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IMRO Live Music Venue Of The Year Awards 2012

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) is delighted to announce that the fifth IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards will take place on Tuesday 26th February 2013 at IMRO HQ in Dublin.AWARDS 2012 a

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 8,000 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 most 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 pivotal 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 announcement, Victor Finn CEO of IMRO said “A strong live music circuit is the lifeblood of a vibrant music industry.  It is important that we acknowledge those venue owners and festivals promoters whose commitment, passion and support for live music throughout the country enables music creators to continue making the music we all enjoy”.

At the ceremony in IMRO HQ in Dublin on February 26th, 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 and IMRO Best Small Festival of the Year Award will also be presented on the night. 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 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 February 19th.  One lucky voter will win an iPod Touch digital music player.

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 www.hotpress.com/readerspoll

“Ireland has a wonderfully vibrant music scene right now,” Niall Stokes, editor of Hot Press said, “with a whole new wave of fresh talent coming through. But they are facing into a very difficult environment, with sales of CDs and records having fallen dramatically. Which makes it more important than ever before that we have great venues all over Ireland in which our songwriters, artists and bands can build their audiences and their experience. “The votes from the public for our best venues have been flooding in on hotpress.com, confirming that live music is at the heart of the music business right now. That’s why the IMRO Live Music Venue Awards are so important, as a way of rewarding and nurturing excellence.”

The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards have become an important badge of merit for venues across the country since its inception in 2008. Mary Hickson, CEO of Cork Opera House (IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2011) said “Any national award is a serious achievement, and one that is judged by peers and audience members means even more. Our IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Award was very simply the highlight of our year. As an industry award, for us it meant that all of our hard work was recognized and that judgement one which we are very proud of.”

 

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

 

Traditional Music Seminar at the Ark | Dublin | 25th January

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

Performing Irish Traditional Music for Child and Family Audiences with Cormac De Barra and Sinéad Madden. Presented in partnership with Music Network.cormacdebarra_highres_the_gathering

Date & Time Fri 25 Jan: 12.15-4pm (including performance, lunch and workshop)

This professional development workshop, facilitated by traditional harper Cormac De Barra and fiddle player and singer Sinéad Madden, will support professional musicians to develop performance skills for child and family audiences.

The workshop will begin with an opportunity to attend The Magic of the Harp – a traditional music performance for schools taking place at The Ark at 12.15pm. Following this, musicians Cormac and Sinead will then lead a practical two-hour workshop which will introduce approaches to interacting with young audiences, stage communication skills, audience management, creating engaging music sets and addressing particular challenges that musicians may encounter.

For full details and bookings visit: http://ark.ie/events/view/professional-development-for-musicians

IMRO Other Room Derry 2013 | Open Call

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

The IMRO Other Room Open Call for Other Voices Derry 2013 will be open from Monday the 14th to Friday the 18th of January.

Submissions can be made through http://www.othervoices.ie/ 

You must submit your material via a YouTube link on the online submission form provided.

Please do not enter if you are unable to travel to Derry on the 11th of February 2013.

 

 

Meteor Choice Music Prize – Irish Album of the Year 2012 Shortlist Announced

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

The Meteor Choice Music Prize shortlist for Irish Album of the Year 2012, in association with IMRO and IRMA, was announced this afternoon. Selected by a panel of 11 Irish music media professionals and industry experts the list of nominees is comprised of some of the very best Irish music right now. The overall winning Album of the Year will be selected by the judging panel at the Meteor Choice Music Prize Live Event at Vicar St, Dublin on Thursday, March 7th 2013.

