Month: November 2012

OCHO’s debut album was released in May 2012 and instantly caught the attention of national radio. They were invited into RTÉ studios to record a live set for the 2FM Sessions and were awarded the Today FM recommended daily download, both very high accolades for an up and coming band in Ireland.  They performed a number of sold out shows and were given one of the very few performance slots at Ireland’s biggest music Festival, ELECTRIC PICNIC, where they performed on the main stage for Body & Soul.  They also played at Castlepalooza and the Beatyard music festival in Dublin.

From day one of it’s release, ‘Young Hunting’ was blogged about and reviewed worldwide.  Phrases such as ‘Stylishly agressive’, ‘hauntingly beautiful’ were used to express how reviewers were feeling when they heard OCHO’s debut album.

“‘Young Hunting‘ draws you instantly in, from beginning to end, floating out the speakers like a ghost effecting it’s surroundings” Mutantspace

Hotpress gave the album 4/5 stars “Her formaula is a winning one, using a blend of loops and beats that serve as an unsettling soundscape against which she can paint portraits of love and life” HOTPRESS MAGAZINE

OCHO’s sound really got under the skin of award winning Polish Director Marcin Koszalka, and in February 2012 they flew to Krácow to film their first music video with Koszalka and his film crew at his request and with his funding.  This video was for their first single and title track from the album “Young Hunting”.  Within 2 weeks the video had spread old school (word of mouth) style and had over 10,000 views online, with messages and blog reviews coming in from all over the world.

OCHO are an electronic group based in Ireland, but their sound is quite foreign to their surroundings.  They are lead singer and writer Stace Gill and Producer/Writer DOS, with guest musicians Eanna Hickey, Jill Deering, Lisa Cuthbert and Sarah Glesson.  The comfortably creepy and ambient record is most definitely influenced by an eclectic mix of music from all over the world.  OCHO have been compared to the bands they love, which is a huge compliment, but this still doesn’t define what this young Irish group sound like.  Think sweeter lighter Portishead with a dash of Massive Attack, Bat for Lashes, Imogen Heap and you’re a little close to what OCHO sounds like, but only close.  This is a unique group with their own sound, a truly timeless album that sinks in if given the chance.  The infectious sound of OCHO was achieved through hard work and dedication over a number of years, by two people driven by creativity and passion for what they love, music.

Next up for OCHO

Dublin City FM Schedule Launch Party – The Mercantile 30/11/12

YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE, for the Simon Community on the 8/12/12 with other acts including The Strypes, Donal Lunny and comedian David O’Doherty – New Market Square CO-OP Dublin.

Openning for R.S.A.G – The Button Factory 22/12/12

www.ochomusic.ie

This is the brand new video from Kildare based singer songwriter David Burke.

‘Love Hate’ is David’s debut single, and is taken from his forthcoming debut album.

‘Love Hate’ is available to purchase on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/love-hate-single/id573180843

www.davidburkelive.com

Dublin Sound Lab presents reSounding DUBLIN
Four new works specially composed for the historic organ of St Werburgh’s Church
St Werburgh’s Church, Dublin, 21 November 2012

PRE-CONCERT TALK at Contemporary Music Centre, Wednesday 21 November, 6.30pm

Composers David Bremner, Rob Canning, Fergal Dowling and Gráinne Mulvey discuss their new works, specially written for the 18th-century organ of St Werburgh’s Church as part of the first stage of Dublin Sound Lab’s reSounding Dublin project, which aims to explore and re-imagine the sonic and urban landscape of Dublin City. Rob Canning will talk about the technology he has developed to stream bi-directional audio between St Werburgh’s and a secondary acoustic space, in this case, the space in front of the Contemporary Music Centre’s building on Fishamble Street.

CONCERT at St Werburgh’s Church, Wednesday 21 November, 8.00pm

Michael Quinn (organ) and David Bremner (organ) perform new works specially composed for the 18th-century organ of St Werburgh’s Church, with Fergal Dowling, Gráinne Mulvey and Rob Canning (electronics, live audio streaming). The works by Fergal Dowling, Gráinne Mulvey and David Bremner will involve a dialogue between the acoustic pipe organ and electronics, while Rob Canning’s piece will use the urban space near the CMC on Fishamble Street as a secondary location, linked to St Werburgh’s using a bi-direction live network audio stream, in which the city literally ‘resounds’ the sound of the organ.

Programme
David Bremner: New Work for organ and electronics
Rob Canning: 53.342916 -6.269724 <-> 53.344252 -6.269788, Wed Nov 21 19:XX:XX UTC 2012 for organ, secondary acoustic and bi-directional audio stream
Fergal Dowling: Ground for organ, multichannel fixed media and live electronics
Gráinne Mulvey: Streetorgsounds for organ and fixed media

Performers
Michael Quinn, organ; David Bremner, organ; Fergal Dowling, live electronics; Mihai Cucu, video projection

Pre-concert talk: Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8 (info@nullcmc.ie / tel. 01 673 1922) Admission free

Concert tickets: €10 Available at the door
Venue: St Werburgh’s Church, Werburgh Street, Dublin 8
Information: www.dublinsoundlab.ie
Enquiries: info@nulldublinsoundlab.ie / tel. 086 2249686

This event is supported by Dublin City Council and presented in association with the Contemporary Music Centre.

