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Month: April 2010

Utne Independent Press Award for JMI

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The Journal of Music announced as winner of the 2010 Utne Independent Press Award for Arts Coverage


The Journal of Music, a bimonthly music magazine published in Ireland, has won the 2010 Utne Independent Press Award for Arts Coverage.
 
The Utne awards in the USA, now in their twenty-first year, survey over 1,300 independent magazines from all around the world. At an awards ceremony in Washington DC on Sunday, 25 April,The Journal of Musicbecame the first Irish magazine to win the award.
 
In choosingThe Journal of Music, the judges said: "The Journal of Musicstands well apart from the pack in the music press, both because its published in Ireland and because it covers such a wide range of music in its pages, from classical and folk to pop and jazz. In articles written by musicians but meant for all, this magazine brings to life the craftsmanship, artistry and passion-stirring powers of music."
 
Commenting on the award, Editor Toner Quinn said: "Our aim was to create a new type of music magazine for international readers, one that provided the bigger picture on musical life across genres. It is a great honour for the magazine to be recognised by the Utne awards, which have consistently highlighted the best alternative publications from around the world."
 
The Journal of Music, which has been supported by the Arts Council since it was founded, now has readers in twenty-three countries.
 
Over the past year The Journal of Musichas published contributions from composer Bill Whelan, choral conductor Paul Hillier, poet and novelist Ciaran Carson and US minimalist composer Tom Johnson.
 
The magazine's staff of four is based in Galway, Dublin and Berlin. Edited by musician Toner Quinn (Galway), the Art Director is Simon O'Connor (Dublin), the magazine's Deputy Editor is composer Benedict Schlepper-Connolly (Berlin), and the website developer is Simon Doyle (Dublin).
 
The Journal of Musicwebsite:http://www.journalofmusic.com
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Ireland Promoting New Music Presents

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NewSoundWorlds 2010
Kevin Barry Room at The National Concert Hall
 
May 4th at 8.30pm
Darragh Morgan, violin John Tilbury, piano

Morton Feldman For John Cage
 
The second concert on May 4th will feature Darragh Morgan and John Tilbury in Morton Feldman’s iconic “For John Cage” which they have recently recorded.
 
admission:    
10 / 5 euro
National Concert Hall Box Office 10am-7pm Mon to Sat, No booking fees
Telephone 01 417 0000, Fax 01 475 1507 Online: www.nch.ie  Email: info@nullnch.ie 
 
location:        
http://www.nch.ie/Your-Visit/Location-and-Parking.aspx
 
contact:         
Siobhan Cleary +353 87 6660964 / newsoundworlds@nullgmail.com

funded by the Arts Council and IMRO
These concerts are presented in association with the The National Concert Hall
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IMRO SHOWCASE TOUR 2010 | BEST OF SHOWCASE TOUR SHOWCASE

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LIMITED NUMBER OF GUEST LIST PLACES AVAILABLE

 
RSVP with names before Friday 30th April to showcase@nullimro.ie

 
THE ACADEMY,
57 Middle Abbey Street
Dublin 1

THIS COMING SATURDAY, MAY 1ST
TIME:  7:00pm
featuring –  The Cast of Cheers, The Minutes, Mia Sparrow, Miracle Bell & Jody Has A Hit List
 
The nineteenth IMRO Showcase Tour comes to a head this coming Saturday, May 1st, at The Academy in Dublin. Having ripped up venues across Ireland over the last few weeks, six acts will take to the stage at The Academy this coming Saturday in a ‘Best of Showcase Tour’ set. Already announced are hotly tipped indie kids The Cast of Cheers; one of Dublin's must see live acts The Minutes; Kildare electro-synth-pop trio Miracle Bell, who release their debut album Light Shape Sound on May 7th; Dublin- based synth-indie outfit Mia Sparrow, who are about to begin a UK tour and power punk-popsters Jody Has A Hit List.
 
The evening in The Academy will be hosted by 2FM’s Dave Fanning and fans of the IMRO Showcase Tour should check out The Scene in The Irish Daily Star this coming Friday to read interviews with some of the ‘Best of Showcase’ participants. See www.state.ie to check out all of the bands that took part in the 2010 IMRO Showcase Tour and don’t forget to tune into 2FM to hear songs from all the IMRO Showcase Tour bands.

*** PLUS Free entry to Propaganda; UK an Ireland's biggest indie club night featuring very special guest DJ's for those arriving before 9pm ***
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THE JAPANESE POPSTARS ARE READY TO DESTROY

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The Japanese Popstars, a trio from Northern Ireland who have been spent the last 18 months touring the world and winning huge numbers of fans to their sparkling electronic dance music have just signed to EMI/Virgin Records.

