Tipp Classical 2019 - Therapy? Interview

Ahead of their main-stage performance at the inaugural Tipp Classical Festival, which rebooted last year to huge success as Féile Classical in Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co. Tipperary (music fans of the same vintage as myself may recall the origins as The Day Trip to Tipp in the 1990's, where the Buckfast flowed like wine), REMY had the privilege of chatting to Michael McKeegan, founding member of Belfast alternative-rock icons Therapy?

In Irish Times journalist Tony Clayton-Lea's must-have book, 101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die (2011, Liberties Press), referring to Therapy?'s 1994 sophomore album Troublegum, Clayton-Lea wrote; "From the cover to the music, an unsettling, provocative, desolate yet highly individual atmosphere abounds - it's metal, it's punk, innately melodic and lyrically incisive" He went on to note that Therapy? resisted pressure from their label to re-enact Nirvana, or become the European Metallica, and the band "stuck to their guns and clung to their hero worship of Hüsker Dü and Steve Albini".

REMY: Things happened quite quickly for Therapy? from the beginning, following the release of your debut single 'Meat Abstract' in 1990, you had support slots with now cult acts such as Inspiral Carpets, Ride, Teenage Fanclub and Fugazi to name a few. Can you recall your ambitions at that time, i.e., was the subsequent success of shifting over 2 million album copies across the course of your career beyond your early expectations?

MICHAEL: Absolutely! We had no real game plan at the start other than we would hopefully do some gigs and the biggest ambition was to have a 7" single on the racks in our local record store (Caroline Records off Cornmarket). There was no real music scene or infrastructure at that time, the Good Vibes/Belfast punk scene had gone quiet and everyone in NI wanted to sound either like U2 or Guns N' Roses. For a band like us that had an 'outsider' musical approach we just did things ourselves, booking gigs and self-releasing.

REMY: Fans of Therapy? Will probably have a particularly misty-eyed nostalgia (I do!) for the 5 albums you released in the 1990’s, Nurse (1992), Troublegum (1994), and Infernal Love (1995) being a few examples. As a band were you able to fully enjoy that early success, or was it fraught with stress and over-bearing expectation?

Michael: In retrospect a lot of the stress came from ourselves in that we wanted things to be better...each album had to sound and look better and that was a period of great creative growth for us. If I listen to Baby Teeth and then Infernal Love, its a mad old leap in ability over those 5 short years. Of course we had a brilliant time, getting to travel the world and play our music to appreciate audiences was incredible and we met so many great folk along the way. I think when Troublegum became such a bit hit (unexpected by the record label it has to be said!) then we sort of fell under the scrutiny of the ‘big wigs’ at the label. And along with that came a lot of outside opinions on how to band should sound and look, that was hard to deflect when we were burnt out from all the touring.

REMY: In a peculiar way the chronology of Therapy? mirrors the beginning of a time of great hope in Northern Ireland in the lead up to the Good Friday Agreement, to the current day (your last album Cleave is just shy of 6 months old) plunged into the greatest uncertainty the Six Counties has faced in decades with Brexit. You've previously stated that the political landscape was never really to the forefront of your lyrics and song-writing, but do you think that on some level, the decades of upheaval for youth in Northern Ireland has led to such a level of despondency and disillusionment that it inevitably permeates the music of local artists, including yourselves?

Michael: Yes, looking back there are a lot of elements of the bands outlook and approach that could only come from an upbringing in NI. Obviously there's a lot of dark humour and a cynicism in there as well as a resilience and a "never give up" attitude, which has served us well over the years. I can't really speak for other bands and their experience but knowing quite a few of them personally I can see a similar mindset there.

REMY: Speaking of upheaval, drummer and vocalist Fyfe left the band in 1996, shortly after the experimental Infernal Love which you made with DJ David Holmes. Was it an easy decision to continue on with the band from that point, and what are your reflections on an album that some quarters viewed as a curve-ball?

Michael: As harsh as it might sound, it wasn't that big a surprise when Fyfe left, we all knew he hadn't been happy for a while and both myself and Andy felt we had a lot more to do / say with the band. Infernal Love at the time was a very divisive album when it was released but to this day we get tons of people saying they didn't ‘get it’ at the time but now a bit further down the line they absolutely love it. I think there were quite a few elements on there that took people by surprise (cellos/slower songs/ambient interludes) but i’m really glad we did it and by not making Troublegum Part 2 (which would have been dead easy and probably the right ‘career move’ to do) we gave ourselves a longevity and a wider creative palette to which we enjoy to this day. In all honesty I think most people were more put off by the image we adopted for the album, it was meant to be a bit of fun but a lot of people wanted us top to toe in black, not smiling, as opposed to red frilly shirts and stick on moustaches! You live and learn.