The shortlist is as follows (artists listed in alphabetical order):

Wallis Bird – Wallis Bird (Rubyworks)
The Cast of Cheers – Family (Schoolboy Error)
Adrian Crowley – I See Three Birds Flying (Chemikal Underground)
Delorentos – Little Sparks (Delo Records)
Damien Dempsey – Almighty Love (Sony)
Julie Feeney – Clocks (Mittens)
Heathers – Kingdom (Warner Music)
Mumblin Deaf Ro – Dictionary Crimes (Popical Island)
Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon (Kitsune)
Windings – I Am Not The Crow (Out On A Limb)

The Meteor Choice Music Prize live event will be broadcast live on Today FM in a special four hour extended programme during the Paul McLoone show and live streamed on www.meteor.ie. Tickets for the Meteor Choice Music Prize live event will go on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets and from http://www.ticketmaster.ie on Friday January 11th, priced €22.50 including booking fee.

The winning act will receive €10,000, a prize fund which has been provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). All of the shortlisted acts will receive a specially-commissioned award, courtesy of IMRO and IRMA. The shortlisted albums will be available through retail partners HMV and once again, Culture Ireland will fund the attendance of key overseas delegates at the event. The Recorded Artists Actors & Performers (RAAP) will host a pre-event reception on the evening of Thursday March 7th.

 
Past recipients include:

2005: Julie Feeney – 13 Songs (Julie Feeney)
2006: The Divine Comedy – Victory for the Comic Muse (Parlophone)
2007: Super Extra Bonus Party – Super Extra Bonus Party (Alphabet Set)
2008: Jape – Ritual (Co-op Records)
2009: Adrian Crowley – Season of the Sparks (Chemikal Underground)
2010: Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History (Kitsune)                                                      
2011: Jape – Ocean of Frequency (Music Is For Losers)
 
Nominated Artists & Albums:

You can find out more about the nominated acts and the music from their albums at:
 
http://www.wallisbird.com/
http://thecastofcheers.bandcamp.com/
http://www.adriancrowley.com/
http://www.delorentos.net/
http://www.damiendempsey.com/
http://www.juliefeeney.com/
http://heathersmusic.net/
http://mumblindeafro.bandcamp.com/
http://twodoorcinemaclub.com/
http://windings.bandcamp.com/

IMRO Member Offer – MIX’13 Course

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

The Music Industry Xplained course is designed for musicians looking to get ahead in the music industry. 

Brought to you by Hot Press, the MIX course has some places available and IMRO members can avail of a discounted registration rate.

Now in its tenth year, MIX 2013 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. 

The course provides opportunities for musicians to learn from top professionals and with the vital background to all areas relevant to a songwriter and recording artist. 

It is a 13-week lecture based course (one each week) by top industry experts of the Irish and International music industry, including Willie O’Reilly, Steve Averill (U2 Designer), Alan McEvoy 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 2013 will run in Dublin city centre every Tuesday at 7.30pm from January 29th.

For more see http://mix.hotpress.com/

To secure your place and avail of this IMRO member offer, contact: 

Liobhan O’Hora at Hot Press on (01) 241 1500 / (086) 402 9969 or email liobhan@nullhotpress.ie 

You’ll also get a free Hot Press subscription for the duration of the course. Quote the Promo Code ‘IMROMIX13501’ to receive the special €50 IMRO discount.

IMRO Academy 2013 | Seeks Songwriter/Composer Nominations By IMRO Members

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

In April 2011 Bill Whelan, best known as the composer of Riverdance and Brendan Graham the co-author of the hugely successful song, ‘You Raise Me Up’ became the first inductees to the IMRO Academy which was launched by the Irish Music Rights Organisation at an induction ceremony in Dublin.

The IMRO Academy’s mission is to celebrate and mark the successes of Ireland’s iconic songwriters and composers who have made a very significant cultural and social impact in Ireland and/or internationally.
In 2013 the IMRO Academy will induct four new members.

To assist in its decision making process, the Academy is now seeking the contribution of IMRO members. Up to four Irish songwriters/composers may be nominated by each IMRO member for consideration for induction into the Academy using the form located below.

