The Cranberries to play Thomond Park

Just announced The cranberries will be playing at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics Ireland on Wednesday the 9th of June, Other acts include The Supermodel Twins, Daghdha/Garvey initiative and High Voltage. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.ie for the small price of 10 or 20 euro. " The Opening Ceremony will be a celebration of the athletes participating in the 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games. The theme of the event is Hand in Hand and will reflect the true vision of Special Olympics – that being of people joining together to make the extraordinary happen. The 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games will take place in Limerick from 9-13th June. This will be one of the biggest and most exciting sporting events of the summer with 1,900 athletes competing in 13 sports in venues throughout Limerick and Clare. They will be accompanied by a team of 650 coaches and official delegates. 4,000 family members and supported by a team of 3,000 volunteers. "

Josh Ritter Live at Dolans 25/04/2010 REVIEW

My first encounter with Mr. Ritter was back in 2003 when I purchased “Hello Starling”. I distinctly remember putting up the Christmas tree that year with this album blaring around the house. It always transports me back to that time and some great memories are built around this album and a lot of what Josh has brought out since. I have missed so many opportunities of seeing him live, due to lack of money or bad timing; I have even witnessed his wife “Dawn Landes” before now in a great gig in the Roisin Dubh. I love when an act like this gets billed in Dolans and you spend the lead up to the gig indulging in his whole back catalogue. Just song after song of acoustic bliss, you could listen to him happily for weeks on end without picking up any other albums. I got a chance to get an advanced copy of his new 2010 release “So Runs the World Away” , The 56 second instrumental intro track “Curtains” sends instant shivers down your spine as the surge of plucking electric guitars whirl into a musical crescendo and is a brilliant introduction to the album. First track is “Change of Time”. This was given away free on Josh’s site some months ago, and I don’t know if it’s my familiarity with the song or what, but its just a breath taking track as the military style drumming comes in mid way to give this song an amazingly brilliant layered sound. This multi-layered sound permeates the whole album and offers a sense of depth which surely required both effort and skill from all involved. Indeed, just looking at the sleeve notes for each song, one notes the amount of people and instruments contributing on each track. The third track on the album “The Curse” is an instant winner, the beautifully played piano whisks the listener off into a dream land and the wonderful enchanting story Josh weaves on this particular track is just amazingly haunting and stays with you long after the album has finished - by far my favourite on the album. The songs in my opinion all draw from an almost dreamlike state conjuring amazing tales of the sea, exploration and imagination. “So Runs the world away” will end the year on many a top ten album list. I arrive in Dolans early and already the upstairs balcony area is jam packed with shadows and the floor space below in the warehouse is beginning to fill up too, I find a good spot up the front and gaze at the wonderful plectra of guitars and instruments strewn about the stage. The support act tonight is “Joe Pug”. I was recommended his debut album “Messenger” back in February of this year just as it was released and was delighted to see he was on the bill. The Chicago born singer arrived on stage and I was amazed at how young he looked. His gravely tone and his worldly lyrics conjure an image of a man that has lived and seen much. The comparisons with early brilliance of Springsteen and Dylan must be made. Indeed, the lyrics form stories of protest & life paint a landscape of the America you don’t get to see on Hollywood’s silver screen. His blazing harmonica accompanied him throughout his small set and the emotional upheaval that underpins the lyrics was painted all over his face. I wasn’t alone in my admiration, as a considerable queue formed to purchase his CD after the show. It was clear most people in Dolans had not heard of this guy but for a few faint sing-alongers though he successfully captured the attention of the crowd with his stories of Americana. He played a brand new song hot of the presses so that he would be “in the same boat as the crowd”, acknowledging with a smile, that for most people there “every song was a new song”. A hard hitting song about a brother committing suicide after the war and a sister finding solace only at the end of a bottle captured my interest and provoked images of post 9-11 America. By the end of the set he had the crowd in the palm of his hands and I’m sure built up a nice fan base in Limerick. His EP “In The Meantime” can be downloaded for free from his site here http://www.joepugmusic.com/, The full length album “Messenger” is well worth the purchase, Joe plays the Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots festival this weekend, Go check him out if you can! That swirling intro “Curtains” comes blasting out of the speakers and in steps Mr. Ritter with a Cheshire cat grin that didn’t fade for the rest of the night. It was actually astounding how happy this guy was to be here, maybe it was the fact that he avoided the Icelandic volcanoes ashes to get here or maybe he was simply eager to showcase his new baby in the form of his 7th album “So Runs the World Away”. (It’s clear from reviewing the set list afterwards that he and the band are nervous to play these songs for the first time, with side notes on most of the songs of how to play them and what time various members join in.) Well, there was no need to be nervous, that’s for sure. The band helping Josh tonight are named “The Royal City Band” and what a collective these folk are. All decked out in three piece suits, and the bass player “Zack Hickman” fashioned a gravity -defying Moustache which was quite mesmerising. The music tonight drew mainly from the new release, as Josh managed to squeeze all 13 albums tracks into the 24 song set and why wouldn’t he? The album was released just two days previous and he clearly wanted to shed the light of day on these fresh tracks. Josh jumped around the stage all night like a giddy school kid, beyond excited to be showcasing his new tracks and happy just to be up there doing what he loves most. He spoke throughout the night with statements such as “Some of the best gigs of my life have been in this very room”. He also smentioned that coming to Ireland to play is very like coming back to play a home town gig and that you always have to up your game for a home town gig. He was a joy to watch and gave everyone a slice of his happiness. During “Wicked Game” the bassist starting to sing “Wicked Game” impromptu with the crowd joining in with much delighted and humour. For the encore Josh arrived out and played an awe inspiring version of “Moon River” and then lashed into “Snow is Gone” stopping mid song to swamp a pint of Guinness in 4 seconds flat. Some may have left without hearing what they wanted from the back catalogue (I only got one from my favourite album “Hello Starling”), but it didn’t dampen the experience one bit as the night was a incredible showcase of talent and beautiful music. Josh, like a good whiskey, is getting better with age and the new record has actually improved upon what I didn’t think could have been improved. Stories of explorations, foreign lands, dream-worlds, gravity, and endless love conjure images of Columbus, Magellan, Tutenkahmen, and Newton. What has really emerged in this album is the quality of Josh’s song-writing and it’s no surprise to hear that he is in fact releasing a book this summer intitled “Bright’s Passage”. Listening back to the album now is great after getting a new appreciation from the live versions. Josh is one act that must be witnessed live if you can, I for one will break my back to see him again. Thanks for a great night of music, Cheers! Set List : Curtains Southern Pacific Change of Time Rumors Rattling Locks Right Moves Good Man Wolves Lark Long Shadows The Curse Folk Bloodbath In the Dark Me & Jiggs See How Man Was Made The Remnant Orbital Harrisburg (Wicked Game - Chris Isaak Cover) Another New World Lantern To the Dogs or Whoever Encore: Moon River (Johnny Mercer Cover) Snow is Gone Wait for Love