REMY: Your lyrics have always been both arresting and thought-provoking, and laced with dark humour. The first time I heard Nurse, opener 'Nausea' caught me disarmed with the unforgettable line; "Here I am motherfucker!". The opening verse of 'Gone' on the same album is also a major blow to the head; "I know about the scars on your arms, I know your baby wasn’t born, I know that your mum hates your dad, I know that it fucked up your head". Then on 'Trigger Inside' from Troublegum there's the timeless line that every young person must wince at because it’s true; "Here comes a girl with perfect teeth, I bet she won’t be smiling at me, I know how Jeffrey Dahmer feels, (lonely, lonely)". Are your lyrics reflective of imagined characters and scenarios, or do they stem from personal experience to a degree?

Michael: I’m not 100% the man to ask as Andy writes all the lyrics and rightly so as I think he’s written some incredible stuff over the years. From what I gather a lot of the initial ideas/concepts come from personal experiences and then they are framed using different characters (sometimes highly exaggerated/ hyper-real) to make the text come to life and become a bit more open to interpretation.

REMY: When you started out playing gigs, and I recall this myself from my teens, albums, EP's and singles were prohibitively expensive to record, and the avenues for recouping money were very limited unless a breakthrough happened with a label, maybe selling CD's at shows etc., with attendance at gigs mostly down to word of mouth. Today acts can record music at home in their bedroom to a pretty high standard with the right equipment, and advertise live shows and releases on social media for free, the downside of which is trying to stand out in an environment that is saturated. Do you think that overall bands have it easier getting noticed nowadays, or do the same difficulties ultimately apply regardless for independent musicians trying to break through?

Michael: Again, i’m only going from our experience and I think there now are quite a few different ways of getting your music heard right across the world. 

Of course what that means is there is tons of stuff to sift through to find that 'gold' so it can be a bit overwhelming for the listeners and confusing for the artist as to which route to take. Thankfully the playing field has levelled quite a bit so bands can make pro-sounding records cheaply and promote them in a way they feel comfortable with without having to rely on tradition label formats or distribution networks. I don't subscribe to the old mindset of there being 'taste makers' or 'gatekeepers', that's nonsense...you either like it yourself or you don’t. These days i’m much more likely to check out a band if someone recommends them to me personally as opposed to getting caught up in hype. The good thing now is I can get a listen straight away on my phone! 

Féile Festival in the early 1990's

REMY: Often with the passage of time bands such as yourselves who inspired people through grim and cutting observations mellow. When I listen to your latest album Cleave, thankfully that is something that doesn’t seem to have come to pass. Examples would be 'Kakistocracy', and the lines; "Is this the end of empathy? Turn away from the poor, pulling up the drawbridge, and bolting the door" – these lines instantly resonate with me in terms of the platform every single individual, regardless of their prejudices now have, empathy is becoming rarefied. 

We are numb to tragedy and misfortune, both of which seem to be becoming a form of warped entertainment, guilt easily addressed through sharing virtuous thoughts online instead of taking action. 'Dumbdown' also seems to allude to the 'State of the Nation', the glacial political inertia in Northern Ireland over the last 2 years. Is it fair to say that the focus on the individual’s malaise has expanded to a broader malaise in Therapy?’s song-writing with the passage of time?

Michael: Yes, I think we've broadened that out a bit. I mean it'd take a special kind of arrogance not to feel angry and disappointed with a lot of things that are going on in the world right now. We've always wanted our music to be inclusive and for everybody and being from NI and seeing the nonsense that's gone on here over the years I find it mind-boggling that in 2019 people want to become less-inclusive and build walls, either literally or figuratively.

REMY: Tipp Classical will take place in September, a throwback to the heady days of both Féile and The Trip to Tipp. Therapy? performed in 1992 and 1993 sharing the stage with the likes of David Byrne, Iggy Pop, and budding acts Manic Street Preachers & Spiritualized! What are your stand-out memories of those festivals, and who are you most looking forward to sharing the stage with in 2019?

Michael: Those shows were fantastic experiences, great line-ups and lots of madness on and offstage. The crowd made it of course, I think every band that played the shows were taken aback by the atmosphere, people going for it, drinking and rocking out despite the weather. We knew quite a few of the bands at the shows so backstage was a lot of fun, we’d known the Manics for a while and one surreal highlight was when Iggy Pop bounded up to our dressing room to say hello. He was shirtless and had that classic manic air about him...we exchanged small talk and the whole time inside my head i’m going "Fuck me its Iggy Pop, be cool, be cool, be cool, BE COOL!". 

