Month: September 2020

Last October 98fm’s Totally Irish and The Sound Training College launched TiLT (Totally Irish Live Tuesdays), free monthly showcase events taking place in The Button Factory.

They have just announced the TiLT Development Deal. Four up and coming acts will be chosen to take part, each receiving studio and recording time, plus pre-production, under the guidance of the lecturers of The Sound Training Centre. The selected acts will also get an introduction to radio from 98fm’s John Barker where they will receive advice and learn about the working aspects of radio stations. Finally, the acts will also have the chance to perform at a TiLT showcase event in The Button Factory early next year.

For more information or to apply: https://soundtraining.com/productions/tilt-devlopment-deal/

Applications close Wednesday 16th September.

Contemporary folk band Strings & Things have released an energetic new single, “ Jigtime .” The single is the first release from their upcoming album The Unsolicited Dance.

The song features a fast, energetic beat complete with strumming guitars, intricate fiddles, and layered string sounds, with singer James O’Meara’s vocals sailing overtop. “Jigtime” started as a poem by Ethel Mongey, mother of band member Sean, who approached the band and asked them to put music to the poem. The poem is about the unconditional love of a mother for her children, and a mother’s realisation that her kids are growing up and don’t need their parents as much. The thoughtful lyrics are complemented by the upbeat, hopeful instrumentation, and the song quickly became a regular in Strings & Things’ live set.

The single as well as upcoming album were recorded while the band was on a nine month residency as a house band at Raglan Road, an Irish entertainment bar in Disney World Orlando, Florida. The band would spend their days arranging and recording their original music in their home studio, and their nights gigging. The music was recorded by bass player Eoin Salmon, who is also a sound engineer. It was mastered by Aidan Cunningham (The Scratch, Overhead the Albatross).

Strings & Things are a four-piece neo-trad band based in Tipperary who meld genres of rock, folk, pop, and trad to create their unique sound. For the last eight years they have been entertaining audiences around Ireland, the UK, and the US with energetic live performances, a huge repertoire of traditional music, and thoughtful, innovative original music. They released their first album Turbulence and EP “Anorak Jack” in 2017, and an Irish cover album Four Thousand Miles in 2018. The band employs a collaborative writing process, with collective input on music, lyrics, and arrangement.

The band consists of James O’Meara Ryan (guitar & vocals), Eoin Shelly (percussion & vocals), Sean Mongey (banjo, mandolin, whistle & backing vocals), and Eoin Salmon (bass). The group is currently managed by Impact Promotions Ireland.

Magazines have built a reputation as the new indie darlings of the Irish music scene. The band dropped some debut releases last year and quickly garnered attention on the Dublin live music scene (before… well, you know). The group now return with new single ‘Happy Alone’, a fan favourite that is already being heralded as their best work to date.

‘Happy Alone’ is an indie gem for fans of Wolf Alice and Pillow Queens. The track is perfectly balanced in the space between tender and tough, with singer Cath Leahy’s ethereal vocals backed by a wall of guitar fuzz and snare clicks. The story of a troubled relationship is told with bitingly honest lyrics; full of longing and always pulling at the listener’s heartstrings.

The lo-fi qualities of the music cleverly accompany a real emotional depth. Magazines have a penchant for dark, smart lo-fi tunes and ‘Happy Alone’ is no exception – the result is a strong, defiant declaration of independence and self-belief. This is a band at their very best and ready to take centre stage. Magazines release ‘Happy Alone’ on 18 September 2020.

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Sofft Productions proudly presents SOFFT Nights, a series of socially distant concerts and holistic experiences in the charming location of Dunderry Park, Co. Meath. 

SOFFT Nights is a daughter of Spirit of Folk Festival, a small boutique event that emerged out of the 2008 recession. It makes sense that it would return for these particularly strange times.

BELL X1’s Paul Noonan, CMAT and Junior Brother are some of the most exciting acts to emerge from the Irish music scene and have confirmed intimate performances at SOFFT nights this October. 

Co-Founder of SOFFT Nights, Natasha Duffy speaks about the event: 

“The event is both a concert series and an experience. Along with the musical acts, there will be shamanic drumming journey in the woods, bonfires where you can roast your own smores, storytelling in a megalithic cairn and lovers walk around the beautiful lake. Dunderry Park is an immersion into nature and soul and that is what we want these nights to be about. Our plan is that every musician, act and worker will be paid for their time and we have priced the tickets to reflect this since it is only a 100 person event. We think that people will get behind it.” 

