So What Have We Been Up To

Well, two of us have undertaken different residencies with local authorities where theatre and photography are concerned and in 2012 are now working as part of the Not An Empty Space initiative to further develop professionally in the realm of theatre and photography. Notice there’s no mention of music there.

The reason for the lack of live shows in 2011 has been time, and while we managed a number of shows, it was certainly nowhere near thirty or forty.

Following the Kilkenny Arts Festival in 2011 we went and launched the KIlkenny Events Guide, ultimately what were were looking to integrate into KilkennyMusic.com but rather than focus solely on music, we’ve been covering all events in Kilkenny from arts and theatre to music, film, comedy, food and more, still very much keeping within our remit of promoting what’s happening in Kilkenny.

So Where Do My Gigs And News Go?

From 2012, strict music related news that we receive pertaining to acts or music events in Kilkenny will be carried here on KilkennyMusic.com and on KilkennyEvents.ie. We’re going to start digging through the archives and releasing previously unseen video and unheard audio and you are still free to submit your band’s news or gigs to us to carry on the blog here.

MP3s and new music content outside of Kilkenny will now be carried on IndieSwitch.com and a new wider music blog we’re opening up in February.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is, we haven’t disappeared. We haven’t stopped working. We haven’t stopped attending gigs, sourcing things for bands, fielding phone calls or emails. We haven’t stopped listening to new tracks or digging out old ones. From a content point of view, we’ve just started taking things in a bigger and broader direction locally.

So, if you’ve got something to submit or add, do drop us a line on hello@kilkennymusic.com. We’d love to hear from you and let everyone else know what your band is up to.

We’re delighted to announce the launch of The Kilkenny Events Guide, a one-stop-shop for arts and entertainment listings for Kilkenny City & County. In partnership with the site, we’ll be fuelling the music section for KilkennyEvents.ie, keeping you up to date with the latest music events taking place in and around Kilkenny city and county.

The launch of the Kilkenny Events Guide marks the start of a transitional period for KilkennyMusic.com as we realign all of our own activities online and offline, the result being that the site will focus less on events and profiles and more on news and digital content surrounding the events themselves, along with content creation from the events in the form of future audio and video releases. That said, you can be sure that when we’re running new events ourselves, you’ll hear about them both here and via KilkennyEvents.ie.

If you would like to submit your event or gig listings to the Kilkenny Events Guide, pop over to KilkennyEvents.ie or send the team an email on events@kilkennyevents.ie.

Deetrich - Hole In The Wall July 9th

Dee Doyle a.k.a. ‘Deetrich’, former lead singer and songwriter of Kilkenny band Dali and member of the The Whiteliars has spread her wings and taken on a solo career. She has just signed to independent Irish record label Reekus Records with whom she will release her debut album ‘Tug of War’. The album was recorded by producer Leo Pearson at the Barn studios in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.

Deetrich writes melodic songs that draw from old rock and roll and country sounds but adds a pop sensibility. She has been performing since 2006 with Dali and 2008 with the White Liars. Over the years she has supported stellar acts such as the Republic of Loose, John Martyn, Cathy Davey, The Flaws, Gemma Hayes, Gavin Glass and many more.

Her first single ‘I’m Alive’ is due for release July 2011. Deetrich will play her first Kilkenny performance at the ‘Hole in the wall’ on July 9th. Tickets are available on the door or from Rollercoaster Records, €7. Doors: 8.30pm sharp. Support from Wexford based band River Fane.

Vist Deetrich on Facebook or MySpace.

Deetrich – No Job, No Money

Deetrich – No job, no money by Happy Valley Festival

From the Happy Valley Festival with new Kilkenny band Souls to a solo gig at Temple House Festival in Sligo, Clive Barnes is back in full gigging swing. Packing a trusty Goldtone Banjitar (spell it like you will) these days, as well as the slide guitar, the Enniscorthy native takes to the stage at the Hole In The Wall tomorrow night (Saturday) for a solo show.

Clive’s most recent album The Ghost Country (September 2009) sums up the sounds the highly regarded musician makes in a nutshell. Clive has toured the US and Europe extensively over the years with the likes of Jeff Beck, Alison Krauss, Seasick Steve and The Blind Boys of Alabama and is widely regarded as one of the finest performers on the roots circuit.

Support on the night is from fellow Wexford musician Johnny Stewart, last seen in Billy Byrne’s on John Street a few weeks ago. Tickets are €10 and available from Rollercoaster Records Kieran St Kilkenny. Tel: 056 77 63669. Doors: 8.30pm sharp.

Clive Barnes – Shotgun Grin by indieswitch

Clive Barnes – I Want Jesus To Walk With Me

Jamie Lawson - Photo courtesy of Amy Walters

Jamie Lawson will play an intimate gig at Kilkenny’s oldest new music venue, The Hole In The Wall on Friday 8th July. Jamie Lawson took the country by storm earlier this year with his hit single Wasn’t Expecting That. He has since released an album, titled ‘Wasn’t Expecting That’, played to a sold out Vicar Street and is currently enjoying the Irish Festival Scene.

