Great review of Julie Feeney's National Concert Hall gig with full orchestra on May 29th over on Pensamiento Aleatorio, read it here. The orchestra was called "The Pages Orchestra" and they played the album in full as well as material from 13 Songs.Setlist: * Autopilot * Monster * Alien * Grace * Instrumental Interlude * Valentine's Song * Stay * Nothing to Declare * Knock Knock * Wind Out Of My Sails * Myth * Excerpts from Songs from Liquid Days * Fictitious Richard * Mr. Roving Eye Guy * Aching * You Broke The Magic * Life's Nudge * Hallelujah * One More Tune--- * Love Is A Tricky Thing * Impossibly... Similar posts

The Cork Midsummer Festival has announced elected events which will take place at The Pavilion, Carey’s Lane under the banner Heineken Midsummer Nights from the 12th to 27th June. As well as the below events, Philip Glass is playing in City Hall on Saturday 26th of June. Scullion Tuesday 15th June at 9pm tickets €20 Julie Feeney Wednesday 16th June at 9pm tickets €15 Interference Thursday 17th June at 8pm tickets €15 Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club Friday 18th June at 8pm tickets €20 Don Letts Friday 18th June at 11pm tickets €12 Talvin Singh + Nalidri Kumar Thursday 24 June at 8pm tickets €20 Kode9 + Kevin Blake Thursday 24th June at 11pm tickets €12 Mick Flannery Friday 25th June at 8pm tickets €22.50 The Fox Hunt + The Henry Girls Sunday 27th June... Similar posts

Well its getting towards that time of year and Glastonbury festival turns 40 this year. They promised one of the best lineups of acts to celebrate the occasion and by and large most of the top acts touring today are set to play, with a few slows currently left TBA for further announcements. On the Irish side of things the obvious one is U2 on the Friday on the Pyramid stage, Two Door Cinema Club are to play The Other Stage, Brian Kennedy and Julie Feeney will appear on the acoustic stage Friday, Christy Moore the legend himself makes an appearance on the acoustic stage aswell on the Saturday. The Big Pink appears on the Park Stage on Friday. Downpatrick rock heroes Ash will be strutting their stuff closing the John Peel stage on Sunday, Fionn Regan plays the Park Stage on... 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

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

At last Spring is with us and to celebrate we’ve decided to kick-start the month with the return of our podcast series. Hosted by Jules Clancy and Laura-Lee Conboy, we’ll attempt to amuse, entertain and captivate you for 30 minutes each month, as we bring you the latest music news, interviews and features, with the occasional tune thrown in for good measure. With the fifth Choice Music Prize fast approaching, we reflect with inaugural winner Julie Feeney on that memorable night 5 years ago. As debate continues over this year’s shortlist, we hear what kind of impact winning the Choice Music Prize has had on Julie’s career. Laura Lee catches up with Placebo’s new drummer, Steve Forrest, to discuss the band’s brand new single and possibly their poppiest yet, Bright Lights.... Similar posts

I'm aiming to be in Navan of Friday for this gig. Ruairi Coogan has been added to the line-up.I'll be at the gig. Tickets from ticketmaster and usual places!Valerie Francis has announced her biggest headline gig for Whelans on Feb 27th.Ian Whitty released a super album in 2008 and it's great to see he is gigging... Similar posts

... in Vicar Street on March 3rd will see the following eight acts perform a couple of tunes each between the ad breaks of the Paul McLoone show. At just €27 it was pointed out to me through a tweet that it'll be €3.37 per act which is pretty good value for money. The 8 bands in attendance will be:And So I Watch You From AfarCodesAdrian CrowleyDark Room NotesThe Duckworth Lewis MethodJulie FeeneyValerie FrancisThe Swell SeasonValerie Francis or Adrian Crowley 4 the... Similar posts

The current outpouring of donations to aid the people of Haiti in the wake of last month’s devastating earthquake will certainly benefit them in the short term. However, the country is also faced with a crippling national debt accrued after years of mismanagement by a string of corrupt dictators. Today the figure stands at $890 million, with millions due to be repaid this year alone. This debt will seriously affect the country for decades to come. Ciara Gaynor, head of campaigns at Trócaire, said that “it will take decades for Haiti to recover from the earthquake. The country must not be faced with the additional massive burden of debt repayments. Any emergency earthquake assistance must be in the form of grants, not loans, which will only increase Haiti’s debt burden in... Similar posts

There's a fine amount of benefit gigs happening around the country, but this one is definitely worth mentioning. Cathy Davey, Julie Feeney, Villagers, The Chapters, The Chakras, and more will be playing Vicar Street for the Drop Haiti's Debt campaign on Thursday 11th of February. Tickets cost €20 and are on sale now.Today, Haiti still owes some US$890 million, much of it to global financial institutions, and is due to make millions in debt payments in the coming year alone. As a result Trocaire has started the Drop Haiti's Debt campaign. All money from this concert will be going towards that.Ciara Gaynor, Trócaire’s head of campaigns said ‘It will take decades for Haiti to recover from the earthquake. The country must not be faced with the additional massive burden of debt... Similar posts

Cathy Davey, The Chapters, Julie Feeney and The Villagers all play Vicar Street on Thursday 11th Feb!The concert is for the campaign for the cancellation of Haiti’s illegitimate debt. Tickets cost €20 and are on sale now. Nobody can fail to be moved by the scale of the human suffering in Haiti. Tens of thousands of people are dead, thousands more are missing, millions are homeless. The response from the public has been phenomenal – and the donations are urgently needed.It will take decades for Haiti to recover from the earthquake. The country must not face the additional massive burden of debt repayments. In addition, the emergency assistance Haiti is currently getting must be in the form of grants, not loans, which will only increase Haiti’s debt burden in the long run.Cathy... 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

Tweet of the past week arrived yesterday when Nialler9 noticed that Hot Press and Pitchfork had identical posts about Caribou's new album. There was an assumption Hot Press stole [plagerised] from Pitchfork but it was confirmed when later on last night Hot Press deleted their online article! Here is the original: http://pitchfork.com/news/37670-caribou-reveals-new-album/I've been a regular reader of Hot Press for the past 12 years. When I lived in the UK I even went out of my way to source the magazine wherever I could. In the last twelve months the quality has gone downhill big time with the release of popular writers like Tony Cascarino and Jason O'Toole. They would regularly get facts wrong such as in the last issue they claimed that Leinster beat Munster in the Heineken Cup Final!... Similar posts

The one real benefit of my work is that I don't to see anything on the web until about 4pm. By the time I check the emails, tweets and facebook updates I'm usually so late to all the juicy debates it's hardly worth making a comment! I do think the Choice Music Awards is a worthwhile addition to our music world. Not only is it worthwhile to the bands, record labels and album sales but also for the debates, discussions and degrading remarks which result! See On The Record!I love the fact that I have heard all of these albums and reviewed a few throughout the year. However none of these made my own personal best of list here! There are also many other really quality albums released this year which made neither the Choice 10 or my own best of 10. Isn't this an indication that in Ireland we... Similar posts