Month: October 2019

Following the release of their latest track ‘Heaven’ and in advance of their upcoming tour, Hermitage Green is happy to announce the release of their newest single titled ‘All In All’ on Friday October 4^th, giving fans a taste of what they can expect in their new album set to be released in 2020.

‘All In All’ is a song about loss. If you’re lucky enough to be alive, one of the few absolutes in life is that you will most likely lose something at some point that means alot to you. It’s a track about allowing yourself to acknowledge the depth of that loss, and in doing so recover from it.

Hermitage Green has been touring sold-out shows right across the globe, entertaining fans with their epic performance and irresistible stage presence throughout the Middle East, Australia, North America, United Kingdom and Ireland. Selling out iconic music venues and performing for thousands of people at some of the biggest festivals, this five piece folk-rock band has had the chance to share the stage with incredible artists such as Lewis Capaldi, Bastille, Two Door Cinema Club, Tom Odell, Gavin James, Sigrid, The Trews and others. Their latest EP, ‘Gold & Rust’, was produced by Grammy award winner Matt Lawrence (Adele, Amy Winehouse, Mumford & Sons) in the world renowned Rockfield Studios in Wales where Hermitage Green’s new recordings share company with the likes of Queen, Robert Plant and many others.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Oct 31             Dublin, IE                                Olympia Theatre
Dec 5               Cork, IE                                    Live at St. Luke’s
Dec 6               Cork, IE                                    Live at St. Luke’s
Dec 7               Cork, IE                                    Live at St. Luke’s
Dec 8               Cork, IE                                    Live at St. Luke’s
Dec 14             Galway, IE                               The Blackbox Theatre
Dec 20             Belfast, UK                              The Limelight 2
Dec 21             Warrenpoint, UK                   Number 7 Duke Street
Dec 22             Donegal, IE                              The Abbey Hotel Donegal
Dec 27             Killarney, IE                             INEC Killarney
Dec 28             Waterford, IE                          Factory
Dec 29             Kilkenny, IE                             Langton’s Ballroom
Jan 3                Ennis, IE                                  Glór Theatre
Jan 10              Thurles, IE                              The Source Arts Centre Thurles
Jan 11              Co Mayo, IE                             The Royal Theatre and Event Centre
Jan 17              Wexford, IE                            National Opera House

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Widely considered to be one of the finest songsmiths of his generation, Dublin-born Mark Geary today announces details of a five-date autumn tour in Ireland with The Strawhall House Band. 

Kicking off on Wednesday 16th October with a fully-seated gig at the Workman’s Club in Dublin, Mark Geary + The Strawhall House Band will go on to play four other renowned music venues around Ireland: Campbell’s Tavern in Headford, Co. Galway (Sat. 19.10); The Black Box in Belfast (Sun. 20.10); DeBarra’s in Clonakilty, Co. Cork (Thurs. 24.10); finishing up in Cleere’s in Kilkenny on Saturday 26th October. 

Ahead of the tour, on Friday 11th October, Mark Geary + The Strawhall House Band will release a new version of Mark’s song Rosebud, from his 2017 album, The Fool. The single also has a b-side, Mockingbird, written by Fiacre Gaffney and performed by The Strawhall House Band. 

Mark Geary has just returned from sold-out tours in Italy and Switzerland. This is the first full tour that he will play with The Strawhall House Band since April 2019. 

Mark Geary rose to prominence playing alongside the likes of Jeff Buckley, Sinead O’Connor and Katell Keineg at the famous Sin é Bar in New York’s East Village. Over the last 20 years Mark has toured all over Europe, the US and Australia, and has shared the stage with performers such as The Swell Season, Glen Hansard, The Frames, Josh Ritter, Bell X1, Coldplay, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders and Joe Strummer. 

