Stalwart Electric Picnic-ers will be delighted to learn that firm fan fave, the Other Voicesstage returns to the Stradbally woods with an eclectic line up as disparate as it is exciting.
A blend of Irish and international artists will perform in EP’s most intimate setting, and judging by the breadth of talent due to take to the OV stage, festival-goers can expect all kinds of everything and then some.
Details have just been released of the latest additions to the Other Voices roll call with the extended line up being made up of a balanced mix of both established and emerging artists. Here’s a flavour of some of the artists that’ll be showcasing their wares in this most special of silvan settings:-
Making his Irish debut will be Berlin-based, Oxford native singer-composer Tom Adams who recently performed as part of the Other Voices Berlin Irish music showcase. His 8-track mini album Silence, which was released earlier this year, is simply breathtaking.
The much anticipated set of rising star Eoin French’s Talos project, which only recently released the stupendously gorgeous Brendan Canty visual for his single This Is Us Colliding, should see the Cork man focus on tracks from his highly acclaimed debut album Wild Alee.
Fresh from successful slots at TGE and Body & Soul, Fresh on the Net and Tom Robinson Fresh Fave Ailbhe Reddy makes her EP debut. Her dynamic vocal ability and insightful lyricism are guaranteed to captivate.
Booka Brass, who do exactly as it says on the tin, make a welcome return with their sometimes sexy, always sassy, innovative take on infectious contemporary jazz sounds.
Music vet David Kitt is set to introduce his New Jackson electro-project. He also togged out for OV in Berlin and you can expect more of the same, with a Night to Night fuelled set for his ‘woodland’ slot.
Livening things up a little should be alt-rock outfit Bitch Falcon who hopefully won’t be too Castlepalooza’d out of it to provide some ‘feist’ to the pastoral with their grungy gargantuaness.
If you like your R&B dope, then Hudis, Grvz, SolBas, and Glory aka funk-trap outfit Super Silly are the go-to act for you.
And when the cobwebs, and hopefully not the clouds, are beginning to gather, all girl four-piece Pillow Queens will help shake things up with their fresh brand of ballsy neo-new wave. Think grrr with a touch of purr.
Other acts set to mix it up and shake it down are dreamy voiced British electro-popper Pixx, poet Stephen James Smith, Portadown native Jealous of the Birds (the North’s top tip for the big time!), and post-punk quartet Slow Riot. They’ll join the likes of Katie Laffan, Jafaris, Saint Sister, Laoise,Soulé and more .
Other Voices at EP will be presented by the Beeb’s Huw Stephensalong with May Kay of Le Galaxie and Fight Like Apes fame. Full details of Other Voice @ Electric Picnic can be found here.
To whet your appetite, which of course can only be fully sated by devouring the full Electric Picnic menu, we’re signing off with an Other Voices playlist – think of it as an amuse bouche to the table d’hote.
Greetings peoples and apologies for ‘le silence’. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
Thing is, I’ve been transitioning into a ‘career’ as a full-time writer and as with any big upheaval, it’s been more than a little life-changing to say the least. Anyway, hey ho, we’re there now! Que sera sera!
Okay, so in a WAY busier than average early Summer season, there’s a shed load of music n’ news for ‘you/me/us’ to get acquainted with; so no dilly dallying, let’s get straight to it and kick off Vol 3 (in case you missed it, here’s a link to Vol 2)
First up y’all, a dash of fan-girling. Long time ‘admiree’ of the blog, Dorset gal Gris-de-Lin, has been hi-bindering around the Antipodes and Europodes with one Gemma Ray. Within a hair’s breadth of their return from a gander around Oz/New Z, the pair along with Andy Zammit high-tailed it off to swan around Switzerland and Germany finishing up at Berlin’s Baustelle Neues Schloss (if anyone cares to tell me what that means, I’m all ears) and to prove it, we have a photo!
If you still don’t know how damned-fine a singer/musician Gemma is, then feast your senses on this short live film taken during a recent gig in Rome.
As per, our newsletter is accessorised by a bejewelled Spotify playlist, in which you’ll find sonic samples from both the G’s.
