Blog: 2 U I Bestow

For the next number of days I'm going to use my daily "Amhrán Gach Lá" post to write mini reviews of albums or Eps I wanted to review but have slipped me by in the last few months. Today as it's Friday and I write about covers on Fridays I give to you The Slat Flats - Songs of Fleetwood Mac. The Belfast group [Supergroup? See Below] have released an EP of Fleetwood Mac songs consisting of Silver Springs, Never Going Back Again, [...]

Music Q&A with Ashbourne's 'The Crossfire' as appeared in the Your Forum free newspaper for Meath: http://yourforum.ie/lifestyle/ roundup/articles/2011/12/05/40 07993-music-qa-with-ashbournes -the-crossfire/ The Crossfire Described as a band "to watch on Garageland, formed in 2010, this band are part of the wave of young acts sweeping the nation," Ashbourne band The Crossfire have played some of Ireland's best venues including The Sugar Club, Whelan's, Boyles of Slane as well as the St. Patrick's Day festival in Ashbourne. [...]

For the next number of days I'm going to use my daily "Amhrán Gach Lá" post to write mini reviews of albums or Eps I wanted to review but have slipped me by in the last few months. Today it's the turn of The Martyn Sessions by Wicker Bones. The Martyn Sessions EP is the six track debut release by Dublin Trad band Wicker Bones who were once called Holy Bleedin' Jaysus! There's a [...]

For the next number of nights I'm going to use my daily "Amhrán Gach Lá" post to write mini reviews of albums I wanted to review but have slipped me by. First up is S.A.D. by Little Xs For Eyes S.A.D. is a fine indie pop album by Dublin band 'Little Xs for Eyes". It's one of those albums I can enjoy from afar without really getting into it. The vocals are wonderful throughout but especially on 'Summer Never Comes'. [...]

Lou McMahon is one of 12 acts playing the Fighting Chance gigs in The Grand Social presented by Venue One and that newspaper! This looks like a great way to spend a couple of nights in the run up to Christmas. Dave Fanning is doing compere! Check out one of Lou's songs here: 06 Pockets Of Change by loumcmahon

1/5 Irish band Jukebox Gypsy have released their second album of 2011 and it's a fine collection of songs recorded at The Bog Lane Theatre in Ballymahon. The 16 tracks on the live album showcases everything that's great about the Jukebox Gypsy live set. The album acts as a 'best of' from the self titled debut and the second album 'The Month' along with a cover from Lindisfarne called 'Run for Home' and an old traditional 'The Ballad of Jesse James'. [...]

JOE CHESTER is your PLAY IRISH artist this week. The track is '"Foreign Correspondent" and you can hear is all week at 3.30pm on Galway Bay FM. Joe has received a Choice Music Prize nomination; a Meteor Irish Music Awards nomination; an Irish Single Of The Year in The Irish Independent', and to top that all off his previous album "A Murder of Crows" has been included in the new Tony Clayton-Lea book "101 Irish Albums You Must Hear Before You Die"!! Have a listen to 'Foreign Correspondent' here: [...]

Gavin Glass is one of a gaggle of exceptional Irish artists singing in the New Year in Vicar Street! Isn't it an amazing line-up? Here's a great song from Gavin Glass which justifies his inclusion on the bill! Older Than My Years by gavinglass

Peter Doran from Mullingar released an excellent album last year and is looking for your help to make album number three. Peter's using the Pledge site to raise funds for the recording of the album with some tasty rewards. For example you can get The Robert Johnson Package which is Exclusive Rights to Peter's soul for 500 years for a million euro! Love that optimism! Pledge here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/pro jects/peterdoran Listen to [...]

The New Reindeer Age is a charity compilation album made up of Limerick acts. The Charity is the Learning Hub Limerick ( learninghub.ie ). For more info on the album check out the album on facebook or indielimerick.blogspot.com TRACK LIST: 01-Fred- Eleven 02-Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters- Hatch Sixteen 08 Hatch Sixteen by foxjawbountyhunters [...]

