Author: Breffni Banks

Stocktons Wing continue their sell-out 40^th anniversary tour with the addition of a concert with Duke Special and Ulaid at ‘Gigs in the Garden’ at Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co Dublin on Fri August 11^th – tickets on sale now.  In a wonderful tribute to Stocktons Wing, Clare County Council has unanimously voted that the band will receive a civic reception.  In response Mike Hanrahan from the band says “To say we are overwhelmed is an understatement. To be honoured by your own has the be the greatest of gifts. Thank you Clare.  We are humbled and extremely proud”.  More details on the civic reception TBA.

So far, their 40^th anniversary tour has sold out venues across the country, from Galway to Wicklow, as fans of the band’s music from the last 4 decades have flocked to hear one of Ireland’s most innovative & enduring bands celebrating their incredible career as they know best – onstage!  On 18th August Stocktons Wing will return for a SOLD-OUT show at Ennis Fleadh at the West County Hotel, while on Sat 26th Aug they play Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre, Co. Kilkenny.  The tour ends in September – Sat 2nd Doolin Bikers Festival Co. Clare and Sat 16th Sep Clifden Arts Week, Galway.

Featuring regular members – Mike Hanrahan (vocals & guitar), Paul Roche (flute & tin whistle), Steve Cooney (guitar, bass & didgeridoo) and Tommy Hayes (percussion, bodhran, spoons) – the band will be completed by two young Clare musicians Tara Breen (fiddle) and Karol Lynch (banjo/mandolin).  Their back catalogue of hits includes much loved classic ‘Beautiful Affair’ – voted one of the Top 75 songs in the history of RTE radio and chosen by Today FM listeners as number 7 in their Top 20 poll of Irish songs.

Mike Hanrahan has been at the helm of the band at various stages over the last 40 years “I am so delighted to be back with Stocktons Wing playing the music that shaped my earlier life and career. We were adventurers in every sense – with no boundaries and no pressures. We created a new innovative sound and our gigs were always happy and energetic occasions”.  Of the current line up, he says “It’s so good to be back on stage with Steve, Tommy and Paul again. We are missing 2 of the originals but I’m thrilled to have new blood – Tara Breen on fiddle and Karol Lynch on banjo. Two young Clare musicians steeped in the music of Stocktons Wing.  A Wing gig is a special event and this time we’re not trying to take over the world, just simply enjoying a moment, shining a light on the back catalogue of a music we believe is still worthy, compelling and spirited. It’s great to meet the fans again and hopefully collect a few new ones along the way.”

TOUR DATES:

Sun 6^th Aug Ballyshannon Folk Festival, Co Donegal

Doors 7pm Tickets €35 incl booking fee ballyshannonfolkfestival.com/stocktonswing

Fri 11^th Aug Gigs in the Garden Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin with Duke Special and Ulaid

Doors 7pm onstage 8.45pm €25 adv/€28 door Bookings 01 802 0898 tseac.ie

Fri 18^th Aug Ennis Fleadh at the West County Hotel **SOLD-OUT**

Doors 8.30pm onstage 9pm Tickets €25 fleadhcheoil.ie

Sat 26^th Aug Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre, Co. Kilkenny

Gates 7pm onstage 8.15pm Tickets €20 ballykeeffeamphitheatre.com/stocktons-wing

Sat 2^nd Sept Doolin Bikers Festival, Doolin, Co. Clare

Open all day from 12noon – onstage 8pm to 10pm Tickets e20 doolinharleyfest.com

Sat 16^th Sep Clifden Arts Week, Galway – venue: West Connemara Sports & Leisure Centre at Clifden Community School. Doors 7.30pm Tickets €20 clifdenartsfestival.ie

Liffey Records are delighted to announce the signing of viral video stars, Glenn&Ronan to the label. Liffey Records, and sister label Celtic Collections, have been working with great Irish artists for 21 years and are currently expanding the label to bring Irish artists to a wider audience through their international network.

