Trad for Trócaire
‘Trad for Trócaire’ is a traditional Irish music fundraising campaign that will encourage Irish musicians, venue owners and traditional music fans to ‘
Who can get involved?
How to get involved?
Month: September 2010
Dave Peyton
Singer/Songwriter/Musician, hailing from Ireland. Raised in the small country town of Daingean in the midlands after he and his family moved down from Dublin in the early 80’s. Dave Peyton became a household name when he brought some much-needed rock to RTE's You’re a Star with his band Dave’s Radio, and has more recently released a solo album called “Couch Lovers”.
Dave recorded his Album in the summer of 2009 in Dockside Studio, Maurice, Louisiana, host to acts such as BBKing, Scarlett Johansson, Dr John, Bobby Charles, The Givers, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Mark Knopler and many more. Dave’s Album “Couch Lovers” was Coproduced and mixed by Gareth Mannix/Dave Peyton, and mastered by Bruce Barielle.
For the past few years Dave has been gigging extensively and trying out his new material on crowds around Ireland and across the water. He has been very fortunate with gigs, having shared stages in small venues and big festivals with Irelands finest The Frames, The Blizzards, Mundy, The Pogues, The Hothouse Flowers, Declan O’Rourke, Ronnie Drew, The Walls, and many International Acts such as, Avril Lavigne, Star Sailor, The Editors, Sister Sledge and The Mystery Jets. Dave’s music has been described as driven and dynamic with killer riffs, all topped off by his charismatic melodic vocals. Dave’s voice is without doubt his strongest attribute. Be it delicate, heart-wrenching melodies or soaring, anthemic choruses, Dave has a voice that can capture the spirit and lift the soul.
His talent is one that is truly unique and individual, This shines through in his music. Comparisons don’t come easy and he has a sound that is truly unique. Thomas Black (EMI Records) described Dave Peyton as one of the best singer songwriters he’d seen in years and took him to the UK where he worked with legendary producer Steve Osbourne (New Order, Placebo, Suede, U2, Radiohead, KT Tunstall).
THE Guinness 'Our Thursdays' National showcase took place last week in Lavery's, Belfast. From an incredible 800 hopeful bands, four emerging Irish acts, including Offaly's Dave Peyton put on performances that really showcased the richness of raw Irish talent in front of a packed audience. To the delight of the crowd and the four bands who took part, Jonny Quinn made a surprise announcement and revealed that while it had been planned that only three bands would be selected to play alongside the amazing international talent in the studio venues in Cork, Galway and the St. James's Gate Brewery on Arthur's Day, now all four bands will go on to play at the main Arthur's Day celebrations on the 23rd September.
Bill Whelan Bursary Makes International Studies A Reality For Talented Irish Composers
The internationally acclaimed Irish composer Bill Whelan presented two gifted emerging Irish composers with substantial music bursaries at an awards ceremony in Dublin this week. Cormac McCarthy from Cork and Aoife Ni Bhriain from Dublin are the latest recipients of the Bill Whelan International Music Bursary which was established to support Irish music students studying abroad.
The Bursary, which was launched in 2005, has assisted students to further their studies in disciplines ranging from film scoring, orchestration and music composition.
The bursary scheme is administered with the assistance of The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO). Speaking today at the presentation of the awards Bill commented, “Since the Bursary began over five years ago, I have had the honour and pleasure to meet some extraordinary young musicians, many of whom have gone on to flourishing careers as practicing musicians or in the academic field. Unfortunately, this is the last year of this particular bursary, but I am hoping to continue with something similar in the near future. My congratulations and warm wishes to all who have participated over the years.”
“The bursary is an act of tremendous generosity from Bill and is a fantastic opportunity for the young talent in Ireland to apply for. The musical opportunities that are to be found in Europe and farther afield are simply wonderful but unfortunately not always accessible to Irish musicians. With bursaries such as Bill’s, doors are opened and the level of musicianship in Ireland is drastically improved. I am looking forward to learning and achieving as much as possible in the next 4 years” added Aoife Ni Bhriain who commences a Bachelor of Music degree at Hochschule in Leipzig.
Bill Whelan, best known as composer of Riverdance The Show, a Grammy Award winner for ‘Best Musical Show Album’, has worked extensively in theatre, television and film. His orchestral works include the specially commissioned piece, The Seville Suite (1992) and The Spirit Of Mayo (1993). His work in international film includes Lamb which he co-composed with Van Morrison, his emotive score for the Jim Sheridan/Terry George film Some Mother’s Son and the original score for the film version of Brian Friel’s award winning Dancing At Lughnasa which starred Meryl Streep. His production and arranging credits include U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Richard Harris and The Dubliners. His chamber music suite, inspired by his recent life in Connemara, has been recorded by the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Zoe Conway, Fionnula Hunt and Michelle Mulcahy.
