Fresh from his appearance on ‘The Tommy Tiernan Show’ on RTE on Saturday night, Dundalk singer-storyteller David Keenan releases his new single – ‘Beggar To Beggar’ – taken from his critically-lauded new album “WHAT THEN?”
Watch ‘Beggar To Beggar’ here:
‘Beggar To Beggar’ is based on a true story, when teenage David Keenan was given some sage advice by two streetwise vagabonds on his Liverpudlian odyssey in search of The La’s reclusive leader Lee Mavers.
With pandemic-related restrictions lifting, David Keenan is looking forward to getting back out touring this year.
His much anticipated return to Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre, originally scheduled for December, will now take place on Thursday 5th May.
Furthermore, the new date for his homecoming concert at the Spirit Store in Dundalk will be Saturday 7th May with an extra date added on Sunday 8th May.
Now in its fifth year, Dublin Racing Festival makes a welcome return to Leopardstown Racecourse next month (February 4-5). A weekend of Grade 1 horse racing at the prestigious Dublin track will be complemented by some superb live music performances, appetising local cuisine and a variety of on-site entertainment that will see the public returning to Leopardstown over two exciting days.
Following its launch in 2017, Dublin Racing Festival has established itself as one of the premium events on the Irish and UK racing calendar and has brought thousands of punters to Dublin with its vibrant celebration of the city, its music and food culture, while attracting some of the biggest names in horse racing. It has proven an excellent precursor to the Cheltenham Festival and 2022 will see live performances from Mundy and George Murphy among others.
Saturday’s headliner at Dublin Racing Festival, Mundy, was propelled to international stardom with the track ‘To You I Bestow’, which was included on the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s Shakespeare adaptation Romeo & Juliet. It sold 11 million copies worldwide while casting a huge spotlight on his debut album Jelly Legs.
Mundy went on to release the multi-platinum record 24 Star Hotel, with hit tracks ‘July’ and ‘Mexico’ becoming firm favourites. Raining Down Arrows, which hit the #1 slot in the Irish Album Charts, came next while his first live album, Live and Confusion, followed, recorded at a storming and sold out Vicar St show. It was certified platinum in 2007. ‘Galway Girl’ was recorded as an encore and went on to become the best selling single and most downloaded song 2 years in a row in Ireland. He has since released Strawberry Blood, Shuffle and the self-titled Mundy.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s headline act, George Murphy made his mark on the Irish music scene after a memorable appearance on the RTE Television show You’re a Star, where his rendition of classic songs by Luke Kelly wowed the nation. George has since released four solo studio albums – Dreamed A Dream (Sony), So The Story Goes, The Ballad of Archie Thompson, and 2016’s Shadowman: The Stable Sessions – and his touring and superb live performances have gained him a loyal international audience.
Dublin Racing Festival will also mark the beginning of a partnership between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Bulmers that will see the popular brand link up with HRI across a number of events during 2022, including the return of Bulmers Live at Leopardstown this summer.
Paul Dermody, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland said: “Bulmers is a brand synonymous with entertainment and enjoyment and while we have enjoyed an incredibly strong relationship over the years, today’s announcement is a major milestone for Horse Racing Ireland as we reimagine how we partner with brands. With the support of Bulmers we look forward to superb entertainment that will deepen existing race fans’ experiences and broaden the appeal of Horse Racing to a new audience. We are so thrilled to be in a position to showcase this partnership, which also highlights our continuing commitment to Irish music, to our racegoers from next week at Dublin Racing Festival 2022.”
Dublin Racing Festival will once again showcase some signature Dublin dishes over the weekend as the public are invited to sample some of the city’s culinary delights at a Dublin Street Food Court. Pop-up busking will add to the festival atmosphere, ensuring some of the capital’s most iconic tunes provide a sonic backdrop to the weekend. Rugby fans will also be able to watch the opening encounters in the 6 Nations Championship on big screens including Ireland v Wales on Saturday at 2.15pm.
It’s often said that life is what happens when you’re making other plans but for Billy Treacy and the Scope, it was lockdown that helped push their new album.
