THERAPY? to headline Oct 4th GiftedLive!!!

A new way to experience live music...Get closer to the bands you love, without leaving your house.

“SITE OF THE WEEK” - THE IRISH INDEPENDENT

“A Real Gift of a gig” – Irish Times

“Impressive” – Hotpress

 “Very, very impressive Jools Holland style. Beautifully lit and shot”- AU Magazine 

OCTOBER 4^TH LINE UP ANNOUNCED:

THERAPY? TO HEADLINE

In July, when The Answer headlined GiftedLive, (with other acts on the night including The Riptide Movement, Kopek, David Kitt plus more) it was a rather special occasion as The Empire Music Hall quickly sold out and online views notched up to 10,000! David Kitt trended on Twitter Ireland, the crowd went wild for their headliners and the online world was taken over for the night.

October 4^th sees the eagerly awaited return of GiftedLive with headliners THERAPY? taking to the main stage to play hits such as ‘Going Nowhere’ plus tracks from their current studio album ‘A Brief Crack Of Light’. Other special guests appearing on the night include a selection of the finest bands on the scene right now: Silhouette, Mojo Fury, Fighting With Wire, The Original Rudeboys, Adela and the Meanits, Jason Clarke and Robert Vincent.

Thursday Oct 4th Line-Up:

Therapy?

Fighting With Wire

The Original Rudeboys

Silhouette

Jason Clarke

Robert Vincent 

+ Special Recorded Performances by:

Mojo Fury

Adela & the Meanits

+ More TBA

Info on the event:

GiftedLive brings you closer to the bands you love, without you having to leave the comfort of your home. An ‘online music show’ set in a format similar to a TV show, it is broadcasted live and direct from stunning venue The Belfast Empire Music Hall and hosted by BBC presenter Philly Taggart.

It’s the first online music show of its kind based around a live gig.  GiftedLive.com features the best new music around. From the established stars to the undiscovered gems - they ‘gift it live’ to the world!

All GiftedLive.com shows are streamed for Free – Live & Online.  And if you’re worried that you’re missing out on the adrenaline-fuelled impact of a live gig; that feeling will vanish once you watch your favourite band live - in real time - on your very own front of house seat, from your own home, lap top or mobile device. GiftedLive.com offers you the chance to share the ‘live gig experience’ …but with all the creature comforts of home!

Or you can always come down to The Belfast Empire Music Hall and witness the magic in person. It is a live gig after all! For those of you who do however want to attend the gigs in person, tickets are priced at £10 and are available at the door of The Empire Music Hall Belfast from 8:30pm onwards on the night of each show.

Each performance is filmed on multi-cameras and cut live on location. All performances are archived and available for viewing on www.GiftedLive.com

‘Gifted’ has been running at The Empire Music Hall for over 11 years and has showcased some of the finest talent to ever emerge from these shores.  Everyone from Duke Special to The Answer, Fighting with Wire, General Fiasco, The Riptide Movement, Kopek, David Kitt, Pugwash, Desert Hearts, A Plastic Rose, Wonder Villains, Olympic Lifts, Oppenheimer, Two Door Cinema Club; the list reads like a who’s who of Irish music. Only this year can you watch the show online at giftedlive.com.

Links:
http://www.giftedlive.com/ 
www.facebook/giftedlive 
www.Twitter.com/gifted_live

The Lost Brothers are far from lost

The Lost Brothers.. where does one start to even explain the utter joy this album "The Passing of the Night" brings. From opening track 'Not Now Warden', their harmonies instantly impress and captivate you. To the second bar stool toe tapping Saloon style 'Bird In A Cage'. 

The album, from the very start to finish, is pieced together with a tenderness and understanding that is missing quite a lot these days. 

It is also worth noting how utterly cool the album cover is, especially on the back where the track listing is printed. (See left) I love how they play on the Title 'The Passing of the Night' and include phases of the moon throughout the night. Then again it is their effortlessly clever attention to detail that makes this album) from the cover right through to the music) such a triumph of all sorts. 

Although Irish (Oisín Leech and Mark McCausland), the duo formed in Liverpool in 2007. Since that union, The Lost Brothers have brewed up a steady catalogue of well-crafted, melodic songs that hark back to a time when life was simpler. 

They both grew up surrounded by music and continue to take their life-long knowledge of crafty songwriting, infused with their native Irish roots, into whatever music they happen be absorbing at the time. 

