Month: June 2010

The National Concert Hall, Dublin | Saturday 19 June, 2010

Northern Irelands most unique and cutting edge music business is finally with us, a company not only created to assist with the learning and creative development of budding DJ’s and musicians throughout the world, using their online portal, but to have a modern inviting Apple accredited workspace complete with everything you will ever need, from Video training to a full recording studio suitable for all ages. With a working in house team of Industry professionals, Sonic Academy provides one of a kind educational training for students who want to take the next step in their career or just love music. With the announcement of Sonic Academy 2010 open days and monthly training events, Sonic Academy is certainly cementing itself as a key player within the Music Industry and is set to grow and grow.

At its 2010, Award ceremonies, in New York, 16th June, the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) of America, presented Irish songwriter, Brendan Graham, with a Platinum Award, for US sales of over 1 million copies of Josh Groban’s recording of the single of Graham’s song You Raise Me Up. The song was the single from Groban’s 8 Million plus, selling album Closer and was performed by the singer at Superbowl 2004, in a NASA tribute to the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Smalltown America have done it again, with the release of the infectious new EP from SKIBUNNY, this is a and admired far and wide by the media and fellow musicians alike. This melodic masterpiece is due for release on June 07th 2010 through what can only be described as the most talked about Independent label of the year, Smalltown America.

Tracklisting:
1. Walk Don’t Walk
2. Walk Don’t Walk (Cereal Spiller Re Mix)
3. Ossington
4. Cut and Run

SKIBUNNY are TANYA Mellotte – vocals, guitar, keys and MARK Gordon – vocals, bass, guitar, keys; bittersweet yet uplifting electro-pop with a lush dark underbelly sitting somewhere between Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fourtet and The Cure keeping one eye on the tunes and the other on the dancefloor.  Having already shared the stage with everyone from HOLY F**K to DAVID HOLMES, Skibunny jumped into 2009 with a live showcase at CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK, DJ sets in Brooklyn, an impressive 6 shows at SXSW in Austin, Texas (plus a guest appearance with THE MAE SHI) and a packed out show at THE CAMDEN CRAWL. Skibunny then retreated into the studio to complete their debut album, emerging only to play or DJ at a few key festivals, including T IN THE PARK and a main stage DJ slot at BESTIVAL.

They also managed to fit in a few remixes here and there, including TILLY & THE WALL (Moshi Moshi), THEM:YOUTH (Dirty Boots), THE MAE SHI/YEAH BIG & KID STATIC (Moshi Moshi), DAG FOR DAG (Saddle Creek), PALOMA FAITH (Sony) and labelmates AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR before ending the year supporting HAR MAR SUPERSTAR.

Debut album 'Hugs' will be released in September 2010, and boasts guest vocals by MAPS and Kaori Tsuchida from THE GO! TEAM. Preceding the full length will be the 4 track ‘Walk, Don’t Walk’ EP which includes 2 non-album original tracks and a Cereal Spiller remix of the lead track. Skibunny will be touring extensively in support of both records.

“Promoters, remixers, dj's and a mighty fine band. They make a kind of disco-shoegaze sound, exuberant and exploding into feisty tunes that sound good”
HUW STEPHENS – RADIO ONE

“Fine, top-drawer crunchy electro-rock with big choruses which shout in your ear about a party going on in a house six streets away”
THE IRISH TIMES

“Belfast's no.1 remixers, promoters and commotion causers…they do something pretty special to the crowd”
NME
 

TOUR DETAILS:
JUNE
Thurs 10th June – Inverness, GO North
Fri 11th June – Inverness, GO North
Sat 12th June – Rockness Festival, Inverness, Scotland
Tues 15th June – LONDON, The Monarch
Wed 16th June – NOTTINGHAM, Spanky Van Dykes (live and DJ set)
Thurs 17th June – BRISTOL, Mothers Ruin
Friday 18th June – MANCHESTER, Sub 61
Sat 19th June – LEEDS, Carpe Denim
Thurs 24th June – BATHGATE, Harleys
Fri 25th June – GLASGOW, Capitol
Sat 26th June – EDINBURGH, Electric Circus

