Album News: Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues

The new full-length from Justin Townes Earle is one of my most anticipated albums of the year. His first two albums The Good Life and Midnight at the Movies have been fantastic, and the third features Jason Isbell on most, if not all, of the album. It's called Harlem River Blues and is due in September on Bloodshot.

Earle co-produced the album himself with Skylar Wilson, and features a fantastic supporting cast: Brian Owings on drums, Paul Niehaus (Calexico) on pedal steel guitar, and Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show) on harmonica.

Album News: Ryan Adams - Blackhole, III/IV

Great news Ryan Adams fans, he's posted some interesting photos and messages on his facebook page. The first is a picture of Ryan Adams holding up two vinyl records:

Accompanied by the following message:
"Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, "III/IV" Double LP, ( unreleased and in the vault since 2006 ) fresh from the mastering plant! Also day one of demo's went great! Have A GREAT WEEKEND yall and that's an order. XX DRA"

The second message and photo:

"oh yeah, p.s. the "Blackhole" LP ( recorded over Christmas in 2005 ) is also back from the mastering plant. I f'n love this thing. It took 4 years to make it and to me it is basically Love is Hell Part 3... lots of shimmery guitar love on this. Exciting times!!!"

He also posted this on the Ryan Adams Archive forum:
"III/IV line-up
DRA, Brad Pemberton, Catherine Popper ( her last with the bad and she sings on this one a good bit ) Neal Casal ( his first with the band )Jon Graboff ( although he is not on every track he is b.a.d.a.s.s. on this- I mean, space-rock pedal steel and out of this world playing, and Jamie C is also on this playing some kickass piano and some rhodes, B-3 hammond whatever on "Dear Candy"
It's a crazy listen. 4 sides of serious old-school post-rock, post-punk American RocknRoll kinda stuff.
It sounds more like what live Cards sounded like in my opinion."

III/IV was recorded in 2006 and was mooted as the follow-up to Cold Roses, and Blackhole is one of fans' most anticipated. Mine too. Love is Hell 3? I'm sold.

No info on when and how these records will be released, but I'd expect a vinyl/digital package like the Orion LP he released last month.

Competition: Vodafone iPad Treasure Hunt

And your clue is...


Missed all the fuss? Want to know what's going on? Here's clue #1. Remember, you have to find them all to be in with a chance of winning an iPad from Vodafone.


And make sure to check out Vodafone Ireland's Official Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/vodafoneireland

Live: Enemies at Whelan's

Meant to talk about this earlier, but Enemies are launching their debut album We've Been Talking upstairs in Whelan's tonight. Support comes from the wonderful Super Extra Bonus Party as well as Mia Sparrow.

Tickets are €15 on the door, and come with the album! (Or €10 for your partner without the album. No point having two right?)

Speaking of which, you can stream the album in full on State magazine's gorgeous new website here:
http://www.state.ie/2010/06/mp3/stream-enemies-album-weve-been-talking/

Live: Oxegen 2010 Vodafone Stage Lineup

Yesterday on his show on 2fm, DJ (and Irish lord of twitter) Rick O'Shea announced the full lineup for the Vodafone Stage at Oxegen, including those much sought after day by day breakdowns. Now we know that Fatboy Slim is to headline on Friday with Groove Armada on just before. The Black Eyed Peas are going to have a good, good night on Saturday, while the Prodigy will close the show on Sunday night. Best of the Irish is Two Door Cinema Club, who take to the stage on Saturday.

Friday:
Fatboy Slim
Groove Armada
Scouting for Girls
Plan B
Republic of Loose
Drake
Fox Avenue

Saturday
The Black Eyed Peas
Doves
Editors
The Cribs
Rise Against
Two Door Cinema Club
Kids In Glass Houses

Sunday
The Prodigy
30 Seconds To Mars
Temper Trap
Joshua Radin
D12
Prof Green
The Knux

Stream: James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning

Noticed this embeddable album stream over on Nialler9 during my daily browse of Ireland's best music blogs. He says that this album went under his radar, and a little birdy told me that it was because of yours truly that it did find its way onto said radar. Now whether that is true or not, only Niall himself knows. Either way, you can stream the entire debut album from James Vincent McMorrow, Early in the Morning, below. It's my favourite Irish album of the year, and I cannot praise it enough.

