Author: Zoé Piater

Following a packed 2023 of festivals, and a string of sold out shows, including one in London’s Camden Chapel, Luke Clerkin has announced that he will be releasing his debut album in the second half of 2024. To support the release, Luke will be hosting a fundraiser on March 1st in The Workman’s Cellar. All of the profits from the fundraiser will go towards the promotion and release of the album as well as any other costs that may arise. Luke will be joined on the night by special guest, Hannah McGinn.

Talking about the album Luke said ‘I’ve been working with my long-time producer and collaborator, Gavin Doyle, since the beginning of the summer. We are currently in the mixing stage of the album. It’s been a hard slog as I had some injuries and mental health struggles that got in the way, so, I’m excited to finally be getting it over the line. I’m very proud of this work, and feel it’s the best music I’ve ever recorded!’

Talking about the fundraiser, Luke added ‘ I am very very excited for this one, as I feel it’s the most important gig I’ve ever done. I have always received incredible support for my hometown gigs, and I’m hoping with their backing, we can raise enough money to give this album the release it deserves! To also have this as my first time playing in The Workman’s Cellar makes it even more special. The Workman’s Club has always been great to me over the years, so I was delighted that we could make this happen!’

Known for his euphoric live performances, deep and infectious music, and his extraordinary work ethic, Luke Clerkin is a two time Sports and Cultural Council Song-Writing competition winning singer-songwriter. His music has gained international airplay and support, whilst also topping the Irish Singer Songwriter Charts on multiple occasions. Luke is known mostly for playing over 250 gigs in 2015, as a way of honing his craft. Since then he has headlined famous Dublin venues such as Whelan’s, The Workman’s Club, and The Button Factory. His music has brought him all over the world, with multiple tours of Germany, as well as festival slots in America, The UK, and Ireland.

Luke had an incredible 2023, with sold out shows across Ireland and the UK , as well as multiple summer festival appearances. His live EP ‘Live From The Library’ was also released to critical acclaim. 2024 is set to be an even busier year with the release of his debut album, ‘Orpheus’ due to happen in October.

Gig Info:

Tickets for the Luke Clerkin – Album Fundraiser are available here.

Tickets are €13 (+booking) online and €15 on the door.

Follow Luke Clerkin on Instagram here.

Listen to Luke Clerkin on Spotify here.

Over the last twenty years, Dublin-born and Berlin-based artist David Hedderman has cultivated an impressive career as a visual artist with his vibrant style of portraits which often feature beautifully textured and captivating backdrops for his figures to exist within. Hedderman’s striking idiosyncratic style seamlessly translates in his songwriting, as demonstrated in his dynamic and deft debut album, Pulling at The Briars. These ten multi-faceted compositions are sensitively layered with sumptuous and sweeping instrumentation. Its tonal palette is enhanced by a rich palette of emotive guitar melodies, soft percussion, and wistful flourishes of pedal steel, piano and violin. These beautiful soundscapes are endlessly inviting, each return drawing audiences closer towards the many aspects of his artistry.

Following on from the release of the first singles ‘Blue Jeans’ in September, and ‘Permanent Blush’ in October, and instrumental track ‘In Your Own Way’ in December, Hedderman shares the final track before the full album release.

‘Pokerface’ official video: https://youtu.be/jwus9xD0Htw?feature=shared  

Speaking on the new song, Hedderman says “It could be seen a love song, but also in a world that doesn’t make much sense at the moment… to be with yourself and not feel lonely nor confused. not to focus on yourself directly but through an activity……. something that gives you a kind of peace to process it all. Go in… get quiet. have a chat with yourself.”

ABOUT THE UPCOMING ALBUM “PULLING AT THE BRIARS”

Written over a 15-year period, Pulling At The Briars captures a transitional period for Hedderman during which he relocated to Berlin, Germany from Dublin, Ireland in the mid-2000s. The initial months and years were shaped by intensive periods creating art whilst cultivating a community of like-minded creatives in Berlin. With regards to the latter, Hedderman engaged in regular music sessions, eventually inviting musicians to his Kreuzberg studio to play together. This ritual not only served as an invigorating social outlet but through playing music, Hedderman was able to process several informative events that occurred throughout his twenties and thirties.

