Author: Breffni Banks

Finbar Furey is celebrated around the world as one of the great folk icons of his time. At the forefront of musical change, Finbar’s successful career and extensive touring introduced a whole new audience to his music, and his unique style of playing.

Earlier this year, Finbar launched his solo album, ‘Paddy Dear’ featuring new material and taking his music in a new direction.

This week, Finbar announces another new departure, the launch of the first ever video of one of his own songs, ‘I Remember You Singing This Song’. Previously Finbar’s videos were recorded at concerts and TV appearances. Following the release of his new album, he teamed up with Creative Director Lance Hogan, and the students from The National Film School, Institute of Art, Design + Technology, Dún Laoghaire where the video was filmed and edited by the students.

Finbar describes the inspiration for the song: ‘The song ‘I Remember You Singing This Song’ came about as a response to losing a parent…whether it is a mother or a father. Listening to the song seems to help people take the pain away, and fill the gap of loneliness, even if only for a few minutes, as it helps bring back some of the great special memories of that loved one’.

‘Paddy Dear’ is available in Irish record shops and on iTunes.

“Paddy Dear is the album we all have been waiting for from Finbar, a man at peace with himself, and his music. His voice rings true in every lyric, and proves just how good a songwriter he is. A contender for Album of the Year.” – Aidan Butler, Producer Music Programmes, RTE Radio 1

“Paddy Dear is a lovely album from one of the enduring greats of Irish music. It confirms that Finbar Furey is not just a superb musician. He is a wonderful singer, a songwriter of genuine originality, and a marvellous interpreter. All of these qualities are evident on an album that mixes Irish and American influences in a heady cocktail that embraces the personal and the political with equal conviction. This is one for the ages.” – Niall Stokes, Editor Hot Press Magazine

“Finbar’s new album Paddy Dear, an impassioned piece de resistance, is thus far the album of 2017.” – Barry Egan, Sunday Independent

“Irish folk legend delivers strongest album in years… this is excellent stuff from a genuine legend of Irish music.” – Colm O’Hare, Hot Press Magazine

http://www.finbarfurey.com/

On 15th April 2017 the Civic Theatre in Tallaght will host the first ever “Hip Hop Night” which will see three of the most celebrated Irish Hip Hop Acts take to its stage.

Rocstrong, who will be fronting the gig, Craic Appeal and Loud Motive have come together for a very special performance what can only be described as one of the most explosive shows the Dublin theatre has hosted to date.

With these three lyrical beasts in front of the microphone the audience is promised an awe-inspiring night of a truly electrifying show! These incredibly talented artists are taking the hip hop world by storm, after having set the Dublin hip hop scene on fire as of late. Undoubtedly each band’s brilliant wordplay will propel them into greatness and will bring excitement back into the Irish music scene.

Irish musician André Bangala known by his stage name Rocstrong on stage is hard to pigeon hole. The genre-bending Dubliner’s sound covers multi genres ranging from Funk, to Indie-pop, Electro Pop and is gradually becoming one of the outstanding performers on the Irish music scene.

Craic Appeal consists of adept rappers Zisto, Shak, SMann and S.G Guillotine. In unison, these members bring together their various cultural backgrounds and experiences of their home countries such as Ireland, South Africa, England and Swaziland to the fore front of Craic Appeal. The uniqueness of each artist’s accent and diverse musical elements is what merges together to create Craic Appeal’s distinctive sound and rhythmic compositions.

Loud Motive’s insanely creative music is reminiscent of the golden age of conscious Hip Hop, conjuring up images of block parties and of a sound fresh and new. Delivered with the sensitivity of Jazz and the passion of Gospel, backed by stellar rhythms, played by musicians possessing a natural feel for the groove Loud Motive’s music does all this but still adds a 21st century upgrade in message and incoming musical inspiration, the results are in a class of their own.

Tickets can be purchased online here

www.civictheatre.ie

Hotly tipped Irish DJ/Producer Josh Coakley is set to appear as the official support act for Bontan in Dublin’s Opium Rooms on April 28th.

