Craig Cooney is back with a brand new single to be released on all streaming platforms on the 17th July. Recorded in Windmill Lane Studios by engineer and producer Cormac Kavanagh, it will be his first release since signing with Fluttertone earlier this year
The song is a laid-back, chilled track in which Craig reminisces and reflects on his childhood. With its mellow vibe and catchy chorus, it is sure to strike an emotional chord with listeners and take them on a trip down memory lane. It’s a track that can be enjoyed driving in your car, unwinding on you own or while enjoying a get-together with friends and family. A wide range of instruments makes it a foot-tapping, head-nodding track. A young choir also features throughout, giving a fuller sound to an already beautiful song.
Craig says, “Being an adult with children of my own, I find a lot of people lose touch with their former selves and the memories that made us in to the men and women we are today. I wrote ‘Young Forever’ for the people who want to reflect on the best years of their lives, where we were all carefree and truly felt Young Forever, I want people to press play on this song when they want to press pause on life and go on a journey for the three-minute running time.”
‘Forever Young’ will be available on all streaming platforms on July 17th.
One of Ireland’s greatest soulful jazz and blues singers Mary Coughlan has revealed the 4th September 2020 will be the release date for her highly anticipated album ‘Life Stories’.
To celebrate, Mary has announced her first single ‘Two Breaking Into One’ out on 24th July 2020, taken from her upcoming album ‘Life Stories’.
“It’s a song about betrayal.. it took me 15 years to feel comfortable with writing this song” – Mary Coughlan
Mary Coughlan is arguably the greatest female singer to have emerged from Ireland in recent times.
Whether you’re into folk, blues or jazz, you can’t fail to be moved by the emotional depth, expression and power in her voice, forged from an extraordinary life.
Mary has carved out a timeless and highly regarded career, with a legion of devoted fans worldwide. To hear Mary sing is truly to be at the core of the human heart.
Since her first album ‘Tired and Emotional’ rocketed her to overnight fame in 1985, she has recorded 15 further solo albums. Coughlan has sold out some of the UK’s most prestigious venues and has toured the US, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Scandinavia.
Throughout 30 years of her quite extraordinary life and recording career, Mary has drawn heavily from her legendary heroes: the grievous, teary outpourings of Billie Holiday (to whom she devoted a double album of her songs), the husky flirtations of Peggy Lee, Van Morrison’s soulful wails and the defiant chanteusery of Edith Piaf.
In June 2020, in recognition of Mary’s achievements and immense impact on the culture and arts community in Galway City, the Mayor, Mike Cubbard presented her with a 2020 lifetime achievement award.
The new album ‘Life Stories’ was mostly written and recorded by Pete Glenister and Mary Coughlan at No Name Studio. The album will be released on 4th September 2020.
Fluttertone, events and promotions company based in Dublin and Made It! Entertainment, a company specializing in promoting Irish independent artists, are proud to be bringing the music back to the city with the first post-lockdown gig in The Wild Duck on the 23rd of July from 7.30 pm. The ‘Limited Availability’ Night will showcase artists Layzee Gold, Warped Minds, and Daniel Wheatley and will celebrate that Made it! Entertainment and Fluttertone have joined forces for a two-year supply deal that will help both businesses support and promote Irish independent artists. Tickets are €10 (ex booking fee) and are available through Eventbrite and on the door. Tickets are limited to 50 so booking early is essential.
Layzee Gold are an innovative, indie-pop music group from County Wicklow. A three-piece ensemble made up of Philip Nolan, Jamie Nolan, and Chris Nolan, who have established a distinct sound, which can be described as a mix of rap and traditional Irish music. The band promotes their sound as something akin to groups such as London Grammar and the xx. Their debut EP ‘Can’t Sleep’ will be released later this year.
Warped Minds is a four-piece rock group from Dublin. Their style of contemporary rock is based on both classic rock techniques and newer popular music, soaring Rock and Roll back into the 21st century. When listening to this up and coming band, you will hear sounds of the Foo Fighters, Toto and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while also adding their own unique spin to the genre. The band features singer and guitarist Paul Downey, guitarist and singer Conor Birkett, bassist, singer, and keyboard player Ciarán Berry and drummer Conor Byrne. Warped Minds will be releasing their debut EP titled Stories We’ll Never Tell later this year and their debut single, Pen to Paper, is out now!
