Author: Zoé Piater

The city of Cork will be alive with music this May bank holiday weekend as the Cork International Choral Festival returns from 1st – 5th May. Organisers are gearing up for a spectacular five-day event featuring choirs from around the globe and a lineup of exciting performances and workshops. Now in its 69th year, the Cork International Choral Festival is one of Europe’s most prestigious choral events, bringing together singers from all over Ireland, Europe, and beyond. With over 90 venues hosting gala performances, competitions, fringe concerts, and free public performances, there will be music everywhere you turn in Cork city and county.

Highlights of the 2024 programme include the popular Afternoons in the Atrium at Clayton Hotel, the Cobh Fringe Festival featuring choirs at scenic locations, and a new venue at the Marina Market. The festival will also feature the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy competition, the Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra, and performances by renowned choirs like the State Choir LATVIJA and Chamber Choir Ireland. The festival also features the exciting finale of Ireland’s Choir of the Year competition, showcasing the best Irish choirs alongside international talent. Whether you’re a music lover or just looking to experience something new, the Cork International Choral Festival invites you to get involved and participate in the various workshops, events and performances on offer.

Highlights include the Afternoons in the Atrium, Clayton Hotel which returns on Saturday and Sunday 4^th & 5^th May, Cobh Fringe Festival, which will see choirs singing in locations such as St. Colman’s Cathedral, Christ Church, The Heritage Centre, Bandstand on the Promenade and Several local Schools. And a new venue for 2024 will see choirs signing at the Marina Market on Saturday 4^th May.

Other exciting events during the festival itself will include the hotly contested annual Fleischmann International Trophy competition, which offers audiences the opportunity to hear some of the world’s top amateur choir’s competing for one of Europe’s most prestigious choral prizes.

Audiences will also enjoy the Cork School of Music (CSM) Symphony Orchestra and Fleischmann Choir who will present Stanford at 100 – Stabat Mater, the composer’s iconic piece for the Opening Gala Concert on Wednesday 1^st.

On Thursday night one of Europe’s most well-known choirs, The State Choir LATVIJA, will perform in Cork City Hall. The renowned choir is internationally acclaimed both for its academic excellence as well as its innovative projects. The choir has participated in recordings produced by Naxos, Warner Brothers, Harmonia Mundi, Wergo and Ondine

St. Finbarre’s Cathedral will reverberate beautifully to the sounds of Chamber Choir Ireland who will give the premier performance of the winning composition of the 2024 Seán Ó Riada composition competition.

With the prestigious feature event for Irish choirs – Ireland’s Choir of the Year – taking place during the festival, along with an eclectic array of international competitions and musical styles set to be performed over the five days, Cork is the certainly the place to be for the sweet sounds of music in the run up to and during the May bank holiday weekend.

Finally the much loved Fringe Choral Festival returns this year to Cobh. Exciting venues will include the majestic St. Colman’s Cathedral, the Sirius Art Centre, Christchurch (Cobh) and a Choral Trail which includes Cobh Band Stand, Cobh Heritage Centre, and the Commodore Hotel with a different choir performing every half hour throughout the afternoon on 4^th and 5^th May.

The Cork International Choral Festival is supported by the Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council, with the Irish Examiner, Evening Echo and Cork’s 96FM as media partners,

Festival Tickets will be live on www.corkchoral.ie

A child explores one of his favourite places; his Grandfather’s garden.
Featuring The Black Book Gospel Choir and Musicians.

Recorded and mixed by Anthony Gibney in Audioland studios in Leixlip, it is scheduled for release on all streaming platforms on 12^th April 2024.
Launch concert: 25th May, The Patriots Inn, Dublin

Keith Burke grew up in Skerries, Co. Dublin. The first two singles from his upcoming studio album, “I’ll begin this letter” and “Before you go” were well received and played on Irish National and Regional radio. He has proudly sung his songs in concert all over the world.

He writes mainly about adult lives and unconventional love stories found in the ordinary.

