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Author: Breffni Banks

The Walls-New EP

Irelands finest exports,The Walls, are proud to announce the release of their new EP 'Bird in a Cage', the EP is available now and the band will be playing a Belfast and Derry show in October to mark the release.

The EP can be purchased from:
www.thewalls.ie
thewalls.bandcamp.com
i-Tunes
The title track "Bird in a Cage" is available to download for free for a limited time from www.thewalls.ie.

Northern Irish Shows:
Thursday 06th October – The Black Box, Belfast
Booking info – tickets from www.blackboxbelfast.com or in person at the venue. £12/£10 concession. Doors 8pm
Thursday 20th October – Sandinos, Derry/Londonderry
Booking info – tickets from http://www.sandinos.com/ or in person at the venue.
 
The Walls
Having returned a few months earlier from a two-year label stint in London, The Walls
played their first gig in Bruxelles, Dublin, in 1998. Fronted by brothers Steve and Joe
Wall – previously of multi-platinum Irish band The Stunning – the band included new
members Carl Harms on guitar and keyboards and Rory Doyle on drums.
They set up their own label, Earshot Records (later changing it to Dirtbird Records)
and recorded and released a string of singles. Their debut album Hi-Lo was released in
May 2000 to brilliant reviews. One of the album tracks, Bone Deep, finally clicked with
radio and put the band on the map. Many of the songs have featured on a number of TV
series and feature films such as Dead Bodies, Goldfish Memory and the cult film On
the Edge, starring Cillian Murphy.

In 2002 The Walls were invited by U2 to play at their second sold-out Slane Castle show
after sending the band copies of their debut album. They played to a massive crowd the
same day Ireland beat Holland to qualify for the World Cup.

In February 2004 original member Carl Harms left the band. They recruited bassist Jon
O’Connell who had just two weeks to learn all the songs before a two week tour of the
new EU accession states, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
For the next album they went to Studio Black Box in France to record with producer
and ex-The Frames guitarist David Odlum. The band loved the sound of recent albums
by Wilco and Kings of Leon and they concentrated on capturing the magic of a great live
performance – four guys in a room doing take after take and trying not to lose the soul of
the music in the process.

In Oct 2004 they released a taster, The Drowning Pool EP. Drowning Pool, a blistering,
spleen-venting, blues explosion, two minutes fifty two seconds in length, took people by
surprise and divided opinion – exactly what the band wanted. They supported Bob Dylan
to a capacity crowd in Galway that summer and played a storming set that showed there
were changes afoot in The Walls sound.
 
By March 2005 the album was finally finished. They called it New Dawn Breaking after
the final and longest track on the record. The album went straight into the Irish charts
at No.5 in the first week of June 2005 and has since reached gold status in Ireland.
Passing Through, the second single taken from the album, was one of the most played
tracks on Irish radio that summer. The album also featured the band’s biggest song –
To the Bright and Shining Sun – with that infectious guitar riff which helped The Walls
become a household name when it was used on a major TV commercial two years
previous.
 
In order to play the new album properly the band decided they needed an extra pair of
hands and Marc Aubele joined the band on keyboards and guitar.

In March 2006 they traveled to the United States where they played to packed houses
in New York, LA and Austin Texas as part of the SXSW Music festival and they were
invited by Nic Harcourt to perform a session on his legendary “Morning Becomes
Eclectic” show on KCRW in Santa Monica.

Over the following years the band played in France, the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Austria and undertook their first ever trip to Australia where Crowded House offered
them lucrative support slots on their massive re-union gigs in Sydney and Melbourne in
2007.

The band built their own recording studio in Dublin and in 2008 they retreated into the
darkness to work on album number three. Work has finished and the album will be
released in 2011.
 
Steve and Joe took a break from recording to perform a set of new songs at the SXSW
Music Festival in Austin Texas on March 2010. The following June they released a
double A-sided single “Carrying the Fire” and “Phantom Power”, both tracks from the
forthcoming album “Stop the Lights” due to be released later in 2011.
 