To celebrate the live final of the 2012 IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition which takes place this Saturday, 17^th November at The Brandon Hotel, Tralee, IMRO have been featuring the finalists in our Member News section each day this week. Ten finalists have been selected from over 200 entries to compete for this prestigious prize and a cheque for €1,000 courtesy of Tralee Chamber Alliance.

Today’s featured artists are Peter Fitzpatrick and John Buggy.

Peter Fitzpatrick

Song: “This Hometown”

Peter Fitzpatrick is an Irish singer-songwriter raised on classic British pop music, American country and Irish folk music.  After more than twenty years live performance with bands in Ireland, UK and the USA Peter hit a classic midlife crisis and decided it was time to start writing songs. He believes it is cheaper and probably safer than a motorcycle…

Peter’s debut album “Other People’s Hats” will be released in November 2012. It features his entry to the competition, “This Hometown”.

Peter’s conversational style is in the fine tradition of the singer songwriters he admires: George Harrison, Elvis Costello and Ron Sexsmith. It is easy to see the influence of Costello in Peter’s willingness to tackle some of life’s “darker” issues, of Harrison in the dry humour of Peter’s lyrics and of Sexsmith in the way in which Peter examines the human condition.

When asked about the fact that he came to writing songs and solo live performance relatively late in life he says “Songwriting and performing is liberating. I’m not here for the money. I’m not here for the fame. I’m here to say something and see if it resonates with my audience.”

“I’m here to represent the old-ternative genre and stand up for the middle-ages!”

www.peterfitzpatrick.net 

John Buggy

Song: “What’s On Your Mind”

John Buggy is a singer/songwriter from Tralee, Kerry. John has been writing songs most of his adult life. In the 90’s he fronted ‘The Righteous Dudes’ touring all over Ireland and the UK, featuring on numerous radio/TV shows including the Late Late Show. In 2003 John won the Rose of Tralee International Live Music Final with his band ‘Borderline’ and they went on to record an album of original songs called, ‘Self Righteous’. John continues to write and record and has played all over Ireland and mainland Europe. John’s ‘difficult Second Album’ is almost ready for release. When he’s not John Buggy the musician he works as a youth worker with the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service where he coordinates a music project.

Entry to the live final is free of charge, but due to limited capacity, booking is advised. To reserve a place in the audience, email IMRO at membership@nullimro.ie or phone 01 661 4844. Doors open at 8:30pm.

The IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition is supported by Tralee Chamber Alliance, Radio Kerry, Tralee Town Council, Kerry’s Eye, Tralee Advertiser, The Troubadour Club and The Brandon Hotel.

Crash Ensemble are the ensemble in residence at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2012, opening the festival with a portrait concert of ensemble Artistic Director Donnacha Dennehy and playing a further two concerts of works written for the group by American and Irish composers.

Named by the Guardian as one of the best classical concerts happening this autumn hcmf// opens on Friday, November 16th with a portrait concert of Donnacha Dennehy, Irish composer and Artistic Director of Crash Ensemble, featuring one of his landmark pieces, Grá agus Bás (2007), written for Irish sean nós singer Iarla Ó’Lionáird and the Crash Ensemble. Released by Nonesuch Records on an album of the same name in May 2011 the work has drawn acclaim internationally.

On Sunday 18th Crash presents work written for the ensemble by some of America’s most individual composers Glenn Branca, Nico Muhly and Arnold Dreyblatt. American Originals features the UK Premiere of Thought by Glenn Branca, jointly commissioned by Crash Ensemble and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Branca is one of the world’s leading composers, best known for his symphonies for orchestras of electric guitars and percussion. Thought was premiered at the Project Arts Centre, Dublin earlier this month. The concert will also feature the UK premiere of works by Nico Muhly’s Drones, Variations, Ornaments, written for Crash in 2011 and Arnold Dreyblatt’s Resonant Relations written for Crash in 2007.

On Monday 19th Crash’s Irish Mavericks concert presents some of the most important creative voices in Irish contemporary music, including esteemed composers Gerald Barry and Kevin Volans (UK Premiere of Looping Point written for Crash 2012) , as well as some of the most exciting voices from the younger generation: Ed Bennett, Linda Buckley and Andrew Hamilton (UK Premiere of music for people who like art, written for Crash 2011).

hcmf// is the UK’s foremost festival of new music, in 2012 it takes place from Friday 16 – Sunday 25 November.

For more information on hcmf// see www.hcmf.co.uk  and www.twitter.com/HCMFUK

The live final of the 2012 IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition takes place this Saturday, 17^th November at The Brandon Hotel, Tralee. Ten finalists selected from over 200 entries will compete for this prestigious prize and a cheque for €1,000 courtesy of Tralee Chamber Alliance.