JULY
Fri 02nd July – ABERDEEN, Tunnels

SEPT
Sat 18th Sept – PORTSMOUTH, Southsea Festival

The EP, ‘’Walk Don’t Walk’, is available from June 07th 2010 on Itunes and as limited edition CD from the Smalltown America web store.

www.myspace.com/skibunnyclub

www.smalltownamerica.co.uk

"The most exciting new band in the country"
RIGSY-BBC ATL
 
 "If you haven't heard of Yes Cadets yet, you're going to… tipped for big, big things in 2009/2010”
RORY MCCONNELL – BBC RADIO ONE
 
 "Accomplished and infectious, this is one of the most exciting debuts of the year" (8/10)"
LEE GORMAN – AU MAG
 
 
A band who have truly taken Ireland by storm are Yes Cadets, since releasing their self titled debut EP in September 2009, Yes Cadets have stamped a mark on the music scene. With the release of the bands new single ‘Lies’, on June 07th 2010 the success is set to continue, a deeply melodic track produced by Andrew Ferris, a tune made for radio.
 
Yes Cadets were formed in Belfast over the summer of 2008, united by an unhealthy obsession with Canadian indie and an ear for an off-kilter hook. It was not long before their brand of electro-tinged art-rock was causing a scene on national radio. Their first home recorded demo 'Charm Offensive' received airplay on Radio 1, 6music and 1xtra amongst others, and earned them a place in the hearts of the Northern Irish music press as "the most exciting new band in the country".
 
Yes Cadets have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the live circuit, with performances at Oxegen and Glasgowbury and a host of notable support shows, most recently opening for alt-rock luminaries Sunset Rubdown.  Drawing influences from as far afield as Prince, Wolf Parade and Nick Cave, they enjoyed success throughout the media with their debut EP which was released late 2009, being added to playlists throughout Ireland including the Phantom FM ‘A’ List and recording a live session for RTE TV, their new single ‘Lies’ comes at an exciting and optimistic time for the band, who will be touring the UK and Ireland. 2010 is certain to be an eventful year for Yes Cadets…  
 
 Tour Details:
 
June 09th 2010  STIFF KITTEN – Single Launch, Belfast
June 11th 2010  The Stables, Mullingar, Ireland
June 12th 2010  The Pumphouse, Killkenny, Ireland
 
July 03rd 2010  Bakers place, Limerick
July 04th 2010   Black Box, Belfast
July 24th 2010   Glasgowbury, Draperstown
July 31st 2010   Independence Festival, Cork, Ireland
 
August 01st 2010  Castlepalooza Festival, Co Offaly, Ireland
 
November 05th 2010  NME Weekender, Hastings, UK
 
 
The single, ‘Lies’ is available now from the bands myspace and all major download sites from June 07th 2010. More information can be found using the links below.
 
www.myspace.com/yescadets                 www.yescadets.com
 
 

GRAMMY NOMINATED AND TWO TIME IVOR NOVELLO WINNING WRITER / PRODUCER SACHA SKARBEK HOSTS IMRO SONGWRITING MASTER CLASS

The Bluestacks Jam Club will be holding The Singer-Songwriters’ Star Challenge over the summer starting Monday June 7th at 9pm Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town, and every Monday night until August 30th. There will be a €5,000 prize for the overall winner and a slot on Balcony TV http://balconytv.com/which has over 500,000 viewers, plus recording time in a studio for four tracks. The challenge will be open to unsigned solo artists and bands and entry is free of charge. To qualify, each artist or band must have their own guitars and amps and ten or more original songs of a high standard (strictly no covers) as there will be two 30 min heats each Monday night. Drums and PA will be provided as the regular Open Jam Session will take place as normal at 9pm.

The winner will be selected by online voting which will cost the voter €2. It is in your interest to let your fans and friends know about this event by linking the event to your Facebook profile and inviting as many fans to come to support you as possible. Part of the terms and conditions of entry to the competition state that all participants should promote the event and aim to get as many votes as possible.

