The weekend of November 7-8 offers quite the live music extravaganza as Metropolis descends on The RDS for the first time, bringing the likes Mark Ronson, Giorgio Moroder, Chic, Hot Chip and The Roots to Dublin.
Ahead of the Mother City two-dayer, the latest issue of Hot Press includes the ultimate guide to Metropolis. We profile the Dublin-bound artists and bring you details of the festival's extracurricular activities including public discussions and art installations. Most excitingly, we've also bagged a bunch of interviews with some of the biggest acts set to play.
Le Galaxie have been racking up serious air miles in support of their storming Le Club album of late and frontman Michael Pope explains why absence makes the heart grow fonder and selects his 10 essential tunes by the plethora of Metropolis hitmakers.
When it comes to serious name-dropping, Nile Rodgers has pretty much everyone else beaten hands-down. Ahead of Chic's visit, the legendary songwriter and guitarist talks about spending quality studio time with Lady Gaga, Elton John and Janelle Monae and confesses that life has never been sweeter.
He was fresh from having one of the biggest pop songs of all-time in 'Uptown Funk' last time we spoke and we meet Mark Ronson once again to chat hip-hop, Amy Winehouse, famous friends and good behaviour.
Mercury-nominated debut solo album In Colour has proved there's more to Jamie xx than shadows and sulking. Getting more sociable, working around his xx day job, and how Gil Scott-Heron was one of the most charismatic people he ever met are all on the agenda with Jamie this fortnight.
We also bring you ?uestlove's opinion on the current state of hip-hop and learn about his friendship with Jay Z and Prince, and meet abstract pop star Gemma Dunleavy, who's determined not to be seen as merely "the female singer in those dance songs."
So, jam-packed Metropolis coverage, but there's plenty else going on in the issue –
Maverick Sabre on being on the comeback trail, Elbow's Guy Garvey on going solo and Nick Hornby on adapting Colm Toibin's Brooklyn for the big screen and why he loves writing roles for actresses like Saoirse Ronan, for starters.
In the Hot Press Interview, Paddy Cosgrave discusses The Web Summit leaving Ireland, while Frontlines finds Anne Sexton joining activists aboard the abortion pill bus.
Add in reviews of new efforts from EL VY, Guy Garvey and Joanna Newsom and all our regular features and you've got a fortnight of fine reading ahead of you!
The new issue of Hot Press hits shelves on Thursday October 29. To purchase your copy of Hot Press 39.19 right now, order online direct from hotpress.com.
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