Where The Magic Happens

F or most, your sleeping quarters are a sanctuary, somewhere to crash, watch a DVD, a floor waiting to be littered with old socks and undergarments. A place where not a whole lot is achieved, essentially. For Ireland’s freshest talent, however, the last few years have seen it become a potential stage, a launch pad for a career in music. It’s all thanks to Red Bull and their innovative Bedroom Jam, an online battle of the bands with a diff erence. Drawing ingeniously on social media, the Bedroom Jam website allows any young, homegrown act to create a profi le, upload their music and mobilise their fanbase. From there, it’s a popularity contest gauged on the all-important Buzz Chart, which takes into account video views and comments, as well as activity on the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.
The aim is to become one of the six top bands over the course of 12 weeks, and the rewards are defi nitely worth the eff ort. Half a dozen artists who hit the top are paid a visit by the Bedroom Jam team and filmed live from the comfort of their own homes (no doubt having made the bed and smartened the place up fi rst), with the gigs streamed globally each fortnight. It is perhaps the ultimate example of the mass exposure unsigned acts can get around the world with a little hard work and a whole load of talent. From your bedroom to the world, in an instant.
This select few move on to the Festival Chart (including up to four wildcard bands from an
esteemed panel of judges), allowing fans to vote for the band they most want to see on this summer’s festival circuit. A chosen three are then off ered much coveted live slots at many of the biggest Irish festivals, taking them out of the house and into a field filled with thousands of enthused revellers. Speaking at this year’s launch in the Workman’s Club, Sea Sessions’ Tanya Gold commented: “What we’re looking for out of Red Bull Bedroom Jam is the next big thing. The next big Irish band that maybe we just don’t know about yet.” One of this year’s judges, broadcaster Stuart Bailie, echoed her sentiments. “It’s going to be really fun to see if something really special’s going to come out, that’ you’ve not really seen or heard the like of before. There’s an exciting couple of months ahead of us now trying to fi nd something exceptional.” Thus far, as we reach the midway point, his hopes have more than come to fruition. Bundoran band Stonefree were the fi rst act through the door. Since the Red Bull team’s initial trip up North, they’ve been hitting other corners of the country, next heading south to Dingle to capture acoustic rock fi ve- piece Walking On Cars in their natural habitat. Now pop-punkers Icons Of Fire, led by Graham Dowling
– who recently featured on The Voice Of Ireland
– have had the crew hopping in the van once more
and heading Mullingar-wards.
There are three live webcasts left up for grabs, and the hopefuls need your help. Head to
www. redbullbedroomjam.ie now to check out the wide array of fantastic tunes and fi nd your favourite artist, the one you’re willing to back all the way to the summer season and beyond. Of those still in the running, Mayo’s Social Welfare have been making a strong showing. Formed in 2010, each of the fi ve members earned their stripes in previous outfi ts, making them a tight live proposition. Drawing on crowd pleasers such as Kings Of Leon and our own
legendary Thin Lizzy, they’ve supported Delorentos and The Rubberbandits on their steady rise to renown. As their name suggests, a pick-me-up in troubled times. Elsewhere, you’ll fi nd The Willows, hailing from the sunny south-east. The Waterford band have only been playing together since October, but have already wowed crowds in their neck of the woods with their brand of alternative folk. Their exquisite harmonies have drawn comparison to Fleet Foxes, whilst they themselves have a certain fondness for the dreaminess of Mazzy Star. Their debut EP, Long Time Listener, is now recorded and will be available free of charge. Another one to watch is Hermitage Green, an unorthodox proposition formed by fi ve close friends in the back of an old Limerick pub over the winter of 2010. Last summer saw widespread circulation of a clutch of their Youtube covers, winning them support slots with the likes of The Saw Doctors, The Stunning and Sharon Shannon at the 2011 Rose Of Tralee Festival. The next step was coming up with strong original material, which they’ve pulled off with aplomb, their track ‘Gibson’ going on to receive national airplay on Today FM. Employing banjos, dobros, bodhrans and four part vocal harmonies, Heritage Green are crying out to be seen on stage. Right now, the fate of each is up to you. With three webcasts still up for grabs, the six will be whittled down to a fi nal three, ready to take on the summer. September brings the live fi nal, with the ultimate winner getting the chance of a life time – the opportunity to record in one of the state-of- the-art Red Bull studios around the world with a top producer. It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Now it’s time to take those dreams out of the bedroom and
make them a reality.