As we're naturally in a reflective mood here's my summery of 2011. It's just another opportunity for me to tell you the reader about the bands and music that meant something to me last year! January: 2011 kicked off well with a trip to Whelans to see two of my favourite artists Mark Dignam and Sean Millar perform an intimate gig to an appreciative audience. I introduced Storyfold , Autumn Long , Fox E & The Good Hands and We're Wolves onto the blog. [...]

Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas, Welcome to Part two of our delicate feel around Santa`s most prized possession - His sack. More seasonal melodies and holiday one-offs to listen/download while roasting your nuts in front of a two-bar electric fire, armed with one of those strange tasting mulled wines. First off, Dublin based Indiecater Records never fail to deliver when winter downloads are concerned. We`ve taken one track from the huge 17 track Christmas compilation from way back in 2008 and one from ` A Special Indiecater Christmas Gift ` EP released this month. The Very Most [...]
Sent out to funders of her upcoming Goldmine project, Nina Hynes (with Fabien Leseure) covers a song from Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas (aka the best Christmas album ever). The album is three-quarters the way t...
The amazing news from Nina Hynes today is that there will in fact be a forth album recorded and released thanks to at least 202 funders who have helped her get to the 10K target! I can't wait to hear the album: Sewing Machine by ninahynes
FundIt has established itself as Ireland's prime website for crowdfunding for the arts and creative disciplines and to that end, there are a few music campaigns active at the moment, that you should be aware of, seeing as you are probably interested in Irish music if you're visiting this blog. Nina Hynes One of Ireland's most under-rated musical talents is now based in Berlin and looking to for your help in order to fund her new album on gatefold vinyl. The funds would be used to finance recording in [...]
![Amhrán Gach Lá - The Tycho Brahe [Father's Day Special]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3532360_lg.jpg)
Eight years ago The Tycho Brahe released a spectacular double album entitled 'Love Life'. On it is this gorgeous song which I'm posting for Father's Day called 'My Father The Jeweller'. The Tycho Brahe - My Father the Jeweller by 2uibestow When Nina Hynes performed at Cork X Southwest a few weeks ago she was backed by Carol Keogh's band and it was revealed [...]

Cork X Southwest Music & Arts Festival took place over the weekend at Liss Ard Estate in Skibbereen, West Cork. Performers included Patti Smith, Echo & The Bunnymen, Yuck, Mick Flannery, Jape, We Cut Corners and more. Have a look at a selection of photos from Martha Maguire. Patti Smith @ CXSW by Martha Maguire Patti Smith @ CXSW by Martha Maguire [...]
Last week I described Cork XSW 2011 as my dream festival line-up and it did not fail to impress in any way. I loved everything from the line-up to the surroundings to the atmosphere and charm. I also loved how I got to hear possibly the best voice in Ireland ...... There really can't be a better location for a festival. Set in the Liss Ard estate the main stage took it's place downhill from the Liss Ard house with [...]
One last Cork XSW special features Nina Hynes who is trying to encourage you the music fan to buy her album within various packages before she gets a chance to record it. Full details here: http://www.fundit.ie/project/g oldmine 10 I could be by ninahynes There's a really nice interview with Nina on State.ie here: http://www.state.ie/27950-feat ures/nina-hynes-looking-for-a- goldmine Nina plays Cork XSW tomorrow on the main stage at 4.10 PM.
![Amhrán Gach Lá - Guidewires [Cork XSW Special]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3485402_lg.jpg)
I'm beginning to get really excited about going to CorkXSW this coming weekend. Set in the Liss Ard estate it contains for me a dream line-up of artists that I adore both internationally and homegrown as well as a bunch of excellent artists I'm looking forward to discover. I'm going to write about the artists I'm looking forward to seeing. Bring it on: http://www.corkxsw.com/ The Stage Times went onto Facebook: CORK X SOUTHWEST STAGE [...]
![Amhrán Gach Lá - Jape [Cork XSW Special]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3477587_lg.jpg)
I'm beginning to get really excited about going to CorkXSW this coming weekend. Set in the Liss Ard estate it contains for me a dream line-up of artists that I adore both internationally and homegrown as well as a bunch of excellent artists I'm looking forward to discover. I'm going to write about the artists I'm looking forward to seeing. Bring it on: http://www.corkxsw.com/ The Full Line-up was announced on facebook yesterday: SATURDAY JUNE 4TH [...]
In the process of shedding negative influences on her life, Nina Hynes is giving her music back to the people. With the launch of a new fundraising project for her next album Goldmine through fundit.ie , a brand new Irish based fundraising platform, the acclaimed Irish singer songwriter is re-emerging this month, and playing live in Ireland again for the first time in four years. Would you like Nina to sing you a song over skype? Or a video of Nina giving a cooking lesson for one of her specialities, home made paneer perhaps? These [...]
Details of this year's Cork X Southwest Music & Arts Festival have been announced. The festival will take place on Liss Ard Estate in Skibbereen, West Cork on Saturday June 4th & Sunday June 5th. As well as music there'll be comedians, a kids area, seaweed baths, storytellers and a new Slow Food Village. On the bill there's Echo & The Bunnymen, Patti Smith, Yuck, Nina Hynes, Ivan St. John, Fred, Jape, God Is An Astronaut & more . Day tickets are €55 & weekend costs €95, available from EventElephant as [...]
A new track from Nina Hynes available for download from Bandcamp . Nina will be launching a FundIt campaign for her forthcoming album soon. More details as they're available.

