The IMRO Other Room is all about shining a light on exciting, fresh music and in previous years it has offered acts such as James Vincent McMorrow, Villagers and Rusangano Family a platform at Other Voices to showcase their music in the early days of their careers.
In December 2015, for the first time, the IMRO Other Room was filmed in front of a live audience as part of the Other Voices Music Trail. In July 2016 an hour long special on the Other Room aired on RTÉ 2, featuring performances from Saint Sister, Talos, Gavin Glass, Bitch Falcon, HAWK and 2015 Open Call winner Saramai.
Aoife Leigh is a singer-songwriter from Dublin. Once a former student of Ballyfermot Rock School, Aoife began her musical journey during her school years preforming regularly around Dublin and Meath with traditional folk band ‘De hAoine’ and ‘The Young Dubliners’. Over the years she has collaborated, recorded and preformed with various original artists and cover bands covering a range of musical genres. She had a more recent stint as lead guitarist with soul and Motown covers band ‘The All girl Soul Academy’.
Aoife’s song writing skills and prowess on the guitar have recently led her to perform in Asia, London and more recently Spain where she had been based for over a year. Since returning to Ireland, where she is now based, Aoife is a regular to the Dublin music scene and has more recently opened for well known artists such as Ben Montague, Freddie White and Brian Kennedy. Aoife has recently been invited to perform at Whelan’s Annual “One’s to Watch” showcase and is set to continue pursuing her song-writing in the studio working on her debut EP with her label Downda Road Productions.
Fresh from their Belsonic 2016 performance, Moira Calling is pleased to announce an addition to the main stage line-up with Belfast five piece Pleasure Beach.
The Belfast five piece turned heads with the hotly tipped Dreamer To The Dawn, a three song collection which introduced their immersive, anthemic and distinctly tuneful indie rock. The spirited infectiousness of the songs saw them included in the sought after Blog Sound of 2016 list.
At radio they enjoyed a cross section of support from national radio in their native Ireland and all the way to the tastemaking KEXP in Seattle, while live they supported Ezra Furman, All Tvvins, The Vaccines and Jape among others. ‘Go’, their first song to appear to a flurry of excitement online went on to garner over 400 thousand plays on Spotify and was nominated for Choice Music Prize Song Of The Year.
Already played by Huw Stephens at BBC Radio 1, ‘Magic Mountain’ continues where the EP left off with majestic riffs, cathartic ambiance and spirited melody, albeit with an added sense of grit.
Headlined by Hudson Taylor, the one-day event features a host of indigenous artists performing on Saturday, September 10th 2016 at The Demesne, Moira, Co Armagh, including; Ex Magician, Ports, David C Clements, Arborist, Callum Stewart, Hannah McPhillimy and many others. ‘Moira Calling’ is a celebration of Music, Food, and Drink, featuring 14 artists across two stages, with a key focus on local food, ales, and ciders. Local events company, Brown Lemonade Ltd, brings ‘Moira Calling’ to you.
You can buy tickets for the event through Ticketmaster
Award winning Dublin songwriter and performer Paul McDonnell’s third album ‘A Sweeter Confusion’ is now on release. The album features ‘Storm Chaser’ & current single ‘Lovers on the lawn’ a song “about being in the centre of love, that space where there is no doubt in your mind about its existence”.
Paul is the ONLY DOUBLE WINNER of the IMRO Christy Hennessy Award for songwriting, beating over 400 artists to the top prize in 2011 and 2014. With a career spanning a 15 years as an award winning songwriter, ‘A SWEETER CONFUSION’ chronicles his search for love, connection & truth following the death of both his parents. He co-wrote the theme song ‘BE ALL YOU CAN BE’ for the acclaimed 2014 US movie ‘37’. Paul has spent time writing in the songwriting epicentre of NASHVILLE and has written for DE DANANN, TOMMY FLEMING, LISA LAMBE, LEAH MCFALL. His songs have been placed in films, on TV and used in advertising campaigns internationally.