IMRO Academy Nomination Form

Closing date for submissions: Monday 7th January 2013

Composer | Producer Simon O’Reilly Launches Fundit Campaign

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

Simon O’Reilly is an instrumentalist, composer, music producer and sound designer living in Co. Clare, Ireland.    His most recent work, documentary feature film The Summit, on which he created the sound design and additional orchestral score has just been announced as the only Irish entrant in the prestigious Sundance Film Festival 2013.   On the back of this and other recent success’s Simon has now launched a crowd funding campaign to help him to complete his new album Edge of the Earth.  This is an album he describes as ‘a labour of love which will infuse all his influences and learning of his art since a young child’.  

Simon had a nomadic childhood growing in Australia, Holland, Ireland, England –  all of which exposed him to a wealth of music from different cultures.   He began playing the guitar while hanging around Jazz cafes in Holland in his early teens and from this developed a love of producing, recording music and sound.   After recording and performing in the vibrant Dublin music scenes late 1990’s he eventually turned his ear to his own musical heritage and moved to Co. Clare in the west of Ireland.  His decision to immerse himself in traditional Irish music proved highly successful and within a couple of years he had written and produced with Davy Spillane, Luka Bloom, Kila and The Monks of Glenstal amongst many others.  In 2008 after renovating a 200 year old farmhouse and turning it into a purpose built ‘state of the art’ recording studio, Simon decided to concentrate his energies on scoring for film.  His first score was for the legendary George Morrison and since then he has worked on 13 soundtracks including Little Matador (Film 4), documentaries for RTE and TG4 and the multi-award winning Wave Riders – and along with this he has also composed and produced numerous television advertisement campaigns for international ad agencies. 

In recent times, to complement his scoring and producing Simon has expanded his expertise into the area of sound design and the art of creating atmospheres and sound effects in film.  His first work, the internet sensation Dark Side of the Lens, won the Vimeo Sports Film of the Year 2012, and this along with the announcement that The Summit will compete at the 2013 Sundance film festival has cemented Simon as one of the top and most innovative sound designers and composer’s in the country.  Nick Ryan, the director of The Summit has huge praise for Simon’s work on his film ‘it was the creation of Simon’s unique sound design and effects that could not be achieved on location that made many of the more harrowing scenes work at the level we needed them…..this and the additional scoring of some of the larger orchestral scenes in the film by Simon were crucial elements to the success of the finished product’.  

Simon is currently looking for people to check out his new project, Edge of the Earth on fundit.ie  where they can get signed copies or even free studio time by contributing toward the cost of the completion of his much anticipated new album.

IMRO Master Classes at Temple Bar Tradfest 2013

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

As part of the programme of events taking place at the 2013 Temple Bar TradFest Festival, IMRO in association with Templebar Traders, will present a series of master classes in the New Theatre, Temple Bar, on Saturday 26th January.

Master class 1 with John Spillane
DATE: Saturday 26th January  –  11.00am − 1.00pm

Cork native, John Spillane, has the ability to appeal equally to audiences of all ages as a songwriter and musician. With a voice full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity, Spillane has won two Meteor Awards and is considered one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland today.


Master class 2 with Charlie Lennon
DATE: Saturday 26th January – 2.00pm − 4.00pm

Charlie Lennon is a well known composer of Irish traditional and classical music. An accomplished musician in piano, bass, drum and fiddle, he has had works performed by various artists including Dé Danann, Liam O’Flynn and Sharon Shannon, Altan, The London Lasses and Pete Quinn.

These master classes are FREE but due to limited capacity – booking is essential. Email: membership@nullimro.ie to reserve your seat now, indicating which seminar(s) you would like to attend.

 
John Spillane

John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet, dreamer – a canvass filled with color and brilliance.  His music transports the listener; his live performance captivates the audience.  In a world filled with strife and upheaval, a time-out with John Spillane is enough to ease the load a bit on anyone lucky enough to bask in his light. The man and his music are pure magic.

What makes John special is that he is an artist who knows how to deliver all that he has to offer to anyone of any age, male or female, no matter the musical preference.  Place him in the genre of folk, acoustic, traditional, world or pop – that’s fine with John.  He’s a man who is very comfortable in his skin. Whether performing solo with guitar, with gentle accompaniment or with full band before 10, 10,000 or 100,000, John entertains, charms, and mesmerizes.

