Damien Dempsey plays 3Olympia Fri. 7 Feb. 2025

Tickets on sale @10am on Wed 18^th Dec via Ticketmaster

The Sunday Independent’s Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus Ireland celebrates ten years of amazing gigs and over €450,000 raised. One of the Irish artists of the year Damien Dempsey will headline the 10^th anniversary of Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus Ireland on Fri. 7^th February in the 3Olympia, Dublin. Focus Ireland reports that sadly the homelessness crisis has deepened again in the last year: a record total of just under 15,000 people are now homeless and shockingly this includes over 4,645 children. These figures demonstrate that we need events like Rock Against Homelessness now more than ever.

Hot on the release of his brilliant new album Hold The Joy, and subsequent sold out shows all over Ireland, Dempsey will put on a show that the nation needs right now: a powerful call to compassion, empathy and speaking up about something successive governments have done very little about.

Damien Dempsey said: ‘It makes me angry to my bones that in 2024 there are almost 5000 children without a home in Ireland and 15,000 people homeless. It is beyond words of anger or sadness that this issue has not been fixed. What are the so-called people in power doing about it? Not a lot, as far as I can see. I often wonder about the fact that they can do nothing about homelessness now but in the 1930s and 1940s – when Ireland was on its knees as a nation financially – they could still manage to build massive housing estates around Ireland for people to live in. Why can’t they do that now? They are too busy selling out the people by selling the soul of Ireland to international vulture funds who couldn’t care less about anything or anyone other than money. Something needs to be done urgently about helping the homeless in Ireland.’

‘What do we need to do? I think we should really, really push the Government now to put it into law that people abroad can vote, that the Irish who were born abroad can vote in Ireland in a General election. There is 141 countries around the world that this happens in and we need to push for that in this country. That is important.’

CEO of Focus Ireland Pat Dennigan said: ‘The support and awareness we get from an event like this is amazing. Focus Ireland needs to raise over 40% of our annual budget through donations and events like Rock Against Homelessness so we really need people to support this magnificent event again this year. Damien Dempsey is well known for his strong voice on social justice, and it is a great fit to have him as the headline act for the 10^th Rock Against Homelessness. The crisis has got worse as the number of people homeless has shot up 14% in the last year. These are not just percentages and statistics, but everyone is a real person whose life has been in crisis because they have lost their home. It is unforgivable that 4,645 children will be homeless this Christmas in Ireland. However, the situation would be a lot worse again without the hard work of Focus Ireland and other organisations. We are all working to help prevent and tackle homelessness and Focus Ireland helped 18,000 people last year who were homeless or at risk. We now provide over 1,600 permanent homes for families and individuals across the country through Focus Housing. It’s important to never forget that homelessness is a problem we can tackle when we work collectively. Having the support of partners like Cadbury’s, Arachas, Starbucks, the Hard Rock Cafe and the Independent is tremendous in showing what can be achieved.’

Barry Egan, who has put on Rock against Homelessness in aid of Focus Ireland for the last ten years for TheSunday Independent, said: ‘We have had some great performances from some great acts since we started. The Boomtown Rats in 2017 with Glen Hansard and The Strypes doing “Rat Trap” with 1700 people singing its grim chorus: “It’s a rat trap and you’ve been caught.” In 2020, it was impossible to forget Fontaines DC with Kneecap almost tearing the roof off the venue in one of the most powerful and incendiary shows I’ve ever seen. We also had Dermot Kennedy and Imelda May in 2018, Pillow Queens in 2021, Lyra in 2023. They have all been, in their own way, completely unique. There is something about Damien Dempsey headlining the tenth anniversary that is truly special. He’s about to sell out six shows at Vicar Street. His new album Hold The Joy is probably the record of the year with so many songs that powerfully reflect the uncomfortable reality of Ireland in the present day. Damien is a man who has been singing deep, deep from the heart for many years about the issues that many young people find themselves caught in, the hellish economic rat trap that Bob Geldof famously sang of in 1987. He is a true hero and the perfect person to headline and curate the show (with some very special guests soon to be announced) that already promises to be one of the gigs of the year.’