Patrons will have access to the grounds from 4 pm and have time to explore the lover’s lake walk, megalithic cairn, forest trails, beautiful food from the wonderful Home Fries, and freshly brewed coffees and teas. The event will then evolve into a concert under a beautiful, socially distanced stretch tent with three enigmatic acts. 

We will also be facilitating an outdoor shamanic drumming journey with Martin Duffy in the middle of the forest, theatrical monologues along the lake and pianists to be discovered in nooks and crannies around the grounds.

This event is being produced by Sofft productions, a new initiative by old friends Caroline Duke and Natasha Duffy with collaboration by Conor Jacob a production and lighting designer. The threesome found themselves all without work and staring down the barrel of an empty autumn but have instead invited the Spirit of Folk to come with them on this new journey.

The event will be filmed live and streamed via online partner The Lock Inn and will be an immersive, visceral experience.  People can buy tickets to the online version and watch from the comfort of their own home.

LINE-UP 

2nd and 3rd October 2020

PAUL NOONAN (BELL X1) 
Paul Noonan is a Dublin based songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.  He is best known as the frontman of the Irish group Bell X1 and as a solo artist and collaborator on various musical projects including Printer Clips, Starboard Home, and Imagining Ireland 21st Century Song.

CMAT
CMAT is a global pop star who lives in Dublin with her grandparents, where she is currently recovering from an AliExpress addiction.

JUNIOR BROTHER
Alternative Irish Folk Singer from Kerry with Acoustic Guitar and Tambourine. His debut album ‘Pull The Right Rope’ is out now. 

YouTube Country sensation Marty Mone is channelling his inner Picture This through his latest release, ‘U-Turn’, released 21st September, touching the hearts of millions worldwide in the process. 

It is one of the artist’s earliest pieces of work, drawing heavy influence from the reality of long-distance relationships, with heartfelt lyrics that detail the experiences of that long journey home to the one that you love. 

The accompanying music video was shot at Ireland’s First Ever Drive in Gig in Ballymena, and serves as a compelling snapshot of the unique gigging experience that exists in this post-COVID society.

Marty is now working hard behind the scenes with his band, and much to the joy of his 26 million YouTube viewers, the preparations for an upcoming Marty Mone tour in 2021 is fast underway.

This September and October, the National Concert Hall welcomes Irish artists to the NCH stage in a series of both in-venue and livestream concerts. This marks an important step in the roadmap to recovery of concert life at the NCH as well as creating much-needed performance opportunities for Irish musicians. The concerts offer Irish and international audiences some of the best of the diverse world of Irish music both in person and online. 

Live audiences will be welcomed back to the NCH with a series of lunchtime chamber music concerts for a limited capacity audience and a series of mid-afternoon Sunday String Quartet concerts celebrating the music of Beethoven in this his 250^th anniversary year. Artists include: Camerata Kilkenny, celebrated Irish pianist Fiachra Garvey, pianist Hugh Tinney with Academy Chamber Ensemble and Lir, Banbha and Vanbrugh Quartets. 

The NCH is also delighted to announce the first four concerts in a new livestream series called ‘Imagining Ireland’ showcasing the most exciting creative artists at work today. The concerts range from Hip Hop to traditional music and contemporary composition to roots music. The line-up includes contemporary composer and musician Jennifer Walshe in ‘Ireland: A Dataset’ a boisterous radiophonic play made for the NCH; a celebration of the thriving Irish hip-hop scene with Denise Chaila, MuRli and God Knows presented with Narolane records, fiddler and hardanger d’amore player of The Gloaming fame Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh with West-Kerry based concertina player Cormac Begley, and Grammy nominee Rhiannon Giddens with multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turissi. ‘Imagining Ireland’ will continue through the Autumn. It is supported by Davy as Innovation Partner and is a partnership collaboration between NCH, Culture Ireland and Serious, supported by The Irish Times and Newstalk as media partners.

Simon Taylor, CEO of the National Concert Hall says: 

“In line with the country’s reopening, we are delighted to announce a new series of livestream concerts designed to appeal to a wide variety of musical interests and to welcome back a live audience to the NCH for this trial series of socially distanced chamber music concerts. Given the current capacity restrictions for indoor gatherings the socially distanced chamber music concerts will see a limited audience in attendance giving us an opportunity to not only welcome back audiences to live music but also to give artists the opportunity to perform to an audience once more in a way that is enjoyable, practical and safe for all. This is an important step forward to restoring the unique magic of live performance and in supporting the livelihoods of musicians, which have been so severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.  

