‘How Much Do You Love Me?’ by Irish singer songwriter Ailie Blunnie has been selected as the winning love song in this years UK Songwriting Contest. This wistful song was a finalist in the contest last year and Ailie’s decision to enter it again this year paid off when it was selected as the winner in the Love Songs category by the judges.
PictureHouse have announced plans to perform a limited number of shows based around their 1998 hit album “Karmarama”, including a special acoustic show in the intimate surrounds of The Unitarian Church in Dublin.
Released in 1998, “Karmarama” featured hit singles like “All the time in the world”, “love in the streets”, “A thousand years of evolution” and the monster summer smash single “Sunburst” which went on to become the most played Irish record in 1999.
The album’s success and popularity ensured that PictureHouse became a household name and the band played sold out shows in The Olympia, The Point Depot, The Opera House in Cork, and headlined the Big Days out in Marlay Park to over 30,000 people. The accolades kept coming; Elton John bought 50 copies for his family and friends, The Corrs invited them onto their stadium tour and ended up having to start each show 10 minutes later when the queue to by PictureHouse CD’s had subsided and fans went back to their seats. The record achieved gold status in Ireland.
Recently united after a 10 year hiatus, PictureHouse returned with new album “Evolution” which saw the band score another radio hit with “rules of science”.
“15 years later we still see people at shows or on the streets telling us how these songs were a special part of their lives and their youth. We really can’t wait to play these songs again, even the ones that were never played live before!” – Dave Browne
The Karmarama shows:
February 13th – Galway, Monroes
February 26th – London, Surya
February 28th – Glasgow, Oran Mor
March 8th – Dublin, Unitarian Church
more dates to be confirmed. Ticket information from Picturehouse.ie
Showcasing 
their new single ‘Levitate’ Codes are on the brink of releasing their first album in over five years. Their debut album Trees Dream in Algebra was nominated for the Choice Music Prize 2010 and the band also scooped numerous nominations and awards from their initial impact.
Having released ‘Astraea’, the first single from forthcoming album AALTARS last year the band look set to garner attention with a heavier sound.
You can follow Codes on Facebook or Twitter and listen/purchases the track through iTunes, Amazon or Google Play.
Motorcycle Display Team are set to return to Ireland for two special live shows in support of their brand new EP, “Letters of Last Resort”.
Made up of 3 fiery and uber talented musicians from the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, this power-pop trio are a force to be reckoned with. They describe themselves as Carousers and arousers in trousers, yowsers! Steve Hinds (vocals, guitar) is a sometime actor from the UK. Morgan Condon (drums) is a Dubliner, who also enjoyed chart success with his former band Zeel. The final piece of the puzzle is Matt Eyre (bass), who hails from New Zealand. (Although Matt claims some Irish heritage and also adds a brief, but fully clothed, cameo in a popular porn flick to his CV!)
The band played a storming Main Stage set at Sea Sessions in 2013 and embarked on a tour around Ireland later that same summer, impressing crowds wherever they went.
Founded in 2008, MDT released their debut record in 2009, ‘The Crayon Masterpiece EP’. They played lots of brilliant shows, had a Sky TV appearance and had their music played on some BBC and ITV shows! In October of 2012 they released their debut LP, ‘Captatio Benevolentiae’ with Cesar Lavin (Modest Mouse, White Lies, Guillemots) to critical acclaim. The lead single, ‘Betweenager’ was synced in the US TV show ‘Rogue’ starring Thandie Newton and the subsequent singles, ‘Brickwall’ and ‘A Taste’, all received a tonne of airplay.
Now they are on the brink of releasing their 3rd record, ‘Letters Of Last Resort’, a 5 track EP. Laden with themes of apocalypse, paranoia, rejection and anxiety, this record showcases a darker and heavier side to the band.
MDT play Sweeney’s (32 Dame Street, Dublin 2) on Saturday, 7th March and The Grand Social (35 Lr Liffey St, Dublin 2) on Sunday, 8 March.
Featherhead productions in association with Project Arts Centre present “The Devil’s Spine Band”
Project Arts Centre 14th -17th January 2015 Doors 7.45pm
“The Devil’s Spine Band” are bringing their anarchic Wilde West sensibility to The Project Arts Centre Dublin in January 2015.
Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s lecture tour to the mining town of Leadville Colorado in 1881, they will invite you into their surreal desert world, combining the gritty atmosphere of the Wild West with Japanese Butoh dance, and music by IMRO members, Trevor Knight and Ed Deane, that incorporates Spaghetti Western, blues, free improvisation and ambient-electronic.
Visual artist Alice Maher has created a stunning sculptural setting, with lighting design by Aedin Cosgrove, costumes designed by Miriam Duffy and film by Vivienne Dick.