Peter Vandermeersch, CEO of Mediahuis who own The Sunday Independent, said: ‘It is clear and simple: in Ireland no man, no woman and no child should be without a home. This goes for people who were born here or for people who, with good reason, left their own land to find a safer place in this great and affluent country. The fact that so many people are still homeless in Ireland is big stain on the reputation of Éire. This is the country of the big tech companies, one of the richest in Europe, which has a surplus on its public finance balance. Giving all the people a roof above their head should be one of the main priorities of the next government. For me it will be a measure of the success or failure of a next Irish coalition.

‘Obviously I realise this is not easy. But a country with that many great entrepreneurs, creative spirits, wonderful people should be able to realise this simple goal: a home for all people living on the island of Ireland.

‘Mediahuis came to Ireland in 2019 when we acquired the biggest newspaper company in this land with great publications like The Irish Independent, The Sunday Independent, The Sunday World, The Herald, The Kerryman, The Sligo Champion and, in Northern Ireland, The Belfast Telegraph. We’re very proud that these titles, in print and online, are on a daily basis writing about the issues this country faces. But we want to do more than write about this country. We are part of the social fabric of Ireland and we want to help solve in a constructive way the issues we write about.

‘That’s why we’ve put our shoulders under the Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus in collaboration with an impressive line-up of great Irish artists. I can make a promise: we will not stop to support this cause until every man, woman and child in Ireland has a roof above their head. Then we’ll organise a major concert to celebrate how great this country is.’

Eoin Kellett, Managing Director, Mondelez Ireland: ‘Cadbury have had a long standing relationship with Focus Ireland and are once again very proud main sponsors of Rock Against Homelessness 2025. This special night makes a huge difference in both raising much needed funds for the charity, and also raising awareness of the work done by Focus Ireland. As a brand with a strong heritage in Irish communities, it is a privilege to be a position to try and give something back. We’d encourage everyone to support this very important cause.’

Celine Gilmer, Director Marketing, Starbucks and Hard Rock Cafe: ‘‘We are proud and honoured to continue our long affiliation with Rock Against Homelessness into 2025. While homeless numbers remain a major issue in Ireland, the thankless work Focus Ireland undertakes has been, and continues to be, absolutely crucial in combating the crisis. Their endeavour and resolve are truly inspirational, and we are privileged to support this most worthy of causes.’ 

CEO of Arachas Insurance Joey Wynne: ‘Last year, Focus Ireland helped almost 500 families out of homelessness, which highlights the importance of what Focus Ireland does every day, all around the country. As Ireland’s largest nationwide broker, with 16 offices across Ireland, Arachas is proud to increase our support of Rock Against Homelessness in 2025, kicking off with what promises to be a fantastic gig in Dublin in February and subsequently bringing Rock Against Homelessness to other cities in Ireland later in the year, building on the recent success of the Galway event.’

Sponsored by Cadbury and Arachas Insurance – with Starbucks and Hard Rock Café – Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus Ireland goes on sale next Wednesday 18^th December. Tickets priced €40 are available from www.ticketmaster.ie. Phone and internet bookings are subject to 12.5% charge.  

Jerry Fish feat. May Kay

Releases ‘Dreaming Of Daniel’

Jerry Fish announces Irish tour from 28 Nov – March 2025

Irish indie legend and musical ringmaster Jerry Fish is releasing his latest single ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances’ (download wav), a joyous cover of a Daniel Johnston song in collaboration with singer MayKay (Fight Like Apes) on November 1st. It’s followed by an album of Johnston covers, Dreaming of Daniel, on 15^th November.

A long-time fan of Daniel, Jerry has been performing ‘The Story Of An Artist’ for years. When Daniel died in 2019, Fish released ‘True Love Will Find You In The End’. His version caught the attention of Daniel’s manager Tom Gimbel, who asked if Jerry could run ‘Hi, How Are You Day’ in Dublin on January 22nd 2020 (Daniel’s birthday). Jan 22nd is ‘Hi, How Are You Day’ all over the world, a day to celebrate Daniel’s life and legacy and to have open conversations about mental health and wellbeing. Since 2020, Jerry has co-hosted ‘Hi, How Are You Day’ in Dublin with MayKay and pianist/arranger Cian Boylan.