On Tuesday week I'll be in Boyles of Slane for Jukebox Gypsy and I can't wait for it! The thing to note from the tour poster is that the band are avoiding Dublin for what is their 5th or 6th tour of Ireland. Jukebox Gypsy are a quality band who entertain like no other band. Here's a great cover of an old Lindisfarne song 'Run for Home'. [...]

I'm announcing Fox E & The Good Hands as the most entertaining and hardworking band in Ireland at the moment. They played the big and small festivals, released a brilliant EP and must easily have played over a hundred gigs in 2011 so far with another rake of dates left to go beginning with a Whelans gig tomorrow night! If you've yet to see a gig of Fox E's what are ya waiting for? [...]

Fine debut album from Galway based duo 'Murray & Falkenau' . The Leipzig Sessions is the merging together of Irish traditional music with Springsteen-esque folk rock and makes for a fun listen! Murray & Falkenau are the instrumental talents of Anna Falkenau (Fiddle / Lead Guitar) and the songwriting / lyrical capabilities of Ivan J. Murray (Vocals / Guitar). The Leipzig Sessions were unsurprisingly recorded in Germany in 2010 and the album released earlier this year. The album flips [...]

This takes place at 8 PM tonight and will be an amazing gig. The few tracks I've heard from The Lost Brother's new album 'So Long John Fante' sound amazing. The pick of the three free downloads available on bandcamp is Bells They Won't Ring. Bells They Wont Ring by Hill 16 Management Download the three freebies from here: [...]

Charming folk song 'Every Step' is the first single to be taken from Michael Brunnock's new album 'The Orchard'. 'Every Step' is a very positive uplifting song perfect for escaping. There are references to dawn, dreams, hope, journeys, delight which along with a gentle soundtrack and a relaxed drumbeat makes this the perfect Summer track. The vocals are pleasant and clear and are aided by fine backing vocals to complete the track. If 'Every [...]

It's ten years since Mic Christopher left this earth in his prime. His memory and music is celebrated tonight in Vicar Street! Here's Mic in his Heyday in The Spirit Store: According to The Frames manager: "Still tickets left for gig for Mic at Vicar St. tomorrow night! Note from Claire: "mary janes and mundy, gemma, lisa, ronan, glen, matthew pale, acko, eoin glacklin will be opening the proceeding" RIP Mic Christopher

DELORENTOS are your PLAY IRISH artist this week! Jon Richards will be playing 'Did We Ever Really Try?' from the band's current EP 'Little Sparks' all week on Galway Bay FM @ 3.30 and as with every week you can listen to the song here by checking out the wonderful video for the song. I love the 'Little Sparks' EP and book which landed in my door today! It's only available at the band's gigs and well worth the cash! [...]

The coming week is a sad week for the fortunes of many Irish artists who have been championed and most importantly listened to by the influential Donal Dineen. Donal Dineen's long running and award winning late night radio show The Small Hours comes to an end on December 1st, it's passing is celebrated at the Small Hours Wake on Friday 2nd December at The Joinery in Stoneybatter. Donal will be joined by some very special live guests on the night including Katie Kim, David Kitt, Cian Nugent, Beautiful Unit and the Xmas Soup Collective. [...]

'December Moon' is a quality folk/roots album which is consistently brilliant from start to finish. The Henry Girls hit all the right spots on this their third album. The Henry Girls are sisters from Inishowen in Co. Donegal, Ireland and have been performing together as a band for almost a decade. I get the feeling that 'December Moon' is going a breakthrough album for the band. It's released on the back of European tours and a successful Summer tour in the US. [...]

O Emperor have gone all seasonal by giving away a free gift in time for Christmas. You can download a superb track from their second album to be released in 2012 here for free! Some Small Matter is by far their best track in my books and has totally changed my opinion of the band! Some Small Matter by O Emperor Go to Harmless Noise to win tickets for any of the three O Emperor gigs in [...]