Author: Breffni Banks

Ending Summer 2009 with 2 shows at Electric Picnic, followed by the opportunity to support Kasabian as part of the Arthur's Day celebrations, The Dying Seconds decided it was the perfect time to bunker down and record their sophomore album. The resulting record took longer than expected to make, and it was only in December 2010 that they re-emerged from the studio with an expanded line-up to test the live waters again. It went well:

The Button Factory, The Mercantile, The Grand Social, Shebeen Chic, Twisted Pepper and The Workman’s Club
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Hard Working Class Heroes, Ireland’s annual showcase festival and conference for new music, returns to the streets of Dublin over the weekend of Thursday 6/ Friday 7 / Saturday 8 October for its 9th consecutive year.
 
Taking place in Dublin City Centre the festival is NOW calling on Ireland’s musicians to apply for a slot to play at the event. Applications will be through FMC’s own Breaking Tunes site (log on to www.hwch.net and click on the “BANDS APPLY HERE” button). Closing date for applications is Saturday 16th July. The judging panel for applications will be made up of writers, A&R and music industry people from around the globe as well as international festival programmers.
 
Once again, Ireland’s photographers are being called on to submit their finest music related shots for a chance to feature in a HWCH Photographers Exhibition. Photographers’ applications will also be via www.hwch.net  – simply click on the “PHOTOGRAPHERS APPLY HERE” button and follow the instructions
 
Speaking of their ongoing relationship with HWCH Belinda Kelly, Trade Marketing Manager at Bulmers said ‘Last year the partnership of HWCH and the Bulmers Berry Undergrowth Movement succeeded in its task to unearth hidden talents.  Through HWCH 100 bands, plus the Bulmers Berry wild card ‘Band 101’ got the chance to showcase their music and get a head start in the industry.  With the depth of talent that applied & were showcased, we are confident that 2011 will be no different and we can lead the way for more talented musicians and artists to be discovered and get the recognition they deserve.  The ultimate goal for us is to continue discover new talent and ultimately see these bands achieve a long fruitful career in the music industry.’

Ed Bennett’s latest release My Broken Machines will be launched this Wednesday at 6pm at the Contemporary Music Centre’s Platform for Performance. My Broken Machines is released on the NMC label and will be officially launched by Bernard Clarke, RTÉ lyric fm Broadcaster, Presenter of Nova.

Ed Bennett’s music, which has been described in the press as ‘anarchic’ (Irish Times), ‘manic’ (Classical Music), ‘brutal’(The Guardian) and ‘beautiful’ (Gramophone) is often characterized by its strong rhythmic energy, extreme contrasts and the combination of acoustic, electronic and multimedia elements. In common with a number of composers of his generation, Bennett developed an interest in classical music relatively late, his earlier musical experiences were in bands and improvisation groups and these interests are still evident in his music. A childhood memory of an old fairground filled with ‘laughing policemen, mechanical fortune tellers, tests of strength, ghost trains and an array of other eccentric machines’ is the inspiration for My Broken Machines.

Highlights on My Broken Machines include Ghosts, for amplified viola d’amore, which explores the acoustic peculiarity of the baroque instrument: beneath its seven strings the instrument has seven sympathetic strings creating a ghost-like resonant sound around the bowed notes.  Stop-Motion Music applies to music a ‘stop-start’ technique Bennett admires in the work of surrealist Czech animator Jan Svankmajer. This portrait CD features some of the most exceptional musicians specialising in Contemporary Music:  Garth Knox, viola d’amore, Paul Roe, bass clarinet, The Fidelio Trio, Decibel and ConTempo Quartet.

For the CD launch, Paul Roe will perform live, Monster from My Broken Machines as well as a new work written especially by Ed Bennett to celebrate this new release.
 
The CD, which will be available to purchase on the launch night at a special price of €10, will be available to order online or in person from the Contemporary Music Centre as of July 1 at www.cmc.ie and will feature as CMC’s CD of the month for July.

Jody Trehy will be live at Bewley’s Café Theatre this Thursday at 8pm. Jody will be joined on the night by his band and guest singers Amy Creighton and Michael Grennell.

Having gigged as a singer-songwriter throughout Ireland and the UK, Jody has also written for stage and has received praise for his shows “How I Failed to Become a Popstar”, “Eejit of Love” and wrote songs for the comedy “MacBecks”.

Jody’s two self-produced EPs have been well received, and he has most recently released a full length album, “Promise”.

Dirty Epics are back with vengeance and a pulsating new single, “Enthralled” which is the first track taken from their forthcoming 2nd studio album due out this autumn.

The band – SJ Wai, Alan Delaney, Darren McCoy and Richie Power have been grinding away in the recording studio whist continuing to perform their own brand of high energy, new wave, pop rock sounds all over Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US.

With support slots to The Hoosiers, LadyHawke and Brandon Flowers under their belts and numerous music placements, on the Starz Entertainment Network in the US, feature films and tv series including E4s SKINS – SJ and the lads are looking forward to getting back on the road full time with their brand new sounds.

Limerick-based band, Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters, have just released their debut album, “The Devil in Music”. With two EP’s under their belts, the album is the culmination of months locked away behind closed doors perfecting every last second of their armada of songs.

Taking elements of their punk rock roots from their first self-titled EP, and mixing them with the haunting quirky and weird of their "Congress of Oddities" EP, "The Devil in Music" is a mature and diverse album which is set to mystify and satisfy.

The album’s first single release came in the form of the highly praised “Thread the Needle”.

You can catch Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters live throughout the summer at the following venues:
June 17th – De Barras, Clonakilty
June 22nd – Whelans, Dublin
June 23rd – Roisin Dubh, Galway
June 30th – Sweeney Mongrels, Dublin
July 2nd – The Stables, Mullingar
July 24th – Knockanstockan Festival, Wicklow
July 31st – Indiependence Festival, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork
Aug 10th – Dublin Castle, Camden, London
Aug 20th – Billy Byrnes, Kilkenny

www.foxjawbountyhunters.com

Taken from The No. 1 charted Irish Album:  ‘The further adventures of….”
+ **FREE GIG** The Saw Doctors will play a free concert in the Dublin Civic Offices (near Templebar) on Sunday June 19th as part of Mayo Alive Festival. On stage at 5PM.