Author: Breffni Banks

Nathaniel Cabanero, who is originally from the Philippines and currently living in Stranorlar, County Donegal, is the winner of the Tipperary International Song of Peace Contest.

The Contest took place in the Tipperary Excel in Tipperary Town on Saturday 19th November.

Nathaniel’s composition which was titled ‘Only When’ was performed by his wife, Judie Alegarme.

It was a clear winner of the Contest receiving 38 marks out of a possible 40 from the Judging Panel.

“Only When” is a by product of the songwriter’s own reflections and touches on the basic tenets of our Human Rights.

It was a very popular winner with a very strong vocal performance from Judie.

Nathaniel loves competing in International Songwriting contests. This was his 2nd time to be a top 10 finalist in the Tipperary Song of Peace Contest and it was a lucky second time appearance for him and his wife in the Contest. Supported by IMRO, the Contest carried a prize fund of €1,500 and a Crystal Award for the winning entry which was presented to Nathaniel and Judie by Martin Quinn and Joe Quinn of Tipperary Peace Convention.

The best Irish Entry in the Contest was awarded to Katie Gallagher from Ballymahon in Longford for her entry titled ‘Borders’.

Katie received the Mick Tuohy Memorial Cup which was presented by John Halligan, a grandson of the late Mick Tuohy.

Katie is well know in music circles gigging around the country and supporting all styles of musicians including chart topping American group Underhill Rose and the amazing talent that is Mick Flannery.

The 10 finalists proved their talent and songwriting expertise with excellent compositions which were warmly received by the audience. Along with the finalists there was a wonderful uplifting performance from the Circle of Friends Choir and a guest appearance from the 2014 Song of Peace Winner Kenny Grant.

The event was captured on video by Trapline Media and will be available for purchase through the Song of Peace Committee.

Speaking at the event Master of Ceremonies and Contest Organiser Martin Quinn said that the Song of Peace Contest was a major event in promoting peace and reconciliation and he thanked the songwriters for being part of the event and for travelling at their own expense to participate. Guests at the event included the Cathaoirleach of the Cashel/Tipperary Municipal District, Cll. Michael Fitzgerald and the Pride of Tipperary, Ms. Michelle McLaughlin.

Trouble Pilgrims have just released their debut album ‘Dark Shadows And Rust’.

The album was released on 27th October  on the Chiswick label distributed Worldwide via Ace Records.

Written, arranged and produced by the band, the album was recorded in the heart of Dublin at Westland Studios.

Track listing:
Snake Oil Carnival
Animal Gang Blues [new recording]
Instant Polaroid
Death Ballad
Queen Of Heartache
Reach Out
Long Way To The Sun
Dearly Beloved
The Velvet Tongue
Sex In A Cheap Hotel
The Great Divide

‘Frostbite’ is the second single to be released from Mark Geary’s new album ‘The Fool’ album, following up “Battle of Troy”, which came out in May.

Coming late in the recording process, with this new single Mark captures an intense image of calamity “I woke up half-alive..:” and its after-shock with haunting chords and bigger production. ‘Frostbite’ was featured recently in the NBC TV show The Night Shift.

It’s five years since his last studio album and in that time, Mark Geary has been frequently touring, building his fan-base throughout Europe and the US, and ‘gig-bashing’ songs shaped from ideas born on the road.

For this latest studio album, produced by Karl Odlum in France, Geary has amassed a collection of well-honed lyrical songs with catchy hooks which often belie the deep emotions at play.

First single “Battle Of Troy”

http://markgeary.com/

“Delorentos have been making music together for over 10 yrs, and, in that time, we’ve seen and done a lot….

Screamed our lungs out on stage. Gasped for air between songs. Stared arm-in arm, in awe, over fields full of people and at beer-soaked audiences in sweaty bars. 

Laughed at bad jokes in silly interviews. Cried in anguish, with tiredness, because somebody knows the words.

It doesn’t get any easier, but that just makes it more special.

