Part Three of my countdown of the Best 50 Irish Acts today. The only requirement for entry is that the artist must have played live or released something in the past twelve months. 30. Lisa Hannigan The former cohort of Damien Rice decided to go it alone, and his music suffers as a result. The lack of her vocals on most of 9 was the reason it wasn't as good as O . Her debut album was a consistent record, but not amazing. However, we know from experience that she definitely [...]
Nearly a year ago to the day inspired by The Irish Times compiled best 50 Irish acts at that moment in time I posted my Top 50 of Irish Artists. The only stipulation was that the artist had to gig or release an album in the last 12 months prior to the compiled list. My choices last year were based on bands and artists who I connected with at the time. 1. The Swell Season/Frames/Glen 2. Terry Sutton 3. Martin Finke 4. Pony Club 5. Lisa [...]
Foggy Notions has organised two benefit concerts for Haiti, which take place in February. There's fantastic line-ups at both shows, and tickets are €15 for each. Sunday February 14th Whelan's 8pm Andy Irvine (Planxty), The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock, Mumblin Deaf Ro, The Hounds & Big Monster Love Wednesday February 17th Whelan's 8pm David Kitt, Jape (solo electronic), Legion of Two, Patrick Kelleher & Goodtime John They're collaborating with Concern on both shows. Tickets are €15 from www.tickets.ie or WAV box office [1890 200 078]. Both ticket agents will donate booking [...]
This gig would be worth a mention if only for the fantastic poster. Not only that, there's also some great acts playing at the Lower Deck in Portobello tomorrow night (Friday 22nd of January). The line-up is fantastic with Spook of the 13th Lock, Mumblin' Deaf Ro, Groom and Owensie all appearing. Even one of those great acts would be worth the admission price alone. Tickets are €10 and doors are at 9.
At very short notice Foggy Notions have organised two cracking gigs to be held at Whelan's on Wexford St, Dublin in aid of Concern's Haiti Crisis Appeal . "The appeal is seeking emergency funding for desperately needed food, water, shelter and medicine." More information below David Kitt's brilliant cover of Womack & Womack's 'Teardrops' from his last Whelan's show. Sunday February 14th - Planxty's Andy Irvine will bring some folk to the stage supported by The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock , Mumblin' Deaf Ro [...]

This Sunday Glen Hansard will be performing in Whelans for a special charity gig for Haite. There's more .... Sunday 14th Feb sees this .... HAITI BENEFIT featuring ANDY IRVINE (Planxty, Patrick Street, Mozaik) THE SPOOK OF THE THIRTEENTH LOCK MUMNLIN DEAF RO' THE HOUNDS & BIG MONSTER LOVE There's more Weds 17th Feb..... DAVID KITT JAPE (solo electronic) LEGION OF TWO PATRICK KELLEHER & GOODTIME JOHN ..... I'll have to make [...]

So next Friday in The Lower Deck you will have the pleasure seeing four of Ireland's best acts. The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock Mumblin' Deaf Ro Groom Owensie Alternatively I might pop up to Drogheda for the first Purple Session of the year including Hugh Patrick, Stephen J Smith, Heirs to Nothing, Bobby Noonan and Mister Ebby. Difficult choice!

It does seem in Ireland that this year's Halloween is being celebrated like never before and I'm loving it. Here's an Irish Halloween mixtape! Some of the tunes are technically not written about Halloween but are included for atmospheric qualities. 1. And So I Watch You From Afar - Set Guitars To Kill 2. Ham Sandwich - Running Up That Hill [Live] 3. Pearse McGloughlin [...]

i, at one time, wanted to start my own label, but i had to be honest with myself and admit that i dont have that kind of freakin time to dedicate to something like that. as much as i would love to venture into something like that, i just dont need another distraction that could lead to another mild obsession. i still may try to put out a few things here and there, but nothing like the scope that i would ideally like to get into. some of my fellow constituents have done just that, parlayed their respective [...]

