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Saw Docs Meet US President

Gardening and the vocal styling of the Governor of Maryland were the topics of discussion when The Saw Doctors met US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama this week.

The Saw Doctors met with the couple following their performance at the concert in their honour at College Green in Dublin on Monday, when the Tuam group played their hit track ‘N17’ along with Sharon Shannon and Mundy, who performed the anthem ‘Galway Girl’.

The Saw Doctors manager, Ollie Jennings said that ‘N17’ went down very well with the 40,000 strong crowd and that it is significant that the group played the song this week.

“N17” is on the band’s first album, ‘If This Is Rock & Roll, I Want My Old Job Back’ and, actually, this week 20 years ago it was number one in the Irish Charts.  It was released on May 20, 1991” he said.

Mr Jennings said that although the song was written 20 years ago, the demise of the Celtic Tiger meant that it had suddenly become relevant again.

“A lot of young people have had to leave Ireland and are in bars in different parts of the world still wishing they could be on the N17”.

Following the concert on Monday, The Saw Doctors had the opportunity to meet with President and Mrs Obama, and guitarist Leo Moran chatted to the President about the band’s connection to the Governor Of Maryland, Martin O’Malley.

The politician’s band, O’Malley’s March, supported The Saw Doctors on several occasions before he became Governor of Maryland and President Obama commented that Governor O’Malley is “a good singer”.

Meanwhile, Michelle Obama, who famously tends her own vegetable garden in the grounds of the White House, chatted to avid gardener, Saw Doctors bassist Anthony Thistlethwaite about different types of seeds and the best time to plant them.

Lorraine O’Hanlon

Galway Independent
25th May, 2011

Eleanor McEvoy has announced that she will be offering fans and new fans alike the chance to download her album title track I’d Rather Go Blonde for free via using the Pay With A Tweet campaign. An avid twitter user, this is the first time that McEvoy has offered a free digital song. It’s simple you go to her homepage: www.eleanormcevoy.com on the right hand side at the top of the page you will see the Pay with a Tweet button: Just click it, tweet it & download it!

Eleanor also recently took part in The 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster in Kilkenny. The event raised €5,425 in aid of the very worthy cause which was attended by almost 300 people on Easter Monday night. The impressive line up that included; Bell X1 frontman Paul Noonan, Liam O’ Maonlai (The Hothouse Flowers), Clive Barnes, Eleanor McEvoy, Ian Doyle, Jamie Lawson, Bill Coleman and Declan O’ Rourke treated a very appreciative audience to a musical extravaganza that will remain in memories for a long time to come. The musicians sang 25 songs for 25 years — some of which came from the year 1986 — the year of the disaster. She also recently performed the Beatles’ “Her Majesty” live on The John Murray on RTE Radio 1 Show from Trinity College, Dublin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytxoFxeLt0Q

Eleanor’s song I Hear You Breathing In is featured in the trailer of Spanish film El Vuelo Del Tren (directed by Paco Torres).

Eleanor’s official YouTube channel is now in full effect here: http://www.youtube.com/eleanormcevoy

Eleanor flys out to Australia soon for a list of dates before returning to Ireland in July: listings below:

AUSTRALIA

MAY – JUNE

*Friday 27 Candlelight Concert, Barossa Regional Galleries, Tanunda, SA

*Saturday 28 The Singing Gallery, McLaren Vale, SA

*Sunday 29 The Promethean, Adelaide, SA

JUNE

*Wednesday 1 Humph Hall, Allambie Heights, NSW

*Thursday 2 Cat & Fiddle Hotel, Balmain, NSW

*Friday 3 Illawarra Folk Club, Diggers, Wollogong, NSW

*Saturday 4 Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba, NSW

*Wednesday 8 Brighton Civic Centre, Bridgewater, TAS

*Thursday 9 Brookfield Winery, TAS

*Friday 10 National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, VIC

*Saturday 11 National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, VIC

*Sunday 12 National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, VIC

*Monday 13 National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, VIC

IRELAND

JULY

Sunday 10 Keltic Hooley, Clan Ree Complex, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Sunday 24 Ardmore Pattern Festival, Ardmore, Co. Waterford

IRISH PR CONTACT: LINDA COOGAN BYRNE FOR ALL QUERIES/

linda@goodseedpr.com and or phone 0851659065

The Blackout are nominated for no less than 3 Kerrang awards:

BEST VIDEO presented by Kerrang! TV

1. 30 Seconds To Mars – Hurricane

2. My Chemical Romance – Na Na Na

3. The Blackout – Higher And Higher

4. A Day To Remember – All I Want

5. Young Guns – Stitches

BEST ALBUM

1. Bring Me The Horizon – There Is A Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let’s Keep It A Secret

2. Escape The Fate – Escape The Fate

3. The Blackout – Hope

4. Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare

5. My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys

BEST BRITISH BAND presented by Rising Records

1. Bullet For My Valentine

2. Bring Me The Horizon

3. You Me At Six

4. The Blackout

5. Enter Shikari

Full list of nominations here: http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storycode=1045102

Following an amazing debut sold out Irish show Brooke Fraser has announced a date at The Academy on Sunday 9 October. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 9am. Check out her amazing hit song Something In The Water it is currently on playlists across Ireland- Including Rte Radio1 & 2FM where the album and single was RECORD OF THE WEEK. It was also on the A List on BBC Radio 2 where is reached album of the week! LISTEN AGAIN TO BROOKE LIVE ON TODAY FM:

Immediately embraced by the Irish public, Platinum-selling New Zealander Brooke Fraser released her debut Irish single ‘Something In The Water’ back in March, followed by the release of her album, ‘Flags’ in April. ‘BETTY’ will be the second single which will be out on July 8^th.

+ ‘Betty’ the follow up single here:

Prior to heading over to Australia for a tour  ‎Eleanor McEvoy talks to Rhythm & Roots magazine- see below for the full page interview out in this Months Issue..

Eleanor also recently took part in The 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster in Kilkenny. The event raised €5,425 in aid of the very worthy cause which was attended by almost 300 people on Easter Monday night.

The impressive line up that included; Bell X1 frontman Paul Noonan, Liam O’ Maonlai (The Hothouse Flowers), Clive Barnes, Eleanor McEvoy, Ian Doyle, Jamie Lawson, Bill Coleman and Declan O’ Rourke treated a very appreciative audience to a musical extravaganza that will remain in memories for a long time to come. The musicians sang 25 songs for 25 years — some of which came from the year 1986 — the year of the disaster. The passion and enthusiasm that the musicians put in

The ‘full house’ at the Set Theatre enjoyed fabulous collaborations from the various musicians of their own music and also each sang a classic song from 1986. Some of the 80s classics on the night included The Bangles ‘Manic Monday’, Kenny Loggin’s ‘Danger Zone’ and Peter Cetera’s ‘Glory of Love’, to name but a few. MC Martin Bridgeman invited all the musicians back on stage at the end of the night to close the event and they sang ‘Higher Love’ and ‘War’.

Eleanor’s song I Hear You Breathing In is featured in the trailer of  El Vuelo Del Tren (directed by Paco Torres).

Eleanor’s official YouTube channel is now in full effect here: http://www.youtube.com/eleanormcevoytv

Check out her new Australian gigs here http://www.eleanormcevoy.net/blog/category/tour-dates/

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.

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

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