Month: March 2021

Dublin-based indie rock band Lavelle are this week announcing the release of their new single ‘Start As Friends’ on all digital platforms.

The latest release off their forthcoming album, ‘Start As Friends’ is a light and up-tempo summer track based around a mellow acoustic guitar hook and driven by a simple bass groove. The band is accompanied on this track by singer Maria Hynes on backing vocals, who provides an extra harmonic lift throughout.

Together since 2014, three-piece Lavelle have spent recent years in and out of Dublin’s Camden Recording Studios working on their debut album ‘Stem The Flow’ (scheduled for release later this year) with veteran Irish producer and sound engineer Conor Brady.

The band’s four-track EP ‘Feel Like I Do’ was released in April 2017, followed in recent years by several singles off the album. Most recently the band released the energetic track ‘Rejuvenate’ in December 2020, along with a music video reflecting the Covid lockdown that the country was enduring.

Commenting on the theme of their latest release, Lavelle’s lead singer and songwriter John Ryan said: “The song was written 15 years ago in an attempt to impress a girl! Her previous relationship had ended and I tried to convey how hard breakups can be in the song.”

‘Start As Friends’ is available on all digital platforms from Friday, 2nd April.

For more information about the band, visit lavellemusic.com

http://www.lavellemusic.com/index.html
https://www.facebook.com/lavelleband
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCznOiJQz-mj6ZIZD8zipKAQ
https://twitter.com/lavelle_music
https://open.spotify.com/artist/06N113DWCcm821fGtpiw5p

Beoga are back with a five-track instrumental EP entitled ‘Breathe’, released on 9 April. From the earthy vibes of ‘Origins’ to the invigorating joy of ‘Up’, each track in some way reflects the global upheaval over the last twelve months and the personal experiences of the band members. Produced by the band’s own Seán Óg Graham, ‘Breathe’ is an EP that reflects a melting pot of emotions and influences held together by that unmistakeable Beoga sound.

The EP opens with ‘Origins’, a reflective air symbolising the hopes of a new year and new beginnings, featuring delicate piano and lush string lines amidst a pensive melody on accordion. ‘Disarray’ has darker, grungier textures with distorted electric guitars, drums and synths. ‘Up’ features a sample from the incomparable Maya Angelou, the iconic American poet – ‘Just like hopes springing high, still I’ll rise.’ This is followed by ‘Fired’ a meditation on climate change and the human role within it. ‘Breathe’ closes out the EP; vocal samples project a sense of meditative calm whilst fiddle and accordion provide a trad undertone throughout.

Beoga thrive on approaching Irish traditional music differently, whether that’s on production or by mixing genres. ‘Breathe’ continues with that same adventurous spirit and along a path Beoga embarked upon with their May 2020 mini-album ‘Carousel’ which introduced new audiences to Irish music.

Singer Niamh Dunne opines, “The record started out with fragments of ideas. In the last few years as a band musically we’ve taken a lot of twists and turns; we figured an instrumental EP would give us the opportunity to bring everything together in terms of a sound that captures where we’ve come from, as well as where we are now.“

Beoga was formed in County Kerry in 2002 at the All-Ireland Fleadh and the line-up features Damian McKee on accordion, multi-instrumentalist Seán Óg Graham, pianist Liam Bradley and Eamon Murray on bodhrán, with Niamh Dunne joining in 2005, on vocals and fiddle. After five albums, a shortlist for a GRAMMY and numerous international tours, Beoga reached a wider international audience as a result of a chance encounter with Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance and Johnny McDaid. This led to the band co-writing Ed’s massive hit ‘Galway Girl’ and ‘Nancy Mulligan’ from his album ‘Divide’. They also performed as Ed Sheeran’s only special guest on his headlining Glastonbury performance and supported him on his Irish stadium tour in 2018.

Gigging opportunities have been thin on the ground in recent months, but Beoga are proud to present an exclusive online concert broadcast live from The Limelight in Belfast on Sat. 17 April. This show should have been a live show and we all know why it now isn’t, but the band didn’t want to let their fans down so it has been reimagined as an online concert. The show will feature music taken from their extensive catalogue including ‘Carousel’, as well as some brand-new music from ‘Breathe’. This concert provides a unique chance to see Beoga perform live in their hometown from anywhere in the world, along with a live aftershow hangout, the one-time opportunity to buy exclusive new merch, and the option to create private ‘houses’ to watch from with your friends. For more information go to https://www.momenthouse.com/beoga

In addition, both of Beoga’s planned April shows in Belfast & Dublin are being rescheduled till November so any ticketholders for these gigs can hang onto their tickets as they will remain valid for the November shows.