Rising from the ashes of Dublin City, Ireland’s gradually growing electronic music scene, recently turned 18-year-old House DJ/Producer Josh Coakley is one of the youngest Irish talents to be publicised on an international platform.

Equipped with a hard-working and humble approach to his craft, Josh has graced the likes of his homeland Ireland, London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, Greece and Ibiza supporting names including Route 94, Anton Powers, Sam Divine, Franky Rizardo,Eats Everything,Bontan and Waze & Odyssey, Scott Diaz, Curtis Gabriel, Damon Hess, John Gibbons and Sam Holt to mention a few.

In addition to this, he has achieved 19 releases on such respected labels as Simma Black, Onefold Digital, XYLO Music and Let There Be House, Pukka Up Deep, SevenEves Records, Luxor Music, TurnItUp Musik, Onefold Digital, Let There Be House, General Surgery Records & Zone Records plus many more.

His recent remix of the classic track WRKME from Scott Diaz was signed to Simma Black, making him the youngest and only person in Ireland to be signed to the label.

Josh is currently working on official remixes for some big names in the music industry and will be doing a huge collaboration track with Eats Everything which will be released in 2017.

He also completed a circuit performing in Ibiza last season at EDEN, Ocean Beach, LYT, Pukka Up boat parties and headlined in the boutique at Sankey’s for The Redlight. He was also a runner up in last year’s awards for the best grass roots newcomer Ibiza DJ by Ibiza Clubbing Guide and the Evermix competition in 2016/2017 and recently has been nomination in the PureM Awards in the best male (solo artist) category, he only DJ/Producer in Ireland to be featured.

http://www.joshcoakley.com/

Following the release of his debut EP SOWYG in summer 2016, ROCSTRONG returns with new music for 2017. The first single entitled ‘I GOTCHA’, bring a playful & energetic pop vibe in the alternative ‘ROCSTRONG’ sound. Known for his story telling abilities, ROCSTRONG explores new crossroads and opens up about his past relationships, telling stories he hasn’t told in the past. He plans to challenge himself musically and over the next 9 months, ROCSTRONG will release one track a month in Ireland and the UK.

ROCSTRONG teamed up with upcoming Irish producer Keith O’Reilly (Da Captn) to create a sound that’s quite unheard of in the Irish music scene. This year will also see him collaborate with other Irish Artists with what promises to be an eye catching project. The first notable collaboration is with Irish producer and creative Sal Stapleton (Bad Bones) to create the visuals for the first two tracks of this project. 2017 promises to be an exciting year for the artist, with releases in Ireland and the UK.

I GOTCHA is produced by Keith O’Reilly and Diffusion Lab, with bass guitar by Donal Pywell.

I GOTCHA is available for downloads and streaming on iTunes, Spotify and all other digital outlets on 7th April 2017.

Photo: Yan Bourke

Rocstrong – I Gotcha by OfficialRocstrong

This is the first single of 2017 from Irish Singer-Songwriter Rocstrong

Irish songwriter Marc O’Reilly has just released his sublime new single ‘Graceland’ via Universal Ireland.

‘Graceland’ is a brooding slice of indie/blues and validation of Marc’s burgeoning reputation as an exceptional talent. There is also a wonderful remix of the track by Marc’s electro-pop side project ‘R’.

‘Graceland’ is taken from his current album ‘Morality Mortality’ which is Marc’s first album on a major label ( Virgin Records Germany ) and showcases him as an incredibly mature writer with a stunning vocal talent.

His previous single ‘Bleed’ has now been streamed over 1 million times worldwide on Spotify.
Marc has a reputation as an exceptional live performer and has played many major festivals in both Europe and the US including Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, Eurosonic, Reeperbahn, Canadian Music Week, Folk Alliance, Greenman, Kendal Calling etc etc.

Marc has just announced an extensive European tour which includes a couple of Irish dates and an appearance at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton.

Sun 30th April – Cork, Opera House ( Right Here Right Now Festival )
Thurs 4th May – Dublin, The Sugar Club
Sat 20th May – The Great Escape Festival, Brighton

www.marcoreillymusic.com
www.facebook.com/marcoreillymusic
Twitter @marcoreilly

Limerick trio Slow Riot release the Antwerp remix of their Pink December track today. Antwerp is Nico Antwerp who runs the Noise Praise label. The label is London based and work with electronic acts.