Halves
HALVES
THE DEBUT ALBUM
IT GOES, IT GOES (FOREVER & EVER)
RELEASING OCTOBER 29 2010 ON HATEISTHEENEMY
Live tour dates announced for October 2010!
See below or check out www.ahomeforhalves.com
It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever) is the haunting, ambitious and spine-tingling debut album from Irish trio Brian Cash, Elis Czerniak & Tim Czerniak, collectively known as Halves.
Listen to the stunning ‘Darling, You’ll Meet You Maker’ here
http://soundcloud.com/halves/darling-youll-meet-your-maker
Recorded in the legendary Hotel2Tango studios in Montreal (housed in a former alarm factory beside a freight railroad) and tracked over two sunny weeks in August of 2009, It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever) was created with the use of the studio's vast collection of instruments, amps, organs, effects (most of which dated from 1930's-1980's). Eleven songs were recorded live, in one large room on 2" reel-to-reel tape by Efrim Menuck (Godspeed You! Black Emperor), Howard Bilerman and Radwan Moumneh.
The album's title 'It Goes, It Goes' refers to a signal the band were given by their engineer one day that the tape machine was rolling, making them laugh and ruin the take. A relaxed creative environment, Hotel2Tango also came with in-studio dogs trained to stay quiet when the recording light was on!
Watch some album teasers here http://www.vimeo.com/14804296 and http://www.vimeo.com/14859902
One of Ireland's most intriguing acts, Halves blend a vast range of instruments, acoustic and electronic, to create an evocative, cinematic live experience. Their three releases to date have met with universal critical success, as well as earning them ardent fans from Tokyo to Seattle. Their live show is truly captivating; a mix of synched visuals, strings, brass, and electronics, anchored by soaring guitars and live drums. In 2009 Halves made their debut TV performance, topping the viewers choice poll on RTE's 'Other Voices' series. More recently the band played four shows at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin Texas to great response, and have also played Eurosonic, Canadian Music Week and London Calling. Halves have supported British Sea Power, 65 Days Of Static, BellX1 and Cathy Davey, and were voted as having produced one of the finest Irish releases of 2007 with their first EP by influential Irish blogger Nialler9.
Halves will play several live shows in Ireland in October including a live PA at Tower Records and a headline performance at The Workman’s Club on October 30th, The Roisin Dubh, Galway on November 4th, The Model Arts Centre in Sligo on November 5th and a support show with Dungen as part of Harmonic 2010.
It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever) will release nationwide October 29th 2010 through HATEISTHEENEMY Records on CD and Deluxe gatefold vinyl (includes free mp3 download).
Presale starts tomorrow on www.ahomeforhalves.com
It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever) Tracklisting
1. Land/Sea/People
2. Blood Branches
3. Darling, You'll meet your maker
4. Growing & Glow
5. The Little Octoberist
6. Only Safe Landings
7. Haunt Me When I'm Drowsy
8. The Wellwisher
9. I Raise Bears
10. Don't Send Your Kids To The Lakes
11. Mountain Bell
Irish Composers’ Collective | October Concert
Anne-Marie O'Farrell – Harp
TIME: 20:30 (pre-concert talk: "Traditional Instruments in Contemporary Composition" 20:00)
VENUE: Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall, Dublin
Juliet Turner | Live @ National Concert Hall
JULIET TURNER
::: LIVE ::: National Concert Hall ~ Dublin
Co-Headline Show with JOHN SPILLANE
06 October 2010 – 8:00 PM
Turner's live shows should be experienced. She is a quiet, relaxed performer with a wicked sense of humour. Her voice is unusually clear and sweet and her between song anecdotes are amusing, eccentric and off-the-cuff. Prepare to be drawn in and bowled over!
Juliet Turner stumbled into making music. She was given a guitar for her fifteenth birthday and met a poet who told her to start writing her own songs. In 1996 whilst studying for a year in Glasgow, she was offered the chance to record those songs in a little studio called ‘Heaven’ with small independent label ‘Sticky Music’. The result was ‘Let’s Hear it for Pizza’. People are still buying the album years later for songs such as ‘Pizza and Wine’, ‘Beyond the Backyard’ and ‘Indian Summer’. It is a rough and ready album with some gorgeous lyrics. Innocent yet a little twisted.
Juliet moved back to Dublin in 1996 to finish her Arts degree and to start playing live shows. Word travelled swiftly on the Dublin music scene and soon Juliet was opening shows in the city for international artists such as Bob Dylan, Gabrielle, Natalie Merchant, Sting, U2, Art Garfunkel and Brian Adams and was touring with Joan Armatrading, Brian Kennedy, Ron Sexsmith and Roger McGuinn from the Byrds.
