on chart albums by different artistes, somewhere in the world.

On 20 occasions it has been on the No.1 album or the No. 1 single.

Listed in Professor J. Perone’s book as one of the ‘100 Songs That Defined America’ over the last 250 years, You Raise Me Up has been recorded in over 40 languages by over 1,000 artistes…with names that include Josh Groban, Westlife, Johnny Mathis, Andre Rieu, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Selena Gomez, IL Divo and Secret Garden.

In 2001, composer Løvland approached Graham to write lyrics to his ‘Silent Story’ instrumental after reading The Whitest Flower – Graham’s best-selling, epic novel of Ireland’s Great Hunger. The result was You Raise Me Up.

Since first released in 2002, by Secret Garden with Brian Kennedy, You Raise Me Up has become one of the most recorded songs of the 21^st century and a modern-day standard.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/indiealbums

After another sensational weekend in 2018 plans are well under way for our yearly pilgrimage to the idyllic valley and KnockanStockan are delighted to announce the release of the first batch of tickets for the festival in 2019. A limited amount of early bird tickets will go on sale this Friday 23rd of November at 9am.

“KnockanStockan…the Christmas of the summer”  GoldenPlec

The shores of the Blessington lakes, a site of unparalleled beauty, will once again become a playground of electricity as musicians, artists, revellers and crew come together to celebrate the very best in modern Irish culture. A truly diverse and eclectic line-up and a sense of wonder, freedom and genuine goodwill makes KnockanStockan THE place to discover independent music and art in Ireland.

Early bird tickets priced at €99 available via –  knockanstockan.ie from 9am Friday 23rd November

3 Day Ticket – €155
2 Day Ticket (Sat & Sun) – €135
1 Day Ticket (Sun Only) – €65

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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.

On ‘Watchman’, Spies delve deeper into their electronic influences, incorporating synthesizers and drum machines to create a song that is as infectious as it is haunting.

Reflecting on the song, singer and lyricist Michael Broderick asserts that – “’Watchman’ is about someone close moving away. A lot of the songs on the record deal with various emotions tied to this theme and out of all of them ‘Watchman’ is probably the darkest. It deals with the anger and resentment that can often surround losing someone this way.”

Thematically, their debut centres around change – “Our attempts to remain constant in an environment that is inevitably transforming. I wanted the songs to journey through a process of coping (and not coping) with change and the different emotions that are tied to that process” – Broderick.

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’, ‘Ho Chi Minh’ and ‘Broadstone’ so far this year. Their new electronic sound received praise from both from UK and Irish press (DIY, Line of Best Fit, Nialler9, The Thin Air, Hot Press etc.). The summer of 2018 saw them play sold out shows in Dublin and London while also making an appearance at Electric Picnic.

‘Constancy’ Tracklisting:

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

‘Citadel’ is the brand new single from Dublin brothers Richie & Jamie Martin set for release on November 20^th.

The track signifies the return of Cry Monster Cry and follows on from the release of their 2015 critically acclaimed debut ‘Rhythm Of Dawn’.

“A citadel is a stronghold into which people could go for shelter during a battle or in times of crisis’ …so the idea for the song came out of that” says Richie.

The single still holds the signature elements that the Martin brothers have become known for; warm fraternal harmonies, thoughtful, evocative lyrics and beautiful melodies, but a visceral, more measured approach to their craft is also now apparent. Recorded in the wilds of Donegal under the watchful eye of producer Tommy McLaughlin (Villagers, Bell X1, Luke Sital-Singh) the song presents a level of honesty and maturity that is new for the band.

Cry Monster Cry return to Whelans for an intimate headline show on Saturday 1st December. Tickets are on sale now.

More information: http://www.crymonstercry.com

London based Irish experimental pop/noise rock outfit TAYNE have announced just released their debut album ‘Breathe’  via Strange Brew Records.

TAYNE’s music is an aural assault that welds moody, atmospheric vocals, punishing guitars, and overwhelming electronics, to pulsating rhythms; creating a unique listening experience.