The 1852 tavern has seen a number of leading artists come perform at the upstairs Archer Room since January this year such as Liam O’ Maonlai, Ronan O’ Snodaigh, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Juliet Turner and more.

Catch Lawson with support from London band The Skinny Machines on Friday 8th July, tickets priced at €15. Tickets for this event go on sale on Friday 24th June and are available from Rollercoaster Records, Kieran Street, Kilkenny. Limited availability. Doors: 8.30pm

Jamie Lawson – The Last Time

Jamie Lawson – Wasn’t Expecting That

Neon Wolf - Added to Strawberry Fest 2011

MUSIC LOVERS will flock to the Enniscorthy next weekend for Strawberry Fest 2011. The festival takes place at the County Wexford Showground’s, June 24th -26th. A host of exciting acts will descend on the Southeast town over the weekend including Ali Campbell of UB40’s only Irish date, The Coronas, The Saw Doctors, Cry Before Dawn, Smash Hits, Jedward, The Rubberbandits, Ryan Sheridan and more.

Joining the already impressive line up are Thomastown-based bands Neon Wolf and the T Town Bottlestoppers. They will also share a stage with well known visitors to Kilkenny, the Oddsocks Revival along with Dublin based band The Fallen Drakes.

There will be an array of tasty food stalls and attractions on the festival site for young and old! Throughout the weekend a host of exciting free fringe events will take place across the town. Festival camping takes place at the Bellefield GAA grounds, camping tickets are available from ticketmaster.ie.

Entry to the concert on Friday and Sunday (excluding Jedward) is Free. Tickets for Ali Campbell’s Saturday night gig are priced at €20. Festival goers can pick up weekend VIP tickets for only €30, please see festival website for full details and benefits. Tickets for Jedward are €10, booking charges apply. Weekend camping tickets are priced at €20. For stage times and daily running order please check out the festival website. For full details visit www.strawberryfest.ie. For Strawberry Fest tickets log onto www.ticketmaster.ie.

Neon Wolf – Love Lost In Design

Love Lost In Design (Home Demo) by neonwolf

Neon Wolf – A Light To Reach The End

A Light To Reach The End (Home Demo) by neonwolf

T Town Bottlestoppers – Proton Rock

Proton Rock by T Town Bottlestoppers

Declan O'Rourke - Live at Set Theatre

DECLAN O’ROURKE returns to Kilkenny, tonight, at Set Theatre. Tickets are available from the venue priced €15 and kick off is down for 8pm. As much as he has played in Kilkenny, I’ve yet to catch the man performing locally. I did manage to catch him this time last year at a show in Tullamore, long before the release of Mag Pai Zai. Since the album’s release this April gone, Slieve Bloom has been on repeat in the van (fair enough, a large part of that is because it’s the only CD in the van) but start to finish, his latest offering is really good one, great songs, great structure with a few nice steps throughout to lift the energy of the album on a whole so you’re not lulled away while on the road.

Here’s a track from the album itself…

Latest tracks by Declan O’Rourke

Let’s hear it for the freshly minted independent artist, the ones that have shaken hands with the devil that is the corporate music industry, and then decide to go it alone. Declan O’Rourke is one such independent artist. “Maybe I knew what I wanted too much. I’ve learned from experience that there are certain things that are very valuable about having a record company. But I felt it was time to start owning my own music. I don’t own my first record (Since Kyabram, 2005), and have very little control over that and the second record (Big Bad Beautiful World, 2008) in how they get into the shops, how they’re packaged, presented, and so on.”

Needing control over his artistry, his own work, was of primary concern to Declan, and this assertive characteristic permeates throughout his music. His debut, Since Kyabram, proved to be a perfect calling card for a struggling songwriter who had been feverishly plugging his wares since early 2000. His follow-up album, Big Bad Beautiful World, easily consolidated his appeal in Ireland, but his sense of independence inevitably conflicted with music industry norms, and eventually the singer-songwriter was out on his own again.

Following a couple of years shaping a new batch of songs, Declan returns in April with his third studio album, Mag Pai Zai. Not only is the record yet another intriguing stage in his creative life, it is also a collection of his best songs to date.

“If it weren’t my own record,” he reasons, “I’d say it blows the other two albums out of the water. The second album was a huge learning curve. I listened to it recently, almost by accident, and I kinda liked it. But I feel as if I wandered off the path with it. Whatever the reasons, I found it difficult getting up on stage, with just a guitar, and holding onto an audience’s attention. I went for more of a band-oriented sound on the second album, more robust music. I was having fun, for sure, but the songs definitely weren’t built as solidly as they were on the first album, and as they are on the new one.”

The songs on Mag Pai Zai came in a flourish following a bout of writer’s block, after an average of one song per month for about ten years, Declan didn’t write anything for almost 18 months. There were various causes for the interruption in creativity, but the primary one, he says, was the over-analysing of his songwriting process.

“It got to the point where I was censoring myself, or editing my ideas too quickly. I was too ready to say that this song wasn’t going to work, or that song sounded too much like someone else. It got so bad that I ended up in a place where I wasn’t writing anything at all.”