A band constantly in demand on the live folk circuit both at home and abroad, Treacy found himself without those gigs that had been his lifeblood. So when there was no space for the live shows he thrived on, Billy made space to create ‘Life’, a new ten-track album that focuses on all the subjects Treacy holds dear.
He’s a Dubliner through and through and it’s hard, he says, to watch that culture of music and song, ceol agus craic disappearing into the void of faceless hotels and coffee chains. ‘Dollymount Beach’ and ‘The Market’ hark back to the days of Treacy’s childhood, the sights, smells and sounds of old Dublin that are gradually disappearing. ‘Ma’ remembers a similar era but is a touching tribute to the woman who brought Billy and his siblings up on the streets of North Dublin.
Along with the Scope who are Uilleann Pipes (Eoin Dillon ex KILA) , Fiddle (Anna Mary Donaghy) , Banjo (Anthony Warde) & Lap Steel (Graham Watson) Treacy’s blend of trad folk fusion has a splash of Dylan, a dab of MacGowan and a touch of Luke Kelly with a hat tip to the more traditional on a cover of ‘The Sally Gardens’ but the songs are very much Billy’s own style, knitting together the past and present. ‘Moving This Way’ tells a familiar tale of the struggles our young people face today. ‘Into This Life’ and ‘The Good Life’ reveal a different kind of struggle, one more familiar to the musician who lives life between the road and the gig. But even when that’s all taken away, there’s a lot left to be thankful for, as long as you can lift a guitar and sing.
Billy says: ‘I feel I’ve put my whole life into music. It’s the joy and emotion you get from playing even if it’s just by yourself. You can multiply that then when you hear the other instruments join in with you. Multiply it tenfold again when you hear and see what it means to other people who are listening and living in the moment. When you see that, you realise that you’re doing something good for people and you can’t measure that in monetary terms. So we will keep playing for those people and for ourselves.’
‘Life’ is available for download from all digital stores on the 28th Jan 2022.
But for those who love holding something in their hands, Billy has created a CD with a 20 page booklet of Dublin scenes, revealing where he got his inspiration.
Irish noise-pop / alt-rock sextet THUMPER have announced their hotly-anticipated debut LP Delusions of Grandeur, set to be released 18th March – much to the delight of their rabid fans and enthusiastic tastemakers alike.
The band have teased the arrival of their triumphant new record with the new single ‘Overbite’.
Over the last two years the Dublin six-piece have been developing their sound and building an increasingly passionate fanbase. With a line up of two drummers and three guitarists, THUMPER’s maximalist wall of sound has long since set them apart in the booming Dublin music scene, and has them “punching like heavyweights alongside Fontaines DC and The Murder Capital” (Chris Hawkins, BBC Radio 6).
Delusions of Grandeur reveals THUMPER’s trademark penchant for saccharine melody and unabashed hooks, all the while set against their signature psych-drenched rumble. This harsh juxtaposition of sweet and caustic is where THUMPER thrive.
While Delusions of Grandeur features plenty of homages to classic alt rock such as Weezer, Pixies or The Dandy Warhols, it is also steeped in the influence of contemporaries such as Viagra Boys, King Gizzard, Shame and even Idles at their most psychedelic. At other points the sheer bombastic nature of its production recalls Irish psych alumni My Bloody Valentine on Loveless, or no wave veterans Sonic Youth on Daydream Nation.
Nowhere is this bombastic recording process more apparent than on the record’s final act – the 20-minute Overbite Suite consisting of three songs recorded and performed as one long piece – this epic attempt at pushing past the mould of what a ‘song’ can be, in part justified by the album’s title.
Delusions of Grandeur however is not just a statement of musical intent. The LP’s title refers to a struggle of self image, internal and external, and the existential maintenance that all of this implies. Frontman Leahy Furlong’s visceral and surreal lyrics obsess over the search for the ‘authentic self’ in a medium so steeped in pretentiousness.
This central tension mirrors and challenges the chaos of light and dark in the music itself, as the record continuously swings from light hearted to brutal, keeping the listener hooked the entire time.