Nico is involved in lots of soundtrack scores that he does as live nights in London.

“Pink December” is the follow up to Slow Riot’s critically acclaimed singles “Demons”, “Trophy Wife” and “Absent Dreams”. Conceived, written and recorded during the same sessions that produced last Autumn’s ‘Absent Dreams’ single, yet a paradigm shift away from it’s (step)sister sonically, ‘Pink December’ offers a tantalising glimpse of a new sound being forged in their Limerick rehearsal space.

The signature deadpan vocal delivery and motorik driving bass remain, but gone is the athletic, lean post-punk; eschewed for layers of dense guitars, tribal drums, and half-heard backing vocals slowly unveiling themselves over nearly five and a half minutes. This is the sound of a band delving deeper into the thematic darkness that has characterised their output to date and embracing it.

www.facebook.com/slowriot.theband/
twitter.com/slow_riot_band
http://noisepraise.tumblr.com
https://noisepraise.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/Noise-Praise-Records-321202091249527/

Le Galaxie return with “Pleasure” their first single from their forthcoming third album. “Pleasure” is a dangerously charged sensuous slice of dance pop featuring the vocals of May Kay (Fight Like Apes) – the calling card for an album that sees the band producing a new body of work, to be enjoyed as much between your ears as between the throbbing floors and laser lit ceilings of venues and festivals across Ireland, Europe and beyond.

Recorded in their own studio with ultra producer Blende, “Pleasure” points to Le Galaxie’s evolution from purveyors of dance floor bangers to creators of well-crafted songs. The affecting, almost master and servant like vocal exchange between Michael Pope and guest vocalist May Kay, demonstrates a self-confidence and maturity of a band in control.

Their recent appearance on Other Voices saw the band hold power over a congregation that swayed and moved less the brethren of a rural chapel than the members of a Pentecostal church. Le Galaxie’s appearance on the Other Voices: Electric Picnic special, is broadcast in Ireland on RTÉ2 today, Thursday 30th March. With trademark grooves, synth and bass distilled into songs like “Pleasure” Le Galaxie are set to move beyond the scorched tarpaulins of Bennicassim and Lovebox.

“Pleasure” the new single from Le Galaxie is available for download across all platforms from Friday 21 April 2017.

www.legalaxie.net
www.facebook.com/legalaxie/
twitter.com/LeGalaxie

Quickly becoming the go to guy for a quality remix these days, Mark McCabe turns his hand to Soulé’s Good Life, released this Friday, 21 March. After two stellar mixes for Gavin James and James Arthur, McCabe teams up with one of the most exciting new artists on the Dublin music scene. Soulé’s debut release “Love No More” was recently nominated for the RTE Choice Music Prize Song of the Year. “Good Life” is a homage to the feel good style of 90s house music. Her upbeat message of seeing the world in a positive light the single is set to have you feeling good.

www.souleofficial.com
twitter.com/MarkMcCabeIE

Recently returned from performing at the prestigious Modern Composers showcase at this year’s SXSW creative industries festival in Austin Texas, electronic/classical crossover artist Ryan Vail will release two tracks of solely piano music to celebrate Wold Piano Day.

One track “We Drift We Wake” is a brand new composition written entirely in celebration of the day, a gentle 5 minute piece that transports the listener on an ethereal drift between the worlds of wakefulness and sleep.

The second track is a re-recording and development on a sombre track Ryan had composed for Piano day in 2015 that was included in the celebrated German composer Nils Frahm 2015 Piano day playlist. Both tracks can be listened to here.

“Why does the world need a Piano Day? For many reasons. But mostly, because it doesn’t hurt to celebrate the piano and everything around it: performers, composers, piano builders, tuners, movers and most important, the listener.” – Nils Frahm

Piano Day, a annual worldwide event founded by a group of likeminded people, takes place on the 88th day of the year – in 2017 it’s the 29th March – because of the number of keys on the instrument being celebrated.

