Irish Photography Websites
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tw8iD-mK_Y
Ian Whitty and the Exchange performing Fallen Stars in Late Night Bars with images by yours truly from various gigs I’ve seen them play at. Wonderful song from a must have album for any record collection, Lucky Caller No 9, available from his own site.
Last September we headed over to Lisbon for a week and spent most of the week out in Estoril but had 2 nights in Lisbon itself first. We managed to track down some live music at OndaJazz one of those nights. Junior Meirelles played a chilled out solo set which made for a very enjoyable evening. Most of the rest of week was spent surfing so this was a great start to the holiday. Lisbon and the coast is one place we’re definitely going to head back to.
One of Cork’s finest Fred played a packed show in the Opera House in Cork at the end of November. I’ve seen them quite a few times over the years, most recently at the Indiependence festival but you can never tire of their live performances. Fred are making a return to the stage over the coming weeks so check them out.
Tue 29th Dec 2009
Jolly Roger Marquee
Sherkin Island
Wed 30th Dec 2009
INEC Acoustic Club
Killarney
Sat 2nd Jan 2010
The Lodge
Mallow
Lots of more photos below.
Check out the full set on Flickr for more photos.
A few weeks ago I headed over to Manchester for a spot of footie and looked up gig listings for the weekend. I spotted that The Magic Numbers were playing on the Sunday night so I thought why not? I didn’t really know much of their stuff but I had heard some songs. It’s always great to go to a gig with little expectation and be subsequently blown away by the buzz and atmosphere that they generate. It was a thoroughly enjoyable gig and for those of you luck enough to get a ticket to see them tonight in The Opera House here in Cork as part of the Murphy’s Little Big Nights Out campaign, enjoy! I, along with 7000 others apparently, unfortunately got a lovely rejection email from Murphy’s. It felt like a PFO for a job application!
Just a short note on the venue, Band on the Wall, it looks like it has a great line-up with different types of music going on there all the time. Well worth checking out if you’re in Manchester.
Lots more photos in the full set on Flickr.
The delectable Julie Feeney played in the Pavilion in Cork a couple of weeks ago. Having heard her song Impossibly Beautiful a few times including on the Late Late Show the week before where Julie sported a house on her head! The night was a mixture of the surreal and delightful intertwined with a horrible feeling that Julie’s massive heels would have her tumbling from the stage as she climbed over the barriers. For one of the more memorable songs called Myth Julie went amongst the audience whispering into peoples’ ears which made for a dramatic effect as she wandered from person to person. Throughout, the band members played a selection of instruments and were all highly-talented making the night all the more enjoyable. If you get a chance to see her play live, do it!
See a few more photos in the full set on Flickr.
The delectable Julie Feeney played in the Pavilion in Cork a couple of weeks ago. Having heard her song Impossibly Beautiful a few times including on the Late Late Show the week before where Julie sported a house on her head! The night was a mixture of the surreal and delightful intertwined with a horrible feeling that Julie’s massive heels would have her tumbling from the stage as she climbed over the barriers. For one of the more memorable songs called Myth Julie went amongst the audience whispering into peoples’ ears which made for a dramatic effect as she wandered from person to person. Throughout, the band members played a selection of instruments and were all highly-talented making the night all the more enjoyable. If you get a chance to see her play live, do it!
See a few more photos in the full set on Flickr.
We were watching Tim Minchin on the telly back in July and just for the laugh Googled him to see if he was playing anytime soon. We were heading up to Dublin for the U2 concert on the Saturday and sure enough Tim Minchin was playing on Sunday as part of the Carlsberg Comedy Festival. I don’t think much needs to be said about this genius except to say that his show absolutely wowed us.
As if the musical comedic delights of Tim Minchin weren’t enough for us, Des Bishop was the 2nd headliner on the bill. I’ve never seen Des live but I’ve enjoyed his shows on telly, each concept show getting that bit more involved and entertaining. He’s got a certain stage presence and while he didn’t play any instrument, he toyed with the audience. In particular, one lady who wanted to take part in the show after one too many glasses of wine. Her “I paid for you” comment was the ultimate invitation to take the complete mickey out of her and Des obliged to everybody’s delight except hers. Is binn béal ina thost, as the good man would say himself.
Michael Mee was the MC for the evening. The Corkman did a fine job of getting the crowd in the mood with his self-deprecating style. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in action doing his own show.
There was a great buzz around the Iveagh Gardens where the festival was held.
Super Furry Animals finished up what was a great Indiependence festival this year in Mitchelstown. After waiting for what seemed like an age, in the rain, the Furries came out on stage. In spite of the “WOAH!” sign, these was little enthusiasm shown by the lads as they came slowly bounding onto stage. I really enjoyed their set when they finally got going although I have to admit flaking off early after a day in the rain. Wimp, I know!
Here’s looking forward to a dry festival next year! I hope the same venue is used again as it really made the festival.
The Franks played down at the Indiependence festival in Mitchelstown again this year. They’re ever-present at this festival and while you might say that you’re seeing the same bands this year but now have to pay for it, the multi-stage festival has a lot more bands packed into the schedule which makes it well worth it. I wonder what the plans are for next year.
But getting back to the Franks, this wasn’t one of their best performances I thought. Perhaps the vibe in the tent was one of relief to be out of the rain but most weren’t the fanatical Franks fans you’d expect to see at their gigs. To say it wasn’t their best performance is a little unfair; the gig atmosphere wasn’t ideal but that wasn’t down to them. You’ll always get a mix of fans at performances in a festival scenario which I’m sure people will experience this weekend at Electric Picnic. I hope to get to the Franks gig when they hopefully play their annual Christmas gig in Cork.
See a few more photos in the full set.
The Blizzards were next up after Delorentos by which time the rain was really coming down again so I didn’t get too many photos. As you can see from the picture below, lead singer Niall Breslin had his right arm in a cast so he couldn’t play guitar but this didn’t slow him down on stage. Some plonker in the audience thought it would be funny to throw hay (used to minimise the muck due to the rain) at him which after the 5th or 6th time Niall finally let rip. Lots of pent-up anger there! While I’m not a big fan of the second album, the songs sound a lot better live. Perhaps the album is over-produced and almost too perfect.