Daniel Wheatley is a songwriter who combines poetic lyrics with a dynamic vocal mixed with intriguing music. Deeply influenced by Multiple Genres and alternative rhythms.
An inspired cover of The Cranberries ‘Dreams’, re-worked and recorded remotely by some of Ireland’s finest female artists in aid of Safe Ireland, the national social change agency working to end domestic abuse and coercive control in Ireland has raised €215,000 for Safe Ireland.
TO DONATE €4 TEXT SAFE TO 50300
In its first week, the single hit number 1 in the official homegrown chart, the first female act ever to do so. It was also the highest new entry in the official charts at number 15, making Irish Women In Harmony the first female Irish act to break the Top 20 in over 10 years. ‘Dreams’ was also number 2 in the Irish airplay chart and number 1 in the Breaking Tunes chart.
The track has just passed 500,000 streams on Spotify, while the music video has over 3.5 million views combined.
A collective of Irish female artists have come together to raise desperately needed support for Safe Ireland, helping women and children living in crisis.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a 25% rise in domestic violence calls to An Garda Síochana reported in Ireland.
Irish Women In Harmony are some of Ireland’s most talented and accomplished musicians, together amassing over 200 million Spotify streams.
The single had its first play on 2FM’s Tracy Clifford show and the video premiered on The RTE Six O’Clock News on Thursday 18th June.
Grammy nominated singer/songwriter and producer of this cover version
RuthAnne came up with the initiative and in response to the news of the funds raised so far said,“I am absolutely blown away by the funds we have raised for Safe Ireland. 215,000 euro so far WOW! The generosity and support from the whole country and internationally for this song and campaign has been so beautiful to see. All of us Irish female artists wanted to come together to raise our voices for those who couldn’t. To help those in horrific domestic abuse situations be heard, seen, acknowledged and helped. I have never been prouder to be a part of something in my whole life. All the artists and musicians involved in Irish women in Harmony truly hope this money will help change lives, protect lives and save lives and we hope the awareness raised will help bring an end to all domestic abuse. Women supporting women and there sure was a tribe of women involved in this. This was done by women in aid of women and we are so thankful to every single person who donated to Safe Ireland.“
Sharon O’Halloran, Co-CEO of Safe Ireland, the national policy and service hub for 39 frontline domestic violence services around the country said, “Safe Ireland would like to thank the public for this amazing support, you have sent a strong message to women and children that you care. We want to also extend a heartfelt thank you to all the women in Irish Women for Harmony you have shone a light and brought voice and visibility to an issue that is still largely silent in Irish society. You make a difference and the Irish public have heard you and responded to you.”
Safe Ireland is the national social change agency working to end domestic abuse and coercive control in Ireland. They collaborate in their work with 39 specialist frontline domestic violence (DV) services throughout Ireland, who are Members of Safe Ireland. Together, they support the development and provision of critical lifelines to an average of 13,500 women and children every year (DV National Statistics 2018).
Since early March, Safe Ireland has been working closely with its 39 members throughout Ireland, to problem-solve complex and newly emerging issues arising in DV frontline service provision as a result of Covid-19. DV services are classified as essential services under the current Covid-19 National Emergency.
Initially, of critical importance to the sector was the need to limit the opportunity of the coronavirus to spread in emergency refuge settings many of which are communal and have limited facilities for self-isolation or to practice safe physical distancing. Safe Ireland members had to quickly reconfigure and develop creative, safe ways to ensure that women knew that they were open and operating, that they could be reached easily in a variety of ways and to help find alternative accommodation.
During Covid-19, many women and children have been locked down with their abusers behind closed doors, for over three months now. Many survivors have reported that their aggressors have used the virus as a weapon of control and that they have found it difficult to find the time and space to reach out for support. As the country opens up and people return to work, services are now experiencing an increase in calls and needs, particularly for women with multiple children, who are concerned about the double damage that lockdown alongside abuse may have had. Many services are saying that in reality, this is only the beginning.
