Hip to be Squares

Stop what you are doing right now and go straight to myspace.com/notsquares and listen to excellent new single ‘Asylum’! Suitably impressed? Okay, read on...
Not Squares have been creating a buzz of late and there’s plenty more to come. Last year saw the Belfast act release debut single ‘Aye Yo Pa’/’IUUSIT’ to much acclaim. They also wowed Latitude, Leeds and Reading festivals in Britain. Having recently completed a BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale session, the guys are looking forward to the release of their debut album in May with the Dublin-based Richter Collective. Fantastic stuff!!!!!
In other fantastic-stuff news, We Cut Corners have a batch of live dates coming up (hurrah!). They play Upstairs at Whelan’s on March 2 with Ross Breen, the main room on March 19 with Yes Cadets and can be found being brilliant in Twisted Pepper on March 25, with Last Days Of Death County and Supermodel Twins. Then, on April 22, they're back in Whelan's with Windings…
Meath’s Simon Fagan is putting the finishing touches to his debut album, scheduled for release May 14. The as-yet-untitled opus features a performance by Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (!) and arrangements by the uber-talented Brian Byrne (Van Morrison, Bono, The Corrs, Jamie Cullum, Alanis Morisette). To whet appetites, fans can look forward to the digital release of lead single ‘Damn Honey’ on March 5. Check hotpress.com for upcoming live dates…
Revolution For Dogs release new single ‘Tommy’ / ‘Camp X-Ray’ on March 1. This track is taken from their debut album due in early May.
The band have been busy in the studio over the last few months with producer Liam Mulvaney (The Radio).
Impressively, their last single, ‘Save Me’, is being used in US short film Mercy Kill. And ‘Home’ was chosen to feature in Prinsessa, a Swedish film which premiered at the International Rome Film Festival last October…
Kilkenny’s Saving J are preparing for the imminent unveiling of their debut UK single ‘Indication Street’, having signed a deal with British PR company Lander. A recent batch of London dates went down a storm, so hopes are high.
Last year’s debut longplayer This City Street got a great response at home as did radio hits such as ‘Bus Stop’, ‘ABC’ and ‘Valentine’. Fingers crossed they can repeat the success in Blighty…
Tipperary’s Jester unleash new single ‘Faces’ on March 26. The track follows on from previous releases ‘Scream’ and ‘Maria’. The former made the IRMA Singles Top 20 and the latter topped the www.downloadmusic.ie chart for two weeks.
They also emerged victorious from the 2009 Sea Sessions Irish Unsigned Act Competition. The five-piece are currently recording their debut album. Will keep you posted...
Kildare outfit King Modo (Paul Keogh and Lenny Cahill) have released their Led Zepp-influenced self-titled debut album. Recorded in their home town last summer, it was mastered by the legendary Robyn Robins. Check them out on www.myspace.com/kingmodo…
In other self-titled debut album news Identity Parade’s first LP hits the streets on March 12. Download single ‘When You Go’, available now on iTunes, is a taster. To mark the occasion, the Dublin indie rockers play The Sugar Club with Sixteen Layers on February 27. Nationwide dates will be announced shortly...
Fans of the colourfully-titled Storybooks For Small Dogs have a batch of upcoming live dates to look forward to... the power pop trio support Finley Quaye in The Village on February 27 and play The Sail Inn in Shercock, Cavan the following night. They headline Whelans on March 16 before supporting The Chapters in The Spirit Store on March 25.
The band’s debut EP sparked much interest as tours, festivals, management, PR and record deals are currently being negotiated. Watch this space…