The White Horse Winter Music Festival returns to Ballincollig
The Ballincollig Winter Music Festival returns this month, Tuesday 24 – Sunday 29 January, bringing an eclectic mix of Irish and international artists to Cork for its eighth annual event. Building on previous years, 2017’s festival welcomes Grammy award-winning Americana artist Dirk Powell and rising star Sarah Jarosz. Traditional Irish music legends Máirtín O’Connor, Donal Lunny, Kevin Burke & Zoe Conway close the festival on Sunday the 29th. The 6-day long event also hosts, amongst others, Mick Flannery, Jack O’Rourke, Hattie Webb, The Frank and Walters and an afternoon concert with Maighréad & Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, David Munnelly Trio & Caoimhín Vallely Trio. Ballincollig’s The White Horse will once again play host to much of the festival programme, including a festival club and lively discussion. Workshops in traditional Irish music will take place in Gaelscoil Ui Riordan on Saturday the 28th as part of the festival. Additional events include John Blek, From the Forest, Two Time Polka, The White Horse Guitar Club, discussion with Culture Vultures (Tony Clayton-Lea), bow making exhibition with Noel Burke, traditional music workshops and lots of free traditional Irish music sessions. For more information and tickets go to...
Bobby Green gets a taste of Columbia Mills new single ‘Battles’
Review by Bobby Green Bray’s Columbia Mills return with this belter of a track as a taster for their debut album out later this year. It’s everything you’d expect from the dynamic Indietronic (1st time I’ve ever heard that term) instrumentalists. It’s a multi layered diotic caress produced by Rob Kirwan who’s also known for his work with Hozier, U2, PJ Harvey and Depeche Mode. Columbia Mills describe the collaboration as a match made in heaven. Battles is a beautiful progression from the Perfect Day EP but still keeps their trademark multidimensional sound. The vocal is again a towering focus that pulls the vibrancy of the soundscape together. It’s dark and ambient, deep and meaningful with all the weight you’d expect from them. I’m really looking forward to hearing more from their work with Rob Kirwan, they really are a perfect match. Columbia Mills launch ‘Battles’ with a headline show in Whelan’s on February 4th and their debut album is out later this year. Listen to ‘Battles’...
Song of the week: Ailbhe Reddy’s ‘Relent’
Kicking off our ‘Song of the Week’ for 2017 we have Ailbhe Reddy with her new single ‘Relent’ which is set for release January 20. Having spent 2016 performing at most of Ireland’s festivals including Electric Picnic, Body & Soul and most recently Other Voices Ailbhe Reddy has been a name on most people’s tongues throughout the last year and it seems she shows no sign of slowing down. Speaking on the new single Reddy says “‘Relent’ is about looking back on a soured relationship & realising how it could have been, seeing the lessons and my own shortcomings as part of the story. It’s about the guilt that forms part of the natural retrospection on a once loving relationship. Too often these songs can be purely accusatory, whereas I’ve tried to explore the reality that there are two sides to every story and each party has their own narrative as they see it. The inspiration was these feelings and the song was written as an attempt to express this and move forward from it. To sweeten what has soured and move on without guilt” The single’s orchestral arrangement aims to sweep the listener up in the swirl of emotion the situation conjurers up and Reddy’s unique vocal is raw with apologies and regret. Ailbhe plays The Sugar Club in Dublin on 22nd Feb 2017 Listen to ‘Relent’...
Nationwide search for Ireland’s next undiscovered musical talent as Le Crunch Apple of My Eye Song Contest returns for 2017
Le Crunch Apple of My Eye Contest is back for a fourth year in the search for Ireland’s greatest cover version. Super healthy apple brand Le Crunch from France have teamed up with JOE to launch the search for Ireland’s next undiscovered musical talent with the chance of winning a share of a €2,500 prize fund. Over the last few years, thousands of aspiring musicians and singers all over Ireland have entered the competition with fantastic interpretations of well-known songs. The competition has also seen a number of those shortlisted gain huge recognition within the music industry and public domain, as well as perform at a number of top festivals around the Country including the Indiependence Music & Arts Festival and Electric Picnic. Amongst the success stories are last year’s winners Brave Giant from Longford, who proved a big hit with online voters across the country with their video for Bob Marley’s ‘Is This Digital Love?’ receiving 88.5k+ views within the last ten months. Cork songstress Stephanie Rainey, semi-finalist from 2014 has been signed to East West Records (Warner Music) and Galway group, The Amazing Apples, shortlisted in 2013, released their critically acclaimed album the following year, supporting the likes of Ryan Sheridan, Mundy, Paddy Casey and Walking on Cars. This year’s panel of music industry judges are Niamh Farrell (HamsandwicH), Paddy McKenna (RTE and JOE) and Peter Dunne (Bare in the Woods Festival Director), who will select the top ten tunes to go through to a National Semi-Final, open to public vote for short listing down to a final five. The shortlisted five contestants will perform at The Final, which will take place at Dublin’s iconic music venue, Whelans in front of a packed live audience on Thursday March 23rd for their chance to walk away with the prize money and a guaranteed slot at the Bare in the Woods Festival 2017. Musicians are asked to record their favourite cover version (on video or MP3) and to enter the competition through JOE.ie For more information www.ouitolecrunch.com Deadline for entries is Friday, February 20,...
Single of the Week: Blaming Hannah ‘I’m Alive’
Blaming Hannah are a four piece rock band from Kinsale, Co. Cork and with Artic Monkey vibes a plenty they have released their debut single ‘I’m Alive’ ahead of their debut EP due out this spring. With more than a passing resemblance to Alex Turner lead singer Fionn Turner unleashes a torrent of self aware angst. But Blaming Hannah has much more up their sleeve, check out that glorious classic rock guitar bridge at 2 minutes, and the punk edge to the rhythm section. Listen to ‘I’m Alive’...
