The inside track

It is said when one door closes another one opens... Cork Rocks brings an injection of life into the local live circuit just when we must bid farewell to one of its shining lights... The Lobby. Over the years the venue played host to an impressive collection of artists. RTE recently recorded a tribute show due to be broadcast in the next few weeks featuring such luminaries as Mundy, Damien Dempsey, John Spillane, Bell X1 and Sonny Condell. Also involved were natives Stanley Super 800 who have just arrived back from London where they played some shows in Kentish Town and Hoxton. The band are starting work on the new album in Blue Monkey Studios in Bandon next week. It will be released in early 2006.
One of the last shows in The Lobby was a blistering performance from local act Fred who have recently returned from a productive week in Ballydehob getting the tunes underway for the next album. One in particular, ‘The Lights Are With Us’ has been described as “the Beach Boys meets the Frank and Walters”. They release the final single from the wonderful Making Music So You Don’t Have To album on Oct 21. Will keep you posted on tour dates... ... .
Along with Stanley Super 800 and Fred, Defect are part of the Cork contingent that will play at this year’s Hard Working Class Heroes festival at the end of August. The latest offering The Dead Silence EP is to go on sale in September and there will be plenty of live action in support of the release.
Also on HWCH duty are Lotus Lullaby who are finishing work on their new Push EP – eager fans should be able to procure a copy at any upcoming live show.
People’s Republic tunesmith Bill Coleman also makes an appearance at the festival. At the moment Bill is busy working on the I’ll Tear My Own Walls Down album which is due to be unleashed in the new year.
Fellow Corkonian John Leo Carter has returned to the domestic festival circuit after a busy spring touring the Netherlands and Sweden. He is currently recording a new long-player No Monsters Only Toys‚ which will be released in the New Year. This is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed first album Candy Floss Girl.
On another foreign note, Rulers Of The Planet are jetting to Germany for a festival appearance in Mannheim (outside Frankfurt) at the behest of three record labels and their publishing company, Jewel DC Publishing. According to band sources their arrival is eagerly anticipated by tour agents and festival headliners In Extremo, who are keen to take the Rulers on tour in Germany.
And finally on an animated note... Cartoon are taking their unique sound to Santander on August 12 and the Suances Music Festival in Torrelavego on August 13 in the north of Spain. The debut album is almost complete and due for an October release.
John Leo, Rulers and Cartoon are also playing at HWCH – check www.hwch.net for times and venues.