Skip to main content

Author: Press Officer

IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2013 Shortlist Announced

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) is delighted to announce that the sixth IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards will take place on Tuesday 4th February 2014 at IMRO HQ in Dublin.AWARDS 2013 finished.eps
 
The annual awards celebrate the dedication and passion of those who work in Ireland’s live music venues, providing the public with an exceptional live music experience, week in, week out.
 
More than 8,500 IMRO members considered hundreds of venues across the country for the shortlist. Venues were judged on their commitment to providing the core elements that make for a great live music venue – atmosphere, sound and lighting, staging, diversity of programming and importantly, the staff and management of each venue. IMRO members also voted on Ireland’s music festivals, delivering a shortlist of their top ten festivals.
 
Live music venues and festivals play a vital role in the music industry in Ireland, giving international and homegrown artists a platform to engage with fans and build new audiences. They also play a central role in urban and rural communities across the country, providing a social gathering space for varied audiences, and contributing hugely to the domestic economy.
 
Of the Awards, Victor Finn, IMRO Chief Executive said, “Over the years these Awards have become a much sought after industry accolade and they clearly highlight the pivotal contribution that venues and festivals make to local economies and the significant role they play in providing a public platform for Irish songwriters and performers”.

At the ceremony in IMRO HQ in Dublin on February 4th, awards will be presented to the leading live music venue in each of the following regions: Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin), Connacht, Munster and Ulster (Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan).

The IMRO Music Festival of the Year will also be presented on the night.

One overall award will be presented to the IMRO National Live Music Venue of the Year. This award is decided upon by the public, who vote for their live music venue of the year from the combined shortlist of all the regions. Live music fans should simply log on to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/imrovenueawards and choose their favourite from the shortlist provided, by January 31st.  One lucky voter will win a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3.
 
The Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year Readers Poll will also be part of the awards and Hot Press fans can vote at http://www.hotpress.com/readerspoll

“Ireland has a wonderfully vibrant music scene right now,” Niall Stokes, editor of Hot Press said, “with a fresh wave of talent coming through and making an impression internationally. But with sales of albums having fallen dramatically, live music is more important than ever, as the lifeblood of the industry. Which makes it crucial that we have great venues all over Ireland in which our songwriters, artists and bands can build their experience and audiences.

“The votes from the public for our best venues have been flooding in on http://www.hotpress.com/readerspoll confirming that the IMRO Live Music Venue Awards are hugely important, as a way of nurturing and rewarding excellence.”

 IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year / Live Festival of the Year 2013 Shortlist
IMRO Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year 2013
Whelans, Dublin 2
Vicar Street, Dublin 8
The O2, Dublin 1
The Grand Social, Dublin 1
The Olympia Theatre, Dublin 2
 
IMRO Rest of Leinster Live Music Venue of the Year 2013
The Set Theatre, Kilkenny
Cleeres, Kilkenny
The Sky & The Ground, Wexford
Mermaid Arts Centre, Wicklow
Kavanagh’s, Portlaoise, Co Laois

IMRO Connacht Live Music Venue of the Year 2013
Roisin Dubh, Galway
JJ Harlows, Roscommon
Matt Molloy’s, Westport, Co. Mayo
Hawk’s Well Theatre, Co. Sligo
The Townhouse Bar, Galway
 
IMRO Munster Live Music Venue of the Year 2013
The Pavilion, Cork
Crane Lane Theatre, Cork
DeBarras, Clonakilty Cork
Dolans, Limerick
Coughlans, Cork
 
IMRO Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year 2013
The Glencarn Hotel, Monaghan
An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny
Ramor Theatre, Cavan
McKenna’s, Monaghan
The Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town


IMRO Music Festival of the Year 2013

Electric Picnic
Other Voices Music Trail
Body & Soul
Longitude
Life Festival
Sea Sessions
Willie Clancy Festival
Kilkenny Roots Festival
Galway Arts Festival
Temple Bar TradFest

 

Halves | ‘Live at The Button Factory’

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Artist Spotlight, News.

After a busy year touring their critically acclaimed sophomore album ‘Boa Howl’, Halves share two new professionally shot live videos from their Button Factory album launch. Filmed by Bold Puppy, ‘Hug the blood’ and ‘Drip pools’ document their current live show as a captivating blend of electronics, strings, brass, live visuals and dual drumkits.