Latest tracks by jvmcmorrow

Album News: RPA and the United Nations of Sound - United Nations of Sound

Good news Richard Ashcroft solo fans (not so sure whether it's good news for Verve fans, but you must admit that Forth was fairly disappointing). He's back with a new project, RPA and the United Nations of Sound. Richard Ashcroft, alongside Steve Wyreman (guitar), Paul ‘DW’ Wright (bass), and Derrick Wright (drums) are to release debut album United Nations of Sound on July 16th on Parlophone. The album is produced by Chicago hip-hop producer No ID (Common, Jay-Z), with string arrangements from Benjamin Wright (Michael Jackson), and engineering by Reggie Dozier (Outkast, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye). Not a bad castlist at all.

Tracklist:
1. Are You Ready
2. Born Again
3. America
4. This Thing Called Life
5. Beatitudes
6. Good Loving
7. How Deep Is Your Man
8. She Brings Me The Music
9. Royal Highness
10. Glory
11. Life Can Be So Beautiful
12. Let My Soul Rest

Watch rehearsal footage:

Live: Oxegen 2010 Heineken Green Spheres Lineup

The daily breakdowns for the Oxegen 2010 Lineup have been announced for yet another stage (still no sign of the main stage breakdowns though).

This time it's the Heineken Green Spheres stage, which features some magnificent acts over the three day weekend. Friday night is headlined by David Guetta, but no doubt Ellie Goulding will pull in a big crowd. Delorentos are the best of Irish on the stage on the festival's first day.

Saturday night's festivities are headlined by Calvin Harris, with Hot Chip, Gossip, and La Roux all on before him. The highlight for me, however, has to be Cathy Davey, who recently topped the Irish album charts with The Nameless.

Sunday night is the big one for many people. The last act to play the Heineken Green Spheres stage this year will be folk-of-the-moment Mumford and Sons. Ocean Colour Scene will bring some classic rock, and there's something for everyone with the contrast of Jamie T and Diana Vickers.


FRIDAY JULY 9
DAVID GUETTA
GOLDFRAPP
EMPIRE OF THE SUN
ELLIE GOULDING
THE CORAL
DELORENTOS
KASSIDY
GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT

SATURDAY JULY 10
CALVIN HARRIS
HOT CHIP
GOSSIP
LA ROUX
CATHY DAVEY
WALLIS BIRD
TBC
PANAMA KINGS

SUNDAY JULY 11
MUMFORD & SONS
OCEAN COLOUR SCENE
JAMIE T
THE COURTEENERS
WE ARE SCIENTISTS
KATE NASH
DIANA VICKERS
GENERAL FIASCO

Album News: Pete Yorn - Self-titled

Pete Yorn is set to release his fifth album on September 28th. It comes out on Vagrant and is self-titled. Biggest news of all is that it was produced by Frank Black (or Black Francis) of the Pixies.

Black had this to say of the record: "Pete told me he wanted to better define himself as an artist. I think he just wanted to rock out. But as we headed down a path of realization I stripped him down a whole bunch. We battled in the best sort of way. I tried to get the session into a fearless and raw place, and to his artistic credit Pete took his songwriting to a fearless and raw place. This listener will find his or herself sitting right next to Pete on the couch. And the record totally rocks out."

Tracklist:
1. Precious Stone
2. Rock Crowd
3. Velcro Shoes
4. Paradise Cove I
5. Badman
6. The Chase
7. Sans Fear
8. Always
9. Stronger than
10. Future Life
11. Wheels

Album News: Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier

Not only will Irish fans get the chance to see Iron Maiden live this summer at the O2 on July 30th, but two weeks later can get the chance to hear brand new studio tracks on the band's fifteenth album, The Final Frontier. Better still, the band are giving away one of the album's ten songs, 'El Dorado', as a free mp3 download on their official site from today.

Tracklist:
1. Satellite 15.....The Final Frontier 8:40
2. El Dorado 6:49
3. Mother Of Mercy 5:20
4. Coming Home 5:52
5. The Alchemist 4:29
6. Isle Of Avalon 9:06
7. Starblind 7:48
8. The Talisman 9:03
9. The Man Who Would Be King 8:28
10. When The Wild Wind Blows 10:59

Download 'El Dorado':
http://www.ironmaiden.com/download/index.html

Live: Halves at Airfield House

There's a lot of great gigs on this weekend. Another one to add to your calender is Halves' only headline gig of the summer at Airfield House in Dundrum, Dublin 14.