The aim of the day is to create a platform for piano related projects in order to promote the development of musical dimensions and to continue sharing the centuries-old joy of playing piano. Piano Day welcomes all kinds of piano lovers — young and old, amateur and professional, of any musical direction – to join in this years festivities. It is intended to be the most joyful of all holidays!

Ryan Vail is a musical pioneer with vision. Ryan blends the worlds of electronica, folk and classical, always experimenting combining classical instruments with unique methods of recording and composition. His debut album “For Every Silence” was released in April of last year to critical and commercial acclaim finding fans across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. Ryan blends the worlds of electronica, folk and classical, always experimenting combining classical instruments with unique methods of recording and composition. In 2014 he composed the soundtrack for a full length BBC2 Documentary entitled “The Longest Night” as part of the BBC’s “True North” series. In 2015 he composed a solo piano piece for World Piano Day which was chosen for Nils Frahm’s Piano day playlist on SoundCloud. His 2015 collaborative album with Ciaran Lavery “Sea Legs” has been shortlisted for the NI Music Prize (Best Northern Irish Album of 2015) previous winners have included Foy Vance and Robyn G Shields. In 2017 Ryan developed a live A/V show that debuted at the Output music conference festival in Belfast and will be performing this live at all major Irish Festivals. Ryan also showcased at the prestigious Modern Composers showcase at SXSW 2017 in Austin. Ryan has had radio play or performed live Sessions with BBC Introducing, Other Voices, Annie Mac, Tom Ravenscroft, Across The Line, Tom Robinson, Phillip Taggart and Zane Lowe.

Ryan has supported many international live acts such as Nils Frahm, Jamie XX, Jon Hopkins, Tycho, David Kitt, Boxcutter, Todd Terje, Phil Kieran, Luke Vibert and Orbital.

http://ryanvail.com/

Having cemented it’s place as Belfast’s leading electronic music event, AVA (Audio Visual Arts) Festival has become an essential date in the underground calendar for all discerning house and techno heads. As we edge closer to the third edition of AVA Festival taking place across the 2nd – 3rd June 2017, the AVA family can reveal the full weekend line-up, plus day splits across the Friday and Saturday. With a heavy set of global names including Jeff Mills, Marcel Dettmann, Ben UFO, Job Jobse and Boiler Room just for starters, a supersonic set of Irish champions; think Bicep, Ejeca, Jordan, New Jackson and more, and the all-important conference elements, AVA is shaking up the Irish underground game.

On top of all that, there’s a heap of fresh names on board, with NTS Radio affiliate Moxie, House Of Disco’s Dave Magnier, Hidden Agenda’s DJ Deece and Niel Kerr all aboard. AVA Festival guests will also be treated to pioneering production elements, with visual arts from world-renowned lighting designer Guillaume Marmin, Belfast’s own Guerrilla Shout, lasers and light shows. With return flights from UK airports starting at just £25, and weekend tickets at £60 from www.avafestival.com, it’s time to bag a place at AVA Festival 2017.

FRIDAY
This year expanding from a one day event into a full weekend experience, each AVA day has something different to offer. Friday kicks off as a conference, with speakers, panels and class information coming in the following weeks; last year featured Juan Atkins, Bicep, Dave Haslam and Ableton and more, so no doubt this instalment will be another educational and inspirational day. Jeff Mills and Guillaume Marmin will headline the evening events, with a UK debut of their ‘Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind’ show, a full sensory experience that explores the sensation of existing in another reality. A live audio / visual journey through dimensions, this is sure to be a super special performance. Friday also sees NI debut live show from Dutch artist Fatima Yamaha, who stole the dance world’s heart with hit ‘What’s A Girl To Do,’ plus more live from Irish experimentalists New Jackson, Ryan Vail and Cork’s ELLLL. Repping for international DJ talent is eclectic selector Ben UFO, Dutch king pin Job Jobse, NTS’s first lady, Moxie, as well as much-loved Irish all-stars, Timmy Stuart and JMX, Swoose and Cromby, Bobby Analog, Inside Moves, and Brién.

