Month: December 2020

A little over 30 years ago, little-known California band Wilson Phillips came from nowhere to knock Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ off the top of the charts with a song called ‘Hold On’, the first single from their debut album. A song about perseverance and inner strength, its message still holds firm to this day, perhaps even more so in this “new normal” we are living in.

It’s for that reason Irish pop artist Josh Gray decided to put his own spin on ‘Hold On’ and remind everyone that, no matter what storm we all face, it will soon pass. 

“‘Hold On’ is about perseverance. It’s a really hopeful and inspiring song,” Josh explains. “I chose to cover it because of its lyrical content and message, as so many of us right now are struggling with trying to make sense and adapt to these crazy times.

It’s been very hard on so many people this year. I think it’s important for us all to try to be more open and vocal about how we’re feeling, and it’s important to remind your nearest and dearest, who maybe struggle a bit more than others, that they’re not alone.” 

Recorded alongside Swedish producer duo Goldfingers (Little Mix, 2 Chainz, Tinie Tempah), Josh’s cover swoops the early ‘90s classic into the 21st century with sleek, pop-heavy production, while his unique vocal breathes life into the song again.

Trying to come up with a new direction for a song that has already been so successful can prove difficult but Josh says the process was fairly simple. “I really dissected the track and tried to make it feel like a Josh Gray song. I just really went at it as if I was writing it myself! The guys and I just hopped into the studio, ordered a Five Guys, and away we went. We’re all big fans of the track so the ball moved very easily! For me personally, getting the chance to revamp an old classic was very special on a personal note, as my Dad would always have it in his extensive playlists.” 

With a big 2021 ahead for Josh Gray, including touring with one of his all-time favourite bands McFly, ‘Hold On’ is the perfect way for him to round off a tumultuous year for everyone. Hold on. Better times are coming.

The National Concert Hall (NCH) is delighted to announce an eclectic series of festive livestream concerts for all ages from Saturday 12^th to Sunday 20^th December. Concerts will be available view online, with most livestreams free and available to audiences worldwide from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels. 

Simon Taylor, CEO of the National Concert Hall said: 

“The weeks leading up to Christmas normally see the NCH thronged with happy, excited people enjoying a wonderful array of festive and family concerts. We all understand that this is not possible this year and we are delighted to bring this special online programme to our audiences at home and around the world. 

In a year that has been difficult for all of us, particularly those involved in music and the arts, we hope we can bring a little respite, joy and Christmas cheer into homes around the country and further afield as we all look forward to a brighter and happier New Year.”  

The series commences on 12^th December with perennial favourites Theatre Lovett who this year bring this festive treat of Mr. Fox and Friends to the NCH to delight children and parents alike. Expect seasonal song, music, jokes and guests including Liam O Maonlaí, Keli Ann Masterson, Martin Brunsden, Simon Morgan, Conor Linehan, Olesya Zdorovetska, Nick Roth and of course Louis Lovett. This Christmas Special is produced by Theatre Lovett funded by The Arts Council and supported by the National Concert Hall. 

On 13^th December Bell X1 frontman and NCH regular Paul Noonan gets festive with a special Christmas edition of his popular Electric Kazoo titled The Snowy Kazoo! This seasonal celebration will be a kazoo-tastic afternoon of Christmas tunes and goofs, coming at you from The Good Room. For this special instalment Paul, Sam, Aislinn and Ellie the Dog are asking children to send in drawings or pictures of their teddies at Christmas and a note saying what the teddies are looking forward to during the Christmas holidays. Paul and co. will turn them into songs! Please email  snowy@nulltheelectrickazoo.ie 

The festive season would not be complete without a carol service so please join us on Friday December 18^th for a Christmas Carol Service with Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Choir live from the National Concert Hall. For this special concert they will perform a selection of rich and elaborate carols and are joined with seasonal contributions by novelist Joseph O’Connor and broadcaster Olivia O’Leary. 

The Irish Chamber Orchestra take to the stage on Saturday December 19^th for A Christmas Celebration with leader Katherine Hunka and soprano Ava Dodd. This unique performance features much-loved festive songs and music from across Europe. The programme includes traditional pieces such as ‘Silent Night’, the inspirational ‘I Know That My Redeemer Liveth’ from Messiah and Corelli’s Christmas Concerto. A little closer to home, the ICO serenade with the ‘Wexford Carol’ and a haunting rendition of ‘Don Oíche úd I mBeithil’ . 