Singer Matthew Sutton elaborates on the forthcoming album: “ ‘Breathe’ is a very personal self-serving record for me. Mostly, the record is a reflection of my own anxieties, insecurities, fears, hopes and expectations and mental health. Thematically, it’s dark, chaotic and intense; so I wanted to have some sort of juxtaposition. I decided to present the singles on the record in traditional pop song structure, with pop hook choruses. Equally there are a lot of demons on the record.”

The debut album was Self produced by Matthew Sutton and mixed by Barra Enright and mastered by TJ Lipple (Bikini Kill, Fugazi,MGMT, Rollins Band, St Vincent, Xiu Xiu, Not Squares, Adebisi Shank).

In support of the album release, Tayne will be embarking on a UK and Ireland tour this month.

DATES

Nov 21st – Manchester -The Peer Hat
Nov 22nd – Belfast – The Art Department –  Drone Mansions w/ Gross Net & nihilnimis
Nov 23rd – Cork – Fred Zeppelins w/ God Alone.
Nov 24th – Dublin – Whelan’s upstairs w/ Qwasi
Nov 25th – Ballina – Emmetts Treffpunkt
Nov 28th – Galway – Róisín Dubh  upstairs w/ Anna Mullarkey
Nov 29th – Tralee -The greyhound w/ Nonfaction
Dec 2nd – London – Aces & Eights – NW5 w/ Terminal Gods Butterflies on Pins Cold in Berlin

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Derry guitarist/songwriter Paul Casey releases his brand new single ‘Lost In Love’ from his forthcoming 2019 Album. Casey returns to his roots with this blues/guitar driven pop song.

Casey once again hosts his annual ‘Homegrown’ concerts in The Millennium Forum, Derry on January 4th which features Paddy Nash & the Happy Enchiladas, PORTS, The Inside with George Hutton and Paul with his band.

Paul has also just produced Derry singer George Hutton’s debut album ‘Chapter One’ which features Pauls song ‘Blow Away The Clouds’ as the lead single.

www.paulcaseymusic.com
www.cablejunctionstudio.com

Peco is set to play an intimate show this Friday night 23rd November previewing his debut album in its entirety. The gig is taking place in ‘NC & JO’B photography Studio’ , Rathangan, Co.Kildare and provides a unique setting for this once off show.

Having just finished recording with Martin Quinn in JAM studios Co. Meath, His debut solo album is set for release on Feb 15th and a full Irish Tour is set to be announced in the coming week.

He will be joined on the night by special guest ‘Tracy Gallagher’ and tickets are priced at €10. As this is a limited ticket show it’s advised to contact james@nullliveloudmusic.com or ncjobphotography@nullgmail.com to reserve a seat.

‘Gay Girls’, the latest single from Dublin indie quartet Pillow Queens, has just been accompanied by a video by director Kate Dolan.

“The song is such a belter, when the band came and asked me to do a video for it I was delighted. The girls had an idea about four girls running away on their communion day. I thought it was a great fit for the song, so I wrote up a treatment around the idea. I wanted to capture the pure joy of being a kid, and those days you remember as being totally perfect. 

Also, I feel in many ways the four communion gals are representative of the New Ireland. We were once totally dominated by an authoritarian Catholic leadership, and now those shackles are starting to fall away. For many years women and LGBT people were deeply oppressed. The song ‘Gay Girls’ is a joyous anthem for us, and like the kids in the video it’s about time we were all carefree and found joy in the simple things like bottles of Red Lemonade flavour Cadet”. Kate Dolan  Writer / Director

The single was recorded over two days in Attica Studios in Co. Donegal by Mercury Prize nominated and Choice Music prize winning producer Tommy McLaughlin (Villagers, Soak). Thematically the song touches on feelings of intoxicating lust coupled with relentless repression. These themes are realised through the lyrics and the music which convey an upbeat appreciation of both the negative and positive attributes of both. The theme of religion within ‘Gay Girls’ is also accented nicely by a rapturous choral outro!

This is the follow up to their debut EP ‘State of the State’ which came out in March. 

Tour dates:

Nov 24th – Whelans, Dublin + Ganglions (limited tickets remaining)
Dec 8th – Dolans, Limerick

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https://www.instagram.com/pillowqueensband/
https://pillowqueens.bandcamp.com/releases