A band to watch in 2006, Dublin five piece MoCrac hit the ground running with the release of their debut single, Happy on 17th February, the perfect track to coincide with Valentine’s Day. Happy is the first single to be taken from MoCrac’s debut album ‘Cash Is King’ which is set for release on 17th March 2006.
Cash Is King was originally available on a very limited underground basis in 2005 but now gets it label debut on Reekus Records due to increased interest in the band.
Happy was recently chosen as the lead track for the Maeve Binchy movie Tara Road starring Andie McDowell. The track was not only featured in the movie but was used as the sound-bed for a major television and radio advertising campaign for the film and will be included on the movie soundtrack.
Written and arranged by Maurice Ferriter (aka MoCrac) with additional creative input from producers Liam Mulvaney and Ed Joliffe (Asylum Studios – Jape, The Radio), Happy rides on a widescreen backround of strings fronted by drop-dead gorgeous guest vocals from chanteuse Cathy Davey and is a fitting ode and dialogue to MoCrac’s only son but could indeed be between loved one’s anywhere. The song has a simple sentiment and reflects on the essentials of the human condition and how we should see ourselves, “I hope you learn to love yourself.. And I don’t mean more than anyone else”.
Originally a studio project conceptualised by MoCrac, increased interest in the tracks in 2005 prompted Maurice to decide that the time was right to put a full time band on the road in order to bring these songs to life. Now a five piece band, MoCrac’s first date to kick of the New Year was in the Temple Bar Music Centre on 6th January 2006. This will be followed by a free in-store in Tower Records, Dublin on Saturday 18th February and by further dates around the country to coincide with the forthcoming album. First up will be the Sugar Club, Dublin on 18th March and in Roisin Dubh, Galway on March 30th. For constant updates check out: www.mocrac.com.
IMRO will host a Songwriter Retreat in Co. Donegal in February 2006.
Date: Friday 24th – Monday 27th February 2006
Venue: The Sandhouse Hotel and Marine Spa, (4-Star) Rossnowlagh, Donegal Bay, Co Donegal, www.sandhouse-hotel.ie
Cost: €355 per person attending (special reduced rate sponsored by IMRO)
Whatever inspired Yeats, you’ll find it around here!
The Sandhouse Hotel, described as ‘one of Ireland’s west coast treasures’, is magnificently situated on the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean overlooking Donegal Bay. It is a haven of comfort and tranquillity amidst the beauty of rural Ireland. The hotel is located in Rossnowlagh, known as ‘the heavenly cove’.
This songwriter event will run along similar lines to those previously hosted by IMRO in that it will focus on songwriter collaboration and live performances of new material.
Each morning workshop participants will be randomly paired off together to spend the day co-writing. We will also be running songwriter masterclasses over the course the workshop session and each evening participants will be given the opportunity to perform newly written material live.
The cost of this workshop includes: 4 nights accommodation plus 3 days breakfast, lunch and evening meals at the Sandhouse Hotel. All additional hotel services, meals, phone, etc will be billed at normal hotel rates.
Workshop participants will be required to pay for the workshop fee on arrival. Extra hotel service charges, if billed, are payable to the Sandhouse Hotel on departure.
There are only 30 places available for this workshop, so early booking is advisable.
To reserve your place please send a cheque/postal order for €100, made payable to IMRO (please don´t send cash). This deposit will be refunded at the beginning of the workshop session.
Keith Johnson
Marketing Manager
Irish Music Rights Organisation
Copyright House
Pembroke Row
Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
Phone: 353 1 6614844
Fax: 353 1 6763125
Email: keith.johnson@nullimro.ie
Following on from the successful showcase gigs held by the Ballyfermot “Rock School” over the past eight years, the “musicology” showcase gig for this year’s most gifted writers and instrumentalists will be held on three consecutive Wednesday nights (the 22nd and 29th of March and the 5th of April) this Spring.
The Rock school programme has always encouraged original and innovative music, and it has produced artists such as Damien Dempsey and Roesy, as well as rising stars like Fiach and Ross Breen. This year’s talent is no less promising.
As a venue renowned for it’s support of young Irish talent, Whelan’s has been chosen as the ideal place to host the showcase and it promises to be a fitting arena.