While THUMPER remain ‘Cult heroes‘ (Clash Magazine) in Ireland, the six-piece band are no stranger to international touring. They’ve already completed 3 extensive UK tours, a European tour, supported Fangclub, and appeared at festivals such as Groningen’s Eurosonic Festival (‘My highlight of Eurosonic. Epic! Such a massive, massive sound‘ Abbie McCarthy, BBC Radio 1), and Hamburg’s Mucke Bei Dei Fische.
This volume of touring is no mean feat for a band who are only now releasing their first LP, but THUMPER are not resting on their laurels. 2022 will see THUMPER head to Reeperbahn Festival and Iceland Airwaves, amongst many others.
Czech Republic native Yana has an Irish heart. She has built a reputation for her deep lyrics combined with atmospheric melodies. Her lyrics make you think and this is no surprise, considering her influences that include Interference, Mic Christopher, Glen Hansard or Nick Cave.
She started by releasing her debut single ‘Distant Shore’ in September 2019, a collaboration with Liam O Maonlaí of Hothouse Flowers. She went on to release two more singles, second of which was also a collaboration with Ó Maonlaí. All these ended up on Yana’s debut EP ‘Distant Shore’, released in June 2020. The EP contains a special track, written with Liam Oragh and featuring Colm Mac Con Iomaire (The Frames), a tribute to the late Fergus O’Farrell of Interference. It has become a favourite of radio presenters and listeners alike.
Yana performed in UK, Belgium, Czech Republic and Ireland, supported The Hills Mover (BE). The pandemic brought challenges and new adventures for Yana. She became one of the group vocalists for Nashville songwriter Debra Lyn and her track “ You Can’t hold me close when you’re holdin’ the bottle” and also worked with French musician Clint Slate and Scottish Iona James, providing vocals for their song “Shot in The Dark”.
‘Reach Out’ is the first single from Yana’s debut album “Journey of the Soul”, to be released in autumn. In the world dominated by social media, mental health isn’t discussed as much as it should be. The single, featuring Aidan O’Grady (The Pale) on drums and Keith Burke on electric guitar and vocals, tries to highlight the importance of having someone to talk to when we find ourselves in the darkest place. It will be released on Bandcamp on February 2nd with streaming services release later after that.
Caz9 is back after a year of writing and recording new material since the release of her single ‘Ok’ in January 2021. Initially written as a way of processing a professional relationship that went sour, Caz9’s new single ‘Waiting On You’ is now being released just as Caz9 is about to have her first baby, giving the song’s title and themes extra poignancy and meaning.
“The song was written after a disagreement with a promoter who had really let me down but was twisting the situation to make it seem otherwise. It turned into the kind of confrontation in which I may have previously wilted, but I found myself standing my ground. I was so surprised by myself that in the aftermath I wrote ‘Waiting on You’ as a song to myself, as I really felt that this was the version of myself that I had been waiting for.”
“I developed a new body of work during covid which will be released throughout 2022, much of which has been recorded in The Clinic Recording Studios in Malahide with David Anthony Curley as engineer and producer. ‘Waiting on You’ also has additional production by CIDOT as well as live drums by my good friend Danni Nolan (Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra), which, combined in studio with analog synths and a tonne of vocals, has brought the song to life.”
The result is a slow-build, beats driven pop soundscape of melodic keys & synths with Caz9’s trademark vocal harmony layers, and honest, confessional lyrics.
Caz9 says about the song:
“‘Waiting on You’ is about accepting who you are, about growing up, about realizing how far you’ve come and the work you’ve put in to get there. Life is a journey and we encounter different versions of ourselves along the way, and with reflection we realize it’s ok not to be perfect.
Not only is Caz9 releasing a load of new work this year, but she is also about to have a baby. The initial meaning of ‘Waiting on You’ has taken on a whole other layer, and consideration also had to be given as to whether to show the expectant mother and her bump in the official music video and promotional photography.
“Pregnancy is rarely represented on screen or stage in the music industry and as an expectant mother I must confess that I feared whether I would have to hide the fact that I was pregnant. I had an irrational worry that it might turn people off my music, or make me less relevant or something. Realizing how messed up that is, I decided I wanted to include this very real and incredible journey into my musical persona so that other female creatives can see that you can do both. It doesn’t have to be one or the other and life does not stop when you are pregnant, nor will it end when I’m a new mum, it will just be a whole different level of chaos! This next batch of songs has soundtracked a huge amount of personal growth for me, so in a way it’s a full circle moment that I’m about to bring new life into the world. I also found out that I was pregnant the first day I started recording in The Clinic, so these songs will mark this extremely precious time in a whole other way.”