Now unless you’ve been living in a dark cave on the Outer Hebrides or were turned into a frog by the the local branch of your witches coven, you’ll be aware of the biggest tour in town passing through an arena near you. Derv was lucky enough to get to see Radioheadplay a packed out 3Arena, Dublin the week of #OKNOTOK and the 20th anniv of OK Computer.
It was, a boiling cauldron in which the frenergetic roars of the crowd reverberated thricefold off the gigantic dome-like ceilings. Radiohead (11, 886, 308 likes on FB and counting) were magnificent in voice, instrumentation, performance and form.
They were, as we would say, in fine fettle, with frontman Thom Yorke gyrating like a buck hare with St. Vitus’ dance with all of the verve and flexibility of a man half his age. Stage right, (Here’s) Jonny was enacting his very own version of The Bends (over the keyboards), while stage left gave us the ever statuesque Ed vocalising stunning renditions of falsetto harmonies to Yorke’s lead.
It was without doubt the best live performance by any music act/artist I have ever witnessed. The only downsides were:-
Being physically assaulted by the Corkonian nutjob standing to the left of me – if you’re reading this, I don’t bruise that easily!
Being physically assaulted by the oversized fully stuffed totebag on the right hand shoulder of the guy with the jigging legs in front of me, Cheers
Being physically assaulted by the 40+degrees indoor temperatures – it was like a sweaty hellish furnace. White top, bad move 😦
The very noticeable absence of a certain Creep from the setlist
So, for those of us who didn’t get to see their first ever smash performed live ‘in person’, here’s Radiohead performing the Pablo Honey anthem live at Glastonbury(where they were rockin’ but not as rollin’ as they were in Dublin!!).
THE MAJESTIC, THE MEDIOCRE, AND THE MEH!
There are so many new releases zipping around the stratosphere right now that in order for us to catch up, the easiest thing to do is to emulate them and accelerate at high speed.
Harry Styles Harry Styles (Album) – “And tonight Matthew, I’m gonna be David Bowie/Beck/Prince”. On your bike mate. A poor man’s Robbie Williams without the songwriting talent of Guy Chambers. DerVerdict – Dreadful tosh that borders on identity theft. Run. Very Fast.
Alison Moyet Other (Album) – Alison Moyethas created an album of sheer beauty, an undiluted joy that navigates rivers of lyrical poesy and soars, like the Essex singer’s voice, through an abundance of musical melodrama.
Eloquent, elegant and eschewing the jazz-pop style which became her post-’80s signature, Other is a masterpiece. An adventure through a lyrical wonderland set against a backdrop of well-matured, modern day electronica. DerVerdict – If you only buy one record … PS See the 5min vid below of Alison discussing the album.
The Strypes Spitting Image(Album) – The Strypes, who made their ‘world debut’ on the Studio 4 stage of Ireland’s grand-dame of talk shows, the Late Late, are a band steeped in the youthful yore of The Beatles, Elvis Costello and some other band that’s hanging onto the tip of my tongue for dear life (when I shake them off I’ll let you know). Or is it the shades of James Honeyman Scott’s helter skelter guitar style?
Either way, Spitting Imageups the ante, a bold yet natural move for a young band previously known for their Bo Diddley R&B meets proto-punk vibes. If you’re familiar with the works of Tilbrook/Difford/Holland aka Squeeze, (I Need A Break From) Holidayswill resonate. DerVerdict – A Must buy, for sure.
Broken Social Scene – Stay Happy (Single). There are similarities here with Norwegian band Broen (when they’re not lurch-rappin’). Toronto natives Broken Social Scene have a new album in the post – Hug of Thunder – which should arrive on your doormat 7th July (via City Slang). Ahead of its release, the multi-faceted Canadian outfit have dropped lush single Stay Happy.
Opening with a vocal lifted straight out of Barbarella and a melody floating through a tropical night sky, the track rapidly transitions into a melodramatic fanfare of funky beats, swaggering bass and glorious choral harmonies, all with a twist of lush shiny brass. More to follow! DerVerdict – Yeah baby!
