This Saturday I'll be in Crawdaddy for Bobby Noonan and his band The Musicians with support from The Cosmic Sweethearts (Dublin) and Úna McLoughlin (Galway). Bobby's debut EP is amazing and this gig is his big headlining gig in the capital. See ya there? http://www.myspace.com/bobbyno onansongs I was delighted with the news that the amazing Margaret Healy has got the Colin Devlin support for his Irish tour which begins this Saturday; [...]

It had almost been a year since Scottish trio Biffy Clyro played Ireland, but the amount of 'Monthebiffy!'s resounding through the Olympia before the show had begun suggested that a year is too long in concert-going terms. Not long after support band Manchester Orchestra had finished wowing the mob, the unshaven Scotsmen took to the stage, launching into flagship single 'That Golden Rule' from new LP Only Revolutions. This song's success was proven immediately, with everyone immediately joining in with frontman Simon Neil. But it wasn't just the music that was making the fans tick. Neil's [...]
Facebook is a useful tool for chatting with your mates and sharing photos. It's also useful if you want something posted on here. Yesterday I asked using the Swear I'm Not Paul Facebook page what artist would my readers like a bootleg of. Andrew McG was the first to reply. He sent me off in search of a Gemma Hayes live show. Here is what I found. This is from Union Chapel in London from the 8th of September 2008. It was recorded by someone who goes by the name of Powermonkey, and is just over 100MBs as [...]
Currently ensconced in a French recording studio with long-time musical collaborator David Odlum, Tipperary singer-songwriter Gemma Hayes will return to play an intimate acoustic show in Crawdaddy on December 4th. The performance will feature songs from the Meteor Award winner's forthcoming fourth album, which is due in the new year. Support on the night will come from Ann Scott . Tickets are available from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide, priced at €17 and €22.50. Related Cymbals Eat Guitars - Crawdaddy, Dublin [...]
The first Irish Music Video Awards will take place on Friday, November 27th at the Sugar Club and the nominations have been announced, including many State favourites. The full list is: BEST LIVE VIDEO LISA HANNIGAN - I DON'T KNOW LISA HANNIGAN - LILLE LADYDOLL – BUTTON THE BRILLIANT THINGS – RISE AND SO I WATCHED YOU FROM AFAR – SET GUITARS TO KILL BEST DANCE VIDEO LE BIEN – HERE AND THERE [...]
The nominees for the IMTV Video Music Awards have been announced, and they feature a fine selection of Irish talent. 1.BEST LIVE VIDEO LISA HANNIGAN - I DON'T KNOW LISA HANNIGAN - LILLE LADYDOLL – BUTTON THE BRILLIANT THINGS – RISE AND SO I WATCHED YOU FROM AFAR – SET GUITARS TO KILL 2.BEST DANCE VIDEO LE BIEN – HERE AND THERE NOISE CONTROL – ADDICTION DARK ROOM NOTES – LETS LIGHT FIRES ARVEEN & MISK - HELLS BELLS LE GALAXIE – YOU FEEL THE [...]
There's something to cheer about for the following Irish artists to have a nomination for the Irish Music Television awards to take place in The Sugar Club on Friday November 27th. The best thing about this for me is that I never heard of the website before and have had a chance to check out some cool videos from Irish Artists. It's very much weighted towards the alternative genre but I'm delighted for acts such as Sean Needham, Miss Paula FLynn and Enda Reilly to have been included. 1.BEST LIVE VIDEO LISA HANNIGAN [...]
Dundalk's Spirit Store celebrates 10th Birthday October 29th The Spirit Store will host a special evening of music on Thursday 29th October featuring many musicians who have graced its stage over the decade since it first opened its doors and they're gonna party like it's 1999 . . . Looking at the list of acts who have played the venue through the years you might be mistaken in thinking you're looking at the list for a major Dublin venue – The Frames, The Four Of Us, Damien Rice, Bell X1, Snow Patrol, Declan [...]
Oh Tiësto ! Isn't it tiresome? Don't you just get sick of staring into the black swampy mess of whatever non-descript hangar you turn up to before pressing the shiny play button…watching the tangling lump of sweaty limbed gurgling, gurning masses. A tragic pile-up of backward haircuts, dribbley faced youths chomping through their glow-sticks , tongues lolling and eyes rolling like a mass exorcism or Nuremberg sponsored by Fanta. The girl jiggling about at the front of the crash barrier, her pink mesh top sticking to her skin making her look like a giant gyrating ,pulsating prawn, you could [...]
Following my previous Dakar & Grinser post with yet another cover version tonight. This time around we have a Bob Dylan cover to lay down, and an equally fantastic version it is too by Norwegian singer-songwriter Even Johansen a.k.a Magnet. I must admit that until a minute ago I thought that Magnet were a band from the north of England somewhere... Cheers Wikipedia for that one. I see too that there are roughly around 26 or so cover versions of Lay Lady Lay kicking [...]