SATURDAY
Saturday is another union of international superstars and ‘next-big-thing’ producers, live acts and DJs, as well as the almighty Boiler Room stage. Marcel Dettmann heads up proceedings, bringing industrial techno to the T13 Docks, then there’s exotic disco and Balearic jams from Midland, a HYBRID set from Berlin’s Rebekah, and a welcome home-coming from Belfast boys BICEP, who are set for a new album release this summer. Duo TINFOIL (Sunil Sharpe and Defekt) play, whilst Irish talents Hammer, Myler, Holly Lester and more all take part across the day. Other crews soundtracking the second festival day include Misfit DJs, Subject DJs, Nez, Ryan Dallas, Jika Jika, Clockwork, Alice Meat Free, Paragon, Cave DJs B2B Kapoor, Techno and Cans crew, plus GIRL. Phew!

Boiler Room make their third AVA appearance on the Saturday, with another local legend, Ejeca, headlining, plus Numbers’ freshest face Denis Sulta. The Night Institute’s Jordan and Derry arist and Hotflush signee OR:LA make their Boiler Room debut, with Saoirse, DJ Deece and JC Williams all set for streaming, and the Belfast party team Twitch DJ’s marking their 10th year in the business.

TRAVEL, TICKETS AND BELFAST
For this special third year and the first full AVA weekend, the team have programmed two full days of conferences, workshops, talks, and arts, on top of a huge roster of local and global talent set to get the legendary T13 Titanic Docks warehouse space bouncing. For those travelling to Belfast for the weekend, it’s the perfect chance to experience the Belfast craic, exploring the city whilst getting to know the local names who are changing the Belfast game. Flights from all major UK / EU airports are bank balance friendly, currently standing at around £25 for a weekend return from London. Accommodation options are plentiful too, with a range of hotels, hostels, Air BnB’s and more all in easy travel distance of the T13 Titanic Docks site. And with weekend tickets at around the £60 mark, it’s a festival with amazing value for money. To find out more about travel and accommodation, check the AVA Festival website here: http://avafestival.com/accommodation/

AVA FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE 2017
02-03 June 2017
T13 – Titanic Quarter – Belfast
WEEKEND TICKETS from £60: http://avafestival.com/tickets/

FRIDAY 2ND JUNE :
A UK & IRELAND DEBUT OF:
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE FOURTH KIND
JEFF MILLS & GUILLAUME MARMIN :
A FULL SENSORY EXPERIENCE THAT EXPLORES THE SENSATION OF ENTERING & EXISTING IN ANOTHER REALITY – A DIFFERENT TIME AND SPACE. A LIVE AUDIO VISUAL JOURNEY THROUGH ANOTHER DIMENSION.

BEN UFO // FATIMA YAHAMA LIVE // JOB JOBSE // MOXIE // NEW JACKSON LIVE // RYAN VAIL LIVE // ELLLL LIVE // TIMMY STEWART & JMX // SWOOSE & CROMBY // BOBBY ANALOG // INSIDE MOVES // BRIEN

PLUS: IRELAND’S LEADING ELECTRONIC MUSIC & AV CONFERENCE & INDUSTRY NETWORK WITH VERY SPECIAL PARTNERS. CONFERENCE LINEUP COMING SOON.

SATURDAY 3RD JUNE:

MARCEL DETTMANN // BICEP // MIDLAND // REBEKAH (HYBRID SET) // BOILER ROOM // EJECA // DENIS SULTA // TINFOIL (SUNIL SHARPE & DEFEKT LIVE) // HAMMER // OR:LA // SAOIRSE // MYLER // JORDAN // HOUSE OF DISCO DJS // JC WILLIAMS LIVE // TWITCH DJS // MISFIT DJ’S // SUBJECT DJ’S // DJ DEECE // HOLLY LESTER // NEZ // RYAN DALLAS // JIKA JIKA // CLOCKWORK // ALICE MEAT FREE // PARAGON LIVE // CAVE DJS B2B KAPOOR // TECHNO & CANS CREW // GIRL

NEW ADDITIONS : MOXIE | DAVE MAGNIER | DJ DEECE | NEIL KERR

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