SINÉAD O’CONNOR

 BRAND NEW VIDEO FOR

 ‘8 GOOD REASONS’ – NOVEMBER 14^th

Hear ‘8 Good Reasons’:  https://soundcloud.com/nettwerkmusicgroup/sinead-oconnor-8-good-reasons/s-5IjCy

Sinéad O’Connor releases her brand new single ‘8 Good Reasons’, the second single to be taken from her acclaimed new album ‘I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss’. ‘8 Good Reasons’ is released via Nettwerk Records on November 14^th 2014.

Today Sinead unveils the brand new video for the track, shot on a bus in her home town of Dublin recently. The video shows Sinead at her most direct and powerful but also shows the redemptive power of the song and the joy of the lyric.

The full video for ‘8 Good Reasons’ can be seen at www.sineadoconnor.com/. ‘8 Good Reasons’ is an emotive and beautiful song that represents the very best of Sinead’s songwriting, her ever-powerful and moving vocal set to a gorgeous and uplifting chorus produced by long term collaborator John Reynolds.

Sinéad’s new album ‘I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss’ has been her most successful album in recent years both critically and commercially and was her first Irish No 1 album since ‘I Do not Want What I Haven’t Got’ in 1990. Mojo called the album ‘simply a remarkable collection of songs’ in a 4* review, Sunday Times Culture called it ‘excellent’ whilst the Daily Mirror described Sinead as a ‘Celtic queen performing a career high’ in a 5* review.

In addition to headlining Womad and performing at Camp Bestival & Electric Picnic, Sinéad also headlined her own sensational live sold out show at NCH, Dublin which was showered in four star reviews by reviewing media.

‘I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss’ is the follow up to Sinéad’s acclaimed album ‘How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?’ which was released in 2011. ‘I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss’ features twelve brand new songs which showcase the very best of Sinéad and what makes her so special, passionate and direct yet with an overarching fragile beauty Sinéad’s voice and lyrics are as powerful as they are tender.

Sinead O’Connor plays Vicar Street, Dublin on 16^th December.

 www.sineadoconnor.com

Boy & Bear’s UK & Irish tour kicks off on the 4^th November

They play Whelan’s, Dublin on 9 November

New single Southern Sun releases in Ireland on 14^th November

Australia’s indie folk darlings Boy & Bear finish their year of consistent touring in Europe, kicking of the run of UK & Irish dates on the 4^th of November, in Glasgow. This year will have seen Boy & Bear complete a total of 157 shows across the globe!  Have a listen to Southern Sun taken from the critically acclaimed Harlequin Dream, an album that went straight to the no.1 spot in their native Australia, and received widespread critical acclaim in the UK.

Currently winning the hearts of the USA’s music loving public whilst on tour, the band performed live on Conan O’Brien’s late night TV show, on the 23^rd of July.

Harlequin Dream, the band’s first album since signing to Nettwerk Records was recorded at the legendary Albert’s Studio and mixed by Phil Ek (Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Built to Spill, The Shins) It follows on from their debut LP, Moonfire, which sold platinum in Australia and earned the Sydney five piece an astonishing five awards in 2011’s ARIA awards.

NOVEMBER 2014

Tuesday- 4th Glasgow -Oran Mor

Wednesday 5^th Edinburgh- Electric Circus
Thursday 6^th-Manchester- Gorilla

Friday 7^th– Leeds- Brudenell Social Club

Sunday 9^th – Dublin- Whelens

Tuesday 11^th- Liverpool- Leaf

Wednesday 12^th– Bristol – Anson Rooms

Thursday 13^th– Cardiff- Clwb lfor Bach

Friday 14^th– London- Shepherds Bush Empire
Sunday 16^th-Oxford- Academy

Tuesday 18^th– Portsmouth- The Wedgewood Room

https://www.facebook.com/boyandbear  // http://www.boyandbear.com

Toy Soldier

Announce New Single ‘Sugar’ Out 14^th November

From their upcoming EP ‘Breathe’

“[A] polished high energy sound that is as unique as it is fresh” – Dwayne Woods, The Irish Daly Star

“Memorable tunes with catchy choruses… Irresistible tune Butterfly has chart topping single written all over it” –

Colm O Hare, Hot Press Magazine – writing about band’s debut album ‘Calling Up The Dusk’ in 2012

Toy Soldier is an Irish based electro-pop trio combining a dance floor groove with rocking riffs. Think of your favourite club night with Nine Inch Nails and Blondie mashing it up on the decks.

