Soon to be the jewel in the crown of treasured Dublin-based label Rubyworks are Leya. The Belfast-based act follow recent signing Nigel Mooney into the creative stable with a three-album deal, the first of which is due for a summer 2005 release, In their three-year history the band have supported such high-profile acts as Relish, Lifehouse, Ambulance LTD and by special request, Interpol. Catch them live when they appear as special guests to Embrace in the Ulster Hall, Belfast on April 19 and the Olympia, Dublin on April 20…
Following nationwide dates as part of La Quiete’s Irish Tour, Thread Pulls are playing at the Vibrator club night in The Globe in Dublin at the end of the month. They have also completed an interview with Across the Line (BBC Radio Ulster) in Belfast. Will keep you posted on date of broadcast…
Continuing on a broadcast theme Athlone rockers Bunny have released a radio only single ‘Drowning In The Loud’, taken from their debut album Slick Corporate Music…
In other release news, Jackalfeud are proud to announce the release of their second, most accomplished recording to date. The demo ‘The Distance Between Us And Nowhere’ is now available for purchase through the band’s official site, www.jackalfeud.com or alternatively at any show. Recorded at Manor Park, the demo features six new tracks, with artwork courtesy of Jack Dixon at Alaska Designs…
The People’s Republic is soon to be the source of a few new sonic offerings…Stanley Super 800 will be releasing the ‘2 Hours Late’ EP on April 1. This co-incides with an Irish tour taking in Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Dundalk, Killarney, Waterford and Tralee.
Annette Buckley is set to release her debut album (following her previous six-track EP), The Ever Changing Colour Of The Sea, which ranges from Portishead trip hop through Kate Bush to Cat Power.
Local post-rockers Rest appear on two of the tracks and she takes part in the Songsmiths tour in April with Ger Wolfe, John Leo Carter and Gavin Moore . . . more info on www.annettebuckley.com…
Another lady doing well for herself is Elaine K. Elaine has beaten off stiff competition to secure a place among the finalists in the folk category of The John Lennon Song Contest 2005. The track chosen ‘I Will Not Fight Your War’ is taken from the long-player As Is.
…Also garnering recognition on an impressive scale are The Chalets who will shortly have a song featured on the CD soundtrack to the new Owen Williams film The Wedding Crashers. The Meteor Award winners have been featured every Tuesday during March on RTE Radio 1’s Mystery Train with John Kelly – you may just be in time to catch the final installment. The next planned release for the Dublin quintet will be a new single in April (with their debut album to follow). A new online home is currently being built at www.thechalets.com…
Finally, best of luck to The Handsum Binmen, Fired for Theft, The Angels of Mons and The Delorentos, who will be competing in the National Student Music Awards Final in the Temple Bar Music Centre on March 30. The final decision lies with a panel of ten industry judges which will include members of the media, record companies and musicians – a tough decision given the level of talent involved!

For live updates tune into The Last Splash, Sunday nights 9-11, with Alison Curtis on Today FM
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