A four-track EP “Bird in a Cage” will be released in Southern Ireland in March 2011, containing two tracks
from the album and two previously unreleased songs. The EP saw a host of Radio play including RTE,
Today FM playlisting the lead track 'Bird in a cage'.
For further information please contact Jeff Robinson PR
Jeff Robinson
Jeff Robinson PR
p. +44(0) 787 4862334
e. info@nulljeffrobinsonpr.com
w. www.jeffrobinsonpr.com
 
Spotlight

Christie Hennessy Song Competition – Live Final

Christie Hennessy Song Competition
Live Final
Saturday 15th October – 9pm
The Brandon Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry

On Saturday 15th October, the final of the Christie Hennessy Song Competition will take place in the Brandon Hotel. Ten finalists selected from almost 200 entries across Ireland will perform their original songs in front of a live audience and a panel of expert judges. The winning songwriter will be presented with a cheque for €1,000 on the night, courtesy of Holiday Tralee plus a recording session at the renowned Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin with writer/producer Rob Burke, courtesy of Tony Perrey and the Windmill Lane team.
 
The live final of the Christie Hennessy Song Competition takes place as part of A Celebration of Christie Hennessy, a series of musical events hosted by IMRO taking place in Tralee from 12th – 15th October as a tribute to one of Tralee’s most famous sons.
 
The ten finalists taking to stage on the night for a chance to win this prestigious prize are:
 
Fiona O’Neill – Song: “In the Country”
Evangeline O’Neill – Song: “Forever Never Ends”
Ross Breen – Song: “Free Spirit”
Kieron Cox – Song: “Mad Feeling”
Paul McDonnell – Song: “Superman”
Dave Molloy – Song: “I Would Never Leave your Side”
Paul Mulligan & Jim Rooney – Song: “The One That Got Away”
David Murphy – Song: “Watching Over”
Ian O’Doherty – Song: “Profit”
Donnacha Toomey – Song: “Head in the Clouds”
 
Entry to the live final is free of charge, but due to limited capacity, booking is advised. To reserve a place in the audience, email IMRO at membership@nullimro.ie or phone 01 661 4844.
 
For further information on the various events taking place in Tralee this October 12th – 15th as part of A Celebration of Christie Hennessy, contact IMRO at 01 661 4844 / membership@nullimro.ie.
 
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Irving Welsh writes original story inspired by‘Comeback Girl´

A new anthology of original writing by several authors based on their favourite music will include a contribution inspired by Republic of Loose song ‘Comeback Girl’ writen by Trainspotting author Irving Welsh.  BookSlam’s first published anthology will be available as an ebook, multi-platform app, and audio download as well as hardback. The stories will also be available individually.
 
Book Slam was London’s first true literary nightclub, featuring writers, live music and a Serbian DJ. Guests over the years have included the likes of Hanif Kureishi, Dave Eggers, Adele, Nick Hornby and Kate Nash. BookSlam was founded in 2003 by ex Everything But The Girl musician, Ben Watt, and author and Whittbread Book Award winner, Patrick Neate. Elliot Jack, promoter and producer, and Canongate’s Head of Publicity, Angela Robertson now run the event on the last Thursday of every month. This year BookSlam has taken its first step into book publishing with the release of an anthology of written material inspired by music. The anthology features writing by Irvine Welsh, William Boyd, Hari Kunzru, Simon Armitage, and several other established and new authors.
For the record, Armitage chose to write a poem based on Joy Division’s “New Dawn Fades” to explore lead singer Ian Curtis’ suicide, Kunzru piece is based on “New Gold Dream” by Simple Minds, Boyd chose Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ “Tears of a Clown”, and Welsh went for Republic of Loose’s “Comeback Girl”.
 