Recorded live over five-days with Brendan Jenkinson (Aoife Nessa Frances, John Francis Flynn, Villagers) in Sonic Studios, Dublin, Ireland, Pulling At The Briars was produced by Conor O’Brien (Villagers), Hedderman’s close childhood friend and former bandmate in The Immediate. The atmosphere conjured during the recording sessions was amplified by the potent cast of collaborators featuring Peter Broderick, David A. Tapley (Tandem Felix), Corey Blair, and Aidan Gorman, each of whom add rich flourishes to the expansive material.

Hedderman explains the significance of the album’s title and how it reflects the overall narrative of this deeply personal and resonating work. “It came from a trip I made to the West coast of Ireland making portraits of people. I was also doing some work outdoors with my friend and we were told we had to pull briars out of some walls in the lashing rain. Afterwards, I remember it being a very heightened memory after that trip of it being very cathartic and symbolic. The act was quite literally doing something in the pursuit of clearing, unclogging. I’ve often seen that as how I’ve treated music in a cathartic way, as a form of therapy. Holding the guitar and singing is my way of getting things out. The album’s title is a lyric in one of the songs and I think it nicely umbrellas the whole album in how it addresses the ways that I try to untangle life.”

Website: http://davidhedderman.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidHedderman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_hedderman/

The Bunker Studio have just released the 1st episode from the new season of their showcase series ‘…at The Bunker.’

Fresh off her headline show at Whelan’s, a support slot with Kelis, and her 1st Irish iTunes No.1, Celaviedmai performs a powerful version of her upcoming single ‘Wicked Witch’, a dreamy cover of BiigPiig‘s ‘Don’t Turn Around’, as well as taking part in a Q&A interview.

The Bunker team are excited to bring you the Series 2, featuring 8 artists performing live in studio. Series 1 of ‘…at The Bunker’ was a first for the studio, and a real success for both the participating artists and audience, with viewership currently at over 110,000.

Initially self funded, IMRO sponsored the final two episodes of Series 1, and Paul at The Bunker is delighted to say they are on board again to support Series 2.

All 6 episodes of the 1st Series feat. Sarah Buckley, Bradley Marshall, Liliana, Find Joy, F3miii and Saige, can be viewed in at:  www.thebunker.ie./atthebunker

Series 2, Episode 2 coming soon …at The Bunker

@thebunker_studio 

@_atthebunker

youtube.com/@thebunkerdublin

Ex Oh Promotions are excited to present their third annual ‘The Next Big Thing’ festival, live at The Workman’s Club from Tuesday 23rd to Saturday 27th of January 2024.

“We’re a proudly DIY festival, run by musicians for musicians and our philosophy puts artists at the centre of the industry, creating space for new acts to flourish and grow without resorting to playing free gigs.”

With 30 artists performing, The Next Big Thing’s mission is to give a platform to the incredible breadth of talent this island has to offer. Some highlights this year include Pauric O’Meara,
Elkae, Zé, Kendino, and many more emerging musicians. Boasting an eclectic line-up from hip-hop to heavy rock, indie, and DJ sets – there’s guaranteed to be something for every kind of music fan. Past performers have included The Fae, Decarteret, and Last Apollo and others who continue to blaze a trail through the Irish music scene.

Taking over two stages across five nights, The Next Big Thing 24 introduces gig-goers to a new wave of home-grown talent, as well as giving them a real festival feel with multiple stages across the iconic Workman’s venue on Wellington Quay. Finally, Ex Oh will celebrate the festival with an after-party featuring DJ Colleen.mp3 in the Main Room on Saturday, 27th January.

The Next Big Thing 2024 is sponsored by Orchard Thieves, Oatier and has teamed up with Safe Gigs Ireland.

Physical ID required, this is an 18+ event.

Day Pass €17.50
Five Day Week Pass €27.50
Week Pass + Limited-Edition Festival Hoodie €47.50

Tickets are available through Eventbrite here.

