In celebration of our birthday we asked the State team to nominate their favourite homegrown releases of the past five years. Here's what they came up with... 30. Heathers - Kingdom McNamara sisters dig the pop mine and strike gold. 29. Super Extra Bonus Party - Night Horses Kildare collective leave us too soon but with a mighty swansong. 28. Bell X1 - Blue Lights On The Runway Irish old guard enjoy a [...]
In celebration of our birthday we asked the State team to nominate their favourite homegrown releases of the past five years. Here's what they came up with... 30. Heathers - Kingdom McNamara sisters dig the pop mine and strike gold. 29. Super Extra Bonus Party - Night Horses Kildare collective leave us too soon but with a mighty swansong. 28. Bell X1 - Blue Lights On The Runway Irish old guard enjoy a [...]

There's been some very interesting albums, songs and events announced that support a whole host of charities as we enter the Christmas Season of good will. Here's a round-up of events and albums which you should check out: Tiny Dancer - A Song For Lily-Mae Buy on Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album /tiny-dancer/id576441815?i=576 441894 Four year old Lily-Mae Morrison from Claregalway is suffering from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare and extremely aggressive childhood cancer of the nervous system. The plan is to get Tiny Dancer to the [...]

A selection of photos from Sunday at Electric Picnic 2012 by Debbie Hickey and Luis Faustino .
As Ireland's only major festival this year, expectation is high and it looks as if Electric Picnic may just be about to rise to the challenge. With a fairly impressive lineup already confirmed, more acts have just been added to Stradbally for 2012. Along with some of popular music's biggest names we now have some of the most hotly tipped breakthrough acts of the last 12 months. Add to that a sprinkling of soul-stardom plus some of Ireland's national treasures and you'll hear very few people bemoan the absence of Oxegen this summer. The newest [...]

In Iveagh Gardens, Dublin has one of its most serene, picturesque and exquisite all-purpose venues and when adeptly put to use, as it is with the PIAS Nites showcase, it would take a lot to render an evening here anything but outstanding. For all intents and purposes this is Lisa Hannigan’s night but there is enough natural bonhomie on stage that none of the acts could possibly feel that her mesmerising performance detracted from their own. In fact Hannigan does her job with such aplomb and humility that even if the other acts had tanked you’d be [...]
Originally announced as part of Whelan's Sounds Of Summer festival, it now seems as though Cathy Davey will not be appearing at the venue this Saturday night. The venue has posted a message on Facebook saying that they "would like to apologise to Cathy and her fans for the mistake with dates on our end leading to the cancellation". Refunds are available at point of purchase. The series of gigs does continue, however, featuring Cashier No 9, The Hot Sprockets and Little Green Cars.
Vantastival 2012 was a major success for everyone involved. The new site was perfect and at times stunningly beautiful against a background of multi-coloured treetops. The crowds came in their campervans, caravans, tents and buses. The stages were fit for the kings and queens of Irish music. It's the biggest compliment I can give the Vantastival organisers that they give new, fresh, raw and young Irish talent an opportunity to perform to new friends and fans on a grand stage. My Vantastival did not go to plan. A sick child with a nasty fever meant it [...]
![Mixtape: My Vantastival Schedule [Part 2 - Saturday]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4234826_lg.jpg)
The full Vantastival schedule went live during the week. Below is a rough plan detailing the bands I hope to see over the weekend. Of course I'll be hoping to find new favourites over the course of the weekend but there are a number of bands I'm really excited to see. Tickets here: http://www.vantastival.com/tic kets/ Find a high res copy of the schedule here: http://www.vantastival.com/wp- content/uploads/2012-Schedule- final.jpg?3f5bfe Saturday: With potentially 28 bands to see [...]

Part three of my random post where I get two different singles and compare and contrast for the craic! Preachers Son - Come On Dublin rockers Preachers Son released a rich deep debut album in 2010 and they've followed it with a new single 'Come On'. It's a track that is a short spunky rocking tune which like the accompanying video doesn't take itself seriously at all. It's high on entertainment value and showcases Brian's fantastic vocals! It's three minutes [...]

