Author: Breffni Banks

Irish duo Hudson Taylor have unveiled a live video of recent single ‘Feel It Again’ that was filmed at the their headline show at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin back in March. The video coincides with a busy summer schedule of festivals for the band who, having already played the Isle of Wight festival, Feis Liverpool, Glasgow’s TRNSMT and Barn On The Farm festival, will play an extensive run of UK and European festivals throughout July and August.

The band will play the following UK shows throughout the summer:

Saturday 14^th July – Latitude Festival
Saturday 21^st July – Larmer Tree Festival
Friday 27^th July – Standon Calling Festival
Saturday 28^th July – Open Air Theatre Scarborough (main support to Bastille)
Friday 3^rd August – Neverland at Leefest
Friday 24^th August – Reading Festival
Saturday 25^th August – Leeds Festival

Hudson Taylor will also embark on a headline tour of the UK in the autumn – full tour dates are below:

Thursday 22^nd November – Leeds The Wardrobe
Friday 23^rd November – Manchester Academy
Saturday 24^th November – Glasgow St Lukes
Sunday 25^th November – Newcastle Think Tank
Tuesday 27^th November – Birmingham O2 Institute 2
Wednesday 28^th November – London KOKO
Thursday 29^th November – Brighton The Haunt

Tickets for the band’s UK tour are available here:
https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Hudson-Taylor-tickets/artist/1777435

Before their UK tour, the band will play a series of headline shows in America alongside supporting Hozier on his upcoming tour of the US. The band’s headline shows are:

Friday 28^th September – New York The Loft @ City Winery
Sunday 30^th September – Boston Haymarket @ City Winery
Thursday 4^th October – Washington Songbyrd
Friday 12^th October – Los Angeles Hotel Café

The band will support Hozier on the below dates:

Tuesday 18^th September – Montreal L’Olympia
Wednesday 19^th September – Toronto Rebel Complex
Friday 21^st September – Chicago Riviera Theatre
Monday 24^th/Tuesday 25^th/Wednesday 26^th September – New York Beacon Theatre
Monday 1^st October – Boston House of Blues
Tuesday 2^nd October – Washington Lincoln Theatre
Wednesday 3^rd October – Philadelphia The Fillmore
Monday 8^th/Tuesday 9^th/Wednesday 10^th October – Los Angeles The Wiltern
Sunday 14^th October – Tempe The Marquee
Monday 15^th October – San Diego Observatory North Park
Tuesday 16^th October – Oakland Fox Theatre
Thursday 18^th October – Seattle The Paramount Theatre
Friday 19^th/Saturday 20^th October – Portland Roseland Theatre
Monday 22^nd October – Vancouver Orpheum Theatre

Inner Chapter are delighted to release ‘Let Me In’, the latest single by Cork-based alternative pop/neo-soul singer Sarah-Beth.

An active up and coming singer-songwriter, ‘Let Me In’ represents the next phase of Sarah-Beth’s artistic progression, her lyrical depth fused with upbeat grooves and slick electronic ambience.

The single is now available via iTunes, Spotify, Bandcamp and other major digital stores.

‘Let Me In’ was produced by Kevin J. Power and recorded in Whitewell Studios, Cork.

Check out Sarah-Beth’s Facebook for details of further news and live live dates.

On his new EP and its lead track, ‘Myth’, songwriter Jack O’Rourke embarks on a new phase in his song writing. Not without a sense of drama, ‘Myth’ heralds the way for new experimentation, new soundscapes and new adventures. Maybe there is no one better than the songwriter to convey where he is at right now…

“Sitting in the Sin É in Cork, upstairs, beside the broken-down piano. That’s where I like to spend time on my own. I’m probably an extrovert, but I recharge on my own. They say your first album is your life until that point on record. I tend to agree with that. You must re-imagine, re-invent and re-discover. Create new myths, in a sense.

I’d like to have an idea of where a song is going. But it’s not always that way. There’s always an air of mystery. There could be harps, and trumpets, and all sudden, it’s costing you a fucking fortune and maybe, in there, the song gets lost. I like the abstract. If there’s a destination I’m going towards, I’ll probably go towards it in the most illogical way. I talk to people about this. I may not agree with them, they may not agree with me. But that’s ok.

I’m not sure if there’s a perfect song, but for me Lou Reed’s vocal on ‘Perfect Day’ is the most exquisitely perfect take. It has that beautiful, majestic, operatic feeling. Sung with the wrong voice, maybe, but that’s why it works so well. I’d like to hear Robert Plant sing a song of mine someday. I think he can do so much with his voice, he can turn his hand vocally to practically anything. He sounds majestic. Also, Bjork, maybe with an Inuit choir. If they would ever consider such a thing of course.

While songwriters certainly deal in myth, the personal is impossible to avoid. I figured out I was a difficult guy to ask out. I don’t think my sexuality should be an issue, but it is. I think it’s going to take a few generations to be totally cool with who I am, with who we are. When you grow up in a society that’s trying to come to terms with only recently decriminalising homosexuality, the sense of shame that pervaded it, it creates a universe in your head that takes a while to move on from. I think anyone who’s queer or bi or trans can probably relate to that.