This year I'm looking forward to seeing The Frank & Walters, Sultans of Ping and Mundy. I also see there's a set of Thin Lizzy songs which I'm excited about as I'm a huge Lizzy fan, Live And Dangerous is as iconic an album as you’ll get.

REMY: Finally, who do you think are the most promising Northern Irish bands at the moment in your opinion?

Michael: Noisy rock types Duellists get my vote and on a more electronic tip the Arvo Party stuff is fantastic. Also Robyn G Shiels' new stuff is well worth checking out.

Therapy? will be playing the main stage at Tipp Classical which takes place over the weekend of 20th / 21st of September, tickets are available to purchase via Eventbrite at the following link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tipp-classical-tickets-53808542800

For further information and line-up updates head over to the Tipp Classical website here https://tippclassical.com/

SelfMade - Mind YourSelf: Maria Kelly Interview

On Saturday May 25th, SelfMade will run a two-part event, Mind YourSelf: Mental Health and Music, sponsored by IMRO, looking at mental health in the Irish music scene and in particular the challenges affecting developing musicians in their professional and personal lives. There has been a huge step-up in the level of conversation on mental health in recent years and we’re proud to use our next event to encourage conversation, break the stigma, and facilitate a route to a healthier music industry. 

In advance of the event REMY chats to Mayo alternative folk artist Maria Kelly about her musical journey; early successes, re-locating to Berlin, and the importance of learning to listen to both your head and body when they're trying to get you to hit the pause button and slow down.

REMY: Can you indulge us a little as to when it dawned on you that music was a source of wonder whose path you wanted to wander above all others?

Maria: I don’t think I had a defining moment of ‘this is what I want to do’. It was always something I had been involved in since I was about ten, and it was what I had always been drawn to throughout my school years. I did consider studying languages in my final year, but it felt quite natural to just keep pursing music for as long as I could, as it excited me more than anything else.

REMY: You've always been very upfront that one of the deepest wells of inspiration for your songs has come from anxiety; over-thought interactions with other people, finding yourself in a place of darkness or strain over over-expectation. Has dealing with these topics in your songwriting brought much relief and enlightenment over the past 4 years?

Maria: I think it definitely has. Enlightenment for sure, as I think songwriting has been a way for me to learn about my own mental health, it allows me to take a closer look at what I am actually thinking and feeling. But it has also been very relieving, as sharing very personal experiences in a tangible way has created an external connection for me, to other people who are experiencing similar things.

REMY: Things moved quite suddenly after the release of your debut EP The Things I Should, multiple festival slots, being included in The Irish Times '50 Best Tracks of 2016', and a support slot with KT Tunstall in London. In retrospect, did it all feel a bit out of control and overwhelming at this point?

Maria: On reflection, yes it feels a little overwhelming to think about. I was actually quite out of touch with myself through a lot of that, just kind of floating along. That gave way to bouts of depression and anxiety for sure. I don’t feel like it felt out of control though – I was very lucky to have a great group of people around me (my lovely fam at Veta Records) from the beginning of the project, and they really helped to guide me through any difficult or overwhelming patches. I think having a strong team around you is pretty vital in the music industry as it gives you people to lean on. You don’t have to do everything yourself! 

Maria Kelly - 'June' (Live at Other Voices 2018)

REMY: In June of last year you moved to Berlin, and were also back and forth to Ireland for festivals such as Other Voices, whilst also recording your second EP, notes to self. How did that change in environment affect you most musically, i.e. in terms of conjuring up the songs for the EP?

Maria: I didn’t expect to write a whole lot when I first moved, I made a decision to just put a pin in music and live a bit, try other things. I had just studied music for four years, and I felt a bit tired of certain aspects of it to be honest. But I spent a lot of time alone when I first got to Berlin and had a lot to mull over, and songs sort of fell out of me – it’s a thing I always come back to I realise, to connect to myself again, even when I try to escape it! And having that time and space to concentrate on this new flow of songs, I think it added to them sounding a bit more honed and polished than what I’d released before. I had time to think about it in a more conceptual way, and to test out new ideas. 

REMY: Speaking of Berlin, there’s a very strong Irish music community in the city who help each other out, what has the feedback been like from the indigenous music-goers in Berlin to Irish talent?

Maria: Yes, there is, it’s been great – a home away from home of sorts. In general, I’ve only had a positive experience with music-goers. People are very willing to actively listen here, and will make a point of coming up to you after the show to thank you for your music. They also are very supportive in buying merch/staying in touch – it’s a nice place to grow an authentic community I feel. We’ve seen that a lot through shows that I run with Veta Sessions – a branch off of our label, where we host house concerts every month. It’s been a fantastic way to get familiar with the scene here, and to discover new music in our own living rooms. 

