Live: Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival Lineup

Thanks to Peter at 2uibestow for reminding me to check out the full listings for the Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival. There are some fantastic acts playing the last weekend of April at various venues all around the city, including Josh Ritter, Caitlin Rose, Joe Pug, James Vincent McMorrow, and most importantly (for me anyway), Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

American/UK acts:
Josh Ritter and The Royal City Band
The Duke and The King
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
Jason & The Scorchers
The Band Of Heathens
Hot Club Of Cowtown
Chris Smither
Pete Molinari
Dex Romweber Duo
Joe Pug
Uncle Monk
Caitlin Rose
Elvis Fontenot & The Sugarbees

Irish acts:
James Vincent McMorrow
Clive Barnes
Ben Reel Band
Raglan Rodeo
The Rye
David Hope & The Henchmen
River Valley Band
Swingin' Blue Cats
Jezzebelle
Loudest Whisper
Rumbleshack
Tupelo
KJ McEvoy Band
TV Jones and The Tomahawks
Louisiana Joyride
Memphis Cats
Road Trouble
Niall Toner Band
The Sullivan Brothers
Beef Supreme

Check out the full line-up, as well as gig dates and ticket prices here:
http://www.kilkennyroots.com/gigs.asp

Stream: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way

The new album from Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (and their best so far, in my opinion) is released today in Ireland, and next Tuesday in the US. The wonderful NPR has yet another exclusive, where you can stream the album, I Learned the Hard Way, in full.

It's a gorgeous soul-rock album, and sure to be on many end of year best of lists. Highly recommended.

Tracklist:
01 The Game Gets Old
02 I Learned the Hard Way
03 Better Things
04 Give It Back
05 Money
06 The Reason
07 Window Shopping
08 She Ain't a Child No More
09 I'll Still Be True
10 Without a Heart
11 If You Call
12 Mama Don't Like My Man

Stream:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125142001

Setlist: Mumford and Sons, The Academy, 18 March 2010

By all accounts, Mumford and Sons played a stonking gig at the Academy the week before last. They're set to return to Ireland in the summer to play Oxegen. They played a lot of tunes from their debut Sigh No More as well as some unreleased tracks and a new song. Ferg over at Seeking His Face has a full review of the gig here.

Setlist:
Sigh No More
Winter Winds
Roll Away Your Stone
White Blank Page
New Song: Feel the Tide
I Gave You All
Awake My Soul
Little Lion Man
Lover Of The Light
Thistle And Weeds
Timshell
The Cave
Dust Bowl Dance
---
To Darkness
Restless Heart

Watch 'Feel the Tide' live at the Academy:

Album News: Avril's Poison - Jules Verne

Strange little email popped in my inbox this morning, announcing an Irish supergroup called Avril's Poison. They're due to release their debut album Jules Verne on June 18th (the 21st in the UK). The most notable thing about the band is definitely the line-up. It includes Paul Noonan (of Bell X1) on Vocals, Dave Evans on guitar (you'll all know him as the Edge), Mark McClelland (formerly of Snow Patrol) on bass, Colm Mac Con Iomaire on violin and keys, and Graham Hopkins (of the Frames) on drums.

The band is McClelland's brainchild, and the press release said that he's "trying to explore new avenues, both in sound and in public profile." Although this may seem a little strange, McClelland is probably best known these days as the man who's suing Snow Patrol for 25% of their earnings.

The press release also claims that the album is "a bounding rock album, with a large series of hooks. Recorded in secret over a series of weekends, Jules Verne is set to be a landmark record in Irish musical history." The title track is due for release as a single later this month and features Glen Hansard on vocals, so as soon as I have the video, I'll post it up.

Tracklist:
1. Flutter
2. Mother Superior
3. Four Corners
4. Jules Verne (featuring Glen Hansard)
5. Too Late to Get in the Game
6. Sitting/Watching
7. Taiwan
8. Zoom
9. Phase Noise
10. This One's For You

Live: MGMT at the Olympia Theatre

As part of their UK & Ireland tour to promote their eccentric new album Congratulations, MGMT will return to Ireland to play the Olympia Theatre. They'll be performing tunes from the new album, as well as favourites from the first ('Kids', 'Time to Pretend', and all those hits you climbed scaffolding in Oxegen to see) on September 16th.

As of now, there's no dates pencilled in for the following three nights, so if this sells out quickly, I wouldn't rule out a second night. Don't quote me on that though, if you really want to go - tickets are on sale next Friday, the 9th of April, and cost €30.

If you didn't see them at Oxegen, here's what you missed:

Live: Laura Marling, Dizzee at Oxegen 2010

Some more acts to the ever-expanding Oxegen 2010 lineup today, the highlights of which have to be Dizzee Rascal, Laura Marling, the Stranglers, and him from the Strokes - Julian Casablancas. They were announced on the Paul McLoone show on Today FM earlier today.

