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Month: February 2019

Participant Shares ‘Medicine’

Participant is Stephen Tiernan, a songwriter and producer from Dublin, Ireland. Having experimented with ambient textures, sampling and live instrumentation across 2 EP’s and several singles, Tiernan now finds himself stripping back the layers and demonstrating a more nuanced and immediate approach to his songwriting. 

‘Medicine’, (Released Feb 27) is the second single taken from his upcoming EP, ‘Modern Retelling’, due for release this year. ‘Medicine’ is a shining example of both Tiernan’s abilities as a songwriter and producer. The sparse acoustic guitar and quiet vocal gradually building, becoming a soaring mix of electronics and voice, wrapped in textured and emotive strings performed by Gareth Quinn Redmond.

Lyrically, ‘Medicine’ is Tiernan’s most forthright song so far. Tapping into feelings of anxiety and doubt and capturing instances of confusion and depression, ‘Medicine’ is a sad song about small moments.

Facebook / Twitter / Bandcamp / Soundcloud / Instagram / Spotify /

Klara McDonnell Shares Video for ‘Sinking Unknowing’

The music video for Klara McDonnell’s latest single ‘Sinking Unknowing’ has been released.

The quirky video was directed by award-winning actor/director Patrick Murphy of Whispered Films with Galleri Productions as DOP.

The cast includes  Klara McDonnell, Niamh Sweeney, Wayne Davis and Bobby Calloway.

‘Sinking Unknowing’ was written by Klara and recorded, mixed and mastered at Beardfire Music Production Studio & Label. Produced by David Virgin, Rohan Healy, Al Quiff & Klara McDonnell.

‘Sinking Unknowing’ was released on 1st February and is available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, GooglePlay and Amazon.

Website: http://klaramcdonnell.ie
Facebook: http://facebook.com/klaramcdonnell
Youtube: http://youtube.com/klaramcdonnell
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2nnkM3ojjjurVreyz9qhVo

Jamie Harrison Hits Over One Million Spotify Streams

Irish singer, musician and songwriter Jamie Harrison’s latest single ‘Spent So Long’ has hit 1.3 million streams on Spotify. Out now, the track is making waves internationally scoring spots on several key global Spotify playlists including Soft Vinter, Casa De Casa and Autumn Leaves, charting in the Top 50 of Italy’s Spotify Charts as well as picking up major traction in Sweden and the US. The video for the single is also riding high, shot in a basement room of a 200 year old Manor house in Galway, it has amassed over half a million views on Facebook and YouTube to date.

Having sold out two headline shows in Whelans and in his hometown Galway’s Roisin Dubh in 2018, Jamie went on to collaborate with British Record Producer Ken Nelson (Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini) to record several tracks for his upcoming EP. An accomplished performer Jamie Harrison has performed around the world in cities including London, Dublin, Melbourne, Cologne, Glasgow, Wellington, Liverpool and Birmingham. Along the way he picked up tens of thousands of followers on his YouTube channel, making it one of the fastest growing guitar channels of the past year with videos reaching over 6 million collective views on YouTube.

Jamie Harrison broke onto the scene with his single ‘If I Only Knew Your Name’ which reached the top 10 in the Irish iTunes Charts.

New Music Dublin 2019: On the Radar

Contemporary Music Centre and New Music Dublin present On the Radar – interactive career development session at New Music Dublin Festival

Date: 3 March 2019
Time: 17:30
Venue: Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall
Admission: FREE

Are you a composer or performer navigating a career in the world of contemporary music?

This interactive event hosted by NMD Artistic Director John Harris will discuss how composers and performers working in the field of contemporary music, can get ‘On the radar’ of commissioners, festivals, the airwaves, print media and others, and will include contributions from delegates on the NMDX programme.

Presented in partnership with the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland.

Panel
Gretchen Amussen (independent consultant / former Director of External Affairs & International Relations, Paris Conservatoire)
Lawrence CherneySoundstreams, Canada.
Liam Herb – Other Minds, USA
Kate Molleson – Hear & Now, BBC Radio 3, UK
Sam Wilcock Creative Manager (Orchestral), Music Sales Limited

Venue
Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
Ireland
Venue Contact Info
01 417 0000
www.nch.ie

Eastbound Announces Final Round of Shows

Following the launch of EASTBOUND, Aiken Promotions is proud to announce the final round of shows featuring JUST MUSTARD, THE MURDER CAPITAL, THE HOWL & THE HUM and HALFNOISE.

