Congrats go out from all at HP Towers to Kerry-based noise merchants Ten Past Seven, who have successfully reached their goal of raising enough money to record their new album in the hallowed Black Box studios in France. 161 different people came forward to assist the band in achieving their dream.

In the last issue of Hot Press, we reported on [link]www.fundit.ie[/link], Ireland's newest crowd-funding website. Ten Past Seven are just one of many Irish artists to benefit from appealing to the public for donations to get their dream projects off the ground. With just over an hour to go, it was looking like the guys might just miss out on their desired €5000, but at the last minute the final necessary amount of money was pledged. Not a bad way to kick-start the weekend!

"We're just delighted that what we set out to achieved has been achieved,", gushed guitarist Rory O'Brien. "We're so glad that people got involved and that their contributions created the next step for this band. It's going to be as rewarding for them as it is for us. It's all systems go now, we're actually sorting out the flights right now!"

With a week of recording planned at the end of the month, we at Hot Press are keen to hear the finished product. Congratulations also go out to Nina Hynes, whose Goldmine project also hurtled over the finish line in time, thanks to the 216 people who helped fund the ambitious undertaking.