To celebrate the final, IMRO will be featuring two finalists in our Member News section each day this week. Today’s artists are co-writers Enda Reilly and Christine Deady, and singer-songwriter Dermot Kelly.

Christine Deady & Enda Reilly

Song: “Follow the Water”

Christine Deady is a songwriter from Skibbereen, West Cork. She comes from a large musical family and has spent some time earning her badges gigging the Irish music scene. Already in her short career she has been shortlisted Most Promising New Act 2010 by the Meteor Awards, Shortlisted by Vodafone as one of Irelands up and coming “Bright New Sounds”, and shortlisted in the Best Irish Female category for the Balcony TV awards, that’s a lot of shortlisting! Christine has spent the last number of years working on honing her craft as a songwriter and is currently in the midst of recording her debut album.

Dublin singer-songwriter Enda Reilly writes in both English and Irish and his Irish songs can be heard regularly on RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta and RTÉ 1. In 2012 Enda has also had appearances on TG4 and BBC2 NI. He has represented Ireland in Inverness at Nós Úr a minority language song competition and his song Dónal Ná Fág sung by Aoife Scott represented Ireland in Liet 2012 in Italy.  2012 has seen Enda perform in Paris and at the London Irish Olympic House with the poet Stephen James Smith with their Arise and Go! spoken word and song collaboration project. He also reaches out to younger generations through his Climate Change Songs Workshops initiative, bringing fun songs and environmental issues into schools and other groups, through Irish and English. He also plays regularly with the fun-loving collective, The Lazy Band in Dublin. His next project after Arise and Go will be in the Irish language, which he’s currently recording and mixing.

Christine and Enda met on a weekend of songwriting in Carlingford where a number of writers got together, rented a house and shared songwriting ideas, tips and woes and so ‘Follow the water’ was born..

www.endareilly.com

www.christinedeady.com  

Dermot Kelly

Song: “The Moon on His Back”

Dermot Kelly has been involved in the music business his entire life.  Having grown up and played with his band, Manna South in Templemore, Tipperary, he then ventured further a field and spent many years touring America, Germany and Scandinavia working independently and for Scandinavia’s most established music agency, Blackwater Music. 

His dream was to one day open a great traditional music venue where quality musicians and bands could display their talent.  He turned his dream into a reality in recent years in the Canary Islands with his traditional Irish bar, Macgowans.  Performing here nightly, he perfected his humorous interaction with audiences, while accompanying many great musicians who visited, including Matt Molloy from the chieftains on several occasions. 

Now back in Ireland, Dermot performs regularly and is well known as a fantastic guitarist and singer, and by also incorporating comedy into his act is making quite a name for himself.  With 25 years experience in entertainment, from playing at small private parties to performing on stage at major festivals, Dermot is well able to keep any type of audience more than satisfied. 

Entry to the live final is free of charge, but due to limited capacity, booking is advised. To reserve a place in the audience, email IMRO at membership@nullimro.ie or phone 01 661 4844. Doors open at 8:30pm.

The IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition is supported by Tralee Chamber Alliance, Radio Kerry, Tralee Town Council, Kerry’s Eye, Tralee Advertiser, The Troubadour Club & Brandon Hotel.

Having released his debut album, “Little Ripples” to critical acclaim this summer Irish/Spanish tunesmith Eric McGrath headlines his first Whelans show on Saturday, November 24^th.

Born in Dublin to a Spanish mother and an Irish father, Eric was raised on a healthy mix of music from around the globe. With a strong love of Latin grooves, 1920’s North American song craftsmanship, and 1960’s Surf harmonies, it wasn’t long before Eric began to blend his diverse inspirations through his own unique compositions. After completing an honours degree in Chemistry at University College Dublin, Eric finally succumbed to his true calling by obtaining a Masters in Music and Media from Trinity College Dublin.

It has been a busy year for Eric, supporting such musical luminaries as Bic Runga at The Cork Opera House and The Olympia Theatre, and opening up a host of shows for established Irish acts, including Cathy Davey, Dave Geraghty, Vyvienne Long and Tiger Cooke. He also played to a packed tent at this year’s Electric Picnic as well as an appearance alongside Jerry Fish and Picture House in Bruxelles for Arthurs Day.

 “Little Ripples”, Eric’s self penned, arranged, performed and produced debut album, has garnered critical acclaim in the media. With its instantly catchy harmonies, unusual chord progressions, and breezy instrumental arrangements (captured at various farmhouses, mountain lodges, and pro recording studios all over Ireland) engulfs one with his uniquely appealing sound from beginning to end.

His debut headline show will take place in Whelan’s on November 24^th, in association with AIKEN promotions, and it is certainly one not to be missed.

You can get a taste of what to expect next Thursday, 22^nd November when Eric features on RTÉ’s The Works at 10:40pm.  

www.ericmcgrathmusic.com