REMY: In February this year you shared that you were going to have to cancel your Irish tour dates, you mentioned creative burnout as a factor in this tough decision, and that you were looking to delve back into the 'song-writing cave' as you put it. Did this feel like a very low point for you, or was it a bit liberating to finally be able to say to yourself that your health, physical and mental well-being were going to take number one priority for the first time with no preconditions attached? It must have been incredibly difficult in the weeks preceding that decision?

Maria: It felt like a low point at first. I hadn't cancelled anything before, and it felt AWFUL to feel like I couldn’t do something that I had planned to do. Since the beginning of the project, I had just hopped from thing to thing, full steam ahead. And when I initially booked the tour, I had the same mind set – 'ok so what’s the next thing'. But the closer it got to the date, the more I realised how detrimental the shows would be to me. Not just the shows themselves, but the months of promo, ticket pushes, rehearsals, costs, keeping the buzz up, there was so much to do and I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind to do it successfully. 

I hated posting that update, but in the end I thought about the fact that I wouldn’t want to go see a musician play who didn’t want to be there, or felt like they couldn’t give their best performance. That would be so disheartening to watch! The response online was nothing but lovely, supportive and completely understanding. Kind of like a "well duh…why would you do a tour if you are not in the right mind set to do it?" 

It was a relief, as I instantly knew I had made the right decision, and had been putting a lot of pressure on myself to do otherwise. It made me think about our tendency to overlook emotional / mental signs of exhaustion. Or not even exhaustion, just overlooking the fact that you're not feeling the way that you know you should. I completely overlooked my own needs in favour of just not 'giving up' or 'trying hard enough'. It made me reevaluate my own mind set when it came to how I approach my mental health. 

Photo: Remy Connolly

REMY: How does the ideal 2019 end for Maria Kelly? What do you hope to achieve most in life and music between now and December?

Maria: I'd like to have a big bulk of unreleased material behind me by the end of this year. I’ve been spending more time writing and honing in on what I’d like a body of work to sound like. But honestly, I have more personal goals this year than musical ones – I’m trying to learn how to look after myself at the minute, all the boring stuff like healthy eating and exercise! And I want to look after my head in a more productive way – I think good work will naturally follow that. 

REMY: You’ll be joining a really great panel for Mind YourSelf: Mental Health and Music on the 25th of May organised by SelfMade, joined by fellow-musicians Paddy Hanna, members of Wyvern Lingo and LeGalaxie among others! Despite great strides being made to make the public more aware, and remove the stigma of the past attached to people who suffer from mental health issues, what would you identify as the biggest obstacle that we still have to overcome here in Ireland?

Maria: Long-term, more available and more affordable resources. Getting to a place where it doesn’t cost a bomb to go to your GP, then to a psychiatrist of psychologist, a therapist, a councillor – whatever you need. That it isn’t this massive, impossible, privileged mountain to climb, whether your problem is big or small. 

And short term, talking. I know it’s almost cliché at the stage, but continuing an uncomfortable conversation is effective. Asking your friends how their head is, no matter how much you think they have their shit together. Just opening up a conversation, not aiming to solve it, but aiming to lend an ear is a very powerful thing to do. 

For more information and to book tickets to SelfMade's upcoming event, Mind YourSelf: Mental Health and Music, head over to the event page here https://www.facebook.com/events/385791448665594/

SelfMade - Mind YourSelf: Paddy Hanna Interview

Photo: Stephen White (The Last Mixed Tape)

On Saturday May 25th, SelfMade will run a two-part event, Mind YourSelf: Mental Health and Music, sponsored by IMRO, looking at mental health in the Irish music scene and in particular the challenges affecting developing musicians in their professional and personal lives. There has been a huge step-up in the level of conversation on mental health in recent years and we’re proud to use our next event to encourage conversation, break the stigma, and facilitate a route to a healthier music industry. 

In advance of the event REMY chats to Dublin troubadour Paddy Hanna about his musical journey, his sophomore album Frankly, I Mutate, and the existing gaps in supports for those suffering with mental health.

REMY: Can you recall the moment you decided you wanted to wade into the world of making music? Was it as a result of a live show you were attending for example or a less spontaneous happenstance?

Paddy: I wanted to perform from a very early age but was a cripplingly shy child. I used to hide in a moulding playhouse at the back of our garden with a crappy tape recorder and sing in to it, just to see how I sounded, but I could only do that in secret. I didn’t perform publicly till I was 15, at a school talent show. 

REMY: Your early days on the Irish music 'scene' saw you as one of the collaborators in the Popical Island collective circa 2010, was that a period you have care-free memories of?

