MARCH 29TH marks the release of the highly anticipated debut album from Dublin band KATE’S PARTY. HOLLOW will be launched from the Grand Social on March 29th with special guests on the night including power-pop super group Women’s Christmas featuring members of Villagers, Jogging and No Monster Club.
CDs will be available on the night in the Grand Social and will then be available on CD and digital download from iTunes, Bandcamp, BigCartel, Tower Records in Dublin, Waterslide Records in Japan and all good record stores.
It’s hard to quite put your finger on what genre Kate’s Party are. Originally formed as an all female acoustic 2-piece and drawing great influence from pop punk music particularly from the 90s, the band soon expanded to include bass, drums and electric guitars and have since been compared to the likes of No Doubt and The Smashing Pumpkins.
After releasing their EP ‘Back Down’ on Toast Office Records in 2012, the band did a string of successful shows around the UK and Ireland including a support slot for Teenage Dirtbags WHEATUS.
Their highly anticipated debut album HOLLOW was recorded at the Hive studios in Kilcoole and produced by ENEMIES guitarist Eoin Whitfield. Highlights of the album include Truman Show-esque paranoia inspired WELCOME TO SEAHAVEN and crowd pleaser BIKE FOR THREE.
Nothing New Under The Sun is an exciting new five piece band that has emerged from the port of Cork City. With a diverse range of influences, the band effortlessly combines hooky guitar riffs, soaring vocals, a driving rhythm section and sweet folk-pop harmonies.
Their debut single “Carolina”, with renowned Irish producer Christian Best (Mick Flannery-Red to Blue 2012) was recorded earlier this year. It is due for release today, March 21st, and is available on iTunes, Amazon and Bandcamp.
Otherkin are set to release their latest EP, “As A High”, this month. The launch party, which takes place in The Grand Social on 27th March, will feature performances from Other Creatures, Womens Murder Club, Pockets and Segrasso.
In advance of the release, Otherkin have released a video for the title track, “As A High”.
Following on from their most successful tour of Ireland yet in October 2013 after their 2012 release “Morning Will Come Soon”, Joey Ryan trio (JRT) will be hitting up sixteen dates around Ireland this March and April to promote their new single “Stay Strong”. The single is being released in conjunction with Breast Cancer Ireland to raise awareness and much needed funds for this fantastic organisation.
All sales of the single will be donated to Breast Cancer Ireland and the band have also organised a fundraiser night in Wexford Arts Centre for the charity.
“Stay Strong” is the first single from a new EP which is being released on Silverwood Music Label later in 2014.
The current tour will be followed up with a trip to Germany and Holland as the band embark on their second European trip.
Armed with a new setlist and new formation, Joey Ryan Trio will be performing in the following venues in March with more to be added.
This afternoon, Paul Roe and Bill Dowdall kick off the second season in the Association of Irish Composers’ Irish Canon concert series with a recital and masterclasses as part of Waterford New Music Week. This season sees concerts taking place in Dublin, Waterford, Limerick and Cork, and with partners such as the Cork Orchestral Society, Waterford IT and Mary Immaculate College, with more to be confirmed over the coming weeks.
The Irish Canon sees some of Ireland’s top performers bringing specially selected programmes of Irish works to universities and venues across the country. With this series, the Association of Irish Composers seeks to create a new canon of Irish works by ensuring multiple performances of music by Irish composers, and taking the first steps toward making them repertoire standards, redefining what it means to have a musical ‘canon’. Each programme is carefully chosen by the performer from the current repertoire of music by Irish composers for their instrument.
‘The Acoustic Yard’, a monthly IMRO supported showcase event that features singer/songwriters from around the world will hold it’s next original collection of songs on Tuesday March 25th in Matt Molloy’s, Westport. After last months successful launch hosted by David Dee Moore and filmed by Irishtv.ie, ‘The Acoustic Yard’ presents three exciting contemporary songwriters in Kate O’Callaghan from Donegal, Jim McKee a Tyrone native based in the Burren and Mayo resident Paul Kirwan.
Kate O’Callaghan’s recent CD ‘The Still Beyond’ manages to combine evocative melodies with intelligent considered lyrics. She has a very distinctive writing style that compliments her beautiful vocal delivery. She has sung at numerous festivals including the Galway Arts Festival and Glastonbury in the UK.
Another hidden gem is the multi talented Jim McKee whose new CD ‘Goodness comes from the heart’ is full of catchy tunes and emotive lyrics. Some of his songs appear in the award winning film ‘Songs for Amy’ which will be globally released this year. Jim is also an actor and a professional artist with his paintings displayed extensively in Ireland and France.
Paul Kirwan is known around Ireland as front man with his Mayo based Paul K Band. With his smooth and atmospheric vocal and his virtuoso fast piano blues playing, his original songwriting can make you both dance and clutch at your heart strings. Paul has shared the stage with Duke Special, Arlo Guthrie, Deacon Blue, Imelda May and he recently appeared on BalconyTV.
Doors open at 8.30pm and any singer/songwriters wishing to be considered for ‘The Acoustic Yard’ or require more information please contact David Dee at theacousticyard@nullgmail.com
The difference a few years can make in the life of a band can be many things, not least surprising and educational. They say a week is a long time in politics, but a few years in music is multiple lifetimes. And so Hamsandwich, the band you thought you knew very well, has turned into Hamsandwich, the band you second guess at your peril. You can tick the boxes here: a support slot at Slane Castle, a direct special request to support Mumford & Sons at Phoenix Park, an invitation to the President of Ireland’s Garden Party on the lawn of his rather stately gaff. Not bad going for a band once battling with the dreaded ‘quirky’ tag, is it?