However, many more spoken word artists and poets have not chosen publish their work in book form, preferring instead to use video and audio recording and the reach that mediums like YouTube and live performance can deliver. Spoken word artist Hedwig Gorski rejected what she described as the “dull-drums” of book publishing in the 1980’s. What is very definitely clear about the place the spoken word movement has in our oral culture and literature today is its continued rise across the world in all languages. The new wave of self and digital publishing has given a voice to many writers without a formal academic background, and whether live on a stage of performance, or through digital and audio platforms of distribution, the modern writing community is embracing spoken word in a way not seen since before the days of the Guttenberg Press.
 

Spotlight

Belfast Music Week 2011

Excitement builds in City as Belfast Music Week 2011 approaches

 
With the spotlight firmly fixed on Belfast as it prepares to host the MTV EMAs, the worlds biggest artist, multi-million selling popstar, Rihanna has been causing a stir all on her own this week, by choosing to shoot the video for her new single ‘We found love’ in various locations throughout Northern Ireland. With the excitement growing throughout the city already, the buzz is set to continue with the announcement of Belfast Music Week 2011, with 130 events taking place at venues across the city from October 30 – 5 November, offering a world of choice for everyone from the hardened music fan to the tourist wishing to experience the welcome Belfast has to offer. Belfast Music Week 2011, now in its second year, is biggest event of its kind ever to be staged in the city. With a host of special guests and events still to be announced, Belfast Music Week is sure to be the talking point of 2011.
Key events are:
 
•       One week of Ulster Hall Shows including acts such as:
(Details included under notes to editors)
 
–            Northern Ireland Music Awards
–            Ash
–            The Divine Comedy
–            The Undertones
–            Foy Vance
–            Ben Glover
–            The Answer
–            Therapy
 
•       Music Industry expert seminars and workshops.
 
•       Events throughout Communities in Belfast, in Shopping Centres, Trains, Buses, on the streets of the city and everywhere in between.
 
 
Belfast Music Week is organised by Belfast City Council with support from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Tourism Ireland, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland 2007-2013.
 
Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, said the excitement was already starting to build for what’s set to be an unprecedented line-up of artists over the seven days.
 
He said: “When we organised the first Belfast Music Week last year it was a huge success with more than 63,000 people attending over 100 gigs and events throughout the city, and generating more than £1.1m.
 
NITB’s Event Manager Joy Bond stated, “NITB is delighted to see Belfast Music Week return to the city bigger and better than before. With Belfast as the hub of a musical scene that pervades Northern Ireland, the events showcase the unique musical heritage and vibrant contemporary scene we are becoming famous for. With a packed music and festival calendar across the year, our musical heritage provides international standout for Belfast and Northern Ireland.
 
“NITB is pleased to be supporting Belfast Music Week through the NI events fund and working in partnership with Belfast City Council to deliver the MTV EMAs. We hope to encourage everyone to get out and about during Belfast Music Week and experience some of the finest local music we have to offer."
 
Tickets for some of the Ulster Hall gigs – check www.ulsterhall.co.uk for details.
 
A full programme of all Belfast Music Week events will be unveiled next month and will be available online at www.belfastmusic.org
 
 
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Solidarity Songs

Solidarity Songs offers young songwriters the chance to win valuable studio recording time and pressed copies of their own work on CD. The songwriting competition aims to highlight the UN's eight Millennium Development Goals and offers young people the opportunity to showcase their creative talent.

Solidarity Songs project partners are KADE , KDYS , Clubheadbangbang , ITT Music Society and ITT's BA (Hons) Music Technology course.

Entry criteria
– one song in any genre, based on any one of the MDGs, or the MDGs in general
– to be submitted on CD or by email
– entrants must be aged 21 or younger
– entrants must be resident in Ireland
– melody and lyric must be entrant's original work
– entrants may have another person perform the work
 
Recording your work
Audacity is a free audio-recording computer application and can be downloaded here .
 
Submitting your song: Email or CD
Send your song, on CD, to: John Buggy, KDYS, Denny St., Tralee, Co. Kerry. You can email your entry in MP3 format (max. size 5MB) to solidarity@nullkade.ie.
 
