Tag Archives: Nick’s Free Tix

Scott Kannberg aka Spiral Stairs

Last Friday, with TWO tickets to Thursday’s gig in Whelan’s of Wexford Street, Dublin by Pavement guitarist Scott Kannberg (above) aka Spiral Stairs on offer, I asked you to name your favourite Pavement or Spiral Stairs song and why.

You answered in your low numbers (this being a niche act) and, sadly, there could be only one winner….

Winner:

Pavement – Here

Otis Blue writes:

Was thinking about Box Elder but I’m going to go with Here. Not only for the gloriously downbeat opening lines – ‘I was dressed for success but success it never comes’, but also because it references ‘mavens’ as songs so seldom do.

Also Tindersticks do a great cover version. On which point, I recommend Pavement’s cover of the Bunnymen’s The Killing Moon

Thanks all.

Spiral Stair at Whelan’s

Last week: Win Nick’s Other Tix

The votes are in.

Last week, with TWO tickets to see Bombay Bicycle Club in Vicar Street next February on offer, I asked YOU to name your favourite song from the Crouch End-bred indie/folk/electronica/stuff rockers and why.

You answered in your tens.

But, alas, there could be only one winner.

Third Place:

Bombay Bicycle Club – Luna

Dazzler writes:

‘I will bathe myself
Then I’ll wear you for the night
Colours fading, frayed at the sides
(You’re changing in the light)
Oh why is your face so pale and white?’

Reminds me of by wife, who is a huge fan (don’t tell her I said pale and white though).

Runner Up:

Bombay Bicycle Club – Shuffle

Papa P writes:

I love the simplicity of this beautifully bittersweet song.The way the track just bounces along belies the lyrics… and then the break back in towards the end.Special nod to the goosebump inducing …

‘You gave to me
All I know
I will stay here
I will not go’

“Why won’t you believe in it until it’s gone”

Winner:

Bombay Bicycle Club – Eyes Off You

Chimpy writes:

It has a beautiful lullaby, lilting tone and drifts along and then all of a sudden in the middle of it, it explodes into this epic bomb. Always gives me goosebumps. Such a great, great band.

Thanks all.

Last week: Win Nick’s Free Tix

The votes are in.

Last week, with two free tickets to the Jeff Buckley tribute night in Whelan’s [Dublin 2] on August 22 on offer, I asked you to name your favourite song by the late troubadour.

You answered in your tens.

But there could be only one winner.

Runners-up:

Brian the Lion writes:

‘A girl and I made love listening to Grace on repeat and I will never forget it. hallelujah and nakedness. Amazing. There was a moment when the the band comes in to Eternal Life at the beginning and my stomach butterflies even to this day. It was summer and it was raining and it was the day after a party. If I ever loose some parts of my memory, I will fight to keep that one.’

Andrew writes:

‘Last Goodbye. Really reminds me of a friend I lost this year. Too young to die and I think about him everyday. I can’t understand it. Lilac Wine is beautiful too.’

Winner:

Niamh writes:

‘I was quite a sensitive soul at school, so one of my teachers gave me a lend of ‘Live A L’Olympia’ to tape onto cassette. At one point Jeff sings ‘manger beaucoup de fromaaaaaaaage’ into the mic between songs. The favourite was always ‘Dream Brother’…my mam yelled up the stairs at me to turn it down.God but Jeff was beautiful. PS please give me the tix. I want to ask a cute boy out.’

Thanks all.

Last eek: Win Nick’s Free Tix

Win Nick’s Free Tix

We’ve Only Just Begun, The capital’s best new band festival is back in Whelan’s of Wexford Street. Dublin this weekend.

With the likes of Wyvern Lingo, Pillow Queens (above) and Soda Blonde joining dozens of other great local acts over multiple stages through the weekend, I am offering you the chance to win 2 passes for the Saturday and Sunday night of the festival.

Simply tell me below who was your favourite Irish band you saw play live.

Lines MUST close at 4.15pm 5.15pm 6.15pm 9.15pm

Winner will be contacted tonight.

Nick says: Good luck!

UPDATE: Papi wins the tix (see comments)

We’ve Only Just Begun (Whelan’s)

Dónal Lunny (top right) and Andy Irvine

For folk’s sake…

Dónal Lunny and Andy Irvine are two giants of the Irish trad and folk scene, and for decades have acted as peerless international ambassadors for our native music from Tallahassee to Timbuktu.

Together they have played in countless bands including Sweeney’s Men, Planxty, Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, LAPD, Usher’s Island and Mozaik.

