Following in the footsteps of Tara Blaise and Fair Verona come two new female talents making a name for themselves on the domestic scene. Dubliner Sinead Hand has just released her debut EP, 'Finally', which includes four original tracks from the 21-year-old singer-songwriter.
The CD features the production skills of Herbie Macken, who has worked with The Devlins, Crowded House, Sinead Lohan, Juno Falls and Bic Runga. Sinead has just completed a national singer/songwriter tour with David Hope and Fran King.
Lieselle McMahon, another singer/songwriter from the capital has also just released her three-song offering, 'The Zing EP'. The debut was recorded and produced by Chris O’Brien and Graham Murphy, who have worked with The Blue Nile, Human League and Perry Blake, as well as Irish acts like The Immediate, Gemma Hayes, Aslan and The Stunning.
Another EP coming your way is from Downpatrick’s The Answer (pictured). Watch out for 'Keep Believin'' out on July 29 on the Albert’s label. Live dates tbc.
UK label, Obelisk, has released a mail-order only very limited Dudley Corporation CD-R. It runs to 19 tracks, featuring unreleased songs, demos and out of print singles. Each one comes with a unique oil painted sleeve signed by the artist, Rob Baker. To order a copy please email [email protected] for more info. Also, the vinyl edition of In Love With The Dudley Corporation on Laterax is also out now.
The Jape track 'Floating' will be featured on the next Back To Mine compilation, by Brighton breakbeat DJ and musician Adam Freeland. Provisional listing includes Jape, Yo La Tenga, Kings Of Leon, Autolux, Freeland, Cat Power, The Verve, Boards Of Canada, Radiohead, TV On The Radio, PJ Harvey, Trans Am, Elliot Smith and RJD2. The scheduled release date is July 18.
Both Jape and The Redneck Manifesto will be playing live at The Roisin Dubh, Galway in July. Jape will be playing Thursday 21 with Goodtime John as support followed the next day by The Redneck Manifesto supported by The Things.
Another gig to catch at the end of the month is Chris Morrin and the Muckykids in Whelans, Dublin on July 27. This will be the final domestic date before they head off to the UK for a string of shows with Niall James Holohan and Alyanya.
Residents of Tuam, Co Galway will be pleased that the old woolstore at the back of Browne’s Bar has been transformed into cutting-edge new live venue EWE - Live @ The Woolstore thanks to the visionary skills of local resident Sean Maguire. Forthcoming shows include, Mark Geary, Keiron Goss, The Blizzards, Camembert Quartet, Vesta Varro along with many more new local and visiting bands.
Meanwhile, in the south-east preparations are well underway for this year’s Imagine Festival in Waterford which will run from October 28 to November 6. Along with the usual blend of comedy, visual art, theatre, literature, dance and film will be the highly-anticipated music schedule.
The mastermind behind all music content will be Beat FM’s Edel Dooley who is currently looking for new bands of any genre to send her demos. The closing date for applications is August 1.
For further info go to www.waterfordartsfestival.com.
Demos to : Music @ Imagine Festival - Waterford Arts Festival, c/o City Arts Office Grey Frairs Waterford.