Instagram | Festival Instagram

Since their live debut in October 2022, “Passion Merchant” has been central to SPEARSIDE’S live set, easily recognisable to anyone who has seen the band over their first twelve months. Given the strong power pop thread running through the band’s releases to date, listeners tend to be surprised that Spearside’s live set features a lot of improvised jamming and psych undertones. “Passion Merchant”, to be released January 17th 2024, opens a new chapter in the ever expanding sonic world of Spearside.

Speaking ahead of the release, frontman Oisín Walsh said,

“The instrumental section developed slowly over a number of gigs. On the recording we tried to capture the best parts from various improvised jams we would go off on in the middle of playing Passion Merchant live. I recently moved to Rome, and most of the mid section was recorded the night before I left Ireland because I’ve never been one for deadlines. Passion Merchant will hopefully share a side of our band that to this point has been reserved for our live audiences.”

Running parallel to their punk, power-pop and garage rock tendencies are Spearside’s devotions to Can, Spiritualized, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and the many contemporary acts reimagining psych rock today. The band will return to Whelan’s upstairs for their final show of 2023 on Saturday 16th December with fellow Irish Psych act Thee UFO.

Sat 16 December DUBLIN Whelan’s (Upstairs)

SPEARSIDE Headline Show (Final Live Date of 2023)

Tickets: €12

Special Guests: Thee UFO

Spearside are a three-piece band lead by brothers Oisín Walsh (vocals/guitar) and Cian Walsh (vocals/bass), along with their friend Dylan Zovich (drums). The band produces all of their music from their own home-studio in Trim, Co. Meath.

The trio have released four singles “Bus Stop”, “Crack In Your Brain”, “Not Up To Much” and “Trendsetters” which have all helped build the buzz that has been circling the band in recent months and they plan to bring the noise to those willing to join their Christmas party.

Spearside are quickly carving out a space for themselves in the colourful world of guitar pop, among the guitar driven underground scene in Ireland.  Drawing on influences such as Teenage Fanclub, Dinosaur Jr., Ride, Buzzcocks, Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, Johnny Thunders, QOTSA, MC5, Jay Reatard, Ty Segall and Brian Jonestown Massacre it’s hard to fit Spearside into a category cleanly, as they sound like everything and nothing you’ve heard before.

Following her performance on the Other Room Stage at Other Voices last weekend, folk artist Niamh Bury shared 5 songs with us that influenced her set:

1. “Slim Slow Slider” – Van Morrison 

“Astral Weeks” is one of my all-time favourite albums, and this song is magic – especially the slidey double bass.

2. “Song for our daughter” – Laura Marling

Laura Marling is a big inspiration and I love the production on this song. The piano sound is gorgeous and the big rich strings are like a present towards the end.

3. “1922 Blues” – Charlie Parr

I’m a big fan of Charlie’s finger-style guitar playing. Who Am I To Tell Him? evolved out of messing around with this song.

4. “Bonny Boy” – Shirley and Dolly Collins 

I’m very inspired by both Irish and English folk. I adore Shirley’s voice and her sister Dolly’s funky pipe organ sound.

5. “Hey, That’s no way to say Goodbye” – Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen is simply the best at painting little vignettes for the listener to step into. I love the simplicity of his classical guitar and the floaty backing vocals on this one.

One of the most talked about rising acts on the Irish folk scene, over the past six months alone, Niamh Bury has collaborated and shared the stage with acts like Ye Vagabonds, Martin Hayes, Myles O’Reilly and Niamh Regan. Captivating audiences with stirring vocals, adept lyricism, and striking interpretations of old songs; Bury’s anticipated debut album of self-penned material, recorded and produced by Brían Mac Gloinn (Ye Vagabonds), is due for release next year through Ireland’s most iconic record label, Claddagh Records.

Listen to Niamh’s handpicked songs and let them take you back to #OV2023 here:

Revue are vocalist Emma Loudon & multi- instrumentalist Martin Price, ably assisted by Sean McCann on bass, Ioannis Tsioulakis on keys and Josh McCullough on drums. The sound is inspired as much by folk, roots, jazz and blues as it is updated sounds of ethereal indie pop, modern grooves and alternative rock.