Hailed as the rightful heirs to the likes of Underworld, Leftfield, The Chemical Brothers and Orbital, Decky, Gary and Galo’s debut album ‘We Just Are’ attracted huge critical acclaim (eg ‘Literally amazing’, ‘The most exciting new electronic act on the planet’, ‘F**king amazing’) and led to them performing their stunning live sets at Glastonbury, Ultra Festival, Fabric, Rockness, Fuji Rock and Planet Love among many others. This summer’s festivals include Bestival, Creamfields, Parklife, Electric Picnic and Rockness.

New single ‘Destroy’ is released by Virgin Records on May 30. Featuring vocals by Jon Spencer (of the Blues Explosion) the single paves the way for the band’s second album which is due out in the summer.
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Robin Gibb Delivers Keynote Message at IBI Conference

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ISPs must assume their responsibilities for the content they profited from, for years – Robin Gibb

21 April 2010:  Singer and Songwriter Robin Gibb, best known as a member of the Bee Gees, which he co-founded with his brothers Maurice and Barry, addressed the annual IMRO sponsored conference of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland yesterday.
 
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Radio: Stayin’ Alive’. More than 100 independent radio station owners, senior management, broadcasters and their guests attended yesterday's conference.
 
Robin Gibb had intended to travel to Dublin for the conference but was unable to do so as a result of the current restrictions on air travel. Instead he addressed the conference by audio link from the UK.
 
A strong campaigner for the preservation of copyright and royalties, Robin Gibb is President of the International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies (CIASC).  He addressed the conference on the contentious issue of music creators rights in the digital age.
 
He said; “I believe that, like creators, broadcasters contribute to a healthy society; I believe that the same could be said about ISPs. By enabling access to the almost limitless possibilities and information offered on the web, ISPs have rapidly put themselves at the heart of most modern societies. The importance of music as a driver for digital take-up is undisputed and it would appear obvious that creators, their publishers and their collecting societies should engage with ISPs as a matter of course.
 
However this does not seem to have happened. There is a disconnect between the parties, one that has been widened by the growth of internet piracy of writers music and by the ISPs default public position of hiding behind their mere conduit status and the necessity of net neutrality. This must change. I strongly believe that ISPs can no longer be considered as mere carriers like they used to be 20 years ago.
 
“In view of their growing role in the digital distribution of creative content, we – creators, CISAC and authors’ societies – invite ISPs to assume their responsibilities for the content they profited from, for years. Copyright is not a barrier to progress. It is a facilitator of progress, creativity and communication.”
 
“Authors’ societies, such as IMRO are not for profit organisations created and managed by creators for creators. They are the true friends of creators, striving to give our works maximum exposure and to protect our rights (and remuneration)”, he said.
 
“I want to state here in Dublin that Authors’ societies are not a roadblock on the way to the digital economy or the consumers’ access to culture, wherever, whenever and in whatever format they want. Authors’ societies are business facilitators for broadcasters and digital services, and supporters of cultural development. Without such societies, you would have just bad quality pirated products and mainstream culture, and this is a far greater barrier to progress.”
 
“Authors’ Societies offer to broadcasters the chance to get blanket licences for all of the music which they use from a “one stop shop”. The relationship that has developed between societies such as IMRO and independent broadcasters, I believe works well for those broadcasters as well as the writers who create the music to which the public wants to listen, be it on radio or television”, he concluded.
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MASAMBA and MANTECA

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Saturday, 24 Apr 2010

Crawdaddy
Admission €10
Doors 7.30
TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR

MASAMBA
Masamba are Irelands premier latin percussion and dance ensemble.Formed in 1994 they have toured extensively throughtout Ireland Europe Mexico and Brazil and are well known for their high powered Festival and Clubnight performances. Masamba will be performing a set of lively brazilian percussive dance numbers and original brazilian carnival anthems as well as funky reggaes and sambas.
 
Proceeds from the show will go towards funding their upcoming road trip to Berlin where they will be showcasing at the Karnavel De Kulturen Festival.

MANTECA
Manteca was founded in Dublin in 2003 by Cuban master-percussionist & composer Juan "Cuco" Castellanos when he formed an ensemble under his direction consisting of Dubliners Des McCarthy & Nick McCabe on percussion, Angela Cox on percussion & vocals, Katrin Goldbeck from Hamburg on saxes, & Paco Vidal from Barcelona on piano. When Cuco left in 2005 to teach in the USA the group recruited another Dubliner, Fergal McGirl on bass & soon after Chris Turner from London on tenor sax & flute. Newest member is Marco Ciancaglini from Rome on guitars.
 
The band have performed regularly throughout Ireland as well as in the UK and Spain.The eight members of the band between them have extensive experience from powerhouse percussion, classical music, big band jazz, rock and irish trad. Manteca perform a repertoire of authentic high energy mambo, cubop, latin jazz and bossa nova songs/instrumentals by artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Buena Vista as well as their own original material.
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THE FRANK AND WALTERS are Back

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THE QUEEN IS DEAD – LONG LIVE THE PARSON!

