Author: Breffni Banks

Donegal band The Plea release their new single ‘Wild One’ on Friday 28th July. ‘Wild One’ is the first single to be taken from their upcoming album Propanoia which will be released in the autumn.

‘Wild One’ is a melancholy acoustic ballad that explores the thoughts and memories that haunt a tortured soul. It was written by the band during a late night acoustic session in Donegal and they decided to record it on the spot. The rawness of the track inspired the band to write more songs for the album in the same vein; stripped back and simplified.
The video for ‘Wild One’ was directed by Michael McLaughlin of Disappear Here Media and shot in the band’s hometown, Ballyliffin in Co. Donegal, a part of the world that is renowned for its breathtaking scenery. Pollan Beach in Ballyliffin and Lagahurry Beach on the Isle of Doagh served as the locations, and lead singer Denny Doherty features, intercut with shots of windswept waves, salt spray and sandy dunes.

The Plea have already had much success with 2012’s release The Dreamer’s Stadium, which saw them receive TV and radio airplay from the likes of Graham Norton and Bob Harris, and plaudits from BBC and Q Magazine. ‘Wild One’ is sure to be another radio hit for the band. The Plea will be announcing European tour dates and a release date for Propanoia in the coming weeks.

https://www.facebook.com/thepleaofficial/

Protobaby release their eagerly anticipated new single ‘From The Start’ on June 23rd

‘From the Start’ is the band’s first brand new release since the their second album ‘Cosmic Heart’ (2016) which followed the release of 2012’s very well received debut ‘The Spark’. Having recently recruited a new bass player in Dane Staunton, Protobaby have been busy writing and recording new material. The first release from these sessions is ‘From The Start’ a brooding, epic sounding look at the taste of success and how it can all come crashing down. Mixed by the Grammy nominated Chris O Brien and Graham Murphy, at The Production Suite, Dublin.

The band expect to tour later this year to debut new material from these recording sessions and plan on releasing a new album in 2018.

Both ‘Cosmic Heart’ and ‘The Spark’ tours saw the band play all over Ireland, the UK and Europe, including appearances at numerous festivals, TV/radio appearances and even gracing the cover of a special edition of Hot Press Magazine!

Singles ‘Popstars’, ‘State of Affairs’, ‘Traditions’ (accompanying Video was banned by Youtube), ‘Fluorescent’ and ‘Only A Spark’ were featured in regular rotation on local and national radio stations.

Check protobaby.com for more info and updates!

Indie Folk musician Peco was better known as the former frontman of ‘Valentine Black’ who achieved a number of international successes by representing Ireland at Indie Week Canada and also having a song feature on US television series ‘Road Trip Nation’. Upon various other commitments and engagements by the band ‘Peco’ put a solo project he’d been keeping on the back burner to fruition and signed a management deal with ‘Live Loud Music’.

Since moving over to the label he has released one track ‘Safe Haven’ and toured both Ireland and the UK including playing the prestigious Edinburgh Folk Club. This year has also seen him reach the American Acoustic songwriting competition as a finalist with his track ‘Safe Haven’.

His newest track ‘Self Help – A Beginners Guide’ has already been described as ‘Talking Heads’ meets ‘Bob Dylan’ and has a more unique appealing style that stands out from current listenings. Peco has a way with lyrics that boarder musical poetry. This track has seen him go back to the studio with the full band this time, and is the first track to be released from his forthcoming EP ‘And So I Arrived At The Start’.

Recently he has opened for bands like ‘The Hothouse Flowers’, ‘Bunoscionn’ and ‘Roisin O’.

Folk Music covers a broad spectrum and even within Peco’s catalogue, he ranges from ballads, rock, pop and acoustic based songs. The first headline show in Dublin this year is coming on June 29th in Bello Bar Dublin.

He will be supported on the night by Indie Rocker label mates ‘The New Social’ and long time friend ‘Daniel Shiel’.

For more info check out Peco on the below links.

www.pecomusic.com

Twitter 

Facebook  

Soundcloud

Spotify

If there were any doubts that the Blizzards return was a definitive one, they’ve shattered them all. Between an 11 date sold out Back to Basics tour (where they returned to all of the Irish cities in which they originally built their following), an all-time high of Spotify plays, and brand new single “Show Me The Science”, the Mullingar five-piece have made it clear – they’re here to stay.