Dublin Songwriter and Skerries native Keith Burke has released three original albums. “The Dancer who Stole your Shoes” in 2004, “No One Wants to Move” in 2008 and “These Boys” in 2016. Keith has played concerts in (and been invited back to) Pittsburgh USA, Cairo Egypt and Beirut Lebanon. He has played televised concerts in Italy, dates in the 2005 Guinness Cork Jazz festival and received the Hotpress “Pick of the fortnight”. His music has been played on national Irish radio on RTE 1, Radio Na Gaeltachta and NewsTalk, as well as many regional radio stations. He was selected as the late Tony Fenton’s “daily download”. A song of his was used for the credits on a TV show on Setanta Sports. The late great saxophonist John Earle plays on several of his recordings. He’s played support to Irish bands Bagatelle and Aslan and in Bavaria, Germany, touring band “Mac C&C Celtic Four” regularly close their energetic live shows with Keith’s song “Love and Romans”.

Keith has written, arranged and with the help of producer Anthony Gibney, recorded his new album in Audioland Studios in Lexlip. Singles “I’ll begin this letter” and “Before you go” have been well received and played on national and regional radio stations in Ireland and the UK. His upcoming single “That’s where the bees loved to go” will be released on 12th April 2024.

Links
Instagram: @keithburkemusic
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/keithburke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Keithburkeblackbook/
Twitter: @keithaburke
https://www.songkick.com/artists/7494324-keith-burke
https://keithburke.bandcamp.com

Ger Eaton: A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, hair stylist and retro-vintage aficionado, this iconic and stylish gentleman is most recently known as keyboardist / guitarist for Dublin alt-rock heroes The Pale. Indeed, Ger has been a mainstay of the Irish music scene for many years as a member of Premonition (EMI), Las Vegas Basement (Columbia), Les Marionettes, Pugwash, The Carnival Brothers and many solo and collaborative recordings. Throughout this time, he also recorded and toured extensively with, among others, Mundy, Duke Special, Jack L and Fionn Regan, playing everywhere from Glastonbury Festival to the ‘Later with Jools Holland’ TV Show.

Nick Haeffner is a songwriter and musician based in London. His debut album on the Bam Caruso label in 1987 was greeted with critical acclaim after which he disappeared from the music scene for over 30 years. His comeback album A New Life Awaits You (2019) was very well received with Alan Moore describing Nick as ‘one of the country’s most wonderful secret voices’. His current album, What Time Can Do was released last year on Dimple Discs records. Nick has been gigging on a regular basis with backup from Marcus Holdaway of The High Llamas on keyboards. His forthcoming reworking of Harry Nilsson’s songs from The Point features guest appearances from Eileen Gogan, Sean O’Hagan, Damian O’Neill, Ger Eaton, Keeley and many others.

www.facebook.com/GerEatonMusic

About the Alternative Sunday Social Club   

The Alternative Sunday Social Club was created so that music fans can enjoy some top tunes on the last afternoon of the weekend. Since we launched at the beginning of 2015 we’ve hosted gigs by The 4 of Us, Rocky DeValera (front man of legendry Dublin bands The Gravediggers and The Rhythm Kings), The Business, Brush Shield’s Skid Row, Trouble Pilgrims (formerly The Radiators from Space), Vulpynes, The Lookalikes, Jazzabelles, Duncan Maitland, The Thrash Blues, Eileen Gogan and the Instructions, The Winters, TV Smith (The Adverts), Strand, Mike Brookfield, Protex, Niall Toner and The Outcasts. We’ve had music from right across the spectrum with rock, guitar pop, punk, Americana, blues and ska and we’ve grown our crowd by word of mouth with all ages dropping by on Sunday afternoons. For the band they get the kick of their early live shows, and the audience gets to enjoy the music and the musician up-close and personal. It’s cheap, cheerful and above all fun for everybody who comes along. This isn’t thousands of people in a converted warehouse; this is dozens of people enjoying music the way it was meant to be seen and heard.

www.facebook.com/Alternative-Social-Clubs

Ger Eaton with support from Nick Haeffner
Sunday, May 19^th     Doors 4.00pm     Tickets €15
Advance tickets available from Universe:
https://tinyurl.com/345ahkae
Hyde, 9 Lemon St, (just off Grafton St), Dublin 2

A silver national guitar shimmers -a bottle neck floats across strings. Glass on steel through a busted out speaker cab. Harmonica through a bullet mic like some kind of banshee. A bassline conjured from the foot pedals of a resurrected church organ. This is Arrow in the Sky‘s ‘bog-blues’. A foot stomping boogey-hymnal. If T-Bone Burnett ever got lost down the cross roads of Westmeath. Featuring Jason Cooper ‘The Cure’ at his most Bonham-esque.

