Saturday, May 25, 2013

In Photos: The Soul Picnic Day 1 [Ft Fox E, The Barley Mob, Picture House and more]

Gig photographer Anto Kane was in attendance at Day 1 of The Soul Picnic in Merrion Square, Dublin as part of the annual Dublin City Soul Festival and took these wonderful photos of bands such as The Mary Stokes Band, Donna Dunne, The Barley Mob and more.

http://www.dublincitysoulfestival.ie/soul-picnic

Scroll down to listen to some tunes from the bands while checking out the photos from today's festival.


 

Fox E & The Good Hands https://www.facebook.com/foxeandthegoodhands



Picture House https://www.facebook.com/PictureHouse.ie



The Barley Mob https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-BaRLey-MOB/117200281625659



The Eskies https://www.facebook.com/TheEskies



Donna Dunne https://www.facebook.com/DonnaDunneMusic




2Day's Tune: Mikey & The Scallywags - Living in the Light

One of my favourite Irish bands 'Mikey & The Scallywags' are gigging everywhere this Summer with a full tour schedule below. Check out 'Living in the Light' for some folky pop to brighten up your weekend:





https://www.facebook.com/mikeyandthescallywags



Tour Dates:

Friday May 24th          Dublin – Sweeney’s upstairs
Saturday May 25th      Dunmore East - 52 Degrees Festival with Paddy Casey
Friday 31st May           Galway - Kellys Summer Residency
Thursday June 6th        Galway – Musical Mayhem with The Skies
Friday 7th June            Galway - Kelly’s Summer Residency
Friday June 14th          Galway – Youth Festival 2013
Saturday June 15th      Carlow  - Carlow Arts Festival
Friday 21st June           Ballinlough Castle. Co. Westmeath - Body and Soul
Friday 31st June           Galway - Kellys Summer Residency
Thursday 4th July         Galway - Musical Mayhem Concert Series
Friday 5th July             Galway - Kellys Summer Residency
Thursday 11th July       Dublin – Whelan’s w/ John Fairhurst
Friday 12th July           Galway – w/ John Fairhurst
Saturday 13th July       Limerick - Dolans w/ John Fairhurst
26th – 28th July.            Wicklow. – Knockanstockan Festival




Friday 2nd August       Galway - Kelly’s Summer Residency
Sunday 3rd August      Galway Arts Festival @ Tigh Neachtains
Friday 9th August        Galway - Kelly’s Summer Residency
Friday 16th August      Dublin – Rhythm and Roots Festival




23rd-25th August          Dunmore East -  Dunmore East Guinness Bluegrass

30th August                 Laois - Electric Picnic Festival 

Friday, May 24, 2013

Album Review: Alan Doyle - Blasphemy

It's been a very long time since I've been gripped by an album so intense, delicate and sublime as 'Blasphemy' by Dubliner Alan Doyle.


I've had a great time this week delving deep into the debut album of Alan Doyle. With obvious influences of Bonnie Prince Billy and Vic Chestnut, Alan Doyle has a sound and an album unlike any other new artist out there.  'Blasphemy' is a deep enriched album of intense songs which continue to reveal new insights and aspects even after numerous listens. For this reason alone, 'Blasphemy' is one of the best albums of the year for me.

There are three great songs on the album which stand out from the rest. I've loved 'The Road to Reno' since I first heard it a couple of years ago. The song 'Better World' is simply beautiful with the inclusion of a meditation bell to make you stop and think. My favourite song though is the intense opening track entitled 'Brother' with the opening paragraph of

"my brother died last winter he just faded away
he found his self destruction
west of liberty bay
and if you'd have seen
him it would of torn your heart
he was aged and broken
with a white lily in his hand "





It's the lyrics and the stories within these ten tracks that reveals something new on each listen which means that 'Blasphemy' demands repeat listens. Alan Doyle has great stories from a personal point of view and tells great stories with his songs. Along with his vocal style and gentle strumming these songs have the ability to become really intense songs such as 'Wooden Frame' and the anti-love balled 'Your Last Victim'.