The daily running order went online today for Cork's wonderful music festival happening over the June Bank Holiday. I have my early birds bought but I still think this is the best line-up for a festival in Ireland and therefore worth your hard earned cash. Tickets here: http://www.eventelephant.com/c ork-x-south-west-festival-2011 Check out some of the performers here: God is an Astronaut [...]
I've written this on Friday knowing full well that last night at the Irish Blog Awards one of two things happened. Either Harmless Noise or this blog even more recognition for their hard work or the Irish Blog Awards will slap the back of the establishment. I may in fact be happier if Nay gets the award than this blog. Even though our musical tastes barely overlap Harmless Noise is essential daily reading for anyone wanting to hear new Irish music. Here's a beautiful [...]
Cork By Southwest ( CXSW ) has announced its initial lineup for Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June in Liss Ard Estate, Skibbereen in West Cork. Patti Smith, Echo & The Bunnymen, Balkan Beatbox, Spider John Koerner, Mick Flannery, Fred, Favourite Sons, Axel Krygier, Jape, Interference , Michael Mcgoldrick, Nina Hynes, Katell Keinig, Joe Pug, Lowmountain, Guidewires, Doctor Millar, Sean Taylor, Lousy Rocks plus more to be announced. Early bird tickets are on sale now from €79 including booking fee. The family-friendly festival also promises free [...]
It really doesn't take much to get me excited about festival line-ups but I'm loving what the Cork X Southwest people have put together including Favourite Sons! Here's the line-up: PATTI SMITH ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN BALKAN BEATBOX SPIDER JOHN KOERNER MICK FLANNERY FRED FAVOURITE SONS AXEL KRYGIER JAPE INTERFERENCE MICHAEL MCGOLDRICK NINA HYNES KATELL KEINIG LOWmountain GUIDEWIRES DOCTOR MILLAR SEAN TAYLOR LOUSY ROCKS I'll [...]

Probably helps that Nina Hynes lives in central Europe where she is somewhat insulated from previous brushes with recording industry evil. That's the one impression I get from her, a lonesome genius who is forever on the cusp of emotional breakdown. Could be quite an act and one that avoids the need for Richie Manic type statements. 'In A Million' seemed to appear from nowhere (bandcamp), a seemingly orphaned track but one that restores the view that Ms. Hynes remains one of our most talented artists. The delicate shuffle is in keeping with vocals that drift in and out of [...]