On Thursday, August 15 they’re bringing it all back home when they play the Whelan’s Trad and Folk Festival in Dublin, in association with Smithwicks Ale.

To be in with a chance of winning my 2 FREE tickets to the show simply tell me below a favourite song from either man and and why.

My Irish wolfhound Setanta will choose the winner.

Lines MUST close at 1pm EXTENDED until 2.15pm.

Nick says: May the luck be on you.

The votes are in.

Last night with two free tickets to see The Delines (above) at Whelan’s on offer, I asked you to name your favourite gig at the Wexford Street venue.

You answered in tastefully low numbers with some spoiled ballot papers

Runners-up:

Bertie Blenkinsop: ‘Best gig in Whelan’s Shack with my musical hero Mick Head around 2003 I’d guess…’

Tarfton Clax: ‘Best gig in Whelans? Wolves In The Throne Room in 2013 or so, ably supported by the sinuous Wolvserpent. Sexy Cascadian Black Metal. Awesome.’

Winner:

Catherine Vaughan:‘Robert Forster (May 2016). First Irish show for what felt like a million years (it was only eight…) Chatting to the band afterwards, they commented that I knew every word of every song…’

Thanks all.

Last night: Win Nick’s Free Tix

The Delines

The Delines make their third visit to these shores this year on October 23 when they play Whelan’s of Wexford Street in Dublin.

Moving on from his beloved country-rock ensemble Richmond Fontaine, Oregon-based songwriter Willy Vlautin (top second right) has assembled another wonderful set of musicians for his current band, who touch all bases between country, jazz and soul.

We are truly honoured to have singer Amy Boone (second left) back among us. And it will be great to welcome back Willy too; he couldn’t make their shows in Kilkenny in Spring as he was shortlisted for the prestigious PEN/Faulkner award in America for his novel Don’t Skip Out On Me. Not a bad sideline to have!

The show in Whelan’s will feature material from The Delines’ two excellent albums Colfax and The Imperial. Above Video is just a taster.

To be in with a chance to win 2 tickets, simply tell us below what your favourite show in Whelan’s was down all the days.

Lines remain open until 8am

Nick says: good luck.

Dublin art-rock gurus Girl Band are set to release their second album ‘The Talkies’ in September on the legendary Rough Trade label.

To celebrate, Dara Kiely and the gang have announced two shows in Dublin’s Vicar Street in November.

The first is already sold out but there are still tickets available for the second show on Saturday November 23.

We have two tickets (yes, TWO) to give away for the Saturday night show – all you have to do is to tell us what your favourite song is by either an all-female band or a female-fronted band and why.

My pet octopus will choose the winner (…only squidding).

To whet your appetite, above is  the band’s new video for ‘Shoulderblades’, which was directed by Bob Gallagher, shot in a studio in County Wicklow, and features a remarkable performance by dancer Oona Doherty, who is in sync with the intensity and claustrophobia of the music.

Imagine Black Swan soundtracked by The Fall instead of Tchaikovsky. But be warned: there will be blood.

Nick says: Lines must close at 7pm. Good luck to all our readers!

Girl Band

Calling all 1980s music fans.

I (‘sheet Music Editor) am offering you the chance to win TWO (count ’em) tickets to the Forever Young festival which takes place from July 5-7 in Palmerstown House, near Naas, County Kildare.

It’s time to dig out the shoulder pads, backcomb that big bouffant, slip on the leg warmers and spangly jewellery and party like it’s 1982.

The line-up for the weekend is ‘a veritable who’s who of the decade that they could not kill’, including The Human League, Marc Almond, Kim Wilde, Holly Johnson, Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins, T’Pau, Level 42 (careful with that slap bass!), Midge Ure, Bonnie Tyler, Heaven 17, Big Country and Jimmy Somerville.

There’s camping at the festival ‘to suit all tastes and budgets’ and there will be regular daily return buses from Main Street in Naas, Naas-Sallins train station and from Aston Quay in Dublin.

For a chance to win two day tickets to Saturday and Sunday (not camping tickets, sorry!), just become the 80th person to correctly answer the following question:

Holly Johnson was the lead singer of which 1980s chart-topping group?

Lines will stay open until we have a winner.

Frankie Nick says: Good luck!

Forever Young Festival 2019

UPDATE:

A serious flaw in the competition (which was Bodger’s idea) has been detected (by TheQ47 below) that would allow a lurker to wait until the 79th entry and ninja-like sneak in and claim the 80th spot with some ease. Very sorry. I will pick a random name out of the hat at 6pm. You may also a request a suitable song by way of apology.