The festive series comes to a close on Sunday 20^th December with siblings Rufus, Martha and Lucy Wainwright’s beloved Christmas show A Not So Silent Night, this year ‘Virtually Together’. They will be joined by aunts, mothers, fathers, nieces, cousins, sons and daughters of the acclaimed musical clans of the Wainwrights, McGarrigles and Roches. First performed in 2005, this holiday celebration is equal parts concert and family reunion. The stream will come live from Rufus’ living room in Laurel Canyon, Martha’s arts and community center in Montreal and City Winery in New York for Lucy Wainwright Roche. The live stream will take this family tradition back to Rufus’ and Martha’s childhood where they would perform Christmas carols and songs with their extended family. 

The Christmas Series is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Mr. Fox and Friends is funded by The Arts Council. 

CHRISTMAS SERIES at NATIONAL CONCERT HALL 

Saturday 12^th December 3pm 

Theatre Lovett presents Mr. Fox and Friends 
Free to view, from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels  
Available to view for one week 
Sunday 13^th December 3pm 

Paul Noonan: The Snowy Kazoo Livestream 
Free to view, from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels  
Available to view for 48 hours 
Friday 18^th December 7pm 

Christmas Carol Service with St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir plus guests Joseph O’Connor and Olivia O’Leary Livestream 
Free to view, from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels  
Available to view for 48 hours 
Saturday 19^th December 8pm 

A Christmas Celebration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra Livestream 
Free to view, from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels  
Available to view for 48 hours 
Sunday 20^th December 8pm 

Rufus, Martha and Lucy Wainwright’s A Not So Silent Night ‘Virtually Together’ Livestream 
See nch.ie for booking information 
Stream will be available for re-watch until 6^th January 2021 

2020 has been a rough ride for everyone this year, but 0Stella and Callistan are intent on bringing the spirit of Christmas straight to everyone’s screens featuring the best of Irish and Canadian artists performing heart warming Christmas songs we all know and love.

Artists performing from both countries include Skye Wallace, Shred Kelly, Geoff Warner Clayton, Drea Lake, Sinead McConville & D.Cullen, Alex Whorms, Taylor Mas, Goodnight, Sunrise, Ed Phelan & Noel Perry, Kayla Williams and many more.

Canadian music venue The Groovenor will co-host the show that will be streamed live through Zoom on Sunday Dec 20th. Tickets are available through Sidedoor and are priced at €10 / $10.

100% of Ticket Sales will be split between Irish charity ‘Inner City Helping Homeless’ in Dublin and Canadian charity ‘Boyle Street Community Services’ in Edmonton.

“The idea came about when 0Stella explained to me that due to Covid she couldn’t return home from Canada this year to see her family, part of which included a trip to town to attend the legendary Christmas Eve busk on Grafton st. This sparked the idea of having our own online busk of sorts and while we’re at it, collecting money for two very important organisations on either side of the pond – the idea of PASS THE HAT came to life.” Callistan

“We couldn’t help but leap at the chance to connect Irish musicians with the Canadian music community. If we’re grounded for the time being, we may as well build more friendships abroad so we can play together when touring opens up again and in the spirit of Christmas and inspired by the musicians we see every year on Grafton street, it’s a good opportunity to give back to our communities by raising money for organisations who help people every single day.” 0Stella

0Stella and Callistan recently reconnected during lockdown to collaborate on a reimagining of 0Stella’s alt-rock track, ‘Fire’, into an uptempo dance-pop anthem released last Sept 25th. The collaboration has continued into a weekly Sunday Instagram Live podcast-style show with guest musicians and topics based around ‘imperfections’, often spotlighting issues around trans and queer culture and empowering womxn. 

INNER CITY HELPING HOMELESS – https://ichh.ie/ 

The ICHH outreach volunteers are on the streets 7 nights a week, 365 days a year offering practical support to people that are sleeping rough in doorways, parks, squats and places off the beaten track. 

