In our last issue, I lavished praise on local imprint Subplot Records. It’s a reflection of the health of the domestic scene that I start this issue raving about two more indie labels, Any Other City and Out On A Limb.
AOC will be releasing a four-track sampler on Jan 29, featuring tracks from Hired Hands, Tender Trap, Feed The Bears and New Amusment. As if that’s not enough excitement for you on January 30 in Whelan’s the label launches a new regular club night which will take place on the last Saturday of every month and features bands on the label performing live and DJing!!
AOC wunderband Villagers are currently busy putting the finishing touches to their debut album due out before the summer. Recent single ‘On A Sunlit Stage’ garnered rave reviews and the guys have just returned from an uber-successful appearance at Eurosonic...
The very wonderful Out On A Limb Records have a series of gig nights coming up around the country. On Feb 4 in the Roisin Dubh in Galway you can enjoy the sonic adventures of Ten Past Seven, Hooray For Humans and Crayonsmith. The following night in Dolans Rest, Crayonsmith and Cities take to the stage and on February 26 the Quad bar in Cork plays host to Crayonsmith, Windings and Guilty Optics...
Windings support electro-pop-folk act At Last An Atlas at his album launch for From Which You Were Raised upstairs in Whelans on February 6. This follows on from 2009’s split album with Paul O’Reilly Ships Leaving...
In other Whelan’s news but on a sad note... local luminaries Alphastates play their last ever show in the venue on February 18. Expect sonic treats aplenty on the night featuring tracks from last year’s Karl Odlum-produced confection Human Nature. Support comes from The DC Experiment...
New from the west next... Galway native Noelie McDonnell has just released his third album, Come Alive, recorded over the past year in Austin, Texas and Toronto, Canada.
Over the last four years, since the release of his self-titled debut , Noelie has toured extensively throughout Europe playing on bills with Luka Bloom, John Martyn, Eddi Reader and Greg Brown. He will tour Europe and America in support of the album this year and has upcoming dates in the UK and Ireland during February. Check hotpress.com for details...
Electro post-punks Sounds Of System Breakdown release their self-titled album in The Village on Saturday January 30, with support from Betamax Format and Angkor Wat. The lead single from the album, 'Vinegar Joe', is available as a free download from www.soundsofsystembreakdown.com...
Virtuoso guitarist Stefan Galt’s blues/jazz/country-tinged long-player Before That I Did This has just hit the streets. Stefan was previously a member of instrumental group Six Degrees. His decision to pursue a solo career paid off in 2008 when he beat off strong competition to land the Young Guitarist Competition in the Walton’s Guitar festival Of Ireland. To catch Stefan in action pop along to Le Cirq in Dame Street, Dublin every Thursday in February...
Dublin funk combo Heroes In Hiding have just unleashed debut EP Lies at a packed show in Whelan’s. The six-piece have built up a strong live following over their short existence and have shared the stage with Republic Of Loose, Concerto For Constantine, Codes, Jaded Sun and Fighting With Wire to name but a few. Check out the video for ‘Lies’ on www.myspace.com/heroesinhidingmusic...
Fellow Dubliners Saccade unveil new single ‘See How They Fly’ the follow up to ‘Last Tango’ on February 26. The nugget is the second single to be taken from their as-yet-untitled forthcoming album due for release this summer. The band will be playing a number of dates nationwide in support of the release and also battle it out in the first heat of the Cork leg of the JD Set in The Pavillion on Feb 19. Best of luck lads!