Songs Showcase
Shortlisted entrants will be invited to perform their original work at the KDYS Café in November 2010. The Songs for Solidarity 2010 winner will be announced at the event.
Latest News

RTÉ lyric fm / IMRO Mentored Composition Bursary

RTÉ lyric fm / IMRO Mentored Composition Bursary
 

RTÉ lyric fm in association with the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) has two bursaries worth €1000 each to award to composers interested in writing a 5-8minute work for the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. The compositional process will involve being mentored by our Composer in Residence, Linda Buckley in the creation of the work, the layout and delivery of the final scores, and a workshop and recording of the new work with the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra.
 

We are interested in hearing from composers who have a track record in writing new acoustic or electro-acoustic work for soloists and small ensembles, and who are interested in developing their compositional experience and knowledge by writing for orchestra. You should be aware of the need to meet agreed deadlines and the challenge of writing for the dynamic musical range of the core forces of an orchestra. Composers are asked to bear in mind the likely audience which a new work could reach in public performance and/or radio broadcast.
For more information go to www.rte.ie/musiccommissions

 

About Linda Buckley
Cork-born Linda Buckley is RTÉ lyric fm’s Composer in Residence in Association with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. Part of a new generation if Irish composers, Linda’s creative talent doesn’t so much span as ignore in a very informed way the boundaries between the live acoustic sound of an orchestra and electronics.
From the Old Head of Kinsale and currently based in Dublin, her music has been described as "strange and beautiful" (Boston Globe, July 2004), a "fascinating interaction between live sound and electronics" (Irish Times, Nov 2006), with “an exciting body of work that marks her out as a leading figure in the younger generation of Irish composers working in the medium” (Journal of Music, Sept 2008). She holds a Ph.D in Composition from Trinity College, where she also lectures.
To learn more about Linda, check her video interview with Eamonn Lawlor at www.rte.ie/lyricfm/composer
 
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The Coronas-Addicted To Progress

The 1st Single From the Upcoming New Album
Single Out 4-11-11 / Album Out 11-11-11 Available on 3ú Records
 
Produced by Tony Hoffer – Recorded in the Sound Factory (Los Angeles)
 
Ireland has been home to some of the most influential artists and Dublin rock band The Coronas are no exception. This platinum-selling four piece have established themselves as one of Irelands biggest bands AND are now ready to take their place on the world stage.
 
Their high energy live shows have made them one of the country's most popular concert attractions, and this summer they sold out their biggest ever headline concert in Marley Park to over 7,000 fans.
 
The Coronas are currently recording their eagerly awaited 3rd album in LA with producer Tony Hoffer who has worked with the likes of Air, Beck, The Kooks, Belle and Sebastian and many more. The as of yet to be titled album is set to be released November 11, 2011
 
The New York Post lists The Coronas as “One Of The Top 10 Artists To Know In 2011”, and with a new single set for release in September, and their new album to hit the shelves in November, The Coronas certainly are the band to look out for this year.
 
The Coronas platinum-selling album “Tony Was An Ex-Con” shot straight to #1 in
the Irish Indie and iTunes charts and #3 in the National Album chart and won the
guys a prestigious Meteor Award for album of the year beating the likes of U2, The Script and Snow Patrol.
 
• The Coronas sold out 3 nights in a row at The Olympia over the Christmas of
2010 and were special guests on The Script’s European Tour this year.
• They also have previously played Ireland’s Oxegen Festival in front of a crowd
of 30,000 and have performed at many major UK and European festivals
including Benicassim and Hard Rock Calling winning over a legion of new
fans.
• The Coronas opened for Sir Paul McCartney in Dublin and also shared the
stage with him at the Isle of Wight festival last summer.
• Hit singles include “San Diego Song”, “Someone Else’s Hands”, “Won’t Leave
You Alone” AND 'Listen Dear'.
• The band maintains a high profile on YouTube with over 1million collective
views and an international following.
 
