Tower Records is often host to a lot of great intimate gigs, many of which cost nothing at all to attend. One such one is this Friday's (rescheduled) launch of the excellent new compilation album The New Breed. Attending and playing the launch party at Tower Records this Friday, from 5 p.m. will be Ham Sandwich, The Minutes, The Ambience Affair, and Dark Room Notes. Each band is due to play three or four songs, so it's sure to be fantastic.Here's a reminder of the tracklist for The New Breed:DISC ONE Two Door Cinema Club I Can TalkCODES This is GoodbyeDark Room Notes Love Like NicotineMessiah J and The Expert Turn The Magic OnOliver Cole What will you do?The Blizzards FantasyFred RunningThe Laundry Shop Highs and Lows Delorentos S.E.C.R.E.THam Sandwich St. ChristopherRepublic... Similar posts

EMI will be releasing a 42 track Track, Double CD Epic collection of a song per act from some of Irelands best acts around. The release will go hand in hand with Record Store Day (www.recordstoreday.com) supposedly so if that holds true it should be out April 16th. Some of Irelands top acts make an appearance on it including Goldenplec favourites Delorentos, Heathers, Messiah J & The Expert and Fred. Also appearing on the double whammy are Two Door Cinema Club, R.S.A.G., The Minutes, David Kitt, Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club. Patrick Kellegher, The Urges, Dark Room Notes, Le Galaxie, Cathy Davey, The Jimmy Cake, Mick Flannery, ASIWYFA, BATS, Lisa Hannigan, Codes, Halfset, Stellarsound, The coronas, New Amusement, Republic of Loose, Roisin Murphy, The Ambience... Similar posts

Phantom 105.2, everyone’s favourite rock n roll fix on the wireless has just launched a new initiative by the Irish Music Show, I-Con where they have been inviting top Irish acts to come to The K9 Studio in South Dublin and record a three song session for the show. These bands have included Yes Cadets, Dark Room Notes, Pilotlight, Funeral Suits, O Emperor, John Shelly & The Creatures. More bands are currently in studio, but thats all a bit hush hush. Phantom will be releasing a brand new track every Wednesday starting last Wednesday with Yes Cadets – Fall On Your sword with Dark Room Notes – Wall of Waves being made available TODAY!! I-Con is on Wednesday at 10pm till Midnight and has championed Irish Music and this new initiative furthers its... Similar posts

This years South by Southwest Festival begins on March 17th in Austin Texas. The festival will see over 1,400 acts play 80 venues over 4 days and as ever there will be Irish representatives among them. The Irish showcase night is fittingly on March 17th featuring Autumn Owls, The Coronas, Dark Room Notes, Villagers, And So I Watch You From Afar and General Fiasco. Other Irish Acts playing during the festival are Butterfly Explosion, The Minutes, Julie Feeney, Fighting With Wire, Halves, So Cow, Strait Laces, The Mighty Stef, Dirty Epics, Kiernan McMullan and The Walls. The Irish contingent only make up a tiny number of the mass of acts of acts playing, highlights of which include the Scottish Arts Council showcase feat. Tommy Reilly, We Were Promised Jetpacks and... Similar posts

I probably don’t have to tell you much about the Choice Awards that you don’t already know so I’ll just tell you a few things that I personally have found out through my Choice years. It’s one of the greatest nights of the year if you work in this little Irish music industry. People are lovely.... Similar posts

6/1 shot Adrian Crowley stole the Choice Music Award headlines on an emotional night at Vicar Street, securing the vote of assembled media experts in the final two minutes of deliberations. Crowley’s fifth album Season Of Sparks won the mellow Galway star a pot of 10,000 Euro and the title ‘Irish album of the year 2009’, an accolade he accepted in a state of genuine shock at the end of a night crammed full of Ireland’s top talent. CODES opened proceedings, demonstrating once again the extent to which their energetic live show surpasses the choirboy-style vocals of debut album Trees Dream in Algebra. Next up was Julie Feeney, a truly bizarre live performer who spent the duration of her second track flitting amongst the audience and whispering ‘a story’, in... Similar posts