They are releasing the first song to be taken from their forthcoming EP ‘Breathe’, which will be released in March 2015. The slick, super catchy ‘Sugar’ will be filling club dance floors both sides of the Atlantic very soon!

Having perfected their live performance in L.A. with early live shows in world renowned venues such as The Viper Room and The Mint, Toy Soldier are now one of the most exciting bands on the live music scene with an unmatched level of showmanship amongst their peers.

Spawning a number of very eye catching videos the band quickly gained a reputation for their sharp image, even being nominated for Sexiest Music Video at the IMTV awards in 2013 for their video ‘Summertime’.

Toy Soldier had a foray into the sporting world when the Munster Rugby team chose the band’s then forthcoming single ‘Animal’ as their official run-on song for the 2013/14 season.

2014 sees the band continue to bring their high octane live show to international audiences. This year saw the trio dent the Irish charts with single ‘Animal’ which was taken from the bands recent ‘Love Buzz’ EP released back in February.

‘Sugar’ is scheduled for release on the 14^th November and will be available on iTunes.

Toy Soldier are Fionnuala Curran (lead vocal), Cian Walsh (lead guitar and backing vocals) and Fergal McCarthy (drums and backing vocals)

Live Dates:

Thursday 30 October                          Dolans, Limerick – https://dolans.ie/

Friday 21 November                           The Greenroom, Letterkenny, Donegal – www.facebook.com/GreenroomLiveLetterkenny

Sunday 7 December                            Crane Lane, Cork – http://www.cranelanetheatre.ie/

Sunday 14th December                     Sunday Roast, The Mercantile, Dublin – http://mercantile.ie/

Monday 15 December                        Blackbird, Ballycotton, Cork – http://www.blackbirdballycotton.com/

 http://toysoldierband.com/

DUKE SPECIAL

Announces Irish Tour for 2015

New single ‘Elephant Graveyard’ out 21^st November,

New album ‘Look Out Machines’ releasing early 2015

Duke Special has just announced his first full Irish Tour in over 5 years! He will be covering every corner of the country in January & February 2015, introducing audiences to the songs of his 4^th studio album ‘Look Out Machines!’. which is set for release in 2015! Duke releases the first single from the album, a pulsating 60’s tinged belter entitled ‘Elephant Graveyard’ on November 21st.

This album sees Duke exploring new musical ground with collaborators including Iain Archer, Phil Wilkinson and Gary Clark. It was recorded at Electric Zoo studios in the English seaside town of Eastbourne. For this album Duke teamed up with Pledge Music for a second time to help bring it to life. Back in 2009, Duke Special was one of the first artists to embark upon a Pledge Campaign, raising money for his ambitious “Stage, Book and Silver Screen” project. Within only a week of the new pledge being launched it soared to 55% of reaching its target goal! It is currently at 85% with still some time to go so keep those pledges coming in!

Fans can pre-order the album now via Pledge Music, and can also make pledges for a variety of other exclusive goodies, such as signed CDs, personal house gigs, and loads of other brilliant stuff including the opportunity to join Duke in an attempt to break the world record for the most concerts performed in 24 hours! The record is currently standing at 65 shows.

As part of Duke’s Pledge Campaign, where he is raising money to make and promote the new record, Duke is offering an Irish Tour Gold Ticket giving you access to all shows on this Jan/Feb tour. These tickets are priced €126 and are selling fast so best buy yours ASAP before the rest get snapped up! See www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dukespecial for more details.

