Now the dust has settled after the Live At The Marquee shows, the exciting news from the People’s Republic is the release of ‘City Friend’, top new tune from Ian Whitty and the Exchange. The track is taken from lauded debut confection The Lucky Caller No.9. Impressively, the record was produced by Ken McHugh (David Kitt, Autamata) and mastered in Los Angeles by Dave Collins, who’s worked with Bruce Springsteen and Jane’s Addiction. Previous singles ‘Not On Your Side’ and ‘Houndstooth Shirt’ garnered rave reviews.

Since their emergence, the band have been very active on the Cork scene, often sharing musicians with Armoured Bear and Stanley Super 800. Members of local heroes Fred contributed to the new recording…

Portlaoise indie faves The Perfect Skins launch their new single ‘Lost Control’ in Whelan’s on July 16. Support on the night comes from JD Set winners and my new favourite band Camogie Lovers. It’s the second single to be taken from their current album A Reconstructed View.

The video can be viewed on www.myspace.com/perfectskins and was shot on a remote bogland in the heart of Laois by local film-maker Brian Flanagan.

The band were recently playlisted on Chilean radio station Bravo FM, as well as being voted Best Up-And-Coming Act by UK independent station Fresh Unsigned.

The Perfect Skins are also lined up to play at this year’s Lughnasa festival in Rathangan, County Kildare alongside The Waterboys and Mundy on Sunday August 2…

Galwayman and South Korea resident Jimmy Bowens has just made his new album This Used To Be The Way Home available on CDBaby and iTunes. Having drawn favourable comparisons with Iron And Wine and Bon Iver, the ex-pat returns home this summer to tour the longplayer. Check hotpress.com for date announcements…

Brian Cullen’s Love Bullets release their highly anticipated third EP Otherwise It Will Be This Way Forever on July 17 on the independent CPR label. The Dublin-based threesome recorded the opus with Shane Cullen in K9 Studios in Deansgrange. The art direction and graphic design was provided by David Donohoe (Studiomime/D1 Records). Pop along to Road Records, City Discs, Plug’d or Tower to get your mitts on a copy at the meagre cost of €5…

Dublin five-piece Tupelo, who peddle an intoxicating blend of folk/bluegrass/rock‘n’roll, have an exciting schedule. They play Eugene’s Bar in Tullamore on July 19 as part of the Tullamore Phoenix Festival, support the legendary Booker T in Vicar St. the following night, and then head to Knockan Stockan over the August Bank Holiday. Ones to watch indeed…

Wexford man Niall Colfer releases a new single, ‘Blind Eye’, through Dublin independent 1969 Records on July 31. Like its predecessor, ‘After All That’s Happened’, its culled from his Finds album. The track was recorded in Sun Studios and co-produced by Gareth Mannix…

In other single release news, Little Palace have just unleashed ‘Secret’ from their wonderful confection Invitation Time. The new track features a guest performance by Frames man Colm Mac Con Iomaire. You can catch the band live at Oldcastle’s Le Cheile Festival on August 8…

The band have already released two very successful EPs, debut Beekeeper which featured the song ‘Gift’ produced by Dead Can Dance mainman Brendan Perry, and the follow-up Car. Both were accompanied by extensive touring of Ireland, several dates in the US and some shows in Paris. If Invitation Time does not have pride of place in your CD collection – shame on you!