Pulling apart… Re-imagining… London… Dublin… Wi-Fi…. Donegal…. Missing teeth… Baby Girl… House Fire… READY!…”

Delorentos will be releasing a new album in early 2018.

In the meantime ‘In Darkness We Feel Our Way’, (with Richie Egan from Jape), is a taste of what is to come, with artwork by the very talented Irish artist Jacob Stack ( http://jacobstack.net/).

The band will be playing 4 intimate shows in Ireland in April 2018:

Friday 6 April – Dolans, Limerick

Saturday 7 April – Cyprus Avenue, Cork

Thursday 12 April – Roisin Dubh, Galway

Friday 13 April – Whelans, Dublin

Tickets on sale Friday 17 November from http://www.ticketmaster.ie/ and local outlets

They will also be celebrating New Year’s Eve in style at Whelans, Dublin

[tickets available now from http://wavtickets.ie / 1890 200 07 / 01 478 0766 or in person from Whelans, Camden Row, Dublin 2)

http://www.delorentos.net/

Dublin-based songwriter Paddy Hanna today reveals “Mario Lanza”, another track from his forthcoming album due for release in 2018.

The upbeat tempo of the song is proceeded by a more serious experience, as Paddy explains  “My Father, not too long ago, went through a terrible illness which left him in a coma for two weeks. The emotional strain of this event really beat me down, I repressed it in some ways, particularly in my writing. While struggling to deal with the strain I began listening through some rough demos I had, one of which was a minute-long ditty about Mario Lanza, an American Tenor from the early 20th century. I decided to finish it off and realized very quickly I was channelling my pain through this particular track. Mario Lanza, in essence, became my Dad, and through him I could express all of the emotions I had repressed, which is why the song is tinged with a sorrowful joy.”

It’s the follow up to ‘Bad Boys’, a baroque cut of shimmering, intelligent pop. 2018 will see the release of Hanna’s sophomore album via Strange Brew Records, produced by his new collaborator Daniel Fox. Following on from the Scott Walker-esc pomp of Austria and Underprotected, Fox has added a whole new orchestral element to his music, along with contributions from members of Girl Band, Saint Sister, Tandem Felix, Cian Nugent and the Cosmos and the Trinity Orchestra.

Hanna played the HWCH festival and continues with dates in November and December accompanied by a live band featuring Adam Faulkner and Daniel Fox (Girl Band), along with guitarist Paddy Ormond (Jetsetter/Postcard Versions).

Listen to ‘Mario Lanza’ on YOUTUBE | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY

“Blessed with a sharply defined, neatly uplifting chorus and some biting, Elvis Costello style lyrics it’s a neat introduction to a curious talent” – Clash

The new songs solidify Paddy Hanna’s position as one of modern pop’s premier songwriters, pitching him right up alongside everyone from Meilyr Jones, to Arab Strap, to Richard Hawley.

TOUR DATES 

Fri 17th Nov – Levi’s, Ballydehob

Sat 18th Nov – Bello Bar, Dublin

Fri 24th Nov – Connolly’s Of Leap

Sat 2nd Dec – Kasbah, Limerick

FOLLOW PADDY HANNA on FACEBOOK | BREAKING TUNES| TWITTER

Pale Rivers are a five piece Alternative, Rock/Pop band based out of Cork and Tipperary, Ireland. Having spent the last year writing and recording with producer Gavin Glass at his Dublin studio and mixing engineer Kieran Lynch.(U2, R.E.M, Elvis Costello) They have gone on to perform at various showcases including Hard Working Class Heroes, Whelan’s ‘Ones To Watch’, and Electric Picnic

Produced at Glass’ Orphan Studio’s, ‘My Own Comeback’ picks up where their previous releases left off, developing their sound further. Driven by guitars and synths the band also utilised the use of other instruments such as a string section and saxophone to capture and finish the atmosphere of the track.