The Arts Council (NI) had confidence in their material and funded a full live band and recording sessions for their debut album “Why Can’t You Stay” in 2022. The song-writing was as heavily inspired by the natural world as it was by themes of loss. Loss comes to us all in life but sadly Emma lost both her brother and her father in the space of a year. Comfort was found in local forests and beaches, where the pair walked their two dogs and so these inspiring natural locations found their way into the material for the album. As did a sense of joy and appreciation of being together with those we love and of strength and growth in the face of adversity.

2023 saw a third successful tour of Brittany, a second stint at the How The Light Gets In festival (the world’s largest festival of philosophy and music), other festival dates and shows in UK & Ireland, and lots of time spent both in their cosy home studio and the wild beauty of forests, coasts and cliffs that continue to inspire them and their music.

‘Downhill’ is the second release from Revue’s debut album ‘Why can’t you stay’. In a fusion of indie folk and indie rock, this powerful track captures the essence of a moment forever linked with a place. The song weaves a tale set on Downhill beach on the mesmerizing North Coast of Ireland, serving as both a backdrop and a metaphor. The lyrics reflect the experience of associating a location with a life-altering event and the emotional freeze frame that can create. It begins gently, reminiscent of folk traditions, and gradually morphs into an indie rock anthem, mirroring the intensity of the emotions it portrays. The track again makes stirring use of layered backing vocals, which is becoming a trademark of Revue’s sound.

Downhill strand – with Mussenden Temple perched on its rugged cliffs – provides a dramatic backdrop for the song’s story. Well-known in Ireland, it became famous internationally after being featured in an episode of Game of Thrones.

‘Heartfelt vocals and evocative instrumental textures beckon listeners into a world where vulnerability battles against self-preservation, showcasing the band’s ability to blend profound themes with hypnotic melodies.’
– The Beat

‘Evocative instrumentals and passionate vocals intertwine with the group’s intricate storytelling, creating a sound that is as haunting as it is captivating.’
– Hot Press

Revue on Social Media:

Revue (@wearerevue) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook

revue band (@band_revue) / X (twitter.com)

Revue | Spotify

Brendan Melia is an Irish folk singer, song-writer and musician, based in Meath. He has been playing and writing music for 30 years. He has released 3 original singles and two EP’s of some standards of Irish folk music. He is constantly developing his original material and online presence.

Brendan is currently recording his first album of original music which will be released in the spring of 2024.

Delivered in Brendan’s raw and uncompromising singing style, his songwriting reflects an unconventional, mischievous streak, coupled with a strong sense of social justice.

His music has been compared to the likes of The Dubliners, Damien Dempsey, and Christy Moore. Fans of original Celtic folk and roots music will feel at home with Brendan’s music. Watch out for Brendan’s upcoming album for more fantastic original folk music with a few surprises and unusual twists from the Meath man who is just embarking on his musical odyssey.

His yet unnamed new album will be released in spring of 2024.

Meath-based singer-songwriter Brendan Melia is set to release a festive, nostalgic track, “The Bitter Sweet & Warm.”

The poignant, melodic song conjures up the seasonal imagery of Dublin familiar to many, and for Brendan, revisiting the city center shopping trips of his youth.

The sounds of buskers on Grafton Street, a backdrop to the passing multitudes pausing to listen.

 “I wish, I wish that all the year could feel like Christmas time” 

Before returning to their busy lives.

“Christmas is such an emotive time for people and in the spirit of celebrations, harsh realities can be forgotten but It’s still vital that the Homelessness crisis is not forgotten, or the families and single people experiencing it.”

Harmonica, guitars, and trad-style arrangement add color to the Irish folk track. The song doesn’t just capture a familiar scene, but hints at the untold bitter-sweet backstory of every troubadour. Dubliners near and far, or anyone who’s experienced the magic of the city at Christmas time are sure to be moved by this poignant track. Although the holidays are a time of joy and celebration, Christmas is not an easy time for everyone. The homeless crisis in Dublin continues to grip the city, and is all too easily forgotten in the face of all the other problems plaguing our society. Brendan says he hopes to raise awareness not just among the public but among the people with the power to effect change.

He says, “I want to bring the homeless crisis right into peoples homes this Christmas where it can’t be ignored.”