Collaborators
AILBHE REDDY AIMÉE ÁINE CAHILL ALLIE SHERLOCK CAROLINE CORR ELAINE MAI EMMA LANGFORD ERICA CODY EVE BELLE FAYE O’ROURKE FIA MOON IMELDA MAY LAOISE LILLA VARGEN LISA HANNIGAN LOAH LYRA MELINA MALONE MOYA BRENNAN NIAMH FARRELL ORLA GARTLAND PILLOW QUEENS ROE RÓISÍN O RUTHANNE SAINT SISTER SIBÉAL SOULÉ STEPHANIE RAINEY TOLU MAKAY UNA HEALY WYVERN LINGO
Musicians
AOIFE DENNEDY LOUIZE CARROLL LUCIA MCPARTLIN MARIA O’CONNOR MARIA RYAN SARAH LYNCH THEODORA BYRNE
A huge thank you to Kevin Cassidy and his team at Document Films for editing the beautiful video for Dreams by Irish Women In Harmony.
100% of your donation goes to SAFE Ireland across most network operators. Some operators apply VAT which means that a minimum of €3.25 will go to SAFE Ireland. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 0766805278.
Delivering another anthem with global potential, Irish international phenomenon Picture This unveil a brand new single entitled ‘Unconditional’, out today through Republic Records.
Handclaps and a stadium-ready beat propel the track as lush guitars ring out. At its core, this high-energy love song delivers a chorus meant to be chanted aloud with power and passion. Be on the lookout for the music video very soon!
About “Unconditional,” lead vocalist Ryan Hennessy said, “’Unconditional’ is a song about the intoxicating, exhilarating and all-consuming feeling of falling deeply in love with somebody. Sometimes in love and life you have an undeniable spark with somebody, then when it’s reciprocated and explored it can lead to the most magical and hallmark moments of your life. I wrote this song not only as an ode to that feeling and adventure, but also to the fear of ever losing it. “I’m so afraid of losing your love” not because I think I’m going to, but because if I ever did I don’t know how I could fill the space it would leave behind. This song is about how much I love ‘love’.”
The group’s most recent single ‘Troublemaker’ earned critical acclaim, Billboard described it as “flirty and fun,” and ThisSongIsSick claimed, “we are chomping at the bit to hear more just like it.”
Picture This have quietly generated 200 million-plus global streams and sold out stadium tours. They supported the Jonas Brothers earlier this year and graced the stage of the virtually broadcasted One World: Together At Home, in support of healthcare workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ireland’s hottest musical export in decades, Picture Thisarrived as a phenomenon with their self-titled 2017 full-length debut, Picture This. Certified triple-platinum in Ireland, it held the #1 spot Overall in the country for four weeks, while topping the Streaming Chart for seven weeks. Since the band’s formation, they’ve impressively sold over 400K tickets. In 2017 they headlined a sold-out UK and Ireland tour highlighted by gigs at O2 Shepherd’s Bush London, SSE Arena Belfast, and 3Arena. Summer 2018 marked the band’s first stadium tour in Ireland, which capped off with a 35,000-person stadium show selling out over 3 months prior. During late 2018, they teamed up with super producer Jayson Dezuzio to record the 2019 follow-up, MDRN LV. Since its release, MDRN LV has become the top selling album from an Irish Artist in 2019. Continuing the band’s record-breaking tour achievements, just this year the band sold out a five-night stand at 3Arena in Dublin.
Today, Friday 10th July 2020, the National Concert Hall is announcing a special live stream concert on Friday 17th July at 8pm ‘ELEGY’ will be an evening of reflection and remembrance through music dedicated to those who have passed away during the Covid-19 crisis.
The concert will stream live from NCH’s Youtube and Facebook as well as IrishTimes.com, RTE.ie and Culture Ireland’s social media channels.
This special concert will see Ireland’s leading choral ensemble, Chamber Choir Ireland and the Chamber Ensemble perform one of the most sublime works in the sacred classical canon, Fauré’s Requiem. The event takes place just before the final phase of reopening the country on July 20th, an apt moment to reflect on those we have lost. Presented live on the NCH stage and conducted by Andrew Synnott, they will perform the 1893 version, in its intended chamber form (first published by John Rutter in 1989). An agnostic, Fauré’s music aimed to offer comfort, much of which can be found in the transcendental beauty of his Requiem.