This single is the first of a series of tracks Caz9 will be releasing over the course of 2022, all recorded and finished at The Clinic Recording Studios Malahide. Caz says about this project:
“After spending a few years of doing everything myself I realized that it was time to open up the creative process and collaborate more. David has been a dream to work with, and this project has definitely taken Caz9 in a new musical direction. I can’t wait to share it.”
The visuals for the track were filmed in December in Caz9’s home studio with her hubby and collaborator, photographer and videographer Nicholas Whelan behind the camera.
“Given the song is about saying to yourself ‘I’ve been waiting on you’, we developed the idea of ‘mirror-talk’ for the video, those moments where you give your own reflection a good talking to. We dressed a minimalist set and spent the shoot exploring that concept, using hyper-speed and slow-mo to emphasise the passing of time. In the end I think we created a really beautiful little art piece that captures the emotions of the song. I’m thrilled with how it turned out, and especially because you can clearly see my little bump throughout!”
Waiting on You is available on all platforms for streaming and download from Thursday 27th of January.
‘The Valley’s of Her Mind’ is a project that reflects a collaboration Leah Sohotra and Martin Leahy began working on over four years ago. The song draws from the influence of Erik Satie, Hoagy Carmichael and Patrick Kavanagh creating the mood of a captivating dark utopia. In November 2021 Leah sought to create a stop-motion video through collaboration with local visual artists and actors Senan O’ Connor, Artem Trofimenko and Sophia Santabarbara.
“Stop-motion is ideal for expressing the liminal space between what is living and what is dead while maintaining a contained storybook feel. This quality gives it a sense of ephemerality that can be dark, relatable and so funny. Ancient folktales and nursery rhymes can be folded into contemporary art through symbols, visual transitions and juxtapositions. This freedom allows for a symbolic universe and calls attention to the fact that symbolism is not extraordinary. The anthropomorphising of ordinary objects and puppetry was a well established tradition in my childhood home and has continued to be a source of fascination and expression for me into adulthood.”
Leah is an Irish singer/songwriter and a single mother of two living in Blarney, Co. Cork. She was born in Albany, New York and started writing music for the first time in 2017 at age 32. In October of 2019 Leah was invited to play musical support for legendary artist Andy Irvine at the Cork Folk Festival.
Leah moved to Vermont at a young age and went to school there including completing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Vermont where she dabbled in Jazz and Brechtian Theatre. She also worked extensively with homeless populations there and the Rape Crisis Centre and studied to become a doula.
She received her degree in Gender and Women’s Studies and Nutrition. After college Leah decided she wanted to have a child and moved to Golden, Colorado situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains after giving birth to her son, Yossef. She lived in Golden for several years with her spouse and raised their new born.
Ireland was next on the list, however Leah has spent time living in other parts of the world including Morocco where she’s spent over a year of her life traveling including a four month stay after the birth of her daughter whom she delivered all by herself at her home in Shandon. Leah loves Ireland especially the land itself, the ruins and history, the trad scene, the country’s pride in their independence and the working class culture. “I love sea swimming and the proximity to the sea everywhere you go!”
Leah has lived in Ireland for ten years now and as a result of her travels, her song imagery draws heavily on rural landscapes. She also has a love for classical literature, folk tradition, nursery rhymes and epic poetry. Her subjects are often animals, objects and mythical creatures.
Leah released an EP of four of her songs in 2018, which included the track ‘Tuam’ which was written for her mother who was the survivor of a violent gang rape and who was forced to live in a Catholic home for unwed mothers in Upstate New York. Leah dedicated the song “To the survivors of the Magdalene Laundries and to anyone who has been unceremoniously buried in one way or another.”
