The Inside Track: Women on the verge

Gemma Hayes, Cathy Davey, Claire Sproule, Laura Izibor, Fair Verona – the list of ladies flying the flag for women in music on the domestic scene could go on and on. But, having only a limited space to look at what’s going on, we have to pick just a few. For starters, Shaz Oye recently launched her Radio-Live Tour with a live performance and interview on RTE 1’s Rattlebag. The tour will see Shaz performing live on radio shows across the country. Pit-stops include Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Westmeath, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Clare. The sessions will be recorded and released in February as a limited edition bonus CD to accompany her debut long-player.
The album will be previewed at an intimate gig, on December 8th, at The Oriental Room at Bewley’s Café Theatre. Tickets are limited and likely to sell out quickly, so make your reservation by phoning 086 8784001 or email [email protected]. Shaz also plays two dates supporting the wonderful Hazel O’Connor, the first on November 20th at Dolan’s, Limerick and the second on November 23 in An Cruiscin Lan, Cork.
Also performing recently on RTE – television on this occasion – was Julie Feeney. The Galway artist sang ‘Aching’ on John Kelly’s The View. Julie is quite busy recording videos over the next few weeks but has managed to squeeze in some shows. She performs at the Amnesty International gig in The Village on December 2 and headlines Bewley’s Café Theatre, Dublin on December 10. She recently supported Architecture In Helsinki at their Dublin show.
Another lady to watch is Sarah Merrigan. Vocal comparisons have been drawn with Dido, Kate Bush and Tracy Thorn from Everything But The Girl. Get your mits on a copy of her debut single ‘Living Without You Baby’, due for national release on November 18 and make your own mind up.
Sarah spent some time in Paris, where she built up a name for herself on the cabaret club scene. Closer to home, she has graced the stage in numerous venues, including Whelan’s, The Olympia, Mother Redcaps and the SFX, both solo or in the company of such luminaries as Mary Coughlan, Sharon Shannon, Brian Kennedy, The Corrs and The Hot House Flowers.
Also keeping good company is Nina Hynes, who plays support to The Frames on Monday November 21st at their show in Vienna. Recently, Nina performed at the opening of Gallery 4 in Dublin at the exhibition of US artist Xylor Jane.
Continuing on a Frames-related note, recent supports The Chalets are cramming in a UK tour and a visit to Russia before the end of a very successful 2005. The year ahead is already looking bright with a confirmation for a place at Eurosonic in the bag already!
Finally, if you haven’t already caught the wonderful melting pot of sounds that is Cork’s Cartoon, head on down to CrawDaddy on November 18 for enlightenment.
Having launched their debut single ‘Move On’ before a sell-out crowd at the Cork Jazz Festival a couple of weeks ago, the band will finish off the year with some lives dates.
During the year they chalked up live appearances with Omar, Incognito, Kerry Chandler and Amp Fiddler. Watch out for the debut album in February 2006!