Steve Reich to visit Dublin for
RTÉ Living Music Festival
17–19 February 2006
RTÉ will host a major celebration of the work of Steve Reich, icon of American music and contemporary culture, in the 2006 RTÉ Living Music Festival sponsored by IMRO, the Irish Music Rights Organisation.
Under the artistic direction of composer Donnacha Dennehy, the 2006 festival will take place from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 February 2006 and will mark a move from the Helix to city centre venues the O´Reilly Theatre (Belvedere College, Great Denmark Street), National Concert Hall and Project Arts Centre.
The 2006 festival will also feature the music of other leading composers of recent times, such as Louis Andriessen, Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt and John Adams. Marking the centenary year of Samuel Beckett, the festival will include Morton Feldman´s one-act opera Neither, a setting of a Beckett text.
Reich´s music has been influenced by everything from Bach, Stravinsky and Debussy to Balinese gamelan, African drumming and jazz, but it is also wholly American in character. Reich´s music is represented by works including You Are (Variations) and Music for 18 Musicians (Ensemble Modern, conductor Sian Edwards); City Life (Crash Ensemble); Three Movements (RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Stefan Asbury); Triple Quartet and Different Trains (RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet); Part 1 of Drumming, and Proverb (National Chamber Choir with Ensemble Modern, conductor Celso Antunes).
Other programme highlights include the world premières of three pieces commissioned for the festival by RTÉ from Kevin Volans, Jennifer Walshe and Simon O´Connor.
Looking forward to the RTÉ Living Music Festival, artistic director Donnacha Dennehy said:
‘I remember vividly the day I first heard Steve Reich´s Music for 18 Musicians, and fell in love. This was not just a love for that piece, but a love for a whole new sound. It is particularly meaningful for me that this festival, forming the largest concentration on the work of Steve Reich that this country has ever experienced, will finish with that iconic work played by one of the world´s greatest groups, Ensemble Modern. Building up to that, and including an all-day marathon event on the Saturday, will be a riotous celebration of his work in the context of other major figures such as Morton Feldman, Arvo Pärt and many others.
‘Alex Ross, writing in the New Yorker magazine, recently declared Reich “the most original musical thinker of our timeâ€. But this may conjure up an image of an obscure cult figure living in an attic. Far from it! Steve Reich is not just known to a small group of new music cognoscenti, or those interested in classical music. His reach spans all genres of music, from new classical to electronica (and many others in between). I can hardly think of another musician so influential outside his own area. I am delighted that Steve Reich will be attending in person to partake in the festival.´
RTÉ LIVING MUSIC FESTIVAL 2006 AT A GLANCE
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra National Concert Hall, 8pm
SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY
‘Marathon´ Concert Day O´Reilly Theatre, 1–11.30pm
Featuring public interview with Steve Reich and performances by the Crash Ensemble, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet with pianist Hugh Tinney
SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY
Composition seminar with Steve Reich National Concert Hall, 11am*
*NB strictly limited number of tickets, available by application only – please see details below.
RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet (plus soundtrack) Project Arts Centre, 3pm
National Chamber Choir with Ensemble Modern National Concert Hall, 5pm
Ensemble Modern National Concert Hall, 8pm
Full programme below.
For further information please contact
Angela Rohan, Communications Executive, RTÉ Performing Groups
Tel: 01 208 3347
Mobile: 087 617 2531
Fax: 01 208 2511
Email: angela.rohan@nullrte.ie
RTÉ Living Music Festival 2006
17–19 February
O´Reilly Theatre, National Concert Hall & Project Arts Centre
Programme
Friday, 17 February
8pm National Concert Hall
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
Steve Reich Three Movements (1986)
Steve Reich Variations for Winds, Strings, and Keyboards (1979)
Morton Feldman Neither (1977)
Sylvia O´Brien soprano
Stefan Asbury conductor
‘Marathon´ Concert Day
1–11.30pm
O´Reilly Theatre
The ‘Marathon´ Concert Day takes place in association with Crash Ensemble.