Duke has given us a sneak preview of the direction he is taking this time via the video he posted on YouTube of the song ‘Domino’ – http://youtu.be/99ipAv0T5_Y – and he gives us some other clues in the first of many film snippets about the album on the Pledge website – www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dukespecial

Supporting Duke on the tour will be VerseChorusVerse (Jan 15-17), SOAK (Jan 22-24, 29-31 & Feb 5-7) and more support acts are to be announced. All tickets for the Irish tour are €15/ £15 and are on sale from today.

JANUARY 2015

Thursday 15th Market Place Theatre, Armagh – www.marketplacearmagh.com

Friday 16th The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Leitrim – www.theglenscentre.com

Saturday 17th Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo – www.hawkswell.com

Thursday 22nd Coughlan’s, Cork – www.coughlans.ie

Friday 23rd De Barras, Clonakilty, Cork – www.debarra.ie

Saturday 24th Garter Lane Arts Theatre, Waterford – www.garterlane.ie

Thursday 29th Arts Centre, Wexford – www.wexfordartscentre.ie

Friday 30th Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Meath – www.solsticeartscentre.com

Saturday 31st Iontas Theatre, Castleblaney, Monaghan – www.iontascastleblayney.ie

FEBRUARY 2015

Thursday 5th McGrory’s, Culdaff, Donegal – www.mcgrorys.ie

Friday 6th Old Courthouse, Antrim – www.antrim.gov.uk/oldcourthouse

Saturday 7th Downs Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Down – www.downartscentre.com

Thursday 12th Cunninghams, Kildare – www.cunninghamskildare.com/cms

Friday 13th The Set Theatre, Kilkenny – www.set.ie

Saturday 14th The Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Wicklow –www.courthousearts.ie

Thursday 19th Boyles of Slane, Meath – www.boylesofslane.com

Friday 20th Spirit Store, Dundalk, Louth –www.spiritstore.ie

Thursday 26th Sol Y Sombra, Killorglin, Kerry – www.solysombra.ie

Friday 27th Roisin Dubh, Galway – www.roisindubh.net

Saturday 28th Dolans (upstairs), Limerick – www.dolans.ie

PHOX

Play songs from their self titled debut Album in Sugar Club, Dublin

on Sunday 9 November

“Buoyant African and Caribbean grooves behind sometimes moody reflections.” – New York Times 

“Not only does this sextet have abundant energy and a batch of strong songs, but it’s also got Monica Martin, as charismatic a lead singer as I’ve seen in a while.” – NPR 

“A pop sensation in waiting” – Clash / “Monica Martin’s honeyed voice; it’s full of soul” – NME 

“A triumph” – The 405 / “Monica Martin has a torch singer’s quiet glamour and smoky voice” – Uncut

It’s a rare thrill nowadays, when listening to the opening few bars of a track, to hear a voice that slices its way through such a riot of colour and effortlessly holds your attention. The breathy-yet-powerful intensity of Phox’s Monica Martin’s voice sits somewhere between the evocative agelessness of Christine McVie or Nina Simone with more modern echoes of Chairlift’s Caroline Polacheck. Beneath this, an elegant Lee Hazlewood-meets-Regina Spector arrangement and compressed drums that St Vincent would be envious of. Wisconsin’s Phox straddle the normally shaky boundary between sounding modern and classic, perhaps what Haim would sound like if they were brought up in the South instead of the West Coast.

Phox touch many genres, swimming amidst a heady fill of rock, psychedelia, and soul. ‘Slow Motion’ has the ability to hazily transport you to a summer setting; whilst maintaining an ever-pulling nostalgia, it becomes infectiously heartening. The smoky jazz vocals from Monica Martin provide a heavy, sultry coating to the glittering pop backgrounds that slide into clarinet interludes. The single is out August 29th through Partisan Records which is taken from their self-titled debut album due for release on the same date.