The Blizzards have partnered up again with producer Philip Magee (The Script, Kodaline) to create a synth-heavy, 80’s anthem. “Show Me The Science” is the fourth single from the band’s forthcoming album, due later this year.

The video, directed by Irish company Crooked Gentlemen, follows a dance crew of misfits as they challenge their rivals to a dance battle. “The upbeat, positive, high-energy song made our concept effortless: every aspect of the video reflects its energy, from the vibrant costumes to the ridiculous storyline, to our lead good guy character’s hair,” say Crooked Gentlemen. “You just can’t hear the song without dancing, so the focus of our story is exactly that: two gangs, passionate about dance aerobics.” Featuring a familiar face in Steve Gunn (Fair City), the video is the first to be released since the Blizzards return last year.

The Blizzards support the 1975 in Malahide Castle this Saturday, June 17.

www.facebook.com/theblizzardsIE
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www.theblizzards.ie

June 17th – Malahide Castle, supporting the 1975
July 7th – Club Creation, Dungarvan
July 14th – Mallow Racecourse
July 15th – Castlecomer Festival, Kilkenny
August 4th – Minnie’s, Drumlish
August 5th – Le Cheile
August 12th – Revival Festival, Listowel

Garage-rockers Otherkin keep the hammer down with the release of their brand new single, entitled “REACT”, and confirmation that their much-anticipated debut album, called “OK”, will be released at the end of the summer. “REACT” out 16th June tees up album release – “OK” on 29th September – followed by full UK and European run of dates.

2017 has already been a whirlwind for the band, having completed two UK tours, one headline and one with The Amazons, in support of the blazing ‘Bad Advice’ single and video. Furthermore, the band have opened for Guns ‘N’ Roses at the legendary Slane Castle, made their Download debut at Castle Donington and kept the Otherkin flame burning in Holland and France. Just recently, they were championed by Metallica’s Lars Ulrich on his Beats1 radio show. The band are just back out on tour in the UK with punk-rock legends The Dead Kennedy’s.

“OK” was recorded in Ireland with David Prendergast, Jason Boland and the band at the controls. The tracks were mixed in London by Jolyon Thomas, best known for his work with Slaves and Royal Blood. Showing real commitment to their art, singer Luke and drummer Rob both had fresh “OK” tattoos committed to flesh for the album artwork.

“OK” is available for pre-order now here.

To support the release of the album, Otherkin will be out on tour as both special guests of INHEAVEN in the UK and headlining their own gigs in fifteen European countries.

OTHERKIN – “OK” album track listing:

Treat Me So Bad
Come On, Hello
Ay Ay
Feel It
‘89
Yeah, I Know

Enabler
Razorhead
Bad Advice
I Was Born
REACT
So So

“REACT” is released on Friday 16th June, impacting 4th August. The album “OK” will be released on Friday 29th September on vinyl (with poster insert) and CD, and will be available to pre-order from 16th June from Apple Music and all digital music platforms. Fans who pre-order will receive four instant grat tracks – “Ay Ay”, “Feel It”, “Bad Advice” and “REACT”.

Tour dates:

30th September – Think Tank, Newcastle, UK (with InHeaven)
1st October – King Tuts, Glasgow, UK (with InHeaven)
2nd October – Brundell Social, Leeds, UK (with InHeaven)
4th October – The Plug, Sheffield, UK (with InHeaven)
5th October – Sugarmill, Stoke-On-Trent, UK (with InHeaven)
6th October – Buyers Club, Liverpool, UK (with InHeaven)
9th October – Mama Roux’s, Birmingham, UK (with InHeaven)

