Author: Breffni Banks

Ahead of their highly anticipated third album scheduled for release in September this year, Cork based indie specialists Neon Atlas are on form once more as they return with a new single ‘Shadows’.

‘Shadows’ goes on general release on the usual digital platforms on Friday 1 June 2018.

‘Shadows’ takes off with a riff that simply demands you stop whatever you’re doing. The arrangements are wonderfully poised, sometimes destructive and created with punch and fuzziness. A verse of melancholic guitar prettiness and a beautifully created chorus. A bridge of slovenly power-pop ecstasy pounding ferociously to a sing along outro.

Neon Atlas will be performing at Vantastival in June and will also be touring nationwide this summer.

https://www.facebook.com/neonatlasband

Dublin soul rockers The Hot Sprockets are back with a new single ‘Imagine Us On The Sun’ available for download NOW! Stepping away from the Afro-beat rhythms of their last single ‘Cold Cold Sweat’, this soft and floaty single delves into a trip of garage psyche sounds and structures!  

‘Imagine Us On The Sun’ is taken from the band’s critically acclaimed third album ‘Dream Mover’, and is available from all digital platforms including their Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes and Google Play.

‘Imagine Us On The Sun’  is a dreamy psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll love song taking hints of sound from music as diverse as Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ariel Pink, and The Black Keys, yet with hallmark ‘Dream Mover’ sounds. Lyrically it looks to the sky for inspiration as love intertwines on a backdrop of the universal cycle – the sun, moon and stars – comparing the passion and fire of love to the unknown sky above.

Tour Dates:

Monroe’s Live, Galway – 18 May 2018
Be Cider Seaside, UK – 26 May
Cyprus Avenue, Cork  – 31 May 2018
Mike The Pies, Listowel – 1 June
Vantastival, Drogheda- 2 June (FESTIVAL)
The Chalk Venue, Swords, Dublin – 8 June
Chagstock, UK – 21 June
Sea Sessions, Bundoran, Donegal –  22 June (FESTIVAL)
Suberock, Spain – 6 July
Higher Fields, Chagford – 20 July
Knockanstockan, Wicklow – 28 July (FESTIVAL)
Dogfest, UK – 26 August (FESTIVAL)

Super Extra Bonus Party return with new single Purple Heart. Released May 11^th on 045 Recordings, this is the band’s second single since returning from hiatus in late 2017.

Once again favouring to lend their own vocal talents rather than opting for a guest vocalist, Purple Heart expands on the maturity and cohesion evident in 2017’s Switzerland. Heralded for their sink approach, Super Extra Bonus Party have found a way to fuse the chaos of their early work with a more methodical approach to songwriting.

Cascading guitars melt into warm, analogue synths, while the track receives a jolt with the introduction of dissonant sub bass and metronomic drums. The track oscillates along with the synthesizer, underpinned by plaintive vocals which maintain the emotional depth of the song’s subject matter. It’s a deep cut from an act who many felt were only scratching the surface.

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sebpband

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2vNhor4l4ROmDGxhW7j1Fh

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/superextrabonusparty

UNSIGNED ONLY 2018 is reopening entries for a special promotion, so if you missed the deadline and still want to enter, or if you want to enter more songs, you still have a chance to participate in this year’s competition.

WHAT IS GRAND SLAM? The GRAND SLAM promotion runs from May 8th to June 6, 2018. Each week will offer a different promotion and bring unique opportunities and benefits to entrants. You can enter online or through the mail. You are welcome to enter any of these promotions or all of them. Winners for these four promotions will be announced along with all of the other category winners in September, 2018.  All entrants will receive 100 free spins to Radio Airplay (whether you are an existing Radio Airplay member or a new member) – just for entering! Additionally, every entrant will also be entered into the overall 2018 Unsigned Only competition and have the chance for their music to be heard by a high-profile panel of judges, as well as be eligible to share in over $150,000 in cash and prizes.

FIRST BASE | May 8 – 14 | GET PLAYED WITH DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION

You’ve got a great song or album, so now what do you do? If you want to easily sell it online via iTunes, Spotify, etc., then this promotion is made for you. Ten finalists will be chosen, and one overall winner will receive one free album distribution online and one free video distribution, courtesy of Symphonic Distribution. Everyone who enters this promotion will have their initial Symphonic Distribution setup fee waived. This promotion is for original music only.

