This month our cup runneth over with creative juices as the domestic release schedules bulge with what many artists hope will be the soundtrack to your summer.
‘One Of Two Ways’ is the latest tune from The Radio which provides a taster for their forthcoming second album, Charm Offensive, due for release on Reekus Records on July 20. The song has already garnered interest from TV in the US, so it may follow on the heels of ‘Whatever Gets You Through Today’ which was featured on Grey’s Anatomy and is included on the chart-topping soundtrack album.
The Mighty Stef makes a triumphant return with his cracking new single ‘Poisonous Love’. Since December, Stef has been dividing his time between Dublin and Chicago and will continue city hopping for another few months until he has finished up writing and demoing for his second album. Recently he supported trad-punk legends Flogging Molly on a slew of US and Canada tour dates. He has also joined forces with legendary manager Frank Murray (The Pogues, Thin Lizzy, Kirsty MacColl, Joe Strummer).
Dubliners Kopek release their long-awaited debut single, ‘Stop’, on June 1. Highlights of the band’s career to date include winning the Global Battle Of The Bands in the London Astoria in 2005 (the judging panel included Steve Lillywhite and Glen Matlock) and appearing at the Zocalo Festivla in Mexiso on front of a crowd of 50,000. They have been busy in the studio lately working with producer Danny Saber (Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, Public Enemy) and an album is due out later in the year.
Another producer lending his midas touch of late is Gareth Mannix who worked with The Flaws on their latest release ‘Sixteen’. The track is available to download from various digital music services worldwide including itunes and at record stores nationwide. The live favourite will be accompanied by a top-notch video which was aired on ATL TV recently. The band are currently on the road as part of the 2FM 2moro 2our alongside Giveamanakick and Messiah J & the Expert. Expect a second single in August followed by the release of their long and eagerly awaited debut album on September 7.
Slowing things down just a notch we have the new single from Pale resident Aaron James. ‘Comfort Me’ taken from the debut album Distance Between due for release later in the year on Crashed Records. The single was produced by Ciaran Byrne, mastered by Aidan Foley and featuring musicians James Blennerhasset, Gavin Murphy, Bill Shanley and Liam Bradley. Over the last few years Aaron has supported Mundy, John Spillane and Aslan and scooped the International Award for Best Arrangement for his song ‘Carry Me Through’ at the prestigious Global Song and Performance Showcase in Naples, Italy.
News from the Out On A Limb camp next: Crayonsmith has just returned from a very successful West Coast tour in the States and Canada and will make a return to the domestic live circuit in Boom Boom Room, Dublin on Friday June 8 with the excellent BATS and Thinguma*jigSaw. Over the next few months the band will be touring with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and playing with Monade (Stereolab's Laetitia's side project) and working on the eagerly anticipated second album.
Cork’s Hooray For Humans are currently on the road with Dry County. The band are currently writing their debut album which they plan to record over the summer.