At the controls in studio was multi instrumentalist David Molloy who produced and co-produced most of Paul’s music over the past 15 years. Paul & David Molloy initially came together to form the band Cellar Club. Their 2004 album ‘Scored for life’ featured the standout single ‘Coming on Strong’. In 2008 under the pseudonym Pal Steelo, Paul released the album ‘You My Favourite Shadow’ and the single ‘Josephine’.
“This is simply stunning!” Paul Power on KFM Radio
“instantly appealing…classy stuff” Hot Press album review
“Heartfelt” *** Irish Mail on Sunday album review
“Every song on the album is such an eloquent story so wonderfully told” Musician.ie album review
Playlisted on RTE Radio One, Ocean FM – ‘Album of the week’ on Late Show, BBC Radio Ulster
Live sessions & airplay on Newstalk, RnaG, WLR FM, Tipp FM, Galway Bay FM, KFM, Midlands, 8Radio.com, KCLR FM, Dublin City FM, Shannonside, Beat, East Coast, LMFM…
For more information or to request interviews – please contact Anne Marie Walsh, Novatone Music Media. Ph – 087 246 0957 Email: musicireland@nullhotmail.com Twitter: @novatonemm
IMRO were saddened to learn of the passing of Louis Stewart over the weekend. Speaking as news came through Keith Donald, IMRO Chairman commented, “I first met Louis when I booked him for Trinity College Jazz Club in 1966. The following year he invited me to join him in a residency in The Fox Inn. I’ve gigged with him many times since then and will miss him. He was gentle, very funny and an amazing talent. Resquiat in Pacem”
Louis Stewart was an Irish jazz guitarist, born in Waterford who began his international career in 1968 when he was awarded the special jury prize at The Montreaux International Jazz Festival. Shortly thereafter he began working with Benny Goodman, an association that lasted three years, and gave way to an extended and prominent period with the late, great, English saxophonist/flautist Tubby Hayes.
As a member of Ronnie Scott’s quartet and quintet for several years, Louis began recording as leader in the mid-’70s, making albums with Sam Jones and Billy Higgins, with Peter Ind, and later, with Red Mitchell, saxophonist Spike Robinson, pianist Bill Charlap, and now, more recently again, a new CD, recorded in Venice with alto great Peter King (“Angel Eyes”).
In the 70s Louis began his lengthy association with George Shearing (with whom he had toured America, Brazil, and Europe) and recorded eight albums – several in trio with Danish bass master Niels-Henning Ørsted-Pedersen and in quintet with vibist Steve Nelson and drummer Dennis Mackrel. He began working with Canadian genius-orchestrator and arranger, Robert Farnon in 1976, and at least ten albums resulted: with singers Joe Williams and Eileen Farrell, with Shearing and with trombone legend J.J. Johnson, on all of which he is a prominently featured soloist.
In 1994, as a member of the Shearing trio, Louis featured for a week opposite Tommy Flanagan’s trio in The Blue Note, New York. This led to an association – still active – with Peter Washington and Lewis Nash which has included a week-long engagement, as leader, at the legendary Village Vanguard, NYC (with the masterful Richard Wyands in the piano chair, and, for that particular week, Kenny Washington, drums, substituting for Lewis Nash). Louis was the recipient of an honorary doctorate in music (Mus D) in 1998 from Trinity College Dublin and in 2009 Louis was elected to Aosdána, established by The Arts Council in 1981, to honour artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the creative arts in Ireland
Louis made Dublin his home but he performed regularly in Germany and Norway, where, in the national theatre, Oslo, his James Joyce / Ulysses inspired concert piece “JoyceNotes” has been produced to acclaim. In 2013, he recorded an album of duets with his life-long friend Jim Doherty, called “Tunes” and in Dublin he regularly performed in JJ Smyth’s.
ALBUM LAUNCH – Sunday September 18th Workmans Club, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2. Doors 8.00pm Admission €5 at door.