McCauley, a self proclaimed ‘hardcore atheist’ maintains the song ‘Time Of Need’ is not religious in its connotation but is more so dealing with the themes of salvation and wondering whether or not redemption is possible? and if so it is most likely not found in a person. The boys have again gotten by with a little help from their friend Jason Cooper (The Cure/My Life Story). ‘We just let him rip’ says Brian. ‘He got the vibe straight away.’ ‘Initially we thought it was a little too Bonham but then we thought fuck it! He can do whatever he likes’ laughs Brian.

Bio:
Arrow in the Sky is the songwriting partnership of midlands-based singer Conor McCauley and multi-instrumentalist Brian Murphy. This is the third single from their forthcoming album ‘Arrow in the Sky’ scheduled for release in June 2024.

Photo credit: @corkerycaptures

Performing brand new songs in front of an audience might take guts, but simultaneously recording them live for release requires next-level bravery. Guitarist Max Zaska, known for his collaborations with Irish vocalists, took that leap when he was joined by co-writers Gemma Dunleavy, shiv, Melina Malone, and jarjarjr at the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork last September. The result is ZASKA’s new 5-track EP, Live At The Triskel to be released on April 5th. It blends soul, jazz, R&B, pop, and hip-hop, reflecting the sounds of the five collaborators who each feature on this release.

“The whole thing was so unorthodox. Normally, you have songs, make an album, then play live. But we flipped it on its head and recorded it live while performing most of these songs for the first time. It was a crazy thing to do, with a 12-piece band, monitoring the audio recording, and putting on a show for the audience while being documented by a 3-camera video crew!  We only had one shot to get it right,” Zaska explains. “But they say pressure makes diamonds and I’m delighted with how it all turned out.”

Play The Game is the second single off the EP and features Cork-based lo-fi beats producer and rapper, jarjarjr who co-wrote the song with Zaska in the Triskel Arts Centre last summer. “We quickly found our flow and wanted to write something up-tempo and danceable, inspired by Mac Miller and Anderson .Paak. I’d never written like that before, especially with a rapper and myself on vocals,” said Zaska.

The Live At The Triskel EP came to life with support from the Triskel Arts Centre and the Improvised Music Company who awarded Max Zaska their WRITE RECORD PERFORM residency. “I’m so grateful to the Triskel Arts and the IMC for helping all of the independent songwriters and musicians involved in bringing these songs to life,” explained Zaska.

More songs from these collaborations are on ZASKA’s 3rd studio album, to be released later this year.

Hozier has this week landed his first ever Irish Spotify #1 with latest single “Too Sweet”, topping his previous peak of #2 with debut single “Take Me To Church” in 2014. “Too Sweet” has also just hit #1 on the Spotify Top 50 Charts in the United States, UK, Canada and New Zealand. It also continues to climb the Global Spotify Top 50 up to #5 today.

In the US charts, announced last weekend, ‘Too Sweet’ debuted at #5, Hozier’s first Top 10 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 and second Top 10 hit after ‘Take Me To Church’. It also debuted at #1 on seven other US charts including Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart, Hot Rock Songs Chart, Rock Streaming Songs, Rock Digital Song Sales, Hot Alternative Song, Alternative Streaming Songs and Alternative Digital Song Sales Charts.

In the UK, the single debuted at #8 in the UK Singles Chart, Hozier’s first Top 10 hit in ten years.

In Ireland, the single debuted at #7 in the Irish Singles Chart and continues to climb trending at #3 in this week’s mid-week charts.

Hozier plays a headline show in Dublin’s Marlay Park on Friday, July 5^th. Tickets are available now.

FOLLOW HOZIER:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | YouTube

ZAPHO teases out the 6th single ‘Logically’ from her debut album coming out Thursday 4th of April. The song showcases the young artist’s unique songwriting skills with yet another genre-bending tune in her catalogue. We are led further down the Zapho rabbit hole, into a dazzling indie, rock and soul-infused landscape. In addition to the lush studio rendition of Logically, her seven-piece band tear up the live room with a heavier and more realised rendition available to watch on YouTube.

FFO: Lovers of Alt Pop, Soul, Indie, Alternative Rock, Lo Fi, Electronic Music- This is your jam!

