Tag Archives: Win Nick’s Free Tix

Scott Kannberg aka Spiral Stairs

Any fans of Pavement out there?

Filled to the brim with that Friday feeling, I’ve decided to double down on competitions today and offer TWO tickets to next Thursday’s gig in Whelan’s of Wexford Street, Dublin by Pavement guitarist Scott Kannberg aka Spiral Stairs.

A crucial member of one of the most influential American indie bands of the 1990s, Mr Stairs will be performing material from his new solo album We Wanna Be Hyp-No-Tized as well as older classics.

To be in with a chance of winning the tickets, simply tell me below what your favourite Pavement or Spiral Stairs song is and why.

Lines MUST close at 9.20pm Extended until Midnight.

The winner will be chosen by my next door neighbour’s very opinionated dog.

Nick says: Good luck.

Listen up, people.

The annual festival showcasing the best new talent in the country that was once called Hard Working Class Heroes and is now called Irish Music Week is almost upon us.

Among the dozens of local acts performing in multiple venues across the capital will be a number of artists that we have covered here on Broadsheet including Basciville, Sun Mashene and Laura Elizabeth Hughes. And that’s not to mention all the music industry conferences full of movers and also shakers.

If you would like to win Two FREE passes giving access to both the concerts and the conferences simply tell me below who is your favourite new Irish artist and why.

The winner will be chosen by my robot butler Cyril.

Lines close at 2.45pm Extended until 5.05pm 11.45pm.

Nick says: Living la vida local.

Irish Music Week Showcases
Irish Music Week conferences

Thanks to Liza Geddes at Recode Publicity.

Calling all fans of Bombay Bicycle Club.

The London band have announced a second show in Vicar Street, Dublin, on February 11, 2020.

These gigs will follow on from the release of their new album Everything Else Has Gone Wrong in January. In the meantime the first single from the album just dropped last week and you can see the video for Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You) above.

To be in with a chance of winning TWO tickets to the second show in Vicar Street simply tell me below what is your favourite song by Bombay Bicycle Club and why.

The winner will be chosen by my pet possum.

Lines close at 5.45pm EXTENDED until 9.45pm.

Nick says: Good luck.

In the mood for exquisite chamber pop?

Then you are in luck as Stars – one of the best Canadian indie bands of their generation – return to perform their stunning 2004 masterpiece Set Yourself On Fire.

The Montreal collective led by Torquil and Amy have added a second late show at 11pm in Dublin’s Workmans Club on Friday September 27 after the earlier one sold out.

I have 2 free tickets to give to a reader to the late show.

Simply tell me below what is your favourite song referencing stars?

My astrologer Fergus will choose the winner.

Lines MUST close at 5.15pm EXTENDED until 10.15pm 3am.

Nick says: Good luck!

Rumours has it.

As does Tango In The Night. And Tusk.

Yes the music of Fleetwood Mac is beloved by millions. So what better way to spend a Sunday night than seeing the first-class tribute to Lindsey, Stevie, Christine, John and Mick that is Mack Fleetwood?

Mack play Whelan’s of Wexford Street, Dublin, on Sunday September 7 and I have TWO free tickets to give away.

Simply tell me below what your favourite Fleetwood Mac song is and why.

Lines MUST close at 5.45pm EXTENDED until Midnight!

Nick says: Good luck!

Mack Fleetwood at Whelan’s (Whelan’s)

The votes are in.

Last week, with a pair of free tix to see Cloudbusting celebrating the music of the bookish Kate Bush at the Button Factory, Dublin 2, on Thursday September 19 on offer, I asked you to name your favourtie literary reference in a song.

You answered in your tens.

But there could be only one winner

In reverse order…

3rd: Place:

The Divine Comedy – The Book Lovers

Cian writes:

“James Joyce: Hello there!
Virginia Woolf: I’m losing my mind!
Marcel Proust: Je me’en souviens plus
F Scott Fitzgerald: baa bababa baa
Ernest Hemingway: I forgot the…
Hermann Hesse: Oh es ist alle so häßlich
Evelyn Waugh: Whoooaarr!”

Runner up:

Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Dance Stance

Otis Blue writes:

‘Skewers British ignorance beautifully. As apt now as it was when released nearly 40 years ago:

“Never heard about Oscar Wilde
Don’t know about Brendan Behan
Know anything about Sean O’Casey
Or care about George Bernard Shaw
Or Samuel Beckett
Won’t talk about Eugene O’Neill
He won’t talk about Edna O’Brien
Or know anything about Lawrence Stern…”‘

Winner:

The Cure – How Beautiful You Are

Brother Barnabas writes:

“in another incarnation, I once interviewed Robert Smith and asked him about the song Killing An Arab (a pretty much straight retelling of Albert Camus’ The Outsider). [aside: The Cure were touring again and were getting a lot of grief about it in, especially, America – and he was bothered about right-wing nuts deliberately misinterpreting the song, taking as an anthem calling for some kind of reverse-jihad].