Her 10-song debut album, breaded crickets, was released in 2019 and blends the folk singer’s powerful lyrics with the ingenuity of Martin Leahy, who plays well over a dozen different instruments on the LP. The album also features gorgeous guest vocals by the highly acclaimed songwriter Mick Flannery who co-wrote the track ‘Sam’s Song,’ touching on issues of race and class.
Humble, confident, fun, yet unashamedly emotional, Ireland’s Eva Campbell has been carving out a path for herself with appearances on the Late Late Toy Show, Junior Eurovision Éire, The Voice UK (Team Olly) and at open mic nights across Dublin, before finding her sound as an artist.
In October 2021, Eva released her debut single ‘Echo’. The track went straight to Number 1 on the official Irish iTunes Top 100 & Pop Charts, knocking Ed Sheeran off the top spot for a number of days & surpassing Eva’s expectations beyond her dreams.
With ‘Echo’ amassing national airplay along with radio interviews and on-air performances, Eva was then selected as Classic Hits winner for Irish Music Month’s ‘A New Local Hero’ Competition, in association with Hotpress.
Eva’s second single ‘Stay’ – which was written and recorded in her bedroom during lockdown, alongside a collection of songs with Grammy nominated Billy Farrell & other songwriters from LA to Dublin – is set to be released on January 28th. Born out of the nostalgia of missing normal life pre-lockdown, the song came to full fruition when Eva’s partner was diagnosed with a life-changing illness.
“Stay is a deeply emotive and personal song about heartbreak & loss, that anyone who has dealt with a sick loved one or is going through a difficult time will be able to relate to & find meaning in,” Eva said.
Jack O’Rourke opens 2022 with a fans’ favourite from his acclaimed album Wild Place. Wild Place found a place on many reviewers ‘Best of 2021’ polls and the Cork songwriter finished the year with a series of sold out shows, TV and radio appearances.
‘Coffee Song’ is the latest single from Wild Place, following some much-loved forerunners in ‘Opera on the Top Floor’, ‘Patsy Cline’ (nominated for Best Original Song at RTE Folk Awards) and ‘Sea Swimming’. O’Rourke’s insightful weaving of the observational into lyrical tales is a hallmark of the tracks on Wild Place, and this latest release invites the listener into a private, while also unconcealed moment that has resonated with many.
“Coffee Song is a celebration of everyday rituals that can become magic,” says O’Rourke. “Written at a time (during Covid) when my interactions were rare – I found something beautiful in the morning ritual of a small piece of art in the foam of a morning coffee. It gave my day a curious purpose. The extraordinary in the ordinary.”
The lyrics lent themselves to a tale set in New York; a punk rock barrista, Warhol and Kandinsky, Patti Smith with echoes of a Broadway ballad.
“I sat at the piano and this story of these characters was developed – the idea of a conversation of broken people with cautious hopes and dreams. Initially it could have been a duet, but now it’s a story like many of the songs on Wild Place. Cormac McCarthy’s arrangement elevated this song to a soundtrack for me, his notes and counter melodies adding just a little movie sparkle.”
‘Coffee Song’ is a reminder to appreciate the smaller things . . . the little things that almost slip by, within which gentle stories can be told.
January 25th 2022, marks the two-year anniversary since renowned Irish Folk Band, Stockton’s Wing performed to a crowded audience in Ireland.
Fans will be delighted to hear that Tara Music is set to release that live album of recorded music entitled
‘HOMETOWN’ is due for release next month February 11th, the long awaited 15 track collection was recorded live in 2020 in Ennis and at TradFest, Dublin. These were the last fully live shows the Wing performed, one month prior to a world pandemic hitting Irish shores and the year the live music sector went on hiatus.
It is the first body of work to come from the Legendary and much loved Irish Folk Band since their No 1 hit retrospective album ‘Beautiful Affair: A Stockton’s Wing Retrospective’
‘HOMETOWN’ features true favourite ‘Beautiful Affair’ (voted as RTÉ’s top 75 Irish songs of all time), ‘Walk Away’ and the classic ‘Aarons Key’ as well as many Wing favourites. The album will also include new material from the band available on CD and digital formats.
‘HOMETOWN’ is preceded by a stunning live version of the bands classic Irish trad/funk hit ‘SKIDOO’ which is the focus track at radio and available now.