Last night saw some excellent live performances from many of the nominees for the Choice Music Prize 2009 (don't worry, you are looking at the ceremony held in 2010, it's just for the best Irish album of 2009), but by far the best were Dark Room Notes and And So I Watch You From Afar. Both bands are on their debut albums, so who knows what the future may hold awards-wise.CODES opened the night strongly, before Julie Feeney toned it down a notch. Feeney had been the darkhorse when nominees were announced, but crept up to become favourite with PaddyPower heading into last night's show. Her outfit last night was definitely note worthy, probably moreso than her performance.Dark Room Notes were next up and impressed many people who may have missed them first time around, or else wrote them... Similar posts

Adrian Crowley is the winner of this year’s Choice Music Prize. A panel of 12 music media professionals chose Crowley’s Season of the Sparks as 2009’s Irish album of the year ahead of last night’s presentation at Vicar St., which also saw performances from eight of the 10 nominees. As his reward, Crowley receives €10,000 – provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation and Irish Recorded Music Association – and a specially-comissioned award presented by Recorded Artists and Performers Ltd. RelatedWin tickets to the Choice Music PrizeChoice Music Prize live line-up and ticket detailsChoice Music Prize 2009 shortlist announcedAnd So I Watch You From Afar for Tower Records instore performance this eveningCODES, The Delays – The... Similar posts

With the award of the Choice Music Prize 2009 mere hours away, I've taken it upon myself to present a preview of all ten nominees and their chances of scooping the €10,000 IRMA scholarship.#4: Dark Room Notes - We Love You Dark Matter (Gonzo)Following on from their excellent 2007 EP Dead Start Program, I had high hopes for Dark Room Notes' debut full-length, We Love You Dark Matter, released in April on the indie Gonzo Records.Only two tracks, debut single 'Love Like Nicotine,' and 'Shake Shake My Ceiling' from the above-mentioned EP, were retained for the album recording sessions, which took place in London through late 2008. They arguably kept their two best tracks, but by the time the album came around, I was so attached to the originals that I found the increased production value a... Similar posts

Now in its fifth year, the Choice Music Prize for 2010 will be announced in Vicar Street next Wednesday the 3rd of March from 7.30pm sharp. The live event runs in tandem with the judging process which takes place in a locked room nearby where 12 media guys and gals will be trying to decide the best Irish album of the year for 2009. While that is happening, the bands nominated will be playing short live sets before the announcement. Out of the 10 nominated acts the following will be performing: And So I Watch You From Afar, Codes, Adrian Crowley, Dark Room Notes, The Duckworth Lewis Method, Julie Feeney, Valerie Francis and The Swell Season (full band). Only Laura Izibor and Bell X1 cannot play on the night. State is delighted to have two pairs of tickets to giveaway to two readers to the... Similar posts

A list of recommended events taking place over the next seven days in Dublin. Lots of great local lineups this week around town with a couple more Haiti benefits as well as recommended international gigs from Beach House (sold out), Tune-Yards, Breakage (Roots Manuva and Burial appear on his forthcoming album – hear his Roots and Flying Lotus collaborations below), DMX Krew, Midlake, The Leisure Society and more. Sample MP3s below too. Tuesday 9th February - Trashed (Indie/Electro club) @ Andrew’s Lane Theatre (10.30pm, €5) - C U Next Tuesday (indie/electro/pop/dance) @ Crawdaddy (11pm, €3/5) Wednesday 10th February - Jamie T @ The Academy (Sold Out) - Antics presents Neosupervital (indie club @ Crawdaddy (€5, 11pm) Thursday 11th February - Sidetracked (Indie, Dancey... Similar posts

Great news comes my way from Jim Carroll and his On the Record blog. He announced this morning that eight out of ten cats acts nominated for this year's Choice Music Award will be performing on the night.The show takes place in Vicar Street on March 3rd. Tickets are €27, and for that bargain price, you'll get approximately ten minutes each from all of the following:And So I Watch You From Afar, Codes, Adrian Crowley, Dark Room Notes, The Duckworth Lewis Method, Julie Feeney, Valerie Francis, and The Swell Season.Bell x1 and Laura Izibor are the two absentees as they're touring elsewhere. But for €27, how can you argue with a lineup like that?Get your tickets here.Here's 2007 winners Super Extra Bonus Party performing at that year's event:(Video courtesy of... Similar posts