THE NEW 52 is the latest project from 21 year old Dublin based Darragh Cullen who was awarded ‘MALE SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR’ by Hot Press in 2010 and described as “one of the Countries most promising young songwriters”. Under the guise of The New 52, Darragh’s third album ‘LET ME SLEEP’ will be released on September 16th by Haven Records. The album features the first single ‘TURNING’. Recorded and produced by BOO HEWERDINE (Eddi Reader, The Bible), ‘Let Me Sleep’ is the follow up to Darragh’s critically acclaimed albums ‘The Finish Line’ in 2010 (released when he was only 15) and ‘Whispers & Silent Screams’ in 2012.
THE NEW 52 fronted by Darragh Cullen on guitars & vocals with Conor McLoughlin on guitar, Sean O’Connor on drums and Mikey Deasy on bass will launch ‘Let Me Sleep’ on SUNDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER AT WORKMANS CLUB – tickets e5 at door.
Taking influence from The Beatles, lyricists Paul Simon & Guy Garvey to the full –on sonic assault of Foo Fighters and The White Stripes, ‘LET ME SLEEP’ showcases Darragh’s direct, incisive lyrics and ability to write kick-ass hooks. Practically all the instruments on the album were played by Darragh who picked up his first guitar aged eight. “Lyrically I was inspired heavily by Ben Folds, Guy Garvey, even Robbie Williams (100% true, I think he’s brilliant…). I wanted the lyrics to be direct, almost conversational at times and full of little odd hints and references to things you wouldn’t normally find in a pop song”.
Darragh first met BOO HEWERDINE when he attended a songwriting workshop in 2013 and together they have forged a strong creative connection which has lead to them co-writing 2 songs on the album ‘Good Intentions’ & ‘Manhattan (For A Handful Of Beads)’. “Boo was incredible during the album process. I wanted to focus heavily on the craft of songwriting for this album, and working with a master songwriter like Boo has been invaluable”. The album was mastered at Metropolis Studios by Tim Young (Elbow, The Smiths, Take That).
Darragh has shared the stage with a host of top acts including We Cut Corners, Ham Sandwich, Little Green Cars and in 2012 played a barnstorming performance at Electric Picnic. His previous albums were highly acclaimed leading him to be named Male Solo Artist Of The Year by Jackie Hayden, Hot Press Magazine, while the Sunday Tribune called him “a talent to be reckoned with” and awarded him a Top 5 spot in their Hottest Acts for 2011.
THE NEW 52 ‘LET ME SLEEP’ out via Haven Records Sept 16th
Rhob Cunningham returns to perform @ Unitarian Church in Dublin for a special end-of-Summer show on Saturday 27th of August.
Having recorded and toured across the globe, Cunningham will play a one-off concert in this remarkable setting beside Stephen’s Green before moving to pastures new in Nashville, Tennessee.
Expect songs from his 5 albums, recorded in Dublin, Reykjavik, Berlin and Paris.
Tickets for the show are priced at €15 and are on sale now from tickets.ie
You can find out more information on the event through Facebook
Collective management rights organisation GEMA wins its case with the regional court Munich I against file-sharing host Uploaded. The decision confirms that file-sharing hosts are liable to pay damages if they do not prevent the upload and distribution of copyright-protected contents.
The regional court Munich I has decreed on 10 August 2016 (AZ 21 O 6197/14) that online services whose business models are based on big-scale copyright infringements are liable to pay damages. “The regional court Munich has decided in the interest of our members. Their ruling confirms that file-sharing hosts play a significant role in the proliferation of music piracy” states Dr Tobias Holzmüller, GEMA’s General Counsel, welcoming the decision. “Online service providers have previously only been obliged to remove contents infringing copyright from their platforms. By pronouncing the liability to pay damages for file-share host Uploaded, composers, lyricists and music publishers at least get a small compensation for the rights infringements of their works that have been committed on a massive scale.”