SECOND BASE | May 15 – 21 | GET EXPOSED ONLINE

Every indie artist could use more exposure, and this promotion will help to achieve that goal. Ten finalists will be chosen, and one overall winner will receive a promotional package from Unsigned Only that will include an official press release distributed to thousands of press outlets, editorial coverage from our partners (BRASH Magazine, KC Cafe Radio, and MusicianPlayer), and a quarter page advertisement in Music Connection Magazine focusing on the winner. Additionally, the promo package will consist of social media posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and inclusion on Unsigned Only’s Spotify playlist. This promotion accepts both cover songs and original music.

THIRD BASE | May 22 – 29 | GET PUBLISHED WITH YOUR SONGS

We all know how important publishing is to an artist – it is one of the major sources of revenue, but it is extremely difficult to get your music heard by publishing companies. Unsigned Only is offering you the opportunity to have your songs heard by established, high-profile publishers. Ten finalists will be chosen, and their songs will be made available online to a group of over 1,000 publishers. One overall winner will also get to directly speak to and network with at least five publishers, all from well-known and respected music publishing companies. This promotion is for original music only.

HOME RUN | May 30 – June 6 | GET PAID FOR THE WIN

There is nothing like cash to help finance a new album, buy new gear, prep for a tour, etc. One lucky winner will be selected to win $1,000 in cash. Additionally, the winner will receive a 500 CD Duplication package from Disc Makers. This promotion accepts both cover songs and original music.

WHO SHOULD ENTER UNSIGNED ONLY?

Unsigned Only is designed for solo artists, bands, and singers all over the world who are unsigned to a major label record deal. Since the eligibility is for unsigned artists only, it levels the playing field for entrants because they are not competing with well-known artists, Grammy winners, or artists with a major label machine behind them.

Categories include AAA (Adult Album Alternative), AC (Adult Contemporary), Americana, Christian, Country, EDM (Electronic Dance Music), Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Pop/Top 40, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Screen Shot (songs suitable for placement in film/TV/advertising/gaming), Teen (artists 18 years old or younger as of 12/31/18) and Vocal Performance.

The Grand Prize winner of the overall competition is awarded $20,000 USD in cash (plus additional prizes) and one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to directly network with top record company professionals and receive advice, guidance, feedback, and networking opportunities. Prizes are also awarded to First and Second Place winners in each category.

Sponsors: Berklee College Of Music; Celebrity Access; D’Addario; Eventide ; Eventric; Hybrid Studio; Groove 3; Lurssen Mastering ; Magix; Merch Cat; Musician Wellness; Radio Airplay ; PRA Audio Systems; Pro Tour Nutrition; Shure; Symphonic Distribution ; The Music Business Registry; and Vocal Eze.

Ahead of their performance at The Great Escape, Brighton on May 17th Dublin’s favourite, haunted band of troubadour’s The Eskies return at their exuberant best with the release of their latest single ‘Shame’ taken from their Sophomore LP  ‘And Don’t Spare The Horses’

The band’s unusual mix of Balkan, Klezmar, Swing and New Orleans Big-Band is on full display in this cautionary tale, come lament and in true ‘Eskies’ form, doesn’t skimp on the melodrama – “Shame, Shame Almighty, Would I speak your name so lightly, Shame, Shame Almighty, Set me free”

The Eskies; ‘grab you by the scruff of the neck’ approach drags the listener through an onslaught of brain burrowing lyrics, infectious melodies, call and response vocals, sing along chorus’, bombastic brass, brilliantly poised guitar and mandolin all wrapped up in a clever, hooky, punchy arrangement that perfectly treads the delicate line between radio-worthy folk/rock/Gypsy jazz/pop (as if there is such a thing) and something altogether quite a bit meatier (if there is such a thing).

The release of ‘And Don’t Spare The Horses’ in December of 2017 wrapped up a fantastic year for the band, the highlights of which included main stage slots at Cambridge Folk Festival and the hallowed Glastonbury.

The single ‘Shame’ (along with the rest of ‘And Don’t Spare The Horses) is available to buy on all good digital platforms and from The Eskies website:  www.theeskies.com

Forthcoming Live Events 

The Great Escape – Brighton, May 17th
Groove Festival – Wicklow, July 8th
Townlands Carnival – Cork, July 22nd
Knockanstockan – Blessington, July 28th
Stendhal Festival – Limavady, Aug 10th

Please see The Eskies website for a full list of all forthcoming live events and exciting announcements.

Facebook   Website    Twitter

In 2015 Penrose embarked on a journey which has seen the band play some extensive gigs and festivals in Ireland and supporting great acts such as Aslan at Dublin’s Vicar Street, two years running and to a full house for their Christmas shows. In the UK, the band was invited to play several Musicians Against Homelessness events in cities across the UK, a highly respected campaign initiated and still currently organised by Alan McGee (Creation Records, Oasis, The Libertines, Primal Scream etc).