BOYLE STREET COMMUNITY SERVICES – https://www.boylestreet.org/ 

Boyle Street Community Services has been working in the inner city of Edmonton since 1971 to serve, support, and empower people to take control of their lives and escape the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

Sidedoor Ticket Link: https://sidedooraccess.com/shows/s28jN88C06xlev9pgddn

Pass The Hat FB Event Link: shorturl.at/jtSW9 

Callistan Links:    

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xTQsNWCFiNQE5YANa6xKl  
Insta: www.instagram.com/callistanofficial                     
FB: https://www.facebook.com/CallistanOfficial          

0Stella Links:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/5uRLlaQWzvB1VXPLpUzKmO?si=AJCU7RlNTAuZBRl2mBiwAQ
Insta: www.instagram.com/0stellamusic
FB: www.facebook.com/0StellaMusic 
Web: www.0stella.com 

The Groovenor Links:

FB:  www.facebook.com/TheGroovenor
Web: www.thegroovenor.com

James Vincent McMorrow has today dropped an incredible video for new single ‘Gone’, which is available now on Columbia Records. The track was premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World on BBC Radio 1 and has since been made Nick Grimshaw’s Tune of the Week, with James also producing a stunning live performance of ‘Gone’ for ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’. All this follows recent single ‘I Should Go’ with Kenny Beats (Idles, slowthai, Omar Apollo), whilst James has confirmed details of an extensive world tour in support of his much-anticipated new album next year – including a London date at Brixton Academy.

The arresting video for ‘Gone’ was filmed in one take by Gar O’Rourke, and conceived alongside James (who asked that the events on the day remain a surprise, even to him). It’s a playful twist on the turbulent alternative-pop at the heart of ‘Gone’: produced by James alongside Paul Epworth and Moon Willis, what sounds like chaos is actually a song about clarity (“I give less fucks than I used to / still give a lot of fucks“). 

A breakthrough moment in an unpredictable career, ‘Gone’ explores themes that are inherent to James Vincent McMorrow’s upcoming album – and where he finds himself in life. The record was introduced earlier this year by ‘Headlights’, a track written not so much about everything making sense, but making peace with the fact that nothing does. The track’s soulful follow up, ‘I Should Go’ – recorded with fellow genre-collider Kenny Beats – was a reminder of James’ rare ability to move as easily between the worlds of hip-hop and R&B as he can the singer-songwriter roots of debut album ‘Early In The Morning’ (which turned 10 this year). ‘Gone’ may just be the biggest and boldest track McMorrow has released to date, but it’s also entirely in line with an artist who has always written with startling honesty, and followed his inspiration simply wherever it takes him. “I have more responsibilities, people and expectations around me than ever, and the world is constantly telling me to change and grow as a person,” he says. “But I don’t feel any more responsible or capable than I did when I was 18 years old. This album is about embracing the idea that it’s okay to not have things figured out.”

It has, nonetheless, been quite the journey of figuring things out thus far: James Vincent McMorrow is already a platinum-selling act, who has independently clocked up over 750 million streams, reached #1 in his home of Ireland, and seen his music travel everywhere from Drake’s ‘Views’ to ‘Game Of Thrones’. With news of his new album expected early 2021, ‘Gone’ continues a thrilling new chapter from a fearless artist…now giving less fucks than he used to. 

UK/EU Tour Dates
 
16th March – Leisureland, Galway (Ireland)
18th March – Milk Market, Limerick (Ireland)
19th March – The Telegraph Building, Belfast (Ireland)
20th March – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow (UK)
22nd March – O2 Ritz, Manchester (UK)
23rd March – O2 Academy Brixton, London (UK)
25th March – Stollwerck, Cologne (Germany)
26th March – Le Trianon, Paris (France)
27th March – Het Depot vzw, Leuven (Belgium)
29th March – Batschkapp, Frankfurt (Germany)
31st March – Grünspan, Hamburg (Germany) 
1st April – Metropol, Hamburg (Germany) 
2nd April – Vega, Copenhagen (Denmark)
5th April – Den Atelier, Luxembourg City (Luxembourg)
6th April – Paradiso, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
8th April – O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol (UK)
9th April – The O2 Institute, Birmingham (UK)
17th April – Olympia Theatre, Dublin (Ireland)
18th April – Olympia Theatre, Dublin (Ireland)

Three different decades, three lives, three minds brought into a room to feel the ever exciting chill of creation satisfaction. Foot Squeaker love to rock, to expand, grow and feed off their musical explorations, to do it for themselves.

Formed in 2018, Diarmuid and Mike spent that full year sculpting their songs and all the while Mike would quality control the riffage. Mick Byrne joined on bass in early 2019.

Citing musical influences such as Neil Young, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Paul Weller, Queens Of The Stone Age, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Supergrass, Blur and Beck, the band scatter flecks of the above across their songs whilst maintaining their own rock recipe shaped by their individual experience and styles.

In January 2020 the band headed to Hellfire Studios, Dublin, to record four tracks with Ivan Jackman (Chad Channing, Sinéad O’ Connor, Girlband). The band released two singles ‘No Connection’ and ‘Wayside’ over summer 2020 garnering radio play across Ireland and countries across the world including Scotland, Canada and New Zealand. Their latest single, ‘Specimen’, has just been released.

