Author: Breffni Banks

A. Smyth will release a new single ‘Rain Boys’ on Friday, along with extra tickets for his Grand Social gig on November 24th, now a full capacity show.

Smyth says of the track “A curtain closer and curtain opener of a song. It’s about friendships with big dreams that changed along the way and are now just moments frozen in time”.

The Grand Social, presented by Singular Artists, will see A. Smyth playing his first headline show post restrictions, and, the first time he and the band will get to play a full set of tracks from the debut album that was released in February of this year.

Tickets, €14.50 + charges, on sale now via https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/196734/5289920

Smyth’s debut album ‘Last Animals’ garnered a great deal of praise both at home and abroad.  The limited edition clear yellow vinyl is available via:   https://asmyth.bandcamp.com/album/last-animals

All tracks on ‘Last Animals’ were written by A. Smyth, produced by Darragh Nolan (Asta Kalapa) in Darragh’s Wexford studio last year, and mastered by JJ Golden in the U.S.

“Tempt” was recorded fully live and in one take.

The artwork for the album and singles is based on the old Irish coins.

Influences include Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Big Thief, Marvin Gaye, Jeff Tweedy, Sharon Van Etten and more.

Unassumingly authentic Irish singer-songwriter Gavin James, whose songcraft has been the key to unlocking 1.5 billion streams, 6 million monthly listeners at Spotify, 32 Platinum and Gold records across the globe, and a top 20 UK airplay chart position, releases brand new single ‘Greatest Hits’ released today!

Previous single ‘Sober’ became a staple at BBC Radio 2, establishing itself for a lengthy 6 weeks on the A & B playlists. The ballad also found its feet at Spotify and Apple Music, surpassing 2.5 million streams across platforms, leading to a torrent of press support, including a digital cover feature with FAULT Magazine and support from other fashion webzines including Wonderland, EUPHORIA and tmrw magazine. The single’s momentum hit stratospheric proportions when Gavin performed a stripped back, string-assisted version of the song on the first ever episode of Ireland’s new primetime live music show ‘The Heart of Saturday Night’.

Sonically, new single ‘Greatest Hits’ is a far cry from Gavin’s previous releases. Co-written by Ollie Green (Freya Ridings, Lewis Capaldi), who had a hand in Tom Grennan’s number 1 album ‘Evering Road’, and Fiona Bevan who co-wrote One Direction’s number 1 hit ‘Little Things’ with Ed Sheeran, at its heart it remains an emotionally captivating break-up song, but musically it harks back to the 80s.

Co-produced by Ivor Novello-nominated songwriter Mark Ralph (Years & Years, Clean Bandit, Jax Jones), ‘Greatest Hits’, with its chugging bass synths, racing percussion and melancholic lyrical content, twists and turns like a twilit DeLorean, as Gavin reminisces “and now I’m on my own, I just dance along to our greatest hits”.

Gavin comments on the new single, “’Greatest Hits’ is about the memories you are left with when you break up with someone. It’s about only remembering the good parts and forgetting the bad parts (the B-sides). It’s very synthy and waaaay different than anything that I’ve EVER released… but I’m buzzing for people to hear if x”

From previous hits such as ‘Always’ and ‘Nervous’ to his more recent releases ‘Sober’ and ‘Man on the Moon’, Gavin’s talents have been embraced by countless big names. He has played shows with Niall Horan, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, while his recent EP ‘Boxes’ went to number 1 in the Ireland album and airplay charts last year.

Dubliner, Gavin James has come a long way from his early days busking on Grafton Street. His international touring has resulted in 250,000 ticket sales for his headline shows across the world, including two nights at Dublin’s 13,000 capacity 3Arena. Last month, he made a triumphant return to the live arena, when he played to 40,000 people in Switzerland’s Wankdorf Stadium, for the Energy Air 2021 event.

“Greatest Hits” will be available to stream from 15^th October via Good Soldier / AllPoints.

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As a thank you to their fans and ahead of their national tour in 2022, The High Kings will play a Select Socially Distanced Performance limited to an audience of 250 at Cork Opera House on Saturday 30th October.

Tickets go on sale Friday, October 15.

The High Kings are Finbarr Clancy, Darren Holden, Brian Dunphy and newest member Paul O’Brien. Formed in June 2007, The High Kings play 13 instruments between them, creating the unique sound that thrills audiences all over the world.