Paddy: For the most part. It was a great time for drinking cans, playing sweaty venues that hold about 20 people and churning albums out in a weekend. 



REMY: With the release of Frankly, I Mutate last year you were quite open about a core theme of the album, and if I may quote at length because I feel it’s important; "I allude to mental illness in my work. It’s considered by many to be a neurosis that spurs on creative work, however it is nothing but a crutch on my own creativity. My time in a depressive haze is spent in complete emptiness, weeks will go by, my beard will have grown out, my pen dried up. So when indeed I allude to mental illness it would usually be during a happy period where I can function. One of the most important days in my life came when I finally opened up about depression and was not met with jeers but rather acceptance and understanding."

To jump back to your debut 4 years earlier, Leafy Stiletto, it seems in lyric and song-titles even, that you were already on a path to exploring expressing those feelings, take for example tracks like 'Mind’s Wearing Make-Up' and the escapism of 'Heaven of Heavens', would that be an okay assumption to make?

Paddy: It surely would be. I make a point of not dwelling on the meaning of my tracks, I like to leave them open to interpretation, that said it's usually easy to spot the central themes. 

REMY: There was a four-year period in between Leafy Stiletto and Frankly, I Mutate (you were still active in this time with the likes of Autre Monde). What would you say was the most notable difference in how you approached your song-writing for each LP?

Paddy: I listen to loads of music and make a composite in the ole head of how the album should sound, then I fit the songs around that sonic theme. When discussing Frankly with Daniel we knew immediately what kind of album we were going to make, our chemistry was such that I’ve basically kidnapped him for the next record we're making.



REMY: Frankly, I Mutate was across the board one of the most well-received Irish albums of 2018, if you could pick one track of the 12 which would you say pleases you the most in terms of how it turned out on the album?

Paddy: 'Bad Boys', we nailed that one.

REMY: On the 25th May you’ll be a member of the panel discussing mental health titled Mind YourSelf: Mental Health and Music run by the great folks and music lovers SelfMade. Mental health has thankfully had a strong spotlight shone on it in recent years, that said, where do you feel the biggest gaps regarding awareness and resources remain?

Paddy: It's very difficult for someone to campaign for elections on a mental health platform, it’s not a short term solution and therefore many folks are inclined to vote for the more quick fix policies, but we need to lay the seeds now, I for one would be happy to know that kids 15 years from now won't feel broken or lost as I did, and that their mental health was treated with the same regularity as treating the common cold. That's where we need to be. 

For more information and to book tickets to SelfMade's upcoming event, Mind YourSelf: Mental Health and Music, head over to the event page here https://www.facebook.com/events/385791448665594/

News: Hard Working Class Heroes re-brands to Ireland Music Week for 2019

Photo: Remy Connolly

Always placed perfectly in the annual calendar with a nice break after the mayhem of the summer festival schedule, one of our long-term favourite music festivals, Hard Working Class Heroes, is re-branding as Ireland Music Week for this coming October. The core elements of providing Irish music artists with an opportunity to network with a slew of local and international industry experts, plus showcasing 50 acts that are readying themselves for international exposure remain. 

For artists of all levels, the conference will give them a chance to learn and develop their craft and create new opportunities with agents, labels, bookers, music supervisors and services from all over the world.

Additions to this core programming will include a dedicated B 2 B day to facilitate the needs of the newly formed FMC-founded AIM Ireland, along with other offerings from new strategic partners introducing new audiences for Irish music around Europe as well as more networking and masterclasses to be announced closer to the dates.

"The new name will more accurately represent the strategic role of the festival in launching export-ready Irish artists to global prominence at our export supported events such as Eurosonic, SXSW, The Great Escape, and more" says Angela Dorgan, CEO of First Music Contact. "Ireland Music Week will also expand to develop the infrastructure of the Irish music industry as a whole".

On the announcement of the new name, Christine Sisk, Culture Ireland’s Director commented –

"Culture Ireland’s support for Ireland Music Week is based on the important role it plays in introducing the next generation of Irish talent to global audiences and strengthening the connections between Ireland’s independent music industry and international markets. Ireland’s music is known worldwide and it is important that we maintain and build on our already strong reputation. The creation of international opportunities for emerging talent is vital to help sustain careers in the music industry."

First Music Contact, who run Ireland Music Week, work with Irish acts from the very beginning.  This annual showcase is an opportunity to offer Irish acts some vital exposure provided by the stellar mix of influential Irish and international delegates who attend including avenues for agent, label, management deals and more. FMC also run Music From Ireland, the Irish music export office.

Artist applications for this year’s festival will open in May.