Musical Snippets #26 - Gráda

Hail From :

Galway, Ireland

Band Members :

NICOLA JOYCE -vocals & bodhran

GERRY PAUL - guitar, banjo & vocals

ANDREW LAKING - double bass & vocals

DAVID DOOCEY - fiddle, whistle & concertina

STEPHEN DOHERTY - flute, whistle, accordion, bodhran and cajon

About :

The Washington post once describe them as "Gráda is to Irish music what Arcade Fire is to indie - informal, prodigious and full of spirit."

Sums it up quite good really, this five piece Irish folk group will be right here in Limerick at the start of next month for a show in dolans. The 7th of May sees the band bring their 5 album long discography to the upstairs part of the venue. Their new 12 track release "Natural Angle" is a great listen and is sure to be fantastic live. Tickets for the gig are available here http://www.dolanspub.com/event.php

GO CHECK THEM OUT HERE: http://www.myspace.com/gradamusic

Vantastival 2010

A newbie festival for 2010 combining the love of camper vans, scooters and music in one big field in Louth. With a promising line up and an even better price of only 85 bobs, Vantastival seems like it will be a great weekend. It all takes place the may bank holiday , tickets and more info here Vantasival.

Line Up :

Kila Jack L and the Electric Gospel Choir Mick Flannery David Geraghty (acoustic set) FRED Dublin City Ramblers Jinx Lennon FIACH O Emperor The Fontanels Túcan The Hot Sprockets The Bionic Rats Sounds of System Breakdown The Ambience Affair Sanzkrit Los Langeros El Hombre Jokes Cuckoo Savante Miracle Bell Prairie Dawgs The Gandhis The Amazing Few Noelie McDonnell Scarecrow Disco The Spikes The Gakk The Aftermath Simon Fagan Valerie June Sara Lou Yngve and the Innocent Sleep Thieves I'd Fight Gandhi Susie Soho Nassau Speedking little xs for eyes Blind Yackety The Blue Choir Podracer Ross Breen Meg Hutchinson Pressure Drop Arrow in the Sky Herm Annas Chamber The Riptide Movement Machine Gun Baby DC Tempest The Coonics The Long Knives Hassle Merchants Anthony Furey Frantic Jack Wee Small Gods New Mind Line Blind Pilots Resin Sticky Digit Weedway Stewart Agnew Reko Niall Thomas The Whatmans Livestock Crafty Crimson Cats John Vaughan Nemo Ned and the Horse Boxes

Castlepalooza 2010

The festival from Tullamore , Co. Offaly is back with a great line up. Tickets are on sale this friday and are a great price at 99 yoyos. More detail here Castlepalooza Full Line Up: Mercury Rev Fionn Regan Wave Machines Lonelady Codes Taylor McFerrin Cashier No 9 Adebisi Shank Tu-Ki James Vincent McMorrow O Emperor Robotbik Funeral Suits The Cast Of Cheers The Lowly Knights Readers Wives The Blue Choir Sarsparilla Yes Cadets Nakatomi Towers

Albums Worth Checking Out This April

Suggestions welcome as always!

Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival 2010

The 3 day festival is back this year on the 30th of April. As always some headline acts and a host of bars with free music is the offering down in the marble city. This year once again sees Limerick band "Raglan Rodeo" take to the stage this time on the friday night in Rafter Dempsey's at ten bells and on the Sunday in the Springhill hotel ,if you want a great night check these guys out!! Headliner's include Josh Ritter, Joe Pug, Jason Isbell and many more, its sure to be another fantastic festival. The full list of great bands can be found here http://www.kilkennyroots.com/gigs.asp