John is a native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe”, and it has been a huge creative influence on him. Vocally, he is quite unique with an almost sean nós-like element in his singing and he is said to have a voice “full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity”.

Two-time Meteor award winner, John is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland today. Among those who have covered his songs are Christy Moore, Karan Casey, Pauline Scanlon, Cathy Ryan, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keane, George Murphy, to name a few. He performs to audiences large and small everywhere.

From his heart-warming visit to Senegal to film a “musical visit” for an Irish television series (where he met and played music with, among others, the legendary Baaba Maal), to his 2008 Australian tour where he sang the Irish National Anthem before 45,000 people attending the Australia v. Ireland Ozzie Rules Football, to singing for the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese (by invitation), and so on ad infinitum …

John’s performances shimmer with the magic realism that permeates many of his songs as he effortlessly flits between beautiful poetry tinged with melancholy to roguish, irreverent Cork humour.

 

Charlie Lennon

Charlie Lennon is a well known composer who has worked for the past thirty years in both Irish traditional and classical music. He is also involved in music production and performance in his own studio in Spiddal, Galway, (www.cuanstudios.com) in the Connemara Gaeltacht.

He is also involved in teaching at 3rd level in partnership with the National University of Ireland, Galway. Collectively they provide a full time Diploma Course in the Traditional Arts in Cuan studios. This covers music, including composition and arrangement, song and dance, sound recording, live sound, concert presentation, and stage production.

Many of his works have been recorded commercially including “The Emigrant Suite” (Gael Linn),  Aifreann Chaomháin “a Mass in Irish, ”Bainis Oileann—Island Wedding” (RTE) , a love story set on the Aran Islands and  “Flight from the Hungry”, the story of the Great Famine of the 1840’s. The latter two works, written for orchestra and traditional ensemble have been recorded by the RTE Concert Orchestra.

His orchestral works have been featured in concerts from Boston to Brisbane, Moscow to Melbourne. He was nominated Musician of the Year by the New York paper the Irish Echo for his contribution to Irish traditional music. His dance musical “Waves” has been screened by RTE and featured on many occasions on the American Public Broadcasting Service PBS. His music is also featured in a Hollywood produced film “Red Roses and Petrol”

In 2005 Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann awarded him the title “Ard-Ollamh” and in 2006 he was awarded the title “Composer of the Year” by TG4. Also in 1996, he and his brother Ben were honoured by Leitrim County Council with a Civic Reception for their contribution to the development of Irish Music.

His most recent album, a double CD, “Turning the Tune” was published by Clo Iar Chonnachta in 2008.  His second book of tunes published by Waltons Music, Dublin will be launched in January 2013.  The title of the book is “Irish Tunes for Fiddle”, (Musical Memories Volume 2) and this includes 2 CD’s covering 70 of his compositions.

IMRO Set To Host Traditional Music Showcases and Seminars at Temple Bar TradFest 2013

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in Industry News.

As part of the exciting programme of events taking place at the 2013 festival IMRO will host a series of traditional music showcases and master classes in the New Theatre, Temple Bar, over the course of the festival.

Any traditional music groups or artists interested in performing at one of these showcases should email a link to their website or sound files to showcase@nullimro.ie before 19th December.

Alternatively you can send a CD to the following address:

IMRO Membership Department
Irish Music Rights Organisation
Copyright House
Pembroke Row
Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2

Temple Bar TradFest 2013

22 – 27 January 2013

The 2013 Temple Bar TradFest will kick off 2013 with a six day traditional musical celebration. Line up will include:

• Over 200 free events – with outdoor stages in Temple Bar.

• This year’s Festival has a very international feel to it. As part of the Gathering 2013 internationally renowned Irish artists living all over the world are being invited to ‘come home’ for TradFest. A special Musical Gathering concert will take place on 22 January in Christ Church Cathedral.

• Throughout the festival artists from England, Scotland, Spain, Poland, Latvia, America and Canada will return home to perform at the Temple Bar Tradfest.