The 18th Mercury Music Prize will be announced tomorrow night on BBC 2 TV at 10.00pm. Primal Scream won the inaugral competition in 1992 and subsequent winners have included the likes of Suede, Pulp, Badly Drawn Boy and the Arctic Monkeys. Only four of the seventeen winning acts have been fronted by female singers: M People (1994); Portishead (1995); PJ Harvey (2001); and Ms Dynamite (2002). Each prize is open to albums from British and Irish acts released from June of the previous year to June of the year in question. There have been seven previous [...]
Gemma Hayes ' [ MySpace ] Night On My Side is, hands down, one of the best Irish albums of the past decade, a completely under-rated modern classic worthy not only of the Mercury Prize nomination it garner, but the critical attention it brought her here in the US. Many have heard of the Tipperary-born Hayes; however, things could have been much different had she received her "due" at 2003's Field Day Festival (which was cut down to one day from two and was moved to Giants Stadium). Had it not [...]
Gemma Hayes ' [ MySpace ] Night On My Side is, hands down, one of the best Irish albums of the past decade, a completely under-rated modern classic worthy not only of the Mercury Prize nomination it garner, but the critical attention it brought her here in the US. Many have heard of the Tipperary-born Hayes; however, things could have been much different had she received her "due" at 2003's Field Day Festival (which was cut down to one day from two and was moved to Giants Stadium). Had it not [...]

There are some songs, that unfairly get your attention because they name drop prominent guest stars in their sleeve notes. This one being Kevin Shields. Yes, THE Kevin Shields from My Bloody Valentine. I'd never heard of Gemma Hayes prior to noticing "Out Of Our Hands" feature Mr Shields on guitar. But I'm glad I caught wind of this ditty. You instantly notice the guitars, but for some strange ethereal reason, Ms Haye's melancholy tinged vocals smoke their way as an equally formidable partner to Mr Shield's neurotic and discordant playing. It's the perfect recipe to wake up to on [...]

There are some songs, that unfairly get your attention because they name drop prominent guest stars in their sleeve notes. This one being Kevin Shields. Yes, THE Kevin Shields from My Bloody Valentine. I'd never heard of Gemma Hayes prior to noticing "Out Of Our Hands" feature Mr Shields on guitar. But I'm glad I caught wind of this ditty. You instantly notice the guitars, but for some strange ethereal reason, Ms Haye's melancholy tinged vocals smoke their way as an equally formidable partner to Mr Shield's neurotic and discordant playing. It's the perfect recipe to wake up to on [...]

Uncut Magazine and I had a pretty amazing relationship between the turn of the millennium and about 2004 or 2005. Basically, I would buy it every month and turn straight to the reviews section and the cover mount CD of what they considered to be the best of new music released that month, and devour both simultaneously, taking notes about what I wanted to spend that monthís meagre wages on. Those cover mount CDs were amazing, at the time, and almost invariably related to that monthís new releases, but in the last few years they have become way, [...]
Irish songstress Gemma Hayes is writing songs for her follow up to the fine, if vastly unappreciated, 2008 indie album The Hollow of Morning with the hope of releasing it later this year. The '03 Mercury Prize-nominated performer also released a digital only EP this past spring -- and we have the self-described "intense" title track video. Sometimes, as here, simple works. Myspace Artist Site

This is one of the best cover versions ever recorded in my humble opinion. Gemma's vocals are out of this world. Gemma Hayes - No Ordinary Love (recorded live for Today FM) http://www.myspace.com/gemmaha yes

Happy 1000! This is my 1,000th post. Quite an achievement right? So to celebrate, I've made a list of the top 100 Irish albums of all time. I didn't follow any strict rules, but just along the lines of acts that are considered Irish. Thus the Pogues are considered Irish because of Shane McGowan rather than the rest of the guys, but no-one ever claims Aphex Twin. Well not that I know of anyway. Feel free to abuse me for leaving something out, or giving preference to one album or another. I love the comments. And the fallout. Hopefully. [...]
'Raindrops', the first video from Basement Jaxx' new album now has a video which features tribal-clad dancers writhing to the tune. It's not exactly NSFW but if bolstered and covered nipples are not OK to focus on in work I'd say watch this when you get home. Random Posts Placebo return with Battle for the Sun Giveaway: Bodies of Water tickets Polly Scattergood Tickets Mon 01 Dec - Gemma Hayes [...]