Irish music blog. Containing gig, live and concert reviews reviews; album reviews; setlists for recent Dublin shows; album news; and basically everything from the Irish music scene.
Upcoming Irish singer-songwriter Fiach is supporting Ray Davies (of the Kinks) at the moment, and was on stage before the great man in both Dublin's Grand Canal Theatre and Belfast's Waterfront. It was a fantastic show by all accounts, and the younger man won over many new fans. Here's the setlist from the Grand Canal Theatre show on Saturday night.
Setlist: We at swim Letting Go So I Us Folk You Dear Freedom and Resistance Damp Married to Music
Part Three of my countdown of the Best 50 Irish Acts today. The only requirement for entry is that the artist must have played live or released something in the past twelve months.
30. Lisa Hannigan The former cohort of Damien Rice decided to go it alone, and his music suffers as a result. The lack of her vocals on most of 9 was the reason it wasn't as good as O. Her debut album was a consistent record, but not amazing. However, we know from experience that she definitely has it in her.
29. John Shelly and the Creatures John Shelly and the Creatures have been in your head for a while. 'Long May You Reign' was used as the soundtrack to the Discover Northern Ireland adverts. The Belfast band have just released their debut album Dinosaur, which is an album full of gorgeous tunes.
28. I Am Not Lefthanded They've taken over 2UIBestow this week, but 66% Irish band I am Not Lefthanded could easily take over the airwaves with their instantly memorable pop tunes. They've only released EPs so far, but are due to record their album this year. Their live act is just as fantastic.
27. We Cut Corners Another act selected in the Irish Sound of 2010, We Cut Corners are a brilliant Dublin duo, who have supported some fine acts as well as appearing on national television. Their appearance on When Under Ether late last year was wonderful.
26. Mumblin' Deaf Ro 2007's The Herring and the Brine was one of the albums of the decade, and since then Mumblin' Deaf Ro has been playing regularly and consistently all around the country. It was his second album, and the follow-up is eagerly awaited - not least by all those people who read his regular comments over at On the Record!
25. Duke Special Not many artists have the pull or the imagination to release three albums simultaneously. But that's just what Duke Special did earlier this year. Ever since 'Freewheel' launched him into the mainstream, he's been doing everything possible to combat the natural progression to chart topper. That takes someone either brave or crazy. But perhaps Duke Special is both.
24. Fiach Another artist who has just recently released his debut, Dubliner Fiach is one of Ireland's unsung musical heroes. A wonderful singer in both English and Irish, the 24 year old is a definite tip for the top. His debut album So I is a great album, but it doesn't show off the tremendous talent he has performing live.
23. Pearse McLoughlin Pearse McLoughlin released the wonderful single 'Ways to Kill a Werewolf' last year, and since seeing the video, I have had the song on repeat. I'd say a thousand of those youtube views are mine! It's taken from the album Busy Whisper, which really deserves much more attention.
22. Mark Dignam Mark Dignam is a popular musician's musician. At his Whelan's gig last year, Liam O'Maonlai and Glen Hansard both popped along to join him on stage. He's also performed with the Frames and Paul Noonan. All those acts know how good Dignam is, and it's about time that the public knew how good he is too.
21. Two Door Cinema Club Yet another Irish Sound of 2010 pick, Northern Ireland's Two Door Cinema Club are gaining a lot of critical acclaim from a variety of sources. They're a fantastic rock band, and just released debut album Tourist History. The album is decent, but Two Door Cinema Club's singles so far are insanely catchy. There's only better to come.
Peter who runs the excellent Irish music blog (which should've made the shortlist for the 2010 Blog Awards) 2UIBestow has organised a super special Live at Boyle's night to raise money for Haiti.
It takes place at Boyle's in Slane, Co. Meath on April 1st, and features music from Fiach, The Dirty 9s, Murphy's Law, as well as some international flavour from Danish band Mama's Sadness.