The Strawhall House Band features Fiacre Gaffney, Jack Maher, Vinny Kilcullen and Mark Penny. The band formed from the long running Monday night session at the iconic Strawberry Hall Pub on the Strawberry Beds Road in Dublin. Alongside original songs from their debut album Six Days in May, released in May 2017 on Plateau Records, the band’s repertoire includes covers by great songwriters such as Lowell George, Ry Cooder, John Hiatt and Guy Clarke. 

It’s this infusion of Americana on the new version of Rosebud that adds a distinctive layer which compliments Mark’s already unique style. 

Mark Geary says: “Playing with The Strawhall House Band is an incredible experience. The idea that I know before I even play a note that every choice they make is going to be appropriate for the song is astonishing. For me as a singer, that doesn’t just happen. But with these guys, it happened overnight. ”

Strawhall House Band frontman Fiacre Gaffney says: “There’s a wonderful thing that happens when you’re playing and you don’t have to think about what the other people should be doing. It’s total trust. You meet somebody for the first time and you know you’re on the same wavelength.”

TOUR DATES

Wednesday, 16th October | The Workman’s Club (Main Room), Dublin 
Saturday, 19th October | Campbell’s Tavern, Headford, Galway
Sunday, 20th October | The Black Box, Belfast
Thursday, 24th October | DeBarra’s, Clonakilty, Cork 
Saturday, 26th October | Cleere’s, Kilkenny

For ticket information visit www.markgeary.com

Now in its third year, Aidlink For Turkana, presented by Born Optimistic, brings together choirs and a host of Irish singer-songwriters to perform their songs in a completely new way.

So successful have the previous events been that this year Aidlink for Turkana is moving to a bigger venue, the National Stadium, to present an event that will fill the room with glorious song.

Singers performing on the night include Ailbhe Reddy, Blaithin Kearney, Cry Monster Cry, Davy Lyons, Dermot Lambert (Blink), Eleanor McEvoy, Inni-K, Jerry Fish, Muireann, The Pale, Ruth Mac, The Silken Same, Stockton’s Wing and Ultan Conlon.

They’ll be singing alongside the following choirs: 

Bank Of Ireland Bank Notes, Blackrock College Libermann Choir, Central Bank Notes,  Eirgrid- Transmission Amps, EY Choir, Life Choir, Loreto Beaufort, Loreto Dalkey Past Pupils Parents Choir, Mezzo Choir, Primark, SOLAS, Songs in the Key of D, St. Joseph’s, St Mary’s College Singers, The Daydreamers Kids Choir and the Wicklow Community Choir.

All of the choirs and singers will join in together for a finale version of Mic Christopher’s song ‘Heyday’.

Tickets (€35, or €15 for unwaged), are on sale now from www.bornoptimistic.com

All proceeds for the event go toward Aidlink, an Irish charity working to empower, educate and enable individuals, families and communities in East Africa and Ireland. Targeting some of the most isolated and marginalised people in Kenya and Uganda, and also Ghana, Aidlink is working to improve access to basic needs and build the capacity of communities and local NGOs. By focusing on education, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and agriculture Aidlink works to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future is created for all the people we work with. Working through local partnerships, Aidlink also builds capacity amongst organisations in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana, to allow them to become instigators of change. Find out more about Aidlink and the incredible work they do at www.aidlink.ie

Following the announcement of their debut album release date, Tandem Felix has announced a headline show celebrating this for Bello Bar, Dublin, 21^st November 2019. Tickets €13.50 inclusive of booking fee, on sale from tomorrow at 9AM. Brought to you by Aiken Promotions.

Tandem Felix has announced they will be releasing their debut album ‘Rom-Com’ on October 10th.

The Dublin-based alt-country group re-emerged in 2017 with ‘Were You There (When They Crucified The Birthday Boy)?’ – nominated for the Choice Music Prize Song of the Year – and opened for Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks in Dublin’s Vicar Street before joining Saint Sister on their 2018 Irish tour. 