Jerry says, ‘This is my first vinyl record in thirty-four years and my first LP in fifteen years. A labour of love, five years in the making. I am very proud of it. It’s a record full of amazingly talented musicians, a fourteen-piece orchestra, a three-piece brass section, backing vocals from some of the best vocal talent in Ireland, praising one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Not alone is his lyrical wit and honesty an inspiration to me and a multitude of artists the world over, we also have so much fun performing his songs live. The album Dreaming of Daniel captures the joy we experience on stage performing Daniel’s songs.’

‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances’ certainly conveys that sense of joy. With poignant lyrics instructing the listener to ‘do yourself a favour, become your own saviour’, Jerry and Maykay share the vocals backed by a full band and a bright brass accompaniment. The song was originally contained on the fifth self-released music cassette album by Daniel Johnston, recorded over the summer 1983.

Fans of Jerry Fish and Daniel Johnston alike will be delighted to beat the January blues by going to the ‘Hi, How Are You Day’ celebrations on 26^th January 2025 in The Grand Social in Dublin where Jerry will be showcasing more of the music from Dreaming of Daniel.

Tracklisting;

1. The Story Of An Artist
2. Peek A Boo
3. Living Life
4. The Sun Goes Down On Me
5. Some Things Last A Long Time
6. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances
7. Devil Town
8. Ain’t No Woman Gonna Make A George Jones Outta Me
9. It’s Impossible
10. Man Obsessed
11. Sorry Entertainer
12. True Love Will Find You In The End

Record Shop PAs:

Fri. 15 Nov                    Golden Discs Central Plaza 4pm 

Sat. 16 Nov                  Billy Byrnes Kilkenny with Rollercoaster Records 6pm 

Sun. 17 Nov                  Music Zone Cork 4pm 

Sun. 17 Nov                  Coughlans Cork 7pm 

Thurs. 21 Nov              SpinDizzy Dublin 6pm 

See Jerry Fish live;

Thurs. 28 Nov              Button Factory, Dublin                                   Show 8pm / Tickets €28

Sat. 14 Dec                  Purty Kitchen, Dun Laoghaire                         Show 8pm / Tickets €25

Sat. 21 Dec                  Whale Theatre, Greystones                            Show 8pm / Tickets €32

Fri. 10 Jan                    Dunmaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise                  Show 8pm / Tickets €30/28

Sat. 11 Jan                   Balina Arts Centre, Ballina                              Show 8pm / Tickets €30

Sat. 25 Jan                   Crescent Concert Hall, Drogheda                 Show 8pm / Tickets €25

Sun 26 Jan                   Grand Social, Dublin ‘Hi, How Are you Day’ Daniel Johnson

Fri. 31 Jan                    Dolans, Limerick                                             Show 8pm /Tickets €25

Fri. 7 Feb                     Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge

Fri 14 Feb                    The Dock Arts Centre, Carrick On Shannon    Show 8pm / Tickets €25

Sat. 22 Feb                  St. Lukes, Cork

Fri. 7 March                Roisin Dubh, Galway                                       Show 8.30pm / Tickets €23

www.jerry-fish.com

Releases ‘We’re Looking For A Hit’ feat. Joshua Burnside

from his new album Light Entertainment out this Fri. 15 Nov

Plays The Lyric Theatre, Belfast on Thursday 14th Nov.

Acclaimed Northern Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery shares his searing and sardonic new single, ‘We’re Looking For A Hit’ (download WAV) featuring vocals from fellow Belfast-based singer-songwriter Joshua Burnside. Taken from his stunning new album Light Entertainment, out this Friday 15 Nov.

“The track deals with my personal history and feelings about working within the music industry,” Lavery says. “Through all of the trials, tribulations, successes and setbacks, it ultimately comes down to one thing “we’re looking for a hit”. It also looks at issues of self-worth and trying to find ones place in an often brutal and callous world.”

Light Entertainment is Lavery’s fifth studio album, and first since 2020’s lauded Plz Stay, bb, it is his most multi-layered, intriguing record yet. Featuring his trademark wit, he invites listeners into a world that is strange and fraught, and one not for the faint of heart. As Lavery explains, it is an “apocalypse record”, into which he has poured all of the paranoia, deceit, conflict and desperation that crashes like a tidal wave across our lives. The album has already received praise from BBC Radio, The Irish Sunday Times, Hot Press, The Thin Air and more. 