In Baraboo, Wisconsin, six unlikely musicians attended high school together, and after a short stint of separation to pursue careers of their own, their hometown was calling. They rekindled their creative streaks, almost as a family, after moving in together. It was Monica who needed to be convinced of her own talent, set against the soundscape of cups, woodwind, pianos and electric guitars provided by fellow band members Jason Krunnfusz, Matthew Holmen, Zach Johnston, Matteo Roberts and Davey Robert. Through the colourful arrangement of ‘Slow Motion’, Americana influences and Caribbean rhythm can be heard, but it’s with the bare, stripped-back harmonies and subtle melancholy of the lyrics that show Phox has created something totally enchanting and unique, captivating from the first listen.

Ask the band how they would describe themselves and they’d say:

“PHOX is a bunch of friends from the Midwestern circus hamlet Baraboo, Wisc., a place where kids often drink poisoned groundwater and become endowed mutants. They make music that straddles Feist and Monty Python.”

With recent support slots with The Lumineers and Laura Mvula, this Wisconsin sextet are set to cross the pond. Following their debut Irish show at this year’s Electric Picnic, Phox are returning to The Sugar Club on 9 November.

Sunday 9 November          The Sugar Club, Lesson Street, Dublin 2 http://www.thesugarclub.com/

 http://phoxband.com

CHEVRON’S PRIZED GUITARS DONATED TO THE MUSIC STUDENTS OF

MOUNTJOY PRISON BY BILLY BRAGG IN THE FIRST

‘JAIL GUITAR DOORS’ INITIATIVE IN IRELAND

Three of the most prized guitars from the late Philip Chevron’s collection are to be presented to music students inmates in Mountjoy Prison by Billy Bragg in the first JAIL GUITAR DOORS initiative in the Republic of Ireland on 14^th October, 2014.

In keeping with one of Chevron’s final wishes prior to his death in October 2013, the presentation will be made in an intimate ceremony to be held at Mountjoy on October 14th. The ceremony will be attended by former colleagues, friends and family of the late Radiators from Space and Pogues guitarist. The initiative has been warmly welcomed and has the full support of the Director General Irish Prison Service, Mr. Michael Donnellan, the Governer of Mountjoy, Mr. Brian Murphy, both of whom will attend the ceremony, and has also received the personal support of President Michael D. Higgins.

Campus Governor Brian Murphy said that Mountjoy Prison was honored to accept the donation of three of Philip’s guitars on behalf of the Irish Prison Service and for being the first prison in Ireland selected for this ‘Jail Guitar Doors’ initiative . Speaking today Governor Murphy said “Music and the arts play a very important role in the rehabilitation of prisoners and it enables them to address problems in a non-confrontational way. Music, as we know, has a redemptive quality and can act as catalyst for further engagement with the rehabilitative services available for prisoners in all our prison schools. The students in the Mountjoy Prison School have a long history of engagement in music and this donation may serve to inspire more of our offenders to get involved”

Billy Bragg was approached by Chevron weeks before his death with the idea that he would make the donation of the instruments after his passing as part of Bragg’s JAIL GUITAR DOORS initiative which is committed to providing musical instruments and equipment to help rehabilitate inmates serving time across the world.  “Jail Guitar Doors believes that music can help offenders on the path to rehabilitation. Phillip and I spoke about how his guitar collection could make a contribution to this process. Thanks to his insightful donation, Jail Guitar Doors is able to take its first steps in Ireland, having provided guitars to over 50 prisons in the UK in the past seven years”  Billy Bragg.

Chevron’s sister, Deborah Blacoe, will also be in attendance and has thanked all concerned for their efforts in realising her brother’s final wish.“My brother Philip had many, many talents. He used all of them to the best of his ability during his lifetime. In his inherent sense of inclusivity, he now bequeaths his favourite guitars so that others may develop their talents, perhaps leading to new and rewarding opportunities.”