Their self-titled debut album, released in 2008, reached number 2 on the Billboard World Music chart, setting the stage for the success they’ve enjoyed stateside ever since. The group have released four studio albums to date, two live albums, two live DVDs and a ‘Greatest Hits’ collection. Their first three studio albums appeared at number 3 or higher on the Billboard World Music chart.

Since the inception of the band, The High Kings have toured Ireland, the United States and Europe almost annually. Performing mostly traditional Irish songs, they are known to sing arrangements from other genres from time to time and have earned a legion of loyal fans.

Their career has seen many highlights: in 2012 they performed for President Obama during his visit to Ireland. This led to a personal invitation from the President to perform at the 2012 White House St. Patrick’s Day celebration. They flew directly from London where they had already been the headline act for the Lord Mayor of London’s St. Patrick’s Day concert. In 2015 The High Kings were invited to the Pentagon as guests of General Martin Dempsey, then Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff. They performed alongside the US Marine Corps band marking another special occasion for the band.

2021 saw the release of Home from Home, their brand-new 11 track album. Recorded live at Concert Deck in Dublin, Home from Home is a journey through classic folk songs, old and new.

Tickets are €30 and go on sale October 15 at 10 AM

Tickets available for purchase at https://www.corkoperahouse.ie/

*Tickets may be subject to booking fees

This show is will be subject to any public health guidelines in place at the time of the event. It is part funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media through the Live Performance Support Scheme.

Irish band The Lost Brothers, Oisin Leech and Mark McCausland from Meath and Tyrone respectively, will finally get the opportunity to tour their critically acclaimed album “After The Fire After The Rain”.

To celebrate the news they have released a brand new video for their third single entitled “After The Rain.” The recording features indie hero M Ward (She and Him, Monsters Of Folk) on electric guitar and Tony Garnier on electric bass (Bob Dylan). The video was created by Liverpool filmmaker and long-time Lost Brothers collaborator Gavin Wood.

On the video Wood states “There were a few obstacles when I was creating this video. With lockdowns and restrictions changing all the time. I decided to try and find landscapes and worlds in the microscopic. By filming as closely as I could in my backyard. Things started to look like scenes from another planet. So I decided to take it a step further and went with the theme of  “hallucinations of a dancing alien”- with bubbles for a head.”

On the song: “ Musically the single ‘After The Rain’ is inspired by Billie Holliday, Rory Gallagher and The Beta Band. The lyrics were inspired by a photo entitled “After The Rain“ by photographer Michael Gannon, which the band saw in Sligo near Strand Hill in an airport market a few years back.

“It’s not often we write about the craft of songwriting” say the band. “But in this instance that’s how it turned out. This song is a travelogue and tries to express the process a songwriter can go through sometimes. We tried to leave as much space as we could between the notes so as to capture a certain feeling. There’s always doubt and vulnerability when recording a new tune and this take was the band learning the song in the studio while the tape was rolling. We used the rehearsal in the end.”

After selling-out The Southbank’s Purcell Rooms in London in 2020 now the band will embark on a comprehensive 2021 winter tour which includes a sold-out show at Dublin’s Vicar St. December 2nd and a Union Chapel show in London on Nov 26th with special guest Seamus Fogarty.  Other special guests on the tour will include Niamh Regan, Lorraine Nash, Steve Wickham, Donal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, Conor Mason and more – all on selected dates to be announced.

Lost Brothers formed in Liverpool in 2008 eventually recording their debut album in Portland Oregon and since then they’ve released six acclaimed albums and toured internationally. Over their career they’ve collaborated with the likes of Brendan Benson of The Raconteurs, members of The Coral, Bill Ryder-Jones and shared stages with the likes of Richard Hawley, Martha Wainwright, Elvis Costello and Billy Bragg.

Their 6th studio album “After The Fire After The Rain“ was pre-produced in Crumlin Dublin with Stephen Shannon and finally recorded and mixed in Brooklyn New York by producer Daniel Schlett (Steve Gunn, Bonnie Prince Billy.) It features very special guest M Ward on electric guitar and Bob Dylan’s long standing collaborator Tony Garnier on bass. Other guests on the record include Jolie Holland Steve Wickham and Howe Gelb. Released at the start of lockdown the band will now finally get to perform the tracks in a live setting.

