Fontaines D.C. – Liberty Belle
What a year it was for Dublin’s most feted rock band.
And 2020 looks bright too. Having just seen debut album Dogrel nominated for the Choice Prize, Grian Chatten (third left at top) and the boys have dropped a new video shot partly at last year’s sold out Vicar Street shows.
And they headline Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens on July 4.
Nick says: Ring in the new.
The Lost Brothers – After The Fire
Having served up a cracking Christmas single last month, The Lost Brothers return with the title track from their forthcoming album After The Fire, After The Rain.
Oisin Leech (top left) and Mark McCausland have roped in a stellar cast of American musicians including M Ward, Howe Gelb and Bob Dylan’s bassist Tony Garnier on this nuanced tale of tragedy and recovery.
Oisin says:
“The song itself is a statement of perseverance and survival against all the odds. A flower growing from the aftermath, the rubble and the ashes..”
The atmospheric video was directed by Gavin Wood.
The Lost Brothers nationwide tour stops off in Dublin’s Vicar Street on March 20.
Nick says: Brothers are doing it for themselves.
You May Like This
Jerry Fish featuring Wallis Bird – True Love Will Find You In The End
Now this is just beautiful.
A stunning duet between the former An Emotional Fish frontman (top right) and Wexford-born songstress Wallis Bird (top left) in honour of the late, great Daniel Johnston who died earlier this year.
Nick says: Cover of the year?
Paddy Mulcahy – Sunset Connoiseur
Limerick based producer and composer Paddy Mulcahy (top) has just released his sophomore LP How To Disappear via Phases Records.
In the first of three visual collaborations with Irish film makers who have chosen tracks off the LP to put their artistic spin on, David Fox directs the promo for the new single Sunset Connoisseur.
David says:
“The song instantly struck a nostalgic chord with me. There’s a texture within Paddy’s music that has grit and grain and I thought that shooting on film would be the perfect way to compliment that sound.
“I recently inherited a Super-8 camera that had shot a lot of films around Dublin in the ’80s so it felt right to re-shoot Dublin in its beautiful, brutal modern-day; focusing on a generation that is lost between progress and regression.”
Paddy plays the Unitarian Church, Dublin 2, on March 28. Tickets via EventBrite.
Nick says: I remember that Summer in Dublin.
‘sup?
The Pox Men – Apocalypse Anois
A new doom-laden song with human/horse-based video from Donegal-based self-styled ‘Proto- Psychedelic–Celtic–Punk–Folk’-sters.
Bill Hazzard writes:
We went the whole way to Dublin for this video…
Kiruu – Nyumbani
Anyone for fire spinning?
Then feast your eyes on Fergus Murtagh‘s video for Dublin-based East African singer Kiruu’s new single.
The title means ‘home’ in Swahili and the video was shot in Deer Park and various other locations in Dublin.
Kiruu’s new album Super Feo Express has been compared to other “world music” artists such as Manu Chao and Paul Simon.
Joining Kiruu in his band are Cote Calmet on drums and Barry Donohue on bass.
Nick says: Fire walk with me.
Bobbi Arlo – Berries
Do you like juicy fruits?
Then you’re going to love Dubliner Bobbi Arlo’s new single, which delights in listing all the succulent berries nature has provided.
This is feelgood playful pop with a mischievous smile on its face.
Bobbi (top) says of the video:
“I shot it with director Bobby Zithelo and producer Louis Maxwell. It was such a fun shoot. I invited a bunch of my friends to Lou’s studio and we just messed around for a few hours and the result was the ‘Berries’ video. A lot of the shots were improvised, and it came out great! The video was edited by my golden girl Niamh Bryson, who did an amazing job.”
Nick says: Raspberry fields forever.
In Galway?
If you’re looking to spend an enchanted evening listening to mesmerising minimalist piano music, then the place to be is piano virtuoso Úna Keane’s concert in the Black Gate Cultural Centre in Francis Street, Galway, this Sunday at 8pm
Una will be playing compositions from her wonderful sophomore album In The Deep.
Support on the night comes from Lowli who will also be duetting with Una.
Nick says: Don’t shoot the piano player.
David Keenan – Unholy Ghosts
A hAon, a do, a tri…
So begins the new single from Dundalk troubadour David Keenan (top), who rounds off a busy year with a rousing celebration of the hobos he meets on his travels.
David says:
“I wrote this song on a train from Amsterdam [Netherlands] to Cologne [Germany], finished it as the train ceased to move, brought it in me to a Chapel in Cologne, sang it for the first time, left the Chapel with a liberated German bible under my arm as a souvenir.
“Reconciling my act of theft with the thought that it would be a useful reference for a line or two at a later date, and that the greater good must prevail…”
David’s debut album A Beginner’s Guide To Bravery drops on January 10.
Nick says: Keen on Keenan.
Andy White – The Shit Hits The Fan
Paint it White.
Belfast troubadour Andy White (Top) has just released the 13th studio album of his career – Time Is A Buffalo In The Art Of War.
Now based in Melbourne, Australia, the straight-shooting singer/songwriter visits our hemisphere when he plays The American Bar, Belfast, tonight; Dublin’s DC Club on Camden Row, Dublin 2, on Sunday; and Coughlans in Cork on December 5.
In the video (above) for his new single, Andy channels his inner John Lennon as he goes for a walk by the pier.
Nick says: It will be all White on the night.