Diarmuid talks about ‘Specimen’ –
“’Why are you crying?‘
‘He told me I was some specimen ‘cos of my hair.’
‘Don’t listen to that shite, you can do whatever you want with your hair.’ That’s what I told my son.

After I had played him the song I wrote for him for the first time we cried together in sadness and hope. (Spoiler alert) Specimen appears to be the most mellow tune in our set but by God does it tear you new ear canals in the second half.

We are looking forward to a sold out show in our local theatre as soon as restrictions allow. A striped back live video version of ‘Specimen’ comes out to accompany the single just days after its release.”

A few tickets remain for Foot Squeaker’s headline show in Gorey Little Theatre which has been postponed until sometime early next year, so join the mailing list on their website www.footsqueaker.com to keep up to date with show details. When the live scene returns Foot Squeaker hope to share the stage with some of their favourite Irish rockers: Fangclub, Silverbacks, Bitch Falcon, Thumper and Fontaines DC to name a few.

www.footsqueaker.com
facebook.com/footsqueaker
instagram.com/footsqueakerband
twitter.com/footsqueaker

Charles Boulevard have just released their album ‘Rendez-Vous!’.

It all started over a year ago when the three of members of the group discussed where they were at musically. While all working on individual projects, Pavel suggested why don’t they focus their collective creative musical energies into a specific goal? In a moment the concept of Charles Boulevard was born.

At least that was the plan but making the dream come true was the challenge.

All agreed that it would be interesting to record the process of producing the album in a home studio environment without the backup of a commercial studio and so documented the whole process on their YouTube Channel to share.

And so a year later, the trio are proud of their achievement and are very happy to say the record is complete, exceeding even their own expectations.

The group wanted to create a record that everybody would enjoy listening to but also one that they themselves would enjoy.

“We deliberately covered many different musical styles and in that respect I think there is something here for everyone.  We are confident that we have maintained a high standard throughout the record and it is a good sign that we actually still enjoy listening to this collection of songs.

So we have made our Rendez-Vous with you despite the lockdowns, as promised and on time. We hope you too enjoy the experience!“

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Rendez-Vous-Charles-Boulevard/dp/B08NZGSZW4/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=Charles+Boulevard&qid=1606248829&s=dmusic&search-type=ss&sr=1-13
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/rendez-vous/1541431521

Today Mundy, released his first new music since 2015. 

‘Dark Long Enough’ marks the next chapter for a man from Birr who has carved out his own place in Irish life. He’s already given us ‘Galway Girl’, the biggest selling download in Irish history with over one million copies sold. Every summer his ‘July’ single dominates the airwaves heralding hazy lazy summer days. 

Mundy’s now coming to brighten up our winter with ‘Dark Long Enough’, a song that celebrates the light at the end of every tunnel, no matter how dim. As the news gets better every day Mundy is unleashing a song to see us home singing and smiling. 

As Mundy explains he wrote ‘Dark Long Enough’ a few autumns ago. He had, “A moment of realisation that life’s too short.” and asked himself, “Did I make enough of the summer just gone? Am I prepared for the winter? This song is designed to make you take nothing for granted and to dance and to sing when you can.” 

Mundy talks about memories of his childhood in Birr, treasured times gone by. One memory Mundy doesn’t treasure is saving turf as he raises in the song with the line “Winter Turf Tokens are hard on the back.” He explains, “This is me talking about bringing in the turf at the end of summer. A thing I did hesitantly. It’s a gruelling but rewarding process to keep your house warm in the winter. It’s basically flammable mud that gets dried out before it’s dry enough to be burned as fuel. It’s probably why I moved to the city in hindsight!” 

The track was recorded live for Ireland In Music at Newbridge House in Fingal and will feature in Ireland In Music a one-off TV special which will premiere on RTÉ One on Tuesday 29^th Dec at 8pm this Christmas and the album of the same name. 

Supporting artists at this difficult time with 80% of proceeds from the TV show and album going to the artists, it’s a project Mundy is delighted to be a part of it. “I haven’t been this excited in a long time. It all seems very natural and organic. I’m a private optimist and don’t like to spoil things by speaking too soon. Genuinely this feels like a great project and I have a great feeling about the song and its wingspan. Ireland in Music have definitely given me a wonderful distraction during a pretty testing time on planet earth!” 