The Frank & Walters release ‘The Parson’ on April 23rd 2010 that will prove, yet again, that they continue to swing the mightiest of pop hooks. The single is part one in a series of four singles the Franks will release to coincide with the unfolding of the Seasons.

The Parson is joyous and uplifting, close your eyes and you can almost smell the blossom and feel the cool breeze of Spring on your cheeks. A new decade and a new beginning, but with enough of what went before to remain familiar. Like a long lost friend finally returned from the madness that engulfed our idyllic little world. Perfect harmony. But why does The Parson feel the need to lock his bicycle? And what of Uncle Matthews roaming eye? Surely nothing sinister could possibly invade these villages and fields? All shall be reveled on April 23rd.
 
The Frank and Walters are one of the most recognizable alternative rock bands hailing from Cork, Ireland in the past 2 decades. The band: Paul Linehan (Lead vocal & bass), Ashley Keating- (Drums) & Kevin Pedreschi (lead Guitar) took the band name in honour of two eccentric Cork characters. Two decades on from the release of their very first record, and the Franks continue to defy expectations. With Indie hits such as ‘Fashion Crisis Hits New York’ & ‘After All’ (which reached the top twenty in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #11. The group also appeared on Top of the Pops in support of the single; it went as high as #5 in the Irish charts). Their music today is as relevant as any of the new pretenders on the block and only a handful of bands anywhere in the world can ! lay claim to such longevity of popularity. Each year, the Frank and Walters perform sell out venues across the UK, Europe, and the US and their records, both new and classic, continue to sell across the world.
 
Upcoming Irish shows include:
 
April 23rd The Parson Launch, tbc
June 05th Jolly Roger, Sherkin Island.
June 18th Cyprus Avenue, Cork City. (Summer Single launch)
June 26th Sea Sessions Festival, Bundoran, Co. Donegal.
July 11th Cork Week Festival, Crosshaven, Co. Cork.
July 16th Pitch Party Festival, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork.
July 31st Cork x SW, Skibereen, Co. Cork.
August 06th Cluny, Newcastle, England.
August 07th Tall Ships Festival, Hartlepool. England.
September 11th Magnet, Berlin, Germany.
September 22nd-25th- Czech Republic
 
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Joe Echo

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Sample the joys of Joe Echo as he takes you on a journey of sheer mind blowing vocal power and diversification with his blend of acoustic, rock and dance with a relentless attitude and killer tunes to match. – Mid Ulster Today

2009 was a year of building the Northern Ireland artist JOE ECHO’s foundations through continual touring, writing and recording. His Live work included shows with The Script, Paolo Nutini, James Morrison, Powderfinger and Eskimo Joe amongst others. Following successful summer festivals, in October he toured Australia for the first time playing a major festival in Perth, shows with Paolo Nutini in Sydney and Melbourne and several headline club dates.

 Touring in 2010 is a priority and he’s recently secured the services of one of the worlds leading live agents, X-Ray Touring’s Steve Strange. Joe says “Having Steve on board is very exciting and he’s an integral part of the Joe Echo team which has gone from strength to strength in the past year.”
 
His writing throughout 2009 has been as busy as it’s been diverse. Following writing stints with various established artists from Paul Oakenfold to Groove Armada the year ended with a Grammy nomination for the Madonna worldwide hit “Celebration” which he co-wrote with Madonna and Oakenfold.
 
His movie work includes producing and performing the songs for Philip Ridley’s dark horror movie “Heartless” starring Jim Sturgess and scheduled for release along with a Universal Records soundtrack album in May of this year.
 
Two other Joe Echo songs are in ‘Love and Suicide’, the first American movie shot entirely on location in Cuba and another in ‘Wild Target’ starring Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt to be released soon.
 
Joe has written, recorded and co-produced the songs for “Killing Bono”, a movie based on Neil McCormick’s memoirs of his years at school with Bono and U2 and his rather less successful rival band as they went through the 1970’s. Described as an “Irish music-based comedy” it’s written by Ian Le Frenais and Dick Clement, the writers of “The Commitments” and “Almost Famous” and is directed by Nick Hamm and stars Ben Barnes and Robert Sheehan. Filming began in Belfast in January and the international release along with Sony’s soundtrack album is scheduled for later this year.
 
In between all of this he’s been working on his other priority, the first JOE ECHO solo album, and this will now be completed shortly in time for Spring and Summer touring.
 