Sappho: Behind The Name Zapho

‘Sappho, a Greek poet from the Island of Lesbos (630 B.C.E) is celebrated for the sexuality and sensuality in her poetry, especially her love for women and the female body. We can’t recover Sappho’s lost poems, but we can reclaim the enduring spirit she left us, we can become her poetry’

About Zapho

No stranger to the Irish music scene, ZAPHO (co-founder and musical director of The X Collective) returns to release her 6th single Logically. Zapho effortlessly infuses LGBT+ themes, female-focused narratives, that cross genres and push musical boundaries, with catchy melodies that feel familiar, yet totally new. 

The chorus teases ‘If you thought Logically you wouldn’t be sitting right next to me’ 

Zapho’s songs are not just about melody, they are a fusion of thought-provoking, gently provocative lyrics and genre blending soundscapes that create a world that’s uniquely her own. Written and produced alongside Too Fools, Steven McCann with groove drenched bass playing from Lorcan O’Dwyer and Oisín Murtagh on sax. The track feels timeless, despite being written nearly ten years ago in Zapho’s early college years at BIMM Dublin.  From Billie Eilish to Nirvana to T.S Elliot as references, Logically has a fresh insightful approach to songwriting. Moreover Zapho’s Identity as a queer artist adds another layer to her music. Her songs are a testament to her personal journey and experiences. 

Showcasing her abilities through earlier album releases like  Peoples, Tell Your Mother, Big Song Blue, Listen To Me Child and collaboration Pay The Piper with Dublin rapper Celaviedmai, this new single serves as a testament to her commitment to be unique and keep us guessing. You can check out her TV debut performance on Fannings at Whelans for a performance of her unreleased track, Joan. Zapho has a mega 7 songs yet to release to take us further on her road of musical discovery. Watch this space!

As the industry holds its breath in anticipation of the next star, Irish hip-hop newcomer Celine is determined to establish herself as a leading female rapper. Since her debut release ‘Somebody Else’ in 2022, Celine has been shaking up the internet one release at a time. Her latest offering ‘Her Trap Boyfriend’ embraces old-school R&B energy, straying from drill while remaining respectful to her rap roots. Joined by Young Iz, a rising star on the brink of a meteoric ascent, the single invites listeners to delve into the complexities of love and relationships, promising an auditory experience that is both immersive and unforgettable.

‘Her Trapper Boyfriend’ is a sonic rollercoaster that navigates the highs and lows of modern romance with unparalleled honesty and authenticity. From the allure of a bad boy’s charm to the vulnerability of a good girl’s heart, Celine and Young Iz leave no stone unturned as they unravel the complexities of love. This boundary-pushing single delves deep into the intricate dynamics of love, offering a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the tumultuous world of relationships.

Young Iz, reflecting on the creative process, shared, “The creative process for me was about embodying the storyline. I zoned in, allowing the beat to guide my pen, crafting lyrics that echoed the emotional depths of each character’s perspective.”

Hailing from the musical enclave of Kildare, Young Iz has carved a niche for himself with his razor-sharp lyricism and infectious beats. From viral hits like ‘Outside’ to the TikTok sensation ‘Irish Girl,’ his ability to captivate audiences knows no bounds. Teaming up with industry heavyweights like A92 rapper Ksav, Young Iz continues to push the boundaries of musical expression.

Celine, the enigmatic songstress with a story to tell, brings her own brand of magic to the table. With roots tracing back to a Rap Youth Workshop in Cork, her journey has been one of resilience and determination. From the grandeur of the Opera House to the intimate confines of the studio, Celine’s passion for music knows no bounds. Her debut single, ‘Somebody Else,’ captured hearts and minds in 2022, but breakthrough track ‘Ick’ solidified her as a rapper with an ear for an absurdist one-liner and a ruthless perfectionist streak.

Follow Celine:
Spotify | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok 

Follow Young Iz:
Spotify | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok 

Photo credit: Clark Franklyn

Introducing Soft Launch – a five piece who, when asked to describe themselves, quickly reel off, “Irish” and “boyband”. It’s funny, because Soft Launch are only a third Irish. They are also not entirely a boyband: not in the way you might expect anyway, but it’s exactly this brand of glint-in-the-eye self awareness that they wear so well and draws you into their orbit of stylish, intelligent, melodic perfection.