Broen –You (Detective) (Single). Speaking of Broen, BBC radio and most recently Lauren Laverne, appear to have fallen in love with this track. It’s a serious ramp up from their previous outings, a maturing of what was previously a sound somewhat in slight disarray or a style reaching out for its place in an ever changing musical landscape. With You, Broen have nailed a sound that does justice to their redoubtable talent.DerVerdict – Dive In!
Nick Hayward – Mountaintop/Baby Blue Sky (Double A). No your eyes are not deceiving you. Yes, this is Nick ‘Haircut 100 – Fantastic Day’ Hayward and he has returned to the fold with new music, a new signature style and new specs. Mountaintop is Everley Bros gone yeehaw Bluegrass, while Baby Blue Skycasts a few backwards glances to the 80s whilst nestling in a predominantly easy listening Tom Petty-esque pop-rock landscape.
Nick Hayward’s new album Woodland Echoesis due out later this Summer. DerVerdict – No set stylistic pattern makes it difficult to gauge which audience Hayward is aiming for! TBC
NEWS IN BRIEF – RELEASES IN #SPEEDOS
August Rosenbaum – Nebula (Single). An absolute heavyweight of an instrumental set on classical-Spanish pillars, performed with emotive aplomb. Curious, dark and exceptionally imaginative. DerVerdict – Worth exploring.
Depeche Mode – Going Backwards (Single). Oooh, just for a minute there, I thought the mighty Mode had crossed back to days of yore and greatness. That said, there are shades of old in here. Stylistically, Going Backwards somewhat does just that, sitting somewhere around Ultra/Exciter territory. DerVerdict – Hardcore fans will love it, Wilder diehards will pour scorn. Plus ca change.
Otherkin – React (Single). While still brimful of clangour, sass and swagger, and with a white-hot guitar solo in the mix, React sees flame-throwing Irish rockers Otherkinactually take it down a few notches into Strokes-like territory.
With the announcement of a debut album, OK, and a seemingly endless list of European tour dates (starts Newcastle 30th September – ends Dublin’s Button Factory 15th December), Otherkin’s flame is set to continue to burn througout the rest of 2017. DerVerdict – #musicyouneedtohear
MO – Nights with You (Single). The Danish singer has flatlined with this hapless, hookless shank of vacant pop. DerVerdict – Nope.
Spring Breakers – Shaking Hands (Single). Yet another new Norwegian musical spin-off sees Ludvig Moonfrontman Anders Killerud (to whom I believe congratulations are in order!!) pair up with Panda Panda co-lead Hakon Kjenstad. Their dreamy debut single Shaking Hands is released under the Spring Breakersmoniker. Think sitting inside a slowly spinning top made of marshmallow and cloud. DerVerdit – Yup!
Motions – Say Goodbye/Coincide (Double A). Released on 29th June, this Double A marks the third release from Dublin duo, Dave Nulty and Tom Daly. It also marks a seismic shift in the quality of both their songwriting and arranging, with Coincide a serious contender for alt-rock anthem of the Summer. Fans of the Gahan Condemnation vocal will be transfixed. DerVerdict – Ones to Watch. Closely.
FESTIVALE!
Festival season is once again upon us and with Body & Soul and Glastonbury now relegated to the blurry mists of hazy memories, we look forward to more upcoming carnivalesque soujourns in muddy/grassy/lumpy fields eating falafel/burgers/<<insert rude word>> whilst quaffing endless gallons of caffeinated drinks/alcoholic drinks/<<insert rude word>>. Festis to look out for in the coming weeks are, (you couldn’t make this up!) …
Latitude – UK – 13th – 16th July – Headline acts incl The 1975, Fleet Foxes and Mumford & Sons, along with other stalwarts such as Goldfrapp, Placebo and our own Imelda May.
Longitude – IRL – 14th – 16th July – Headline acts incl Stormzy, The Weekend, and ditto Mumford, as well as homies Picture This, Aine Cahill & Bitch Falcon.