EASTBOUND – a six-night stand at venues across Dublin – taking place May 7th – 12th 2019.

EASTBOUND is about capturing the spirit of new and breaking artists and capturing the imagination of a devoted, music-hungry city like Dublin and bringing it all together to create making meaningful beginnings.

The full EASTBOUND line up:

MAISIE PETERS, KARA MARNI, STEAM DOWN, WHENYOUNG, RHYS LEWIS, THE SNUTS, LION, MEN I TRUST, WILD FRONT, GWENNO, BILK, BODY TYPE, BOY AZOOGA, HUNKPAPA, HALFNOISE, TH HOWL & THE HUM, THE MURDER CAPITAL and JUST MUSTARD.

Ticket information:

All tickets are €13.50

Tickets for events will be sold separately available on Ticketmaster.ie and outlets Nationwide

Artist information:

LION & special guests New Pagans // The Sound House // May 7

LION – aka Beth Lowen – makes her Dublin debut at Eastbound. Blessed with a ferocious, Janet Joplin-esque voice, check out ‘Self Control’ and ‘Oh No’ from her eponymous debut EP.

THE SNUTS & special guests The Valves // The Workman’s Club // May 7

Initially emerging as a word-of-mouth phenomenon and then scoring over 1m Spotify streams of their early demos, The Snuts’ energy and charisma (plus a handful of anthems) has been rewarded with a cult following at home in Scotland.

WHENYOUNG // Whelan’s // May 7

2018 was a landmark year for the Limerick natives with the release of their debut album “Given Up”, and a string of live shows including Shane MacGowan’s 60th birthday celebration alongside Nick Cave and Sinead O’Connor, and supporting Dream Wife, The Vaccines and Peace.

*JUST ADDED* HALFNOISE // Grand Social // May 7

HalfNoise is the musical project of Zac Farro, drummer of Paramore. Based in Nashville, Farro formed the project alongside Jason Clark following Farro’s departure from Paramore in 2010. Halfnoise headline The Grand Social on May 7th

*Tickets on sale Thursday at 9AM*

MAISIE PETERS // Button Factory // May 7

Eastbound is delighted to present Maisie Peters’ first Irish headline show. The Brighton songwriter first emerged in 2017 when her debut single ‘Place We Were Made’ went viral, and 2018’s ‘Worst Of You’ has already hit the 22 million play mark on Spotify.

*JUST ADDED* THE HOWL & THE HUM & special guests Pursed By Dogs // The Sound House // May 8

The York York-based 4-piece embarked on their first headline tour in England in early 2018 to coincide with the release of single ‘Portrait I’. Eastbound are delighted to host their first headline show in Dublin’s The Sound house.

*Tickets on sale Thursday at 9AM*

MEN I TRUST // Workman’s Club // May 8

Described by Pitchfork as ‘dream pop’, Montreal-based Men I Trust release their third studio album – ‘Oncle Jazz’ – later this year.

WILD FRONT & special guest Emma McGrath // The Sound House // May 9

With over 3 million streams on Spotify, Wild Front come to Dublin for an Eastbound headliner before sharing a festival stage with Foals and Two Door Cinema Club this summer.

BOY AZOOGA + HUNKPAPA // The Workman’s Club // May 10

Boy Azooga released their debut album “1,2 Kung Fu” in June 2018 to very favourable reviews, dubbed “bright, exciting and full of effortlessly intelligent song writing” by NME. Formed in 2017, Armagh’s HUNKPAPA haven’t released a single note of music to date yet have scored plaudits from the likes of BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 1. A lethal double-header.

*JUST ADDED* THE MURDER CAPITAL & special guests Melts // Whelan’s // May 11

Exploding onto the scene in 2018, They have been included in The Guardian’s Ones to Watch 2019 and included in NME’s 100 Essential New Artists for 2019 and The Irish Times calling them out as Ireland’s best new rock band. The Murder Capital are the latest edition to the Eastbound bill for a very special show in Whelan’s, May 11.