But it can lead to some very interesting dark insight and self-expression – I think the dam will burst in everyone. Anyone who carries something inside like that, it’s a very powerful force.

I’m terrible with money, such a stereotypical artist. I’m a nightmare to live with. I’m messy, and I can be a bit self-absorbed in terms with my habits and rituals. I live in an organised chaos, but it works for me. I can take drinking too far on occasion, for both fun and escapism. It’s important for me occasionally, to let go of stuff, and it’s a way of doing it. That and swimming.

Everything to this point has been lavender and mahogany in terms of my music, but I’m trying to take it to somewhere between chrome and minimalism. I hope that makes sense to someone. If it doesn’t that’s ok, we won’t fall out and we can still be friends.

 I’m a sucker for melody and a good story, I always have been. A combination of classical training and being read to before bed. Whatever sonic universe I’m inhabiting or chasing, a sweeping melody and the lyric always takes precedent. That’s where I’m at, that’s what I’m about.”

‘Myth’ is released on Friday 27th July.

From the boxing ring to the world’s biggest clubs, Ireland’s Leo Dynamic1 has signed a worldwide record deal with UK giant Kobalt and is now label mates with Calvin Harris, Kygo, The Chainsmokers and Red Hot Chilli Peppers!

Leo has also signed a licence deal with ‘Avant Music’ group, who provide music for TV, Film and Video Games.

Hi single, ‘Dance Tonight’ has been receiving airplay on 98FM and Spin 1038 in Ireland along with stations in France, Canada and the U.S. The song is a collaboration with UK artist and co-writer Janethan Jeffery.

Leo and Janethan, who met via an International Songwriting group, hosted and mentored by Jack Ponti, former co-writer with Jon Bon Jovi and manager of Boyz II Men. The track was mixed by Christoph Hadl in Berlin, who was also a member of the songwriting group.

This is Leo Dynamic1’s 9th release via Swedish Label, Yellow Rhinestone Records. Leo’s music has charted in the USA and has over 2 million hits on Spotify and YouTube to date. He has also produced two top ten hits with Sony Music in Germany, ‘Sing Forever’ and ‘Like I Do’ with DJ Shog.

‘Dance Tonight’ really gets you hooked early, something Leo Dynamic1 learned from his boxing career.

 Facebook | Twitter | Spotify

A song for life and a performance of a lifetime these are just two wonderful opportunities for song writer musician and IMRO member Sean Olohan from Wicklow town.

Sean was commissioned to compose a new song for the incoming President of Lions International when he was a member of the jury for the ‘Sounds from the Heart’ Lions World Song Contest in Krakow Poland last November.

He got to work on this special song straight away and then spent time in the studio recording the finished work which will be featured on the President’s official video and viewed by over 1.5 million members of the Lions worldwide.

The incoming Lions President of the World is Ms Gudrun Yngvadottir from Iceland and as soon as she heard Sean’s song she was thrilled with it immediately .

The title of the song is ‘Sing with the Lions –Sing out with Pride’. As soon as the song was heard by people in the headquarters in America they invited Sean to sing it live at the World Lions Convention in Las Vegas-no less! After getting over the initial shock of such a high profile performance Sean quickly started rehearsing for the biggest and most exciting performance of his life.    He will sing to 20,000 people from 120 countries visiting Vegas for the Convention. He will be joined on stage by his wife Jackie as Musical Director.

Sean feels extremely honoured to be representing Ireland but even more importantly is very proud to be representing his own Wicklow and District Lions Club of which he is a very active member.

As well as Sean performing his own song at MGM in Vegas it will also be performed by an Icelandic Choir who will also travel to the entertainment capitol of the world.

The top Lion in Ireland District Governor Frank O’Donoghue will also attend the Convention.

Lions President in Wicklow Pat O’Brien said it was an incredible honour that a member from Wicklow would be invited not only to write a new song for the World President but to perform the song in Las Vegas he said it must feel like a dream for Sean representing Wicklow and Ireland at the highest level and he has no recollection of anything like this happening in Ireland before.

Pat said all members of Wicklow Lions wishes Sean every success on the trip of a lifetime and an amazing opportunity to share his music to a worldwide audience.

Hailing from the Glens of Antrim, Runabay is a six-piece band. They have been described as alt-folk or indie, but the intricate and adventurous nature of their songwriting means they rarely fit into predictable pigeonholes. Since the bands formation in 2014, they have strived to constantly evolve and develop their sound. To that end, this new track is a departure from previous releases, with a shift in sound and a changing aesthetic. Recent influences ranging from Daughter to Public Service Broadcasting have informed and modified their sound which now consists of shades of electronic, folk and indie culminating in a soundscape of intrigue and beauty. Right from the off, the riff from the new single grabs the listener and commences a journey through emotion and euphoria towards an epic conclusion.

