Author: Breffni Banks

Waltons New School of Music have announced a search to find a support act for gospel and soul legend, Mavis Staples, when she takes to the stage at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Saturday 3^rd November.

Ireland has a great tradition of gospel and soul music, and this performance will be made particularly special with the selection of a gospel or soul choir / ensemble through the nationwide Waltons World Masters / RTÉ Lyric FM Gospel and Soul Competition. The winning choir or ensemble will perform a 40 minute set before Mavis Staples and her group take to the stage.

All gospel or soul choirs / ensembles, amateur and semi-professional, are invited to enter.

The deadline for entry is Friday 7th September and full details of entry can be found at the Waltons World Masters website here: http://www.newschool.ie/Gospel_and_Soul_Competition/Default.3283.html

Waltons New School of Music are also running various songwriting courses in the coming weeks, details of which can be found at their website here: http://www.newschool.ie/Music_Theory_Musicianship_Sight_Singing_Songwriting_Lessons_Courses/Default.208.html

Dublin band Kodaline will play their first headline show in The Sugar Club, Dublin on Thursday October 4^th.

Two years ago, Steve and his childhood friend Mark helped each other through respective recent break-ups by shaping their thoughts into songs about love and loss. Teaching each other the principles of songcraft, the music they came up with – some of which can be found on debut EP NAME – isn’t wan or introspective or self-serving. Instead, it’s bold, epic and stirring.

Steve, Mark and drummer Vinny May – all aged 22 and 23 – have been working towards this moment for much of their young lives and have spent the last two years writing solidly with just a belief in their talent keeping them afloat. Having recently completed their line-up with the addition of bassist, Jason Boland, Kodaline are now ready to unveil themselves to the world with these first four tracks recorded with Steve Harris (producer for Dave Matthews band, mixer for U2).

Currently planning another EP, live dates and – further down the line – a debut album, Kodaline are now hoping their music will provide therapy for others too. “Music should have a purpose, you know,” says Steve, “Our purpose is honesty”

Tickets priced €10 inclusive of booking fee are on sale on August 8th from Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.ie

For more see www.kodaline.com / www.mcd.ie

Following widespread media acclaim for the all-female vocal compilation album titled ‘Café Irlandaise’, a selection of the independent artists who feature on it, are delighted to announce their first Irish tour together in August.

Their preferred styles include electronica, alternative pop, baroque, ambient, experimental and folk. The ladies hail from various parts of the island; their passion and talent captured in their song writing.

With a mix of solo artists, duos and bands – this promises to be a delightful and charming night. Bona Fide Federation, Sí, Foxglove and In Valour are just some of the acts that plan on wooing audiences with their extraordinary voices and beautiful melodies. They will be joined at various stages of the tour by Laura Sheeran, Odi and Sive.

TOUR DATES

Thursday 16th August – Dolans (upstairs), Limerick

Fri 17th August – Roisin Dubh, Galway

Thurs 23rd August – The Grand Social, Dublin

Sat 25th August – The Pavillion, Cork

The 10-track ‘Café Irlandaise’ compilation album was released as a free download earlier this year on http://www.cafeirlandaise.com/

Inspired by Irish artists, poets, writers, creatives and musicians through the centuries Axis Of are currently spending the summer of 2012 touring all 32 counties of Ireland.

Axis of are no strangers to touring, having spent the last two years relentlessly performing throughout the UK and Europe, but this tour will present a unique experience for the North Coast three piece. From a main stage slot at this year’s Glasgowbury festival to busking in tiny west coast villages, with sweaty, DIY, city centre basement shows right through to remote and ancient pub sessions Axis Of will tour and document Ireland in a way more akin to likes of Yeats and The Dubliners than the bands of today.

Right at home on the road the guys will be promoting their debut album “Finding St. Kilda” which will be released later this year.

For details on the full electric shows see www.axisof.co.uk and for pop up appearances follow the band on twitter @axisof or Facebook www.facebook.com/axisof.

As part of its year-long 10th Birthday Celebrations, The Galway Music Residency has announced a call for submissions! The residency is seeking a composer (Irish or Irish–based) to write a piece of music in celebration of a decade of music in Galway. The piece will be written for the current Galway Ensemble in Residence; ConTempo Quartet.

 This call for submission is unique in that it also comes with a Composer in Residence posting, the first of its kind in the ten year history of the residency. As part of its on-going programme, The Galway Music Residency regularly hosts guest artists in Galway. Guests play an active role in the overall programme during their period in Galway and the Composer in Residence will do so with regular visits to the city, leading workshops and working closely with ConTempo towards the final work which will be premiered as part of the Residency’s first ever Music Festival in February 2013.