*Tickets on sale Thursday at 9AM*

GWENNO & special guests A Ritual Sea // The Sound House // May 11

Gwenno Saunders is a Welsh Music Prize Winner (for her 2015 debut album Y Dydd Olaf) and former member of The Pipettes.

Eastbound will be her first Irish headline show.

KARA MARNI & special guest JyellowL // The Grand Social // May 11

Self-described as “soul with a sprinkling of pop,” Marni has a voice beyond her years, with soaring vocals and a distinct sound that sets her firmly in her own lane. Influences include Roberta Flack and Anita Baker and contemporary greats such as Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill.

*JUST ADDED* JUST MUSTARD & special guests Odd Morris // The Workman’s Club // May 12 

Eastbound are delighted to announce Just Mustard to the bill this year. Crafting their own unique blend of noise, trip hop and electronic influenced music, they released their debut album ‘Wednesday’ to critical acclaim earning a nomination as album of the year in the 2018 Choice Music Prize.

*Tickets on sale Thursday at 9AM*

BILK + BODY TYPE & special guests Cherym // The Sound House // May 12

Boasting influences from the Jam to Eminem, Essex-based 3-piece BILK write honest songs to inspire the youth of today, their music being a social commentary to the challenges facing young people today. Australia’s BODY TYPE have played shows with the likes of Big Thief and Pond and have already graced the stages of Gizzfest, Bigsound and Fairgrounds festivals at home.

STEAM DOWN // The Grand Social // May 12

Occupying a bold centre-point between Afrofuturism, grime and future soul – all fused together with the fearless spontaneity of jazz – Steam Down’s weekly sessions at London’s Buster Mantis club are already the stuff of legend.

RHYS LEWIS // Whelan’s // May 12

RHYS LEWIS started 2019 with the release of a new single ‘Better Than Today’ on January 4th which has already passed the 1 million stream mark. He has toured with artists like JP Cooper, James TW and Freya Ridings, and Eastbound will be Rhys’ first Irish headline show.

Venues:

The Sound House: www.thewileyfox.ie/thesoundhouse

The Grand Social: www.thegrandsocial.ie

The Workman’s Club: www.thegrandsocial.ie

Whelans: www.whelanslive.com

The Button Factory: www.buttonfactory.ie

Keep up to date with information on Eastbound:

Twitter:          eastbounddublin

Instagram:     eastbounddublin

Join the conversation: #EastBoundDublin

IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards Winners

Tonight, Tuesday 26th February, Joe.ie’s Paddy McKenna hosted the always highly anticipated IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards, now in its eleventh year, at the Irish Music Rights Organisation Headquarters in Dublin.

The award for National Live Music Venue of the Year 2018 (via public vote) went to The Sugar Club, Dublin.

Of the annual awards voted by over 12,500 IMRO members Victor Finn, IMRO Chief Executive said “We’re privileged in Ireland to have such a vibrant and eclectic live music scene, which is the backbone of the music industry as a whole. We feel it is vital to acknowledge the venues and festivals who support live music from a musician’s first performance right through to internationally known headline artists on main stages. It is these venues and festivals across the country that allow music creators to continue making music and bring it to new audiences.”

Other winners in the regional categories include

Dublin – The Sugar Club, Dublin

Rest of Leinster –  The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Connacht – Monroe’s, Galway

Munster – Live at St Luke’s,  Cork

Ulster –  An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Also nabbing accolades for IMRO Live Music Festival of the Year and IMRO Small Live Music Festival 2018 were All Together Now and Wexford Spiegeltent Festival respectively.

Olympia Theatre, Dublin picked up the award for IMRO Tech Crew of the Year.

The IMRO Outstanding Contribution to Live Music accolade was awarded this year to Joe Clarke, co-founder of CWB, a music focused management and production company with offices in Dublin and a residential production studio in Co. Tipperary. With a background in venue ownership and management, together with partners Paul Webb and Paul Boland he opened CWB in 2008 with the Rubberbandits being their first management client. Following their worldwide success, the company expanded adding The Strypes and Le Galaxie to their roster. Currently, CWB manages Bitch Falcon, The Blizzards, Mark Mc Cabe, RSAG, Jack O’Rourke, Kormac, Stomptown Brass, Maud in Cahoots, Jerry Fish, Montauk Hotel, Thumper, Paddy Dennehy and more.