It took a while for Declan to climb his way out of that temporary but aggravating situation, but when he did he says he felt completely liberated. “I wrote more songs in 2009 than I ever did in any other year,” he beams. “Practically all the songs on Mag Pai Zai came from that burst of songwriting.”

From Since Kyabram to Mag Pai Zai, Declan has matured as a songwriter in ways he would never have thought possible. While it must be good for the creative ego to know that singers of the calibre of Eddi Reader and Josh Groban have covered his songs, it’s a salutary lesson, surely, to realise that what had been considered the correct way to do things was, in fact, wrong.

“Up to a certain point,” he reflects, “probably up to the second record and the aftermath of it, I felt I knew what I was doing. I had a system for songwriting and was pretty sure I knew the process. But when that stopped, I felt I had to tear up the rulebook. Perhaps I was scrutinising it too much… So I had to unlearn, throw away what I thought I knew, and admit to myself that I didn’t know how to do it. I just had to allow ideas through and see where they took me.”

That Declan O’Rourke is in a new, different and more elevated place as a songwriter is proven by the sheer quality of the material on Mag Pai Zai. From the deceptively simple opening song, ‘Slieve Bloom’ and the heart-wrenching tale found within ‘Langley’s Requiem’ to the life affirming ‘Be Brave And Believe’ and the tear-inducing poignancy of the closing track, ‘The Hardest Fight’, he has fortified his talent with a firm mixture of intuitive lyrics and pure melodies. The album, which was mixed at New York’s world famous Platinum Sound Recording Studios, features contributions from violinist Steve Wickham (who worked with Declan on Since Kyabram) and internationally renowned arranger Fiachra Trench (who collaborated with Declan on the orchestral arrangement of ‘The Hardest Fight’). Allied to all of these plus points, though, is the manner (and, indeed, the times) in which the album was created.

“Because of the way the music industry is going, and the way the world is right now, money-wise,” he explains, “there seems to be this surplus of goodwill around. Because we were funding the record ourselves, everybody that worked on it cut us really good deals, added something, and became a part of it because they wanted to be a part of it. That made it so much easier to work with them, and I was much more appreciative of the creativity they were giving of themselves. When I listen to the album I hear that, probably because of those memories. I hope that even a hint of that goodness, that mood, is captured.”

Each partner county has €5,000 to be awarded to a successful practitioner in the categories of dance, music, drama/theatre, literature, film and visual arts. It is at the discretion of each county as to how the €5,000 is divided but the minimum award to successful applicants will be €1,000.

These awards are designed to support the professional development of creative practitioners, aged 18 and over, who are resident within the ArtLinks five county partnership region. Membership of Artlinks, which is also supported by the Arts Council, is free on www.artlinks.ie.

County Kilkenny Arts Officer, Mary Butler said that the bursaries represent a significant investment in arts practitioners in the county, providing substantial awards for artists particularly in the current economic climate.

The Bursary Application Form and Guideline Notes can be downloaded from Artlinks.ie or KilkennyCoCo.ie.

Alternatively you contact the Kilkenny County Council Arts Office on 056 7794138 or email niamh.finn@kilkennycoco.ie

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5pm on Friday 1st July 2011.

Please feel free to circulate this information to others who you feel may be interested in applying.

JP Ryan plays Castalia Concert Hall, Ballytobin, Kilkenny, with UK Double bassist, Andy Baker Friday 3rd June at 8pm/ Adm. €10.

Promoting the album ‘Dancing With Anima’. JP has opened for a host of established acts including Rod Stewart. Andy Baker studied at the Royal Academy of Music and as a professional Double bass player, his work has taken him all over Europe and beyond. A nominee for the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Award, Andy has worked with numerous established orchestras and artist in varying musical genres.

Visit www.jpryanmusic.com for more information and tour daters.

Simon Fagan - Plays Billy Byrne's this Friday

SIMON FAGAN returns to Kilkenny for a gig at Billy Byrnes this weekend. Simon’s last solo gig in Kilkenny at the Hole In The Wall was a huge success. This time round the Navan born singer song writer will return to the John Street venue with his band.

Simon is not your typical Irish Singer Songwriter, his songs blend elements of gospel and folk with acoustic rock, Simon and his band produce a big American Sound. Simon has opened for Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and Laura Izibor. He released a new album in May 2010 titled ‘Outside Looking In”. It was named Album of the Week by RTE, while many individual songs continue to gain considerable attention such as ‘Damn Honey’, ‘Never Really Cried’ and ‘Waters Edge’.

You can catch Simon play Billy Byrnes this Friday night (May 27th). Admission is free and doors for the gig are set for 9.30pm. For more on Simon and to get his upcoming tour dates, check out SimonFagan.net.

Simon Fagan – Time To Go

Simon Fagan – The Way A Woman Should

Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters - The Devil In Music Out Now

MANY MOONS ago we had Limerick’s Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters for a show in Cleere’s. In the moons and times since then they’ve been gigging, writing, developing, gigging, touring, writing and have now released, finally, their debut album titled The Devil In Music. As part of the promo tour for the album, you’ll be able to catch the band performing live in Ryan’s on Wednesday June 15th. The show in Ryan’s is part of the music club night and is the first of two local summer shows for FJBH, with a full show in Billy Byrne’s on John Street slated for August 20th.