Part 1: 1–2.30pm O´Reilly Theatre
Crash Ensemble
Steve Reich It´s Gonna Rain (1965)
Jennifer Walshe The Procedure for Smoothing Air (world première – RTÉ lyric fm commission)
Philip Glass Two Pages for Steve Reich (1968)
Steve Reich Pendulum Music (1968)
Steve Reich Four Organs (1970)
Part 2: 3–5pm O´Reilly Theatre
Crash Ensemble
Louis Andriessen Workers Union (1975)
James Tenney Having Never Written a Note for Percussion (1971)
Simon O´Connor New work (world première – RTÉ lyric fm commission)
Steve Reich Vermont Counterpoint (1982)
Steve Reich Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ (1973)
Part 3: 6–7pm O´Reilly Theatre
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Steve Reich Duet (1993)
Arvo Pärt Fratres for String Orchestra and Percussion (1977 / 1991)
Morton Feldman The Turfan Fragments (1980)
John Adams Common Tones in Simple Time (1979)
Part 4: 7.30–8.30pm O´Reilly Theatre
Public Interview – Steve Reich in conversation with John Kelly
Steve Reich participates in the festival with the support of the UCD Clinton Institute for American Studies.
Part 6: 11pm–12 midnight O´Reilly Theatre
Crash Ensemble
Steve Reich Clapping Music (1972)
Steve Reich Cello Counterpoint (2003)
Steve Reich City Life (1995)
Alan Pierson conductor
Tickets: €10 (conc. €8)
Booking: 01 448 7777 www.centralticketbureau.com
The Bank of Ireland Mostly Modern Series continues this coming Thursday 26th January 2006 at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre Foster Place Dublin 2.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN 8PM PERFORMANCE
Ensemble Madrid will fly in from Spain to perform works by Ireland’s Raymond Deane – ‘Marche Oubliee’, John Buckley- ‘Sirato’, Benjamin Dwyer –
‘Movimentos I & II’ and Spain’s Arild Suarez – ‘Cuarteto No 5’ (Irish Première) and Jose Luis Turina – ‘Cuarteto Con Piano'(Irish Première).
This concert is in association with the Instituto Cervantes (Dublin) and the Centro para la Difusion de la Musica Comtemporanea (Spain).
Learn and perform a challenging and varied repertoire in a professional standard choir.
Be heard regularly on RTÉ lyric fm
Be part of a team of singers who rehearse every Wednesday (of the academic year), and take part in an annual training weekend.
Perform between 3 and 6 concerts a year, performing works such as Berlioz´s The Damnation of Faust, Mahler´s Das Klagende Lied, Puccini´s La Bohème and Beethoven´s Choral Symphony.
The Choir, all of whom offer their services voluntarily, are currently preparing for Poulenc´s Stabat Mater in April and Brahm´s German Requiem in May.
Budding songwriters and music lovers are in for a real treat in Belfast City Centre at the end of February. Some of Nashville´s most successful songwriters are coming to the Hilton Belfast for a special week of live concerts and workshops at the Continental Airlines Belfast Nashville Songwriters´ Festival 22nd to 26th February. Songwriters´ who have penned hits for Fleetwood Mac, BB king, Vince Gill, The Dixie Chicks and Johnny Cash will be performing with top local professional artists. Gary Nicholson a multi-platinum writer whose song ‘One More last Chance´ hit #1 in the Billboard charts for Vince Gill, Steve Seskin who wrote 7 #1 hits and Nashville´s Dave Gibson, 5 #1 hits have all agreed to come to Belfast.