The evening will also include performances by lauded Sean-nos singer and Gloaming member Iarla O’Lionaird who will add to the evening’s magic with the powerful lament ‘Eistigh Liomsa Sealad’; recent Irish resident the Grammy Award-winning Rhiannon Giddens and jazz and classical pianist Francesco Turrisi who joins forces on the courageous ballad ‘Wayfaring Stranger‘ and baroque violinist Claire Duff who performs Biber’s Passacaglia in G minor.
Catherine Martin, T. D. Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht said:
“I welcome this initiative by the National Concert Hall. This has been a profoundly difficult time for the country and it is important that we take time to remember those who have been lost and those who are in mourning. Music provides an opportunity to express that grief and loss without the necessity of words. It also provides a space of time for us to reflect on the last number of months.”
Maura McGrath, Chair of the National Concert Hall said:
“At a time of loss and reflection music has the special power to comfort and provide solace and also helps us endure and recover. We at the NCH especially wish to take time to remember those who have sadly passed away and also to reflect on all who are experiencing loss at this time. As the national centre for music, we at the NCH have gathered musicians of various genres to come together for this unique performance which we hope provides hope and comfort during this time”.
The event continues the ‘NCH at HOME’ series, designed to engage audiences with live performances providing comfort, inspiration and solidarity and enriching cultural content online at this time.
ELEGY is supported by The Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Davy as Innovation Partner, Culture Ireland, RTE.ie and The Irish Times the concert will be available to view from NCH YouTube channel and Facebook.
PROGRAMME
Wayfaring Stranger (Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi)
BiberPassacaglia in G minor (Claire Duff, baroque violin)
Traditional Eistigh liomsa sealad (Iarla O’Lionaird)
Galway singer-songwriter Niamh Regan has long been eulogised as one of Ireland’s most promising folk talents, and now she’s ready to leap to the forefront of the scene, with the release of her debut album ‘Hemet’, coming 10th August 2020 via the new Black Gate Records label.
The first taster from the album ‘Save the Day’ released last month, has been deservedly championed by Irish radio. It featured on the RTE Radio 1 Recommends’ playlist for 3 weeks in a row, and reached #1 on the station’s airplay chart, it was also playlisted on RTE 2XM, played on RTE 2FM, BBC Radio, and on top regional stations across the country.
Niamh now follows with the second release from her maiden LP; a 70’s blues-folk style ballad “How About That Coffee?”, out now [Friday 10th July].
Speaking about the new release, Niamh says: “I received a text that said “How about that coffee?” a while back and the question just worked itself into a song instead of that catch up.
The song really came to life in the studio when drums and double bass were introduced. Originally, I had planned for a nostalgic piano based approach based off some Tom Waits recordings, but we ended up down a road that was paved by Van Morrison with shimmering strings, full band, and horns. It was a great honour to work with such stellar musicians in this process.”
How about that Coffee? features the outstanding talents of Dominic Mullanon percussion/drums, Caimin Gilmore on double bass, Alex Borwick on trombone, Peter Berrill on trumpet, and Pat Daly on strings.
‘How About That Coffee?’ is out now, Friday 10th July 2020.
‘Hemet’ Niamh Regan’s forthcoming debut album coming 10th August is full of musical accomplishment, emotional maturity, and subtle craft. It is the long-awaited arrival of a truly immense talent.
The Academic are pleased to release their new EP, ‘Acting My Age’. Streaming now via Capitol Records, it’s preceded by new single of the same title, available now, with a video.
The EP was produced by Kaiser Chiefs’ Nick Hodgson.
The six tracks that form this EP act as a timely introduction to The Academic, right as they commence their journey to take their music beyond the confines of Ireland.
As Mullinger’s finest, The Academic are already deemed hometown heroes with a number one album to their name. And if you were a betting person, you’d probably fancy a flutter on The Academic repeating their chart success further afield. The songs are the sort that make a quick impact; sharp, buoyant and explosive. By second listen you’ve got the melodies nailed, fizzing around in your cranium. Instant gratification. Time is precious.