In September 1998 Juliet performed Julie Miller’s song “Broken Things” at the memorial service held to remember the people who were murdered by the Real IRA in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland in that year. Omagh was the town where Juliet had attended secondary school. She refused to release the song as a single, but recorded a version for the album “Across the Bridge of Hope” to help raise money for those affected by the disgusting atrocity. The song was also used under the end credits of the film “Omagh”.
In 2000 Juliet set up her own label ‘Hear This! Records’ with her manager the late Derek Nally. She released her second album ‘Burn the Black Suit’ on the label and it went double platinum in Ireland. This album, produced by Gerard Kiely, was a little more ambitious –’pop veering into darker territory’ as one reviewer put it. It gave the world three catchy pop tunes –’Dr Fell’, ‘Take the Money and Run’ and ‘Burn the Black Suit’. Also the haunting ‘Belfast Central’ and the duet with Brian Kennedy on ‘I hope that I don’t fall in love with you’, written by Tom Waits. This album was recently voted one of the top 100 Irish albums of all time by Hot Press Music Magazine Readers. Number 51.
‘Season of the Hurricane’ was released in Feb 2004 and went platinum in Ireland in June of the same year. This offered the radio hit ‘Everything Beautiful is Burning’ and went to No. 8 in the Irish album charts. It also found itself nestling at no. 5 in the Amazon internet charts between Norah Jones and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Less immediate than the previous album with smoother production values, Turner’s music became even more difficult to categorise and her subject matter more intriguing. The stand out track on this album is the starkly beautiful ‘No Good in this Goodbye’.
‘There was no love as ordinary as ours.
We walked hand in hand through this work day world.
And the swiftness of your leaving caught me by surprise.
There is no good in this goodbye’.
In Feb 2005 Juliet picked up an Irish Meteor Music Award for best Irish Female Performer, alongside artists such as Paddy Casey, PJ Harvey and Snow Patrol. Deciding that the time was right to record some of the live shows, she released “Juliet Turner – Live” in November 2005, recorded over three nights in one of her favourite small Irish venues, the Spirit Store in Dundalk. This set the tone for the gigs to follow over the next couple of years as Juliet began to play all her live shows in small acoustic venues accompanied only by guitarist Brian Grace.
Then with three studio albums, a live album, double platinum sales and a Meteor Music Award under her belt, Juliet decided that a change of scene was needed and in October 2006 returned to Trinity College Dublin to undertake a four year BSc in Clinical Speech and Language Studies.
Alongside the studies, the song-writing and performing continued and Juliet recorded her fifth album in 2008 with producer Keith Lawless in a warehouse in Kinsealy. Described by the Irish Times as ‘one of the most intriguing of Irish female song writers, arriving several years ago with a guitar and a batch of brittle, poignant songs; her broad accent and even broader outlook; her bitter-sweet tastes all marking her as one to watch’, this new album showed an exploratory and unsentimental side to Turner’s songwriting. The slow pace of recording and the change of scenery from tour bus to lecture hall seemed to invigorate Turner and the album was a combination of beautiful, intelligent songwriting and subtle musicianship.
The new batch of songs are thoughtful and less acerbic than some of her previous writing and the narrative lines running through the album are sympathetic and full of warmth. Listen for “Elder of the Tribe”, “High Hopes” and “The Girl with a Smile” in particular. The release of new material seems to fall in a four year cycle and this new album was eagerly anticipated. It did not seem to disappoint, being her most critically acclaimed album to date. On stage with long time guitarist Brian Grace, Juliet Turner has a wry charm, a beautiful voice and fine lyrics, making her a compelling and witty live performer.
In 2010 Turner completed her degree at Trinity College in Clinical Speech and Language Studies.
In July of this year Juliet saw the passing of her long term friend and manager Derek Nally. Stating on her website, "I was deeply shocked and upset to hear of Derek Nally’s death on Thursday afternoon following a sudden heart attack. Derek and I have worked together since 1997 and it was thanks to his support and belief in my ability as a song-writer that “Burn the Black Suit” ever saw the light of day. He was a generous, enthusiastic, intelligent and hard-working man, respected by those he worked with, and he will be greatly missed.
New Album From Steel Tormentor
Return of a King is the new album from Mayo metal band Steel Tormentor. Formed in 1996 by guitars/vocalist James Kelly Return of a King is the second album from the band.