Some of last year’s big successes to progress from the festival include Just Mustard, The Wood Burning Savages, Wild Youth, Æ Mak, Flynn, Pillow Queens, ROE, Bad Bones, A. Smyth, Kitt Philippa, Laoise, THUMPER, Maria Kelly, Molly Sterling, Joshua Burnside and more.

Since its inception in 2003, the festival has showcased many of Ireland’s best-known acts including Fontaines DC, David Keenan, Soulé, Daithí, whenyoung, Bitch Falcon, Jafaris, Chasing Abbey, Saint Sister, Wyvern Lingo, Jealous of the Birds, Fangclub, Touts, The Academic, Choice Music Prize winners Rusangano Family, Villagers, 2013's breakthrough act Hozier, along with Girl Band, Jape, The Coronas, Talos, Le Boom, Loah, Soak, Ham Sandwich, All Tvvins, Otherkin and many more.

For more information on how to sign-up and keep tabs on announcements, head over to the new website here http://irelandmusicweek.com/

The Gig Guide: Third Smoke, Hausu Records, Junior Brother / PowPig & Spiral Stairs (Scott Kannberg of Pavement)

A round-up of must-see gigs in the coming days and weeks is below, plus some with tickets on sale now, but which are taking place later in the year. 

Hausu Records Showcase - Good Friday, 19th April - Pot Duggans, Co. Clare

Cork collective Hausu Records have been one of the most exciting new indie labels to emerge in recent times, on very Good Friday they will be showcasing some of our favourite acts, Ghostking is Dead, Automatic Blue, Arthur Valentine and Actualacid at the award-winning Pot Duggan's pub and live venue in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. Tickets are €5-€7 and can be booked here.

Junior Brother & Powpig - Thursday, 18th April - The Grand Social

Hot on the heels of announcing his debut album release Pull The Right Rope on the 24th of May, Dublin-based Kerry native Junior Brother takes to the main stage at The Grand Social with one of Ireland's most exciting new bands, Limerick quartet PowPig. Tickets are priced at €12 and can be purchased via Ticketmaster here. 

Photo: Aaron Corr Photography

Third Smoke with Larry - Friday, 26th April - The Sound House

Three of Dundalk's finest acts take to the stage at The Sound House above The Wiley Fox pub on the 26th of April. With Third Smoke having just released one of their best singles to date in 'We Run in Bare Feet', and Larry due to release their debut self-titled album on the day if the show, plus the multi-disciplinary talents of Hunting Hall, aka Tim Shearwood, it is set to be an overwhelmingly good night of fresh tunes from both acts. Tickets are €14 and can be purchased via Eventbrite here.

Spiral Stairs - Thursday, 26th September - Whelan's

Co-founder of one of the most iconic lo-fi indie bands of the 1990's whose influence remains as strong as ever, Pavement's Scott Kannberg brings his band Spiral Stairs to the main stage in Whelan's. Having just released their third album, We Wanna Be Hyp​-​No​-​Tized, last month, it's a rare chance for Irish music fans to get up close to the legendary musician. Tickets are €20 and are on sale now via hosts Selective Memory's website here.

Naoise Roo's return show Sold Out & new 'Sick Girlfriend' EP Announced

Anyone who has seen Naoise Roo perform live before, or indeed heard her landmark debut album Lilith, will be excited by the news that the alternative rock act is both returning to the live music circuit, and also has a new release coming down the tracks very soon in the shape of EP Sick Girlfriend. Hours after announcing her first live show in some time on Friday at the Project Arts Centre on the 4th of May, it sold out. Keep an eye out on Roo's social pages (below) for future live performance dates.

'Sick Girlfriend', the sophomore offering from Naoise Roo is a four-track exploration of themes surrounding depression, the challenges of the music industry and the oppressive stereotypes that burden women experiencing mental illness. On the 4th of May at The Project Arts Centre, Roo will perform brand new unheard songs, plus much loved songs from her repertoire including tracks from her first album Lilith.

Accompanying her on stage will be the outfit that brought 'Sick Girlfriend' to life including bassist Daniel Fox (Girl Band), drummer Rian Trench , guitarist Karl Tobin and Jamie Hyland on synths. Naoise Roo will be joined by a catalogue of talented musicians, artists and performers who will present their own works also revolving around the theme of mental health and mental illness. Musical acts include Maija Sofia, Shrug Life’s Danny Carroll, singer Laura Ann Brady and more to be announced. Theatre actor Miriam Needham will perform a short work on mental health while artists Andrew Mooney and Roisín Blade will create an immersive visual experience in the venue.

