Author: Breffni Banks

Following the release of their debut album ”BOOM “ (Hot Press ****Sunday World **** Metro *****) Hogan moved to London where they have been based for the last 12 months.  Having already secured a publishing deal with London based Respect Music they got themselves a UK agent and have been very busy gigging building up their UK and international fan base which has more than doubled in the last six months.    

In the past year, Hogan have supported Jody Has a Hitlist on their UK and Ireland tour, and have performed at the Chaoyang Pop Festival 2011 in Beijing, a festival they will be returning to in 2012. The band have also had tracks featured on MTV Dirty Sanchez and Jackass “Gumball Rally 3000”.

Summer 2011 will see Hogan sharing the stage with Kerbdog, Toploader and The Manic Street Preachers

You can catch Hogan live at the following venues in August:

06.08             The Academy, Dubiln (All ages)                      2pm               €10.00
07.08             Danny Byrnes, Mullingar                                 All day event  Free
10.08             KDYS, Tralee (All ages)                                 3pm               €5.00
11.08             The Riverbank, Wexford Town (All ages)        3pm               €5.00
19.08             Dithmarscher Rock Fest, Germay
26.08             INEC, Killarney Summer Fest   

www.hoganband.com

Making Overtures is Music Network’s intensive, professional development course for Irish and Ireland-based professional musicians and composers working in all musical genres. The aim of the course is to motivate and support professional musicians and composers by providing access to relevant expertise, resources, materials and professional supports. The programme focuses on two non-artistic elements of a successful music career: self-promotion and self-management.

The course will take place in the Centre for Creative Practices, 15 Pembroke Street Lower, Dublin 2 on
1 & 2 November and 3 & 4 November, 2011.

Currently working on their second album due for release early next year, The Aftermath embark on an Irish tour this month.

Ben Carrigan releases his debut album The Greatest Narrators on Friday 23rd September 2011. Ahead of that, a free download single “You Knew It All Along” will be available from 19th August.

Wicklow rock five-piece, GLYDER, are back with a new line-up and a new album!

The band has completed work on what is Glyder's fourth studio album titled "Backroads to Byzantium".

The album takes the listener on a road trip that has a hint of Americana and progresses to the re-emerging troubles on the streets of Northern Ireland to being homeless on the streets of London. Other themes on the album concern the evils of the tabloid press and global warming. The album ends off in a reflective mood about mortality and how it's not the end.

Thursday 8 September, 8pm
National Concert Hall
RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Limerick born singer-songwriter and guitarist Donnacha Toomey has just finished recording his eagerly awaited second studio album entitled “Level Crossing”. The first single “Duty Free” will be released on August 15th. Donnacha has had a busy year recording the album at Sonas recording studios based in Killarney.

The album is currently being mastered in Los Angeles. He has just returned from playing to a new audience in London following appearances at numerous well known venues at home. Last summer his solo acoustic performance was well received at the “Electric Picnic”. “Level Crossing” will be available on general release in January 2012.
 

On Carnival of Colours (2009):
“‘Dappled jazz inflections, razor sharp melody, delightfully intricate guitar & trumpet set this collection apart from its attention seeking peers”
IRISH TIMES
 

General:
“Approaches each tune with the grace and confidence of a master craftsman”
IRISH EXAMINER
 

“Possessing about the smoothest and most pleasant voice heard for some time, Toomey is one artist going places…ghostly yet sublime”
MAVERICK MAGAZINE
 

“A richly honeyed voice that he applies with loving care to his judiciously crafted songs, thoughtful arrangements & top drawer musicianship”  “We can’t really afford to ignore talents like Toomey”
HOTPRESS – Jackie Hayden
 

For further information please contact www.donnachatoomey.com
 

The Hot Press Yearbook 2011-2012: 30% IMRO DISCOUNT (for a limited time only!)

RTÉ Radio in association with Recorded Actors Artists Performers (RAAP) is offering emerging musical performers the opportunity to kick-start their careers by winning part of a €20,000 bursary fund and having their music played across RTÉ Radio’s four FM stations: RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
 
The RTÉ Radio/RAAP Breakthrough 2011 is a series of bursaries which will be awarded to emerging musical performers across a wide range of genres. 
 
The Breakthrough 2011 panel are looking for musicians and/or musical acts that display not only musical and technical skill, but also real audience appeal. The award aims to reward performers and, as such, is aimed at performance rather than original composition.
 
To be in with a chance of winning, applicants must have their entries in by Friday, 26 August 2011.
 
The competition is running to coincide with RTÉ’s annual Big Music Week (10 – 16 October 2011), which, in addition to the €5,000 bursary per genre, will give each winning entrant the opportunity to perform on RTÉ Radio as part of the event.
 
The aim of the RTÉ Radio/RAAP Breakthrough 2011 Bursaries is to celebrate music performance in Ireland and to offer entrants the opportunity to break through to the next level of their music career via the awarding of a bursary of €5,000 per winner, and exposure and airplay across the four channels of RTÉ Radio.
 
RTÉ 2fm’s Dave Fanning says: “Ireland is awash with exceptionally talented performers of all musical disciplines. It’s great to see RTÉ Radio join forces with RAAP to offer emerging acts this opportunity to get their career off the ground. Who knows, the next U2, Chieftains, Glen Hansard or Colm Wilkinson could be out there waiting for the opportunity to show the world what they’ve got; Breakthrough 2011 could be their chance.” 
 
www.rte.ie/breakthrough
 

Miltown Malbay song writing contest 2011 is being held over the October bank holiday weekend in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare. The contest is open to songwriters of all ages and all genres.