Soft Launch are Josh McClorey (from Cavan), Conor Price (from Wicklow), Benedict Quinn, Henry Pearce and Limmer and ‘Cartwheels’ is their anthemic debut single, out now on Good Form / Parlophone. Watch the energy-filled video HERE. Reminiscent of the heyday of British indie pop, directors Marcus Prouse Jr and Nathan Barlow along with creative direction from Henry in the band, bring the personalities of each member and the tangible chemistry between them to the fore.

‘Cartwheels’ received its first play on BBC Radio 1 last night from Declan McKenna sitting in for Clara Amfo. It’s a self-produced debut that dissects moments within a relationship placed under a microscope. The intense domesticity of the lyrics beautifully offset almost intergalactically grandiose synth melodies and riffs that spark off of one another. Complex basslines playfully dance with Josh’s clean cut, pitch perfect vocal, but his idiosyncratic Dublinisms allow depth and realness to shine through in verse and chorus, to then be countered with Henry’s bouncy and characterful delivery on verse 2. Clearly, we are not in traditional boy band territory here: unless the boy band in question is as much Vampire Weekend and The Beatles as they are Harry Styles.

All of Soft Launch write, produce, and deftly interchange instruments throughout both the recording process and gigs. Lead vocals come in various waves from Josh, Henry, Conor & Ben with Limmer steadying The Beach Boys-esque ship. Their already packed out live shows is where anyone should head for a Good Time. Wall to wall with eager sub-20-somethings scream-singing every word back to the boys and lapping up the vibe, they sold out The Grace in London a few weeks ago in less than an hour, without a single piece of music out in the world. Here is a band totally realised, at ease with the stage and themselves and will have you wrapped around their little fingers without breaking a sweat.

Of course, this is just the beginning, but what’s clear is that Soft Launch seem to have been born from the kind of serendipity that doesn’t really exist anymore within a tik-tok focused, content-driven music industry. It was an old school happening of right place, right time: five incredible musicians genuine artists- who never set out to be in a band, yet fit together so harmoniously in a way they just couldn’t ignore and you shouldn’t either.

Soft Launch Live:

April 12 – Alexandra Palace, London*
April 13 – Brighton Centre, Brighton*
May 17 – The Great Escape, Brighton

* Supporting Declan McKenna
FOLLOW SOFT LAUNCH 
INSTAGRAM // TIKTOK 

KING CARA are an alternative rock band based in Dublin. The band consists of Jimmie Byrne (vocals, guitar), Ignas Baranauskas (guitar), Eoin Kinahan (bass), and Samuel Eliasen (drums), and they serve a boiling soup of fuzz-flavoured riffs, wry lyricism, and driving rhythms. After a series of searing live performances in venues across Dublin, including a headline gig in The Soundhouse, the band released their debut single ‘Favourite Crusade’ in March 2023.

KING CARA are returning with ‘Eden Quay’ on 10^th April, marking this momentous occasion with a headline gig in the Workman’s Club Main Room on 11^th April.

Workman’s Headline Gig 11/04/24 Tickets

“I suggest that you get your air guitars out, turn it all the way up to 11…make it a bit filthy as well, with some pedals, cos [Favourite Crusade’s] about to rock your world”

Del Osei-Owusu, Islington Radio

Jimmie Byrne explains the inspiration behind ‘Eden Quay’:

“I used to work in a nightclub in Dublin. We usually finished up around 3-4am. I was too cheap to get a taxi and there was no Nightlink to Drumcondra at the time, so normally I’d end up walking home. My route would usually take me through Temple Bar, down O’Connell Street and Dorset Street.  

Every night, people would fill the streets as the late bars and clubs closed, almost all absolutely plastered. Their priorities were either getting home, or getting food. Queues of people would be waving for taxis like marooned sailors on a beach, and every McDonalds sign was a beacon calling the faithful to prayer. I found it surreal, it wasn’t a sight I was used to experiencing sober.

After one of these nights, I came home and couldn’t sleep. A guitar riff kept circling in my brain and keeping me awake. I recorded it on my phone, and the next day I wrote the lyrics, inspired by what I saw that night.”

‘Eden Quay’ was recorded in Audioland Studios by Anthony Gibney, and mastered by Simon Francis.