Smith said that this was one of his main techniques when writing a song – make a song out of a poem or a novel (or another song). My own favourite Cure song – How Beautiful You Are – is a pretty much direct retelling of Baudelaire‘s ‘Les Yeux Des Pauvres’ (the eyes of the poor). He hardly even changed the words, but I’d never noticed up to then. there are also a few other Cure songs bases on the Gormenghast…”

Thanks all.

Last wee: Win Nick’s Free Tix

Calling all Kate Bush fans.

The mother of all tribute bands is coming to town.

Cloudbusting: The Music of Kate Bush has featured some of the great artist’s original collaborators and comes highly recommended by Ireland’s foremost Kate Bush expert Sean Twomey who can be heard here interviewing lead singer Mandy Watson on a podcast for his authoritive fan website .

I have 2 FREE tickets to see Cloudbusting in the Button Factory, Dublin 2, on Thursday September 19.

In light of Kate being inspired by Emily Brontë and James Joyce, what is your favourite song which references a literary figure?

The winner will be chosen by my Siamese twin.

Lines MUST close at 2.45pm EXTENDED until 5.15pm MIDNIGHT!

Nick says: Good luck!

Cloudbusting: The Music of Kate Bush (The Button Factory)

Thanks to Michael Mayell and Sean Twomey.

It’s a frankly unbelievable 25 years since the late, great Jeff Buckley released his debut album Grace.

In fact, on the day it came out Jeff played an unforgettable show (top) in Whelan’s of Wexford Street, Dublin 2.

To mark the occasion there will be a special tribute show in the same venue featuring the same house band who recently played a blinder at the Elliott Smith tribute gig.

To be in with a chance of winning my free TWO tickets to I Heart Jeff Buckley on Friday August 23, simply tell me below what your favourite Jeff Buckley song or memory is.

The winner will be chosen by my talking rabbit.

Lines close at 5.15pm EXTENDED until 10.45pm.

Nick says: Good luck!

Jeff Buckley Tribute Night

Dónal Lunny (right) and Andy Irvine

Last week, with a pair of tickets to see trad legends Dónal Lunny and Andy Irvine in Whelan’s, Dublin on August 15, I asked you to select your favourite track involving either man.

You answered in your folking tens.

But there could be only one winner.

Third place:

Scottser writes:

As I Roved Out by Planxty: Lads, NEVER marry for land. you’ll end up singing lovely songs in Dorian with confusing last verses for your troubles.

Runner-Up:

Fairyqueen writes:

My favourite is Lake of Shadows by Moving Hearts. This tune just melts my heart but also reminds me of 2FM in the 80’s. The Other Side of Midnight was the show presented (I think) by Mark Cagney and it finished at 2am when the station closed down and the programme always finished with this piece of music. Happy Days….

Winner:

B9Com writes:

I pick My Heart’s Tonight In Ireland (by Planxty) for a few reasons: original song, based on actual events, eg they did camp in barns etc. like true troubadours; evocative lyrics became instant classic for musos; not only are lyrics evocative but inclusive and encompassing –  the verse in particular about the lock-in captures the best of Ireland in a few short lines in every sense IMHO.

This version (above) is also particularly good as not only does it show a great band sound , musicianship and humility with other members parking their egos at the door ( for once), the transition to the coda of a typical “session tune” is outstanding in the best traditions of the band’s touchstones and the tune itself is played to perfection and with the same reverence as more clever and celebrated work. You can hear the audience gets it too.

Thanks all.

Last week; Win Nick’s Free Tix

Top pic via Logainm TG4

Get your wellies.

KnockanStockan has firmly established itself as the best festival in the land for new music and certainly has the most picturesque setting looking down on the Blessington lakes.

Thanks to my friends at Good Seed PR, I am offering you the chance to win TWO weekend CAMPING passes for the three-day hooley in County Wicklow which starts TOMORROW.

Featuring an eye-watering array of Irish and international acts over multiple stages, including Soda Blonde (ex-Little Green Cars) and ace DJ Donal Dineen, it promises to be one of the highlights of the summer.

To enter simply tell me below about your favourite experience at an Irish music festival over the years. The answer will be chosen by my Burmese cat Peadar.

Lines MUST close at 1am 7.30am.

Nick says: Good luck!

KnockanStockan 2019

UPDATE: We have a winner