There are songs of desperation and hope on the new album, which was produced by one half of Jack Whites 'Raconteurs'; Brendan Benson. So expect a truly polished sound throughout, with pristine production and attention to detail, from each mandolin note to every strum of guitar. It makes for a rather sublime listen. 

The Passing Of The Night is a storybook of songs to nestle nicely into ones collection, and my oh my is the journey an enjoyable one. If you have The Everly bros, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and other luminaries from that era of music, you will find yourself indulging profoundly on this collection of songs.

Stand out tracks:

Not Now The Warden, Bird In A Cage, Tumbling Line.

8/10

Burningboy

Terry Byrne has been around for a while, so I was excited to hear that he finally released a collection, however fleeting, of his own songs in the form of an EP. Burningboy (Terrys stage name) has comprised an intricate collection of songs that offer solace and comfort, understanding and thankfulness for the good that is in our lives and respect for the dark times that we must wade through.  As a performer he draws upon an avalanche of emotions. His music is narrative to his life and echo’s an empathy to those like him, which take solace in the age old power of song.

The Dark Months EP could have emerged fantastically from the era of 1960's songwriting circle of Greenwich Village. Its class and style along with his panache is what separates Byrne from some of his peers out there vying for the same sound and resonance to their repertoire. 

His music is captivating from get go and its his a most sincere nature that draws you in and settles itself on your chest, pulling on the heartstrings. Such as the song Poppies: " ...only holding you can hold me down, through this storm that I should weather"..

I will quote the PR notes as it has it nail on head: The Dark months’ is music for the time you should give yourself. In a hectic, Facebook, social online media driven life we have gravitated towards, this is the kind of music that draws us away from that world, and brings us back home.

For those who like Tom Petty, Neil Young and a bit of Tom Waits.

Highly recommended. 9/10 (The one point deducted is that it is over too soon! so really it's an all round 10!) BUY IT here>

We catch up with Hat Fitz and Cara as they prepare for Electric Picnic!

Q&A ELECTRIC PICNIC ; IN the corner we have Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson, possibly the most kickin' folk blues band to merge together from Ireland and Oz.

• You have been on the road for a while now between Ireland and The Uk, what has been the best show for you so far in terms of enjoyment? And how do festivals compare to your own shows in venues? AH THE TRICKY QUESTION AS WE FIND EVERY SHOW DIFFERENT AND ITS THE AUDIENCES THAT MAKE THE NIGHT ELECTRIC, WAS PRETTY SPECIAL PLAYING HOME TOWN BELFAST BLACK BOX WAS PRETTY EXCITING ALTHOUGH WHEN AT A FESTIVAL AND THE WHOLE AUDIENCE IS VIBING OFF US AND EACH OTHER. PORT ELIOT PRETTY MUCH RAISED THE ROOF OFF. HEY OPENING UP FOR JOOLS HOLLAND AND HIS ORCHESTRA LEFT ME SPEECHLESS!!!

• Working on the current album Wiley Ways, how hard was it to choose the tracklisting? And do you play the entire album at festivals? WE TRY AND PLAY MOST OF THE NEW ALBUM BUT WHEN WE GET A SHOUT OUT FROM THE PREVIOUS ALBUM WE CANNOT SAY NO, WAS HARD CHOOSING THE TRACK LIST FOR THE NEW ALBUM BUT WE HAD MIGHTY HELP ON HAND WITH JEFF LANG AS OUR COMPADRE.

• We heard on a Radio show you were on that you both met at a festival. How is it playing, travelling and being around your spouse all the time. Does it effect live shows if you both have a lovers tiff? FOR SURE THE ELECTRICITY AND FIRE IS PURE ENERGY THAT COMES OUT IN OUR PLAYING LIVE. WORTH EVERY TIFF AND WORTH CHECKING OUT FOR YOURSELF.

• Wiley Ways is a tremendous album, we loved it, and the reviews were very positive for it here. Is there a level of excitement upon going into studio to record an album, or do you prefer the open road and touring? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BOTH HAVE THEIR OWN LEARNING AND STORY THAT IS DIFFERENT EVERY TIME WE TAKE SOMETHING NEW AWAY FROM EACH EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS ALBUM WE BOTH WOULD AGREE THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE ONES TO MAKE

• Lastly, If you could describe your dream festival line up, what would it be? AH FOR ME WOULD BE SAM COOKE, OTIS REDDING, MAVIS STAPLES AND BILL WITHERS, ETTA JAMES WITH HER FUNK BAND AND JESSIE MAE HEMPHILL AND FOR FITZY WOULD BE HOUND DOG TAYLOR, KOKOMO ARNOLD, SISTER ROZETTA AND FREDDIE KING. FOR NOW WOULD BE JEFF LANG, CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS, TEN CENT SHOOTERS, SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS AND MANY MORE.