The line-up for the Choice Music Prize event at Dublin’s Vicar Street has been announced, with eight of the ten nominees playing live: And So I Watch You From Afar Codes Adrian Crowley Dark Room Notes The Duckworth Lewis Method Julie Feeney Valerie Francis The Swell Season (full band) Due to prior live commitments in the United States, Bell X1 and Laura Izibor will be unable to attend.The event will be broadcast live on Paul McLoone’s show on Today FM. Tickets for the event are now on sale from Ticketmaster and usual outlets at €27 each, including booking fee. RelatedChoice Music Prize 2009 shortlist announcedKilkenny Arts Festival – HighlightsAnd So I Watch You From Afar EP limited edition pre-saleGlen Hansard for solo Haiti benefit gig at Whelan’sState’s... Similar posts

The ten albums shortlisted for the Choice Music Prize were revealed moments ago on Today FM. They are (in alphabetical order): And So I Watch You From Afar – And So I Watch You From Afar Bell X1 – Blue Lights on the Runway CODES – TreesDreamInAlgebra Adrian Crowley – Season of the Sparks Dark Room Notes – We Love You Dark Matter Duckworth Lewis Method – Duckworth Lewis Method Julie Feeney – Pages Valerie Francis – Slow Dynamo Laura Izibor – Let the Truth Be Told The Swell Season – Strict Joy The judges for this year are: Martin Burns (News of the World) Josh Clarke (i105-i107, Galway) Roisin Dwyer (Hot Press) Tony Fenton (Today FM) Cathal Funge (Phantom 105.2, Dublin) Padraic Halpin (Ragged Words) Sophie Gorman (Irish... Similar posts

Photo by Rich Gilligan. Below you will find the fourth annual countdown of the top 30 Irish albums as voted by readers and commenters of this blog. There are some surprises in there to me. The number one album on the list actually won by a fair few votes. In a year where there was no clear favourite, it’s interesting to see such an album top the list. A few of the albums charted quite highly considering they were only released in the last month or so. Anyway, I hope you discover something from the list you had dismissed or not heard before (I know I have). A full list of the songs and albums are available in a Google Document at the end of the post (might be worthwhile for the bands featured to see what songs struck a chord with people). The last two years winner has gone on to... Similar posts

A list of events taking place over the next seven days in Dublin. Friday night is jam-packed. Tuesday 24th November - Ian Brown, @ Olympia Theatre (€39.20) - Yngve & The Innocent, Little X’s for Eyes, Louisiana Joyride @ Whelan’s (€10) - Gary Numan @ Tripod (€22.50/€27.50) Wednesday 25th Nov - Ash – The Button Factory (€23) - The Infomatics @ The Bernard Shaw (Free) Thursday 26th Nov - The Beat Down with Handsome Paddy & Neuromancer @ Pygmalion, South William Street (Free) - Arctic Monkeys, Eagles of Death Metal @ The O2 (Win tickets til noon Tuesday) - Soundcheck @ Spy (Free before 11pm, €5 after - The Unabombers – Solas (Free) - Hoarsebox, The Funeral Suits @ Whelan’s (€10) Rest of the week… Friday 27th Nov - Skinny Wolves... Similar posts

(Click Pics for Full Size) If you follow the GP twitter feed you’ll know we were doing our best to cover this years Hard Working Class Heros Festival last weekend, a herculean effort seeing as we were faced with 100 acts over 6 venues, but being the little troopers we are, we battled on regardless and are proud to give you a run down on who we say and what we saw, plus a couple of pics from the event. Day One Theme Tune Boy (4 Dame Lane) – First act we caught on our world wind tour was Limerick rockers Theme Tune Boy. To be honest we went more to see the venue than the band, as from our pre-game festival planning meeting we realised that neither of us had ever caught a gig in 4 Dame Lane. Unfortunately the venue was better than the band, and the venue wasn’t great. Theme... Similar posts

Hard Working Class Hero’s is a 3 day music showcase for unsigned Irish bands. A bloody great idea but a bit disappointing this year.  No big surprises. Adebisi Shank were by far the best band of the weekend. Followed by Funeral Suits, Villagers, We Cut Corners, Robotnik and Kill Krinkle Club. Honorable mentions to Kyon, Yes... Similar posts