The song was recorded in Slane studios Co Meath by David Arkins, who mixed and produced the track. Adding his own expertise and ideas to create a wonderfully understated and sublime Christmas song Uncluttered with the usual festive kitsch and true to Brendan’s original vision. The track was mastered by Peter Montgomery mastering in Mullingar.

Connect with Brendan Melia via Social Media:

Brendan Melia (@brendanmeliafolksinger) • Instagram photos and videos

BrendanMeliaFolksinger (@Brentheartist) / X (twitter.com)

Music | Brendan Melia (bandcamp.com)

Brendan Melia | Spotify

West Cork singer songwriter Molly O’Mahony shares a new EP, an extension of ‘The House of David’, her 2022 debut album. The EP titled ‘Extension’ is out on streaming platforms, and Bandcamp, Friday 1^st December. https://mollyomahony.bandcamp.com/album/extension

Molly says: “In the midst of a housing crisis, why not go ahead and build what you can, says I…

The first track ‘Quietly’ had to be dropped from the original A-side of my album, because it ran too long to be pressed to vinyl. I don’t think it belonged as part of the album arc though, in hindsight. It was supposed to be released separately. It’s a very wholesome track about first love and being madly in it. I wrote it when I was twenty-two. My youngest brother Gabriel features on bass vocals in the chorus, one of my favourite features of the arrangement. 

‘Tomorrow’s Lunch – Reimagined’, is an orchestral version of an album track of the same name, recorded with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra for a broadcast called ‘Sounds of the Summer’ last year, produced by Rachel Breslin. The arrangements are by Áine Delaney. I love the contrast between this version of the song and the album version, which is the smallest, simplest track on the record. This version has all the bells and whistles, and the kitchen sink too. Though broadcast in the summertime originally, I think the track has a distinctly old Christmas movie feel to it. Thus my decision to release it in December this year. 

The third and final track ‘Golden Thing’ is a song I wrote just after releasing the album, which felt like an addendum to the collection somehow. This version was recorded for the same broadcast at RTÉ as ‘Tomorrow’s Lunch – Reimagined’. It’s a moment in time I care to mark. I intend to record a studio version of this song going forwards.”

Molly O’Mahony has been paving her own unique creative path over the past decade. She formed the art-folk group Mongoose with three friends upon graduating from UCD in 2012. Within this container, she explored her abilities as a songwriter and instrumentalist, and honed her distinctive singing voice, holding the position of lead vocalist, guitar player and in later years, drummer, in the band.

Molly’s power lies in her ability to feel deeply and to convey that feeling through her words and her voice. Her main mark on the music of Mongoose, both in writing and performance, was the raw emotion at its core.

In 2020, she returned to her home place of West Cork after a decade of living in Dublin. With a back pocket full of personal songs – extensions of her compulsive journaling habit – she was compelled to strip it all back and make an album that reflected her emotional experience of moving through the world.

‘The House of David’ is the product of her two years under lockdown. Sound boarded against the musical ears of her siblings Matilda & Fiachra, and utilising their complimentary voices to sit alongside hers, the arrangements were carved out with vocals at the fore. The songs were recorded in a concentrated haze of musical alchemy at Black Mountain Studios, Dundalk, with producer Alex Borwick at the helm.

Her highly anticipated album, ‘The House of David’, was finally released in its entirety, on November 10th, 2022. It held the ‘Album of The Week’ spot on RTE Radio 1 in December of last year, and was nominated in the ‘Best Debut Album’ category at The Hot Press Awards, 2023.

As this year rounds to a close, she will complete the album edifice with an ‘Extension’ EP, an addendum to the record, which showcases two previously unheard tracks, and includes a reimagining of the album track ‘Tomorrow’s Lunch’ with the RTE Concert Orchestra, recorded in June of 2022 for RTE Radio 1’s ‘Sounds of The Summer’ series.

Molly also tours Ireland throughout November & December to promote the EP and mark the album’s first birthday, culminating in her first Vicar Street appearance, supporting the mighty Damien Dempsey, on December 23rd.