Performances on the night came from Pillow QueensMoncrieff and Inhaler.

Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes also gave special commendations, presenting awards to Mike the Pies, Listowel Hot Press Live Venue of the Year for 2018, Live at St. Luke’s, Cork and The Chasin’ Bull, Bundoran.

He said: “This is a hugely optimistic moment for Irish music. There is an extraordinary talent pool here. A growing number of artists and bands are releasing music of real heft. And as a result Irish artists are achieving significant successes beyond these shores in greater numbers than ever before. But it is still extremely difficult for musicians to earn a living. Which is why a vibrant live music scene is so important.

Hot Press is really proud to be part of the IMRO Live Music Venue Awards. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate the contribution made by the people who run venues and book shows all over Ireland. Over the past few years, we have seen a resurgence in live gigs – which is reflected in the venues that Hot Press is honouring tonight. It is a deep love of music – as well as an entrepreneurial spirit and a sense of fun – which inspires a great venue like Mike The Pies in Listowel. And the same is true, in different ways, of the people behind Live at St. Luke’s in Cork and The Chasin’ Bull in Bundoran. Long may they – and venues like them – continue to thrive.”

Live music venues and festivals play a vital role in the music industry in Ireland, giving international and homegrown artists a platform to engage with fans and build new audiences. They also play a central role in urban and rural communities across the country, providing a social gathering space for varied audiences, and contributing hugely to the domestic economy.

IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2018 Winners

IMRO National Live Venue of the Year 2018 – The Sugar Club, Dublin

IMRO Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year 2018 – The Sugar Club, Dublin  

IMRO Rest of Leinster Live Music Venue of the Year 2018 – The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth

IMRO Connacht Live Music Venue of the Year 2018 – Monroe’s, Galway

IMRO Munster Live Music Venue of the Year 2018 – Live at St Luke’s, Cork

IMRO Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year 2018 – An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

IMRO Music Festival of the Year 2018 – All Together Now

IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year 2018 – Wexford Spiegeltent Festival

IMRO Tech Crew of the Year Award 2018 – Olympia Theatre, Dublin

Hot Press Live Venue of the Year for 2018 – Mike the Pies, Listowel with special Hot Press commendations going to Live at St Luke’s, Cork and The Chasin’ Bull, Bundoran.

Web: IMRO.ie / Facebook: IMRO.Ireland / Twitter: @IMROIreland

ELKIN Release ‘Green Eyes’

Irish duo ELKIN shone collaborating with Tebi Rex, now they dazzle with producer Daniel McIntyre. With the perfect amount of soul and sass, ELKIN deliver strong pop banger ‘Green Eyes’ as their latest offering. Mixed and mastered by Mick Heffernan.

The video for Green Eyes will be released in conjunction with the song. Produced and directed by James Clarke (Open Bin Media, Versatile).

“When the world around your other half is taken up by never ending nights out and promises of next time – your eyes turn green and you wish you could give him the same high as a 25 bag.”  ELKIN.

Ellen O’ Mahony and Carla Ryan were writing and singing together from the age of 15 before they took their music to a new level as ELKIN. Their collaboration with Tebi Rex, ‘She Hated Love Songs II’, received praise from Dan Hegarty and Eoghan McDermott amongst others. Following the release of their debut single ‘Paro’, ELKIN were named as one of State.ie’s Faces of 2018 and performed at the Whelan’s Ones to Watch 2018 Festival in January.

Their eagerly awaited debut EP, ‘Bad Habits’, was released May 12th  2018. From the dark, punchy blues of ‘Honey’ to crowd-favourite ‘I Got Love’, ELKINpresented a soulful collection of original tracks.

Following a summer of gigs around the country, including Bare Festival, Longitude, Electric Picnic and their own Bad Habits Tour, ELKIN will be releasing new single ‘Green Eyes’ in 2019, after their performance at Whelan’s Ones To Watch which was warmly received by audience members and media alike.