The Academic make music that embraces the electric guitar and aren’t shy of arena sized choruses suggests that guitar music could well be heading straight back to the mainstream after a decade or more laying resolutely fallow. Some would confidently argue that we’ve been in rude health for the past few years. With Idles and Shame’s state-of-the-nation punkish potency swinging open the doors for the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Murder Capital to burst their heads above the underground, over in the mainstream Sam Fender has been marrying critical acclaim with solid sales (a rarity), his chest-thumping Springsteen-esque tales of a community’s heart and struggle flying straight to the top of the charts. Meanwhile, The 1975, veritable stalwarts on their own podium, now feel positively pop, yet at their very soul is an innovative, smart-talking guitar band with surely one eye on stadiums having long since slayed the festival fields and arenas. Catfish & The Bottlemen and Blossoms also tease arena sized audiences, whilst off the media radar you’ve got the likes of Gerry Cinnamon and Sea Girls cautiously bothering bigger live rooms to ever increasing audiences. But this feels palpably different. The odds feel less of a risk. The door is swinging wide open.
Despite being in the infancy as a global concern, The Academic have already sold out venues across the UK & Ireland, and they’ve also received the props of Mick Jagger who personally selected them to support The Rolling Stones in Dublin. That Mullingar has them down as hometown heroes and local-boys-about-to-explode, will doubtless be of importance to those who have studied the rulebook of city/town specific era-defining guitar acts from Oasis to Arctic Monkeys, Sam Fender to Kasabian. Primed now as Ireland’s most likely to, The Academic are ready to become what they deserve.
Fronted by Craig Fitzgerald, a man who gives good quote without over-selling the product, the young four-piece sit at the centre of a venn diagram that draws from the likes of Phoenix, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and Vampire Weekend.
The EP opens with the weighty one-two of ‘Anything Could Happen and ‘Acting My Age’, songs that sound a few steps beyond promising and into ‘essential’ territory. Look up to the stars and you’ll find them en route. The rest of the EP offers plenty of light and shade, tonally and expressively.
A fine introduction to a band you’d yet to hear, right on the cusp of becoming inescapable.
Wyvern Lingo return to the fray with their brand new single ‘Don’t Say it’, their first release since the 2018 Choice Music Prize nominated debut album.
The band says: “This is the first release from our forthcoming album, which deals with a lot of personal change and growth. It’s been grounding for the three of us as friends to be going through that together, and we’re really excited to be finally sharing new tunes about this time in our lives.”
Having toured Ireland, the UK and Europe extensively in support of the first album, the band settled into an extended period of new writing in spring 2019. Work on the new album started at JRS recording studios in Berlin last autumn. Feeling at home in this artist-friendly, creatively-minded city, the Wyverns decided to move en bloc to Germany at the beginning of 2020.
Just as they were settling into their new lives, the arrival of the Coronavirus pandemic sent them scurrying back to Ireland to be close to families and loved ones. Not to be discouraged, work on new music has continued in lockdown. ‘Don’t Say It’ is the first taste of their fresh endeavours.
Of the song itself, the band say: “’Don’t Say It’ is about an inevitable and reluctant end, where the reasons to stay are deeply rooted, but the reasons to leave are becoming harder to deny.”
Ten years together as a band, and longer than that as friends, Wyvern Lingo turn the page, start a new chapter.
Lisa Keane is a Dublin based singer/songwriter. Following her graduation from BIMM Dublin in 2019 with a degree in Commercial Modern Music and Songwriting,
Having spent the last few years honing her craft with live shows in The Grand Social, Whelan’s, Sin E and more, Lisa has spent the past few months writing and recording new music with the plan of releasing 3 singles this year. Inspired by artists such as Maggie Rogers, HAIM, Taylor Swift and Dermot Kennedy, Lisa blends elements from different genres to create her sound. Her new single ‘Melting’ is out now.
‘Melting’ is the second release for Lisa this year, following her single ‘Crown of Thorns’, which got radio support from Dublin City FM, KCLR, PlayIrish, EIREWAVE, Pop On Down Blog and more.
‘Melting’ is a contemporary pop song. The production of the song was inspired by artists such as Lennon Stella and Astrid S. The lyrics explore the rush of emotions and uncertainty experienced when falling in love. The song was written, recorded and produced by Lisa. The track was mixed by Conor McQuaid and mastered by Fergal Davis.