The role of the successful candidate will include regular visits to Galway to work closely with ConTempo Quartet. It will also entail a number of schools visits and composition workshops as part of our education initiative. The residency will run from September 2012 to February 2013.

Applications are now being accepted. The closing date is 24 August 2012.

For full details on the application process see http://www.thegalwaymusicresidency.ie/ or contact info@nullthegalwaymusicresidency.ie

Following the release of his debut album, “Take a Stand”, earlier this year, Belfast songwriter and producer, Robb Murphy, has been generating interest among music bloggers and fans both in Ireland and the UK.

After studying music technology at Queens University, Robb discovered he had a passion for songwriting and creating original soundscapes. His first EPs picked up airplay on regional radio stations, as well as BBC Radio 6, with comparisons being made to Damien Rice, Tom Baxter and José Gonzalez.

For a taster of Robb’s work, you can check out tracks “Never Letting You Go” and “The Breakdown” here:

http://robbmurphy.bandcamp.com/track/never-letting-you-go

http://robbmurphy.bandcamp.com/track/the-breakdown

Robb will be playing at The Blackbox, Belfast on Saturday 15^th September and The Grand Social, Dublin on Sunday 21^st October.

www.robbmurphy.com

http://twitter.com/TheRobbMurphy
http://www.facebook.com/TheRobbMurphy

President Higgins is inviting young Irish people to make multimedia submissions on their vision for Ireland to his Being Young and Irish consultation and seminar.  Being Young and Irish is the first in a series of Presidency Seminars.

Young people aged 17 to 26 years are invited to use music, poetry, narrative, video recordings or whatever media suits them best to put forward their vision for Ireland. 

The deadline for submissions to the multimedia consultation for Being Young and Irish is 29 September 2012.

Find out how to make a submission here (http://www.president.ie/being-young-irish/)

Check out Being Young and Irish on www.facebook.com/youngandirish

Twitter Hashtag:  #youngandirish

Swords have just released their first official music video for their track Chasm.

The video was directed by Sebastian Escalante who has previously shot live videos for Villagers, Mick Flannery, Wallis Bird, The Ambience Affair, The Man Whom, Halves and The Wiyos. This is Sebastian’s first official music video.

The video was independently produced and references the escapism element of Chasm’s lyrics and creates a violent story of tensions within the band caused by an oppressive and weird manager. It is inspired by some of the work of Stanley Kubrick.

You can check out Swords live in the coming weeks at the following venues:

14 Jul 2012 – Cleeres – Kilkenny

19 Jul 2012 – John Dalys, Mullingar

28 Jul 2012 – Knockanstockan Festival, Wicklow

17 Aug 2012 – The Blind Pig, Limerick

21 Aug 2012 – Kennys, Lahinch

18 Aug 2012 – The Galleon, Kilrush w/ Aileen & Local Special Guests TBA

25 Aug 2012 – McCarthy’s, Dingle w/ Inni-K

26 Aug 2012 – Ballinamore Free Fringe Festival

Singer/Songwriter celebrates the here and now with new ‘calling card’ EP:

Irish singer/songwriter Brian Horgan launches his first four track ‘calling card’ album of original material; Circle Back.  Brian will sing his new songs live, on Wednesday, 20 June at 8pm, in the Sugar Club, 8 Lower Lesson St., D2.. Door opens 7.30pm.

Circle Back was remastered by Grammy Award winner Bob Katz who has worked alongside world-class musicians such as Gram Parsons, Emmy Lou Harris and many others. He describes Brian’s songs and the emotional quality in his voice as ‘charismatic’.

Brian Horgan took time out to travel the world after the death of his sister Jane and during that time, this album was conceived. While many songwriters pose questions and challenge their plight, Horgan’s music is about finding the answers. Circle Back is about life, love and inspiration, even in the face of grief. Brimming with optimism, humour and warmth – Brian’s songs say: life is for living, courage is all and joy comes from being here.

Brian Horgan has a team of first-class and highly committed musicians with him including Gerry Peregrine, James Dunne, Joe Csibi and David Wray. All have recorded on Circle Back and perform his songs with artistry and passion. They will be playing on the night and featuring arrangements by David Wray.

The style and influences for the Circle Back songs are early seventies inspired; Harry Chapin, early Bee Gees and David Gates. Brian has had sell out concerts in the Sugar Club, No 10 Ormond Quay, Bewley’s Cafe Theatre to name a few. Coached by Deirdre Masterson, he is an original voice.

http://www.brianhorgan.com/