With or Without You by U2 from my cottage in the West of Ireland on the anniversary of its first release on the 1987 album The Joshua Tree pic.twitter.com/y9Cuz5qLur
On this day in 1987, #U2 released their fifth studio album “The Joshua Tree” featuring singles "With or Without You" "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "In God's Country" pic.twitter.com/RT0h0qilED
— Classic Alternative (@altclassicmusic) March 9, 2021
Peter Doran‘s new promo is an object lesson in how you don’t need a mega budget to make a memorable and affecting music video.
The singer/songwriter (top) from Mullingar, County Westmeath, has a new album Voices due later this year. You can hear echoes of The Blue Nile and Radiohead in his soulful voice.
The video was directed by Lucy Jones and John Hennessy of Kerbute Productions.
Peter writes:
“One small idea led to another until before I knew it I was standing in the cavernous space of an unused cinema in my Mullingar hometown with the camera rolling.
“I was a boy the Ritz cinema was coming to the end of its era but I did catch a few blockbusters there in my time. Before my time, my parents courted in the glow of the enormous screen. I’m told that space was used regularly for live music too and that in the ’50s and ’60s there was a stipulation that there had to be an interval in every feature where musicians would take to the stage and perform. I believe the great Joe Dolan was a regular performer here.
“All this is to say that the building is filled with a great history of film, music, community and young love.”
Regular, mature readers will know that we feature every genre under the sun – from folk to dance to hip-hop and everything in between – in this column, posting over 250 Irish music videos a year.
A case in point is Zambian-born, Limerick-based rapper Denise Chaila (top), who we proudly championed when she burst onto the scene last year.
Now Denise’s star is about to go into orbit after winning the prestigious RTÉ Choice Prize last week for her album Go Bravely.
The most recent single Anseo features guest vocals from Jafaris with a memorable video shot in Dromoland Castle and directed by Stephen Hall.
— Irish Times Culture (@IrishTimesCultr) March 8, 2021
This morning.
Planning permission for the 70,000 capacity festival in Stradbally, Co Laois has been rolled over from last year and 95 per cent of those who bought tickets for last year’s cancelled event have retained their tickets for this year.
Brian McDermott, one of the organisers of Electric Picnic, said the festival will go ahead “unless the Government tells us otherwise” and it should be followed by the National Ploughing Championships later in the month of September.
#Otd 1966: Nelson’s Pillar in #Dublin blown up by Irish republicans! It was a large granite column capped by a statue of Horatio Nelson, built in the centre of what was then Sackville St (later renamed O'Connell St). "British Admiral Leaves Dublin By Air" said Éamon de Valera! pic.twitter.com/tj8ruxEebj
— Irish History Bitesize! (@lorraineelizab6) March 8, 2021
With St David’s Day being celebrated earlier this week by our Celtic cousins, now is the time to ask: What’s your favourite song by a Welsh musician or band?
That’s the message of resilience in the new single by Limerick-born, Clare-based singer/songwriter Susan Quirke (top).
Look out for her debut album In The Sea, due on April 23, and featuring members of The Frames and Lir as special guests: Colm Quearney (guitars); Colm Mac Con Iomaire (violin); Robbie Malone (bass); Graham Hopkins (drums); and Justin Carroll (piano).
And read the inspiring thread on how Susan became a recording artist here
Susan writes:
“Many people are experiencing deep pain, grief, loneliness and isolation as a result of the pandemic. In many ways suffering is part of the human journey, as is the tremendous courage, resilience and strength people can often demonstrate during tough times.
“I wrote this song for someone in my life who was going through a difficult time. It was written as an invocation for them, calling on them to remember their power and strength. It’s also written as a balm to soothe people’s hearts and minds.
“It starts off quietly and then builds and builds to a full band sound, creating a call to the vast strength that lies deep within us all. It contains a blessing encoded in the lyrics that sings to the elements of nature that we can receive healing from: earth, wind, fire, water.
“In moments of pain and grief, there is an ancient well we can draw on inside us… To the bone is a reminder of something we sometimes forget – that we’re strong to the bone.”
