First We Take Monaghan...

At a time when bands who have only had two ramshackle rehearsals under the belts seem to have a MySpace page, Adam Brennan was shocked to discover that none of the new indie bands he met in Monaghan had a web presence, or even know how to go about establishing one.

“They seemed to be totally lost, with no idea about how to go about even the simple task of trying to get a gig,” he says. “A lot of them wouldn’t know even how to go about getting a gig at the Backroom Sessions in Navan or contacting Derek Turner at The Spirit Store in Dundalk. Some don’t even have an e-mail address. We’re hoping to change all that, not just in Monaghan town but all over the county. What the area really needs is somebody to drive things forward. There seems to be nobody in the area who can help local bands make the contacts they need if they’re to progress their careers.”
For many years, Cavan-Monaghan was synonymous with country and Irish acts like Big Tom, but Brennan believes that’s changed.
“Monaghan town has a very good blues scene with an annual festival that sources bands in Mississippi and Tennessee. Much of its success was down to Shamie McKenna who owns The Brewery, the venue we use. But blues music doesn’t appeal to the younger age group. I think there’s a niche there for us to step into, targeting a younger audience with their own music. There used to a strong metal element, but up to now we had to source indie bands from Dublin, as the scene had become stale. But lots of good indie rock bands and college bands will emerge if the scene is given a bit of encouragement, and we hope to provide that.”
To encourage nascent Cavan-Monaghan talent, Brennan adopted a policy of attracting acts from Dublin to play in the area, and then giving a support slot to a local outfit.
“Some of the local groups have no experience whatsoever,” he explains, “so by linking them with a more advanced band we hope they’ll learn from them and start becoming a bit more self-motivated. Dirty Epics were very helpful to local bands with advice and so on.”
The Monaghan-based John Strong has impressed many with his debut album and the single ‘Bring It On Home’, and Brennan reckons there are others worthy of our attention.
“Aisling McCormilla used to be in a band called Bad Dog, but she gigs as a solo act and with her own band now. She has lots of potential. Shiversaint from Monaghan are now based in Dublin and I believe they’ll do a lot for the cause too. The next big event in the area will be Saccade doing a charity gig for us at The Brewery on June 21 and they’re managed by Monaghan man Chris Leonard. We’ve also got Dominican Affair and Jezz, the band lead by the dynamic Mark Clerkin.”
Apart from The Brewery, which can cater for about 120 people, Brennan also heaps praise on the Iontas Theatre in Castleblayney, where bands like The Walls have played, although it’s probably a bit too big for fledgling local acts. On the recording front there’s Attic Studios, run by Tommy Flack and where John Strong recorded his album, and there’s rehearsal space available in St Macartan’s College in Monaghan town.
“I’m also hoping to persuade Shamie to allow The Brewery to be used as a rehearsal space at some times during the week,” Brennan says, while admitting that the situation is less positive re local radio.
“The only station is Northern Sound, and they really don’t cover any of the indie genre,” he reckons.
Brennan hopes to extend his area of activities into Cavan.
“At the moment there doesn’t seem to be very much happening in Cavan, so we’re planning to look at that situation maybe next year, and we’re considering moving part of our operation over there.”