CEO of Liffey Records, Janine Nallen said “we are excited to announce that Glenn&Ronan have signed to our Liffey Records label. Their stunning vocals and warm personalities have captured people’s attention all over the world and we are delighted to be working with them on their debut album, for release later this year.”

Early in 2016, a video of Glenn&Ronan performing an Adele medley went viral, racking up over 25 million views. An invitation followed from the legendary Ellen DeGeneres Show in the States for them to appear. Then to crown off the hat trick, Adele invited them on stage to perform the medley at her sold-out Dublin show. Glenn&Ronan spent the following months performing to over 150,000 people at 80 sold out shows across North America as special guests for Celtic Woman. Their first two singles ‘Come Home’ and ‘All of the Stars’ were released towards the end of 2016.

Speaking about the deal, Glenn Murphy and Ronan Scolard said, “We’re absolutely delighted to have signed our first ever recording contract with Liffey Records. We can’t wait to work together with the label to release our debut album later this year, and to bring new music to all the Glenn&Ronan fans who’ve been so supportive of us over this past year.”

Glenn&Ronan’s debut album will be released in October 2017.

https://www.facebook.com/glennandronan/

Irish duo Oh Bryan comprised of Stephen O’Brien (drums,bass,vocals,guitar) and Shane Power (guitar) release their debut EP “Rewind” on August 11^th 2017 upstairs in Whelan’s. The Dublin based band’s EP comprises a sound that is guitar driven with an alternative rock feel. They are fronted by Kilkenny native Stephen O’Brien, a multi-instrumentalist playing drums, bass, guitars and vocals on the EP and principal songwriter for the band with Shane Power looking after lead guitar playing.

Stephen started the project back in December where he recorded all the instruments and vocals on their first single “Rewind” in his Dad’s attic over the Christmas holidays of 2016. Stephens brother, Keith O’Brien from the Irish pop band Seo Linn helped engineer the recording sessions and was very influential in the vocal recording.

Stephen went onto recording the second single “Maze” in February and these are the two single releases to date. Shortly after finishing the second single Stephen recruited longtime friend Shane Power to join the outfit as an official second member on guitar duties.

The duo will release their next three tracks along with the previous two which will make up their debut EP “Rewind”. This will be showcased upstairs in Whelan’s on August 11^th 2017. The first single “Rewind” has that alternative rock vibe similar to that of Feeder or Catfish and The Bottlemen. Their third single “The Rain” will be released in the coming days on Spotify with a music video to follow.

The outfits second single “Maze”, received its premiere on The Louise Duffy Show show on Today FM.

Their debut headline show Upstairs in Whelan’s 11th of August is only around the corner. Click here for Tickets (€7 online,€10 door).

This will see Thomas Gibbons joining on drums and Billy Campbell on bass (previously Lost In Flight). With a busy string of gigs to follow their headline on 11th of August is going to be a great night of rock music and their first headline show to date.

For more information contact; ohbryanmusic@nullgmail.com

 Listen to “Maze” on Youtube

Oh Bryan on Spotify

Oh Bryan Facebook Page

Oh Bryan on SoundCloud

‘Branching Out’ is the much anticipated second album from Na Leanaí, who in just three years have earned themselves an enviable reputation at home and abroad as one of the most exciting new Irish bands.

This album is different in many ways from their debut CD ‘Kindred Roots’ fusing as it does the band’s folk and traditional legacy as the second generation of The Sands Family, with country, jazz and African influences garnered during the last three hectic years touring and performing throughout Europe.

Produced by the legendary Steve Cooney, the new album has a different feel from the last, almost-live, production as these resourceful musicians, persuaded by Cooney dig deeper and deeper into their collective talent to produce something truly unique.

With songs in English, Irish, French and German, including their own original compositions, and supported by Zulu vocalists, a Viking bouzouki player, an Irish piper and assorted members of their musical clan, Na Leanaí have taken another huge step towards their goal of becoming recognised as being in the vanguard of the European resurgence of Irish music.

http://www.naleanaimusic.com/

Cian Ó Cíobháin, presenter of underground music show An Taobh Tuathail on RTÉ RnaG, has compiled a new selection of the best music played on the show over the last couple of years and it is available now on Spotify.