Other festivals hitting a field near you this July are :- Noisily (Leicester) 6th – 9th July, BST Hyde Park(London) 1st to 9th July, Citadel (London) 16th July,Tramlines(Sheffield) 21st – 23rd July, and the one I’d go to if I had my way – Afropunk Fest(London) 22nd – 23rd July which features the wonderful Lianne le Havas along with NAO and Thundercat. For ticket info, click on the festival name.
FRESH ON THE NET!
Last week was one of the best weeks for new music that we’ve had on #FOTN in yonks. Much to my delight silken voiced Aislinn Logan ran away with the public vote. Alongside her you’ll find gems from Hydromag, The Hangmen, Perks and so much, much more. If you’re an emerging artist, up and coming musician, do please check out our site and give serious thoughts to uploading your music to our Dropbox. Tune into the latest faves here –
And finally, finishing up with some GOOD NEWS VIBES!
So, aside from Ed Sheeran announcing myriad Irish dates (4th – 16th May) on his upcoming 2018 live tour – tickets go on sale July 8th peeps edsheeran.com for details, the super good news is that the Other VoicesIrish music festival has announced it will be departing its native Dingle shores this Summer for the riverbanks of Berlin no less.
As part of an initiative supported by the Irish Dept of Foreign Affairs & Trade in conjunction with Creative Ireland, Other Voices will host a live event at the Riverside Studios on 13th July; a satellite-event of Tech Open Air Berlin 2017.
The first in a series, this new OV project aims to both increase awareness of contemporary Irish music and artists within the German market, and strengthen what is already a solid bond with our Deutsche counterparts.
Featured artists will include New Jackson (David Kitt), Berlin-based Tom Adams, Talos, Soulé, Them There and Caoimhín Ó’Raghallaigh of The Gloaming fame. For further details and ticket info, check here
As usual, we give you a parting gift of a specially curated Spotify playlist, below, to complement our latest rambling, shambling newsletter. You might indulge me with a spot of straw polling below … Hope you enjoyed, and as Dave Gahan would say – “See You Next Time!”
THERE ARE MORE women than men living in Ireland, according to the Census 2016 results.
Figures, recently released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that, of the 4,761,865 people in Ireland, 2,407,437 are female and 2,354,428 are male (a difference of 53,009). Overall, there is a gender ratio of 97.8 males for every 100 females.
So tell me then why it is then that only 27% of the 114 acts playing three of the biggest music festivals in Ireland are made up of females or have a female vocalist/musician at the helm.
While some fare better than others – the EP Main & Other Voices Stages coming in at a ‘colossal’ 33% – the likes of Forbidden Fruit has just a miserly 16% female representation in its lineup.
The reasons for this gender imbalance remain unclear but it must be assumed that the festival organisers along with bookers & promoters, still hold an archaic view of festival going audiences ie. that despite the fact that some of the biggest selling global music artists are female (Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Beyonce) the public preference is for a male driven festival lineup.
With that in mind, let’s look at the current situation in Norway. Of the acts that have dominated the Norwegian music charts over the past twelve months, the handful of indigenous artists have either been female – Aurora, Frokedal, Astrid S, Susanna Sundfor, Sigrid, Jenny Hval (the latter was the winner of the Phonofile Nordic Music Prize 2016 for her stunning album Blood Bitch) – or female centric – Highasakite, Slotface. Norwegian, indeed most Scandi music festivals, are crammed with female talent – one look at the Trondheim Calling, by:Larm & Oya programmes for the past few years will tell you all you need to know about Nordic gender balance. Female headliners – not a problem.
So, who are the special ones? The female chosen few who’ve managed to secure much sought after places in the ranks of the festival lineup elite.
FORBIDDEN FRUIT (3-5 June, RH Kilmainham) : PROMOTERS, POD – TOTAL ACTS 25, OF WHICH FEMALE 4 — 16%
So far, of the acts announced for FF only 4 – yes FOUR – are female and/or have core female members. Now four isn’t bad, in comparison with last year’s two, we say without an ounce of sarcasm. In fact yoy FF seem to be actually doubling their female constituent parts, that number rising from 1 to 2 to 4, so that next year we should expect a ‘great eight’, no?