We want to reassure the public that the NCH will be following all public health guidelines in respect of Covid-19 ensuring the utmost safety of our audiences, musicians, and staff and we will have stringent measures in place to do so. I would like to acknowledge Minister Catherine Martin in particular, and the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht for their support during this very challenging time.”  

In addition, the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra returns to perform live from the NCH stage in a series of Friday evening concerts to be livestreamed worldwide in HD on RTE Culture and broadcast on RTE lyric fm at 7pm (Starting Friday 11^th September). 

Also taking place on 19th September, Christy Moore will perform his first and only livestream concert in 2020 from the NCH giving Irish and global audiences a rare opportunity to hear Christy perform this year. 

The safety of artists, audiences and staff has been considered paramount in the creation of this music programme of in-venue concerts and all necessary Covid-19 safety measures have been put in place, compliant with NPHET recommendations and HSE guidelines, to ensure the return to live music is both safe and enjoyable. In particular, the events will conform to the current limit of 50 people in a controlled, theatre environment and this will include the performers and NCH staff working on the event. See Covid 19 Guidelines for details of measures put in place at NCH. 

Ticket Information

Tickets for each of the in-venue socially distanced chamber music concerts are €10 and are available to purchase from Monday 14th September 10am online only at www.nch.ie [There is a limited capacity for each concert. Tickets are restricted to two per person. All concerts 60 minutes or less.]  

Tickets for Imagining Ireland concerts are €7 and €10 and are only available to purchase and view on www.Dice.fm. Tickets on sale now. 

Full details of all concerts available on www.nch.ie  

The chamber music concerts and Imagining Ireland are supported by The Irish Times and Newstalk as media partner.

In-Venue NCH Concerts

• Sunday String Quartet Series – Sun. 20 September 3pm – Lir Quartet  
• Chamber Music Series – Tues. 22nd September 1.05pm- Camerata Kilkenny with Claire Duff, Marja Gaynor and Malcolm Proud
• Tues. 29^th Sept. 1.05pm – Fiachra Garvey, piano  
• Sunday String Quartet Series – Sun. 4^th October 3pm – Banbha Quartet 
• Tues. 6th October 1.05pm – Hugh Tinney, piano with Academy Chamber Ensemble  
• Sunday String Quartet Series – Sun.18^th October 3pm – Vanbrugh Quartet 

In-venue concerts with socially distanced audience. Tickets: €10 for each concert. On Sale Monday 14th September 10am from www.nch.ie 

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IMAGINING IRELAND LIVESREAM SERIES 

Ireland: A Dataset by Jennifer Walshe
Saturday 26th September
Ireland, UK, Europe, 8.00pm BST / 9.00pm CEST
Tickets: €7 available on Dice.fm 

Narolane records presents Denise Chaila, God Knows and MuRli
Sunday 27th September 2020
Ireland, UK, Europe, 8.00pm BST / 9.00pm CEST
Tickets: €7 available on Dice.fm

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, fiddle & Cormac Begley, concertina in Solo | Duo
Wed. 30^th September   
Ireland, UK, Europe, 8.00pm BST / 9.00pm CEST
Tickets: €7 available on Dice.fm

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi: There is No Other
Saturday 3rd October
Ireland, UK, Europe, 8.00pm BST / 9.00pm CEST
Tickets: €10 available on Dice.fm 

Livestream Concert Tickets from €7. Available exclusively via DICE.fm. On Sale Now. 

(The concerts will be available to tickets holders for 24 hours following the performance).

Supported by Davy as Innovation Partner. ‘Imagining Ireland’ is a partnership collaboration between NCH, Culture Ireland and Serious. Supported by The Irish Times and Newstalk and media partners. 

‘Invisible’ is the follow up to ‘Ordinary Star’, from RTE Featured Artist, Imelda Kehoe. It is the second release from Imelda’s forthcoming album due out, early 2021, most of which was recorded at Windmill Lane Recording Studios, Dublin. Inspired by Imelda’s time working as in the North of England as a community nurse in one of the most notorious estates in Leeds, ‘Invisible’ is a song about escapism. It’s full of imagery and the central character of the song is based on a real life person. It’s about living and growing up in a ‘no go zone’ and all the chaos that goes along with it. 

The song is full of energy and with a big vocal change which lifts and changes the dynamic of the song just after the 2^nd verse.