It has been 10 years since the first collection of music from the show was released on CD, ATT Vol 1, but times have changed a lot since then and this latest collection, ATT Vol 8, is now available as a playlist on Spotify.

There are just over 60 tracks on the playlist, almost 5 house of music, with a similar vibe to previous collections, reflective of the An Taobh Tuathail shows earlier in the week, with much in the way of electronica, folk, psychedelia, ethereal R&B & neo-classical.

Roughly a sixth of the tracks are by Irish artists including Mount Alaska, Seti The First, Ryan Vail, Or:la, Clu, Natural History Museum, Elma, Chequerboard and  Deaf Joe.

Other tracks come from artists regularly featured on the show: Forest Swords, Julianna Barwick, Gold Panda, Carla dal Forno, Tropic Of Cancer, The Nightjar and Elsa Hewitt, and there are also a few bona fide classics courtesy of Burial, Aphex Twin, This Mortal Coil, To Rococo Rot, Pinch, Automaton UK, Mogwai and Arab Strap.

Cian hopes the new format will be ideal for music lovers who might peruse the playlist as a means to be led down wondrous musical rabbit holes, and may also entice new listeners to the show, especially regular users of Spotify who may not be aware of ATT.

Cian says:
“I love to discover a song or a piece of music that I’ve never heard before, whether old or new.  The unwavering thrill of discovering an amazing song that I’ve never heard before is what gets me out of bed every morning.  I’m also quite evangelical about sharing my finds with other people which is why presenting a radio show such as ATT, as well as compiling anthologies such of this, of my favourite tracks, may well be my most natural job-fit.”

ATT Vol 8 can be found here:
https://open.spotify.com/user/1192436527/playlist/7dxDHmXRMcEFGb0SLPowAP

An Taobh Tuathail is broadcast Monday to Friday at 22:00 on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.  The shows earlier in of the week are relatively laidback, but as the weekend draws closer the tempo picks up and the shows become clubbier/more electronic in tone.  You can listen back to shows and get all the playlists at www.rte.ie/rnag/an-taobh-tuathail .

Dubliners can once again experience magical evenings of fine wine and beautiful music in the heart of the city: the Santa Rita Concerts will run from September to March at The Little Museum of Dublin, with a mouth-watering programme of music in Dublin’s most charming museum. Curated by Ergodos, the series features some of the most eclectic programming in Dublin’s cultural landscape.

The 2017 / 2018 series begins in September 2017 with the lithe songscape of Laura Hyland’s Clang Sayne. In October, fiddle player Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (The Gloaming, This is How We Fly) explores a region where Irish traditional music begins to disintegrate. Canadian electronic music artist Sarah Davachi performs an all-enveloping solo set in November. We begin the new year with Rue (featuring members of Dublin folk group Lankum) in January, and we welcome West African kora master Seckou Keita in February. The season ends in March with the hypnotizing music of Estonian violinist-vocalist Maarja Nuut.   

The Santa Rita Concerts provide a unique, deeply immersive audience experience. Each evening begins at 7pm with a Santa Rita wine tasting, and a fireside interview with the artists. The performances take place at 8pm in the museum’s beautifully resonant downstairs gallery. The space is candlelit and the atmosphere highly intimate – a concentrated ritual shared by performer and audience.

The 2017/2018 Santa Rita Concerts are presented with the support of the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

Book now

Shane Filan announces the release of the heart warming track ‘Unbreakable’. The song is the first to be taken from his new album ‘Love Always’ which features a compilation of some all-time classic love ballads alongside new original songs. The track, written by Jamie Scott, who has worked with artists including One Direction and Rag’n’Bone Man, will be released on 22^nd July 2017.

Shane has cemented his position as one of the UK & Ireland’s most popular male solo artists, following phenomenal success with Westlife – one of the world’s most successful bands of the last few decades – and he shows no signs of slowing down, “There’s nothing that make me happier than singing and being on stage” he says, “it’s something I am very proud of and it’s what I want to be doing for the rest of my life.”

