In the words/manic yell of Noddy Holder… IT’S CHRIIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAAS!!!!!!!! And you all must have been very good this year as there are live treats aplenty over the festive season. The merriment gets off to a spectacular start on December 3 when The Cast of Cheers play Whelan’s with support from Yeh Deadlies and We Are Losers (two excellent acts that have both released top notch EPs recently). The COC have had a spectacular year. Since the release of sublime debut album Chariot the band’s star has been firmly in the ascent and deservedly so…
Other festive highlights include The Mighty Stef album launch in The Workman’s Club on December 2 (another fine collection by the celtic Nick Cave-esque balladeer), Two Door Cinema Club in Tripod on December 8 and Fight Like Apes in Dolan’s on December 10. The Stables in Mullingar has an Any Other City Showcase night on December 11 featuring New Amusement, Hello Moon and Squarehead and Mercury-nominated Villagers play the Cyprus Avenue on December 15.
The Roisin Dubh bids adieu to 2010 with the stellar line-up of The Cast Of Cheers, Enemies, Lost Chord and Le Galaxie. An evening only rivaled by Whelan’s tempting menu of ASIWYFA, Jogging and Hunter-Gatherer the same night. Decisions decisions!
Moving on to release news… Cork electronic three-piece Versives have just unleashed debut single ‘Kicking Up A Brand New Storm’ taken from forthcoming album Prussian Blushes due early next year. The hotly-anticipated confection was produced by local ledge Ciaran O’Shea. Check hotpress.com for live dates…
Dublin-based Limerick artist Noelle O’Sullivan has just unveiled debut single ‘My Lord’ to much acclaim. The track has whetted appetites for upcoming album Seeds which was recorded in Red Recording Studio Shankhill with Stephen O’Brien of Hal renown.
Noelle’s claim to fame is that she was personally asked to sing at the wedding of Dominic West (Jimmy McNulty from The Wire)!
Currently working as a primary school teacher the songstress, is planning to release second single ‘Three-O’ in February 2011…
Two other primary school teachers who rock our world – We Cut Corners – are continuing their rise to greatness. They recently supported Fight Like Apes in Tripod and Boy and Bear in the Academy 2. Catch them warming up the crowd for Frightened Rabbit in the Empire Music Hall on December 8 and The Academy on December 9…
The debut outing from Dubliners Milk, Try, has just hit the streets, the troupe peddle a delightful blend of R&B, blues and soul-drenched rock that has impressed crowds around the country.
The nugget gets an official launch in The Mercantile on December 3 but if you miss that show you can catch them supporting The Riptide Movement in Crawdaddy on December 23.
The curiously-titled Belfast/Dublin/Waterford/London combo The Popgun Plot have just released debut single ‘The Lemonade Man’ on vinyl through Dublin-based Flaming June records.
The band includes BellX1 guitarist Marc Aubele, Myles O’Reilly from Juno Falls, Katie Kim drummer and guitarist John Haggis and Ray Keogh, guitarist Martin Burns, drummer Ali Donnelly, bassist Joe Craig and Orla Nolan of House of Cosy Cushions on backing vocals.
For those of you not in possession of a turntable (shame!) the track is also available as a digital download from iTunes, Amazon, Napster, Spotify, and Rhapsody. The song is taken from debut album Nature’s Golden Secret due early next year...
And finally some video news… Herm’s visual accompaniment to the stellar ‘Year Of The Horse’ (featuring Nina Hynes) is now available for your viewing pleasure. Directed by Anna Rodgers it features the acting talents of Declan Conlon (The Tudors/Bachelor’s Walk) and Catherine Walker (The Clinic/Holby City).
Check it out at or