 

Introducing Therese Fahy’s | Handprint

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

Handprint is an exciting recital programme by Irish pianist Therese Fahy, born of the realisation that muchHandprint fbcontemporary piano music seems to be composed for pianists with large hands, to the exclusion of many female pianists. Therese has commissioned six major Irish composers to write new works for her, enriching the musical landscape by enhancing the piano repertoire with a highly innovative collection of piano pieces, the Handprint Collection, specifically designed for smaller hands – something which has never been done before.

The six commissioned works, by Irish composers Bill Whelan, Raymond Deane, Siobhán Cleary, Benjamin Dwyer, Grainne Mulvey and Michael Holohan, will receive their world premieres at a recital as part of the New Music Dublin Festival on Saturday 8 March. Ahead of this, Fahy and the composers will showcase elements of the new works in a series of public workshops in association with the Contemporary Music Centre, in which they will discuss the background and creative process from composition and pianistic points of view.

“Thérese Fahy is an established concert pianist both at home and abroad who has consistently supported Irish new music both as performer and as audience member. CMC welcomes this new project to actively engage with Irish composers to commission six new works, which develop repertoire for quite specific performers. CMC in partnership with Thérese and the composers commissioned, will host a series of workshops targeted at young composers and performers (open to the general public also) focusing on the creation of the new works and the artistic and technical challenges both to the composers and to Thérese. The Handprint workshops and performances create a rare opportunity for Irish audiences to immerse themselves in new and vibrant Irish piano music performed with commitment and respect by one of our foremost pianists.” – Evonne Ferguson, CMC

As well as workshops and premieres, the project will continue at the Hugh Lane Gallery with Handprint – Before and Beyond, a three-part concert series that will explore not only the commissioned music, but the repertoire that inspired it. Each recital will feature the work of two of the composers, alongside pieces chosen by each to shine a light on their own music – pieces that influenced them, move them or inspire them, including pieces by Debussy, Schoeberg, Ravel, Scarlatti, Messiaen and Scriabin. By marrying the old and new, contemporary and non-contemporary masterpieces can thrive together in performance, and that the new pieces, seen in this light, among the shining gems of the past, will be launched into the standard piano repertoire of the future.

“As a small-handed concert pianist, I have found that much contemporary music seems to be designed for large hands. Handprint is an exciting, challenging collection of newly-commissioned pieces written for my hands by six wonderfully diverse, major Irish composers: Raymond Deane, Bill Whelan, Siobhan Cleary, Grainne Mulvey, Michael Holohan and Benjamin Dwyer. I am very much looking forward to performing the world première recital of the Handprint Collection at New Music Dublin in March, 2014.”  -Therese Fahy


Premiere Programme:

Raymond Deane – Legerdemain

Siobhán Cleary – Leda and the Swan

Benjamin Dwyer – Étude

Grainne Mulvey – Calorescence

Michael Holohan – The Forge

Bill Whelan – New Work

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TFHandprint

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tfhandprint 

 

Handprint Workshops, Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall

6pm, Jan 17 – Benjamin Dwyer

7pm, Jan 17 – Michael Holohan

6pm, Jan 30 – Siobhan Cleary

7pm, Jan 30 – Raymond Deane

6pm, Feb 8 – Grainne Mulvey

 

Handprint Premieres

3pm, 8 Mar – New Music Dublin Festival, National Concert Hall

 

Handprint – Before and Beyond, Hugh Lane Gallery (Programme TBC)

12pm, May 4th

12pm, June 1st

12pm, June 29th

Pan Celtic Song Contest 2014 … Open For Entries

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

Calling all songwriters….pancelticsticker
The search is on for newly composed Irish song
 €1,000 for the winning song!

The national song contest to find Ireland’s entry in the Pan Celtic International Festival 2014 has just been launched. Following the success of the event staged in Carlow in 2012 and 2013 as part of the Pan Celtic Festivals the local committee has been invited to organize the national contest again and find the winning song to represent Ireland at the International Contest which will be hosted by Derry in 2014.

The competition is open to all genres from traditional to pop, country to rock. Songs must be in Irish with lyrics and music newly composed. Entries on cd must be with Glór Cheatharlach by Friday, 31st January 2014.  With so many great songwriters and musicians in the locality it is hoped that the competition will attract many local composers. Entries will be shortlisted to be performed before a live audience and judging panel at a gala event in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow on Saturday, 8th March, 2014.   The winning song will receive a prize of €1,000 and magnificent trophy and go forward to represent Ireland at the Pan Celtic International Song Contest to be held in Derry, 22-27 April where they will go head to head with the other national winners representing Wales, Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man.