The final will be held in The Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal on Friday 29th of October at 8.00pm. The top 5 acts from the vote count will feature and the winner will be selected by a panel of judges on the night. Each applicant must also have four or more original tracks on My Space and send a link to their tracks to BluestacksJamClub@nullymail.comand BluestacksJamClub@nullmyspace.com. Fans will be able to vote via a link to your MySpace page tracks if they are unable to attend the live performances.

To enter, email BluestacksJamClub@nullymail.comwith the subject heading “Bluestacks Singer Songwriters Challenge” and include the following information:

• Band name / Artist name
• Band member names
• Contact details including a phone number
• Details of instruments you play
• Ten song set list
• Link to the your MySpace page

The Drake Music Project Northern Ireland is seeking new music access tutors to deliver our programme of integrated music workshops, training sessions and ensemble sessions for our 2010 – 2011 season, working on a freelance basis. Hours are very flexible, and induction training will be available.

The Drake Music Project Northern Ireland exists in order to enable people with disabilities to independently compose and perform music using access music technology

Role: Access Music Tutor
Fee: £16 per hour
Application deadline: Friday 9^th July 2010

The following skills and experience are highly desirable:

• General musical skills preferably including at least one instrument and an understanding of musical notation
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and enthusiasm for creativity.
• Experience of working in an outreach/education setting, ideally with disabled people
• A range of creative music technology skills – software and hardware
• An understanding of and experience in breaking down barriers to access, using assistive music technology (e.g. Soundbeam, MIDI Creator, I-CubeX etc.) as well as adapting mainstream music technology for access
• A willingness to learn and assimilate new skills quickly and confidently in response to new challenges
• The ability to work creatively, imaginatively, flexibly and appropriately depending on the needs of different individuals and situations

To apply please send your CV with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to Dr. Michelle McCormack, Project Leader of the Drake Music Project Northern Ireland, at mpj.mcormack@nulltiscali.co.uk, or post hard copy to the address below.

The Drake Music Project
UNIT 5,
RDC,
Win Business Park,
Canal Quay,
NEWRY,
Co Down, BT35 6PH

The National Campaign for the Arts is organising a series of free workshops and briefing sessions on
the National Day of Action (NDoA)
 
Each session includes:
 
Information, presentations, group discussions, networking with fellow arts workers & advocates
 
Why you need to attend:
 
Following the 2010 budget announcement last year the Arts Council received a €9 million reduction in funding from the Government. More than 300 organisations subsequently had their grant cut, some by up to 65%. A further 30 had their funding cut all together.  The Taoiseach has indicated that further cuts are coming and Minister Hanafin has publicly acknowledged cuts will be happening in her department. So we have to work together now to protect the arts, our jobs and our country’s future.  The National Day of Action on Friday 17 September 2010 is our chance to do exactly that.
 
Where & When:
 
Wed 23 June, 5pm – 6.30pm – Dublin
 
The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children, 11a Eustace Street
Temple Bar, D2
 
Rsvp to: Marcella Corcoran – corcorankennedy@nulleircom.net
 
Thurs 24 June, 5pm – 6.30pm – Galway
 
Town Hall Theatre, Courthouse Sq, Galway
 
Rsvp to: Antonella Villani – antonella@nullaoifeonline.com
 
Fri 25 June, 5pm – 6.30pm – Cork
 
(in association with Cork Midsummer Festival 2010 – free & concession priced tickets to festival shows that evening. Details when you rsvp)
Lecture Theatre, Crawford Gallery, Emmet Place, Cork (tbc)
 
Rsvp to: Siobhan Colgan – colgansiobhan@nullgmail.com

Tribute to the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem

Bringing Irish songs and ballads back to one of the most popular venues in the 1980’s at The Lower Deck, Portobello, Dublin, starting on Saturday 5th June 2010 and every Saturday night will be one of Ireland’s most talented  folk bands Fiddlers Green with the best of Irish songs, music and laughter, and a performance that has not been equalled in Dublin City for many years.