The Inside Track: Picnic Perfect

The Irish contingent will be out in force at Electric Picnic this year. Mercury nominee Fionn Regan leads a stellar cast including Channel One, Dave Couse, Delorentos, Duke Special, The Dublin Gospel Choir, Oppenheimer, The Undertones and many more. BellX1 man Dave Geraghty will be wowing the Picnic crowds for the first time as a solo artist. ‘Kaleidoscope’, the second single from the album Kill Your Darlings is released on September 7. In addition to his live show on the Crawdaddy Stage he plays DeBarras, Cork on September 23, the following night in the Roisin Dubh, Galway, Whelan's, Dublin on September 27 and Dolan's, Limerick on September 29.
In other single release news, Hybrasil release their third single ‘San Fran’ digitally on September 14. It's from their forthcoming long-player The Monkey Pole, due September 7. Tour dates to be announced...
More immediate is the release of Paul Hourican’s new single ‘All I Ever Wanted’ which hits the streets on August 24. He plays The Village on September 8 and has a slew of dates supporting Aslan on their nationwide tour too. No stranger to prestigious support slots Paul has been on the road with Damien Rice who invited him on tour on listening to his demo. He has spent the past four years gigging in New York and London and recently returned to record his debut album, the forthcoming Let The Enemy In. The video for the new single is directed by acclaimed Belfast director Stephen Mullan and stars Cora Venus Lunny...
The bands for the third and fourth hotpress First Cuts gigs at Wexford Arts Centre have been announced. The Citizen and Alanalda have bagged the support slots for the gig on Friday September 21, while solo artist Michael Whelan and The Arrangements will take to the stage for the gig on Bank Holiday Monday October 29. Local heroes Chaplin headline both gigs…
Belfast’s Limelight is the place to be on August 23 when local boys The Dangerfields take to the stage. It’s been a good year for the band who were personally invited by Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers to join them on their historic 30th Anniversary Ireland and UK tour. Support on the night comes from Saint Dude, whose self-professed ‘Scumbag Rock ‘n’ Roll’ has to be seen to be believed. Expect bad jokes and ludicrous props aplenty from Nice ‘N’ Sleezy, who recently won the BBC ATL Rock School….
On another live note The Sugar Club plays host to the third in the series of the LiveInYourLivingRoom events on August 23 featuring The Radio and Justin Manville…
Dublin four-piece Brian Cullen's Love Bullets have just released their debut EP Ask For Directions. The band comprises Stephen Cadwell, Paul Pentony, Rachel Dowling and Enda Callan. The CD was recorded by Tommy O’Sullivan of Estel fame…
Another local release is the debut single from The Mysterious Chords, ‘Drink The Water’ from their debut album due for release later this year. The band was formed in 2002 by Pat Fagan who is also a teacher and director at the Dublin School Of Guitar – expect faultless axe work! They have built up quite a healthy live following, the bands melodic tunes and vocal harmonies proving quite the hit with audiences.