A special and separate Song Contest for entrants under 17 years is being held this year and it too will take place on 8 March with a prize of €200 & trophy going to the winning song.

Rules and entry forms are available on www.panceltic.ie . Full details also from Glór Cheatharlach email emma@nullglorcheatharlach.ie  or phone  059 9158105, 087 2857048 or 085 1340047. Entries on cd together with completed entry form to: Comórtas Amhrán Pan Cheilteach 2014, Glór Cheatharlach, College Street, Carlow by 5.00pm on 31 January.

Disappear – A New Release from Nina Armstrong

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Artist Spotlight, News.

 ‘‘Disappear’ is the new release from Northern Irish based Singer/Songwriter Nina Armstrong.  The acoustic EP, which exudes hints of Suzanne Vega and Joni Mitchell, includes two original tracks and Nina’s version of the 80’s song ‘Crazy’ by Seal.nina armstrong

‘Disappear’ is an imagining of what we might hope to hear from those we have lost if we were able to be with them one more time.  The second original track, ‘This Could Be Something’ ponders finding love in a way that is simple and almost quiet, an idea that we are unfamiliar with in today’s world.

The strength of the recording lies in it’s simplicity as it consists of an  acoustic guitar and a vocal performance which has been described by Jackie Hayden (Hotpress) as possessing “great warmth and expression”

Nina will be releasing the EP in January and to celebrate this will be performing live in venues in the North and South of Ireland in the coming months. She will launch the EP in the beautiful Grouchos Music Lounge in Richhill, Co Armagh and this will be followed by several appearances including the 10th Belfast Nashville Songwriting Festival and The Purple Sessions in Slane, where on her last visit her, ‘sweet voice and quick wit wooed the Purple Sessions audience into a stunned silence’

For more information on Nina and her upcoming EP visit www.ninaarmstrong.com

Ocean FM reveals “Play Irish” Year End Awards

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

Ocean FM today (Monday 16th December 2013) revealed their Play Irish Single, Album and Artist of the Year on foot of an extraordinary year for Irish music and its performers.the strypes

 Announcing the awards on his Ocean Drive show, host Shane Smyth said ‘Irish music continues to grow and it’s been a difficult decision choosing an Irish Single, Album and Artist of the Year such is the wealth of amazing talent that exists on the island. We are thrilled to reveal that the song which we have awarded Single of the Year to is “Catch Me If You Can” by Dingle based Walking On Cars.  The distinctive voice of Patrick Sheehy along with the unique style on this track gave rise to fantasticly melodic pop song’. 

‘We’d also like to congratulate Dublin based Kodaline as they have taken the title of Ocean FM’s Play Irish Album of the Year with “In A Perfect World”.  Each song on this album is a hit and with songs like “Brand New Day”, “High Hopes” and “Love Like This”, it was tough to keep this album out of the CD player’.

‘Finally our Ocean FM Play Irish Artists of the Year” are a bunch of lads who have had a crazy year.  They’ve performed all over the world and released their first album too.  Congratulations to Josh, Pete, Evan and Ross – The Strypes. The boys are firm favourites on Ocean Drive and no doubt will be even more successful in 2014.

Tim Collins, Chief Executive of Ocean FM said ‘the Play Irish initiative is a very important part of delivering on Ocean FM’s commitment to developing Irish talent. Over the past two years we have been the leading station in Ireland in our commitment to Irish music and this is a core part of our public service broadcasting ethos.  Shane’s knowledge and enthusiasm has been a key factor in the success of Play Irish on Ocean and we look forward to further developing the initiative in the coming years.’

Play Irish airs as part of Ocean FM’s Ocean Drive with Shane Smyth, Monday to Thursday at 6pm on Ocean FM.

 

HOT PRESS MIX’ 14 – Special IMRO Member Discount!

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

Want to get ahead in the music industry?

Brought to you by Hot Press, the MIX course is aimed at musicians who want to learn more about the music industry, management, media, publicity, promotion, publishing, record labels and lots more. It’s for musicians who want to maximise their income. mix14

There are still a limited number of places available and Hot Press are offering IMRO members a special discounted registration rate.

The course provides opportunities for musicians to learn from music  professionals covering vital areas relevant to songwriters and recording artists. 

