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Author: Breffni Banks

‘There Is A Light’ album launched in aid of ‘First Fortnight’ as part of Green Ribbon Campaign to get people talking about mental health

mentalhealthDublin, 06th May 2014: Bluestack Records and First Fortnight, Ireland’s mental health arts festival, today announce a special Irish album aimed to get people talking about mental health as part of this month’s Green Ribbon campaign.

There Is A Light features 20 Irish and international acts, including Choice Music Prize nominees O Emperor, Si Schroeder, Windings and Crayonsmith.

The album is now available in a variety of digital formats from Bluestack Records Bandcamp page – http://bluestackrecords.bandcamp.com/album/there-is-a-light

An exclusive launch gig featuring There is a Light artists will also take place in Whelan’s, Dublin on Thursday May 29.

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Irish composer excels at International Songwriting Competition

Niamh Castlepalooza (2)Niamh Murphy (aka Foxglove) has proven herself to have a notable stage presence, having taken third place in the Performance category at this year’s International Songwriting Competition. With over 20,000 entries from almost 120 countries there was no shortage of talent to choose from but it was the Cork-based artist who turned the judges’ heads and scooped the bronze. Past category winners include Gotye, The Band Perry, Amanda Palmer, Passenger, Andrew Bird and many more.

A wealth of industry knowledge was on hand to select the cream of this year’s crop with judges including Tom Waits, Susanne Vega, Robert Smith and Bernie Taupin in a stellar list along with other notable composers and artists as well as record label presidents and other industry leaders.

Niamh’s song ‘Shields of Fire’ was selected as one of the top submissions in her category. She posted this personal message about the win:

” I’m absolutely thrilled with this result! To think that there were so many entries and my song ‘Shields of Fire’ was chosen to come third in the performance category is just great. Writing songs is a wonderful thing to be doing and very enjoyable; and I can’t seem to stop doing it! Nods of approval like these are very appreciated and encouraging!”

You can follow Niamh/Foxglove online at her Facebook, Soundcloud and Breaking Tunes accounts.

There is currently an open call for submissions to the International Songwriting Competition 2014. Should you wish to follow in Niamh’s footsteps, you can enter here.

Cycle Against Suicide host gig in the Button Factory

the_button_factory_dublin_logo_34696With all registered cyclists for Cycle Against Suicide arriving back in Dublin on Sunday May 11th the after-party gets into full swing at the Button Factory where a host of musical acts will celebrate the achievement of all those who took part in the campaign. Performances on the night will include Dublin Gospel Choir, Red Empire, Ryan O’Shaugnessy, TAKEN and more.

Tickets can be pre-booked by emailing info@nullcycleagainstsuicide.com and are priced at €5 for registered cyclists and €10 for supporters.

The event page for the gig can be found on Facebook.

Big September set to release debut ‘Ballroom Addicts’ album

bigseptemberTake five guys who are lifelong friends, attending school together and growing up around the corner from each other in Bray, County Wicklow who all shared a passion to really make a difference through their music. This gang of indie rockers burst onto the scene early 2013 and have stamped the name Big September firmly into the minds of many since their arrival. They certainly love to live the rock n roll lifestyle and have no qualms about it. This honesty breathes through the songs and especially their live performance.

The spark that started that day in Presentation College Bray through shared musical influences and a realisation that the academic world and normal 9-5 cut and thrust wasn’t going to cut it with these guys was enough to start something that would become quite special and is still becoming very special.

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Dem Fools kick off Dublin tour

Italy BANNER IRISH LEGAfter performing six shows across northern Italy supporting Rumor, Dem Fools are ready to bring a little piece of Lago di Maggiore back to Dublin. As part of the headline-swap premise for this tour all performances will see Rumor supporting the group on as they show their Italian brethren some of the venues the capital has to offer.

You can keep up with Dem Fools’ comings and goings on Facebook and Twitter.