The ten songs that make-up ‘Rom-Com’’s tracklist were recorded in Dublin’s Liberties, in the late Lamplight Recording Studios with engineer Stephen Dunne. Speaking about the sessions, held over a three-year period, chief-songwriter David Tapley says:

“I always viewed the idea of doing a full-length album on a pedestal, never feeling that I was truly ready to embark on a project like this. In a strange twist of fate, we ended up recording two albums worth of material so we were able to pare away at the material until what we had left was a cohesive piece of work. Maybe that is why it took as long as it did.”

On the inspiration behind the album’s title, Tapley claims, “The album title was a natural fit. The songs that made the record represent the two poles of my identity, each one sitting somewhere on the ladder from idealist to clown, from romance to comedy.”

Coinciding with ‘Rom-Com’’s release, Tandem Felix will share the third single from the record, ‘Oil Money’. The single will be accompanied by a video directed by Ror Conaty, one-half of recently established Chromatic Sets. 

Tapley explains the meaning behind the song’s lyrics: “This track is a self-portrait of a weird time in my life. I was sad and scared, worrying about everything; money, health, breaking-up, working, everything. But I always thought that if I could just become a rich man all of this will sort itself out. I never really looked at myself or the root of these worries, but I knew that I just needed to strike oil, whatever that was. I never meant it to be a political song. I like that the title dangles that carrot, but I guess it actually is. I set out to tell one story, but in listening back to it, I hear something different now, something much greater and much more troubling.”

‘Rom-Com’ will be self-released on all digital platforms as well as on 12-inch vinyl record and features the 1984 illustration ‘Untitled’ by French surrealist Guy Billout as the album artwork. 

Irish artist David Keenan strides on from the warmly-welcomed ‘Tin Pan Alley’ with a further taste of his forthcoming debut album with a new song and video ‘Altar Wine’.

Currently on tour around Europe and the UK with Hozier, ‘Altar Wine’ finds him, with film director Mark William Logan, unpicking insecurities that have haunted him, and, in a wider context, his homeland, for many years.

David says:

“The sculpting of this visual piece of work demanded that I face – head on – all of said traumas and insecurities and repressions that lived in me since childhood. Art heals, that’s why I pursue it. It gives joys, insights and reliefs from the many madnesses that come and go. As a young man I felt the many stings of sensitivity when greeted with a conditioned societal sense of toxic masculinity which dogged, and still dogs, rural Ireland and the rest of the world.

Through the medium of this video and as a result of my relationship with director Mark William Logan I felt ready to embrace all of the trauma within and without.”

The director adds:

“’Altar Wine’ is a film exploring the exorcism and ultimate relief from the pain and trauma we have all endured as a result of our humanness. The ancestral trauma which was passed down to us by our elders, who were themselves victims. Victims of oppression, judgement and abuse. ‘Altar Wine’ is a film about the demonification of the feminine by religious institutions, the abuse of our planet by capitalism and the fear based trauma passed down through parents.”

‘Altar Wine’ is the next step on a path that the young writer from the border counties has been carving for the past three years, following a series of self-released EPs and all-consuming live performances that have added to his burgeoning reputation in Ireland and beyond.

‘Altar Wine’ is released on Rubyworks on Wednesday 2nd October. David Keenan’s debut album – ‘A Beginner’s Guide To Bravery’ – will be released on Friday 10th January 2020. He is on tour in America, Ireland, the UK and Europe from now until it’s over.

Live dates can be found at davidkeenan.ie

Last word to Mr. Keenan:

“I’ve never felt more whole,
I’ve never felt more in tune.
I’ve never felt more sane and insane as I did during the making of this video.” 

‘Weaker At The Knees’ is the first single taken from Conor O’Sullivan’s fourth studio album ‘His Mind Invents Its Own Tragedy’. This is a gentle song about getting away from the everyday issues that occupy so much of our time and going to a place that allows us to gain some perspective on our lives. Although Conor accompanies himself on a number of stringed instruments here, the assistance of legendary Irish musician Pat Crowley on accordion along with double bassist Barry O’Shea help give the song its swaying rhythm and reflective mood. 