The line-up for these performances will be: Gyohei Zaitsu (Butoh Dancer), Maki Watanabe (Butoh Dancer), Trevor Knight (keyboards/vocal), Ed Deane (guitars/vocal), Cindy Cummings (dancer/vocal), Garvan Gallagher (bass/vocal), Tom Jamieson (drums/percussion).
Each evening they will be joined by a different special guest performer, including performer/ singer Dylan Tighe (Thursday) and performance artist Áine Phillips( Friday).
The Devil’s Spine Band was created in 2011 to act as a flexible vehicle for an eclectic group of musicians and artists (dance, butoh, visual, film, performance) interested in stretching the boundaries of their various disciplines and combining to create a stimulating new experience for audiences.
“Trevor Knight’s score is really excellent, the influences of Johnny Cash and Tom Waits only enhancing its originality.” (IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE )
Project Arts Centre 14th -17th January 2015 Doors 7.45pm
Tickets: Project Box Office
Monday – Saturday, 11am – 7pm 01 8819 613
box-office@nullprojectartscentre.ie
New Irish Music in an International Context
A new series of ‘Up Close with Music’ begins at the RHA Gallery on Sunday 25 January. The musical events, presented by renowned contemporary music ensemble Concorde, take place on Sunday afternoons from 2.30 – 4.30 pm, and present music of our time by composers from Ireland and around the world.
January 25, 2015 Concorde: Up Close with Music
RHA Gallery, Ely Place, Dublin 2
2.30 – 3.15 pm
Geoff Sheil (Ire/USA): Folding, 2013 (trumpet solo) European premiere
Richard Pressley (USA): Three Haiku, 2010 (flute, clarinet, violin, cello) Irish premiere
Tawnie Olson (USA): Paraclete, 2013 (solo clarinet with kick drum and Tibetan bowl) European premiere
Iain Matheson (Scotland): Double, 2008 (alto flute, bass clarinet) Irish premiere
Jane O’Leary (USA/Ire): NEW WORK (alto flute, violin) World premiere
3.45 – 4.30 pm
Carolyn O’Brien (USA): Caprice, 2013 (solo violin) European premiere
Manuel Bonino (Spain): Diphda, 2002 (solo flute, electronics) Irish premiere
Jane O’Leary (USA/Ire): NEW WORK (alto flute, violin)
Osmo Tapio Raihala (Finland): Zénith, 2011 Irish premiere
(a vocalise for trumpet and a quartet of flute, clarinet, violin and cello)
Performers in the January concert are: Madeleine Staunton, flutes; Paul Roe, clarinets; Elaine Clark, violin; Martin Johnson, cello and Paul Kiernan, trumpet – Concorde’s student performer for the season, DIT Conservatory of Music & Drama.
Up Close with Music is supported by a Project Award from the Arts Council. Partnership with the RHA Gallery is gratefully acknowledged.
Admission is free of charge and all are welcome.
Future events in the series featuring music by Irish composers will take place on 22nd February, 29th March and 26th April.
Sunday 25 January 2015
2.30 – 3.15 pm & 3.45 – 4.30 pm
RHA Gallery, Ely Place, Dublin 2
Admission Free…early arrival advised!
http://www.rhagallery.ie/events/up-close-with-music-2014/
Celebrating the release of their latest album ‘Of Life and Lesser Evils’, The Midnight Union Band are hosting a launch party at Whelan’s Live (upstairs) on Thursday February 05, 2015!
Best described as a unique blend of Americana/Folk with an alt-country twist. Their sonic landscape is incredibly vast: ranging from the most poetic and tender of ballads to fully fledged anthems that host an unrivalled energy. Their tunes bring a fresh twist on the classic sounds of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and The Band that have inspired them over the years.
Have you ever thought that Sound Engineering is something that you would like to learn, whether as a hobby or professionally? Here’s a good opportunity to do so.
Sound Training Online have developed a 6-week entry level course for Pro Tools 11, the industry standard software used by Sound Engineer’s in studios all over the world. This course teaches students how to use the software, and teaches skills that can be used to Record, Edit, and Mix any type of track consisting of recorded audio or virtual MIDI instruments. To mark the release of their first course for Pro Tools, Sound Training Online are offering a special discount of 20% until the end of January. This course has been specifically tailored for those who wish to embark on a career in Sound Engineering, and is taught by the highly renowned Avid Pro Tools Expert Aidan Cunningham.
First meeting of 2015 for The Songwriter Club will take place at a new home at IMRO Offices, Copyright House, Pembroke Row, Dublin 2 on Monday 19th January at 8pm.
Guest Speaker: Dermot Lambert of Ashtown Studios.
2014 has been quite a year for the Indie/Folk 7 piece band from Mullingar Longford and Dublin. They have already acheived a number 1 spot on iTunes with their debuet EP “Golden Kids”, played Electric Picnic, sold out shows in Dublin, Mullingar, Longford, Donegal and supported one of Irelands biggest bands Kodaline on thier Irish Tour.