File-share hosts such as Uploaded provide their customers with storage space so they can upload files. They create links to the uploaded files which are then disseminated as publicly accessible collections of links. The regional court Munich classifies Uploaded as a service which constitutes a specific source of risk for copyright infringements. As an “accomplice” in the illegal making available of contents protected by copyright, Uploaded should assume its responsibility, according to the judges. Dr Harald Heker, GEMA CEO says: “File-share hosts make a lot of money with the exploitation of creative contents. Copyright infringements are thus deliberately taken into account and accepted. This imbalance at the expense of our members is unacceptable for us. We therefore demand a legal framework where platform operators are held accountable and authors finally get their fair share in the respective proceeds. This decision is a clear signal for creatives.”
Once GEMA had pointed out the contents infringing copyright, the file-share host had not removed the files to a sufficient extent, the judges found. By its very design, the file-share host rather increased the risk of a right-infringing exploitation. The judgement is not yet legally binding.
GEMA represents the copyrights of more than 70,000 members (composers, lyricists and music publishers) in Germany, and more than two million copyright owners globally.
Newly released figures show that Germany’s recorded music market grew by 3.6 per cent in the first half of 2016. Total revenue from the sales of CDs, vinyl, downloads and the use of streaming services increased in value by a total of 3.6 per cent over the same period in 2015. Audio streaming was the key driver for the growth, with revenue from premium subscriptions and ad-supported services, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Napster etc., increasing by 88 per cent.
Vinyl sales also saw a significant increase of 46.2 per cent over the same period in 2015 with its market share rising to 4.3 per cent (compared to 3.1 per cent in the first half of 2015). Sales of CDs declined by 9.6 per cent in the first half of 2016 but remain the dominant format with a 52.3 per cent share of sales. Overall, market figures show a split of 60.4 per cent physical and 39.6 per cent digital sales.
Professor Dieter Gorny, Chairman of Germany’s Federal Music Industry Association (BVMI) said: “These figures indicate that the process of digitisation is occurring even faster than we had previously thought. As music becomes increasingly a digital business, it is more important than ever to establish the right environment for the whole sector to adapt in this new world. A few weeks ago, more than 1,100 musicians and bands signed and sent an open letter to the European Commission, thus showing that artists – who are the nucleus of our entire industry – have serious concerns about the value gap and about their future. The truth is that if we don’t find a solution to this, it might have profound consequences in the future on the art and the profession of making music.”
BVMI Managing Director Dr Florian Drücke said: “The latest figures are heartening for two reasons; firstly, the German market continues to grow, thus enlarging the share of revenue for the whole sector. Secondly, the significant increase we are seeing in audio streaming makes it clear that our industry is successfully adapting to the digital world and has developed a compelling offer for music consumers.
“However, for this transformation to continue we much ensure that music content is sufficiently protected against copyright infringement – both online and offline – and that all participants are able to benefit fairly from the proceeds. Indeed, this is not about the future any longer, but about the digital present.”
Canalphonic have just released details for their Making Waves element of the festival this year.
The Making Waves Stage located in Leinster Cricket club will feature some well known and a number of the best upcoming acts in the country .
The daily schedule is as follows
Friday 23rd Sept 5pm Mutefish
6pm Jem Mitchell Band
7pm Barq
8pm The Eskies
Sat 24th Sept 2pm St Marys choir
3pm The Bonnymen
4pm Maud in Cahoots
5pm Mick Pyro
6pm Sample Answer
7pm Zaska
8pm Rocstrong
A community based festival using a mix of bars, coffee shops and local businesses to showcase independent music and arts, the festival is the result of an ongoing collaboration between Dublin City Council’s South East Area Office and Abner Browns Barbershop, supported by Fáilte Ireland, Clancourt Group, Waterways Ireland, Dublin City Council Arts Office, IMRO, Heineken, McGarrell Reilly Group, CPM Ireland and Rohan Holdings.
With 29 venues including the 5,000 capacity Making Waves main stage in the middle of Rathmines, this will be unmissable!