• ::: LIVE ::: Irish Tour Dates:
• Sat 26th Nov – Nerve Center, Derry
• Sun 27th Nov – Empire Music Hall, Belfast
• Mon 5th Dec – Olympia Theatre, Dublin
• Tues 6th Dec – Olympia Theatre, Dublin
• Thur 8th Dec – Olympia Theatre, Dublin
• Thur 15th Dec – Savoy, Cork
• Sat 17th Dec – The Fourm, Waterford
• More Dates to be added
 

For Information / Interview requests / Promotional CDs
for the Coronas:
Jim Lawless jim@nullthecoronas.net or +353 (0)86 835 4349
Kate Knox kate@nullthecoronas.net or +353 (0)85 121 8793
Stevo Berube / Berube Communications
stevo@nullberubecommunications.com
or +353 (0)87 244 2695
Latest News

Stewart Agnew-New Releases

One of Ireland’s most refined singer songwriters, Stewart Agnew, is emerging from his self-imposed musical exile clasping a clutch of AOR masterpieces to his chest in the shape of his third album, Hello Bright Spark (Trick Records), which will be released on 30 September, simultaneously with the single “Look How The Stars Turn On”.

With initial writing and pre-production sped along by contributions from Lou Natkin and Paul Wilkinson, Stewart headed into the studio in May 2011. Renowned producer Roger Bechirian (The Undertones, Elvis Costello, Bell X1) took control of the console and in a whirlwind of eighteen studio days in the depths of leafy Westmeath the 10 songs that resulted offer slivers of magic and moments of sublime comfort. All of which makes for an album of light, optimism and progression that can’t fail to appeal, both musically and lyrically, to the broadest possible audience.
 
Agnew has expanded on the palate suggested by his previous albums (Tailor Made and, more recently, Songs From The Gasstation) displaying a pop-nous and songwriting maturity previously only glimpsed at.
In an era of insanely accelerated pop careers burnouts and X-factor pot-celebrity the Hello Bright Spark harks back to an era when craft, time and emotion meant so much more.
 
Stewart has played live with everyone from Ron Sexsmith (who guested on the last album) and Gemma Hayes to Mick Flannery and Beth Orton, Josh Ritter & Duke Special.
 
Praise for Songs From the Gasstation:

“The songs are lovingly crafted and exude a simplicity and frankness that is complemented by the stripped-down production.” Hot Press
 
“A slice of Springsteen, a sprinkle of Young and a dash of Ryan Adams….” Cluas.com
 
“Hints of Springsteen, Dylan and Waits peep through and while its clear that Agnew is still trying to find his real voice, its fairly obvious hes not too far away from it.” Irish Times
 
 
information from Roger: ask@nulltrickmanagement.com
 

Spotlight

Constant Supply-Daft Quotes

LETTERKENNY-based duo Constant Supply comprised of James Gillen and Conal Sweeney return with their “darkly compelling” brand of alt-rock in the shape of delectable new single ‘Daft Quotes’ on October 7th.
James and Conal have been playing music together on and off since they were 13. After around three years of playing acoustic sets (because they couldn’t find a decent drummer) James decided to purchase a drum machine before Xmas 2009. They haven’t looked back since. Their songs are now fully formed for people’s ears.
The follow-up to their 2010 critically acclaimed debut ‘Alleviate EP’ sees the Donegal pair once again teaming up with Tommy McLaughlin (Villagers/ Cathy Davey) at his Attica Studios.  ‘Daft Quotes’ is a very impressive first taste of what’s in store from Constant Supply’s eagerly-awaited debut album, due for release early next year. By marrying skittery rhythms, fuzzy riffs and an unsettling bassline with a perversely upbeat melody this track is a darkly delicious affair.
“It started off as quite a dark tune and chances are it would’ve stayed dark the whole way through if it wasn’t for the Gorillaz album ‘Plastic Beach’. I was listening to it a lot at the time and it inspired me to write a chorus that was a bit more poppy, and dare I say, happy, musically anyway. The dynamic of a heavy, dark verse and then an uplifting poppier chorus works well I think. Hopefully the chorus will surprise people a bit,” says Constant Supply’s James Gillen.
“Great stuff” Dan Hegarty – 2FM
“Letterkenny-based duo armed with strong songs, sparkling arrangements and a drum machine” Jim Carroll – The Irish Times
“Quality stuff” Cathal Funge – Phantom FM
‘DAFT QUOTES’ will be available as a free download from www.constantsupply.bandcamp.com from October 7.
Spotlight

