Month: May 2011

‘If you like the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss album Raising Sand or anything by Emmylou Harris, you’ll be on the right musical wavelength for Shadow Road Shining.’ Irish Times

The Contemporary Music Centre welcomed Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, to launch CMC’s major digitisation initiative, the Irish Composers Project (ICP), 12pm, 24 May 2011.

The Irish Composers Project is a digital archive for Irish Contemporary Music and is a partnership between the Contemporary Music Centre and the An Foras Feasa research consortium comprising the music departments of Dundalk Institute of Technology, NUI Maynooth, and St Patrick's College, Drumcondra. The project also received funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Its overall purpose is to enable the research and promotion of the music of Irish Composers of the 20th and 21st century.

Launching the project Minister Deenihan complimented the Contemporary Music Centre and their partners in the Irish Composers Project on the initiative. “This  project  is  of  huge  significance  as  it increases access for the general  public as well as musicians, teachers, composers and performers to the  music  of  Irish  composers.  It is a major achievement to have such a complete collection of work immediately available to browse online.”
CMC’s Director, Evonne Ferguson, outlined the importance of the launch to the CMC. “The launch of the ICP celebrates the contribution of Irish composers to the cultural development of this island and CMC’s unique position in the development of expertise in digital archiving. Of course the ongoing support of the Arts Council has been essential in CMC achieving the project goals to date”

Songwriting | Production Seminar with Finlay Dow-Smith
(AKA Starsmith)

Date: Saturday 4th June
Time: 11am – 5pm
Venue: IMRO, Copyright House, Pembroke Row, Dublin 2

Polar opposite to the delicate poise of the influential jazz bassist Scott LaFaro from which this Belfast quartet takes their name, LaFaro are a wrecking ball of a band. Their rhythmic post-hardcore is designed to pulverize dance floors and leave no bottle of beer undrunk – this is music distilled to its fundamental elements – 'We hark back to time when rock music was still fun' states lead rabble-rouser Johnny Black ominously.
 
Recalling The Jesus Lizard, Shellac, Helmet (with whom the band have toured Europe) and NI heroes Therapy? LaFaro have character, chops and emotion oozing through every seedy riff 'I love to write about life's dark little secrets – the things we all know happen but never get discussed'.
 
On 'Easy Meat' their sophomore offering, LaFaro have transplanted their sound into a black, hellish and apocalyptic space. Gone is the echo of grunge, it has been replaced with metal's electric chair. Part meditation on Northern Ireland, part metal concept album 'Easy Meat' is a dense, troubling and exhilaratingly kick ass affair – these are riffs to shoplift to.
 
The LP will be out at the back end of the summer, preceded in June by a limited edition 7” vinyl release of the title track and select, UK/Ireland tour dates with pop-punk princes Ash:
 
06/06/11 – Whelan’s – Dublin, Ireland ***SOLD OUT***
07/06/11 – Playhouse – Portrush, Northern Ireland
08/06/11 – Empire – Belfast, Northern Ireland
 

Fionn Regan has just released the first track from his upcoming album, “100 Acres of Sycamore”, and announced a series of live dates to coincide with the release.

Hot on the heels of a major success at The Great Escape festival in the UK Ireland has just been announced as the country focus for Eurosonic Noorderslag 2012, one of the most important music events in Europe.

Rising Irish 5-piece Storyfold will release their debut album Rocket Science, on Friday, May 20th and celebrate it with an exclusive headline performance in Whelan's, Dublin.

Congratulations to Villagers who have just been awarded an Ivor Novello in the category “Best Song Musically and Lyrically” for the wonderful “Becoming a Jackal”. The awards ceremony took place in London today.

Villagers will be appearing at several festivals throughout the Summer including Marlay Park (Sat 23rd July), T in the Park, Latitude, Eden Sessions, Green Man & Field Day.

www.wearevillagers.com

www.theivors.com
 

NOW OPEN FOR MEMBERSHIP!

IASCA aims to foster a community of songwriters, composers and authors, and to lobby and campaign on their behalf.

WHY JOIN?

“It’s great to finally have our own association in Ireland, one that will listen to us, and act on our behalf”  Cathy Davey, Chairman, IASCA.

What are the issues currently affecting you?

IASCA understands that music writers are experiencing major difficulties in the ever-changing music industry and often feel isolated.

They have created a private members area on their website, iasca.ie, where music writers can connect, discuss issues and support one another.

• Strength in numbers gives creators and IASCA a louder voice
• Network with members in your particular area of expertise all over Ireland
• Join forces on every day issues that affect music creators
• You will receive discounts within the industry – earn your membership fee back!!
• You will receive advice and education from professionals – songwriters / film composers / lyricists / producers
• You will hear about opportunities – (songwriting competitions / composer submissions/ songwriting and composer awards)
• Your membership supports and finances IASCA projects and grows the association

For more information on IASCA, and to find out about their ongoing projects, visit: https://www.iasca.ie/

JOIN NOW!

Click here to join IASCA: https://www.iasca.ie/index.php?option=com_community&view=register

What you will need to join:
• Online registration: Your IMRO CAE number, credit card or laser
• Postal Registration: application form, IMRO CAE number, credit card, laser, cheque or postal order.

Membership is €50 per year

IASCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cathy Davey – Chairman
Joe Chester
Fiachra Trench
Luka Bloom
Luán Parle
Moya Brennan
Shay Healy