Author: Breffni Banks

This year’s Ardmore Pattern Festival will see the revival of the Ardmore Song Contest. Yes, we invite all you seasoned or budding Songwriters to enter “A Song for Ardmore” Song Contest 2012 and perhaps be the author of the next Ardmore Anthem. There’s a cash prize, trophy and studio recording session up for grabs!

Yes, decades before X-Factor was ever heard of, Ardmore played host to a Song Contest during the annual Pattern celebrations. One of the last to win the Ardmore Pattern Song Contest – in 1968 – were Welsh natives, Frank Hennessy & his musical partner David Burns, who formed part of the winning group. David still displays the Cup with pride.  Frank is a radio presenter with BBC Wales and is best known for his composition of “The Old Carmarthen Oak,” which hit the Irish Charts in the guise of the well-known song, “The Old Dungarvan Oak.”

The Ardmore Pattern Festival Committee now plans to revive the Pattern Song Contest and we are, therefore, inviting Songwriters to enter “A Song for Ardmore” Song Contest.  As the title suggests, the song must relate to Ardmore and reflect the composer’s own special connections with the area.  The music & lyrics must not have been performed in public, broadcast or have been made available on the internet prior to 1st March 2012.  The contest is open to all genres and can be entered in English or Irish. Initial adjudication will be based on entries received, from which finalists will proceed to perform their song at the Live Final to be held during the week of the Ardmore Pattern Festival, from the 23rd-29th July. 

The winning Songwriter will receive €500, a Studio Recording Session and a specially commissioned Ardmore Pattern Festival Song Contest Trophy. So, get writing and get those entries in by completing the Song Conest Entry Form below and sending it back to us before the Closing Date, which is the 24th June 2012.

A Song for Ardmore Entry Form

All entrants must be over 18 years of age and an entry fee of €20 applies. Please note that further terms and conditions apply – see the Entry Form for details.

“Music expresses that which cannot be said, and, on which it is impossible to be silent” – the inspirational words of Victor Hugo highlight the importance of music in our lives.  Ardmore has been a special place for many people for generations and much has already been written in rhyme and verse to record its history, culture, people and places.  It is a place on which “it is impossible to be silent”.  So, we look forward to receiving your entries and happy song-writing!

If you have any queries, please e-mail us or further information is also available from John Supple on +353 (0)86 2330810.

http://www.ardmorepatternfestival.ie/news/169-a-song-for-ardmore.html

Burningboy, aka Terry Byrne, has just released his debut EP, “The Dark Months”. Having already supported Snow Patrol and Glen Hansard, as well as featuring on the 2FM 2MORO Tour, Burningboy is quickly becoming an established singer-songwriter.

“The Dark Months” features some of Burningboy’s captivating atmospheric folk songs, rich in melody and sincerity. The EP was recorded over two days in the Golden Egg Studio, Co. Laois. Terry’s links to his home county also led to his contributing a track, “Tenderheart”, to the Connect One compilation released in 2010, which highlighted Laois artists and reach number 18 in the Irish album charts.

Currently receiving attention from radio DJs throughout the country, “The Dark Months” is now available for sale from iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/ie/artist/burningboy/id506033274. EP taster below.

For more information on Burningboy and information on upcoming gigs see www.burningboymusic.com and www.facebook.com/burningboy.terrybyrne.

ELEANOR McEVOY_New Single: “Harbour” Out Feb 17th + Woman’s Heart Anniversary dates:
 

4 nights in The Olympia Theatre Dublin

MOSCODISC is pleased to announce the February 17th 2012 release of Eleanor McEvoy’s new single Harbour, originally featured on Eleanor’s 2010 album I’d Rather Go Blonde. Harbour is the follow-up single to 2011’s You’ll Hear Better Songs (Than This), taken from McEvoy’s critically acclaimed 2011 album, Alone.
Fresh from her 4th December 2011 guest appearance on BBC Radio 2’s Weekend Wogan (where she performed You’ll Hear Better Songs and a haunting interpretation of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors), Eleanor will embark on a series of UK concerts in January, including the Song For Ireland at Celtic Connections festival, Glasgow before returning home to play at the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival and Songwriting Convention with Nanci Griffith. She also plays a four night stint for the ‘A Woman’s Heart 20th Anniversary’ Live shows in The Olympia Theatre, Dublin from 29th February to 3rd March, 2012. Tickets on sale from here .

Eleanor performed the hit song A Woman’s heart on Ireland’s biggest and most well known TV Show The Late Late Show last year.

Harbour is one of McEvoy’s more current songs written with a similar panache and style to A Womans heart. It is a simple love song about not wanting to face life and wanting so much for someone to make it all better – “Will you be a harbour? / At my shoulder / Always watching over / Try to hold me closer / Shelter me and shield me from the world”. It has been singled out on numerous reviews of the album it featured in ‘I’d Rather Go Blonde’ as having that sublime factor which is accredited to McEvoy’s unique songwriting abilities.

When it came time to record the Alone album, Eleanor headed to a studio tucked away in the Norfolk countryside. “In the converted barn, I stepped up to the microphone and sang my songs,” recalls Eleanor. “My state of mind wasn’t the brightest, but there was something about being in the studio with no agenda, deadline, or pressure, it just came out.”

The product of those tranquil sessions resulted in her current album Alone that includes incredibly haunting performances – up close, personal, and timeless. This is Eleanor McEvoy in her most intimate setting, running through the journey of her writing and singing career.

McEvoy is one of Ireland’s most accomplished female singer/songwriters. Her life as a musician began at the age of four. She has released albums on the Geffen and Columbia record labels and continues to tour the world over to her ever-increasing legion of fans.

Eleanor’s seductive and compelling Irish accent adds an emotional punch to her quirky, perceptive songs, ranging from love ballads and storytelling to ironic, amusing and all-consuming observations on the irony of everyday life. Respected as a fine multi-instrumentalist (violin, guitar, piano) in both traditional and contemporary music, she is best known for Only A Woman’s Heart, the title track of an anthology album that’s gone on to be the best selling recording in Irish chart history.

A Woman’s Heart celebrates its 20th anniversary in the guise of four consecutive nights of concerts at Dublin’s prestigious Olympia Theatre from 29th February to 3rd March, 2012.
 

Order the albums “Alone” and “I’d Rather Go Blonde” from Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-McEvoy/dp/B000000P0Y
 

Online links:
Eleanor McEvoy – Official Website
www.eleanormcevoy.com
Upcoming gigs:
http://www.eleanormcevoy.net/blog/category/tour-dates/