We flagged them as ones to watch in 2007 and they’re still going from strength to strength - Cork’s Hooray For Humans (pictured) have just put the finishing touches to a new single which is due for a March release on 7-inch vinyl through Hideaway Records. The band return to the gig circuit at the end of February before heading to the UK for some more live action at the end of March. If their wonderful long-player Safekeeping is not amongst your most cherished possessions you can crawl back under your rock…
Dubliner Thomas Kitt officially launches his album Kitt Happens on February 8 in Whelans. The album contains 12 beautifully crafted songs, influenced by Townes van Zandt, George Jones and Johnny Cash. Drawing comparisons with Guy Clark and early Dylan, Thomas has built up a loyal following on the live circuit over the last three years. This show promises not to disappoint…
‘What You Deserve’, the brand new single from Irish songstress ODi, will be released on February 29 as a digital download through Littlest Mojo Recordings. Building on the success of debut release ‘Crawl’, the Wexford native, now based in Leeds, spent much of 2007 on the road in the UK and Ireland. Her growing reputation led to an invitation to support Seth Lakeman at the Beverley Folk Festival last year. She returns to her homeland to play Thomas Reads on Feb 27 with more dates to be confirmed. She then goes into the studio to put the finishing touches to follow-up EP 'A Superman' with local legend Ken McHugh at the controls…
Another date for the diary is February 22 when Dublin pop punk combo Nine IX Lives play a headline gig in Crawdaddy. In the last few months the band supported The Undertones in Tripod and completed a small Irish tour with Welsh ska mob 3 Minute Warning. More recently they supported Florida pop funksters New Found Glory on a Dublin date…
After a blistering support slot to the amazing Fight Like Apes in Whelan’s a few months ago, Grand Pocket Orchestra have been turning heads themselves of late with their unique blend of indie-pop and art-rock. The band were one of the lucky Hot Press Tisch winners last year and recently signed with Fifa Records. Impressively, they feature on a new US compilation entitled Future Sounds. February 1 sees the release of their debut EP which will be followed by a slew of nationwide live dates and gigs in the UK and Germany…
The King Kong Club Winners 2007, The Tonics, release their debut single on February 2. The Dublin four-piece launch ‘You Don’t Know Me’ at The Sugar Club that night. The track is a digital download release, available through www.sonicpollen.com…
The Urges were pinching themselves recently when the legendary Steve Van Zandt of E-Street Band and Sopranos fame declared their song ‘I Gotta Wait’ to be “the coolest song in the world” on his Underground Garage radio show. The show is archived at www.littlestevensundergroundgarage.com
You can add to The Urges’ delight by helping them secure a return slot at one of their fave events, The Primitive Festival in Rotterdam. The organisers maintain no act can play twice, but this year they are conducting an online poll where you can vote for bands who you want to see again. If you log onto www.primitive-festival.nl and vote, the band would be very grateful indeed!

For live updates tune into The Last Splash, Sunday nights 8-10, with Alison Curtis on Today FM (email: [email protected])