Author: Press Officer

“Christmas Biscuits” from Mark Geary & Glen Hansard

Written by Press Officer on November 18, 2013. Posted in News.

Mark Geary & Glen Hansard have collaborated on Mark’s song “Christmas Biscuits” and are releasing it on November 29th to raise funds for St. Vincent de Paul.

Recorded with some of Ireland’s best musicians and engineered by Karl Odlum. Everyone involved in the recording has kindly donated their time for free.

“Christmas Biscuits” is a song written by Mark when he was living in New York missing his native Dublin. It brings a mix of emotions that sum up the happy and sometimes difficult period Christmas can be. This is why Mark thought St Vincent DePaul was the perfect fit for the song. The Society that helps people in difficult times throughout the year but at Christmas needs extra help to get people through the holiday period.

“Christmas Biscuits” will help raise awareness and revenue for St. Vincent de Paul along with their now famous Toy Appeal being launched on November 20th.

Glen Hansard is currently on tour in Europe and coming back to Ireland with 2 shows in Dublin’s Vicar St. on November 25th and 26th. Mark and his band are doing support for Glen on the 25th. Mark is also currently on tour and will be playing a Christmas show in Grand Social, Dublin on Saturday December 28th. Tickets for all shows are available on www.ticketmaster.ie.

“Christmas Biscuits” can be downloaded from iTunes on Friday November 29th.

……………….”who ate all the biscuits”

For more information please visit www.svp.ie, www.markgeary.com, www.glenhansardmusic.com, or email simon@nullmarkgeary.com

Available on iTunes

John Fitzgerald Kennedy – The Torch Still Burns Brightly | New Commission By Vincent Kennedy

Written by Press Officer on November 14, 2013. Posted in News.

IMRO member Vincent Kennedy will conduct his music “John Fitzgerald Kennedy – The Torch Still Burns Brightly” at a ceremony by the eternal flame on the quay side in New Ross on Friday 22^nd November at 17.50pm. The ceremony will be the national commemoration and remembrance for President Kennedy who was assassinated 50 years ago and is timed to take place at the same time as that tragic event in 1963. The music was commissioned by New Ross Town council and is the final part of their JFK ceremonies this year. The performers will be the New Ross and District Pipe Band (current world champions), The Holy Family Confraternity Brass Band and musicians from the southeast and Dublin.

Vincent will conduct the music again in the National Concert Hall on Tuesday 26^th November in a 8pm concert with the Rathfarnham Concert Band Society which also features the music of John Williams.

These performances come at a time when it has just been announced that Vincent’s music “The Chronicles of Meath” will be performed at the World Harp Congress in Sydney in July 2014. On that prestigious occasion Vincent will conduct the eight Harpers of the Meath Harp Ensemble led by Dearbhail Finnegan.

Foy Vance Announced As Winner of the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Prize

Written by Press Officer on November 13, 2013. Posted in Industry News.

Foy Vance has been announced as winner of the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Prize for his album ‘Joy of nothing’. Northern Ireland Music Prize is a new award aimed at recognising the great wealth of recorded music from Northern Ireland. NI music is experiencing a creative boom right now. The quality and quantity of great records from all genres enjoying an all-time high point. The NI Music Prize provides recognition of this fact.

An academy of music industry professionals connected to NI were approached to vote and to create a shortlist of albums (the full academy list is available at www.nimusicprize.com). Fourteen records comprised the final list. A diverse and exciting array, it included artists such as the world-conquering Two Door Cinema Club, esteemed troubadour Foy Vance, instrumental post-rockers And So I Watch You From Afar and the electronic adventure of Space Dimension Controller.

The ultimate winner of the prize was decided on the night by a select panel of experts and announced at the ceremony in Belfast’s Mandela Hall on November 12, 2013. A selection of shortlisted acts also played live at the event, including Girls Names, The Bonnevilles and more.

The NI Music Prize aims to establish itself as an important annual event. Drawing attention to the local successes and providing a critical benchmark.The event took place during Belfast Music Week. Now in its fourth year, Belfast Music Week has become a focal point for the music scene in Northern Ireland and the NI Music Prize was a highlight of this year’s festivities.

Upon winning the Northern Ireland Music Prize, Foy Vance, (who couldn’t attend the awards due to USA touring schedules) said, “We are all very proud to have been nominated, let alone to have received the award for best album. I’m gutted I couldn’t be there on the night but the award has been collected by the people who made it possible – so justice has been served”

Other Voices 12 | IMRO Other Room | Open Call

Written by Press Officer on November 12, 2013. Posted in News.

The journey continues. For it’s twelfth season 2013/2014, Other Voices will once again weave it’s magic spell in Dingle. Voices and spirits will be raised in St. James’ Church and right around the alluring town on December 6th, 7th & 8th. Aidan Gillen will return to present the series.

The first three acts to be revealed are multi-million selling artist David Gray, Scottish post-rock band Mogwai and Irish newcomer, with a truly original voice, Lisa O’ Neill.

Philip King notes “It’s great to be back, Other Voices hits the even dozen and what a trip it’s been. We have photographed, recorded and archived the soundtrack of one of the country’s most turbulent decades with some of Ireland’s and the world’s greatest artists. Their commitment, creativity and volunteerism have given us great hope for the future and the energy to continue on down the road on this expedition”.

Each year, Other Voices provides a TV and online platform for new and emerging acts in the IMRO Other Room. Applications for a performance slot in the IMRO Other Room reach beyond the 1,000 mark each year. And this year is no exception with the best music we have heard in 10 years out there.

“Other Voices has a long tradition of presenting the very best in musical talent from these shores and further afield and IMRO is delighted to once again play a part in bringng this iconic show to our screens. The IMRO Other Room opens a door each year to some fantastic emerging songwriters and performers and we hope again to shine a light on this wonderful talent” Victor Finn, IMRO Chief Executive.

After a successful process last year, RTÉ and Other Voices will again give music fans the opportunity to select the artist for the final IMRO Other Room slot. RTÉ and Other Voices invite artists of all genres to submit a YouTube link to one video (it can be a video or a still image with audio) or link to audio only recording for consideration. These links should be submitted through the application process on www.othervoices.ie . Artists will have until Wednesday November 20th to submit their link.

For information and full submission details for the ‘Viewer’s Choice IMRO Other Room’ initiative, please go to www.othervoices.ie

Eddie Doyle, RTE Head of Comedy, Talent Development and Music, said, “Supporting the development of emerging talent is a key priority for RTÉ and we’re delighted to increase our support of Other Voices by partnering with IMRO to uncover new talent in the IMRO Other Room and by streaming live from St James on RTÉ.ie, as well as, bringing viewers the acclaimed series on RTÉ Two. The series has showcased some of the best Irish and international artists over the last eleven seasons and looks set to deliver many more memorable performances from both established and emerging artists”.

Other Voices Dingle will once again feature the hugely popular Other Voices Music Trail, with a stellar line-up of musical offerings in a multitude of venues across the weekend. All Other Voices Music Trail events are free and will take place before and after the Church happenings. Familiar names will perform alongside emerging Irish artists and there’s promise of a few very special guests along the way! For the fans that will congregate in the town, this year also sees a return for Banter, a salon style series of discussion and debate curated by Jim Carroll (www.thisisbanter.com). And for those who don’t make it into the church, the live action will be streamed in bars around the town as well as online.

Tickets, once again, will be free and can be won through various online and media competitions so keep an eye on the brand new website www.othervoices.ie. Information on artists and events will be released shortly. To stay up to date with announcements please log on to www.othervoices.ie and follow on Facebook (Other Voices) and Twitter (@othervoices).

Other Voices is supported by RTÉ, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, IMRO and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Wide Open Music & RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra on Tour 4th-7th Dec 2013

Written by Press Officer on November 4, 2013. Posted in Industry News.

Wide Open Music and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra present

Tasmin Little and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra

On tour to Tullamore, Kilkenny, Castlebar and Navan.

“[Tasmin Little’s] intoxicating blend of power, passion, poetry and drop-dead beautiful playing”

(The Herald, Scotland)

One of the finest violin soloists on the international solo circuit taking to the road with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra for four virtuosic concerts – also including an educational programme with youth orchestras in each county.

Concert Tour

Following the sell-out success of Wide Open Music’s tour of Beethoven Symphony No 9 with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in June this year, the two organisations collaborate once again to present a dazzling display of orchestral colour in four venues throughout Ireland – Tullamore, Kilkenny, Castlebar and Navan – with top international solo violinist, Tasmin Little, conducted by Wide Open Music’s Artistic Director, Fergus Sheil.

Vivid, colourful, dynamic and rhythmic music – mostly inspired by dance – is the focus of these concerts. The programme opens with The Chairman Dances – a portrayal of the scene from John Adams’ opera Nixon in China where the elderly Chairman Mao dances with his wife alongside their American guests. Danzón No 2 by Mexican composer Arturo Márquez is based on a type of Cuban dance, full of Latin American rhythms, hovering between being highly sensual and emotionally explosive. The ballets of Russian composer Igor Stravinsky are among his most celebrated works. Pushing the boundaries of what was possible rhythmically, he also has a remarkable sense of orchestral colour. The Firebird is one of his most loved works, depicting the dazzling scenes of this traditional Russian fairy tale, from the shimmering sounds of the Firebird’s dance and the horror of King Kastchei’s infernal dance to the ecstatic sounds of the finale.

One of the highlights of the violin concerto repertoire, Bruch’s first violin concerto, which will be performed by Tasmin Little is emotionally rich and deeply romantic. Tasmin has firmly established herself as one of today’s leading international violinists. She has performed on every continent in some of the most prestigious venues of the world, including Carnegie Hall, Musikverein, Concertgebouw, Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, South Bank Centre, Barbican Centre and Royal Albert Hall and the Lincoln Center. She has made several acclaimed recordings and frequently appears at major festivals such as the Salzburg Festival and the BBC Proms.

The scale of this concert involving over 60 top musicians, makes possible the presentation of this high-octane programme of vivid orchestral colours. All presented in locations that are not regularly on the touring circuit for major concerts of this scale. The coming together of the orchestra, a star international soloist and one of Ireland’s leading conductors as well as youth orchestras in each location will make a compelling and memorable event for audiences.

This tour has been developed by Wide Open Music, bringing together a range of national and local supporters to fulfil this mission of making inspirational musical experiences available to audiences throughout Ireland.

Educational Programme

Four different youth orchestras are involved in an educational project that accompanies this concert tour; Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra (Tullamore), Mayo Youth Orchestra (Castlebar), St Canice’s Instrumental Music Programme (Kilkenny) and Julianstown Youth Orchestra (Navan). In the weeks leading up to these concerts, members of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Fergus Sheil will visit each youth orchestra for a mentoring programme. The youth orchestras prepare a range of repertoire, including some related to the RTÉ NSO’s concert programme. The project will culminate with showcase performances by each youth orchestra with Tasmin Little ahead of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra concert in their area.

RTÉ NSO Concert Programme:

John Adams: The Chairman Dances

Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No 1

Arturo Márquez: Danzón No 2

Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite (1919 version)

Soloist: Tasmin Little (violin)

Conductor: Fergus Sheil

Dates, Venues & Booking Details

Date	Venue	Time	Price	Details	Booking
Wed 4^th Dec 2013	Tullamore Court Hotel	19:00	Free	Irish Midland’s Youth Orchestra	No booking necessary
Wed 4^th Dec 2013	Tullamore Court Hotel	20:00	€16 / €14 (conc)	RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra / Tasmin Little	057 934 6666
Date	Venue	Time	Price	Details	Booking
Thurs 5th Dec 2013	Royal Theatre, Castlebar	19:15	Free	Mayo Youth Orchestra	No booking necessary
Thurs 5th Dec 2013	Royal Theatre, Castlebar	20:00	€18.15 €16.15 (conc)	RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra / Tasmin Little	0818 300 000 094 902 3111 www.theroyal.ie
Date	Venue	Time	Price	Details	Booking
Fri 6th Dec 2013	Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny	19:00	Free	St Canice’s Instrumental Music Programme	No booking necessary
Fri 6th Dec 2013	St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny	20:00	€16 / €14 (conc)	RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra / Tasmin Little	056 776 1674 www.watergatetheatre.com
Date	Venue	Time	Price	Details	Booking
Sat 7th Dec 2013	St Mary’s Community Centre, Trimgate St, Navan	19:00	Free	Julianstown Youth Orchestra	No booking necessary
Sat 7th Dec 2013	Solstice Arts Centre, Navan	20:00	€16 / €14 (conc)	RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra / Tasmin Little	046 909 2300 www.solsticeartscentre.com

Tullamore concert in association with Music Generation Offaly / Westmeath

Castlebar concert in association with Music Generation Mayo

Kilkenny concert in association with Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny

Navan concert in association with Solstice Arts Centre

RTÉ Radio officially launches Tracklist App

Written by Press Officer on October 24, 2013. Posted in Industry News.

The Tracklist App is used for publishing music playlists to Radio websites and for reporting music which has not been automatically sent from Radioman Cartwalls or Playlists. This includes music played during programmes from CD, downloaded from the internet, live performances and music used within edited ‘packages’. The application generates monthly reports which are sent to IMRO & PPI who make payments to their members based on the information received.

Tracklist was developed by Radio programme teams and Radio Broadcast Services. It is web based and user-friendly and makes the reporting of manual music returns easier and more accessible.

As part of today’s launch IMRO & PPI gave presentations to staff in the Radio Centre, both IMRO & PPI overviewed their organisations and explained how they process RTÉ’s music returns.

Smalltown America Music Announces Composer Vacancy

Written by Press Officer on October 22, 2013. Posted in Industry News.

Smalltown America Music is a music publishing company that provides musical content for the film, television, animation, gaming and online industries.

They are seeking a highly motivated, music composer to work in their purpose-built production facility in Derry~Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Successful candidates will have previous experience in composition and sound design for picture. You will have excellent technical capabilities and be able to produce work of extremely high-quality to strict deadlines.

Job Title: Music Composer

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £15,000 – £18,000 pa

To apply, please email info@nullsmalltownamerica.co.uk for an application form.

All applications must be received before 5pm on Friday 1st November.

Camerata Ireland perform for President Higgins in Mexico City

Written by Press Officer on October 21, 2013. Posted in Industry News.

Leading Irish chamber orchestra, Camerata Ireland, which includes players from both the North and South of Ireland embarks today on their second tour of Mexico (22nd – 26th October). Camerata Ireland will play in Mexico City, Leon and at the Festival Cerevantino in Guanajuato.

President Michael D. Higgins, joint patron of the Orchestra, will attend the first concert in Mexico City on Tuesday 22nd October.

“We are delighted to be visiting Mexico again. This year has been a memorable one for Camerata Ireland with tours to amongst others Chile, Argentina, Poland, Russia and Finland. In the summer we made our debut at the BBC Proms and collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra on a project in Derry/Londonderry as part of the UK City of Culture. Our programme in Mexico is unusual, as we will be playing all of Beethoven’s Concertos, including the one for violin arranged for the piano.

“Camerata Ireland is a true flag-carrier for both parts of this island and is very grateful for the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Culture Ireland and our Global Sponsor, Randox Laboratories”.

In keeping with the policy of encouraging young musical talent, two players who took part in the recent master classes at the Clandeboye Festival will be playing with the Orchestra for the first time. Thomas Porter (23) is a bassoonist from Bangor and Leonie Bluett (23) is a clarinetist from Kilkenny. Leonie was the joint winner of the Young Musicians of the Future concert and was awarded £2,000 by the Flax Trust to help her continue with her studies.

For further details on Camerata Ireland see

www.camerata-ireland.com

Deezer Presents | Deezer Sessions

Written by Press Officer on October 16, 2013. Posted in Industry News.

New series of intimate live performances launched with Birdy, Franz Ferdinand, Jamie Cullum & Kodaline

Leading music subscription service Deezer has just launched its exclusive series of Deezer Sessions, giving music fans the chance to see bands and artists performing stripped-down sets recorded in London and in Deezer’s own studio in Paris.

Deezer Sessions are curated by Deezer’s dedicated editorial team, who have hand-picked some of the hottest up and coming bands as well as established names from around the world. The first exclusive Deezer Sessions are available here from today and include Birdy, Jack Johnson, Franz Ferdinand, Jamie Cullum and Kodaline.

Anthemic indie-rockers, Kodaline said: “It’s great to be able to share our new material with our fans and we love the raw vibe of the Deezer Sessions. There’s nothing like letting loose and showing people what we can do – just us, our instruments and our passion for music. If you haven’t caught us live on tour yet, this is a taste of what’s to come.”

Keep an eye on Deezer throughout November and December as each fortnight a different Deezer Session will be launched, including break-through artist of the year Lorde, James Blunt and Gregory Porter.

James Foley, Head of Editorial for Deezer UK & Ireland said: “The idea behind Deezer Sessions is simple, we wanted to take the bands that we are most excited about, invite them in to play an intimate gig and share that experience with fans all over the world. We’ve got some more great performances in the pipeline that are guaranteed to make your spine tingle.”

Tin Charm

Written by Press Officer on October 4, 2013. Posted in Artist Spotlight.

The Story:

These 3 “young” hopefuls with musical pasts that trace back to Sunbear, Future Kings of Spain, The Ruby Tailights and A Lazarus Soul forged a plan and wrote 10 songs that evoke wood, tin, steel and other things blue collar. Their futures are bright, or so their wives and kids tell them.

The Album:

The Engine is Bleeding will be released on Vinyl and digital download on a pay as you wish basis on Bandcamp on 31^st October 2013. Trick or treat!

Find out more:

http://tincharm.bandcamp.com/

Sounds most like:

If Dinosaur Jr and Slint had middle aged babies, and those babies stole toys from Mission of Burma and REM…I think ya get the idea!

The Gig:

The official launch gig will take place on Thursday Nov. 28^th in the Odessa Club.

Contact:

tincharmband@nullgmail.com

Author: Press Officer

“Christmas Biscuits” from Mark Geary & Glen Hansard

John Fitzgerald Kennedy – The Torch Still Burns Brightly | New Commission By Vincent Kennedy

Foy Vance Announced As Winner of the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Prize

Other Voices 12 | IMRO Other Room | Open Call

Wide Open Music & RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra on Tour 4th-7th Dec 2013

RTÉ Radio officially launches Tracklist App

Smalltown America Music Announces Composer Vacancy

Camerata Ireland perform for President Higgins in Mexico City

Deezer Presents | Deezer Sessions

Tin Charm

About IMRO

Music Creators

Music Users

Supporting Music

Author: Press Officer

Keep up to date with IMRO news and events

Please select login