You may well be able to get a copy of the album (or order one) in Rollercoaster Records on Kieran Street or jump to iTunes and download a copy directly.

Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters Tour Dates June / August

a record that’s diabolically good in many respects … it’s complexity ensures that it is most certainly an opus that rewards the listener … clearly the devil really does have all the best tunes” – HOTPRESS

Upcoming Summer Tour dates below, and we hope to see you at one of them…

• May 27th – Upstairs Whelans, Dublin (album launch / free midnight show)
• May 28th – Dolans Warehouse, Limerick (album launch / filmed show)
• June 3rd – The Quad, Cork (album launch)
• June 4th – Cold Pro Festival, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
• June 10th – Club De Burgos, Galway
• June 11th – Dolans Warehouse, Limerick – Hotpress Freezer Sessions
• June 12th – The Mercantile, Dublin
• June 14th – Kennys, Lahinch
• June 15th – Ryans Music Club, Kilkenny
• June 17th – De Barras, Clonakilty
• June 23rd – Roisin Dubh, Galway
• June 30th – Sweeney Mongrels, Dublin
• July 1st – De Barras, Clonakilty
• July 2nd – The Stables, Mullingar
• July 31st – Indiependence Festival, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork
• Aug 20th – Billy Byrnes, Kilkenny

The Devil In Music Album Teaser

Behind The Scenes Recording The Devil In Music

Preston Reed - Plays Hole In The Wall

No stranger to Kilkenny, New Yorker Preston Reed will open his Irish tour at the Hole In The Wall in Kilkenny on Wednesday 1st June.

While never letting his amazing technique outshine the beauty of his music, he attacks the entire instrument in a never-ending search for the orchestra he knows is lurking inside. Drawing on blues, rock, funk and jazz influences among others, Preston Reed’s vast range of explosively original music will forever change your expectations of a guitarist. He riffs with the conviction and guts of a rocker, yet plays with the subtlety of that most delicate of jazz pianists. There are no fancy gadgets or gimmicky FX – just 6 strings (or occasionally 12), two hands, and a daring and innovative musical imagination that crosses all boundaries.

Tickets priced at €18 are available from Rollercoaster Record’s, Kieran Street, Kilkenny. Hole In The Wall, 17 High Street, Kilkenny. Check out the Hole In The Wall on Facebook or visit PrestonReed.com for full tour dates.

Preston Reed – Slap Funk

Preston Reed – Tractor Pull

Kila, appearing at Happy Valley Festival

A HAVEN of music awaits at the Happy Valley Festival this coming June bank holiday weekend. There’s two weeks, give or take, to this year’s annual gathering of music, food and craft in Thomastown. If you’re after music, here’s the full run of what you’re going to find spread across the June 1st to June 6th!

For the full lineup on the festival and more on all of the acts involved, check out HappyValleyFestival.com.

Kila

Playing together for nearly 20 years, Kíla (pictured above) are one of Ireland’s most innovative and exciting bands. With its roots in traditional Irish, it features a strong percussive like singing and gorgeous melodies driven by a serious rhythmical undercurrent. The seven members of Kíla have created their own distinctive style of world music, winning over audiences around the world through their eight recordings to date and their spectacular live performances.

Seven Summits

Belfasts Seven Summits sees Pocket Promises Dominic Coyle and Joe Laverty join forces with Rory Nellis & Francis McCrory using a range of guitar & synth sounds to create melody-driven alternative music. Chosen to play at Glastonburys BBC Introducing Stage last summer the band topped this momentous year with the release of their debut single ‘Burning Hearts’ in Dec -’easily one of the best songs of 2010, Northern Irish or otherwise.” – Steven Rainey, BBC NI.

Miracle Bell

In May 2010 Irelands finest electro pop merchants Miracle Bell unleashed their debut album ‘Light Shape Sound’ to critical acclaim. Lead single ‘Love Sounds’ with its sugar pop melodies, heart-pounding rhythm and killer hook stormed into the charts providing the anthem of the summer for many.

Ultan Conlon

Currently recording his second album in London Ultans folk/pop offerings have been enjoying continued airplay on the national airwaves after having recently been shortlisted to the final 10 of Today Fms Glenisk Tune Challenge. With a track to be included in the forthcoming John Martyn Compilation tribute compilation featuring an all star lineup of artists(Beck, Snow Patrol, Phil Collins, David Gray, Donovan….) it is sure to be an exciting and busy year for this Loughrea singer. KKM note: If you were around during the Rhythm & Roots Festival, Ultan did a cracking set in support of John Grant at the Watergate – well worth catching in our books.

