Lykke Li is set to return to Dublin for her second Irish show this year. Her gig in The Sugar Club earlier this year was phenomenal and, since the release of her debut album, Youth Novels, she has developed something of a cult following. She plays The Button Factory on November 24th. Tickets are only €17.00 and go on sale tomorrow morning. These are sure to sell out so snap them up.

Check out the talented lil lady herself in the video below along with El Perro Del Mar (who played support on Lykke Li’s last tour) and some miscellaneous musicians ad-libbing in San Fransisco – great stuff altogether.

watch?v=vFCif_h36Gw

The Music Show (formerly Music Ireland), Hotpress magazine’s comprehensive exhibition showcasing all things, em, musical is back in the RDS next weekend, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of October.

The exhibition brings together the cream of the Irish music industry all under one roof. With exhibitors ranging from recording studios and duplication plants to vintage guitar stores and rock schools, you’re sure to find something to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, whether you’re in the industry or not. Complementing the exhibitors, there are a number of workshops running throughout the weekend such as drum and guitar masterclasses and recording techniques tutorials, all headed by experts in their respective fields. Seminars and panel discussions chaired by the likes of Liam O’Maonlaí (he of Hothouse Flowers fame), Mick Quinn (rock photographer extraordinaire) and Dave Fanning (needs no introduction) serve to provide invaluable insight to the ins and outs of the music business.

And thats not even the best part. For the bargain price of €15.00 (weekend ticket in advance), you get to witness live performances from the fabulous Ham Sandwich, The Blizzards, Jaded Sun (check these guys out if you get a chance – really great classic rock sound from an unbelievably underrated Irish band) and Mercury-nominated Fionn Regan, to name but a few.

So, if you’re in any way musically inclined and find yourself free next weekend, get yourself to the RDS for the only Dublin Show of it’s kind.

Tickets available from Ticketmaster.

Well, the weather remains somewhat gloomy (but dry) in the city, with the odd sunny days at weekends. Not entirely a bad thing if this trend continues, although I wouldn’t be looking forward to a beautiful Saturday followed by a drenching Sunday (cf weekend 13-14 Sept).

Nonetheless, after the fun that was last night of Dublin Culture Night, there’s more activities for arts lover coming up in a few days, namely Ranelagh Arts Festival 2008. The festival runs from Tuesday 23 September to Sunday 28 September.

The festival is in its 4th reincarnation, with various events to be held in and around Ranelagh (of course), where some would be free, some free but ticketed (so order those you want now!) and some are plainly ticketed. You can either order them online or at the box office, which is the front snug of Smyth’s Pub on Ranelagh Road.

There will be song and dance, comedy nights, photography competition, open air movies, poetry reading, family fun day, children’s pirate parade, free food tasting and many many more. [Check the full programme in PDF]

I think this is a brilliant initiative to bring the people who lives in and around Ranelagh village together, while promoting this urban village to everyone else. I’ve marked out a couple of jazz events and comedy nights to check out, and perhaps will brave the crowd on Sunday for some free food at Ranelagh Gardens. ;-)

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) have awarded Radio Nova a commercial radio licence fo a new classic rock station in Dublin, to begin broadcasting from August 2009. Despite applications for the licence from two other contenders – Rock Radio and Classic Rock Radio – the licence was awarded without an oral hearing – a first for the BCI. Phantom FM broke the mould in 2004 when they were granted a licence from the BCI to broadcast an alternative music station after years operating as a pirate station. Personally I can’t wait to have another alternative to Westlife and breakfast DJ’s. For the full story click here.

I still have one double pass for the Ponytail gig on Wednesday to give away. I also have some passes for Immanu El on Saturday. Read about the gigs here and to win the tickets just send me an email at dublinthom@gmail.com

You can also read a recent interview with Ponytail by State Magazine (now free State Magazine) here.

Foggynotions have been busy lately with 3 gigs coming up in September. In what the Irish Times are calling “recession-busting gigs“. They’ve got 3 super gigs in September and they’re all cheap as chips AND we have tickets to give away!

They’re all in Whelans
Sep 10 – Ponytail
Sep 13 – Immanu El
Sep 25 – O’Death

read more to find out how to get your grubby mitts on them!
(more…)

From Friday to Sunday, Dun Laoghaire is hosting the Festival of World Cultures. The event promises a mix of music, performances, markets, food and other eclectic fun.