Dem Fools Dublin tour kicks off tonight in The Mercantile. The full tour schedule is listed below:

May 6th – The Mercantile, Dublin

May 7th – The Zodiac Sessions

May 8th – The Gypsy Rose (with Crafty Fuzz)

May 9th – Ollies Place in Skerries

May 10th – The Michael Collins in rush

O Emperor Announce Summer Tour Schedule

O EmperorPicture: Miki BarlokFor many Irish acts this summer sees a bumper edition of touring taking place all over the country. Waterford five-piece O Emperor are no exception, taking to the stage to support Kasabian on their Irish tour as well as playing a smattering of homegrown festivals. The group will be touring works from their debut ‘Hither Thither’ and follow-up ‘Vitreous’, both Meteor Choice Music Prize nominated albums.

Keep up to date with O Emperor through the bands’ Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Ticket links can be found through the band’s website here.

Current tour schedule:

May 14th  – Supporting Kasabian (Cork Opera House)

May 16th – Supporting Kasabian (The Big Top, Limerick)

May 17th – Supporting Kasabian (Seapoint, Galway)

May 18th – Supporting Kasabian (Nerve Centre, Derry)

June 12th – Rocky Mountain Festival (Kilfinane, Limerick)

July 4th – Daytripper Festival (Bolton Street, Waterford)

July 5th – Light Colour Sound Festival (Shankill Castle, Kilkenny)

July 19th – Longitude Festival (Marlay Park, Dublin)

August 1st – Castlepalooza Festival (Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Offaly)

Ana Gog release new video and EP launch details

ana gogAna Gog are delighted to announce the release of a new video, “The Old Haunts”.

The video was directed by Luca Truffarelli and features performers Philip Connaughton and Pat Deery.

Ana Gog also wish to announce the release of their new EP on the 23rd of May, entitled “Resemblance”.

They will launch the EP on the 24th May in The Grand Social, Dublin.

Tickets will be made available from this Friday May 9th, and the first 150 sold will receive a free CD.

The track can be streamed here: https://soundcloud.com/anagogmusic/the-old-hauntswav

Ticket links will be made available at https://www.facebook.com/events/1466755286892742/?ref=51&source=1

www.anagogmusic.com

The Radioactive Grandma announce Tour Dates

TRG White ProfilerEarning their place among Ireland’s prominent unsigned artists with their alternative, acoustic Indie sound, an award winning album and celebrated video releases. The Co.Cavan based trio take a break from recording the follow up L.P to their self titled debut album and announce a string of tour dates around Ireland.

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Screentime ShinAwiL launch new TV format accelerator programme with SOSventures – MakersTV

makerstvScreentime ShinAwiL announces launch of new TV format accelerator programme with SOSventures – MakersTV

Screentime ShinAwiL, one of Ireland’s leading production companies, is joining forces with former Dragons’ Den dragon Sean O’Sullivan and the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)’s School of Media to launch MakersTV, a world-first TV format accelerator programme for TV professionals.

MakersTV will bring together international creative experts to support, encourage and discuss with participants how to develop their fresh ideas into ground-breaking TV pilots. By providing training and mentoring across a wide range of skills including scripting, pitching, casting, global format marketing and developing format bibles, participants will learn to plot a path through the complexities of developing and implementing a new format and turn inventive ideas into a finished product that has the potential to sell and succeed globally – in effect, MakersTV will be a comprehensive ‘how to’ guide to making a killer format.

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Funzo album ‘The Great Lonesome’ set for May 17th launch

funzoalbumAfter playing hundreds of gigs including all the major festivals three years running, receiving airplay on the likes of RTE Radio One, Today FM and ‘Spin FM, and amassing over 250,000 YouTube hits on their music videos in the last two years, Funzo are finally ready to release their album!

Funzo, founded by singer and songwriter Liam McDermott, have performed over 250 gigs in Ireland since 2009, most notably, Ireland’s (and Europe’s) premiere music festivals; Oxegen, Electric Picnic and Hard Working Class Heroes. In 2013, Funzo’s music videos amassed over 250,000 views on Youtube. In 2008 and 2009, Funzo were invited to headline The Pogues’ Aftershow Party, where they were joined on stage by Shane MacGowan himself. In 2009, Funzo won their third national songwriting contest; Christmas FM’s ‘Search For A New Christmas Classic’, which resulted in mass national radio play and a live performance on TV3’s ‘Ireland AM’, the nation’s #1 morning programme.

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