Author: Breffni Banks

This December 21st sees Soul Diva Pia Dunne and The Eleusians return to Whelans to play a mix of old and new original soulful tunes. Support on the night comes from Singer/ Songwriter Morgan MacIntyre.

Pia Dunne has an eclectic background in music. She has been performing professionally as a singer/songwriter for over a decade. In 2010 Pia set up her solo project http://piadunne.com/  and released her Debut EP in May 2012 to much acclaim. Since then Pia Dunne and The Eleusians (feat Johnny Taylor piano, Peter Erdai bass and Matt Jacobson drums) have played to full houses in The Workman’s Club, Whelans, The Cobblestone, Sweeney Mongrel’s and Tower Records. Last year Pia was nominated for Best Female Artist, Best Unsigned Artist and Best Album and was shortlisted for Best Soul/Jazz Act in The MRU Music Awards 2012. The track Place of No Returning has also been used in the short film Lucky, released at Cannes this year and touring the American Film Festival Circuit. Pia Dunne and The Eleusians are currently filming the video for Place of No Returning and planning a national tour.

Pia Dunne and The Eleusians play Whelans (Upstairs) on Sat 21st Dec

Doors open at 8.30pm | Admission 10 Eu / 8 Eu conc

Tickets available on the door or at http://www.wavtickets.ie/

For more info see  http://piadunne.com/

or http://www.whelanslive.com/

Tony Floyd Kenna’s latest EP, ‘2014 The Alien Has Landed’, will be officially launched, with a reception and live gig, on January 10^th in Darkey Kelly’s, Dublin. This is the first part of several projects planned for 2014 which will also see an ‘Aliens Part 2’ and a couple of live albums.

‘2014 The Alien Has Landed’ comprises four tracks; ‘Suzanne Vega’s Eyes’, ‘Tears Of The Sky’, ‘Wrapped In You’ and an unexpected ‘collaboration’ with Krista Detor of the USA who recently presented a songwriters evening in IMRO – ‘A Single Tear’.

Feedback has been hugely positive already, with two promotional interviews on local radio already completed and all the tracks being aired.

Tony would particularly like to thank Darkey Kelly’s of Fishamble Street for their sponsorship not just of the CD production but also of the launch event.

Downloads are available now via Bandcamp with physical CDs, iTunes etc coming from January 10^th.

http://tonyfloydkenna.bandcamp.com/album/2014-the-alien-has-landed

http://tonyfloydkenna.wordpress.com/

Femmepop and Timecop 1983 have just released the brand new single, “Timescapes”. This is Femmepop’s third self-released single this year, following on from “Beautiful Boy” and “1983”, and involves a collaboration with artist Timecop 1983.

Femmepop is singer songwriter Margaret O’Sullivan from Cork. She is currently working on her debut album.

“Timescapes” is now available for purchase via the Femmepop Bandcamp page – http://femmepop.bandcamp.com/

Sligo based five piece, Moxie, have recently launched a Fund-It campaign to help bring their debut album to fruition. The band, who won the Spirit of Folk Awards earlier this year, are made up of Cillian Doheny (tenor banjo/guitar), Jos Kelly (button accordion/keyboard), Darren Roche (button accordion), Ted Kelly (tenor banjo) and Paddy Hazleton (percussion).

Their music has a solid traditional backbone with jazz, rock, bluegrass and world music rhythms and harmonies creatively structured around this base. Listeners are treated to layers of rich and intricate sounds as the band deliver a punchy programme of both their own compositions and old tunes with a new emerald vibe.

You can support Moxie’s debut album at their FundIt page here: http://www.fundit.ie/project/moxie-dbut-album

https://soundcloud.com/moxiemusic-1

Charismatic Dublin outfit Jemson Green have been named Wild Turkey Live Band of the Year 2013, winning a massive €3,500 in music equipment sponsored by Musicmaker, Dublin and Wild Turkey Ireland.

This was the result of an ongoing competition where the band found themselves up against popular Irish acts such as the Dirty Epics, Redwoods, and Mojo GoGo, participating in a live performance and social media competition.

To thank all of their fans for their incredible support throughout 2013 and their help in achieving the win, Jemson Green has announced they will be performing a headline show in their home venue Fibber Magees, Parnell St. Dublin on December 8^th. Admission on the night will be FREE with support act Kickstart The Season.

The 5-piece promise to deliver a very special performance from their upcoming album on the night to show their appreciation as well as merch giveaways…Doors 9pm.

This year is has been a journey of incredible momentum for Jemson Green, having already performed at Comic Relief Does Dublin (alongside Bipolar Empire, Walking on Cars, The Enemies, Keywest and Paddy Casey), a support performance for KERBDOG in Galway’s Roisin Dubh as well as their first UK appearances in London this April and June, as well as supporting The Riptide Movement, The Minutes and Alabama 3.

They launched their first single and video since April 2012 ‘Who Am I’ in Whelan’s, Dublin on August 26^th to a jam-packed crowd.

‘The only time I felt devastated during this song was when I realised I hadn’t got long hair and could not headbang properly to its exhilarating, guitar squealing, riff rocking, symbol crashing brilliance…5/6’

– Music Review Unsigned

‘Our influences have come together to form a style of music each member is proud of and proud to be a part of.’

– Jemson Green

www.jemsongreen.bandcamp.com || https://www.youtube.com/jemsongreenofficial

‘Your System’ is the debut album by Northern Irish artist Insects at Altitude. Featuring 14 songs written by Ryan Sands – after several visits to Tokyo, Japan – the album is influenced by a wide array of Western and Japanese electronic, rock and pop artists, and documents the time spent and the adventures had in the world’s most enthralling and awe-inspiring megalopolis. ‘Your System’ features the singles ‘Tortoiseshell, Tortoiseshell’, ‘Running Away From Roppongi’, and ‘Shibuya Is Miserable When It Rains’.

Insects at Altitude is the musical nom de plume of songwriter and producer Ryan Sands. Debut album ‘Your System’ is a collection of rock and electronic songs inspired by sojourns to Tokyo, Japan, and it was composed, performed and recorded at ‘Ice Station Earth’ studios in Newry, Northern   Ireland.

For Further Info: www.insectsataltitude.com | www.soundcloud.com/insects-at-altitude