Festival Director Colin Magee said:
‘We´re celebrating the art of song writing in different languages and exploring the musical heritage of two Sister Cities, Belfast and Music City Nashville. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear the writer behind the hit song. The international artists have also agreed to visit local community centres to inspire people to be creative´
Jason Blume whose songs have sold on 50 million CD´s worldwide for Britney Spears, John Berry and the Backstreet Boys will deliver a series of workshops and seminars. Grammy Award writers Tia Sillers and Mark Selby wrote ‘Blue on Black´ which stayed at #1 in the Billboard Charts for a record 17 weeks. Their song ‘There´s Your Trouble´ was a mega-hit for the Dixie Chicks and Tia´s Grammy song ‘I Hope You Dance´ was recorded by Ronan Keating. Graham Gouldman ex-10cc, wrote ‘I´m Not in Love´ and will perform his popular songs in a special concert at W5 Odyssey on the 25th February. All this has been made possible by sponsorship from local business and Arts support organisations. Anne Coulter of Panarts said:
‘Bringing these world-class songwriters to Belfast is just unbelievable and it´s all possible due to Laganside, Continental Airlines, Hilton, Avalon Guitars, Marcus Music, Arts & Business, NI Events Company, American Consulate, Belfast City Council Tourism, Castlereagh Arts and PRS Foundation. We are grateful to all our sponsors for their support of the arts´
Local artists including Juliet Turner, Brendan Monaghan, Ken Haddock, Tim Cobain, Paul Casey, Eamon McCann, The Low Country Boys and Ben Sands will share the stage with the Nashville guests. Talented Cork songwriter John Spillane, Mick Hanly and Niall Toner all perform at the festival of song. ‘More Than Words´ is an important part of the work of Panarts. This series of training events explores song writing in Irish, Ulster-Scots and English and up to the end of March, several schools and communities will take part in workshops creating new music. The Arts Council, Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge have provided support for this eight week programme.
“The Definitive Tom Dunne Vol. 1â€
Pet Picks 2000 – 2006
Following the success of 2005´s ‘Alternative Irish Anthems´, Tom Dunne returns with another immaculately collated compilation.
This is the holy grail of alternative music for all Tom´s disciples. Curated by the man himself, with extensive listener input; the passion for the music really comes through. The Today FM ‘Pet Sounds´ audience are a discerning bunch and this compilation is tailored to satiate their need for only the very best in leftfield and alternative rock ‘n´ roll.
The tune selection has been drafted, crafted, tweaked, peaked, styled and compiled from over 3,000 hours of music played on the show in the first half of the decade.
Spanning the modern rock idiom, with all its nuances and sub – genres, this 2CD album is the 120 minute guide to twenty first century rock ‘n´ roll that will hold your attention and leave you wanting more.
CD1
1). Modest Mouse – Float On
2). Delays – Long Time Coming
3). Razorlight – Somewhere Else
4). Stereophonics – Dakota
5). Doves – There Goes The Fear
6). Badly Drawn Boy – Silent Sigh
7). Jose Gonzalez – Heartbeats
8). U2 – City Of Blinding Lights
9). PJ Harvey – A Place Called Home
10).Radiohead – There There
11).Sufjan Stevens – Chicago
12).Elliott Smith – Son Of Sam
13).Oasis – The Importance Of Being Idle
14).The Frames – Sideways Down
15).Brendan Benson – Cold Hands (Warm Heart)
16).David Bowie – Everyone Says Hi
17).Looper – Impossible Things # 2
18). Albert Niland – Wuthering Heights
CD2
1). Editors – Munich
2). Weezer – Island In The Sun
3). Primal Scream feat. Kate Moss – Some Velvet Morning
4). The Streets – Weak Become Heroes (Steve Osbourne Radio Mix)
5). Sebastian Tellier – La Ritournelle
6). Lambchop – Up With People (Zero 7 remix)
7). Ian Brown – F.E.A.R.
8). Sonic Youth – Unmade Bed
9). Super Furry Animals – Juxtaposed With U
10). Lemon Jelly – Nice Weather For Ducks
11). Shack – Lend’s Some Dough
12). Bell X1 – Bigger Than Me
13). Republic Of Loose – Comeback Girl
14). Alabama 3 – Woke Up This Morning
15). Calexico – Alone Again Or
16). Bic Runga – Sway
17). Aimee Mann & Michael Penn – Two Of Us
18). 4 Hero Les Fleur
‘The Definitive Tom Dunne – Pet Picks 2000 – 2006´
On Rubyworks Records – released 27th January
Rodrigo y Gabriela announce self titled third album release, new single and Irish dates.
Mexican virtuoso acoustic guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela release their third album on February 17th on Rubyworks Records, and return to Ireland with a string of live dates to support the release.