Job Vacancy At CMC
Representation at CMC
PR and Marketing Assistant
A placement is offered in the Promotion Department of The Contemporary Music Centre. The placement is in the PR and Marketing side of this Department, whilst also being involved with other aspects of the Department and of the Contemporary Music Centre as the need arises. It is offered on a full-time basis and the applicant must be eligible for the FAS WPP.
Participants will gain experience in PR including writing, sending and following up on Press Releases; nurturing media relationships; identifying good opportunities and mechanisms for promotion.
Person Sepcification
The ability to work as part of a dedicated team.
Excellent communication and organisational skills.
A professional and enthusiastic disposition.
Proactive, motivated and dynamic.
Ideally, but not essentially, experience of working in an arts environment.
Ideally, but not essentially, a knowledge of or interest in music.
Ideally, but not essentially, a full award at level 7 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications.
SONGS FOR DEREK
A Tribute to the legendary Derek Nally
Vicar St, Dublin
Derek worked with the great and the good over the years including Judy Collins, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Bert Jansch, John Cale, Guy Clarke, Townes Van Zandt, John Martyn, Allen Toussaint, Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Alex Chilton, Arlo Guthrie, Booker T, and John Cooper Clarke, to mention just a few. He also managed the acclaimed Irish acts Juliet Turner and Ham Sandwich, steering their careers with remarkable passion and enthusiasm. Derek was particularly generous with his time when it came to offering advice to up and coming musicians, promoters and managers. His encyclopedic knowledge of music coupled with his straight-forward business ideals served him well in a long and esteemed career. His legacy is a positive example to everyone who works in the music industry.
Some of Derek’s numerous friends and associates will gather in Vicar St to present a fitting musical tribute to a great man entitled Songs for Derek. Artists confirmed to appear include: Howe Gelb, Bell X1 (acoustic), Mundy, Richie Egan (Jape/The Redneck Manifesto), David Kitt, The Walls, Freddie White, Tír na nÓg and James Vincent McMorrow.
Tickets priced €20 on sale tomorrow at 9am from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide (http://www.ticketmaster.ie)
Debut Release From John Gaughan
John Gaughan, a frequent performer in Dublin has teamed up with two bin men to record a pop single ‘That’s What You Do’, which will be released on Friday October 1st, with all proceeds & perpetual royalties going to CD’s Helping Hands Childern’s Cancer Charity.
Just finished his Junior Cert and fresh off the stage in the Druid’s Production of Sean O’Casey’s The Silver Tassie, this teenager certainly has not been lazing about this past few months.
In 2008, John Gaughan drew huge praise from X Factor Judge Louis Walsh, Grease star Susan McFadden and 2FM DJ Cormac Battle when his talent seen him take top prize in the RTE Talent Competition ICE Star Search.
Brothers, Parisch & Oisin Browne who work for the waste Company ‘The City Bin Co.’ came up with the idea six months ago when trying to find a practical way to help the charity. The Lads decided to go for the DIY option, recording it on Oisin’s 8 track home studio. According to Oisin ‘We sat down to write a song about a serious topic but one that was also uplifting and with a positive message. It took a few attempts to get it right but I think we nailed it.’ The guys are not singing the song themselves; they are smart enough to let the young talented John Gaughan take the limelight on this one. Although Parisch enjoys singing, he knew when he heard John’s voice that it would be perfect for the song.
The lads have worked for The City Bin Co for the last decade. Although Oisin has admitted that he has been prone to singing a song or two at 6am on the back of the truck, he never imagined that his own song would be played on the radio. When asked he said he was delighted as it was for such a good cause. “The company we work for have supported this charity for the last few years, and when we told them about our song idea, they really got behind it” said Oisin.
These ambitious pair of bin men have a goal – They plan to get the song to number one in the charts and to donate the proceeds to their favourite charity. The lads are asking the good people of Ireland to support the charity by downloading the single from iTunes or texting music 6260 to 57501 to buy from downloadmusic.ie. You can also buy it in HMV, Zhivago Records in Galway & Tower Records in Dublin.
Hector Ó hEochagáin is the Patron of this Charity which was started in 2006. The charity provides services to the familiies of Children with Cancer. Their main objective is simple and that is to provide practical support to families affected by a diagnosis of childhood cancer. Children with cancer often have added dimension of travelling to Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin which is the centre of excellence, for their primary care and treatment. There is a huge impact that both the diagnosis and the travelling for treatment has on family life. In most cases there are other siblings to care for and while mum, dad or guardians travel to Dublin or local hospitals to treat infections with their sick child, the remainder of the family’s needs must be also be taken care of. CD’s Helping Hands fill this need.
The song, to be released this Friday October 1st, is a song of hope and positivity and is available from itunes or SMS music 6260 to 57501