It’s been 18 months since Cathy Davey has graced a Dublin venue with her presence, and tonight marks the beginning of a three date residency at Whelan’s. One of the forthcoming shows is to be a reprise of Davey’s 2008 Fringe Festival show Songs That Scare Children , the other a celebration of her favourite artists of decades gone by – but tonight’s show is all about the woman herself, delving into her back catalogue to perform the best of her own material albums to date. It’s a shaky start with ‘Habit’ and ‘Reuben’, the band hit [...]

Director & Cathy Davey - Where The Wild Roses Grow [Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue] | bx

Cathy Davey is this week's 'PLAY iRISH' artist which is a project set up by An IASCA [Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers & Authors] supported by Galway Bay FM, Roisin Dubh, Monroes, HMV Galway, Breaking Tunes, 2 U I Bestow, Bell Book & Candle, IMRO, & RAAP. This means for this week Cathy Davey's song 'Bad Weather' will get these fine benefits: - will be played every day at 3.35 for one week on Jon Richard’s show (3.30pm) - Cathy Davey has [...]

Dubliner Cathy Davey is a captivating and charming singer/songwriter. Her bold bubbly melodies and sweet breathy voice are a magnetic combination that will prompt you to bob and skip down the sidewalk - or at least stand a little taller. Davey's third album The Nameless is out now via Hammer Toe Records. Watch the quirky animated video for "Little Red" (in which she won an Irish Music TV Video Award) where Davey plays Red Riding Hood singing to the [...]

Dubliner Cathy Davey is a captivating and charming singer/songwriter. Her bold bubbly melodies and sweet breathy voice are a magnetic combination that will prompt you to bob and skip down the sidewalk - or at least stand a little taller. Davey's third album The Nameless is out now via Hammer Toe Records. Watch the quirky animated video for "Little Red" (in which she won an Irish Music TV Video Award) where Davey plays Red Riding Hood singing to the [...]
Described as a little arts festival, Boyle Arts Festival will bring Irish acts Cathy Davey, Ham Sandwich, The Minutes, The Gorgeous Colours and Come On Live Long to Boyle, Co. Roscommon from July 22nd to 29th. The non-profit festival also includes drama, classical, trad, workshops, family and spoken word events in its lineup . It runs from 21st to the 30th of July in various venues. Friday 22nd July - Cathy Davey with Special Guests, The Gorgeous Colours Doors: 8.30pm €20 Saturday 23rd July- Ham [...]
I received an email from the nice people behind the Boyle Arts Festival taking place in a few weeks. The music line-up is pretty good and offers a wide variety of acts for the Boyle locals to enjoy; Highlights include; Saturday 23rd July- Ham Sandwich 10pm €5 Sunday 24th July - Trigger & The Hitmen FREE Tuesday 26th Juky - Saramai & The Swords FREE Thursday 28th July- The Minutes Doors 9pm ( Local support from 'Race the Flux') €5 Friday [...]
This event on Tuesday is a wonderful idea and I hope it goes well for Hamlet Sweeney & co! Taken from the facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event. php?eid=169719486415342 BIG WARM ACOUSTIC TUESDAY! Donate an instrument or pay just €5 for a superb gig to help kids in need get musical instruments to learn on. ...The Grand Social, Lower Liffey St (at Halpenny Bridge) 8pm (first act starts early, last act finishes in time for buses home) ***IF YOU HAVE [...]

The Nameless is Cathy's third album. Cathy was born in Dublin, and grew up in Monkstown. She found her way into music almost accidentally. She was signed by Parlophone's Regal Recordings after a batch of home-recorded demos caused a bit of a stir, and played her first live date shortly thereafter. Spirited away to a studio in Wales, she set to work on her debut album with producer Ben Hillier, who'd previously worked with Elbow and Blur. The result, Something Ilk , was a gorgeous collection of songs both sultry and sweet, with melodies that soared and guitars [...]
The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon and friends cover Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut album for the JD Set.