Colm Lynch

2 fms Dave Fanning described Colms music as ‘Cinematic, stylish, different……..very different and very good’ Verifying Daves review his performance as an acoustic solo act at last years Happy Valley Mellow Munch certainly took got the proceedings off to a rocking start. We are very excited about Colms return with a full band this year to showcase music from his forthcoming 3rd album ‘Backbone’.

Simon Fagan

Described by Hotpress as ‘Infectious and inventive with brilliant vocals’ Simon Fagans music has drawn comparisons to that of Ray Lamontagne, Ryan Adams and Paulo Nutini. After his superb performance opening last years Happy Valley we just had to have him back.

Julia & The Doogans

Julia and the Doogans are a pop/folk band from Glasgow who’s delicate blend of orchestral sounds and soft, pop tinged melodies have enjoyed airplay on BBC Radio 1 and BBC6 Music and earned them a place in The Scottish Suns ‘Ten for 2011′ feature. Taking time out from recording with the infamous Tony Doogan(Belle & Sebastian/Mogwai) Happy Valley will be the bands first Irish venture…

We Cut Corners

“These Dubliners are a minimalist guitar-and-drums set-up who, on a good day, sound like Bright Eyes after he has elbowed his way into The White Stripes.” (Brian Boyd, Irish Times) This folksy-pop duo are seldom absent from Hotpress these days and recently caught the attention of The Stranglers Hugh Cornwell who described them as “A breath of fresh air with a vitality and uniqueness that grabbed me immediately” We had to find out for ourselves!

Bona Fide Federation

Bona Fide Federation is a movement of fresh and innovative music with an original line up of drums, cello, piano, bass and vocals. In June the band played the Sea Sessions festival in Bundoran, winning the Battle of The Bands and impressing a panel of judges made up of pillars of the Irish music scene. Recently playing tour support to acts such as O Emperor and Fred Bona Fide Federation have their own distinctive sound which combines alternative pop, jazz and dance music, -influences including Joni Mitchell, Chemical Brothers, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Radiohead and Massive Attack.

Yngve and The Innocent

Yngve & The Innocent

Following the success of their recent Irish tour London-based German/Irish Americana outfit Ingve & The Innocents were urged to make a swift return to Thomastown. Displaying striking 3 part harmonies and a driving alt-country vibe.

Battle For Second Place

Fronted by the achingly beautiful vocals of songstress Orla Prendergast, Battle for 2nd Place are a Glasgow based grunge-pop 4-piece who have just released their debut album ‘First’ to huge acclaim. Having begun her musical journey in Dublin sharing a stage with the likes of Damien Rice and Rodrigo y Gabriela, Orla moved to Glasgow where she achieved immediate success when the song ‘Opposite Direction’, a collaboration with the band Union of Knives, was used on the soundtrack of US shows Grey’s Anatomy and Vampire Diaries.

The Barley Mob

Dublin, Kildare based Uplifting/Reggae/Soul band “The BaRLeY MoB” marked their arrival onto the music scene by winning the Dublin City Soul Festival’s international band search “Rising Stars” 2010 in May, beating competition from bands from over 15 other countries.. The band are already confirmed for Electric Picnic and Oxegen 2011 and Glastonbury also beckons!

Ian Doyle, The Man Whom

The Man Whom (Ian Doyle, ex Chaplin)

Wexford native Ian Doyle aka The Man Whom released his debut album “The Greatest Event” on the 21st of April 2011. Described by critics as “A magical indie-baroque blend of Villagers and Neil Young” Doyle’s music is superbly crafted, and at times beautifully heartfelt. KKM Note: – Also another Irish talent that’s well worth getting to see. We’ve had Ian as a guest once or twice over the years in Cleere’s and each show incredibly top stuff.

Bipolar Empire

‘We are treated to a giddy mix of ferocious drums, wailing vocals reminiscent of Jeff Buckley in the emotional stretches (delivered with effortless verve by front man Shane O’Reilly), and solid hooks, which come together to best effect in the plucky ‘Tempomanic’ and the desperate and thundering ‘Feel That You Own It’ – Celina Murphy, Hot Press Magazine.

The River Valley Band

The boys finally have their new album on the way, dropping very, very soon. Loud. Energetic. Original. Good music to spill a pint to…

Whiteliars

The Whiteliars mix of country, rock and blues with a twist makes for a sometimes dark but always energetic and entertaining show. The addition of cellist, banjo-player and many other guesting musicians has seen the band develop to somewhat of an alt-country rock supergroup, sure to provide a memorable opening night performance.

Neon Wolf

Sad as we were to see Thomastowns Myp Et Jeep and Frantic State call it a day from their ashes emerged new alternative rock outfit Neon Wolf. Still in it’s early days the bands sound has been compared to everything from LCD Soundsystem, The Strokes, Death Cab For Cutie, Beach Boys and Talking Heads. Supporting Alabama 3 on Apr 15th in Kilkenny the Wolf are just as unpredictable onstage as their headliners…

Deetrich

Drawing comparisons to a young Chrissie Hynde Deetrich has been performing live music with Dali since June 2006 and The Whiteliars since 2008. Currently working on her solo project Deetrich writes melodic songs that draw from old rock and roll and country but adding a pop sensibility with influences ranging from Joni Mitchel to QOTSA.