A evening to celebrate the life and work of Philip Chevron, CHEVRON LIVES, will be held on Sunday 23rd November in The Sugar Club, Dublin and will feature contributions from Roddy Doyle, Joseph O’Connor and The Trouble Pilgrims, doors at 7.30pm, tickets available form www.thesugarclub.com

Duke Special embarks on a 2^nd Pledge Campaign for new album in 2105

Duke Special is going to have a new album for 2015!!! He has teamed up with Pledge Music for a second time to help bring this new album to life! Duke only released the pledge last week and he is already 55% en route to his target goal! By pre-ordering the album now via Pledge Music fans will receive a variety of other exclusive goodies, such as signed CDs, personal house gigs, and loads of other brilliant stuff including the opportunity to join Duke in an attempt to break the world record for the most concerts performed in 24 hours!

Back in 2009, Duke Special was one of the first artists to embark upon a Pledge Campaign, raising money for his ambitious “Stage, Book and Silver Screen” project.Now after many adventures around the world, he has launched his 2^nd campaign. This time it is for his 4^th Studio album ‘proper’ as it were. For the last month he has been holed up in Eastbourne with producer Dave Izumi and co-producer/drummer/guitarist/songwriter Phil Wilkinson. Duke has given us a sneak preview of the direction he is taking this time via the video he posted on YouTube of the song “Domino”- http://youtu.be/99ipAv0T5_Y  – and he gives us some other clues in the first of many film snippets about the album on the Pledge website – http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dukespecial

And what of the Pledges themselves? Well as always, Duke is not one to do things by halves. Our eyes are drawn firstly to the words “Guinness Book of Records” where Duke is planning to break the record for the most shows in one day, currently standing at 65. He has invited fans to join him for a 24 hour period in March 2015 to break the record!

Historically artists have released their albums on strange formats. 8 track cartridge, anyone? Well Duke and his vaudevillian tendencies have gone back in time again, not to the 78rpm record that he delights in DJ-ing with, but further still to the era of the Wax Cylinder. Fancy his new record on that format? There’s some still available.

See the full list of Pledges here – http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/dukespecial

Duke plans to release the first single of his new album later this year.

A full Irish Tour is scheduled for Jan / Feb 2015 so keep an eye and ear out for them!

http://www.dukespecial.com/

FOY VANCE

Announces New EP

‘Feel For Me’ Out 26^th September

& Ed Sheeran iTunes Festival Support

 “Every time I see Foy play I get annoyed more people don’t know about him…inspiration just comes being in a room and guitar-jamming: with him, songs just come out” Ed Sheeran

“Tub-thumping, soulful folk rock….in tune with prime Van Morrison” Q

“He’s Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison sewn into the same skin with an Irish soul” No Depression

Foy Vance has today revealed details of his new Feel For Me EP, out 26^th September on Glassnote Records.  The four-track Feel For Me EP is the third single to be taken from Vance’s award-winning album Joy Of Nothing, and follows You & I, which featured vocals from the legendary Bonnie Raitt.

Vance has also been announced as the support to Ed Sheeran this year at the iTunes Festival that takes place in London’s well know venue the Roundhouse on September 29^th. Firm friends, Sheeran and Vance have toured together extensively – including Vance supporting Sheeran at Madison Square Garden last December – and appear on each other’s most recent albums. Sheeran sang backing vocals on Guiding Light from Joy Of Nothing, Vance returns the favour on Afire Love on Sheeran’s new album X, and has a co-writing credit on the track Tenerife Sea. Sheeran also references his friend in these lyrics from Take It Back:

“With a closed hands full of friends/ Is good advice from a man/ Who took his life on the road with me/ And I hope to see him blow up globally/ Cause that’s how it’s supposed to be”

Last November, Joy Of Nothing was announced as the winner of the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Prize, ahead of albums from Two Door Cinema Club, Tired Pony, And So I Watch You From Afar, and Girls Names. Vance plays two sold-out hometown shows at Bangor Abbey later this month.