‘Weaker At The Knees’ is Conor’s first single release even though he has already three previous albums under his belt all to great acclaim.

‘Weaker At The Knees’ is available from conorosullivanmusic.com and iTunes now.

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Keywest have announced a host of in-store appearances across Ireland this October with dates in Cork, Galway, Dublin, Louth and Wexford ahead of the release of their eagerly anticipated album ‘Ordinary Superhero and brand new single ‘C’est La Vie’, out on the 11th October 2019. The album is now available to order with exclusive bundles through Transistor Music here. 

‘C’est La Vie’ is a track that sings about life’s difficulties. However, it goes on to talk about how life goes on and gets better. This powers through in the form of summer vibe with a bouncy acoustic guitar, a track that shows a great folk side to the band and their music. 

The band’s debut album ‘The Message’ entered the top 20 in Ireland, second album ‘Joyland’ went to Number 1 in Ireland in 2015, third album ‘True North’ went to Number 3 in Ireland and they had a string of radio hits such as ‘Carousel’, ‘This Is Heartbreak’, ‘This Summer’, ‘Something Beautiful’ and ‘Cold Hands’. The band have sold out shows across Ireland, including three Dublin sell out shows at The Olympia Theatre, The Academy and Whelan’s, all within 10 months. In addition to sold out headline shows, the band has performed at festivals including British Summer Time, Country 2 Country and Country Music Week in London and Longitude and Electric Picnic festivals in Ireland. The band have recently completed a 13 date Irish, UK and European tour, which included a sold out 1,200 capacity O2 Academy Liverpool show.

Keywest are widely known for their explosive live performances. The four-piece Dublin based band comprises of Kav, Glover, Jimi and Harry. The band formed after being introduced during a trip to Los Angeles where they became friends. Starting out in Dublin, the band found the gig scene in Ireland very slow and began busking, taking their sound directly to the people of Ireland. Whilst honing their sound and style the band became famous and well known for busking on Shop Street in Galway and Grafton Street in Dublin.

Keywest’s upcoming Marshall Records debut ‘Ordinary Superhero’ is out on the October 11th 2019 alongside their brand new single ‘C’est La Vie”, with an Irish, UK and European tour to follow.

KEYWEST IN-STORE DATES

11th October: Golden Discs Cork, 1pm
12th October: OMG @ Zhivago Galway, 1pm
13th October: Golden Discs Dundrum, 1pm
13th October: Golden Discs Drogheda, 5pm
14th October: OMG @ Zhivago Galway, 1pm
15th October: OMG @ Zhivago Galway, 1pm
16th October: Golden Discs Wexford, 1pm
16th October: Golden Discs Liffey Valley, 5pm

https://www.keywestofficial.com/

Beyond the Wash (BTW) is Patrick O’Donnell, a multi-instrumentalist and seasoned songwriter from Waterford, Ireland, now based in Cork. Formed in early 2019, BTW has been producing content with what seems like a fire at his feet within the last year and has impressed audiences with a string of artistic video performances and support slots to established original artists, such as In the Willows, Tiz McNamara and Míde Houlihan. This has lead up to the release of the debut single from BTW, entitled ‘Dusktime’, which has just dropped on all streaming platforms, and is accompanied by a stunning video, directed by Ignas Laugalis, and choreographed by Andrea Williams.

Beyond the Wash brings together a collection of Cork’s most exciting young creatives in Music, Dance, Design and Visual Arts. It is first and foremost a music project, but is collaborative in nature that encourages conversations across the disciplines. Having spent some time refining his sound and developing his craft, BTW is an artist with a compelling vision and if initial reviews are anything to go by, this project is one to watch.

Working as part of the Unemployable Promotions roster, the end of this year is looking very exciting for BTW with a headline tour and the release of a long overdue EP, entitled ‘Murmurings’ (out Nov. 1st). Recorded under the watchful eye of Christian Best of Monique Studios, it features four songs, each one loosely based around a season of the year. The lead single has a burning summer energy; ‘Dusktime’ brings the fire that was promised with poise and purpose.