The Freakles

The Freekles are the greatest band in history. Full stop. Innovators of the electronic sleaze folk genre the Freekles will steal your wallet and spike your drink.With charming love songs such as ‘I Think That your a Ride’ and ‘Attack of the Lesbian Unicorn’ The Freekles were once described by local publican Ted Murphy as ‘The worst Band Ive ever seen and I’ve seen some terrible shite’.

Band On An Island

Whilst Ciaran Dwyer is fast making a name for himself on the quiz circuit and moonlighting on ads for TV we mustnt forget his first and finest craft- musical mayhem. The boys and girls return to rock the socks off their favourite music venue-Murphys Sat 4th (Free adm).

Tom Kirwan

Tom Kirwan: Dublin-born, Kilkenny based songwriter Tom Kirwan has his own unique style of guitar-playing which has been inspired by the likes of Richie Havens and Rodriquez & Gabriella. Currently recording his debut album this young emerging talent is definitely one to remember.

Tit Modern

Quirky soulful folk with a hint of rock & groove Tit Modern promise to pop your rock socks off whilst singing about money, cars and magnetic private parts!

Souls

Two thirds of Kerbdog join Clive Barnes and Dali’s Sean Doyle to form this high energy alternative rock band who definitely are the antidote to dull. With a raw dirty rock sound that is very definitely their own they would also not seem out of place on the same line-up as Queens Of The Stone Age, Helmet or Soundgarden. KKM note: Go check out Souls for their debut gig at Set Theatre on Saturday May 21st

Stephen Buck

Stephen Buck is an occasional singer/songwriter based in Thomastown. In his formative years he listened a lot to The Beatles, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Bruce Springsteen, Ron Sexsmith, Stephen Sondheim and The Blue Nile. He also listened a lot to the Electric Light Orchestra but lost faith after Xanadu. He now envies Villagers their talent, success and youth.

Little Black Wren

Kilkenny-based chanteuse previews songs from forthcoming debut album supporting Simon Fagan in The Bridgebrook Arms.

A Dog Called Eli

Cathal O Sullivan aka Skully hails from Kilkenny. With a healthy mix of guitars synths and vocals he has created uplifting and electrifying songs in the dance genre.

TV Jones & The Tomahawks

Yes yes ye’all those mad shower from Kilkenny are coming to the Happy Valley Fest to tickle your rockabilly bones in a way that only the Tomahawks can! Bring plenty of funk in your socks and be prepared to dance dance dance-dress to impress in 50′s styleee and we may even throw ye an auld shot;-) We can’t wait and we’ll have to work enjoy ye lucky suckers go nuts!!!

Mallavogue

Tim on guitar and vocals, Dermot on drums and occassional backing noises playing their selection of parochial radio hits from the Ballycallan bayou area.

The Hot Sprockets - Bound for Billy Byrne's

THE HOT Sprockets arrive in Kilkenny this weekend to play their first city gig with Billy Byrne’s on John Street the venue. The quintet of Wayne Soper, Timmy Cullen, Joey Lynch, Frankie Kelly, Andy Sutton land in promotion of new album Honey Skipping, released on Cherrypopper Records. The blues-rockers have been kept on their toes for the past two years with over 200 gigs under their belts including support slots with The View, The Zutons, Republic of Loose as well as festival appearances at the core of the indie Irish scene with Castlepalooza, Indiependence, Vantastival and the Sea Sessions. So, by the time they hit Billy Byrnes, they should be in flying form for Saturday night.

It’s a free gig, doors 9.30pm and support comes from a former guest of ourselves in Kilkenny, Johnny Stewart of Wexford who opened ahead of Hamlet Sweeney in Cleere’s around this time last year.

Keep reading for some videos…

The Hot Sprockets – Sleep Shake

Johnny Stewart – Need Some Lovin’ (Demo)

Rhob Cunnigham - Plays Hole In The Wall Friday May 20th

RHOB CUNNINGHAM of Our Little Secrets makes an appearance in Kilkenny this coming Friday night with a show at the Hole In The Wall on High Street. Guests on the night are At Last An Atlas with tickets priced €10 available from Rollercoaster Records in town. Doors are 7:30pm. He’s about a week back on Irish soil having just finished a UK tour with James Vincent McMorrow. You’ll find him live in Dublin tonight and tomorrow night, first at the Sugar Club supporting Perfume Genius and again tomorrow supporting Fred at their album launch in Whelan’s.

With a solo album expected later this year, Rhob’s current crop of tunes have snuck into the set lists seamlessly, with old singles Naturesway, Daylight and Good or Bad Thing making room for the sparser Someone Will, By The Bedside (see the video below) and The Butcher.

For more on the man himself and to keep up with Rhob’s tour dates, check RhobCunningham.com.

Rhob Cunnigham – By The Bedside

Souls - Playing Set on Saturday May 21st

Souls – Clive Barnes, Darragh Butler, Billy Dalton and Sean Doyle – make their stage debut at Set Theatre on Saturday night. Darragh Byrne has been busy locally putting together some rehearsal teasers ahead of the gig, here’s the second one. Doors on Saturday night are 8pm, tickets are available from Langtons on John Street or Rollercoaster on Kieran Street and the band are joined on the bill by Reko and The Kilo 1977.

