Author: Breffni Banks

TWENTY YEARS CELEBRATING THE BEST NEW IRISH MUSIC!

It’s showcase time! The IMRO Showcase Tour returns with the very best new Irish music, live at your local venue throughout September 2011. Celebrating twenty years on the road, the 2011 IMRO Showcase Tour is now seeking applications from Irish artists who wish to take part in the eleven date tour. All genres are welcome, from rock to folk, pop to hip-hop and beyond!
 
The IMRO Showcase Tour has been providing a live platform for new Irish music for two decades. In that time, hundreds of music makers have had the opportunity to showcase their talents to thousands of music lovers. Bands and solo acts have performed at Ireland’s most iconic live music venues, gaining new fans, impressing music media, catching the ears of talent scouts and exchanging ideas and opinions with their peers. The IMRO Showcase Tour has borne many successes and fostered a multitude of friendships and collaborations.
 
Commencing in September, the IMRO Showcase Tour will hit the road for the twentieth time, with long time radio partners RTE 2FM and online partners State.ie on board for the rock’n’roll ride. The tour will play out in Belfast, Derry, Dublin, Cork, Mayo, Galway, Kildare and Limerick. The annual ‘End of Tour Showcase’ will take on a new vibe this year and in mid October, Dublin’s celebrated new live music venue The Workman’s Club will play host to a day-long celebration of many of the acts who performed on the 2011 IMRO Showcase Tour. There will also be an educational aspect to the day and a number of shows will be open to music fans of all ages.
 
Bands and artists wishing to take part in the IMRO Showcase Tour 2011, send on a link to your online music profile or website to showcase@nullimro.ie BEFORE 31st July. It’s a music opportunity not to be missed!
 
The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) protects, promotes and develops the collection and distribution of music royalties, fosters music creation and promotes the value of music to the creative, cultural and business communities in Ireland.
 
For details, music, links and more information, join us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imro.ireland) and Twitter (IMROireland). For information on IMRO and what it does, log on to www.imro.ie
 

The Contemporary Music Centre presents Play with Music II
 
The Contemporary Music Centre presents Play with Music II, on 17 and 24 July as part of the Temple Bar Cultural Trust Made in Temple Bar Festival, 15 – 24 July 2011. Experience music like never before! Create sounds and images using the latest trends in music technology! Meet inspiring young composers and learn about their work!
 

The Contemporary Music Centre will play host to a range of sound and visual installations from music and multimedia students from around Ireland tailored for children as well as adults.
Play with Music II consists of two different multimedia installations, Handchime  and Wee-Doodle, and offers an exciting opportunity for children and adults to interact with sound and vision.
 

Handchime, created by Irish composers, Edward Costello and Andrew McGovern, is an interactive melody generator, that uses hand gestures to control pitch and sound textures. The installation makes use of both audio and visual feedback, which provides a simple and intuitive way of creating pleasant melodic textures.
Wee-Doodle, created by Irish composer, Eoin Smith, is an easy and fun way of manipulating visuals and sounds, using a Wii remote. It allows users to control audio, draw shapes and generally explore the sonic and visual world in the installation. The idea is simple – take the controller and enjoy a Wee-Doodle.
 

Admission is free and both installations which are located in The Contemporary Music Centre will be open to the public from 12.00pm – 4.00pm, on Sunday 17 and Sunday, 24 July 2011. Booking not required.
The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland's national archive and resource centre for new music, supporting and developing the work of composers throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland. It is used on a national and international basis by performers, composers, promoters and members of the public interested in finding out more about music in Ireland.
 

For further information and to arrange interviews with any of the composers involved contact Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, tel: 01 673 1922, email: khennessy@nullcmc.ie www.cmc.ie



Temple Bar Cultural Trust presents Made in Temple Bar, an imaginative, dynamic and extra special 10 day programme that includes opportunities for young and old to get creative and make their own works of art with over 70 events taking place in Temple Bar,  including premieres of site specific theatre, outdoor movies and specially commissioned art and sound installations. www.templebar.ie
 

Notes for Editors
Play with Music II
 
Handchime and Wee-Doodle
 
12pm – 4pm, Sunday, 17 and Sunday, 24 July

Track Dogs is the new band name for Garrett Wall Band, the acoustic four piece based in Madrid.
 

The band takes its name from the maintenance teams working the subway tracks in New York City. These teams have to look out for each other and are a closely-knit group much like the band of four expats living in Spain who came together in 2007 to make their unique brand of folk-pop. Eschewing the typical band line-up they have opted for Cajón (flamenco box drum) instead of drums and trumpet in place of electric guitar. With acoustic guitar, bass and four vocals the band are constantly evolving both as a live act and studio band as evidenced on their new album, Track Dogs.
 

Made up of two Irishmen; Garrett Wall (Vocals/Guitar) & Dave Mooney (Bass/Vocals), Englishman Howard Brown (Trumpet/Vocals) and Cleveland, Ohio native Robbie K Jones (Cajón/Banjo) the band have already released two albums under their previous incarnation. Perhaps inspired by the new lease of life given to them as a result of the name change the new material shows the energy and freshness you would expect from a “debut” album combined with the confidence and diversity  you would expect from a band with as many miles under their belt as Track Dogs.
 

Track Dogs celebrate the launch of their new album with a headline show in Dublin’s Crawdaddy.

Bona Fide Federation have created fresh and innovative music with an original line up of piano, vocals, cello, electric bass and drums. They launch their indie-pop debut single ‘Festival’ on the 17th of June in the lead up to the Sea Sessions 2011, where they performed on the festival’s main stage.  Bona Fide Federation supported ‘O Emperor’ on their 'Hither Thither' tour and ‘Fred’ in December.
 