Feel For Me EP tracklisting:

1. Feel For Me (Radio Edit)
2. Guiding Light
3. Joy of Nothing (In session with Bob Harris)
4. Dark Horse

For more information on Foy Vance and Glassnote Records, please visit www.glassnotemusic.com and www.foyvance.com

Announces NEW Shows for 2014
& unveil new track & video ‘Should Not Roam’
From their debut album ‘INHERIT’
Out 10th October
Watch ‘Should Not Roam’

Join Me In The Pines have unveiled the title of their debut album to be ‘INHERIT’ which is set for release on October 10th. So far JMITP have unleashed the incredible debut single ‘Joy Is A Lion’, the stunning song ‘Golden Guilt’ and now ‘Should Not Roam’ is the third track to be uncovered from the album!

‘Should Not Roam’ highlights the darker, more ethereal side to the album. The video was filmed and directed by Nanu Nanu’s Laura Sheeran (http://www.unit1.tv/). It features the French dancer Stephanie Dufresne…and some jelly fish!

Join Me In The Pines released their debut single ‘Joy Is A Lion’ earlier this year to two sell out shows in Dublin’s Unitarian Church and Coughlan’s in Cork and Summer festivals appearances. Following on from this success JMITP have announced more tour dates for this year. October sees the band performing in Whelan’s, Dublin, Kilkenny’s Hole in the Wall and the Spiegel Tent in Wexford.

The man behind the moniker is Bell X1’s David Geraghty who released his debut solo album ‘Kill Your Darlings’ in 2007, to critical and fan acclaim. The album was also nominated for a Choice Music Prize that year. 2009 saw David return with his second solo offering ‘The Victory Dance’. Both of these albums were written and recorded between stints in the hectic Bell X1 touring schedule.

It is a busy year for Mr. Geraghty as he is also writing the film score for “You’re Ugly Too” starring Aidan Gillen. The film is set to appear at film festivals around the world from September with a release date due for next year.

Catch Join Me In The Pines at the below dates!
Friday 10 October Triskel Christchurch, Cork – http://triskelartscentre.ie/
Thursday 16 October Whelan’s, Dublin – http://www.whelanslive.com/
Sunday 26 October The Hole In The Wall, Kilkenny – http://www.holeinthewall.ie/
Monday 27 October Spiegel Tent, Wexford – http://wexfordspiegeltent.com/

www.joinmeinthepines.com

AYALA

New Single ‘5157 Miles’ out now..

Announcing her for first live dates in Dublin!

Ayala’s new single ‘5157 Miles’ is out now in Ireland. Last year saw Ayala have a top 5 club hit in the UK with her song ‘The Sun Has Come’ remixed by Joey Negro (Kelly Rowland, Mariah Carey, Sugababes, Diana Ross, Lionel Ritchie and Pet Shop Boys). This track reached the top 10 in the Music Week club chart.

Since then Ayala has been writing in LA where she wrote ‘5157 Miles’ which was inspired one day when Ayala was feeling home sick and missed her family in Dublin. She decided to look up the distance between Dublin and LA which turned out to be 5157 miles and the song was born.

Ayala spent the early years of her life in Dublin. Her parents were extremely musical and had an old record player with tonnes of old jazz records that Ayala listened to and loved. “I was mad about Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan too. But I wasn’t only into the highbrow stuff. I also loved Whitney Houston and Kylie Minogue.”

Ayala wanted to sing from a very young age, her solo debut was in a school play at the age of 5 and ever since she has had no doubt she wanted to make a career of it – “Although I can play the harp, the violin and the piano too, my heart has always been in singing – that’s when I feel at my most creative and happy.”

Ayala has been compared to Alicia Keys, Corinne Bailey Rae and Emile Sande and her music has been praised by many. Ayala’s music will sound as fantastic 50 years from now as it does today. Ayala is here to stay.

‘5157 Miles’ was released via De Angelis Entertainment.

Sunday 21 September              The Sunday Roast, The Mercantile, Dame Street, Dublin 2

Tuesday 23 September           Supporting Eoin Glackin, Whelan’s, Wexford Street, Dublin 2

Tuesday 23 September           The Ruby Sessions, Doyles, D’Olier Street, Dublin 2

Listen to ‘5157 Miles’ here – https://soundcloud.com/deangelisentertainment/5157-miles-radio-edit/s-7KUzd

 www.musicofayala.com