‘Extension’ is out now on Bandcamp: https://mollyomahony.bandcamp.com/album/extension

More info and streaming: https://linktr.ee/mollyomahony

“…her dulcet, often melancholic, tracks sizzle through the crowd, scorching her name into the minds of fans and newcomers alike.” Alexandrea Hopper, Hot Press

“A multi-hyphenate artist…her debut album ably showcases this with a collection of songs that…document years of a life fully lived, loved, lost and then, gradually, reclaimed.” Tony Clayton Lea, The Irish Times

“One of the best albums of 2022 – Molly’s voice echoes ethereally like a cherubic Patti Smith, like a celestial PJ Harvey soaring…” Barry Egan, Sunday Independent

“Mingling romantic vignettes with loving dedications to platonic friendships, sibling adoration and familial loyalty, her undeniably rich, soothing voice tells each story with passion, delicacy and care.” Kate Brayden, Hot Press

Twitter: https://twitter.com/molly_omahony

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyomahonymusic/

1^st December 2023, Dublin, Ireland – Irish trailblazing trio and multi-platinum selling artists Chasing Abbey are set to excite audiences once again with their upcoming single, ‘Learning to Dance (Lanigan’s Ball),’ out today on all DSPS. LISTEN HERE.

The new single follows the smash hit single ‘Oh My Johnny (Banks of The Roses)’. Building on their pioneered ‘Trad House’ genre, the group weaves together the rich tapestry of traditional Irish music with pulsating contemporary dance beats, creating a musical fusion that has captivated fans worldwide.

The band’s hit single, ‘Oh my Johnny (Banks of the Roses)’ scaled to the top of the Irish singles charts, peaking at #6 on Official Irish Singles Chart, securing their position as the highest-performing Irish artists for several months and earning platinum status and amassing 7.5 Million Global Streams. The bands success reached new heights this summer, when they were moved from a one thousand capacity tent at Electric Picnic to a thirteen thousand capacity and a sold-out winter tour across Ireland, with some 20 plus dates. Tour dates HERE.

‘Learning to Dance (Lanigan’s Ball)’, has been a live and fan favourite, with fans demanding its release. Chasing Abbey aims to push the boundaries of their unique ‘Trad House’ sound, promising fans an immersive experience that celebrates Ireland’s musical heritage while embracing the energy of contemporary dance music. Indeed, the track has already amassed some tens of millions of views across social media in pre-release teasers.

Hailing from Tullamore in County Offaly, Chasing Abbey’s Ro, Bee, and Teddy C are each multi-instrumentalists with deep roots in traditional Irish music. Their ability to seamlessly bridge the gap between the old and the new has set them apart, marking a fresh and invigorating chapter in Ireland’s musical landscape.

In addition to the single, Chasing Abbey are also releasing a B-Side Christmas single titled ‘Must Mean It’s Christmas’. The song is slated for release alongside ‘Learning to Dance (Lanigan’s Ball) on December 1st. LISTEN HERE.

Chasing Abbey’s hard work and rise has caught the attention of major industry players, leading to their signing with two powerhouse labels – Spinnin’ Records, the world’s largest dance label, and Warner Music Ireland. This strategic partnership underscores the trio’s global appeal and positions them as leaders in the evolving landscape of music genres.

The excitement surrounding Chasing Abbey continues to build, with an eagerly anticipated performance at the iconic 3Olympia Theatre scheduled for April 5th, 2024. As their success escalates, the band remains connected with fans through soaring engagement and impressive numbers across various social media platforms.

As Chasing Abbey continues to redefine musical boundaries, ‘Learning to Dance (Lanigan’s Ball)’ is set to be a pivotal release, solidifying their status as innovators and pioneers in the realm of ‘Trad House.’

About Chasing Abbey

Midlands dance-pop trio Chasing Abbey burst onto the Irish music scene in 2016 with their explosive debut That Good Thing. The track topped the iTunes download chart in Ireland, was the most Shazamed song in the country, went on to win RTÉ’s Choice Music Prize for Song of the Year, and secured the band a global record deal with 3 Beat UK and Universal Music Group.

Childhood friends Ro, Bee, and Teddy C are multi-instrumentalists and producers working out of their studio, Penthouse Productions, in Tullamore. Chasing Abbey’s infectious stage charisma and unwavering sense of fun guarantees an unparalleled live experience.

Find Chasing Abbey on chasingabbey.ie, X, Instagram, YouTube, Soundcloud and TikTok