Halves are definitely one of Ireland's best unsung bands. After seeing them on Other Voices last year I was extremely impressed, and would have loved to see them make their American debut at this year's SXSW. Impressive.

Support on the night comes from The Ambience Affair. Tickets in advance are €10 and can be purchased through http://www.airfield.ie/cultural_programme.html

Watch Halves 'May Your Enemies Never Find Happiness' on Other Voices:

Setlist: Rage Against The Machine, O2, 8 June 2010

Zach De La Rocha, Tom Morello and the RATM crew brought the rock to the O2 in Dublin last night. According to friends of mine who were at the show, it was an amazing spectacle, and there were many highlights including 'Know Your Enemy', 'Bulls on Parade', and of course that Christmas Number 1 'Killing in the Name of'.

Setlist:
Testify
Bombtrack
Know Your Enemy
Township Rebellion
People Of The Sun
Bulls On Parade
White Riot (The Clash cover)
Guerrilla Radio
Renegades Of Funk
Sleep Now In The Fire
Bullet In The Head
Wake Up
---
Freedom
Killing In The Name Of

Watch Rage Against the Machine 'Testify' at the O2 in Dublin:

Live: Clockwork Apple Presents at Whelan's

Clockwork Apple have another great gig lined up for June. It takes place on Friday the 18th, and features a wonderful lineup, all for ten euro. Playing upstairs in Whelan's are The Gandhis, BellaJane and Captain Kennedy.

Doors are at 8, and tickets are €10 on the door.

More info:
www.thegandhismusic.com
www.myspace.com/bellajanemusic
www.myspace.com/captainkennedy

Watch: Seth Lakeman - Hearts and Minds

Hearts and Minds is the new album from Seth Lakeman, and like a lot of his albums so far contains a track with the same name as the album. The song 'Hearts and Minds' is the first single from the album. The single is due out June 21st, with the album following a week later.

Watch Seth Lakeman 'Hearts and Minds':

Seth Lakeman - Hearts & Minds (HD)

Album News: David Gray - Foundling

Just a year after releasing his seventh album, David Gray is back with yet another full-length record. This new one is called Foundling and is due August 17th.

The press release states "The first single, 'A Moment Everything Changes' is an upbeat driving force, while songs such as the album opener 'Only The Wine' and the bluesy title track 'Foundling' show David Gray’s understated artistry and hauntingly beautiful vocals that have garnered him fans across the globe. "

Strangely enough, the lead single is from the bonus disc, and not from the main album itself.

Tracklist:
Disc 1
1. Only The Wine
2. Foundling
3. Forgetting
4. Gossamer Thread
5. The Old Chair
6. In God’s Name
7. We Could Fall In Love Again Tonight
8. Holding On
9. When I Was In Your Heart
10. A New Day At Midnight
11. Dave Jones' Locker


Disc 2 - BONUS DISC
1. Fixative
2. Morning Theme
3. The Dotted Line
4. A Million Years
5. Who's Singing Now
6. Old Father Time
7. Indeed I Will
8. A Moment Changes Everything
9. More To Me Now

Live: Le Cheile 2010 at Oldcastle

This year is yet another great year for smaller Irish festivals. Never mind the behemoths of Oxegen and Electric Picnic, it's at the lesser known events where the true talent emerges - especially of a local sort.

Le Cheile 2010 is set to be fantastic. It takes place from the 30th of July to the 2nd of August in Oldcastle, Co. Meath at three venues in the town: Caffrey's Redrooms, Creams Marquee, as well as the Oldcastle House Hotel.

The lineup itself looks amazing with headline shows from Mick Flannery, Jerry Fish, Jack L, Fight Like Apes, Noise Control, and Weapons Detector, as well as The Richter Collective presents Bats and Not Squares.

And that's not to mention the brilliant acts further down the bill like Henrietta Game, Planet Parade, Codes, Grand Pocket Orchestra, Jogging, Ollie Cole, John Shelly and the Creatures, and many, many more.

