The Hitching Hour

Starting this issue with some blast from the past news! Domestic darlings of the late ‘80s, legendary Limerick act The Hitchers have just released their 20th anniversary single ‘Austin Cusack’. Fans will be delighted to hear that the track features all members from the last incarnation of the band as well as Eoin O’Kelly and Brendan McCormack from the early '90s line-up.
They hit the road in support of the release this month. You catch them live in The Spirit Store, Dundalk (February 18); The Roisin Dubh, Galway (19); and Baker Place, Limerick (20)...
Cork’s The Grunts are also out on the gig circuit to mark the release of their third EP Party Weirdo. They play Triskel’s Caroline Street Gallery, Cork on February 13, pop up to Whelan’s on February 25 (support from The Shed and The Vagabonds) and visit Crane Lane, Cork on March 4.
This release follows on from two well-received EPs, 2008’s Every Strange Trip and last year’s Crawl Right Back. Hotly-anticipated longplayer Reflections In My Mirror Shades should be with us in May...
Galway’s Ultan Conlon releases his second single, ‘The Universe Tune’, on February 18. It's taken from acclaimed debut album Bless Your Heart. Conlon has built up a strong fanbase over the last few years and impressively counts the late John Martyn (with whom he toured on many occasions) amongst his admirers. Martyn’s version of Ultan’s track ‘Really Gone’ was his last release.
Catch him live on his latest domestic jaunt – see hotpress.com for details...
Dublin’s Von Shakes have just unleashed new download-only single, ‘The Routine’. The song is the title-track from their forthcoming album and was produced by Conor Brady (The Blades, The Revenants) and mixed by Phil Hayes of Bell X1 and Delorentos fame. The band have built up a strong live following on the domestic circuit and are also pulling the crowds in Germany, the UK and Russia...
Singer-songwriter Mark O’Sullivan, aka Goatboy, has launched debut EP, Moon After Yule. The Dubliner made his live debut supporting KT Tunstall on her Irish jaunt last year.
The latest release was recorded in bedrooms from Dublin to Norway and is available in Road Records...
Sad news from the Tidal District camp… the quintet have decided to go their separate ways. With two EPs and a single under their belt, the band bade a sad goodbye at their final live show in Crawdaddy recently. Their parting gift? Excellent final EP, In Like A Lion. The gem was recorded and mixed in Dublin and Wexford at the end of last year and mastered by Fred Kevorkian (The National, Ryan Adams, The White Stripes)...
Tallaght outfit Neon Stars are gearing up to unleash debut EP, Never Seen It Coming. The release gets an official launch on February 13 in Crawdaddy with support from The Looks and Harrows. The opus was recorded in Pulse Recording Studios and mastered by Fergal Davies...
Also paying a visit to Crawdaddy are French/Irish act Kat Cross & Talkative. The February 24 visit is part of a five-date Irish tour (check hotpress.com for info).
The band – two French musicians and two Waterford natives – featured on Tricky’s Back To Mine compilation.
The upcoming dates mark the release of second long-player Déjà Vu, which follows lauded debut Work In Progress.
Louth’s Highway 67 Events has come up trumps again with another fine showcase event in The Spirit Store, Dundalk on February 12. Local acts Redtwelve, Crafty Crimson Cats and Pipstrelle share the stage with Dublin’s Chapman Society for what promises to be an evening of top notch entertainment. Tickets are a mere fiver.