https://www.facebook.com/naoiseroo/

https://twitter.com/NaoiseRoo

Record Store Day 2019 - Saturday, 13th April

Record Store Day 2018 - Waiting for Tower Records to open its doors

Record Store Day 2019 will be my sixth RSD, and it is one of my own personal highlights of the year, buying a record is a buzz, but buying a plethora of records in a few hours is the only thing that still feels like Christmas as a child for me. Ultra-hipsters and cynics were quick to abandon it shortly after its incarnation in 2007 as they felt it moved towards a commercially geared opportunity to fleece punters with limited edition vinyl, which as time went on, wasn't so limited after all. Some of these 'rare' issue presses by larger artists are re-released en masse within the year. The other negative side is online sellers from platforms like eBay swooping in a buying multiple copies of rarities which end up for sale online within hours for multiples of the retail price, grrr! Many independent record shops, such as Tower Records in Dublin, have proactively deterred this nasty capitalistic practice by limiting buyers to single purchases of each record, a fair policy that benefits genuine vinyl heads. 

The Record Spot - Fade Street, RSD 2018, site of Jeff Buckley Sin-É purchase

Personally I couldn't give two hoots about the self-appointed 'purists', I'm half-way through my life (if I'm lucky) and I don't have time to sit at home cleaning my first press of Hank Mobley's Blue Note 1568 from 1957 (I don't actually own it) by the fire-place (don't have a fire-place either) basking in a dark grey cloud of smugness. It is what it is, or has become, all I know is that I enjoy it very much, and it makes me happy. And it's not just the buying, it's the buzz, it's the fretful and paranoid glances from strangers; "I need to watch him, he looks like he wants all the records on my list", and it's the helpful camaraderie. In packed shops, these same untrusting strangers will pass albums, EP's and singles over heads to each other from the shelves to ensure everyone manages to tick off as much of their wanted list as possible.

Tom (bottom of photo) gives the classic "I'm watching you" Record Store Day 'look'

I've managed to get some great additions to my collection of the past few years, from artists such as John Grant, Sam Cooke, Richard Hawley, Rory Gallagher, Sufjan Stevens, Mogwai, and a gorgeous boxset of Jeff Buckley's legendary Live at Sin-É show, extended to over 20 tracks on 4 LP's. The latter of which I only actually opened last month for the first time and had a joyous experience listening to. 

My normal routine is to get to Tower Records before they open at 8am, last year the queue was half-way up Dawson Street, the logic being that they will have the bigger volume of releases by virtue of store size, and therefore increased chance of getting what I want. From there I'll make my way to Freebird Records on Wicklow Street (inside The Secret Book & Record Store), then on to Spindizzy Records in George's Arcade, and finally to the amazing peeps at The Record Spot / R.A.G.E. on Fade Street, who go all out every year with bands and DJ's playing all day. Finally home, examine the swag bag(s), and maybe a glass of French red whilst listening to them for that uber-gratifying feeling. I should point out that outside of Dublin, the two best record shops I've been to and will be participating in RSD2019 are Classified Records in Dundalk, a shop that has unflinchingly supported local acts Just Mustard, AE Mak, Trick Mist, Elephant, Third Smoke and more, and if you're down Dingle way, the beautiful Dingle Record Shop at the corner of Green Street. 

Photo via @towerrecordsdublin

So, what's on the cards for Record Store Day 2019, and what will be on my own wish-list...well, first of all, the full list of participating stores in Ireland are here, and the list of releases available to us (they vary geographically) are here. 

Essential purchases in my humble opinion, absolute gold in bold! 25 of the best from circa 600 releases available in Ireland;

1. The 13th Floor Elevators - The Psychedelic Sounds of... (1966 repress)

2. Aretha Franklin - The Atlantic Singles Collection (1967 repress) a 5 x 7" boxset.

3. Bill Evans - Evans in England: Live at Ronnie Scott's

4. Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks: Original New York Test Pressing 

5. Booker T & The MG's - Green Onions Plus 3

6. The Charlatans - Us and Us Only (coloured vinyl)

7. Charlie Parker - Charlie Parker With Strings: The Alternate Takes

8. David Bowie - The World of David Bowie

9. Elastica - BBC Sessions

10. Elvis Presley - Live at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, 1969

11. Herbie Hancock - Dedication 

12. Irma Thomas - In Between Tears (1973 Repress) - **don't go home without this

13. Janis Joplin - Live at Woodstock 1969

14. John Lennon - Imagine (Raw studio mixes)

15. Manusn - Legacy (single - 12" red vinyl)

16. Pink Floyd - Saucerful of Secrets

17. Prince - The Versace Experience (note: cassette)

18. Roxy Music - Debut Album Remixes

19. Rush - Hemispheres (1978 repress)

20. Sigur Rós - Variations on Darkness (heavyweight LP)

21. Sly & The Family Stone - Live at Woodstock (1969) 

22. Soccer Mommy - For Young Hearts

23. Thin Lizzy - Black Rose (double LP)

24. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks (alternative 10")