Light Entertainment has also been made into an astonishing short film – directed by Shaun Doogan and Ciarán McCann at Re-Act Productions, which follows Lavery through a sequence of increasingly surreal scenarios inspired by classic film noir and Noughties indie movies, it even features Irish national treasure Daniel O’Donnell, playing a phantasmagorical version of himself. The film represents what Lavery encapsulates on the album: how a constant deluge of information (and misinformation), news, social media, images, video and entertainment leaves us in a perpetually overwhelmed state. 

Across the 11 tracks on Light Entertainment, recorded with friends Danny Ball and Dan B-M, Lavery captures a distinct and authentic sly wit that subverts the self-declared “apocalypse album” tag, keeping it from becoming bogged down in its own gloom. Lavery addresses questions of faith, history and divisions in album singles such as ‘Oh My God (No, Your God) (featuring Morgana)’, while ‘Everything Considered’ reflects on the repeat behaviours we turn to as a coping mechanism to numb our feelings of helplessness. 

The album closes with the anthemic ‘The World Will Put Its Arms Around You’, propelling the listener back to the surface, leaving with a message of defiance and hope.  No matter how the world you see around you differs from the one you dreamt of. “Hope”, he says, “is just about the only thing we have that persists.”

Ciaran Lavery is an award-winning, singer-songwriter and musician who has released multiple acclaimed albums and amassed more than 150 million streams to date. Lavery’s music has been nominated four times at the NI Music Prize, winning album of the year in 2016. He’s been the subject of praise from the BBC, The Telegraph, The Independent, CLASH, Hot Press, and more over the years.

Live Dates:

14th Nov – Belfast, UK @ The Lyric Theatre [tickets]

20th Nov – London, UK @ The Green Room [tickets]

22nd Nov – Amsterdam, NL @ Torpedo Theatre [tickets]

THE CORONAS

Offer up condolences to Sabrina Carpenter for taking her No 1 slot!

‘The superior quality of the songwriting is what matters most here.’ – Album of The Week, Irish Mail on Sunday

‘It’s jam-packed with rugged songs, straight-from-the-heart conviction and true-life emotion, all woven together superbly by producer George Murphy.’ – 8/10 Hot Press

Today The Coronas celebrate the rare feat of four number ones in a row, with their eighth studio album Thoughts & Observations soaring to the top of the Irish album charts one week after its release. An achievement not accomplished by many bands, the hard-working trio are ecstatic at the news and want to send a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all their loyal fans.

“We’d like to send our condolences to Sabrina Carpenter. For the last 5 weeks her album has been number one in 250 countries but today Ms Carpenter is waking up to the news that this week it’s only 249. The people of Ireland have spoken Sabrina, and, for one week only, they’ve chosen 3 hairy, 30-something year-old indie-rockers from Terenure to take the mantle!

In all seriousness, this is really cool, thanks to everyone who got the album and a special thank you to our manager Jim and all the Coronas family for all their hard work” Danny, Knoxy & Conor.

Written in Dingle, County Kerry and recorded in Eastcote Studios in London, Thoughts & Observations is a powerful, melodic record which takes an incisive look at life, relationships and art. Although technically a three-piece, with Danny O’Reilly on vocals, piano and guitar, Graham Knox on bass and Conor Egan on drums, the band embraced the talents of their touring supergroup on this album with Lar Kaye (All Tvvins) on guitar, Cian MacSweeney (True Tides) on saxophone and Roisin O on backing vocals. Produced by Grammy award-winning, long-time collaborator, George Murphy (Mumford and Sons, The Specials, Ellie Goulding) Thoughts & Observations is at times anthemic, at times delicate, but always authentic and full of emotion.

Since the album’s release, it has garnered a huge response from fans at the mini-tour of launch shows they have undertaken in partnership with Golden Discs. From Dublin to Wexford, via Kilkenny, Limerick, Galway and Cork, the reaction to the new material has been amazing.

