Month: April 2011

Poly Styrene, former singer with X-Ray Spex, has died: R.I.P Iconic legend.

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It is with sadness in our hearts that we issue this statement:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT:

Punk icon (X-ray Spex frontwoman) Poly Styrene passes away
Marianne Elliot Said

July 3rd 1957- April 25th 2011
We are sad to report that Marianne Elliot (aka Poly Styrene) lost her battle with cancer last night, 25th April 2011.


Poly Styrene was a punk amongst punks. A groundbreaking presence that left an unrepeatable mark on the musical landscape, she made history the moment she uttered, “Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard but I think oh bondage up yours!” The influence of Poly and X-ray Spex has been felt far and wide ever since. Their landmark album Germ Free Adolescents is a landmark work and a primary influence on Britpop and Riot Grrrl. At the centre of it was Poly Styrene, a bi-racial feminist punk with the perfect voice to soundtrack rebellion. Poly never sacrificed the intelligence or the fun in her music and style. Her trademark braces and dayglo clothes were a playful rejection of the status quo and of conformity and complacency. She dissected gender politics, consumer culture, and the obsessions of modern life in a way that made us all want sing along with her.


At the core of Poly’s work from Germ Free Adolescents through Generation Indigo, is a revolutionary with a genuine love for this world and the people and things in it. Her indomitable heart is all over the new material from her championing of cruelty free products (“I Luv Ur Sneakers”) to giving voice to marginalized poor people worldwide (“No Rockefeller”) to tackling racism (“Colour Blind”). Poly Styrene never stopped exciting us with her incisive world-view, amazing wit, and her adventurous sound. It is impossible to imagine what modern music would be like without her incalculable contributions but it’s probably not worth imagining a world that never had Poly Styrene in it.

A thrilling work from a true pioneer and rebel in every sense, Poly Styrene’s album Generation Indigo is out now through Future Noise Music and was produced by Youth (The Verve, Killing Joke, The Fireman, Edwyn Collins). The album received rave reviews from Uncut, NME, The Guardian and countless others across the Atlantic. The forward looking Generation Indigo showcases Poly’s humorous musings on pop culture, the internet and fashion whilst also tackling heavier subject matter (war and racism) with her politically aware and intelligent lyrics all in the inimitable voice of a genuine icon.  Listen to the full Generation Indigo record streaming on AOL Spinner.
Rock journalist John Robb recently interviewed Poly Styrene about her current album.

LINKS:
http://www.poly-styrene.com
http://www.facebook.com/polystyrenemusic
http://www.twitter.com/Poly_Styrene

There is an exclusive interview which Polystyrene did with Sinead Gleeson of the Irish Times earlier this month: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2011/0401/1224293475898.html

The musician – who released solo LP ‘Generation Indigo’ in March – and her band X-Ray Spex were at the forefront of the punk rock scene in Britain in the late 70s and their album ‘Germ Free Adolescents’ is considered one of the most important records of the movement. The ‘Oh Bondage, Up Yours!’ singer has been cited as an influence to several modern female-led rock groups, including the Yeah Yeahs Yeahs and The Gossip. Her album GENERATION INDIGO is out in all stores and online: ON ITUNES

See below for a Track by Track interview on her latest album GENERATION INDIGO.

Categories: Latest News

Robert S Blake prepares for Irish Tour

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Celebrating the release of his new LP THE BELFAST SESSIONS; a stunning folk, traditional album with beautiful artwork too! Blake is looking forward to returning to Ireland.

Robert Sarazin Blake has been playing and touring the world for the last ten years, with gigs across the USA, Europe, and most commonly Ireland. Hitch hiking his way throughout his first tour around the country, guitar on his back, playing bars, rooms, festivals and fields, Blake developed a deep appreciation for Irish Traditional folk music.

Recorded in Belfast and Bellingham over the course of 2 sessions, the album features trad maestros John and Tina McSherry and Francis Mc Ilduff. Flourishing songs of the everyday, of love and of the weather against a backdrop of uillean pipes, bodhran and guitar, the album is a testament to this powerful songwriters capacity at the simple, yet poetic delivery of song. The album features his most accessible work to date, most noticeably; ‘Waiting’ and ‘City Covered in Snow.’ It’s a folk/trad record, written and conceived in the two wettest towns this side of Glasgow, informed by his love of folk, trad and quality music.

On 29th April, Blake returns to Ireland again with this new record, ‘Belfast Sessions.’on deadslackstring records. He’s not sleeping on beaches, or parks anymore (well we hope not!) but he is bringing his distinctive style of folk music to bars, venues and rooms around the country.

