Expect sparks (and lots of other wonderful things) to fly as The Live Stage at Music Ireland ’06 plays host to some of hotpress’ favourite acts.
All Music Ireland ’06 ticket-holders get free entry to the gigs, which underline the diverse and vibrant nature of the live music scene here at the moment. And make sure you get there early – Saturday kicks off with a set from The Blizzards, who are one of the hottest new Irish bands of the decade so far. But then there’s a lot of great stuff going down at the moment, as the Irish new wave goes from strength to strength.
Here’s how the action unfolds…

Saturday

1.30pm THE BLIZZARDS
Fronted by former Leinster rugby player Niall Breslin, the Mullingar ska-pop merchants have just scored a Top 5 Irish hit with their A Public Display Of Affection album. Produced by Hole, Korn and Soundgarden man Michael Beinhorn, it’s rightly been hailed as one of the great Irish debuts.

2.30pm HOTPRESS LIVE STAGE BAND WINNER
Log on to hotpress.com now to vote for who you think should appear on this slot!

3.30pm SHAZ OYE
Released at the start of 2006, Truth According To Shaz OYE confirms its maker as a songwriter of rare eloquence and originality. Justifiably mentioned in the same breath as Nina Simone and Antony Hegarty, it’s sure to feature in a many a year’s end album poll.

3.45pm ROYSEVEN
Purveyors of the most anthemic rock you’ll hear this or any other year, Royseven opened their Irish chart account in October with the exquisitely crafted The Art Of Insincerity, which debuted at No.17 in the Irish album charts.

4.30pm TARA BLAISE
A contender for the title of Hardest Working Woman In Irish Rock, Blaise followed the Spanish release of her Dancing On Tables Barefoot album this year by taking a key role in the stage version of Jeff Wayne’s The War Of The Worlds. Whether solo or part of an ensemble, the former Kaydee singer has a voice to die for.

5.30pm DAVE COUSE AND THE IMPOSSIBLE
The legendary A House man has won a whole new legion of fans with his latest album, The World Should Know. Also getting an airing will be ‘Endless Art 06’, the intriguing update of his ‘90s classic.

Sunday

1.30pm SUPERJIMENEZ
There was a massive number of applicants when Hot Press offered two Irish acts the chance to play on the Live Stage at Music Ireland ‘06. SuperJimenez have been awarded the first slot, while the second is currently being decided by public vote on hotpress.com. Based in Dublin, SuperJimenez have already showed what they’re capable of with their lethally addictive ‘Hellicopters’ single.

2.30pm BOSS VOLENTI
A spectacularly hard-rocking Dublin quartet, whose eponymous debut album has been favourably compared to the likes of Thin Lizzy and Led Zeppelin. With former Therapy? man Graham Hopkins on drums, they really don’t take any prisoners.

3.30pm THE IMMEDIATE
The Dublin quartet have made a strong bid for ‘Irish Album of the Year’ with In Towers & Clouds, a wonderfully original collection of songs released through Fantastic Plastic in the UK, that includes U2 among its legion of admirers.

4.30pm DIRECTOR
If it wasn’t for those pesky Killers, the Dublin five-piece would have topped the Irish charts in October with their superb We Thrive On Big Cities album. With the lead single, ‘Reconnect’, rarely off the radio, it really has been their year.