The Coronas are heading back to US and Australia before they return to play five sold-out shows in December in the 3Olympia, a firm tradition on Coronas fans’ Christmas calendars. If you’re lucky enough you might catch them in the INEC in Killarney on 28 December; the perfect way to finish off the year.

See The Coronas live:

Wed. 13 Nov                             Gramercy Theatre, New York

Thurs. 14 Nov                           Brighton Music Hall, Boston

Thurs. 21 Nov                           Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne

Fri. 22 Nov                                Selina’s Sydney

Sat. 23 Nov                               Magnet House, Perth

12, 13, 14, 15 & 17 Dec             3Olympia, Dublin – *SOLD OUT*

Sat. 28 Dec                               INEC, Killarney Kerry

www.thecoronas.net

RYAN MCMULLAN

Releases his debut album Redesign on 1 November

Debut’s No 1 on Irish Independent Album Charts & No 5 on Irish album chart

Writing songs and then touring the world with them: that’s the dream for any singer-songwriter. And for many years that was the dream that Ryan McMullan was chasing. The Portaferry native is blessed with a voice that can shift effortlessly between the ethereal and the guttural, and a prodigious songwriting talent to match. Since the early days of his career he garnered significant attention from industry heavyweights, including Ed Sheeran, who called Ryan’s voice a ‘rare jewel’, and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, who likened his voice to that of an angel. From playing in stadiums supporting Ed Sheeran, to a string of hit singles, and selling out headline tours throughout the UK and Europe, Ryan’s rise was nothing short of extraordinary.

Having taken some time off to focus on his mental health, Ryan is back and is finally ready to share with us his long-awaited debut album Redesign.

‘It’s funny because the album is called Redesign, and it feels like it has been redesigning itself since 2019. I’m very happy with where it is today and where I am also. In 2022, having just come out of a pandemic, I wasn’t ready to tour and release music again, and I think the pressure of having a lot of people who had invested in me and who were depending on me kept me from allowing myself to acknowledge the fact that I wasn’t OK. For me, it was very overwhelming to be confined to your home for over a year and then to be expected to come back touring as if nothing had changed. I ultimately had to redefine a lot of things in my career, such as expectations, partners, perceptions and even just purpose. And truthfully, Redesign makes more sense and has more purpose now than ever before. In retrospect, love is forever in my mind when writing songs, and in this instance, it was about finding love, losing it, loving myself, allowing others to love me and even the sting that love leaves behind. It can be a very cruel mistress, but if it was good enough for the Beatles, then it’s certainly good enough for me.’

Ryan marks the release of Redesign with a small run of sold-out November shows, as well as a few pre-release listening parties all over Ireland, in some of the finest pubs the land has to offer. The full UK and Irish shows are on sale Oct 4th.

Pub crawl

21 Oct              Simpson’s Bar, Tul Na Rí, Donegal

22 Oct              Dolan’s, Limerick

23 Oct             Mike The Pies, Listowel, Kerry

25 Oct              Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, Cork

28 Oct             Matt Molloy’s, Westport, Mayo

30 Oct              Spirit Store, Dundalk

31 Oct              Strand Bar, Strandhill, Sligo

See Ryan Live

3 Nov               Workman’s Club, Dublin            SOLD OUT

4 Nov               Empire Music Hall, Belfast         SOLD OUT

5 Nov                SWG3 Poetry Club, Glasgow       SOLD OUT

7 Nov               The Waiting Room, London        SOLD OUT

6 April              La Belle Angele, Edinburgh


7 April              Bodega, Nottingham


8 April              Band On The Wall, Manchester


10 April             The Garage, London


11 April             Mama Roux, Birmingham


12 April             Thekla, Bristol                                                     

14 April             Cyprus Avenue, Cork


15 April             Monroe’s, Galway


17 April             3Olympia, Dublin


18 April            Millenium Forum, Derry


22 April             The Telegraph Building, Belfast

OASIS ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST UK AND IRELAND SHOWS IN SIXTEEN YEARS

TICKETS GO ON SALE FROM SATURDAY, AUGUST 31ST at 8am

Oasis today end years of feverish speculation with the confirmation of a long awaited run of UK and Ireland shows forming the domestic leg of their OASIS LIVE 25 world tour. Oasis will hit Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin in the summer of 2025. Their only shows in Europe next year, this will be one of the biggest live moments and hottest tickets of the decade.

The Oasis live experience is unlike anything else. The roar that greets them as they step on stage. A set full of wall-to-wall classics. The spine-tingling sensation of being in a crowd singing back every word. And especially the charisma, spark and intensity that only comes when Liam and Noel Gallagher are on-stage together.

The brothers have flourished with their own projects since the band split in 2009, with ten UK #1 albums between them as well as countless festival headline sets and stadium and arena shows. But Oasis is something else. There has been no great revelatory moment that has ignited the reunion – just the gradual realisation that the time is right. Yet the timing must be a subconscious influence. This Thursday represents thirty years to the day since their electrifying debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’ was released, while 2025 will see the equally essential second record ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’ reach that same anniversary.

Oasis commented,

“The guns have fallen silent.

The stars have aligned.

The great wait is over.

Come see.

It will not be televised.”

Plans are underway for OASIS LIVE ’25 to go to other continents outside of Europe later next year.

Oasis’s legend has only been amplified in their absence. The classics that Liam and Noel have played in their solo shows have inspired phenomenal public demand for the band to make a long-awaited return, while the ‘Knebworth 1996’ film provided a taste of their exhilarating live performances to a whole new generation. They remain a huge draw in the streaming era, with 21.5 million monthly listeners at Spotify alone and a total of 12 billion streams to date. This Friday will also see the release of the Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition of ‘Definitely Maybe’, which is available to pre-order here.

Tickets for the UK dates go on sale from 9am on Saturday, August 31st and will be available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk, www.gigsandtours.com and www.seetickets.com. Dublin tickets will be available from 8am that same day from www.ticketmaster.ie. The shows are:

JULY 2025

4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium

5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium

11th – Manchester, Heaton Park

12th – Manchester, Heaton Park

19th – Manchester, Heaton Park

20th – Manchester, Heaton Park

25th – London, Wembley Stadium

26th – London, Wembley Stadium

AUGUST 2025

2nd – London, Wembley Stadium

3rd – London, Wembley Stadium

8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

16th – Dublin, Croke Park

17th – Dublin, Croke Park

A quick recap of the Oasis story. Formed in Manchester, the band quickly became one of the biggest cultural phenomenons of the era as ‘Definitely Maybe’ became the fastest-selling debut album in British history – and has since reached 17 x Platinum in recognition of 5 million+ domestic sales. All seven of their studio albums went straight to #1, as did their 2010 compilation ‘Time Flies…’. Their catalogue of features eight #1 singles, from ‘Some Might Say’ to ‘The Importance of Being Idle’, as well as another fifteen Top 10 hits.

That huge following translated to the live arena, most famously playing to 125,000 people each night during two shows at Knebworth. Other big moments included two headline sets at Glastonbury in 1995 and 2004; huge homecoming shows at Manchester City’s Maine Road stadium; and a run of Wembley Stadium gigs which were documented in the live album ‘Familiar To Millions’.

Their accolades have included six BRIT Awards, including the Outstanding Contribution to British Music, two Ivor Novellos, and seventeen NME Awards.

Oasis’ Classic Debut Single ‘Supersonic’ Celebrates 30^th Anniversary

Version Of ‘Supersonic (Live at the Limelight, Belfast 4th September ‘94)’

Limited Edition Physical Single Formats – Replica of Original 1994 CD Single & Individually Numbered Pearl Coloured 7” Vinyl – Out Now

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the classic debut single ‘Supersonic’ this week (originally released on 11th April 1994), Oasis have today unveiled an essential early live recording of the song. Listen here and watch the new lyric video.  Limited edition physical single formats are also released to commemorate this landmark date – a replica of the original 1994 CD Single (including the white label demo version of ‘Columbia’) and an individually numbered pearl coloured 7” vinyl – out now on Big Brother Recordings. The single is also available in Spatial Audio on Apple Music here.

The kinetic live version of ‘Supersonic’ was recorded at the Limelight, Belfast on 4th September 1994, perfectly capturing the moment when Oasis were one of the most exciting new bands and poised on the brink of era-defining crossover success. Earlier that week, their seminal debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’ had been released (29^th August 1994) and shortly before taking to the stage in Belfast, the band discovered the album had reached Number 1 in the UK Official Album Chart. The fans who had travelled from all over Northern Ireland witnessed an unforgettable gig that would go down in local folklore.