The show starts at 9 p.m., and there will be collections and raffles throughout the night - some great music too! All proceeds go to the Haven Partnership.
After last year's succesful Irish Sound of 2009 post between myself and Peter over at 2UIBestow, we have teamed up again to highlight ten acts worth looking out for in 2010. We've picked five acts each, all of which could end up dominating the Irish music scene in the next twelve months.
A Plastic Rose
Belfast based A Plastic Rose consists of equal parts Sligo and Belfast and make the type of Indie Rock music Tim Wheeler dreams about. The vocals are shared by the contrasting styles of Ian and Gerry which results in harmonies not normally associated with the alternative rock genre. So far in their career they have released Eps and Singles with the full LP hopefully out this side of Christmas 2010. Seeing A Plastic Rose live is a must for the new year.
Hailing from Limerick The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra make some wonderful indie folk music which is receiving radio play across the country. They've release two EPs, played Electric Picnic and HWCHs as well as picking up celebrity fans like Paul McCloon and Cormac Battle along the way! 2010 could be the year of The BPLO with the likely release of their debut on the horizon.
Born in South Africa, but resident here since the age of seven, the Dubliner has an amazing voice as well as a wild backstory including a stint in the circus. But it's the music that really does the talking - it's a deep down dirty whiskey swagger that pulls no punches.
Candice Godon - 'Smoking Like the Barrel of a Gun'
Fiach
Is it better to release a number of mediocre albums or wait until the time is right to make and release an amazing debut album? Fiach has been around forever but in February he will finally release that debut album that he has spent years preparing. Fiach is a veteran of many a sessions night clocking up an impressive apprenticeship of live performances. The recent Whelans gigs proved he is equally impressive fronting a band and owning his audience. I think 2010 will find us falling for the singer-songwriter again with Fiach's uplifting songwriting being at the forefront of the movement. February 25th finds Fiach in The Button Factory for the album launch!
Henrietta Game only formed last January and already they've released a single, selected as Tony Fenton's daily download, performed with the legendary Peter Green and got a high profile slot at The Electric Picnic. Henrietta Game are guitar, cello, violin, glockenspiel and four part harmonies which send shivers down the spine. Henrietta Game is one of the most original bands out there which will appeal to indie kids and folk lovers alike.
Many of you may remember Ollie Cole as the frontman in the sadly-missed Turn. Well, he's back under the guise Oliver Cole and has signed to EMI. He released the excellent What Will You Do EP last year, and looks set to release full-length debut album We Albatri sometime in 2010.
Padraig was the lead singer with Wallmark and later with Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. In 2005 Wallmark released a great album but Wallmark didn't last much longer after the release. Since then Padraig has been writing a whole bunch of great tunes that will become his debut album this year with Karl Odlum's input. Padraig writes honest emotional songs full of life and character. With luck 2010 will be Padraig's year!
Clane produces a lot of good music. Planet Parade are the latest act to join Bell x1 and Damien Rice as exports of Kildare's Detroit Rock City. They're a fantastic indie-pop band who have been honing their craft in a live setting - particularly at autumn's Hard Working Class Heroes Festival in Dublin. Check out their EP Ghosts to People, and if you're around, head over to Whelan's on Friday, January 15th to catch them live.
With a debut album imminent, Bangor, Co. Down's Two Door Cinema Club could be the biggest Irish act of 2010. They've been hyped by the BBC and Spinner, and will be releasing their first album, Tourist History, on March 1st. They played the Introducing Tent at Glastonbury last year, but expect them to feature higher up the bill at Festivals in 2010, as well as joining the NME Shockwaves Tour throughout the UK and Ireland.
Ireland's other singing drummer duo Oppenheimer split up over Christmas, but instead of the Nordies' electronic feel, We Cut Corners are a beautiful folk-pop group with songs that sound so much bigger than the sum of their parts. They also joined the lineup at Hard Working Class Heroes in 2009 and featured on RTÉ 2's When Under Ether. Expect to hear much more from them in 2010.
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