“Would you rather be Invisible? Or would you rather fly?“

Imelda Kehoe is an Irish Contemporary Folk Singer Songwriter who trained as a nurse and worked in A&E and Intensive Care in Leeds working in the inner city and cites these life experiences as being influential in her writing. She now lives in Wexford. 

Her music taste is eclectic and influences are wide but her roots are in Folk music. The album is due for release late 2020/21.

https://www.facebook.com/ImeldaKehoeMusic/
Twitter: @imeldakehoe1
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HX6FumyyojkmbGATn81kY?si=6quJfMqtSxGGjI-3YuB6jg

Berlin-based recording artist Black Pope has just released a new single called ‘Goth Girl’, and it’s sure to bring a smile (and maybe even some eyeliner) to your face. The song is accompanied by a self-directed music video which sees upcoming actress Hannah Lee leading a double life and generally causing trouble.

“Goth Girl is a celebration of every dark counterculture that ever existed. What I love about those cultures is the willingness to express their dark side out loud. That’s what this Goth Girl represents. She’s a dark and strong tornado of badassery and she likes what she likes,” the songwriter explains.

The song was recorded with producer Cian Riordan (St. Vincent, Mini Mansions) and is the first single from Black Pope’s debut album which is set for release next year. The album was recorded over seven days in Monique Studios in Cork, Ireland and has been described by the artist as “a love letter to loserville.”

Black Pope’s music has been described by Mojo Magazine as a neo-rock’n’roll soundtrack of surf guitar rumble. Rewriting adolescent love stories as horror movies, Black Pope borrows from classic and contemporary rock’n’roll to take you back to an era that never existed. Currently establishing his cult in Berlin, people are drawn to his high energy performances, hip-shaking charisma and an insatiable appetite for all things dark and mysterious. For many, this is the end of civilisation as we know it. For Black Pope, it’s just another full moon.

Black Pope’s ‘Goth Girl’ is out now.

Photo: Brid O Donovan

This Monday 14th September, God Knows will release ‘Mup I Said (feat. Hazey Haze)’. 

The track is the final installment of God Knows’ ‘Who’s Asking? EP Vol II’, which was released exclusively on Bandcamp by Fly High Society on Friday 4th September. 

The full EP will be available on streaming platforms over the coming weeks, but in the meantime fans will be able to watch the video for ‘Mup I Said (feat. Hazy Haze)’, directed by Stephen Hall, on Fly High Society’s YouTube from Monday 14th September. 

‘Mup I Said’ features prolific Limerick MC Hazey Haze (PX Music). Hazey has collaborated with God Knows previously, notably on the Southwest Allstars Remix of the title track of the ‘Who’s Asking?’ series of EPs. 

God Knows says of the track: “’Mup I Said’ (“come up, I said”) is a call to action. It’s an observation of how things change as time moves forward. Some of the people that I started this journey with have settled down and discovered new dreams, some have deferred them, some like myself and my peers are still on job. Mup means ‘it’s not over til it’s over’. Don’t give up on yourself. Come up.”

‘Who’s Asking? EP Vol. I’ saw God Knows bring together some of Ireland’s most exciting, influential and progressive hip hop artists including MuRli, Denise Chaila, Hazey Haze, Citrus Fresh, Gavin DaVinci and Strange Boy Nature.

The second installment of the series, ‘Who’s Asking? EP Vol. II’ saw the project showcasing more of Ireland’s brightest MC’s including MuRli, BONY, Skripteh, Nealo, Mango, Rebel P & Lethal Dialect alongside production from Semi-D, MuRli and SertOne.

Known for his vividly honest lyricism and electrifying energy wherever he sets foot, the ‘Who’s Asking?’ EPs are quickly establishing God Knows as the architect of hip hop in Ireland, with The Quietus writing that “it’s a thrill to hear God Knows back in the driver’s seat.”

They went to sum up God Knows’ position in the Irish music landscape by saying, “Having taken on the role of mentor for young artists in the south-west in recent years, it’s even better to see him use that position to bring emerging acts together on ‘Who’s Asking’ (South West Allstars Remix) – and in its electrifying video. Denise Chaila, Hazey Haze, Citrus Fresh, Gavin DaVinci and Strange Boy Nature contribute razor-sharp verses here, asserting their places in an Irish hip-hop scene that God Knows continues to stand proudly at the helm of.”

Buy ‘Who’s Asking? EP Vol. II’ on Bandcamp here.