The band plays a headline show Upstairs in Whelan’s on Saturday December 9th. Tickets are available from www.wavtickets.ie

https://www.facebook.com/palerivers/

Mick Hanly, he writer of the hit song ‘Past The Point of Rescue’ celebrates the song’s 25th anniversary entering the US Billboard Charts, by re-recording a new version.

“I was never happy with my own original version….so it was great to get the chance to do justice to the song that has been so good to me” Mick Hanly

The song ‘Past The Point of Rescue’ was written in 1988 and first recorded by Mary Black in 1989. Mary’s single release made the Irish charts and became a staple of her repertoire for the coming years.

“This great song has given me immense joy to sing over the years….a timeless classic”  Mary Black

Mick recorded the song in 1990 for the album ‘All I Remember’ but did not release the song as a single.

In 1991 up and coming American country singer, Hal Ketchum made it the title track for his first album with Curb Records. On its single release it went to #2 in the Billboard Country charts and became the most played country song in 1992, for which Hanly received his first BMI award.

“’Past The Point of Rescue’ is my career song….I bless the day that Mick wrote it” Hal Ketchum

Hanly received a second BMI reward in 1993 when the song passed the 1 Million radio plays in the US.

Norwegian band The Hellbillies took their version of the song into the Norwegian charts also in 1993 and became a major show-stopping song for them. The Dixie Chicks also recorded it for their album ‘Little Ol’ Cowgirl’.

In 2012, Hanly received a third major award from BMI, this time for the song having exceeded the 2 Million radio plays mark.

About 10 years ago Hanly received a phone call from Ringsend Road studios to say that the original masters from the 1990 recording were still in their vaults. Since the record company had debunked to the UK, he went and collected the masters before sending the two spools with the tracks for ‘Past The Point Of Rescue’ to London for a special baking treatment and saved the original tracks for posterity. His friend Philip Begley learned all the original parts and they recorded the song again with new vocals.

“I was never happy with my own original version, so it was great to get the chance to do justice to the song that has been so good to me. I’ve decided to release this version as a single this year on the 25^th anniversary of its charting in the US.”

LIVE DATES:

NOVEMBER
Fri. 10 Greystones Theatre, Co Wicklow Tel: (01) 2871755 Tickets €25
Sat. 11 Nenagh Arts Centre, Co. Tipperary Tel (067) 34400 Tickets €20
Sun. 12 Culturlann Sweeney, Kilkee, Co. Clare Tel: 065 906 0769 Tickets €20
Wed 15 Matt Molloy’s, Westport. Tel: (098) 26655 Tickets €20

https://mickhanly.com/

‘Humans’ is the new single from Nocturnes, their first release since the 2016 long player ‘The Soft Animal’. Pulsating and full of heart, the song is about seeing out the tough times.

The song is released in both English and Irish language versions. Recorded with Darragh Nolan, who worked with Nocturnes on the mellifluous ‘The Soft Animal’ and released on Sligo label Bluestack Records on November 16th 2017.

A launch night takes place on November 16th at The Workman’s Club with guests Aural Air & Arch Motors. Admission €10.

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0pso2cJ2p0wEtgSRXJDpvy

iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/ie/artist/nocturnes/id428821977

Bluestack:
www.bluestackrecords.com/nocturnes

Bandcamp:
www.pearsemcgloughlin.bandcamp.com

New winter weekend festival, Northern Xposure takes place from Fri 1 December to Sunday 3 December 2017 in McGrory’s of Culdaff, Co. Donegal.

Northern Xposure is a mini, weekend festival of the creative industries. Featuring panel discussions, talks and gigs by artists, innovators and industry leaders this 3 day event examines the creative and business connections between art and industry as well as exploring income generating opportunities for artists and creative entrepreneurs across a diversity of disciplines including fashion, music, film, animation and digital media. More festival than conference the event will be a celebration of Irish artistic endeavour as well as providing a networking opportunity for collaborative sharing between artists/creative entrepreneurs.

Musical highlights of the weekend include performances from Saint Sister, Hannah Peel and Great White Lies

Tickets and full information are available from http://northernxposure.ie