New additions:
The Black Keys
Dizzee Rascal
Julian Casablancas
Laura Marling
Jamie T
Groove Armada
The Cribs
The Stranglers
Fox Avenue
Chase & Status
Earth, Wind & Fire

Weekend tickets cost €240 and are on sale now. It'll be definitely worth it.

Stream: Jonsi - Go

The full-length solo album from Sigur Rose frontman Jonsi is set for release next week, and now you can stream the entire thing in full on NPR (as well as Jonsi's UK MySpace). It's a fantastic debut, maybe not as good as his main band's output, but it's pretty damn good. 'Boy Lilikoi', 'Kolindur' and 'Go Do' are standouts.

Stream:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125217376

Album News: LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

Finally a title and album cover for the new album from James Murphy under his LCD Soundsystem moniker. The cover is pretty jazzy, with James in full-dance-funk groove, albeit a bit lopsided.

The album comes out May 18th. More news when it appears. The lead single, 'Drunk Girls' is available for download on iTunes and Amazon now.

Watch: Jamie Lidell - The Ring

Jamie Lidell's second album Jim is the best soul (pop-soul) album of recent years, and his debut Multiply is pretty damn good too. Thus, I'm really excited for his third record, Compass, which is due out May 18th. The video for 'Compass', the title track was unleashed last month, and now we have the follow-up single, 'The Ring'. This tune is much better than 'Compass', and has me eagerly anticipating the rest of the album. When you're finished watching that, have a look at Jamie's Introduction to Compass video.

Watch Jamie Lidell - 'The Ring':


An Introduction...:

Live: Lisa Hannigan at Whelan's

The 40th Anniversary of International Earth Day takes place on April 22nd, and to celebrate, Whelan's will be marking the night with a one-off concert. It's due to feature some excellent names, with Our Little Secrets, The Ambience Affair, Gavin Glass, Roesy, and Mundy on the bill. The whole thing is to be headlined by Lisa Hannigan.

No info on ticket prices yet, but I'll let you know.

Watch 'Lille' live:

Live: Kele Okereke at the Academy

In advance of his upcoming solo album, Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke will play a series of Irish dates in May. Hopefully they go down better than the first time I saw them at Oxegen, when he said he was "delighted to be back in the UK". :D He'll be playing Limerick, Cork, and Belfast, as well as the Academy in Dublin.

Tickets for Kele's solo dates go on sale on Wednesday.

Friday 14th May – Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick
Saturday 15th May – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Sunday 16th May – The Academy, Dublin
Monday 17th May – Spring & Airbrake, Belfast

Watch 'Helicopter' live on Jools Holland:

Stream: The Hold Steady - Rock & Roll Problems

After debuting 'Hurricane J' last week, the Hold Steady have unveiled yet another song from upcoming May album Heaven is Whenever. This time it's the fantastic 'Rock and Roll Problems' which has a great riff. So much for less anthems on this album...

Tracklist:
1. "The Sweet Part of the City"
2. "Soft in the Center"
3. "The Weekenders"
4. "The Smidge"
5. "Rock Problems"
6. "We Can Get Together"
7. "Hurricane J"
8. "Barely Breathing"
9. "Our Whole Lives"
10. "A Slight Discomfort"


Stream:
The Hold Steady - 'Rock & Roll Problems'

Live: I Draw Slow at the Sugar Club

One of Ireland's finest alt-country bands, I Draw Slow, will be playing the Sugar Club this weekend. The Dublin five-piece are currently working on the follow-up to their splendid debut Downside, which will be released later this year.

The gig is on Sunday, April 4th at 8 p.m. Admission is €12. If you don't have any other plans for Easter Sunday night, I suggest you head on over. They're definitely one to watch for the future.

Watch 'Goldmine' live:

Album Cover: The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards

The official album cover for the new Dead Weather album Sea of Cowards has been unleashed by Jack White. I preferred the cloaked wizard posters myself, but what does everyone else think?

According to Jack White, the cover photos were taken with a polaroid camera, and then each part was pieced together to make a whole picture.

Live: Blink 182 at the O2

Pop-punk pioneers (although that was in the press release, I had to use it here, I love alliteration) Blink-182 are back from hiatus and will play Dublin's O2 as part of their comeback tour. They're due to play the revamped Point Theatre on August 13th. They last played Dublin in 2005, at the old Point Theatre, and are back from retirement to make a new album and play worldwide.

Tickets are both €44.20 for seating and standing. They go on sale this Thursday (April 1st) at 9 a.m. They'll probably sell out quick enough, so I'd advise you to get your ticket as soon as possible. Blink 182 always put on a great show, and are one of the most entertaining live bands around.

Watch Blink-182 'All the Small Things':