Saturday 17 April, 8pm  
Online show Live from The Limelight, Belfast.             
Tickets

Thursday 25th November       
The Academy, Dublin                                                          
Tickets

Friday 26th November             
The Limelight, Belfast                                                          
Tickets  

Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter

www.beogamusic.com

‘Wildflower’ is the debut album from AVA, out 9th April, comprising her original songs that encapsulate the rhythm of the earth; the unwavering momentum of love and loss and the global concerns we have for ourselves, for each other and for the world we call home. Contemporary with strong traditional influences, the album has its roots in World Music, haunting at times, lavish at others, irresistible melodies with ethereal overtones.

AVA is the name under which Irish singer/songwriter Éabha McMahon presenting her solo work (the phonetical spelling of Éabha).

Éabha has already garnered world attention for her outstanding unique voice, firstly as part of Anuna, the internationally renowned Irish Choral group and then recording and touring with the globally successful Irish music collective Celtic Woman with whom she received her first GRAMMY nomination.

Brought up steeped in the Irish language and trained in the Irish traditional style of singing, known as Sean Nos, her debut album sees Éabha continuing that centuries-old Irish tradition of storytelling through song, bringing her own modern contemporary style to the art and seamlessly blending English lyrics with her oft-forgotten native language that adds a poetic rhythm to her songwriting.

There is nothing more Irish than a rainy day, a low whistle and a Connemara pony.

Like the pony, Pauly Fagan has felt the restlessness of lockdown, the frustration of time lost waiting, the longing to hug his parents and enjoy performing in front of a live audience. The struggles we have faced in the past year have brought us together in the loneliest of ways. Observing guidelines and lockdowns has been challenging. Being separated from loved ones and life’s normal routines has put so much pressure on everyone.

New single, ‘Can I Rest’ highlights the need people have for the comfort of another – the sanctuary of being held in someone’s arms. He is thankful that his children and family are healthy and that one day we will hear music playing again.

The energy when Pauly and Zeto play together is contagious. The music is amazing with Pauly’s powerful vocals and mastery of their seemingly endless instruments.  You can’t take your eyes off them as they perform. With deep global and personal cultural influences their sound is completely unique. Audiences are spellbound and love to hear Pauly’s music. A talented singer and songwriter, Pauly was born and raised in Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland. Pauly was greatly influenced by his parent’s love for music and was introduced to it from an early age. His unique voice and unbelievable harmonies amaze people wherever he performs. His writing ability surprises many as he writes song after song often inspired by love; won, lost and observed. 

He is a keen supporter of charities and loves to roll up his sleeves for a good cause.  He will tell you how blessed he feels to have worked with some very talented people. He plays several instruments from the guitar, piano, and trumpet and loves jamming with other musicians.

He has spent the past year during Covid lockdown in Dublin with his children and partner Àine. 

Zeto Feijão Mackenzie, madly talented and full of surprises audiences first warm to his engaging smile; then WHAM – you hear him play… and then another instrument appears, then another and another. When he pulls out the bagpipes people nearly fall off their chairs – Incredible!

Born and raised in Almada, Portugal with Scottish ancestors, he is a true artist. Growing up he had many influences beginning with his Mother’s singing. He was born deaf in one ear due to a car accident his parents had one week before he was born. This makes him all the more amazing as a musician.

Beyond music he is an actor with many credits to his name including the hugely popular television series The Vikings filmed in Ireland.

Recorded at Abbey Lane Studios in Drogheda and coproduced with the talented Fran McDermott and Eric Sharpe.

Following the success of ‘Any Other World’ (more than 100 plays on Irish radio and several hundred worldwide), Tommy Keyes has just released a new single. 

The track, ‘Tightrope’, is taken from his recent album ‘Ageing With Attitude’.  “‘Any Other World’ was a very sombre track so this time I’m going for something a bit livelier,” according to Tommy; “it’s rock’n’roll, driven by an infectious piano riff and some great guitarwork by legendary session man Dick Farrelly.” 