‘Unbreakable’ is out now.

Tour Dates: 

October

• Thursday 19 – Dublin – Olympia Theatre http://www.olympia.ie/whats-on/shane-filan/
• Sunday 22 – Belfast – Waterfront Hall http://www.waterfront.co.uk/what-s-on/all-events/shane-filan-love-always/

www.shanefilan.com

Dublin singer-songwriter Ciara Sidine’s sound has been described as ‘Americana with an unmistakeably Celtic feel to its poetic lyrics and confident vocals’ (UNCUT). Her much-anticipated new album ‘Unbroken Line’ (September 2017), follows on from her successful debut ‘Shadow Road Shining’, described in Hot Press as ‘Exquisitely beautiful . . . recommended from the highest heights.’ ‘Unbroken Line’, the album title track, is its first single release, along with ‘Watching the Dark’, with its hints of Billie Holiday and 1940s melody. Sidine’s uniquely arresting vocal kicks off the the sweetly melodious ‘Unbroken Line’, which draws inspiration from a Dylan classic, with its streetscape of old stores and faded signs, which are heard ‘blowing in the breeze’. In a spirit of hopeful yearning, Conor Brady’s easeful, low-key yet distinctive guitar stylings support the central vocal with a luscious warmth, creating a layered musical landscape that underpins the lyrical quest: to rediscover a connection to that which matters.

Says Sidine of her work, ‘It’s very easy to buy into an idea of brokenness in the world, because there is plenty of evidence for it. It can be easy to forget that there is much to be celebrated, even amidst turmoil. “Unbroken Line” came out of my own efforts to find a sustaining connection in difficult times – for me, it came through music. There is a line of song that reaches into the past and will extend into the future, long after we’re gone. Going back to the source, in this case the musical roots that inspire me, I find there a sense that, whatever our individual journeys, we are all walking “towards the borders of the night”, more together than we are apart. “Watching the Dark” is a trip down melody lane, a song that was fun to write and is a joy to sing.’

Co-produced by Sidine and Conor Brady, the cream of Irish musicians feature on the recording including Conor Brady (Toots and the Maytals, Terence Trent D’Arby and George Martin), Robbie Malone (David Gray), Dave Hingerty (The Frames/Swell Season), Justin Carroll (Van Morrison) and revered Irish blues and country artist NC Lawlor. Sidine’s singing has drawn comparisons to Maria McKee, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch but her style is very much her own and ‘Unbroken Line’ is a remarkable showcase of this.

Album launch The Sugar Club, Thursday 21 September:
http://www.thesugarclub.com/listings/event/ciara-sidine

https://www.ciarasidine.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/ciarasidine

Twitter: @ciarasidine

Registration is now open for the 14th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards), this is great opportunity for music artists everywhere. IAMA is the preeminent awards for musicians, promotes excellence in acoustic music performance and artistry. Acoustic artists in various genres can gain exciting radio and web exposure through this competition. Participating sponsors include Acoustic Cafe and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Music artists stand a chance to win awards in eight different categories: Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo Folk, Americana/Roots/AAA, Instrumental, Open (any musical style or genre), Bluegrass/Country, etc. There will also be an Overall Grand Prize winner awarded to the top winner worth over US$11,000, which includes radio promotion to over 250 radio stations in US and Canada.

IAMA is sponsored by: D’Addario Strings, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, Airplay Access, Sirius XM Radio, Acoustic Café Radio Show, MixButton, GigSalad.com, Kari Estrin Management & Consulting, and Sonicbids.com

In its 14th year, IAMA has a proven track record of winners going on to get signed and hit the Billboard Charts. Meghan Trainor was discovered by IAMA seven years ago and is now a global superstar with #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts with “All About That Bass” (#1 for 9 weeks) and #1 on The Billboard 200 Charts with her debut album “Title”, won for a Grammy award for Best New Artist in 2016. The 2nd Annual IAMA winner Zane Williams’s winning song was recorded by country music star Jason Michael Carroll, that song hit #14 on Billboard Country Charts and #99 on Billboard Hot 100 Charts. Jeff Gutt, a finalist at the 9th Annual IAMA was a runner-up on X-Factor USA. Charlie Dore (known for her #1 hit “Pilot of the Airwaves”) was the top winner in 2008.