For more info and full details, check out the official website:
http://www.lecheile.com/

Thanks to 2UIBestow for the heads-up on this one.

Live: Planet Parade at Whelan's

After being announced for this year's Oxegen Festival, homegrown band Planet Parade are set for a headline show at Whelan's this Saturday night (the 12th). But don't worry, the England-USA World Cup match will be over by then! The band are doing splendidly at the moment, following the release of their Ghosts To People EP just a few months ago.

Support on the night comes from Doctor Leaves, and tickets are a bargain at €5.

Watch Planet Parade 'Electrical' in Whelan's last November:

News: Stuart Cable found dead

Former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable was found dead this morning, according to police reports. A cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but police have said the death is not suspicious.

Cable, 40, had been the drummer in Welsh band Stereophonics from their foundation in 1992 to 2003 when he was sacked for spending too much time on his media career. In 2002, he began his television career with Cable TV on BBC Wales, before moving on to make Cable Connects and the radio show Cable Rock.

He started a new band, Killing for Company in 2008, and they supported the Who at their recent UK shows.

Watch 'Bartender and the Thief' at the V Festival in 2002:

Watch: Crystal Swing and Lily Allen - He Drinks Tequila

Ireland's internet sensations Crystal Swing invited Lily Allen on stage to sing 'He Drinks Tequila' with them at the Flat Lake Festival. Check it out below...

Download: Dave Matthews Band - Summer Tour 2010

Dave Matthews Band are currently on their last Summer Tour before they take a year off in 2011. The 2010 US Summer Tour has seen a lot of old songs coming back like 'Busted Stuff', 'Digging a Ditch', 'So Right', and 'Cry Freedom'. They also played 'Break For It', a new song which had been eagerly anticipated by hardcore fans. Have a listen to some of these tracks and many, many more below. (You can also download them if you so wish). Thanks to all the tapers for recording them. To download full shows of any of the gigs so far, check out the following thread on fan forum These Days Continue:
http://www.thesedayscontinue.org/showthread.php?t=203150

Dave Matthews Band Summer Tour 2010 by SwearImNotPaul

Setlist: Westlife, Croke Park, 5 June 2010

Westlife returned to Croke Park for a special one-off gig last night as part of their Where We Are Tour, with special support from our very own Jedward as well as X Factor sensations JLS. They'll be back in Ireland in July to play two nights at the Marquee in Cork, so if you missed last night's show, you can catch them down there next month.

Setlist:
* Where We Are
* What About Now
* When You're Looking Like That
* My Love
* Uptown Girl
* Swear It Again
* Mandy
* If I Let You Go/All Out of Love
---
* Shadows
* Home
* I'm Already There
* Reach Out
* I Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas) >
* Halo (Beyonce) >
* The Boys Are Back In Town (Thin Lizzy) >
* Sex On Fire (Kings of Leon)
---
* What Makes a Man
* Flying Without Wings
* World of Our Own
---
* I'll See You Again
* You Raise Me Up

Watch 'Sex On Fire' at Croke Park:

Setlist: Snow Patrol, Ward Park, 5 June 2010

While Westlife were wowing fans south of the border last night, Snow Patrol were putting on a great show at Ward Park in Bangor. They played some of their recent tunes as well as new takes on oldies like 'Run' and 'Spitting Games'.

Setlist:
1. Open Your Eyes
2. Take Back The City
3. Chocolate
4. Hands Open
5. You Could Be Happy
6. Make This Go On Forever
7. What If This Storm Ends?
8. Shut Your Eyes
9. Spitting Games
10. Run
11. Big Broken
12. Set The Fire
13. Planets Bend Between Us
14. Chasing Cars
15. If There's A Rocket Tie Me To It
---
16. Just Say Yes
17. You're All I Have

Watch the band late yesterday evening:

Setlist: Band of Horses, Tripod, 4 June 2010

Band of Horses played at the Tripod on Friday night. It was packed to capacity, and a great chance to see the excellent American folk-rockers.

1. Laredo
2. NW Apt.
3. Is There A Ghost?
4. Ode to LRC
5. No One's Gonna Love You
6. The First Song
7. Compliments
8. The Great Salt Lake
9. Weed Party
10. Older
11. The Funeral
---
12. Our Swords


Watch Band of Horses - 'The Funeral' live at Tripod: