Don Baker

‘My Songs, My Friends’

IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF GUESTS ON BAKER’S NEW ALBUM

Releasing on Friday 18th October, 2013

The new album by Irish singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player Don Baker features guest appearances by an impressive array of Irish performers singing Baker’s own songs.

The album, entitled My Songs, My Friends, will be released on October 18, 2013, on Baker’s own label. The star-studded line-up includes Liam O Maonlai, Brian Kennedy, Gemma Hayes, Finbar Furey, Sinead O’Connor, Eleanor McEvoy, John Spillane, Mick Pyro, Clara Rose, Rob Strong, Pat Collins, Martin Furey, Paddy Casey and Declan O’Rourke. There are also three live bonus tracks recorded by Baker at The Olympia.

As Baker himself explains about the genesis of his album, “Normally I put a lot of thought into planning my albums, but My Songs, My Friends took on a life of its own, as if some spiritual force was guiding me through it. It actually started after I accidentally met the superb singer Clara Rose in a music shop. Having been much taken by her solo album I invited her to record one of my songs with me. Studio engineer Stuart Gray was so impressed with the result that he suggested I invite others in to sing my songs. One by one they all agreed, and it became a tremendously uplifting experience for me. That such talented people would give so generously of their time was an experience I’ll never forget”.

While Baker is already acknowledged as one of the top blues harmonica players in the world, another key feature of My Songs, My Friends is the quality of his guitar playing and the range and depth of his songwriting.  ‘Politician’, featuring John Spillane, castigates our politicians, while there’s a suave gospel elegance to ‘Lord Have Mercy’, a duet by Eleanor McEvoy and Brian Kennedy. Sinead O’Connor is in vintage form on Baker’s ‘Cinderella’, while ‘Maureen’, sung by Baker himself, is a touching love song a la Mark Knopfler.

At the close of the upbeat ‘Little Rock’n’Roll Band’, Finbar Furey sings, “Come on, Don, write me one more song.”  That sentiment superbly encapsulates the esteem in which Baker is held in by fans and musicians alike.

My Songs, My Friends will be released on Don’s own label on Friday 18 October

An Evening with Don Baker, Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Dublin on 29 September. More dates to be announced Shortly.

www.donbaker.com

Announces New Single “Barefoot & Free” out 6^th September and

‘The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow’ at this year’s Electric Picnic 

New band, new label and new approach. Working with a collective of artists Jerry Fish is releasing his first single ‘Barefoot & Free’ with his new guitarist Grum featuring R.S.A.G. on drums on the 6th September to coincide with Jerry’s very own stage at Electric Picnic’s Trailer Park ‘The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow’.

Jerry Fish is thrilled to announce his new show for this year’s Electric Picnic. Mr. Fish is to host a mix of carnival sideshow theatre and alternative musical extravagance, including intimate performances from very special guests Lisa Hannigan, The Hot Sprockets, Mick Flannery, The Lost Brothers, Cathy Davey, The Lost Brothers, Colm Mac Con lomaire and many more friends the Fish cultivated during his sordid lifetime in showbiz.

‘The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow’ promises to be a highlight of this year’s Picnic, aiming to deliver three debauched days and nights of mind blowing, soul bending entertainment. Offering an escape from the fear mongering of the modern world with an invitation to let your inner child run away with the circus.

Jerry Fish is a carny soul, one who has spent much of his life on the road, a shape-shifter, showman, shaman, producer, songwriter, performer, entrepreneur, supper club crooner from Lynchville. Whether operating as The Mudbug Club’s ringmaster, a rock peacock (An Emotional Fish), or patron of poets and spoken word performers (Michael Madsen, The Revelator Orchestra), he has always favoured innovation over orthodoxy.

The new single ‘Barefoot & Free’ is the very first of the new collaboration with R.S.A.G. (Rarely Seen Above Ground) who features on drums. Fish has also formed a brand new collective of artists and musicians for his live show. The main protagonist of Jerry Fish’s new line-up is guitarist Grum, who is from the Rowland S. Howard, Warren Ellis/Bad Seeds underground school of music. Jeremy Hickey a.k.a R.S.A.G. will also be joining forces with Fish at his future live shows.

In addition to this new collective of artists, Fish has decided to take a new path regarding the recording of his music. Instead of releasing an album and spending a year promoting it he will be releasing a new song in digital format every two to three months from August 2013 onwards.

After the launch at Electric Picnic, Jerry Fish will be touring a theatre version of “The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow” this Autumn/Winter throughout Ireland…

Fri 30 Aug–Sun 1 September; ‘The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow’, Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co. Laois

http://www.jerry-fish.com/

https://soundcloud.com/jerry-fish/barefoot-free

**TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER**

PRIMAL SCREAM have confirmed they will play a number of Irish dates this October, with a Dublin date at the Olympia Theatre on Sunday 27th October. Tickets from €34 including booking fee go on sale from Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.ie this Friday at 9am. The band return to play a number of more intimate shows, following their masterpiece Screamadelica Tour which they brought to the O2, Dublin in 2011.

Primal Scream released their new album ‘More Light’, earlier this year in May on own First International label through Ignition Records. ‘More Light’, the tenth studio album from Primal Scream, was recorded in London and Los Angeles during 2012 and was produced by David Holmes. The album is another twist in the band’s history, recorded after their recent successful worldwide tour of their hit album ‘Screamadelica’. Like ‘Screamadelica’, ‘More Light’ presents a musical state that lacks boundaries.

Guest artists on ‘More Light’ include Robert Plant, Mark Stewart of The Pop Group and Mafia and Davey Henderson formerly of The Fire Engines and now Sexual Objects. With former bassist Mani now back with the reformed Stone Roses most of the bass on the album has been played by Jason Faulkner an LA based musician who has worked with David Holmes before and with a variety of acts including Beck and Air.

Tickets go on sale from Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.ie this Friday at 9am.

Primal Scream Irish Tour dates;

Thursday 24th October        Limelight, Belfast

Saturday 26th October        Leisureland, Galway

Sunday 27th October           Olympia, Dublin

Monday 28th October         Opera House, Cork

THE CARNIVAL BROTHERS

PRESENT THEIR NEW VIDEO FOR

‘THE SUN IS GONNA SHINE’

AVAILABLE NOW ON iTUNES

The Carnival Brothers are travelling pilgrims – four distinct characters that inhabit the space between light and dark, night and day, that other world where our brightest dreams and darkest fantasies meet.

Blessed with the face of the devil and the voice of an angel, legend has it lead singer Ger “Wolfman” Eaton perfected his extraordinary vocal technique as a young boy, taming wolves with the travelling Carnival.

Johnny “Vegas” – The Joker in the pack, plays guitar, mandolin, keys and every card trick known to man, as well as a few unknown. Johnny was discovered in a downtown casino when the carnival first hit Vegas.

The Fox provides the steady backbone that keeps the brothers live and dangerous with a sleuth and wit befitting of his name. The “face” of the band and a bona fide ladykiller, The Fox also plays bass.

Binzer, the brother with rhythm pulsing through his fingertips keeps the beat on drums when it’s showtime. Off stage, he likes to stay on the edge with a spot of fire eating and sword swallowing.

Bella a Go Go adds the burlesque glamour and sex appeal that keeps the boys in line, the punters lining up night after night and most importantly, the dealer’s eyes off the table.

The Carnival Brothers debut single “The Sun is Gonna Shine” due out July 5th evokes all the nostalgia of yesteryear and with its dreamy summer sound and infectious melodies, it will coax you out of the darkness and into a world of pure joy and escapism.

www.Facebook.com/thecarnivalbrothers

Donegal band Mojo GoGo have been confirmed to headline the Minefield stage on the Friday night of Electric Picnic 2013! The guys are delighted to be playing one of Ireland’s most talked about festivals. In addition to being  snapped up for the festival Mojo GoGo’s self-produced video for their new single ‘Build It Up’, out the 21^st June, has shot up to 27,000 views over only a mere 5 days! Check out the video below.

Foy Vance

Releases his new album ‘Joy Of Nothing’ On Friday 23 August

Opening for Bonnie Raitt this Wednesday 19th in Vicar Street, Dublin

& performing at Bushmills Live, Northern Ireland on Thursday 20th June

Foy Vance will release his Glassnote Records debut record, JOY OF NOTHING, on August 23^rd. Recorded in Donegal, Ireland and produced by Irish producer/musician/engineer Michael Keeney, JOY OF NOTHING includes 10 original songs written and performed by Foy Vance and includes very special guest appearances by Ed Sheeran and Bonnie Raitt.

Foy Vance hails from the seaside town of Bangor in Northern Ireland. As a child, Foy relocated with his father, a preacher, to the American Midwest settling in Oklahoma. With his father, Foy travelled the American South, widening his horizons and absorbing the rich musical traditions he was exposed to.  Returning to Ireland some years later, Foy began writing his own music, deeply shaped by the sounds of his youth.

Foy Vance supported Ed Sheeran on his UK tour in late 2012, followed by a sold-out headline UK tour earlier this year. He has spent the past few months on Sheeran’s sold out US tour, and has previously toured with the likes of Michael Kiwanuka and David Gray. Currently, Foy is preparing to embark on a European tour opening for Bonnie Raitt this summer, performing in Vicar Street this Wednesday 19 June. He then goes on to perform at Bushmills Live this Thursday 20^th June.  Foy will return to perform on 4^th August at the Indiependence Festival in Cork & Tennent’s Vital 2013 in Belfast on 15^th August.

Foy Vance’s upcoming live dates;

Wed. 19th June                      Vicar Street, Dublin, Ireland (supporting Bonnie Raitt)

Thurs. 20th June                    Bushmills Live, Bushmills, Northern Ireland

Sun. 4th August                     Indiependence Festival, Cork, Ireland

Thurs. 15th August                Tennent’s Vital 2013, Belfast, Northern Ireland

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

Julie Feeney’s new video for ‘Dear John’ premiered today on USA Today. This song is from her current album ‘Clocks’ and USA Today did a nice piece about Julie and the new video also mentioning that ‘Clocks’ is to be released in the US on June 18. Read the full article here – http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/06/04/julie-feeney-dear-john-video-premiere/2386715/

Julie plays:

Saturday 29 June             Westport Music Festival, Mayo

Tuesday 30 July               Inisbofin, Galway

Sat. 3 – Mon. 5 August    Big House Festival, Kildare

Friday 9 August                National Concert Hall, Dublin with RTE Concert  Orchestra

Tuesday 18 August          Baltimore, West Cork

The Shoos

Releasing new single ‘Battlescars’ on 7 June

The Shoos are always in a state of Panic(this week they are being evicted from their rehearsal room, busking in the rain and not returning emails) and that’s why the album is called Panic Slowly.

Battlescars is the final and possibly the best of the singles on the album. It explores the idea of the barriers we put up when we begin in a relationship and the fear of letting all the walls down and giving it a chance to happen.  The chorus is the whole idea behind the song “Show me who you are Show me Battlescars ‘cos if you don’t let me in how can I know who you really are?”

The writing of this song took a lot longer than it should considering the band wrote the music within ten minutes of setting up in Swinghouse Studios in LA under the guidance of Warren Huart (The Fray, Aerosmith etc).

In fact the lyrics were re-written five times each time a little better but very frustrating. The final piece was getting Irish songwriter Paul McDonnell in to help with the lyrics and finally the band can stand over it and agree that the song is 100% done and never to be approached again until someone thinks of another line and it starts all over again !!!

The video is done in a school play idea with Texas lost at sea looking for a way to safety and all the things that happen along the way to help him and get in his way.

The band are planning some live dates, festivals and maybe a few emails over the coming months.

www.TheShoos.com

 Primal Scream

 ‘It’s Alright, It’s OK’

Check out the new video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty-IJ3qz-GE

Taken from the LP ‘More Light’, out Now!

“Primal Scream haven’t sounded this vital in at least a decade” – 4/5 Q

“Primal Scream’s most satisfying album since Screamadelica” **** Mojo

“It’s exactly what 2013 needs” – 8/10 NME

“Tenth outing, More Light is as fresh and engaged as they’ve sounded in years” 7/10 Hot Press

“….and all you can do is press play again on this Screamadelica for grown-ups” ****Irish Times ‘Album of The Week’

After debuting ‘2013’, the first song from their new album ‘More Light’, Primal Scream released ‘It’s Alright, It’s OK’ on 3 May which was written by Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes, and produced by David Holmes. ‘It’s Alright, It’s OK’ has been flying on the Irish Airplay charts.

‘It’s Alright, It’s OK’ is the second taste from ‘More Light’, the band’s 10^th studio album and their first in five years.  ‘More Light’ entered the Irish album charts at #14 and #4 on the Irish Independent album charts on Friday 17^th May.  ‘More Light’ was recorded at Das Bunker, London and Vox Studios, LA and mixed by Rich Costey at Eldorado Recording Studios in LA.

The LP is also released on the band’s own label First International through Ignition Records, with the album sleeve designed by 2005 Turner Prize nominee Jim Lambie.

Primal Scream headline the Forbidden Fruit, IMMA, Dublin on Sunday 2^nd June

Primal Scream are: Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes, Martin Duffy, Darrin Mooney, Barrie Cadogan and Simone Butler.

http://www.primalscream.net/

Mojo GoGo

New EP ‘Heartbreak, Hangovers and Handcuffs’ out 21 June

2013 is shaping up to be all go-go for Mojo GoGo with the release of their new EP ‘Heartbreak, Hangovers and Handcuffs’ out 21 June and a nationwide tour dates throughout to the Summer.

The Donegal band is known for their energetic, impulsive and joyfully exuberant music. People rave about their legendary live stage shows and word has it that the guys aren’t too shy to partake in some off stage antics. With their hard working, hard partying and unpredictable actions, the Donegal band’s straightforward and forthright approach is winning them fans with every show they play.

Their camaraderie as a band and as friends is evident, with songs commenting on some of the more unsavoury aspects of life, sometimes in language that the more sensitive may consider as a little too honest but always tinged with the humour and irreverence that only the optimistic can embrace.

Described variously by many journalists making reference to other great bands, Mojo GoGo stand apart with a sound and style of their own which they label as STINDIE Rock and Roll (Stadium-Indie). This band is no copycat. It is its own undeniable and brilliantly unpredictable force of nature.

Mojo GoGo are Niki Pollock (guitar/vocals), Jordan Carty (drums), Keelin Gallagher (bass/vocals) and Paul Rodgers (guitar).

“Mojo GoGo, the current kings of stagecraft, treating every show like an arena sell out. It’s incredible to watch” – BBC ATL

“Mojo GoGo’s live show is a cross between Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band fused with The Clash” – Niall Stokes

Catch them live on Friday 31 May at K Fest Music & Arts Festival, Killorgan, Co. Kerry and Sunday 30 June at Westport Festival, Mayo.  More dates to be announced shortly.

 www.mojo-gogo.com

www.facebook.com/MojoGoGo