Danish Singer/Songwriter Tim Schou (see pictured) won top honors at the past year’s 13th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards). He has been signed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing. He is the first from Denmark to ever win at IAMA. He was a member of “A Friend in London”, a Danish pop rock and rock band that represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. He won the Overall Grand Prize as well as the Best Male Artist at the 13th Annual IAMA.

Other notable winners include Bertie Higgins & Bellamy Brothers, who won the Best Folk Category. Bertie Higgins is known for his #1 hit “Key Largo” and Top 10 hit “Just Another Day in Paradise”. Bellamy Brothers are known for their eleven #1 hits “Let Your Love Flow”, “If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me”, “Too Much Is Not Enough” and many more.

NEeMA, featuring Emmylou Harris won the runner-up award of the Folk category. NEeMA is a folk singer from Canada. Folk legend Emmylou Harris has five #1 hits and counting.

Grace VanderWaal, America’s Got Talent’s last year’s top winner is a finalist in the Best Female Category. Her debut album hit #9 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. At 12 years old, she is the youngest finalist in the history of IAMA so far.

Marty Cintron, from the award winning group “No Mercy” is a finalist in the Best Male Artist Category. No Mercy is known for their #1 hit song “Where Do You Go”.

The deadline to enter is November 10th. For more information, go to:
http://www.inacoustic.com

Elephant, the musical vehicle of Dundalk based multi-instrumentalist Shane Clarke releases a new track Mirrors on 1st August 2017.

Mirrors is a song about looking back. It’s about pining for your youth; mourning its mistakes and in turn, trying to recall just when it was that you became so cynical. Do you remember when every decision was vital and every misstep was a tragedy? And what’s more tragic than a broken heart.

“I have been writing songs about that feeling for 10 years. I have never written a song like this before though. At last years Electric Picnic, euphoric from living out the dream of playing the Body & Soul mainstage (probably euphoric for a number of reasons) I was led up to the front of the big hill to witness a band who I always enjoyed but never put much time into. LCD Soundsystem. Needless to say, they blew me away and I left the hill saying to myself; …I want to write a dance song.”

Elephant has rightly garnered much praise on the live front with his earnest vocal delivery and unique lyrical style capturing audiences and securing him performances with Martha Wainwright, Alexis Taylor, Lisa Hannigan, most of the country’s top festivals including Electric Picnic, Indiependence and Body & Soul and return trips to the Other Voices Music Trail in Dingle.

Having made a folk album the first time round with ‘HyperGiant’(2015), Elephant sheds his skin and moves on towards a new prowess of sound on his new album (Title TBC) set to be released in the autumn of 2017.

Heavily influenced by two of his favourite artists who have recently passed, David Bowie and Prince, it is his personal dedication to them, synth bells and saxophones in toll. If ‘HyperGiant’ was a coming of age folk album then this new album is his “breakup record”. A departure from the quiet vistas of the acoustic and entering a busier, sweatier suburb full of wannabe actors and sweatband solos.

Elephant, has three live variations; playing the same set but with different musical and vocal arrangements, making for intriguing live shows. Elephant may be a soloist looping effected guitars and vocals to create lush, layered music. A duo, offering intimate acoustic guitar, piano and synthesizer, tied with colourful melody and harmonies. Or the newest venture, Elephant as a full band. The full band line-up includes Paul Finn, Paul Mallon and Paul Carolan of The Flaws and Shane O Hanrahan of Norabelle. Songs wander from an instantaneous summery folk pop reminiscent of Badly Drawn Boy and Elliot Smith, to more mature meandering pieces with a deliberate deconstructed nature, akin to say…Broken Social Scene, Justin Vernon or Joanna Newsom.

Upcoming gigs:

http://weareelephants.com/