25. Wes Montgomery - Back on Indiana Avenue (double LP)

Classified Records, Dundalk (2017) with owner Neil Waters and a future Choice Music Prize nominee

Dublin Vinyl Announce new Subscription Club 'LovesVinyl'

One year on from opening their pressing plant in Glasnevin, Dublin Vinyl have announced a new exclusive subscription service called LovesVinyl for aficionados and helpless addicts of the beautiful musical medium. For €29.00 per month, subscribers will receive a personally delivered box-set containing a featured Album of the Month, a LovesVinyl Exclusive Compilation EP and a Bonus Collectable. As a veteran collector via Discogs, eBay and of course our independent record shops, this is an extremely competitive price. 

The LovesVinyl team have been working hard to bring an eclectic mix of limited edition records and compilation EPs pressed exclusively with their members in mind. They’re working with both local and international labels, great artists and some exciting new talent to bring a varied mix of exclusive vinyl delivered straight to your door every month.

The albums are carefully curated by the team in Dublin Vinyl and are a selection of Essentials, Classics and Rare pressings to help you build your collection.

Each member will get to choose one of three albums every month.

The LovesVinyl Compilation EP is a members only exclusive, not available in any stores, and features brand new tracks and hidden treasures from artists home and abroad. And to top it off, each member receives a Bonus Collectable Gift which ranges from Test Pressings, Promos, Art or Accessories.

"As the only pressing plant in Ireland, we get lots of enquiries from people wondering if they can purchase records directly from the plant”, says Hugh Scully, MD of Dublin Vinyl Record Pressing. "Our customers are Record Labels and Artists, so until now it hasn’t been possible, but with LovesVinyl.com our members get two records and a gift to their door every month."

Dublin Vinyl are delighted to announce the following March featured albums:      

Damien Dempsey - 'Union', Charlotte Gainsbourg - 'Rest', and Marvin Gaye - 'What’s Goin On'.

Each member will get to choose one of these albums that will be shipped along with a specially curated compilation EP and a bonus gift. Issue 01 will ship on 21st March.

For more information on all subscription and gift packages go to lovesvinyl.com

SelfMade: Mind YourSelf - Music and Mental Health, May 25th @ The Tara Building

On Saturday May 25th, SelfMade will run a two-part event, sponsored by IMRO, looking at mental health in the Irish music scene and in particular the challenges affecting developing musicians in their professional and personal lives. There has been a huge step-up in the level of conversation on mental health in recent years and we’re proud to use our next event to encourage conversation, break the stigma, and facilitate a route to a healthier music industry.

Mind YourSelf: Mental Health and Music will be a two-part event, with a daytime workshop exploring the ‘'Inner Critic' along with an evening panel and performances. Psychotherapist and BIMM lecturer, Aoife Ruth, will be on board to host the workshop with Wyvern Lingo’s Caoimhe Barry. Along with Aoife and Caoimhe, our evening panel features Michael Pope from Le Galaxie, Maria Kelly, and Paddy Hanna, and will be hosted by Louise Bruton – music journalist and activist.

Ticket / General info:

Tickets to Selfmade | Mind YourSelf: Mental Health & Music at the Tara Building on May 25th are priced at €5 – €10 via weareselfmade.io.

SelfMade is organised independently by artist, Joanna Bain, and musician/label co-founder Julie Hawk (HAVVK) in collaboration with a collective of Irish musicians.

Bulmers Forbidden Fruit Festival 2019 - Spiritualized, Pillow Queens, DAITHÍ & more added to line-up

Bulmers Forbidden Fruit signals the start of the summer festival season and we have already revealed a bumper load of amazing artists who’ll be playing on our beautiful stages. SKEPTA, MURA MASA, ELBOW, DANNY BROWN, PAUL KALKBRENNER, JON HOPKINS, SAINT SISTER,  FIRST AID KIT, LAURENT GARNIER, EARL SWEATSHIRT, PEGGY GOU, RY X,JULIEN BAKER, KOJAQUE  and MAHALIA are just a few of the incredible performers hitting Bulmers Forbidden Fruit in 2019. 

This week it has been announced that Spiritualized, Irish acts Pillow Queens and DAITHÍ, plus Toronto's Peach, Australian DJ HAAi, Leeds duo Prospa and local DJ Cromby will now also perform at FF19.

Pillow Queens - Gay Girls

Tickets are on sale now via www.ticketmaster.ie