Sheri Miller

Sheri Miller is an New York City based artist who is about to release her new album, Winning Hand. The album is produced by Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel), and features Will Lee on bass, Charley Drayton on drums and Gerry Leonard on guitars.

Who Is Sheri Miller?

Once upon a time, in New York, a young musician and artist named Sheri Miller, armed with her acoustic guitar, her electric sunburst 1969 Guild guitar, her Yamaha keyboard, and a pen and paper, began to write songs. Dozens of songs. She had a great love and a deep, soulful connection to music, as her mother was an opera singer and classical piano player, and her uncle a recording engineer.

Sheri had released her critically-acclaimed debut record in 2008, “Mantra,” which featured an underground hit, “Right Here, Right Now.” Upon releasing “Mantra,” Sheri was named one of Music Connection’s “Hot 100 Unsigned Artists,” and asked to join a 4-part vocal harmony group in Nashville, The Delilahs, which soon signed to Sony Music. Sheri began co-writing with icon J.D. Souther (The Eagles), Jill Sobule, Shawn Mullins, Marcus Hummon (Dixie Chicks), Al Anderson (NRBQ) and many other incredible songwriters. But the group fell apart, and Sheri came back to New York with new inspiration, passionately writing hundreds of pages of loose-leaf-strewn lyrics, dozens upon dozens of songs; channeling her anguish and heartbreak from a major break-up, dealing with tumultuous family issues, and finding new routes to make a living as a working musician. Sheri poured her struggles, inner demons and inner angels, and heart-drenched stories into creating a new, magnificent album; an album with integrity, soul, and artistry she’d be proud of.

But who would produce this authentic artist’s songs? Sheri reached out and contacted the amazing and legendary producer Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel). She played him a few songs from the inspired hurricane of titles she was writing, and shortly thereafter, with great joy, Sheri and Kevin began recording the new album “Winning Hand.”

Enlisting the all-star band of incredible, legendary musicians Will Lee (Fab Faux, CBS Orchestra), Charley Drayton (Fiona Apple, Divinylis, Johnny Cash) and Gerry Leonard (David Bowie, Suzanne Vega), the artistic, poetic, and super-catchy songs of “Winning Hand” took shape. “Spoons,” the super-hooky, uptempo, beloved song dedicated to the art of “spooning” in bed. “Winning Hand,” the inspiring, “go for it, risk it all” anthem, with the uplifting, positive message “Bet we lay down a winning hand.” “Satellite,” a Led Zeppelin meets Joni Mitchell seductive love song, beckoning a lover in outer space; written in a rare, strange guitar tuning invented by Sheri. “Everybody Feels This Way Sometimes,” a highly melodic, deeply confessional, raw song, lifting with an anthemic chorus. “Hungry For The Truth,” a sassy, attitude-filled, poetic, rebellious declaration of owning one’s individuality.

Soon enough, the songs were recorded and “Winning Hand” was finished. Sheri had labored hard, faced struggles, but emerged proud of this CD, and couldn’t wait for the world to hear it. She excitedly released the stunning songs of “Winning Hand” out into the world, and watched these songbirds fly away. Higher and higher they went. Sheri smiled. She couldn’t wait to see what happens next.

Listen To The Album

songs by sherimiller

If you have someone you would like to suggest for our Spotlight series (and feel free to suggest your own band) you can drop us an email at hello@kilkennymusic.com. Up first in the series is Sherri Miller from New York

Man 1 Bank 0 - Performs June 4th at Watergate Theatre

What would you do if you went to the bank one day, with a fake check, for $95,000, lodged it into your account… and it cashed. That’s what happened with Patrick Combs and now he’s taking to the road to tell his story in Man 1, Bank 0, arriving at the Watergate Theatre over the June bank holiday weekend. His stop in Kilkenny is one of 18 shows in Ireland this summer following a smash hit US tour. Tickets can be booked at the Watergate Theatre on 056 7761674.

The Blurb…

U.S. writer, director and theatre performer Patrick Combs brings his smash hit one-man comedy show, ‘Man 1 Bank 0’, about his most fascinating real life story – touring the show to 18 Irish venues and performing 21 shows as part of his debut Irish tour, this June:

‘Man 1, Bank 0’ is Combs’ amazing-but-true story of how he deposited a $95,000 junk-mail cheque into his own bank account and about what happens after his bank cashes the ridiculously large sum of money into his personal bank account. This outrageously funny and dramatic comedy quickly becomes a staggering David V’s Goliath-like real-life adventure. Never performed in Ireland before, the show was quickly a ‘smash hit’ in North America & New Zealand performing to sold out shows in New York; Montreal; Los Angeles; San Francisco (“Best of Fest” & “Best Solo Comedy”); Auckland; HBO’s 2004 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival & “Critic’s Choice” at the Spoleto Festival to name a few – Critically acclaimed by Time Out, New York as “Incredulous… gleeful…” – “Star Power”, Variety Magazine, this must-see one-man comedy has storytelling down to a fine art after already wowing audiences across the globe.