22nd October – Deaf Institute, Manchester, UK
23rd October – Crofters Rights, Bristol, UK
24th October – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, UK
25th October – Face Bar, Reading, UK
26th October – Camden Assembly, London, UK
28th October – Forum Basement, Tunbridge Wells, UK
29th October – Hope & Ruin, Brighton, UK
31st October – Rotown, Rotterdam, Netherlands
1st November – Witloof Bar, Brussels, Belgium
2nd November – MTC, Cologne, Germany
3rd November – Sugar Factory, Amsterdam, Netherlands
4th November – Vera, Groningen, Netherlands
6th November – Ideal Bar, Copenhagen, Denmark
7th November – Molotow Sky Bar, Hamburg, Germany
8th November – Musik & Frieden, Berlin, Germany
10th November – Cafe V Lese, Prague, Czech Republic
11th November – Chelsea, Vienna, Austria
12th November – Durer Kert, Budapest, Hungary
13th November – Daos Club, Timisoara, Romania
15th November – Feedback, Nils, Serbia
16th November – Hamam, Pristina, Kosovo
18th November – Stroeja, Sofia, Bulgaria
19th November – Elektropionir, Belgrade, Serbia
20th November – Firchie Think Tank Studio, Novi Sad, Serbia
22nd November – Hangar Bar, Izola, Slovenia
23rd November – Kranhalle, Munich, Germany
24th November – Gonzo, Zurich, Switzerland
25th November – Legend Live Club, Milan, Italy
28th November – Siroco, Madrid, Spain
29th November – Razmataz 3, Barcelona, Spain
1st December – Le Cargo, Arles, France
2nd December – Mecanique Ondulatoire, Paris, France
15th December – Button Factory, Dublin, Ireland

OTHERKIN are:

Luke Reilly – lead vocals, guitar
Conor Wynne – lead guitar
David Anthony – bass guitar
Rob Summons – drums

Dublin Alt Rockers The Stoles are delighted to announce the release of their new single “Evelyn”, taken from the band’s upcoming debut album “AGE OF DECEPTION” released on iTunes, Spotify and other major online stores on July 21st 2017 and through selected stores nationwide at a later stage.

The track was written by The Stoles and recorded at Red Lake recording studio, mixed by Peter Rice and mastered by Masterlabs; Artwork by Massimiliano Veltri.

The Stoles are a Dublin based alternative indie rock band consisting of three members:
Antonio: Vocals / Bass Andrea: Guitar / Vocals Ciaran: Drums / Vocals

Having come off a very successful run of gigs playing at some of Ireland’s best indie music festivals throughout the summer of 2015 and 2016, The Stoles launched straight into writing and creating their debut album. The process of writing an album has seen the band explore and hone their sound more than ever before.

The Stoles debut album is due to be released in 2017 on Spectra Records with a number of gig dates throughout Ireland and Europe to follow after the album’s release in 2017 and 2018.

In support of the release the band also announced a string of gigs for the month of July:

07/07 – FIBBER MAGGES (DUBLIN)
08/07 – MCPHAILS (DROGHEDA)
15/07 – GALWAY FRINGE FESTIVAL
22/07 – WHELANS (DUBLIN)
29/07 – GARBOS (CASTLEBAR)

‘They make an impressively complex noise for a three piece, funneling a broad range of influences into an alternative rock template…’ – Marky Edison, Muso’s Guide

Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/thestoles
Website: www.thestoles.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thestoles
Twitter: www.twitter.com/thestoles
YouTube: www.youtube.com/THESTOLESBAND

CC Brez has just shared the video for his latest new single ‘When It Falls’.

2016 saw a busy year touring for CC supporting the release of his debut album ‘The Nightfall’. The album garnered some great reviews and some stand out gigs of 2016 included performances at the Electric Arena stage at the Electric picnic, Longitude, Sea Sessions and Indiependance. In October 2016, after a support slot with Brian Deady at the Cork Jazz Festival, CC decided to take some time out from gigging to write his next move. The new single, ‘When It Falls’ was recorded in March 2017 with producer Philip Magee (Kodaline, The Script, The Academic), sees a slightly darker side to his personality. Instrumentally and lyrically channeling his influence from Bobby Womack, the track explores themes of nightmares and loneliness wrapped up in the ever present pop structure. The single is self released on CC’s label FAT BURRITO.

https://www.facebook.com/ccbrez/

https://twitter.com/ccbrezmusic

Dublin based band “Scoops” team up with Konmak x Marty on the remix of their single “Stuck on You” and already with no radio play the single is the 5th most Shazamed Irish single and Top 20 on the Shazam chart.

“Scoops” are fresh off a busy few months of touring around Europe with both headline and support slots in great countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the UK. This is of course on top of finding the time to do their own 7 date tour of their home country of Ireland, further more to this they have been playing shows in many of Ireland’s third level universities (NUI Maynooth, UCD, UCC) and Institutes of Technologies (WIT, CIT, AIT ) this year as well supporting some of Ireland’s biggest acts including Walking on Cars, Hudson Taylor, Hermitage Green, The Academic and more. Yet there are no signs of the lads in “Scoops” wanting to slow down as they take off to Denmark in November for a number of dates and promotional activities following on from their successful summer of playing the main summer festivals in Denmark, this being the country outside of Ireland where the band have arguably had the most success and have played in front of crowds of up to 1000 a night.