Photo: Zoe Holman

Fat Pablo Share ‘Shambala’

Fat Pablo are a six-piece neo-psychedelic band from Dublin. Taking influence from 60’s psych rock, modern hip-hop and post-punk, they create a sound akin to such heavyweights as Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Grizzly Bear & King Krule.

An underbelly of hip-hop inspired bass and drums, psych guitars, a chilling body of synths and gritty, cinematic visuals create a space for vocalist Dave Barrett’s lamenting soulful tones on their emphatic debut ‘Shambala’. Debutants they may be, but every element of this poised and triumphant step into the fore is performed masterfully, with this being a perfect introduction to a powerful body of work set to release throughout 2019.

The band take great consideration in creating an audio-visual experience for the listener. Dedicated artist, Ross Ryder, works closely with them during the writing process to build bespoke aesthetic narratives for each song.

Speaking to the motivation behind ‘Shambala’, Fat Pablo share:

“We imagined the song as this kind of uplifting orchestral piece and approached it in a different manner to other songs we write. We all played really delicately on the recording and focussed specifically on dynamics, making sure we didn’t take away from the soul of the song. You kind of get this bittersweet hope in your bloodstream feeling.”

Upcoming shows :

The Lighthouse, Dun Laoghaire – March 30th
The Ruby Sessions, Doyles Pub – April 2nd

Zapho Launches ‘Water Me’ with Grand Social Date

Zapho continues to beguile our expectations. Following her funky, groove-laden debut single, ‘Do Like I Do’, ‘Water Me’ uses all the ingredients of a great pop song and cooks them into a weirdly delicious combination. The results are at once strangely familiar and yet wholly unexpected. With playful lyrics and contagious melody hooks, ‘Water Me’ is a song about the bizarre, tumultuous, cycle of life, growth, and renewal. And it’s great for singing in the shower. 

Zapho (Ele Breslin), from Rathfarnham, is a songwriter, singer, musician and producer. In ‘Water Me’, she builds a rich sonic landscape, layered with harmonies, hooks and, strangely, owl hooting. In an ecstatic live performance, it becomes an ode to the thirst for living, breathing and growing. And yet, when all is said and done, this is just really catchy pop and really good fun. 

The ‘Water Me’ Launch Party will comprise an all-female line-up with Toshín & Laura Ryder Ampersand supporting. Doors 7 pmtickets €12.

Joining ZAPHO onstage in the Grand Social will be her not-so-small entourage: Chris Cahill (guitar, live-mixing), Laura O’Sullivan (piano, violin, backing vocal), Paul Flood (bass), Katie Ryan (backing vocal), Niamh Casey (drums), Andy Mullen (sax).

www.zaphomusic.com 

Gráinne & Brendan Launch ‘Songs from Ireland’

‘Songs from Ireland’  is a new Irish folk project and record from contemporary folk singer Gráinne Hunt and award-winning guitarist Brendan Walsh.   They perform a collection of traditional Irish ballads and folk songs in both English and Irish, carefully arranged by Brendan to give a modern new feel to beautiful old songs.

Gráinne and Brendan met in 2000 when they both attended NUI Maynooth, completing the BA (Music) together there.  In early 2018 they joined forces to perform at Shannonside Winter Music Festival and from there, Songs from Ireland was born.

Recorded in Soundville Studios, Luzern, Switzerland, the 13 tracks include Raglan Road, Trasna na dTonnta, Song for Ireland and Mo Ghile Mear.  ‘Songs from Ireland’  will be released on 4th April, and single Trasna na dTonnta will be with radio stations for Seachtain na Gaeilge and out on 11th March.  

Tour dates:

March 2nd – Irish Nights, Zac, Jona, Switzerland
April 11th – Songs from Ireland – The Cobblestone, Dublin
April 12th – Ennis Singers Club, Co. Clare
April 13th – Songs from Ireland – Kilkishen Cultural Centre
April 14th – Finn’s Ale House in Borrosoleigh Co Tipperary
April 15th – Songs from Ireland – BAG, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare
May 9th – Stimmen festival, Switzerland
May 10th – Ono, Bern, Switzerland
May 11th – Cafe Fridolin, Brugg Switzerland
May 12th  – Jazzkantine, Luzern Switzerland

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