Described by BroadwayWorld.com as “One of the FUNNIEST, most FASCINATING and FASTEST moving solo plays to hit New York in many a season. Ninety minutes of NONSTOP LAUGHTER, it’s also an EDGE OF YOUR SEAT ADVENTURE loaded withUNBELIEVABLE real-life surprises”

So what does happens after the bank cashes the ridiculous check? To name only a few things: angry banking officers threaten Combs with “jail time”, “death” and much more; the incident extracts America’s leading authority on banking out of retirement; ‘Man 1, Bank 0’explains the astonishing legal twists which ensued after the incident; and worldwide media coverage (including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Good Morning America and calls from Letterman & Leno).

The show sold out in New York during its off-Broadway run at the Lambs Theatre, Times Square, for its entire thirty two shows. It alsosold out at HBO’s 2004 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival held in Aspen; sold out its six show run and garnered “Critic’s Choice” at theSpoleto Festival in Charleston; sold out its 10 show run in Winnipeg where it created 3 hour ticket lines, hundreds were turned away and it garnered the “Best of Fest” award; sold out the Comedy Central Stage in Los Angeles; won “Best of Fest” at the San Francisco Fringe where it also sold out and was awarded “Best Solo Comedy”; sold out in Auckland where it was an official selection of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival; sold out in Montreal and won the Just For Laughs prize for Best Comedy.

This is a ‘MUST SEE’ performance from Patrick Combs and will be staged at a venue near you as part of his nationwide Irish tour, this June.

Watch The Promo

O Emperor on the Bulmers Live Music Trail

It’s been a few years now since I lived in Waterford, and a few years too since the Tall Ships Race hit Waterford but it’s back this summer and Bulmers are behind a new live music trail kicking off for the Tall Ships. You don’t need to wait until the Tall ships to catch O Emperor though as they’ll be playing Set Theatre on Friday June 10th.

Bulmers is helping to bring free music to Waterford and today announced its latest foray into the live music arena with the launch of The Bulmers Live Music Trail, which will see bands perform, free of charge on the main Live stages, and also in pubs all over Waterford city, during The Tall Ships Races 2011.

2011 Choice Music Prize nominees and Waterford’s very own O Emperor performed two secret gigs, in two cities, on one day to announce The Bulmers Live Music Trail.

O Emperor will line up alongside Bryan Ferry, The Waterboys and Sharon Shannon with guests Damien Dempsey and Dessie O’Halloran on the main Live stages at The Tall Ships Races Waterford, which will take place from 30th June – 3rd July 2011. There will also be a host of live pub entertainment on offer on the Bulmers Live Music Trail.

O Emperor joined Bulmers and 150 guests for the first of the two live gigs at The South William pub in Dublin. The Déise lads then jumped ship for Waterford where they played for the home crowd at Geoff’s, which was packed to capacity. Guests enjoyed complimentary Bulmers as they rocked to the band that HotPress described as “lyrically excellent, sonically daring and in-your-face energetic.”

Marcus Goodwin, Sponsorships Manager at Bulmers Ltd said; “This is Bulmers’ third live music offering this summer and it is one of the key elements of our sponsorship of The Tall Ships Races Waterford 2011. We recently launched the inaugural Forbidden Fruit Festival, which will take place in Dublin over the June Bank Holiday weekend and is the capital’s first urban festival. And, once again, we will combine the excitement of live music with the action of race meetings at Bulmers Live at Leopardstown, which takes place over 8 nights during the summer.

“Bulmers wanted to do its bit for Waterford, during what will be an amazing event, by helping to lay on free music and we are confident that together with the pubs of Waterford, we will be able to cater for every taste.

“The live music at The Tall Ships Races will be brilliant and O Emperor has today given us a taste for what’s to come when they play to a crowd of over 12,000 during the summer. I have to thank them for rising to the challenge of performing two gigs in two cities in one day”.

18 pubs have so far confirmed their participation on the Bulmers Live Music Trail, which will feature live music to suit all tastes, from rock to pop; indie to roots; traditional to acoustic.

A Bulmers Live Music Trail Map has been developed to guide visitors on the live music journey and will be available in hard copy, in the official Tall Ships Races Waterford souvenir brochure and on www.bulmers.ie or www.waterfordtallshipsrace.ie

The pubs on the pub trail are The Gingerman; Wander Inn; Adelphi Bar at the Tower Hotel; Dry Dock Bar at Dooley’s Hotel; Murphy’s Bar; T&H Doolans; The Kazbar; The Munster Bar; The Met Bar at the Fitzwilton Hotel; Jordan’s Bar; Timbertoe’s Bar at Treacy’s Hotel; Mason’s Bar; The Granville Hotel Bar; Waterfront Bar at the Waterford Marina Hotel; The Three Shippes; Geoff’s Café Bar; Revolution Bar & Gastropub and Flynn’s Bar.