The album was shortlisted for ‘Best Album’ at The Northern Ireland Music Prize while both MOJO, Rough Trade, Hot Press and The Irish Times listed the release in their “Albums Of The Year”.

On the tour: “This is certainly the longest we’ve taken between singles” state the band “but strangely enough these songs still feel new to us. We cannot wait to finally tour this release.”

For more information on the upcoming shows and special guests visit www.thelostbrothersband.com

Watch the new video to “After The Rain“ here:

The Lost Brothers 2021. (All previously purchased tickets remain valid)

Thurs 11 November – Letterkenny, An Grianan Theatre with special guest Conor Mason.

Sun 14 November – Galway, Town Hall Theatre with special guests Paddy Glackin and Donal Lunny.

Thurs 18 November – Castlebar, The Royal Theatre. Guests tbc.

Fri 19 November- Waterford- St. Patrick’s Gateway. Guests tbc.

Sat 20 November – Cork, Live At St. Lukes SOLD OUT. with special guest Lorraine Nash (Quiet Lights Festival)

Sun 21 November – Limerick, Dolans. Guests tbc.

Fri 26 November – London, UK, Union Chapel wi special guest Seamus Fogarty.

Wed 1 November- Dundalk – Spirit Store. Guests tbc.

Thurs 2 December – Dublin, Vicar St. SOLD OUT with special guest Steve Wickham.

Fri Dec 3rd – Belfast , Ulster Storts Club with special guest Conor Mason.

Mon Dec 20- Navan- The Solstice Arts with special guests Donal Lunny and Paddy Glackin.

Tue Dec 21 – Navan- The Solstice Arts with special guest Niamh Regan.

With a passion to spread positivity and a desire to evoke change, Irish electronic duo act PrYmary Colours has begun a new chapter in its musical journey with the release of its highly anticipated and inspiring musical project, The Movement.

The first release of the project, also aptly named The Movement, is a soulful and upbeat track with an infectious driving rhythm that harkens to the heydays of the 90s. Daz, the brains behind PrYmary Colours’ beats, infuses the traditional Irish Kerry Polka with modern elements of disco in a sonical effort to bring society closer together through the blending of past and present influences.

Cayisha, the vocal powerhouse and final piece of PrYmary Colours, tells her story of life as a black woman growing up in Ireland, and the difficulties she encountered. 

“In a time of racial indifferences, awareness is bringing people closer together,” she said. Instead of dwelling on her experiences, the soulful singer channels her energy into positive vibrations with The Movement ushering those in similar situations to stand up in solidarity and march forward into a more positive and inclusive future.

Revolution baby, be what you want to be

Come in solidarity, we’ll do this together safely.

The Movement is a rallying cry for a revolution but with an uplifting and positive message that brings people from all walks of Irish life together. Instead of inciting violence with its music, PrYmary Colours spread positivity with its new project, and give hope to those who lost it.

The Movement is PrYmary Colours’ anthem, and racial injustice is its mantra. As well as being a standout track that is accessible to music lovers across all genres, it encourages those who have been historically marginalised to speak out and use their voice to demand change.

The track is also accompanied by an insightful mini-documentary titled The Movement: Perspective Of A Black Irish Woman and is available to fans for viewing.

PrYmary Colours is a two-piece electronic act from Ireland with one mission – to spread positivity with its music. The group has several releases under its belt and notable media coverage, including features on RTE and the Irish Times, where they were labelled ‘New Artist Of The Week’ twice. 

The Movement has already received ample airtime on radio and features on television, print and online across Ireland.

This is the start of The Movement.

CONNECT WITH PRYMARY COLOURS:

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Website | Twitter | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Spotify

Derek Ryan is back with his much-anticipated album Soft Ground released on Friday 15^th October, featuring 12 new original songs the country singer penned in his home studio over lockdown.

Like many singers over the last 18 months, Derek has become accustomed to using social media to keep in contact with his following. On Wednesday 13^th October, fans will hear some of his brand new songs recorded live ‘In The Round’ and streamed on Derek Ryan’s Facebook.

Soft Ground has a mix of festival songs, classic country ballads and stand-out lively tracks that country music fans will get excited about jiving to again.