Hozier has unveiled the podcast ‘Cry Power’, which he has created in collaboration with Global Citizen. The podcast series will see Hozier speak with musicians, artists, writers, campaigners about how to take action and change the world.

The first episode of the ‘Cry Power’ podcast is available now, and features Annie Lennox as Hozier’s guest. Subsequent episodes in the ‘Cry Power’ podcast series will feature Bono, Marcus Mumford and Mavis Staples – who featured on Hozier’s hit single ‘Nina Cried Power’ earlier this year.

Of the podcast, Hozier says:

“I’ve found the making of the Cry Power podcast to be enlightening and inspiring. Sitting down with people I have such admiration for and hearing the stories of how they sought to make a change with what was available to them has been encouraging and uplifting.”

Global Citizen co-founder, Simon Moss says: “Global Citizen is extremely proud to partner with Hozier to find exciting, creative new ways to spark conversation around the Global Goals for Sustainable Development — and inspire more people to join our movement to end extreme poverty. 2020 is a vital year to achieve that mission with just 10 years left to achieve our goal, and we can’t thank Hozier enough for helping drive the necessary action to support the world’s most vulnerable people.”

Joining Hozier for the first episode of the podcast is Annie Lennox – the renowned singer songwriter, campaigner and activist, who along with countless hit records has received many prestigious awards, including eight BRIT Awards, a Golden Globe and four Grammys. She is the first woman to be named a Fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. In 2011, she was awarded an OBE for her contribution towards combating HIV/AIDS as it affects women and children in Africa. Several years ago, she founded ‘The Circle’, an organisation working to connect and inspire women to act and change the injustices and challenges faced by the most disempowered women and girls around the globe. In their conversation, the two discuss Lennox’s family history of activism, Eurythmics’ contribution to Rock Against Racism and activism against apartheid in South Africa, to the founding of NGO The Circle and the current state of protest and activism.

More information about subsequent episodes of the ‘Cry Power’ podcast will follow in due course.

Photo: George P Ramsay

London based Experimental Noise Rock TAYNE are back with their latest single ‘Open Up’ out now via Strange Brew Records.

‘Open Up’ is taken from the bands debut album ‘BREATHE’ which was released last November. Since the release the band has departed from a 2-piece operation and have added additional live drums to the mix making them 3. The band supported HEALTH on their UK and Ireland Tours and are currently recording new material with Wayne Adams of Big Lad & Pet Brick.  

TAYNE’s music is an aural assault, grounded in Industrial soundscapes the welds atmospheric vocals, punishing guitars, overwhelming electronics and pulsating rhythms that create notably immersive live shows and intense sounds

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).

Catch them live at the Waiting Room in London on October 2nd for the launch of their single with support by This Be The Verse and Riotmiloo. 

https://dice.fm/event/pm89k-tayne-2nd-oct-the-waiting-room-london-tickets

Buy the record here :  https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/tayne/breathe

LIVE DATES

7.09.19 ///        MERSE 17                              /// LEIPZIG, GER
28.09.19 ///      THE ROTE INSEL                   /// BERLIN, GER
02.10.19 ///      THE WAITING ROOM             /// LONDON, UK
04.10.19 ///      DUBREK STUDIOS                    /// DERBY, UK
14.10.19 ///      RAMSGATE MUSIC HALL  /// RAMSGATE, UK
18.10.19 ///      VONDEL BUNKER           /// AMSTERDAM, NL
27.10.19 ///      HOCKLEY HUSTLE        /// NOTTINGHAM, UK
01.11.19 ///      BRUNSWICK CELLAR         /// BRIGHTON, UK
21.11.19 ///      FRED ZEPPELINS                        /// CORK, IRL+
22.11.19 ///      WAREHOUSE                           /// GALWAY, IRL+
23.11.19 ///      WHELANS                                  /// DUBLIN, IRL+

+ with Hope Is Noise

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