Following the Danish tour, they begin their UK & Irish tour supporting Keywest throughout November and December of 2015 in which they will perform multiple sold out shows in both London and Dublin, as well as further dates up and down the UK and Ireland. Their debut EP was released to the charts in November going straight in at Number 2 in the iTunes Album charts right behind Adele, 2016 is set to be “Scoops” year both in Ireland and internationally and with the lads attitude to working hard and the guidance they have from people within the industry who is to say there is anything stopping them!

Scoops team up with Konmak and Marty Guilfoyle who have had tracks supported by the biggest DJs in the world (Joe Stone, Mike Williams, Don Diablo, Timmy Trumpet, Dannic,Tigerlily, AK9, John Gibbons, Bakermat, Jewelz & Sparks & more) all of whom played Konmak and Marty’s tracks in their sets. As well as producing and playing , Marty has a mixshow on Spin 1038 and Spin South West called House Party. Every week the freshest tracks from the biggest names are sent in and a mix is combined of the best and most relevant to the Spin audience. Both shows attract thousands of live listeners and further listeners online on Soundcloud.

www.scoopsmusic.com

Clonmel Busking Festival 2017 launches at Hotel Minella on Thursday, 10th August at 7.30pm, with the premier of a short film ‘William Crotty – The Highway Man’, along with a graphic novel by artist Eamon Cowan.

There will be  a ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ performance in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital with many more dance acts on the night by AOK-Dance (Ballet, Lyrical & Contemporary Ballet) , Synergy Dance Club (Hip Hop), Kool School (Gymnastics) and more. There will also be musical acts performing on the night.  All are welcome.

Friday 11^thkicks off with busking on the streets and under the Main Guard. Also from 12pm till 3pm at Western Studio (St Luke’s Hospital) Western Rd,  there will be art, music,  food and a tour around Western Studio.

Saturday 12th August features the Busking Competition, held on the streets of Clonmel with a first prize of €1,000. Sunday, 13th August Family Fun Day Extravaganza will feature live music, Pop up Medieval Village, FREE IW Wrestling, Water Balling, Bouncy Castles, and much more. Over 120 gigs will be performing in pubs across Clonmel. Admission is free to all music gigs with donations welcome. Join the music trail of Rock, Indie, Country, Traditional and much, much more.

Those who wish to compete can register here: https://www.clonmelbuskingfestival.com/festival-registration

www.clonmelbuskingfestival.com

https://www.facebook.com/clonmelbuskingfestival

https://www.facebook.com/FestivalCluainMeala/

“Che Horgan” a Cork songwriter, has independently released his debut album “When The Rivers Rise Again”.

Horgan, whose songs have previously graced releases by The Wall St Thieves and The Rivets, has refined his own engaging sound and style to produce a collection of nine songs of wide ranging stylistic and lyrical ambitions and an essential listen for lovers of good music. The songs are imbued with the influences of such luminaries as ELO, Lennon/McCartney, Harry Nillson and Clifford T Ward, but the highly individual approach which runs through track after track transcends any influence to reveal a uniquely personal vision and sound.

Images of rivers and sea permeate the album as Horgan navigates the unchartered waters of new and old relationships. There is also a vein of mortality recocurring, with lyrics like “give me rain to wash away the pain of life” and “there’s no hope for you, if you got no hope at all“.

The album was recorded over a 12 month period by producer Christian Best at Monique Studios throughout 2016/2017. The opening track “Give Me Wind I’ll Give You Miles” was inspired by legendary sailor Bernard Moitessier and his yacht “Joshua”. With backing provided by musicians of the calibre of guitarist, Alan Comerford (O Emperor), trumpeter, Dylan Howe and the drumming of Christian Best, the album, ably abetted by a competent crew, whose clear water harmonies and open air melodies bring the listener on a journey not unlike the voyages celebrated in the lyrics. The track “If You Got No Hope At All’ is the standout song but in truth, it’s difficult to pick highlights from an album that needs to be enjoyed at a single sitting like a balmy sail into the sunset.