Fans will be delighted the hugely popular single ‘Wherever You Are Going’ is featured on the album, which is described by Derek as a follow up to his massively successful jiving tracks ‘Hold On To Your Hat’ and ‘Ya Can’t Stay Here’, with new track ‘Boots and Roots’ influenced by the American country artists Derek listened to all throughout lockdown.

Speaking about the most personal song to Derek, which features on the album and is particularly special to him hailing from County Carlow. “Carlow Tonight is my favourite song on Soft Ground. I wrote about it at the time I was living in London and when you’re living away from home, sad news or events can make you miss home even more. I think anyone who lives away from home, or no matter where they are living can relate to this song, and I am very proud of it,” said Derek.

One of the leading singles for the album ‘The Night That Went On For Days’, Derek describes the unique experience as the first song he ever wrote in his sleep!

“I remember going to bed in Inishmore on the Aran Islands on a staycation and I remember thinking what a great place this would be for a party; I fell asleep and ended up writing the song in my dream. I woke up, got the lyrics written down, the melody in my head and the rest is history. I really hope you all like it”, added Derek.

Last week, Derek Ryan took his band back to Inishmore to record the music video for the song. He said “I’m not going to lie, it was cold, wet and windy but we felt the warmth of the Island welcome. Some spot! The craic was had!”

Derek will be glad to get back on the road to perform his new songs live for the first time, with an extensive, nationwide Irish concert tour planned, kicking off at the end of January 2022.

“The band and I are beyond excited at the prospect of performing again. It has been a long wait to get to this point. Take it from me we intend to give the fans a good time.”

Derek Ryan’s new album ‘Soft Ground’ is out this Friday 15^th October.

Pre-order the album now from SHARPEMUSIC.COM and derekryanmusic.com to receive a signed copy.

‘Apocryphal’ is the second single taken from windings’ upcoming album, Focus on the Past 5, due for release on November 12. It’s another slice of dystopian edginess from the Limerick outfit, bringing their inimitable musical imaginations to the table once again.

The Choice-nominated band recently returned to the live circuit with shows at the Clonakilty Guitar Festival and Galway’s Fall Right Into Place festival. Getting its release on long-standing Irish indie label, Out on a Limb Records, Focus of the Past 5 (recorded by Girlband’s Daniel Fox) sees windings delve a little deeper into the ingenuity that has made them one of Ireland’s most captivating and innovative bands over the last decade.

Of ‘Apocryphal’, Steve Ryan from windings says: “This song is about the seemingly universal human desire for “happiness” and how that desire might be become all-encompassing and potentially damaging if we don’t take some time to acknowledge that there are in fact other humans around us, living, breathing, and also trying to be happy. There are other emotions too though, so, y’know, maybe give them a try . . . ”

windings’ first release from Focus on the Past 5, ‘The Ground’ got its debut play on Dan Hegarty’s The Alternative show on 2FM before being picked up across the country. ‘Apocryphal’ follows in the same vein – uncompromising, rewarding and somewhat unique on the Irish music landscape.

‘Apocryphal’ is out Friday October 22nd.

Up and coming Dublin-based singer songwriter, Natalie Moran releases her debut single ‘My Ambition’ on October 22nd, 2021.

The song sits under the electro pop genre featuring the energy of dance and the throwback synths of the 80s brought together to bring a feel-good vibe which meets today’s modern pop sound.

The song is about resilience and using it to drive your ambitions and accomplish your goals without needing any approval. It covers the journey of realising your full potential and the ambitious mindset taken to achieve this version of yourself.

Natalie Moran is an Irish, Dublin-based pop singer-song writer. Natalie’s debut single, ‘My Ambition’ launches on October 22^nd, 2021, and this single will be followed by more new releases from the artist as she debuts as an up-and-coming singer-song writer in the Irish music scene and beyond.

Natalie’s vocals are a mix of power pop with soothing tones and the ability to reach those lighter high notes allowing for a perfect mix to enlighten the soul or calm the heart.

Her inspiration to write often comes from her environment or from those around her ,making her artistry open to be relatable to a wide variety of people. Her goal is to take listeners on a journey when they listen to her music.

Natalie will soon release many new singles which listeners will be keen to look forward to in the future.

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