Runabay have featured on and been championed by the likes of Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music), Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music), Ralph McLean (BBC Radio Ulster) and have appeared on official high profile Spotify playlists of late, including Best of Indie Folk 2016, Alternative 2017 New Music Friday, Fresh Finds: Six Strings and Best of Ruby Sessions 2016.

They have also gained plenty of accolades including being nominated for ‘Irish Single of the Year’ in 2015, along with a string of glowing press features from Hot Press Magazine, ChordBlossom and Culture Hub NI.

The band’s live performances have been hailed as ‘joyous’, and with influences including Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Glen Hansard among others, 2018 promises to be a landmark year for the band. The band are set to release their debut album in early 2019.

“Blink of an Eye is essentially about putting yourself out there and getting shot down whilst trying to keep a brave face” explains frontman John McManus.“It’s a serious song with a kind of self-deprecating edge to it. The narrative is reminiscent of that old adage, ‘If you didn’t laugh, you’d cry’”. The video concept was borne out of the narrative that people have various personas they employ throughout the day, as a means of creating a barrier to their inner struggles. In this insta-age, where people strive to convey a perfect public perception, this video seeks to address this notion and makes the point that rarely are things as straightforward as they appear through the lens of a camera.

UPCOMING LIVE DATES 

Dalriada Festival, Co. Antrim – 14^thJuly // American Bar, Belfast – 26^thJuly // Sunflower Fest, Co. Down – 27^thJuly // Stendhal Festival – Co. Derry– 11^thAug // Moira Calling, Moira – 8^thSeptember

Website runabay.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/runabayband

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/runabayband/

Spotify https://soundcloud.com/runabayband

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runabayband/

Ten years singing with the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir, along with many more years involved in performance and production, led Terry Hackett to start writing his own material. Performing works wide and varied from Bach to Beethoven to Mahler, typically to a full National Concert Hall, along with his production and musical skills, influenced the writing and recording of his solo albums.

‘The Music Makers’, is the first single to be released from his forthcoming album ‘Kookoo City’. The song is inspired by two factors; Terry’s many years of teaching Music Production and Edward Elgar’s classical work ‘The Music Makers’, which Terry performed with the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir during his years as a chorister. It is due for release on all download and streaming platforms on 27th July 2018.

With an extensive background in the areas of performance, recording and production, Terry’s original involvement with music was as a drummer, playing and touring with several acts from the late 80’s through to the 00’s. At the same time, he became heavily involved in recording and production, both in studio and on the road. His work either behind the drum-kit or the mixing console has included artists from a wide range of genres including Picturehouse, The Wilde Oscars, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Lunasa, B*witched and Danny O’Donoghue & Mark Sheehan from The Script in their boyband days with Mytown. After ten years singing with the RTE Philharmonic Choir, Terry was inspired to start writing and recording his own material leading to his debut release ‘One Over Eighty’ in 2013, described by MondoTunes as “a record boasting gorgeous unique instrumental and pop compositions alike.” 

All of his productions are self-recorded and produced.

Twitter: @terryhackett

YouTube: www.youtube.com/terryhackett

Web: https://terryhackett.bandcamp.com

Kodaline have just unveiled the video for their latest single, ‘Shed A Tear’.

The track is taken from their third album, ‘Politics Of Living’, which is set for release on 10th August.

http://www.kodaline.com/

Billow Wood are set to release their latest single ‘Pushin’ and Shovin’’ on 20th July.

Nothing says Summer like an upbeat harmony driven folk-pop song. ‘Pushin’ and Shovin’ is full of creative energy and fearless lyrics, with both male and female lead vocals coupled with diverse instrumentation.

The opening lines “The view from my room has them Pushin’ and Shovin’, yet I stand alone connect nothing with nothing” creates an image of someone who appears to have it all in the eyes of others, yet is struggling behind the scenes.

When the chorus kicks in you find yourself toe tapping to the juxtaposition of up beat pop rhythms with slightly somber lyrics.

“I know when your here there’s nothing that I fear, but I know when you’re there it’s too far for you to care” paints a picture of unreliability from someone that you are emotionally attached to, especially if they are not always close by. However, the catchy melody and Summer vibe rhythm should have you singing along by the last chorus.

Billow Woods unique ability to fuse modern folk pop has allowed them to create a fresh sounding summer track you will have on repeat.

LIVE

JULY
13th France, Grenay
14th France, Aix- Noulette
20th Leitrim, Fringe Fest

AUGUST
3rd Ballyshannon Folk Festival | Main Stage with Alan Kelly, Eddie Reader and Aslan
7th Mayo, Manchester Trad Fest, Matt Molloys

SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER – U.S Tour
Orlando, Cincinatti, Indianapolis Irish Fest. **details to be announced on social media soon**

Website www.billowwood.com
Bandcamp: https://billowwood.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billowwood/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billowwoodmusic/
Breaking Tunes: https://www.breakingtunes.com/billowwood
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5jonCzFhMyr6jpWpG4I7js#_=_
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/artist/billow-wood/1300763694