The Forbidden Fruit Four are – Lisa Hannigan, The Staves, Peggy Gou and Nao. Not a sniff of female in the headliners Orbital, Aphex Twin, Bon Iver or even amongst the top support acts, Booka Shade, Nicolas Jaar, Flying Lotus. Hannigan is as good as it gets in the ‘chain of command’.
LONGITUDE (14-16 July, Marlay Park) : PROMOTERS, MCD – TOTAL ACTS 47, OF WHICH FEMALE 12 — 25%
The ‘penthouse’ at Longitude is ‘so macho’ as to be disquieting where the top four tiers are filled solely by male acts. Headliners include Stormzy, The Weeknd and Mumford & Sons, none with so much as a feminine squeak. Interestingly, The Weeknd’s other half, Selena Gomez, has the globe’s biggest social media following, clocking up a gargantuan 119m followers.
Be that as it may, here are the results of the Longitude jury – Jorja Smith, Dua Lipa, HVOB, Karen Elson, Lucy Rose, Bitch Falcon, Raye, Sunflower Bean, Aine Cahill, Her, Ray Blk and Norwegian newbie Sigrid. This year’s distinguished dozen represents a 140% uplift on the 2016 lineup which featured a measly five female artists. Notwithstanding the large % increase, the figure itself remains paltry at best.
ELECTRIC PICNIC (1-3 Sept, Stradbally) : PROMOTERS, FESTIVAL REPUBLIC – TOTAL ACTS 42, OF WHICH FEMALE 14 — 33%
Top of the Festival Pops, Electric Picnic also tops all others when it comes to female inclusion – but hardly by a noteworthy margin. Featuring 14 female artists out of a possible 42 acts lined up to play their main stage plus Other Voices, EP2017 is still lagging way behind the national male:female ratios or Scandi fest averages.
Strip out the male centric acts and you’re left with a female inclusive lineup that looks as follows – The XX, Chaka Chkan, London Grammar, Annie Mac, The Pretenders, Phantogram, All We Are, Kelly Lee Owens, Goat Girl; [Other Voices] Saint Sister, Odetta Hartman, Loah, Katie Laffan, Soule.
Big up to EP for the number of Irish females included in this year’s mix but by the same token, a festival as ginormous and important as EP that prides itself as being a leader in terms of diversity and eclecticism should surely, be leading the way in terms of gender parity. Kudos for having The XX and Chaka Khan on the top rungs of the lineup ladder, but they still only make up 1/3 of the overal top 6 acts featured in this year’s programme.
While it would be easy to lay the blame at the feet of the ticket buying public, frankly in this day and age, that age-old excuse doesn’t quite cut it any longer. The fact is that in the industry itself there are several women at the top of their game – Jo Whiley, Jenny Greene, Annie Mac, Edith Bowman. In addition, there is a large cohort of female artists dominating music on a global scale – Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Adele, Selena Gomez, Sia, Carrie Underwood – all of whom are listed in the Top 30 best selling music artists of 2016. So, saying that women no longer ‘own it’ in a male-dominated industry, is quite frankly, bull.
In an age where women’s voices are getting louder AND being heard, what is it about the Irish Festival scene that appears to be turning both a blind eye and deaf ear to the growing trend of peer to peer, gender to gender equality within the universal music industry. Frankly Ireland, it’s not good enough. If we can look to Scandinavia as role models for matters of health and education, and if we are happy to be lead by their example, then similarly we can follow in their footsteps when it comes to equality of status, positioning and recompense when it comes to all things music.
The current trend won’t undergo any seismic shift unless bookers and promoters ‘woman up’ and start putting some serious effort into including more female artists in the lineups of our biggest festivals. Come on Ireland! Let’s starting putting the ‘equality’ into the gender equality we speak so much of! As the song goes, let’s get the balance right.
To celebrate some of the female acts playing this Summer’s Irish Festivals, we’ve run up a Females for Festivals playlist over on Spotify! Enjoy!!
dervswerve 