Described as a solid indie pop band with catchy uplifting indie songs, Penrose has documented the adventure so far and brought it all together in their debut album – ‘First Impressions’.

To celebrate the release of the LP, Penrose will be holding a very special launch night in the Sound House on Eden Quay, Dublin on Saturday, 9th June. The band is really excited about the album and cannot wait to share it with their fans who have grown in numbers to the point of a sell out gig at Whelan’s last November.

Admission is €8 (plus booking fee) and support on the night is from Dublin band, The Valves.

Tickets to the show can be bought here.

Track listing is as follows:

Lets Go Out
Sign On
Take It All
Harmony
Lightning in my Bones
Better Man
Dreamer

http://www.penroseofficial.com
https://soundcloud.com/penroseofficial
https://www.facebook.com/penroseofficial
Twitter: @penroseirl

Ireland’s Slow Riot are releasing brand new single, ‘Betrayed’ via Straight Lines Are Fine on May 11^th.

It’s the third in a quick succession of singles since the band expanded to a four-piece, after the addition of second guitarist Liam O’Connor (formerly of Fonda). It also follows an intense period of songwriting, honing their live craft via numerous festival appearances (notably Electric Picnic and Other Voices), and the recording of a debut album which will be released later in 2018.

Of ‘Betrayed’ frontman Niall Clancy tells us; ”This is one of the first tracks that we wrote in the early demo sessions for the album. Although I didn’t intentionally set out to write a song about this subject… the lyrics sort of came about subconsciously and all in one go. Betrayed is a song about the anger and frustration of losing somebody important in your life. It always feels like I’m getting something off my chest when we play the track live.”

The track implores the kind of infectious songwriting that by now the band have become known, utilizing their trademark motoric bass rhythm with soaring shoegaze guitars and a lyrical darkness reminiscent of the likes of The Cure and Interpol.

Fresh out of the studio, the single was recorded with longtime collaborator Kevin Vanbergen (The Pixies, The Maccabees, Dinosaur Pile-Up, The La’s and Biffy Clyro) at Savage Sound Studios, Hastings at the beginning of 2018. Vanbergen has been a catalyst for the band’s creativity since hooking up with them for the recording of their debut Cathedral EP. Their working relationship continues to thrive, with production of the new material pushing the band into richer sonic territory.

Slow Riot emerge from their hometown of Limerick backed with support from the likes of The Irish Times, Nialler9, Other Voices, Electric Picnic, Today FM and Whelan’s One’s to Watch; their plaudits building at an impressive rate. They’re flying the flag for a new breed of Irish acts ready for the global stage.

They have also amassed a rich profile of support this side of the Irish Sea, with the likes of Drowned In Sound, Q Magazine, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash and Gigwise amongst many others citing them for big things. Previous single ‘Trophy Wife’ earned the band plaudits from Shaun Keaveny on the 6Music Breakfast Show, Radio X, Absolute and was a mainstay on the band’s native Today FM with DJ Paul McLoone declaring Slow Riot to be “my new favourite Irish band”.

Slow Riot have announced a string of impressive support slots with the likes of whenyoung, The Underground Youth, The Minutes and Preoccupations as well as their own London headline show at The Victoria on June 13^th.

“A heady mix of layered atmospherics and fuzzy pop that bodes well for the future” – Drowned in Sound

“With this latest release, Slow Riot join the ranks of Eagulls and Savages at the forefront of a new breed of bands fusing danceable beats with dark-pop sentiments.” – The Line Of Best Fit

Live Dates:

May 23^rd / Grand Social, Dublin (supporting The Underground Youth)
May 25^th / Mike The Pies, Listowel (supporting The Minutes)
June 12^th / Music Hall, Ramsgate (supporting Preoccupations)
June 13^th / The Victoria, London
August 3^rd-5^th / Castlepalooza, Tullamore
October 20^th / Ulltra Festival, Hull

http://www.slowriot.ie/

‘Islands’ is the latest single to be taken from Delorentos fifth Top 10 studio album ‘True Surrender’, and follows on from recent airplay hits ‘In Darkness We Feel Our Way’ and ‘In The Moment’. There is also a Glas remix version of ‘Islands’ courtesy of Spanish ally Paco.

The Dublin quartet, who recently announced a headline show for Dublin’s Olympia Theatre for November 10th, are also getting set to join this Summer’s Festival circuit, having already been confirmed to appear at Indiependence and Sea Sessions. A full Autumn tour of Ireland plus dates in Germany, Benelux and the UK will be announced shortly.

www.delorentos.net