Ireland In Music celebrates Ireland’s natural heritage and culture, specifically our music and musicians. Leading Irish musicians were filmed playing live during lockdown in some of Ireland’s most iconic locations. 

Ireland In Music project is produced by TradFest in association with Born Optimistic, The Temple Bar Company, RTÉ, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the local authorities of Clare, Donegal, Dublin, Fingal, Meath and Westmeath. 

It also marks the first of many moments which TradFest 2021 will bring to audiences in various ways in the coming months. More details to be announced.

This holiday season, rising Irish artists Craig Cooney & Rowlette are spreading the festive spirit with their new track ‘December’, released on November 25, 2020. The track is a heartfelt, uplifting fusion of hip-hop and pop, that reflects on the past year and the ups and downs it’s brought. Rowlette’s smooth, melodic vocals compliment Craig’s honest rap verses.

Rowlette says, “This might sound a bit odd but I wanted a less optimistic Christmas song! Every year, there’s so much pressure for everyone to have the best time ever at Christmas, but the reality is Christmas can be really hard for people. Whether it’s financial difficulties, an empty space at the table, or just the trials and tribulations of life, we wanted to write a Christmas song that’s a bit more real.”

Craig’s manager Colm was playing a track of Craig’s in the car to Rowlette and she was immediately drawn to his sound. Craig’s reaction was something similar- upon hearing Rowlette’s music he was interested in a collaboration, and the two started writing together. 

Craig says, “We come from different styles of music and I think our sounds really compliment each other. Most of the process was over zoom, Rowlette and I hadn’t met before we started writing, so it was a unique experience!”
He goes on to say, “This year has been crazy to say the least, and I’m sure this Christmas will be different. Despite the tough times, I hope everyone will get to spend some quality time at home with their families and remember what’s really important.”

The track is produced by Cormac Kavanagh, mixed by Hugh O’Neill and mastered by Fergal Davis. 

2020 has been a big year for both artists. ‘December’ marks indie-pop artist Rowlette’s fourth release this year, with previous singles being added to Spotify editorial playlists (including Fresh Pop, Pop Right Now and New Music Friday), performing alongside Jack L, being RTE Culture Tune of the Day twice and packing out her first headline show.

Craig Cooney has been pursuing music professionally for the past three years and has multiple headline shows under his belt. His fifth ever show was in the Olympia Theatre supporting Gavin James. He is a unique artist who tells stories through his songs and has gained popularity through his freestyling. This year, Craig released multiple singles as well as founding a cypher series featuring local artists. 

Connect with Rowlette: Website Instagram  Twitter  Facebook  Spotify 

Connect with Craig Cooney: Instagram  Twitter  Facebook  Spotify Youtube

Derek Ryan has been leading the charge for the past ten years in the new wave of country music that has swept everywhere from parish halls to arenas and from Moy to Melbourne.  He has released 10 albums and scores of singles.  This November he brought early festive cheer to his many fans with the release of his first Christmas album.

In what has been a challenging and anxious year, the ten-track timeless collection ‘The Road to Christmas’ is hoped to bring pleasant escapism from the big C (COVID 19) which has caused turmoil in people’s lives and seen the cancellation of live music events.  Even Santa needs cheering up this year.

When the world was in lockdown, Derek spent the time writing the opening track and arranging the other classics on the cd which was produced by Mark Kingswood and recorded in the Kingswood Studios in the UK and Piccolo studios in Canada.

“This festive collection of music includes treasured Christmas songs we all know and can sing along to,” said Derek.

“It was one of the most exciting and fulfilling recording experiences I have had despite not being able to be in the studio with the musicians due to social distancing practices.  However, it came as light relief from what we all have had to endure this year and the changes we had to make.”

“I hope it will provide the perfect antidote to the sometimes frenetic pace and stress of the festive season. And I hope this collection will remind everyone of why we all love Christmas.”

This Christmas Eve may be the first year since his country music career started that Derek will not be able to sing in his home village church with brother Adrian and father Pat.  The family combo rendition of hymns and carols was one of their family highlights, but this year, if restrictions are still in place, it may be the new cd that will be playing in St Lazerians Church, Drumphea, Co. Carlow.

Derek delivers his Christmas present for fans that includes a mix of contemporary and classic versions of ‘Last Christmas’, ‘Winter Wonderland’, and ‘Blue Christmas’ amongst the 10 seasonal chestnuts in his inimitable style.

‘The Road to Christmas’ was released on the 27^th of November and is available from all the usual download and streaming platforms.