 

Alzheimer’s Society Music Benefit

Ulster Hall, Belfast, November 3, 2011
Featuring The Divine Comedy, Ash, The Undertones
with support from John D’Arcy

This special concert has been put together to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society. The three main acts will each perform one of their classic albums in sequence.

The Divine Comedy, featuring Neil Hannon and a string quartet will play the 1994 'Promenade' album. Tracks including ‘Tonight We Fly’, ‘The Summerhouse’ and ‘When The Lights Go Out All Over Europe’ will all be aired.

Ash will present their first ‘proper’ album, ‘1977’ as the original three piece. This record topped the UK chart in 1996 and fielded songs such as ‘Girls From Mars’, Angel Interceptor’, Goldfinger’ and ‘Oh Yeah’.
The Undertones will perform their debut self-titled album from 1979, including 'Teenage Kicks’, ‘Get Over You’, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ and ‘Here Comes The Summer’.

Tim Wheeler from Ash explains his involvement in the event:
“My Dad passed away in January this year. He'd been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 2008 and lived the last 6 months of his life in the Psychiatry Of Old Age Ward at Downe Hospital. I spent a lot of time in the hospital with him and saw many other patients and families going through exactly the same thing as we were going through.
“As my Dad's condition deteriorated I felt very helpless as there was nothing I could do except visit him as much as possible. When I heard that Neil's father had also been diagnosed with Alzheimer's I thought that we could actually do something using our music to help fight Alzheimer's. It is a growing worldwide problem and as yet there is no cure. The main hope seems to be in prevention and a lot of funding for research is needed.

“I've been a friend and massive fan of Neil for years too and always love being on the same stage as The Divine Comedy. With Ash, we're really excited to be playing our debut album '1977' in full, something that we've only ever done twice before. My Dad loved music, playing piano was one of his joys and he would never miss an Ash gig in Belfast. I know he'll be there in spirit.
 
“As well as raising funds for the Alzheimer's Society I'd like to use our gig to say how important a service the Health Service is and that we can't let it be taken away. I'd also like to say how grateful my family and I are for the Health Service and the kindness of the staff at The Downe Hospital for the care my father received.”
 
Neil Hannon, The Divine Comedy says:
“My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years ago. It is a debilitating and frustrating condition, and affects not just the sufferer but all those around them. It is however possible, with early diagnosis and medication, to continue living a meaningful and enjoyable life as my dad has shown. I find him as entertaining now as ever, just in a much more random sort of way.
 
“Of course being my Dad he decided to use his capacity as a public figure to talk openly about the inner workings of his ailing mind. To help demystify and de-stigmatise it a little. He's a very awesome man. I'm delighted to finally get this opportunity to do my bit for the cause. It should be a fantastic night!”
 
The event is part of Belfast Music Week which runs from October 30 – November 5. Belfast City Council, with support from the NI Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland, has organised a packed programme of events in the run-up to the MTV European Music Awards which take place at the Odyssey Arena on November 6. A full programme of events will be announced soon and will be available via the council's website www.belfastcity.gov.uk
 
Doors at 7pm. Tickets, £20 and £22 will go on sale on Thursday 22nd September at 9am at the Ulster Hall box office: www.ulsterhall.co.uk Tel.  02890 334455.
 
Tickets will also be available at Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.co.uk  and from Crowdsurge www.crowdsurge.com 
 
Finally, you can donate to the cause via JustGiving or by text:
www.justgiving.com/ulsterhallmusicbenefit
 
Text: ULST77 to 70070 for a donation of £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10
http://www.justgiving.com/ulsterhallmusicbenefit
 
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