It is a 13-week lecture based course (one each week) by top industry experts from the Irish and International music industry, past lecturers have included Mark Crossingham (MD, Universal Music), Steve Averill (U2 Designer), John McMahon (Head of RTE 2FM) and many more.

Speaking about the course, director Mark Hogan says, “The Music Industry Xplained course is designed to give musicians a comprehensive insight into all aspects of the business. The lecturers are among the leading professionals in their field and so participants have access to an extraordinary level of accumulated knowledge and experience.”

Key subjects covered in the course include Music Online, Record Companies, Music Marketing, Publicity, Image Development, Record Production, Songwriting, Music Publishing, Working with the Media, Management, Finance, Touring and Distribution.  

MIX ’14 will run in Dublin City Centre every Tuesday at 7.30pm from January 28th.

You’ll also get a FREE Hot Press subscription for the duration of the course. Simply quote the Promo Code ‘IMROMIX2014′ to receive a special €50 IMRO discount.
 
For more information go to www.hotpress.com/mix
 
To secure your place and avail of this IMRO member offer, contact: Elena Healy at Hot Press on (01) 241 1500 / (086) 389 4988 or email elena@nullhotpress.ie 

 

New York based Irish singer-songwriter, Paul Hourican, pens a Christmas song with a twist…

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Artist Spotlight.

 ‘Hard Times In Dublin Again’, a new track by singer-songwriter Paul Hourican, is the tale of Ireland’s economic woes as seen through the eyes of the new diaspora. It documents the fallout from the Celtic Tiger years and subsequently examines themes such as dislocation, displacement and the close relationship that the Irish in particular have with home. Crucially this is set against the backdrop of Christmas, the time of year where being home is most important to us all. It is sad, it is angry, it is joyful and it is celebratory of all things great and green about the Ireland of the past, present and future. It is also a calling to people that we may come to our senses and come back to our core values and beliefs. 

 


 

www.blackbirdsounds.com

Musical Conversations With Richard Abbott

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

“We don’t write songs, songs write themselves…..we are just the messengers.”Musical_Conversation_Cover_for_Kindle (1)

IMRO member Richard Abbott has written a book about songwriting.  Richard who is also a music publisher with IMRO has been working freelance in media education and it was this experience that inspired him to write the book.

Richard says “There have been many books written about songwriting but Musical Conversations is different. The books about songwriting are either academic theory manuals or workshop guidebooks detailing the craft and tricks of the trade. I just felt that what was needed was ‘a songwriting book for dummies’ and that’s what I’ve tried to write. The academic and instruction books are very good but they can be confusing because they mix up the creativity with the craft.  Also, I have been working with songwriters for many years and the level of ignorance about all things legal is astonishing. So I’ve written a couple of chapters with the key elements the songwriter needs to know about copyright.”

Musical Conversations demystifies songwriting and explains how songs just arrive as if from nowhere. It does this by examining the creative process and telling the stories of how some well known songs just happened. It also contains some pointers on the art of songwriting and demonstrates how the creativity and the craft are quite separate, thereby bringing simple clarity to the whole process. Written in conversational language it examines the creative process and gives good tips on how to get into the right frame of mind to write a song. There are also two chapters dealing with key elements of copyright. This gives the songwriter information on a need to know basis. Musical Conversations is a book for anyone who has never written a song and would like to understand more about the songwriting process. Equally, for the career writer they will have their innermost thoughts confirmed and this will give them more confidence in their writing. In summary, the Music Industry books concentrate on the craft of songwriting and tricks of the trade and not the how to understand and connect with the creative process. Musical Conversations focuses on the spontaneous nature of songwriting and brings a clear simplicity to the whole process of creating a new song.

Musical Conversations is available on Amazon as an e-book and paperback.

Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart – Cronin featuring Mark Greaney

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

New Irish band Cronin team up with former JJ72 singer Mark Greaney for their homage toCronin Bar Italia Soho Nov 2013 the late Gene Pitney with their version of “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart”.

This collaboration is the result of a drunken nights chat and a mutual appreciation for one of the most unique voices of all time, that of the late Gene Pitney.

 Available as a free download for Christmas from December 9th.

 

 

 

About IMRO

Music Creators

Music Users

Supporting Music

Keep up to date with IMRO news and events

Modus | Ireland best web agency Dublin, Ireland.

Please select login