David Neely was General Manager and booker at the venue in 1994 and recalls the night of Oasis’ gig – “They took the stage in the Limelight, Belfast on Sunday 4th September.  It was a sell out 500 people at the gig and tickets only £6.75!  The Sunday of the week the debut album was released, the Limelight show was the right venue, for the right band at the right time.  I remember around 6.30pm (in the dark days before mobile phones) that a call came into the office from Radio One, saying the band had just went to Number 1 in the album charts.  It was a show that is now claimed by thousands that they were there – simply a show that is legendary in these parts.”

Delivering a set full of attitude, earsplitting feedback and stone cold classics-in-waiting, the Manchester five piece transcended their early potential and fans’ feverish expectations. Oasis were about to become one of the defining cultural forces of British Music.

News of activity to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of ‘Definitely Maybe’ to follow in the coming weeks.

‘Supersonic’ CD single tracklist:

1. Supersonic
2. Take Me Away
3. I Will Believe (Live)
4. Columbia (White Label Demo)

‘Supersonic’ 7” single tracklist:          

1. Supersonic
2. Take Me Away

Award-winning Dizzy Deliveries confirmed for a new series on RTÉjr from Monday 15 April

Award-winning smash hit children’s TV series Dizzy Deliveries is back, with season two premiering on 15^th April on RTÉjr with all episodes available to view on the RTÉ Player from this date. After the phenomenal response to the first series, the captivating world of Dizzy Deliveries returns with brand new episodes full of adventures, fun and laughter.

Dizzy Deliveries is the first TV show to use the key word signing system Lámh. It recently won a prestigious Clio award at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Lámh is used by children and adults with Down syndrome, autism, and communication difficulties to support their communication and self-expression. As the drama unfolds in each episode Lámh signs are brought to life, as Joe, our erstwhile delivery man hilariously attempts to deliver his packages. Featuring children who use Lámh, they assist Joe in his chaotic and funny adventures. Dizzy Deliveries helps audiences to add Lámh to their own vocabulary in a fun and immersive way.

Series two will contain thirteen episodes, directed by BAFTA award-winning writer and director Nia Ceidiog (whose credits include Fireman Sam and Something Special with Mr. Tumbles for Cbeebies) with theme music from Maria Doyle Kennedy and Kieran Kennedy. This season features some great cameos from famous Irish faces including singer-songwriter Mundy, chef JP McMahon, Special Olympics gold medalist Timothy Morahan, and horticulturalist Diarmuid Gavin.

Series 1 of Dizzy Deliveries broke new ground in Irish broadcasting. It quickly became a beloved fixture on the TV schedule and the most-watched RTÉjr commission on the RTÉ Player. Young viewers adored the show, in particular the families of loved ones with intellectual disabilities and communication needs. Importantly, the show also engaged children who don’t have those needs but who are fans of Joe and his robot sidekick Ozzy and his boss Aisling.

Dizzy Deliveries is produced by the award-winning production company Macalla Teoranta, responsible for Home School Hub as well as several awarding-winning feature films from Róise & Frank to Ireland’s entry into the 2020 Oscars, Arracht.  Jointly funded by Coimisiún na Meán and RTÉ the series was shortlisted for a Royal Television Society award in 2023.

Speaking ahead of the new series, Suzanne Kelly, Group Head of Children’s and Young People’s content at RTÉ said: “RTÉjr is thrilled to be part of the exhilarating and important journey of Dizzy Deliveries. As we embark on Season 2’s premiere on RTÉjr & RTÉ Player, I am reminded of the profound impact our show has had. From helping to break down barriers to igniting new avenues of communication through Lámh signing, every episode is a testament to the power of inclusion and possibility. It’s Public Service television at its very best as Joe, Aisling, Ozzy and of course the real stars, the kids, spread laughter, learning and joy.  We are proud to play a part in supporting this talented production team who bring Dizzy Deliveries 2 to our screens.”

