Pug of love

As the season of goodwill is nearly upon us let us start this issue with news of a charitable nature.
Firstly, Pugwash release a festive ditty ‘Tinsel And Marzipan’ on December 5 on 1969 Records. All proceeds will go to BRAINWAVE (www.epilepsy.ie). The single features an impressive list of helpers in the form of Neil Hannon, Mundy, Dave Gregory (XTC), Eric Matthews (Cardinal) and Boss Volenti’s Graham Hopkins. The single also includes ‘Lullaby #1’ from the the wonderful long-player Jollity.
Dublin’s Reemo are gearing up for another Christmas Charity Gig following on from last year’s success which raised over €1000. This year’s venue has still to be confirmed as has the charity but the boys are open to suggestions. Get in touch by emailing [email protected] or contacting Alan Connolly at 087 916 0070. More details to come next issue.
The Guggenheim Grotto have been very busy of late finishing their US tour. Their track ‘Vertigo’ featured on the episode of ABC’ s Six Degrees (from the producers of Lost and Alias) which was screened on November 5. Also, ‘A Lifetime In Heat’ is nominated for best song in the Independent Music Awards’ singer/songwriter category. This years judges include Peter Gabriel, Suzanne Vega, Fat Boy Slim, McCoy Tyner and Ozzy Ozbourne. Best of luck!
Whilst touring the States recently the band recorded an in-studio session at New York’s WFUV http://www.wfuv.org for The Whole Wide World with Rita Houston. The programme aired will be rebroadcast on November 21 at 9pm. You can also log on to http://www.ufomusic.com/downloads/TGG_WFUV_10.16.06.mp3 to listen to the session.
Belfast’s Leya play two London shows at The Water Rats in this month, on November 21 and 27. The first date is a support slot to Clocks and the second is a headline show. In January 2007 they go into the studio with producer Chris Potter (credits include The Verve, Richard Ashcroft, Blur, Rolling Stones, The Feeling and Keane) to record the bands’ next two singles.
Meath’s Linda Coogan has been going from strength to strength of late, she was recently awarded Demo Of The Fortnight by our own Jackie Hayden and stayed at the number one spot on Roddy Cleere’s WLRFM chart for four weeks in a row! Over the next few weeks she will be busy writing three soundtracks for a UK production company. Linda is set to play a slew of live dates over the next few weeks including a spot in the Emergenza festival on the November 25. Her album Holding Back is due for release in March 2007 after a Valentines day single release.
And finally some news from Derry-based trio Spectator who have been extremely busy in their short lifespan. Following a few months of intensive gigging they are due to go back into the studio to record their second EP. The new opus is said to be a “natural progression” sonically from their acclaimed debut ‘3 Track’. The band hope to release the offering in the next few weeks and will showcase their new material at a gig in Sandino’s on November 16 with Derry grunge outfit Shortlist.