Overall 'Blasphemy' is a fine piece of art that's requires the listening to dig deep into and discover songs of real quality.

Alan Doyle - Blasphemy [10 out of 12]






Buy The Album: http://alandoyle.bandcamp.com/

The album launch is on Friday 31st May in the intimate and all-acoustic setting of the No.9 Room in the Workman's Club.



2Day's Tune: Dermot Lambert - Hey Sean

Dermot Lambert brand new Single 'Hey Sean' on general release on Friday 17th May. Buy from iTunes at
https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/hey-sean/id642758684?i=642758848&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

All proceeds from the sale of the single will go to the Green Ribbon campaign to encourage more open conversation about mental health in Ireland, and we are very proud to be involved with such a great programme. 



"Hey Sean" written by Dermot Lambert & Barry Campbell.
Shot directed & edited by Mick Quinn at studio14.ie
Additional footage & art direction by Dermot Lambert
Supporting See Change & the Green Ribbon campaign

Thursday, May 23, 2013

2Day's Tune: Cat Dowling - Hunters

Former Alphastates singer Cat Dowling released her debut solo album 'The Believer' recently and is busy promoting and touring the country supporting it's release. The best track off the album is this song 'Hunters'.




I won't be giving the album a review on the blog. With an album review I have to be able to give it a decent amount of listens to really get into the album and with 'The Believer' there's only a few really good songs but on a whole I was rather disappointed by the album. It failed to grab hold of my attention, was very monotonous and a real let down. Don't let my opinion stop you from checking out the album yourself at: http://catdowling.bandcamp.com/album/the-believer

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Gigs 2 Go 2: May 23rd - 29th [ft Iron & Wine, Max Greenwood, runaway GO & more]

This week is one of the best weeks for gigs so far in 2013. Here's the pick of the gigs to go to ....


Thursday May 23rd

Laura Elizabeth Hughes, Whelans, Dublin, €5


The first ever headline gig for Dubliner Laura Elizabeth Hughes with able support from Eoin Glackin and Eamonn Barrett of Royseven.



http://www.whelanslive.com/index.php/elizabeth-hughes/

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Thursday May 23rd

Elder Roche, Odessa Club, Dublin, €10

& support from Lou McMahon



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Friday May 24th

Runaway GO, Whelans Upstairs, €6

With support from SHADOWS & DUSTYELLOWBRIDGE and THE WINTER PASSING

Runaway GO release their new single ‘I Would Go” on Friday 24th of May in Ireland and Monday 27th of May in the UK.

To celebrate the release Runaway GO will tour Ireland starting on Wednesday the 22nd of May in Dundalk before making their way further south to Cavan and Dublin, from there west to Galway and then south to Cork and Limerick.


http://www.whelanslive.com/index.php/runawaygo/

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Friday May 24th

Max Greenwood, The Roisin Dubh, Galway, €5

Originally from Yorkshire, Max Greenwood grew up in Nottingham and moved to Dublin in 2005. In demand as a piano player, he has played live and on record for Vyvienne Long, Adrian Crowley, Charlie Winston, Sam Semple and Tom Baxter, appearing on both Irish chart-topping albums ‘Feather and Stone’ and ‘Skybound’. This May he releases his second album 'Soul of a Man' and it's really good!


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Sat & Sun May 25th & 26th

The Soul Picnic, Merrion Square, Dublin 12-6 pm, €5 Donation

Saturday

Sunday
I'll be here on the Sunday and I'm really looking forward to seeing Rackhouse Pilfer in particular live:



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Irish Tour:

This is the Kit





In The Roisin Dubh on Tuesday and in Whelans on Wednesday night, This is the Kit is supported by Mossy Nolan and Twin Headed Wolf.

https://www.facebook.com/thisisthekit

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Wednesday May 29th

Iron & Wine - The Olympia, Dublin

More info: http://www.mcd.ie/listings/fg.php?c=3002433&ar=ironandwine&cat=all

The geography teachers of folk promote their new album in Dublin's finest live music venue The Olympia.