• A series of evening concerts will celebrate Irish music and its influence in Europe, Canada, New York and London. A special concert to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council in 2013 will feature artists from throughout Europe.

• Headline concerts include Sharon Shannon 21st Anniversary Concert, Maura O’Connell, Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill and a concert ‘Remembering Barney McKenna’ who performed at the 2012 Festival.

• New venues added include The Irish Stock Exchange, St Werburgs Church and St Patricks Cathedral

• A children’s club and gigs for kids so all ages can get involved.

Now in its eighth year Temple Bar TradFest is a firm favourite on the festival calendar and brings to Dublin City Centre a real celebration of Irish music and culture each January. The 2013 festival has been extended to 6 days and 6 nights and includes two new additional iconic heritage buildings (The Irish Stock Exchange & St Werburgs Church) as festival venues. Kicking off on 22nd January the 2013 Festival line up will include headline concerts, over 200 free events, music trail, singers club, open sessions, two outdoor stages, the international Celtic Irish Dance Show, master classes and showcases, gigs for kids, children’s club, cultural workshops, pipe bands and street performers.

In 2012 over 44,000 people visited the festival with over 13,000 people travelling from overseas. It is expected that this figure will increase to 15,000 in 2013.

Organised by the Temple Bar Traders association with the support of local businesses in the area this January celebration is set to banish those New Year blues. Full programme details will be announced in the coming weeks. For more details go to www.templebartrad.com

Speaking at the announcement Festival Programmer Kieran Hanrahan said: “I am very proud of how the TradFest has grown over the past eight years and has become a firm fixture on the Irish festival calendar. The 2012 festival was attended by over 44,000 people who we hope to see increase this year. The 2012 edition of the festival saw a huge increase of international visitors from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France, Spain and Germany who we look forward to welcoming once again in 2013. Already this year we have also seen bookings from the US, Canada and throughout Europe. Year on year the festival has presented some of the biggest names in Irish music alongside many exciting new performers and musicians. In our headline concerts we have assembled a line-up of some of the most iconic figures in Irish Traditional music coupled with some of the most exciting names in emerging Irish talent. Families will not be disappointed either, with outdoor stages with an emphasis on young Irish music and dance talent; street entertainment and a children’s club are just some of the many free events taking place during the festival. I have no doubt that people will enjoy a truly exciting celebration of our culture.”

New Single From Ciara Sidine | Old Bing’s Dream

Written by Press Officer on . Posted in News.

Melodic, immediate and unmistakeably reminiscent of Christmases past, the new single from emerging Irish singer-songwriter CIARA SIDINE (Sid-een) showcases her hallmark sound – a blend of old-style influences with a distinctly contemporary lyrical and vocal sensibility.

Dubliner Sidine has been described in Hot Press as ‘one of the most talented singer/songwriters to emerge in Ireland in decades’. Her debut album Shadow Road Shining was released to critical acclaim in 2011, a year that saw her perform on Other Voices and be awarded runner up in the RAAP/RTE Breakthrough competition. Says Ciara: “‘Old Bing’s Dream’ is an original song about Christmas, a time that holds a special place in memory from an early age, and it draws on Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ as a motif. It’s also a song about memory – how it is formed, how it changes over time, and how, while some elements of it fade, others crystallise, imprinting on the mind like pictures on a postcard, fresh as newly fallen snow.” ‘Sleigh bells ringin’, baby singin’/Old Bing’s dream safe and sound.’

www.ciarasidine.com
www.facebook.com/ciarasidine

Praise for Shadow Road Shining: ‘Exquisitely beautiful . . . recommended from the highest heights.’ Hot Press 

‘Americana [with] an unmistakeably Celtic feel to its poetic lyrics and confident vocals.’ UNCUT 

‘A remarkably assured piece of work.’ Daily Telegraph 

‘A finely rounded, richly produced album of Americana . . . vocals and lyrics so distilled they reveal fresh angles with each repeated exposure’ Irish Times

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