Hear the new single ‘Wonderful Way’ just released on iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/wonderful-way/id358835439
 
 “This is a tough business for any new artist and I’m really fortunate to have had a quite outstanding 2009 and now, with my first album almost complete, the releases of two excellent new movies and the exciting new touring opportunities it’s time to work even harder in 2010.” – JOE
 
Spotlight

Ireland Promoting New Music presents

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NewSoundWorlds 2010

Kevin Barry Room at The National Concert Hall
Tuesday April 20th at 8.30pm
 
Isabelle O’Connell, piano
 
Ken Steen Driving Me Crazy  
Terry Winter Owens Redshift
Henry Cowell Aeolian Harp and The Banshee
James Mobberley Caution to the Wind
George Crumb Makrokosmos Bk. 1
 
Featuring New York based pianist Isabelle O’ Connell with a fascinating programme built around George Crumb’s masterful Makrokosmos. Originally from Dublin, Isabelle O’Connell is one of Ireland’s most successful pianists with a growing international career that has taken her across four continents. As soloist and chamber musician she has performed around the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy and Ireland. Receiving a standing ovation at her New York Debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in January 2002 and only the second Irish pianist ever to perform there, the New York Concert Review wrote: “She has the technical prowess… and a spirit and intelligence to bring it all together.”
 
Also: Tuesday May 4th at 8.30pm
Darragh Morgan and John Tilbury perform Morton Feldman’s iconic For John Cage

admission: 10 / 5 euro
National Concert Hall Box Office 10am-7pm Mon to Sat, No booking fees
Telephone 01 417 0000, Fax 01 475 1507 Online: www.nch.ie Email: info@nullnch.ie
location: http://www.nch.ie/Your-Visit/Location-and-Parking.aspx
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The CORONAS

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New Download Single "Someone Else's Hands"
From their Meteor Award Winning Best Irish Album "TONY WAS AN EX-CON"
Also Features theSingles "LISTEN DEAR" & "FAR FROM HERE"
Out 30-4-10 on 3ú Records / iTunes
www.thecoronas.net
 
The Coronas – Australian Tour – May 2010

20th – The Zoo, Brisbane, QLD
21st – The Factory, Sydney, NSW
22nd – Newcastle League Club, Newcastle, NSW
23rd – The Mean Fiddler, Sydney, NSW
27th – The Governor Hindmarsh – Adelaide, SA
28th – The Prince of Wales, Melbourne, VIC
30th – The Fly By Night Club, Perth, WA
 
 
The Coronas are back. Their debut LP – 2007's Heroes or Ghosts – achieved platinum sales in Ireland, and spawned massive singles such as "Grace, Don't Wait!", "Heroes or Ghosts" and especially "San Diego Song" which became an anthem in clubs and radio stations all across the country.

The Dublin quartet quickly followed its' release with sell-out shows nationwide, two meteor award nominations and a spellbinding set on the main stage at Oxegen. All this along with tours in the U.S., UK and Asia, has enabled the Coronas to establish themselves as one of Irelands' biggest new bands.
 
"We've worked really hard for the last two years but taking a break never really occurred to us", says lead singer Danny O'Reilly. "We wanted to continue to build on what we had going and we knew the only way to do that was to go into the studio and record an album that we felt blew Heroes (or Ghosts) out of the water".
 
"We were quite young when we recorded Heroes or Ghosts", concurs guitarist Dave McPhillips (indeed they had all just turned 21). "And, although we were so proud of it, we really didn't expect it to do as well as it did. The last couple of years on the road, constantly gigging and developing our sound, left us with a better idea of the album we wanted to make"
 
Indeed anyone who has become accustomed to the Coronas own brand of pop-rock tunes will have plenty of reason to cheer when it comes to their new album, Tony Was An Ex-Con, recorded over 6 weeks in the prestigious Sawmills studio in Cornwall. This time round the guys teamed up with esteemed producer John Cornfield (Muse, Razorlight, Oasis). "Working with John in the mill (Sawmills) was an amazing experience", says bassist Knoxy. "We thought that, with his resume, he'd be telling us exactly what to do but he was really cool and just let us do our thing. It was a really chilled-out, productive atmosphere."
 
 
The title track comes from an incredible story about the lads on tour in America, involving a psychotic bus driver who left the entire entourage fearing for their lives. "It's funny looking back at it now, but at the time it was really quite scary", says drummer Conor Egan. McPhillips: "The song was one of the first new songs that set us off on the writing spree that led to the entire record so it felt like the right title"
 
In Tony Was An Ex-Con, The Coronas' fans will once again be reminded of the endearing spirit that made Heroes or Ghosts a true word-of-mouth success, while many will be impressed by how far they've come musically.
 
"We're so proud of this record", says O'Reilly. "We realised along time ago that it's impossible to try to impress everyone. You can only make music that you believe in yourself – be it pop, rock, indie, rap, whatever. Hopefully the tunes will speak for themselves"
 
The Coronas latest album 'Tony Was An Ex-Con' was released in Ireland on Sept. 25th,2009.
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