Having worked as a successful composer for orchestras, Jonathan Casey’s music has had performances all over the US, China, Australia, Bulgaria, France, the UK and on TV and film. But his first love was synthesizers and the symphonic, progressive rock of the 1970s.
Teaming up with guitarist Colin Sullivan, the duo started M-Opus; a band that makes new music that remains true to a vintage, 70s style. Their debut album, ‘1975 Triptych’ had just been released and is available from CDBaby , iTunes and Amazon .
Each of their albums will represent a specific year in the past and reflect the sound of that time.
Their 4-piece live line-up will take the music out on the road this Spring.
Dundalk FM “100% Irish” host, Tracey Hanby, is currently seeking submissions from Irish artists.
The show, which showcases Irish artists in all genres, features a national chart with tracks by Irish artists featured on the IRMA, iTunes, Spotify and Shazam charts.
Other featured slots are Gigs Irelands, #PlayIrish and Dundalk FM Listeners choice.
Tracey is looking for submissions from artists for the Gigs Ireland, #PlayIrish and One to Watch features, as well as interview slots with Irish artists, particularly those gigging in the Dundalk area.
Report Highlights the Socio Economic Opportunities of Developing Ireland’s Music Industry
Wednesday, 18th February 2015 – There are significant job creation, export, commercial and educational opportunities to be opened up for Ireland’s indigenous music industry if the right support structures can be put in place. This is according to a new report produced by Deloitte and commissioned by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) on behalf of the Irish music industry. The Socio-Economic Contribution of Music to the Irish Economy highlights the considerable opportunities for Ireland’s vibrant music sector and sets out a number of recommendations to maximise the contribution of music in Ireland in the short, medium and long term. The report was launched by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys TD and Irish singer-songwriters Brian Kennedy and Luan Parle.
Based on sectoral analysis, the survey found that the Irish music industry contributes over €470 million to the economy and supports more than 11,510 jobs in Ireland – 9,030 direct, 2,480 indirect. In addition, while digital sales in Ireland have grown significantly, latest figures show that in the four years to 2012, recorded music sales fell by almost €40 million from €72 million to €33 million per annum
A survey of IMRO members and consultations with key music industry representatives – including artists and labels, publishers, songwriters, management companies, retail and broadcast personnel – highlighted a number of concerns relating to finance, market access, intellectual property, education and training and collaboration. To that end, the report outlines a number of recommendations, including:
The establishment of a Music Industry Taskforce, with representatives from Government, the business community and industry to help reinvigorate the sector and encourage collaboration;
Appointing an IP ‘Tsar’ to consider the impact of IP and copyright legislation and enforcement in both the music and technology industries;
The development of advanced training courses for music professionals to focus on ‘business of music’ education, particularly for early career musicians;
Establishing a Music Office – Music Ireland – to act as a focal point for the music industry, similar to the Irish Film Board. This office would provide assistance to individuals in the music sector and those looking to enter new overseas markets;Greater collaboration between the music, tourism, gaming and technology sectors;
Greater support for musicians, many of whom are self-employed, in accessing finance and ensuring that fiscal supports are effective and appropriately structured.
Commenting on the report, Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys TD said, “This report highlights the huge contribution the music industry makes to our economy. Ireland’s rich musical heritage is a very important element of our image on the international stage and it acts as a major draw for tourists. I look forward to working further with the music industry as my Department develops our first even national cultural policy; Culture 2025. I am very keen to get the views and input of the music industry and stakeholders across the arts. I intend to publish a Culture 2025 Discussion Paper shortly, which will be an important step in opening up the debate around how we should shape the future of the arts in Ireland – including music.”
Keith Donald, Chair of IMRO said, “We are at an exciting juncture for Irish music and now is the time to ascertain how we can support, grow and reinvigorate the industry. The sector delivers significantly for Irish society and the economy, maintaining and creating thousands of jobs. Collaboration amongst Government, industry and music creators themselves will help the sector to adapt to new challenges, grasp new opportunities and help it to reach its full potential.”
Victor Finn, CEO of IMRO said, “If we are to maintain and increase participation in Irish music, it is important that Government, the business community and industry work together to recast perceptions of music as a career and to ensure that the right supports and structures are in place to assist musicians, help them to realise their potential and access markets in Ireland and overseas. In addition, we are calling for greater collaboration between the music industry and the tourism, film, technology and gaming sectors to create new opportunities for growth. The economic and social dividend for Ireland will be significant.”
Singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy said, “As a working musician and performer for the last 25 years it is incredibly important to stand by IMRO on these vitally important issues that affect the entire music industry. Being a music creator is an actual proper job and this should be recognised, rewarded and assisted through all possible channels. It is important to put in place resources that remunerate creation from its inception by supporting songwriters and composers’ basic investment, without which no works could ever come into existence. Music creators play an enormous role in society and never more so as we work our way through challenging economic times.”
Singer-songwriter Luan Parle added “I greatly welcome the announcement of this important report today as it paints a realistic picture of how our industry operates and hopefully it will lead to a better understanding of what investments, collaborations and regulatory environment is needed to help our industry grow in the months and years ahead.”
NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT THE IRISH MUSIC INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES ALMOST HALF A BILLION EURO TO THE ECONOMY AND SUPPORTS MORE THAN 11,500 JOBS
The Joey Ryan Trio will be kicking off their live shows in 2015 with a short Irish run of dates in March. This will be one of only two runs the Trio will be performing in Ireland this year, as they have already been booked for tours in Sweden, Denmark and Finland for November 2015, along with a highly anticipated return to Germany in June.