'Fading Fast' is my album of 2009 so far. I want to end the review at that but I'll do my very best to tell you why Garret Baker's debut album is rated so highly by this blog! Garret Baker's album is full of chilling atmospheric moods with simple folk songs encircling enriched lyrics. We have love songs, songs of friendship, songs of Dublin and songs of desire. This album is all about the songs and the lyrics. It's about the places the songs bring you to! When I listen to this I am brought to a Parisian [...]
Great news, that whistling guy from Naked Camera is to support, oh sorry, it's Michael Stevens, not Jake Stevens. Sorry. Michael Stevens from the excellent Groom is to support Mumblin' Deaf Ro at a very special intimate gig in Bewley's Cafe Theatre on Grafton Street. For those of you who haven't been there, it's a lovely little room upstairs from the cafe itself. The show takes place on May 15th at a cost of €10. Tickets can only be bought in Road Records on Fade Street, and just 50 are available. Told you it [...]

So just cleaning up my desktop. I tend to find songs, take a listen, then know I am going to like it and simply download to my desktop. I tend to leave soo many tracks on my desktop that I miss actually listening to them! So here we have some tracks that haven't made it into an "organized folder" in order to arrange in perfect harmony (no pun intended) with my music library. I have included a selection for you to see if we are on the same page, but some were removed due to thinking they aren't really approved [...]

Any fan of music blogs will notice that for the next few days it will seem like St. Patrick threw up all over the musical blogsphere. And that's great! I don't want to be adding to mix of Pogues and Dubliners mp3s just yet. The sevens tunes I have chosen today are songs I think sum up the Ireland of today and to me they represent current modern Irish Culture. Ian Whitty & The Exchange - Fallen Stars [In Late Night Bars] Mp3 MySpace Alphastates - What Are You [...]
Indiecater's latest digital release is a reissue of Senor My Friend , the debut album from one of Dublin's finest storytelling songsmiths Mumblin' Deaf Ro . The release is just €4 from Indiecater and includes the album and three bonus tracks, two of which were not on the original release and another which is a solo version of 'These Men Get Paid To Know'. Also bundled in the download is the original artwork, some photos of Ro from the time and an in-depth analysis from the man himself about each of the [...]

Mumblin' Deaf Ro are re-releasing their debut album through Indiecater for a bargain price of four euro. If you didn't get the album back in 2003, you really missed out. If you still haven't heard of them, here's a snippet from the record (the track 'The Hero is a Graduate'). The album is joyous, glorious, uplifting, and all around brilliant. Make sure you buy it. Four euro? How can you say no? Download: Mumblin' Deaf Ro - 'The Hero is a Graduate'

This blogger is constantly in awe of the wonderful work Indiecater and Mp3hugger are doing for the Irish music scene. I believe the Blog Awards folk should have acknowledged this last month but on with the present. 'Senor, my Friend' is the 2003debut album by the unique Mumblin' Deaf Ro and thanks to Indiecater is easily yours for just €4. This digital release includes the album and 3 bonus tracks, 2 of which were not on the original release and another which is a solo version of 'These Men Get Paid To Know'. Also bundled in [...]

Mumblin Deaf Ro Genre: Concrete / Korean Pop / Zouk From: Dublin, Ireland [...]

There has been so much written about the demise of Road Records. The comments consists of fond memories, condolances, sadness, shock and support. Ideas have been floated about a benefit gig with Adrian Crowley and Delorentos publicly offering their support for the gig. The bands below have come out stating that any money from the sale of their stock will go directly to Dave & Julie. Get the latest news on thumped.com Band list copied from Sweet Oblivion Blog Moutpiece Decal Cascade Sounds The Dudley Corporation The Spook [...]
Considering the rate that Mumblin' Deaf Ro puts stuff out there might not be a new album from him for another couple of years but in the meantime he's put up a couple of new songs up on his MySpace . One, "Cade Calf Call", has been a highlight of his gigs for the past year or so, the other "The Harm" is a slightly more recent thing I think but should be familiar to people who've seen an MDR gig in the past 6 months. In other Mumblin' Deaf Ro news his debut album [...]
The Ruby Suns - There Are Birds The second part of this charming series has arrived as of this morning. Another ten quality tracks from independent artists, only this time I'm already a fan of several of them - so it shouldn't have come as that much of a surprise when I was told that I was the first one to buy it. Once again, the compilation is a mere €4.50 (cheaper than a pint, I think you'll find) and apart from being carefully and lovingly put together, the money goes directly into [...]