‘Tightrope’ is available now on all download and streaming platforms.

‘Chatanooga Man’ is the first single out now from Irish singer/songwriter Jim Barrett.

A collection of wonderful Irish musicians gathered to create something totally uplifting. The ‘Chatanooga Man’ is a representation of whatever God somebody may personally pray to and the one who’ll be waiting for you at the end of the line. As the song states though, ‘”We’ll be singing til we reach the Chatanooga Man,” and living life to the fullest is the song’s theme throughout.

Jim Barrett delivers a sweet mellow vocal to compliment such accomplished musicians here and the blend creates something magical.

The band – Noel Barrett on bass, Paul Seymour on keyboards, Des Field on drums, Reggie on guitar. Danny Byrt on percussion and Trish White along with Elly O Keefe on backing vocals.

Jim’s influences range from Michael McDonald to Joni Mitchell and Freddie White. The latter being somebody Jim has co-written with in the past and their song ‘Tia’ was released on Freddie’s ‘Stormy Lullaby’ album in 2008. They have also been collaborating again recently to work on possible material for Freddie Whites next album. 

In spite of Covid restrictions effecting the music industry and in particular access to recording studios, Strabane singer song writer Brian Hassan has released his a single ‘What’s In A Smile’. By recording the vocals and guitar and transferring the raw tracks to Peter McVeigh in Belfast, Peter was able to remotely get other musicians to record their tracks before mixing and mastering the finished song.

This is the first of four original singles, which will be released one a month over the next four months. These were recorded with the assistance of the Arts Council for Northern Ireland as part of their support for artists during the current Covid 19 pandemic and restrictions.

The song is an original song and was recorded with the assistance of Eamonn Doherty, True Tone Studios where the vocals and guitar were recorded, Peter McVeigh (Busta Rhymes, Mike Malinin, Goo Goo Dolls, Andy Dunlop, Travis) who arranged, engineered, recorded and mastered the songs and played everything else on the track! John McCullough (currently working with Van Morrison), who arranged and played piano and double GRAMMY certificate winner Mark Evitts from Nashville who arranged and played the strings on the songs. The song is now available on all usual digital platforms.

https://music.apple.com/gb/album/whats-in-a-smile/1559904182?i=1559904183

https://brianhassan.hearnow.com/whats-in-a-smile

www.brianhassan.com

‘Illinois’ is an original song steeped in the mythology of the old west with an eye on the gritty reality of living in America in the present day. 

Phil Scott says : “I have always had a great love for Americana imagery and I hope ‘Illinois’ can stand proud among its peers in the genre.”

The song is recorded and produced by Philip Scott.

Illinois will be available on https://philipscott.bandcamp.com/  from 15th April.

Illinois is part of an E.P. called ‘Rodeo’ which is also available on https://philipscott.bandcamp.com/

“Listening to this EP ‘Rodeo’ by Phil Scott I get a feeling of people on the move, some fleeing from murder scenes, some just needing to get away from wherever they find themselves. The stories are sparse leaving the listeners to picture their own versions of the characters. These songs are gems.” – Charlie McGettigan

Following the success of their debut single ‘Come By Me’ MOM, who have now changed their name to MOM + THE REBELS, return with another undeniable banger, true to their refreshingly-unique Pop sound! ‘Down By The River’ is an appeal-to-the-repeat-button song about having faith in yourself that you’ll always find your way in the end. This gospel-inspired, foot-stomping, banjo-driven pop gem will have you dancing around your living room like a lunatic.

Set for release on April 2nd 2021, it has the same joyfulness and versatility as their debut single, but with a matured production style.

7-time All-Ireland champion harp and banjo player, Lisa Canny, from Co. Mayo met Bristol-born producer and bass player Dejay Edmund in a studio in London in 2016. When their two worlds collided something magical happened. They spent the next 3 months living and working out of that tiny studio with just one microphone and a whole world of fusion to explore. Now with a catalogue of dozens of songs ready for release in their unique folk-meets-gospel sound MOM + THE REBELS are here to have their say!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearerebelpop/

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/4bgAaM9rfXdY7l1jsW0PLm?si=KdQ38JB5QyOW8899xMq7mA&nd=1

FB: https://www.facebook.com/momandtherebels

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqwxDhoR04CPhjLYYrNJJow