Irish Tour dates: 29th April – Cobblestone, Dublin 
30th April – House show, Kinsale, Cork 
1st May– Roadside Tavern, Lisdoonvarna 
2nd May – Limerick 
4th May – Roisin Dubh, Galway 5th May – Auntie Annie’s, Belfast 
6th May – Cavan 
7th May – McGirls Pub, Leitrim 
8th May – Furey’s pub, Sligo

Links: 
www.sarazinblake.com

Categories: Latest News

Ron Sexsmith to play Dublins Academy

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We are excited to announce that: Ron Sexsmith will play Dublin’s Academy on Thursday 23rd June in support of his excellently received new album Long Player, Late Bloomer which was released in February. Tickets go on sale on Friday 15th April at 9am. This is a MCD gig more info here: http://www.mcd.ie/home/fn.php?c=2880978&ar=ronsexsmith

Ron Sexsmith comes from the land that gave the world Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot and Rufus Wainwright. He’s the definition of a ‘songwriters’ songwriter’ – Elton John once said that Ron has the voice of an angel, Chris Martin duetted with him on “Gold In Them Hills”, Nick Hornby named a book after one of his songs, Bruce Springsteen used his version of the American classic “Comrade Fill No Glass For Me” as warm-up music on tour, Elvis Costello loves his work and has toured with him on several occasions, Bob Dylan has played his music on his celebrated Radio Hour show. Many stars have covered his songs including Rod Stewart, Tom Jones, Elvis Costello and most recently Michael Bublé, whose multi-platinum album ‘Crazy Love’ features a duet with Ron on his song ‘Whatever It Takes’.

Irish media reviews for Long Player, Late Bloomer:

RTE Radio1 ‘album of the week’

“His best work to date” Hotpress * * * *

“It’s always worth celebrating tracks composed as beautifully as these” Irish Independent***

“Irish Times * * *

The Star * * *

“Brilliant” Uncut

The Mirror * * *

Tickets for Ron Sexsmith live at The Academy on Thursday 23rd June are priced €25 including booking fee and go on sale on Friday 15th April at 9am.

Links
www.ronsexsmith.com

 

Categories: Latest News

Brooke Fraser riding high on radio waves on release of her new single

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After a sell out debut Irish show last weekend, the stunningly talented beauty: Brooke Fraser gets increasingly more radio support in Ireland.

She has been officially playlisted across Regional & National radio from Corks C 96 and 103, Cool FM, Clare FM, DownTown radio, Rte Radio 1, Rte 2FM + lots more and is also Record of the week on 2FM.

Check out her insanely catchy single here on YouTube with over 1.6 million views to find out why she is fast becoming an adopted Irish Sweetheart! You can also check out an exclusive interview in the current edition of HOTPRESS.

Brooke Fraser:: Debut UK & IRISH Album – ‘Flags’ – is out in all good record stores NOW!

A self-taught singer and songwriter from an early age, Brooke Fraser signed to Sony when she was eighteen, and released her first album in New Zealand in 2002. It debuted at No.1, stayed in her native Top 10 for a year, and eventually went eight times platinum: an astonishing feat for an artist so young. Fraser went on to support the likes of David Bowie and John Mayer, before penning her second album, ‘Albertine’. This saw her success expand to America, where she toured extensively, entered the Billboard Top 100 chart and climbed to No.5 on the digital retailers’ US album chart.

See www.brookefraser.com

Categories: Latest News

BROOKE FRASER SELLS OUT HER FIRST IRISH DATE!

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BROOKE FRASER, SELLS OUT SUGAR CLUB!

Brooke Fraser:: Debut UK & IRISH Album – ‘Flags’ – due April 8th + IRISH GIG ON the 9th April in The Sugar Club Dublin SOLD OUT!

Platinum-selling New Zealander Brooke Fraser will release her debut UK/Irish album, ‘Flags’ on April 8th. She has also just sold out  The Sugar Club in Dublin on Sat April 9th – her first Irish gig in support of the album!

A self-taught singer and songwriter from an early age, Brooke Fraser signed to Sony when she was eighteen, and released her first album in New Zealand in 2002. It debuted at No.1, stayed in her native Top 10 for a year, and eventually went eight times platinum: an astonishing feat for an artist so young. Fraser went on to support the likes of David Bowie and John Mayer, before penning her second album, ‘Albertine’. This saw her success expand to America, where she toured extensively, entered the Billboard Top 100 chart and climbed to No.5 on the digital retailers’ US album chart.

See www.brookefraser.com

 

Categories: Latest News