You can hear the difference in Hamsandwich’s new single, Illuminate, which is as light as a feather. You can see the difference when they perform onstage – where there was once a band that seemed to revel in the occasional ramshackle live show now there is self-confidence, assurance and a sense of humour that is less slapstick and more on the subtle side.
It has been over three years since the release of Hamsandwich‘s garlanded second album, White Fox, and while it remains for many something of a masterclass in quality indie pop (it featured in Irish Times’ writer Tony Clayton-Lea’s acclaimed book, 101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die) it is now viewed by the band as just their very astute second album.
Bluebell Youth Project, a community based youth project based in south Dublin city, has released a call for musicians who are interested in working part-time with small groups of young people in the age groups 10-13 and 14-19.
Bluebell is an area designated as disadvantaged through socio economic indicators. The project works on an ongoing basis with approx 200 young people per year from 10-25 years of age through informal education, aiming to enhance life skills and choices through youth work methodologies including group work, youth clubs, arts programmes, 1-1 support work, sports and recreational activities.
Arts development is one of their core methodologies in working with young people and the project recently secured financial support to further enhance and develop a music programme with the project. The youth centre is a dedicated space for young people within a larger community centre run by Dublin City Council. Within the centre there are numerous spacious rooms where music can be taught and created.
Bluebell Youth Project are seeking expressions of interest from professional musicians from music backgrounds including (but not limited to) vocals, guitar, rap and 1-1. It is expected that music sessions may take place over 2 afternoons/evenings (up to a maximum of 10 hours) per week.
Key Aims:
Bluebell Youth Project sees this venture as an opportunity to develop a collaborative music programme between the young people, the musician(s) and the youth workers.
To deliver a quality music programme to children and young people in Bluebell Community.
To promote and nurture an interest in music among the young people in Bluebell.
To give young people in Bluebell the equality of access to experience and learn music through guitar and song.
To promote involvement of young people and their families in the youth project through showcasing the music of young people as and when it meets the needs of the young people.
To document and evaluate the process with all the partners involved.
Musicians Essential Skills:
Experience of and interest in working with young people through music.
A flexible approach and understanding of the needs of young people within this type of activity.
A real interest in working alongside youth workers and young people to develop a strong relationship where skills can be shared.
Skills which encourage and support young people to grow their confidence around their music practice.
An interest in being involved in the development of a music programme.
Skills in identifying and reflecting on learning from music practice with young people through;
ongoing recording and evaluation of classes with youth workers and
project development.
Selection criteria:
Music practice/quality and originality of ideas
Experience in teaching guitar and/or singing/song writing to young people
Experience of working in a youth project or similar context
Capacity to develop and deliver the project in collaboration with youth workers and young people
Selection Process:
This is a limited selection process. Musicians are being invited to submit letter of interest and CV. Those shortlisted will be invited to interview.
All applicants are welcome to make enquiries. Please contact info@nullccrys.org.
Please submit CV and cover letter by email or to:
The Manager,
Canal Communities Regional Youth Service
Bluebell Youth and Community Centre,
Bluebell Road,
Dublin 12.
Closing date: 12pm on 24st March 2014
The successful candidate(s) will be required to undergo Garda Vetting.
Canal Communities Regional Youth Service is an equal opportunities employer.
Gigs Ireland will be hosting a Music Industry Night this Friday 14th March in association with Navan Shamrock Festival at The Stonehouse Bar, Navan. The event kicks off at 8pm.
Hosted by Tracey Hanby of Gigs Ireland, a panel of music industry representatives on the night will include:
Aidan Farrelly of Bad Apple Films specialising in music videos www.badapplefilms.com
There will be guest performances from Silent Noise Parade and Cult Called Man on the night.
Artists are invited to come along and showcase their portfolio, recordings and merchandise on the night. The Handsome Boatmen, a local bluegrass band from Co. Meath, will be launching their CD on the night.
The Galway Music Residency is calling musicians interested in becoming its Apprentice Ensemble 2014 to submit applications for the new season! Now in its 8th year, the apprentice ensemble programme offers a group of musicians dedicated tuition time with the world renowned Galway Ensemble in Residence: ConTempo Quartet.
Over the past eight years The Galway Music Residency has hosted all types of ensembles – as part of this apprentice programme – everything from a ‘Cello Duo, Piano Quartet and String Trio to a Saxophone Quartet! Each of these ensembles was provided with practice space and resources to further their instrumental proficiency both as individual players and within ensemble playing. They were mentored, tutored and advised on a monthly basis by the residence ensemble, ConTempo Quartet and also provided with a performance opportunity as part of The Galway Music Residency programme.
The prestigious position of Apprentice Ensemble will take place from April 2014 to March 2015. The position is offered to established ensembles (Irish and International) wanting to further enrich their experience of ensemble playing and may also suit established musicians or teachers coming together as an ensemble for the first time.
Closing date for the Apprentice Ensemble Scheme is 11th April 2014 with auditions happening in Galway the following week. The Application form is available on the website at www.thegalwaymusicresidency.ie or by email. For further information call + 353 91 586706 or send an email to info@nullthegalwaymusicresidency.ie
The Galway Music Residency delivers a year round performance, education and community based programme of events which includes visits by resident artists to local schools and universities. The Galway Music Residency is supported by The Arts Council, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway University Foundation, Bank of Ireland, Galway City and County Councils and Friends of The Galway Music Residency.
MARCH 29TH marks the release of the highly anticipated debut album from Dublin band KATE’S PARTY. HOLLOW will be launched from the Grand Social on March 29th with special guests on the night including power-pop super group Women’s Christmas featuring members of Villagers, Jogging and No Monster Club.