Mary Cullen, Manager of Lámh said of “Dizzy Deliveries TV show with Lámh signing has been a dream come true for families, children who use Lámh and everyone in their communities! It’s a massive hit with families, schools, pre-schools and everyone, who all love learning Lámh signs in a fun way with Joe, Aisling, Ozzy and friends.”

Families who use Lámh signs at home have told us how so many people are watching Dizzy Deliveries and are using Lámh signs now at school, at pre-school, playing sports and in the community, which helps with fun, friendship and inclusion for everyone.

Dizzy Deliveries Series 2 will give us more adventures, more excitement and more Lámh signing, we can’t wait!”

Brand New Studio Album ‘Inevitable Incredible’

Released 3rd May on Stylus Records through Ignition Records Ltd

Listen to the Album’s Title Track Here

‘Inevitable Incredible’ Will Be Available On Heavyweight LP, CD and Digital Formats-Pre-order Here

Kelly Jones has today announced details of his brand-new studio album ‘Inevitable Incredible’, released on Stylus Records through Ignition Records Ltd on 3rd May.  View the album trailer here.

The news is accompanied by the unveiling of the eponymous title track. Listen here now.

The beautifully sparse and emotive first song ‘Inevitable Incredible’ is released today. Listen here. The song marks a bold stylistic shift for Kelly Jones, long established as one of the UK’s most prolific, successful, and beloved singers and songwriters. Setting the scene for the accompanying album, his voice is instantly recognisable yet on this album, Kelly shows a tenderness and vulnerability highlighting a breadth and depth vocally that is sometimes overshadowed by his familiar rock anthems of Stereophonics. The piano-led, cinematic and widescreen soundscapes are something new and bold for Jones. It’s a song that shows a songwriter pushing himself out of his comfort zone and with a vulnerability not often associated with a major artist a quarter of a century into such a hugely successful and storied career.

‘Inevitable Incredible’ sees Kelly writing primarily on the piano for the first time between October and December of 2022. After three months of wrestling haunting melodies from his piano and writing emotional, soul searching and always brutally honest lyrics into his notebook, Kelly found himself with an album’s worth of material. Material he never set out to create, but knew he needed to see through to completion, and complete quickly to capture the raw essence of what he’d created. He disembarked to the beautiful, secluded expanses of Ocean Sound studio in Norway, tucked away on a tiny remote island in the North Sea. With just his studio engineer and backline technician with him, the stunning stillness of the surroundings and vast expanses of wilderness, informed a six-day recording session that perfectly captured the emotional depths and soul searching that was born from those late-night piano sessions.

Over its eight songs, ‘Inevitable Incredible’ takes the listener on an engrossing journey that gives an intimate insight into an artist who is not content to rest on his laurels.

Speaking of ‘Inevitable Incredible’ Jones says: ‘The remote surroundings of the island studio allowed the songs to come to life and breathe, no distractions, it was such a new experience. There were no expectations for how the songs should sound. Just let the emotion and vulnerability I put into writing those songs come to life. The weather could change in a minute and there was little to no contact with the outside world. All this influenced how the songs came to be. It was a truly cathartic experience. I feel like I left it all out there on these songs.’

Over the last 25 years, Jones’ band Stereophonics have been a mainstay on radio and arena stages, writing anthems that are etched into the heartlands of the public’s consciousness like few others. Following on from 2022’s chart-topping album ‘Oochya!’ – Stereophonics’ 8th UK Number One album and accompanying sold-out stadium and arena tour that included 2 sold out nights at Cardiff’s 60,000 capacity Principality Stadium, Jones shifted gears again with the recent UK success of his Americana-influenced album Far From Saints. The project, comprising of Jones with Dwight Baker and Patty Lynn of The Wind and The Wave, received critical and commercial success last year, debuting in the top 5 on the UK Official Albums Chart whilst topping the specialist UK Official Americana and Country Artists Albums Charts. And now with ‘Inevitable Incredible’, Jones shows his continued evolution as an artist, able to adapt and steer his songwriting talents in manners that complement and broaden his body of work.

‘Inevitable Incredible’ is available from May 3rd via Stylus Records through Ignition Records Ltd, available on heavyweight LP, CD and digital formats. Pre-order here .