Thanks! And good luck with everything you guys rock.. In a fabulously folk kind of way! MANY THANKS HAS BEEN A PLEASURE. CHEERS CARA N HAT

Madness give away free song!

Anyone remember that Baggy trousers band from the 80's....?? Well they are back..Like em or loathe em, their new tune is actually quite good. 

After performing to a combined audience of over a billion worldwide (thats a lot of people) at the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony, the legendary Madness are giving away a free download of a brand new track ‘Death Of A Rudeboy’. The track is available now from the official site and also as bundle on iTunes, which includes a remix from Andrew Weatherall.

‘Death Of A Rudeboy’ is a taste of what is to come from the hotly-anticipated new Madness album. More details on the band’s 10th studio album are to follow soon.

The Olympic Closing Ceremony saw the band perform alongside the likes of The Who, Take That and The Spice Girls as the curtain was brought down on the 2012 London Olympic Games. On the performance the band said,

“What a privilege it was to take part in the Olympics in our home town, our house in the middle of our street, to invite the world to the most extraordinary street party and to be there giving out cups of tea and sausage sandwiches at the closing ceremony. London is the world and the world is London, God bless you all, you know you are always welcome down our way.”

Madness are no strangers to performing on a global scale after taking to the roof of Buckingham Palace at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert in June to perform ‘Our House’ and ‘It Must Be Love’ 

The band are also preparing themselves for the ‘Charge Of The Mad Brigade’ Winter Tour 2012. The tour, which is the band’s biggest to date, will see the them showcase tracks from the new album as well as all the fans favorite hits. The tour starts in Cardiff on Nov 30th and will take in twelve dates including two shows at London’s O2 Arena. A full list of dates is below.

Madness will also be performing at Belsonic Festival, V Festival and The House Of Fun Weekender. For more information on the Weekender please click here. 

Live Dates:

Aug 17th – Belsonic Festival

Aug 18th – V Festival

Aug 19th – V Festival

Nov 23rd-26th – House Of Fun Weekender

Nov 30th – Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

Dec 1st – Brighton Centre

Dec 3rd – Bournemouth BIC

Dec 4th – Plymouth Pavilions

Dec 6th – Nottingham Capital FM Arena

Dec 7th – Liverpool Echo Arena

Dec 8th – Newcastle Metro Radio Arena

Dec 10th – Glasgow SECC

Dec 11th – Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

Dec 13th – Birmingham LG Arena

Dec 14th – London O2 Arena

Dec 22nd – London O2 Arena – NEW DATE

 Ticket Info can be found here.

 www.blog.madness.co.uk / www.cookinvinyl.com

Seven Summits Album stream here!

We will have an album review posted up this week but for now sink your teeth into the public stream of Seven Summits album Out Aug 24th, titled 'Fossils'. Its proper class and their single 'The Worrier' found its way to us last month and our reaction was to give this budding band a top 5 position in out Top Bands of the year so far hailing from Ireland. Watch this space.

Kopek raising the roof off of Whelans last night

Kopek raised the roof off of Whelans last night, reaffirming our recent decision as to why they deserved to be our No.1 band of the year so far. And also making it worth while for dragging my lazy ass out of the house.

They tore through each song with a style and panache that their fellow Irish band peers such as The Riptide Movement, The Minutes and Coronas can only barely manage to reach out and touch.

It's easy to see how this trio earned the title of Global Battle of The Band winners. Every single song from their storming setlist last night right down to 'White Collar Lies', and lead man Daniel Jaordans solo rendition of 'Sub Human' hit to the core of the packed Whelans crowd for what can easily be described as a triumphant homecoming gig that puts huge emphasis on the band as 'ones to watch out for' over the next couple of months.

Highlight of the night, come on it's got to be Love Is Dead & SubHuman.

Check out the solo Sub Human from Kopek at last nights gig uploaded by one of the gig goers. This is just Daniel on his own... check out the atmosphere and vocal delivery of that tune, now think about what you all missed out on coz if that's what he like solo, quantify and increase the powerhouse of his performance as the band soared through each track.

The next breakthrough Irish act have landed, and it's Kopek. Tenner bets are on. Oh and do yourself a favour and do not miss out on their next show.