“Rodrigo y Gabriela†is produced by John Leckie (Muse, Radiohead, My Morning Jacket) and the artistes themselves. It was recorded in the UK in the late summer of 2005, and features nine new tracks – seven Rod & Gab originals and two covers – Metallica´s “Orion†and Led Zeppelin´s “Stairway To Heavenâ€. All the instrumentation on the album comes from Rodrigo y Gabriela´s guitars, with the exception of guest gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos, who contributes a blistering solo to “Ixtapaâ€.
The album will be initially released as a limited edition CD with bonus DVD package; the DVD includes exclusive interviews, bonus live tracks, a guitar tutorial from Rod & Gab and a Mexico picture gallery.
A single – “Tamacun†– will precede the album, and will be released on very limited edition 7†‘dinked´ vinyl plus hand finished sleeve and download on February 3rd.
Fresh from touring around the UK and Europe as special guests of David Gray; Rodrigo y Gabriela will bring their incendiary live show back to Ireland with the following dates in February:
18th – Waterford Ten
19th – Dublin Olympia
21st – Galway Black Box
22nd – Limerick Dolans
24th – Letterkenny An Grianan
Q “NO PULSE†Out Jan 27.
From the album “Body Electric†on Strange Vibe Records (RMG-Chart) www.colmquearney.com
::: Latest Gig Dates Listed Below :::
Special Edition single containing all of Q´s hip singles to date, including his latest offering, the riff-fest that is “No Pulseâ€. Also included are “Carolâ€, “Baby Lets Danceâ€, and from Q’s first album “The World’s Not Round” in 2001 the hard to find “Reckless .think of it as a mini-Greatest Hits!
“A true pop instinct, elegantly fusing gospel, indie and country-tinged FM rock†~ Irish Times
“(Q) pens infuriatingly catchy songs…a slow burning album whose mariachi-tinged moments call Calexico to mind†~ Irish Independent
“A subtle gem which belongs on a perpetual radio playlist†~ Evening Herald
“classic pop moods with immaculate playing” – Event Guide
In a previous life Q was known to friends and acquaintances as Colm Quearney, the guitarist and songwriter with not one but TWO of Ireland’s more daring bands (DRAGONFLY 1991-94 & LIR 1994-1999). As if being one of the country’s top guitarists in both the studio and the road for headline acts such as Jerry Fish & the Mudbug Club, Mundy, Mark Geary, Bronagh Gallagher, and Pugwash were not enough, Colm released his first solo album “The World’s Not Round” to overwhelming critical success in 2001 on his own Strange Vibe Records. The success of his debut proved to be a beacon for the independent music community thus proving you don’t need to be signed to be major record company to make a brilliant album!
Back during the tail end 2003 Colm simply became Q to the delight of small children and grown-ups everywhere. His current band, HALLUCINATIONS, features Zamo Riffman [drums], Andy McDonald [bass], and Bill Blackmore [trumpet]. With the classic power quartet line-up in place, the band went to work on what would emerge as the “Body Electric” album, covering a wide range of genres from 60’s Spector pop lushness to esoteric garage rock to reckless abandoned roots with a twist.
Featuring the previously hip singles “Carol” & “Baby Lets Dance” and now “No Pulse”, Q’s critically aclaimed album “Body Electric” manages to broaden horizons everywhere. Truly a must buy for every household.
Debut Single – HAPPY (feat. Cathy Davey) Released 17th Feb 2006
IMRO will host a Songwriter Retreat in Co. Donegal in February 2006.
Following on from the successful showcase gigs held by the Ballyfermot “Rock School” over the past eight years, the “musicology” showcase gig for this year’s most gifted writers and instrumentalists will be held on three consecutive Wednesday nights (the 22nd and 29th of March and the 5th of April) this Spring.
Steve Reich to visit Dublin for
The Bank of Ireland Mostly Modern Series continues this coming Thursday 26th January 2006 at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre Foster Place Dublin 2.
Have You got a Voice?
GRAMMY AWARD WINNING SONGWRITERS JET INTO BELFAST
“The Definitive Tom Dunne Vol. 1â€
Rodrigo y Gabriela announce self titled third album release, new single and Irish dates.
Q “NO PULSE†Out Jan 27.