Following on from the incredible support for their iTunes rock chart topping charity single Stay Strong and 2014 release The Redefine EP, the rock Trio have been busy writing and recording new
music which will be released in the coming 18 months.
FEBRUARY
26th: Charlie’s Bar, Cork
MARCH:
2nd: Crane Lane Theatre, Cork
4th: Cobblestone Joes, Limerick
27th: The Folkhouse, Kinsale
28th: DeBarras Folkclub, Clonakilty
The Redefine EP is available on iTunes now, and features the bonus studio full length version of March single Stay Strong.
The annual traditional music school, Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh, takes place this week in the idyllic setting of the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry. The village of Ballyferriter will play host to visiting musicians from Russia, Canada, Denmark, the UK and Belgium, as well as Irish musicians who return year after year to the school. Along with creating an international awareness of Ireland’s rich musical heritage, the school inspires young musicians to keep traditional performance alive.
So what makes this four-day event so special? There’s the incredible line-up of classes on offer with gifted musicians, dancers and singers sharing their knowledge on the harp, accordion, bodhrán, banjo, guitar, uileann pipes, fiddle, tin whistle, flute, concertina, bagpipes, mouth organ, sean-nós singing and dancing.
The music classes take place alongside a host of other great cultural and musical events such as the informal conversation classes in Irish and Scots Gaidhlig, a guided walk, a Singers Night, the ever popular pupils concert in the village church, set dancing sessions, the Féile Mass with Peadar Ó Riada and Cór Chúil Aodha, the annual Coffee Morning and session in aid of Crumlin Children’s hospital, and music and song with na Caipiní.
Two great concerts packed with talented musicians and singers are also in the events line-up, with performances from Steve Cooney and Seamus Begley, flute player Harry Bradley (who received Gradam Ceoil in 2014), Scottish gaelic singer Margaret Stewart, uileann piper Mickey Dunne, traditional singer Tommy McCarthy and the amazing Brendan Power on harmonica.
As usual there are also a couple of great new events on the Scoil menu this year, with a performance in the Blasket Centre showcasing three very different singing traditions, a presentation of old 78’s and vinyl recordings in Museum Corca Dhuibhne, and a lunchtime session in Louis Mulcahy Café featuring Brendan Power and old timey fiddle player Benjamin Wetherbee.
Scoil Cheoil an Earraigh kicks off on February 18th and continues through to February 22nd.
Brian Mooney and Dylan Tighe will be heading out on a double tour hitting venues in Cork and Dublin this March.
Dylan Tighe’s debut album , Record, was released in 2014 to widespread acclaim. The Sunday Times declared Dylan an “exquisite songwriter,” while RTÉ proclaimed the album “starkly brilliant” and “a deeply personal and deeply moving piece of work”.
Since the 1990’s Brian Mooney has performed and recorded with The Idiots, Jape, Si Schroeder, David Kitt and Beautiful Unit. He founded indie record label, Trust Me I’m A Thief, in 2004 and most recently toured as support for Little Green Cars.
The Jailbreak Sessions and Dive Bar Sessions, formed by Alan Morton and Conor Clancy, have been running since March 2013 shining a light on new and emerging songwriters taking their first steps into the world of live performance. The Jailbreak Sessions take place on the first Wednesday of every month in the Patriots Inn, Kilmainham and the Dive Bar Sessions are every second Thursday in in the basement of the Turks Head, Temple Bar.
Now, with the support of IMRO, the sessions are offering performers the chance to have a free HD quality video of their performance for their own unrestricted promotional use. All performances are recorded on a Zoom 8-track (audio) and two DSLR cameras. Artists can also have an audio-only copy of their performances for use on services like Soundcloud, BreakingTunes and InMusic.
To take advantage of this great promotional tool, artists are advised to check the sessions’ Facebook page for upcoming events. All styles and genres are welcome including music, poetry, comedy and anything else you might do. There is no need to book in advance – just show up on the night and put your name on the performers list.
“Another Fine Mess” is the new album from Dublin ska and reggae band, The Bionic Rats. The album is the third for the band and is now available on Bandcamp.
The album is an independent release, recorded by Graham Birney and Richie Hayes, with contributions from a range of Dublin based musicians including Donagh Molloy on trumpets, Mason McMillen on tenor sax, Antonello D’Orazio on alto sax, soprano sax and flute, Chris Rooney on trombone and Gary ‘bongos’ O’Brien on percussion. Guitars, lead vocals and backing vocals come from Derek Clabby, with Richie Hayes and Graham Birney completing the line-up on drums, keys and bass.
The Bionic Rats have a residency in The Turks Head every Friday at 23:30 and every Sunday in The Foggy Dew at 19:30. The band play their first festival of the year on Saturday 4th April at the Tramore Ska Festival.
Dublin/Malmö songwriter, Goodtime, releases his new single, “Did You Even Notice?”, on 23rd February.
The track is the first to be taken from his upcoming album set to be released on RITE Label.
The single will be available via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon or direct from Goodtime’s Bandcamp page.
Scotland’s John B McKenna collaborated on the video for the single, a ghostly hypnotic journey through the eyes of Herbert Pontings 1910 imagery of a tragic Antarctic expedition.
Having worked as a successful composer for orchestras, Jonathan Casey’s music has had performances all over the US, China, Australia, Bulgaria, France, the UK and on TV and film. But his first love was synthesizers and the symphonic, progressive rock of the 1970s.