Their single ‘Festival’ has been recorded and produced by Peter Lee, (co-producer with Miracle Bell) and will be available for download on iTunes and bandcamp from June 17th.  ‘Festival’ has been tipped as being the sound of summer 2011.

Tony Floyd Kenna has just released a new compilation of tracks through Razor Blade Records & Music. The EP includes the brand new track “Break of Day”, along with “SKY”,  “Don’t Worry ‘bout Me”, “Done My Time” and “Gone Too Soon”, written in memory of Chris ‘Titch’ Hallam.  

LaFaro have just released “Easy Meat”, the title track from their second album due out later this summer.  LaFaro are a wrecking ball of a band, their rhythmic post-hardcore designed to pulverize dance floors.

On 'Easy Meat', LaFaro have transplanted their sound into a black, hellish and apocalyptic space. Gone is the echo of grunge, it has been replaced with metal's electric chair. Part meditation on Northern Ireland, part metal concept album 'Easy Meat' is a dense, troubling and exhilaratingly kick ass affair.

Having toured with artists like Helmet and And So I Watch You From Afar in 2010, and rocked SXSW in Austin, Texas earlier this year, LaFaro are currently playing some select UK and Ireland gigs with pop-punk princes Ash.

You can also catch the band live at the Glasgowbury Festival in Derry on Saturday 23rd July.

www.facebook.com/LaFaroBand

www.youtube.com/user/LaFaroBand

Described as having songs and a performance style that cover a wide emotional range, in the past, JP has featured on the ‘Celtic Connection’ Compilation album with a host of emerging acts. He has opened for Rod Stewart, playing in a line up that included Natasha Bedingfield and additional acts,  Kieran Goss and Jack L.

JP has also opened for acts such as Chris Diffard, guitar virtuoso, Beppe Gambetta, Ollabelle and has also played with UK bassist, Andy Baker and saxophonist and former Van der Generator member, David Jackson. As an Irish artist, JP Ryan’s introduction to playing music developed from his affection for old Irish folk songs.

As an Arts graduate with a Masters in Art Therapy, JP has also worked in many social groups using music a means of expression. He has also become part of the Outbound and Noteborn music roster, with a song from ‘Dancing With Anima’ included in a recent US Motion Picture.

He was a recent winner of the AC Category of America's Open Door songwriting contest, judged by members of ASCAP, BMI and Gospel Music Association, and a finalist in "Show Me The Music” Songwriting Contest 2009. JP was also a finalist in the UK Songwriting Contest out of over 6000 entries, the contest is an international event and a highly recognised platform for emerging songwriters.

His debut album ‘Dancing With Anima’ consists of a collection of some top Irish session players including Des Moore. James Blennerhasset, Des Lacey and many more. Recorded in Ireland, (with some tracks recorded in Castalia Concert Hall, Kilkenny), and mastered in the US by renowned Mastering Engineer, Bob Katz, the album is set to be released, July 29th 2011

NEW IRISH INDEPENDENT ARTIST SINÉAD MCNALLY OFFICIALLY RELEASES HER SECOND SINGLE ON THE 27TH JUNE BUT ‘THE GREEN EYED MONSTER’ HAS ALREADY BEEN GETTING AIRPLAY WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE RELEASE DATE.
 

Dundalk singer/songwriter and pianist Sinéad McNally is off to an incredible start with her second single ‘The Green Eyed Monster’ (Leave Us Alone). The song, which is a follow up to a very successful first single titled ‘Moody Blues’ started getting airplay on Tuesday the 7th June and the public interest in the song gains momentum every week.  Sinead is a full time singer/songwriter who left full time employment last September to release her music. She is completely independent and has got this far already through sheer dedication and commitment to what she believes is her purpose in life.
 

There is a great excitement around Sinead at the moment as she is proving that dreams are obtainable, regardless of the obstacles along the way. Many presenters across the country play Sinead’s music because it has huge public appeal. It is upbeat, fresh and energetic and her enthusiasm to have her music played and heard is incredible. Jackie Hayden, music industry professional reviewed Sinead’s debut single ‘Moody Blues’ in ‘Hot Press’ magazine in March. He wrote: “McNally’s vocal style owes a little to Sinead O’Connor and Delores O’Riordain and her fine piano fills are reminiscent of Bruce Hornsby. Moody Blues is a radio-friendly song with a catchy singalong tune that could well brighten up the airwaves. McNally is a promising talent in a pop-rock sort of way.”
 

‘Music Review Unsigned’ also wrote: “It is nice to hear some good original pop music come out of Ireland today. I’m sure Sinead will surprise us with many more cracking songs in the future”. And so she has. Sinead’s second single will surprise many, with its skilful bass and piano lines and enlightening chorus. Sinead is without question, one to watch!

With MaSamba’s Musical Director, Simeon Smith, just returned from a Brasilian tour, it’s full steam ahead for the annual Drogheda Samba Festival.

‘No matter how far we travel, or the size of gigs we play, Drogheda is an important gig for us all, and we always try to have something special in the set for the Samba festival’, says Simeon.

The show takes place at the very apex of the Festival, at the Purple Room, Drogheda at 11pm on Saturday 25th June. Tickets are €8 and some will be available on the door.

The group is well known for leading out the Festival Parade every year, but has not played a full stage set in Drogheda for some years. This year’s set will blend brand new material with some of the band’s oldest tunes, some of which date back to the very emergence of samba music in Ireland almost 20 years ago! MaSamba will be supported on the night by Craiceann from Tralee.

The MaSamba show is made possible by the Festival organisers, Contemporanea Instrumentos Musicais and Sabian Cymbals.

www.masamba.com

***This event is usually €450 but available to IMRO members for €382.50…LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE***