Author: Press Officer

Phrasing: The Body Language of Your Song

Date: Monday 25th March
Location: IMRO, Copyright House, Pembroke Row, Dublin 2.
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm.

BOOK NOW!

To reserve a place at this event send an email to membership@nullimro.ie

Limited Availability | No Admission Charge | Booking Essential

This presentation will give you important keys to phrasing your lyrics for the most impact and support of meaning. Working with rhythms and placements, you’ll learn how to make sure that the line, like body language, helps to really deliver the emotion you intend. This is another “can’t miss” seminar — it’s bound to take your writing to the next level.

Pat Pattison is a Professor at Berklee College of Music, where he teaches Lyric Writing and Poetry.

In addition to his four books, Songwriting Without Boundaries, Writing Better Lyrics, The Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure, and The Essential Guide to Rhyming, Pat has developed three online lyric writing courses, one on poetry, and one on creative writing available through Berkleemusic.com. He has filmed a series of lectures and masterclasses, available through Songwork.com and has written over 50 articles for various magazines and blogs.

Pat continues to present songwriting clinics across the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Several of his students have won Grammys, including John Mayer and Gillian Welch.

Last night, 2FM’s Paddy McKenna hosted the much anticipated 5th IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards at the Irish Music Rights Organisation Headquarters in Dublin.

Scooping the biggie of the night – the award for National Live Music Venue of the Year (via public vote) for the first time was Galway’s ever popular live music venue, Monroe’s. .
 
The annual awards, voted by over 8,000 IMRO members, recognises 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.
 
Other winners in the regional categories include:

Dublin – The Olympia
Rest of Leinster – The Set Theatre, Kilkenny
Munster – Glor Irish Music Centre, Ennis, Co. Clare
Ulster – McGrorys, Culdaff, Co. Donegal
Connacht – Roisin Dubh, Galway

Also nabbing accolades for IMRO Festival of the Year and IMRO Best Small Festival were Electric Picnic and Live @ The Marquee Cork respectively.
 
Performances on the night came from Daithí and The Rubberbandits with a special presentation included in the ceremony for IMRO’s 9,000th member, singer songwriter Liza Flume, who performed two songs for guests.

Of the awards, Victor Finn, CEO of IMRO said “An extensive and vibrant venue network is the lifeblood of any strong live music sector. These awards acknowledge and applaud those venues and festivals throughout Ireland that excel in creating a memorable and exhilarating environment for music fans and performers alike. We would like to congratulate all of the winning and nominated venues and festivals and pay tribute to the contribution that they make to local communities from a cultural and economic perspective.”

Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes also gave special mention to their readers poll winners, which noted the Set Theatre Kilkenny and Cork Opera House as leading venues with the O2 Dublin taking the main prize. He said “Live music is more important than ever for musicians and bands – so it is crucial they they should have the best possible venues to play in. The IMRO Live Music Venue Awards are a brilliant platform for recognising all of the good work that is happening all over Ireland in creating those opportunities for musicians.

Hot Press became involved to express our support for all of the guys behind the scenes who make such an important contribution through the public vote for the Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year.

This year, we are giving special commendations to the Set Theatre in Kilkenny and the Cork Opera House – two venues that have added greatly to the options for fans to see their favourite artists – and for artists to play to their fans in top class facilities.

The overall winner of the Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year is The O2. What is remarkable is the number of Irish bands that are now operating at the level where they can play this brilliant arena – not just the obvious international world beaters like Snow Patrol and The Script or legends like Christy Moore, but also Imelda May, The Coronas and Two Door Cinema Club. This is a fantastically rich time for Irish music. – which makes the investment that Live Nation have made in the O2 all the more  critical. It is one of the best venues in Europe in one of the great music cities – as it should be!”

We have a limited number of guest list places available for this event. 

Simply email:  showcase@nullimro.ie with your name(s).

This month sees the return of the IMRO Live Music Venue of The Year Awards, presented by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) in recognition of Irish music venues that provide the very highest standards in live music entertainment. Qualifying venues include pubs, hotels, arts centres, theatres, purpose built music venues and many more. The awards acknowledge the central role that live music venues play in developing and supporting the music community in Ireland.  Live music venues provide superb, quality entertainment to the public and a platform for Irish artists across all genres of music.  A Best Live Music Festival Category and a Best Small Live Music Festival Category have also been included in the awards programme.  A Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year Readers Award will also be presented on the night.

Venue: IMRO HQ – Copyright House, Pembroke Row, Dublin 2
Date: Tuesday 26th February
Time: 6.30pm – 9:00pm
MC:  Paddy McKenna – RTE 2FM

Featuring Live Performances by

The Rubberbandits
Daithi O Dronai
Liza Flume

IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2012 Shortlist

IMRO Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year 2012

Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin 2
The O2, Dublin 1
The Draiocht Theatre, Dublin 15
The Grand Social, Dublin 1
The Olympia, Dublin 2

IMRO Rest of Leinster Live Music Venue of the Year 2012

The Set Theatre, Kilkenny
TLT, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford
Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

IMRO Connacht Live Music Venue of the Year 2012

Monroes, Galway
The Dock Theatre, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim
Roisin Dubh, Galway
Linenhall Arts Centre, Mayo
Roscommon Arts Centre, Co. Roscommon

IMRO Munster Live Music Venue of the Year 2012

Glor Irish Music Centre, Ennis, Co. Clare
Crane Lane Theatre, Cork
Cork Opera House, Cork
DeBarras, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
University Concert Hall, Limerick

IMRO Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year 2012

Allingham Arms Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal
An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
An Poc Fada, Monaghan
McGrorys, Culdaff, Co. Donegal
The Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal

IMRO Live Music Festival of the Year 2012

Castlepalooza
Electric Picnic
Live @ The Marquee Cork
Westport Music & Performing Arts Festival
Forbidden Fruit
Vantastival
Templebar Trad Festival
Festival of the Fires
Galway Arts Festival
Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Cavan

One overall award will be presented with the IMRO National Live Music Venue of the Year. This award is decided upon by the public, who can vote for their live music venue of the year here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/imrovenueawards  by February 19th.

Presented in association with the National Concert Hall and IMRO, the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is proud to announce that Oscar and BAFTA winning composer Dario Marianelli will host a masterclass in film composing. Taking place in the National Concert Hall’s Kevin Barry room, this specialist class will see the composer for Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice and Atonement show his work, explain his processes for recording a film score and discuss going from playing piano down the phone to Paddy Breathnach to being Oscar nominated, three times.

Film/TV Credits: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0547050/

Date: Tuesday 19th February
Time: 11am
Location: Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2.

This is a FREE event but booking is essential. Email membership@nullimro.ie to reserve a place. Limited availability.

Dates: March 2nd – 3rd – 9th / 2013
Time:  10:00am / 5:00pm
Venue: Windmill Lane Recording Studios 20 Ringsend Road, Dublin 4.

The module will take place over three days. The course offers up skilling and training in technique for composing in the field of digital games.

Platforms supported by the course are Pro-Tools, Logic and Reason. Also provided is a Mac computer and keyboard. The module will be delivered by Mick Kiely.

The cost for the three day course is €380.

To book a place contact: gamesmusicireland@nullgmail.com

What the composers said:

“Of working on a AAA game has been invaluable. He has a deep knowledge of the practicalities of writing for games and he shares it in a fascinating, and very enjoyable, way. If you’re thinking about moving into games music then this course is a must. ”

– Jamie Evans Composer

” The Composing for Games Module with Games Music Ireland and Windmill Lane Recording Studios was such a fantastic way to spend three days. Mick was such a gentleman with gallons of passion and inspiration oozing out of him. I’d highly recommend this to any composer of any genre. The insight into this particular sector of the music industry was hugely informative and greatly appreciated. Great stuff !! ”

– Kevin Whyms, Composer.

 ” A thoroughly enjoyable and informative course. After day one I couldn’t wait to get to the practical assignment. Mick’s clear instructions and hands on support helped me make a start on my demo. Definitely a must for anyone interested in composing music for games. ”

Elaine Cudden, music teacher / Composer

 “This course put the fire under me to get myself focused on such an interesting area of composition. Well recommended. ”

Alan McCahey  Composer

Day 1.

Morning session.

• Introduction.
• A brief history of music in games.
• The rapid evolution and demand for music in games
• Understanding a game brief
• Composition, Film v Games.

Lunch
Afternoon session.

• Game score demo.
• How the score works interactively in the game.
• The importance of loop progression.
• Creating the evolving score illusion.
• Memory economy within the game.
• Useful tips and tricks.

Day 2

Composers will be assigned a brief and will work with the platform of their preferred choice in a compositional exercise where they will compose and construct game scores with interactive capability. Composers will receive one on one support during this session.

Day 3

Today sees the final touches to the scores, analysis and discussion.
The module closes with a talk on plans for the future.

Platforms supported by the course are Pro-Tools, Logic and Reason. Also provided is a Mac computer and keyboard. The module will be delivered by Mick Kiely.
Places are secured on a first come basis.

About Mick Kiely

Irelands first AAA games composer with a firm understanding of music and it’s place in the digital games industry. Well connected internationally with music professionals in the games industry. Also composing professionally for TV and film, he has a clear understanding of the requirements and necessary transitions needing to be made in order to cross successfully from these media to that of music in games. With a reputation for innovation and trend setting, he pioneered music production techniques successfully implemented in AAA computer game play. Mick attended lectures at GDC 2012 to insure this module optimises the latest technologies. Mick is currently composing for the social and casual games sector.

Meteor and The Choice Music Prize are urging you, the Irish public, to have your say and vote for the Meteor Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2012.

The shortlisted songs have now been put to a public vote with the overall winner to be revealed at the Meteor Choice Music Prize live event on March 7^th. The Meteor Choice Music Prize is brought to you in association with IMRO and IRMA.

Now in its second year, the Meteor Choice Music Prize- Irish Song of the Year 2012 celebrates some of Ireland’s favourite homegrown songs of the previous year and encourages people to show their support and get behind great Irish music.

You can get involved by casting your vote through Meteor’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/meteor or by texting ‘SONG’ to 085 7114444 for list of nominees.

The Shortlist

The shortlist features a formidable list of 10 anthems which have rocked the Irish airwaves in 2012. The nominations are decided by the Meteor Choice Music Prize judging panel and the Irish airplay charts for 2012. The 2012 shortlist is as follows:

The Coronas – Mark My Words (3U)

Delorentos – Care For (Delo Records)

Glen Hansard – High Hope (Plateau)

Heathers – Forget Me Knots (Warner)

Gavin James – Say Hello (Believe)

Kodaline – All I Want (Sony)

Le Galaxie feat Elaine Mai – Love System (Delphi)

The Script – Hall of Fame (Sony)

SOAK – ‘Sea Creatures (Self Release)

Villagers – The Waves (Domino)

Voting & Win Tickets to the Event

It is the public who will decide the winner by voting online at www.facebookcom/meteor or by texting ‘SONG’ to 0857114444 for a list of nominees. All voters are in with a chance to win one of 20 pairs of tickets to the Meteor Choice Music Prize live event on March 7^th in Vicar Street and can vote once a day until voting closes on March 3^rd.  

The winning entry will be announced at the live event and awarded the Meteor Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year Trophy along with a prize fund of €3,000.

The shortlisted songs will be profiled on air by Tony Fenton on Today FM from Monday 4th – Friday 8^th February with two songs from the list played each day. Tony will also present the award at the live event on 7^th March.

The Meteor Choice Music Prize will be broadcast live on the night on Today FM in a special four-hour extended programme during the Paul McLoone Show. It will also be live streamed on www.meteor.ie and www.facebook.com/meteor. Tickets for the Meteor Choice Music Prize live event are on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets and from http://www.ticketmaster.ie, priced €22.50 including booking fee.

Line-Up Confirmed / Music Trail Venues / Other Room Acts Announced

Other Voices spreads its wings and migrates to Derry / Londonderry on the 8th, 9th and 10th of February for the City of Culture 2013 celebrations.

Other Voices moves North from Dingle to the singing city of Derry this year, but the story doesn’t end there for the renowned music show. The East End of London will host a special recording at Wilton’s Music Hall in April, produced in association with the Barbican, completing the triangle and underlining the strong music and cultural links North, South, East and West across these islands. Like Dingle in December, Derry will be seen and heard across the world via social media and online streaming.

The Other Voices triangle will forge a new chapter in the musical narrative of these  islands, bringing together a swathe of musical genres and generations, from downright dirty rock’n’roll gangs to celestial traditional music-makers, cutting edge electronic kids to proud warriors of world sounds. Other Voices Dingle, Derry-Londonderry and London will continue to applaud originality and embrace divergence and in doing so, create three very special and authentic celebrations where music remains at the heart of the matter.
 
Exciting line-up additions for The Glassworks have just been announced and the Other Voices team are delighted to welcome James Yorkston, Daughter and Beth Orton to the Derry stage!

The full list of bands confirmed now looks like this:

Friday 8th February – Damien Dempsey, Savages, Soak.

Saturday 9th February – Bronagh Gallagher, Jesca Hoop, Marina and the Diamonds, Neil Hannon.

Sunday 10th February – Beth Orton, Daughter, James Yorkston, Two Door Cinema Club.
 
And don’t forget, Other Voices is a spontaneous affair conducive to creative collaborations, songs and tunes can and do happen at the drop of a hat.
 
The Derry~Londonderry leg of the Other Voices event will form an exciting part of the musical element of the City of Culture celebrations 2013, which kicked off last week with the BBC Sons and Daughters concert. The eclectic programme will go on to include musical takeovers such as the Music City which will include a Sky Orchestra of music playing from hot air balloons and Celtronic, Ireland’s premier electronic music festival. The city is delighted to see a host of homegrown talent returning to Derry for Other Voices, including Neil Hannon, Two Door Cinema Club and Soak.  
 
Neil Hannon  said “As an alumni of Other Voices Dingle, it was lovely to receive an invite to appear at Other Voices Derry. Not least because Derry / Londonderry (the city that dare not speak its name) is the city of my birth! It is also the UK City of Culture this year which I am keen to show my support for.”
 
Jesca Hoop added “I am genuinely excited to play Other Voices this year and am so happy to be invited to play in Derry. I played OV in Dingle a couple of years back and I can honestly say that it was my year’s highlight!”
 
For those who don’t make it to the Glassworks to see the live Other Voices gigs, fret not, because courtesy of BT Infinity there will be access to live streaming to a number of venues around the City of Derry including: An Cultúrlann / Nerve Centre / Grand Central Bar / Derby / Tinney’s / Gweedore / Masons / Bound For Boston / Icon Bar & Grill / Sandinos / Bennigans / Live Screen in Waterloo Place.
 
The Other Voices Music Trail will also follow on from Dingle to Derry / Londonderry this February. Over 40 bands will play across city venues including the streaming venues above plus Café del Mondo / Foyleside Shopping Centre / Verbal Arts Centre / Apprentice Boys of Derry Memorial Hall / St. Augustine’s / Ebrington Sq / Legenderry Cafe / Craft Village.

So, no matter where you are in the city, you will only be a stones-throw away from the action and the unique events that make up the over-all Other Voices experience.
 
The IMRO Other Room will be filmed at Memorial Hall and some of the first acts to be announced are Riptide Movement, George Erza, Katharine Philippa, Ryan Vail and Best Boy Grip. As always, The Other Room showcases some of the freshest and finest new talent around at the moment.

Once again, there was an open call to bands to apply to play The IMRO Other Room and this year there were over 300 submissions!  

The Banter Salon at Other Voices made it’s debut in Dingle with great success and will travel to Derry next month. Banter, hosted by Jim Carroll, will feature a number of discussions (some heated!), conversations, performances and talks on the Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free, see www.thisisbanter.com for more details.
 
A number of tickets for The Glassworks will be made available through competitions on Other Voices social media (Twitter: @OtherVoicesLive & Facebook: ‘Other Voices’) as well as on national radio shows. Please see Other Voices website for more details: www.othervoices.ie.

Robert Levine, the author of Free Ride, (http://freeridethebook.wordpress.com/) will be speaking in Hodges Figgis at 6.30pm on January 24^th.  All welcome.

Free Ride

How the Internet is Destroying the Culture Business and How it Can Fight Back

Robert Levine

 Do you read newspapers online? Own a kindle? Download television programmes so you can skip the adverts? Free Ride explores the implications for modern culture of all these activities and asks how businesses can fight back against the expectation that everything we value should be available for free.

‘Information wants to be free’ says influential technologist Stewart Brand at a 1984 hacker convention. These words became the mantra that shaped the Internet, and the conflict he predicted has led to a revolution in the way that our culture is funded and consumed.  We have come to demand free content online, mistaking the packaging of physical products for what we were actually paying for – the creative content. Newspapers are being pressurised to give their content away for free online; music sales have plummeted due to piracy; and Amazon is using its market power to drive down the price of e-books.

Technology companies are making millions from content created and funded by others, reducing the value of culture in the process. How did the media industry lose control over its destiny? What are the consequences? And are we headed for cultural meltdown if the media can’t stop the free ride?