Check out their website for a full programme of events. Some are free and some are ticketed (the awesome Seu Jorge is sold out) but it all looks fun.

http://www.festivalofworldcultures.com

Thanks to the wonderful folk at Foggynotions, we’ve got 2 double passes to give away for “Little Wings” who is playing Upstairs @ Whelan’s, Wed August 13.

Little Wings is the project of artist and musician Kyle Field. Having worked with stars like M.Ward and Devendra Banhart, Kyle Field released his 7th album last year: Soft Pow’r. His music can be described as lo-fi folk and his latest work has a raw yet slumbering feel like what a grizzly bear might listen to when he’s feeling moody. He’s not unlike the popular Bon Iver and comes with a big thumbs up from us.

to be in with a chance to win tickets, just leave a comment here or send me an email at mytop5blog *AT* gmail.com

listen to Little Wings, Gone Again

It seems order has almost been restored after a festival-filled summer and a spate of indoor gigs are on the agenda to help us through those dreary Autumn months.

First up, a second date has just been announced for MGMT‘s visit to the Ambassador, the pair now play 3rd and 4th of November with tickets for the second show going on sale this Friday 8th August priced €24.50. They are supported by new Canadian favorites Violens, who have been likened to everyone from The Zombies to Prefab Sprout. Their current single Violent Sensation Decends wouldn’t be out of place on a Shins album and is currently making the playlist of every radio station worth it’s salt.

Friday 7th November sees Tripod play host to Goldfrapp. Their latest album, Seventh Tree, saw Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory moving away from the much loved sparkly disco sounds of previous releases such as Supernature and moving in an altogether more grown-up, low-fi direction. Alison’s voice is beautiful enough to carry off their new ethereal sound and the Tripod show, which follows not long after their Electric Picnic date, should be a treat for fans and newcomers alike. Tickets are on sale now and are priced at €32.50 and €35.50 for standing or seated respectively.

November also sees the welcome return of Cold War Kids to our shores. After the unprecedented success of their first album, Robbers & Cowards, the Californian quartet return to Dublin on foot of the release of their follow up album, Loyalty to Loyalty, due for release September 23rd. Cold War Kids play The Academy on November 5th and tickets are €28.50.

AS if that isn’t enough to get excited about, Scottish indie rock veterans Primal Scream play an intimate gig in the sumptuous Olympia Theatre this November 17th. Their current album Beautiful Future sees the band move in an altogether more pop-orientated direction, but if we’re lucky they’ll still belt out some of the old favorites from the glory days of Screamadelica and XTRMNTR.
Tickets €33.60/€39.20

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If you can’t manage to stay indoors until November, there is also a veritable plethora of gigs to get excited about in October. The superlative Bon Iver plays Tripod on the 7th of October. After their sellout June show was moved from Crawdaddy to Tripod to accomadate unprecedented demand, Bon Iver’s popularity has been firmly cemented in Ireland and tickets to see Justin Vernon and co perform songs from the absolutely sublime album, For Emma, Forever Ago, will be snapped up. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised to see the October show echo that of the previous with a move to a larger venue.
Tickets €22.50/€27.50

If Black Kids infectious Summer anthem I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You is anything to go by, their gig in The Academy on the 21st October should be a high energy, dance-till-you-drop-sing-along night of fun. With tickets priced at just €17.50 it’d be just plain rude not to go.

Finally, celebrate Halloween night in style with the pioneer of scratrching, king of hip hop dj-ing, the legend that is Grandmaster Flash. He plays Tripod on October 31st and tickets to see one of the founding fathers of hip hop are a mere €20.00.

If you find yourself desperately longing to go out tonight but find your brain needs a little stimulation after a long week/Oxegen then here’s my advice for you: STEP AWAY FROM THE LOCAL BOOZER. Hop on a DART/bus/whatever and head for the city early – or better yet, stay in town after work. Here’s why:

Fight Like Apes play a free instore gig in Tower Records on Wicklow Street this evening at 5pm. Get there early to avoid being stuck at the back entrance to Brown Thomas with the Italian accordian playing mascot. Fresh from thier performance at Glastonbury, Fight Like Apes deliver their unique blend of shouty, high-octane, high-energy punk pop – if this doesn’t sound like your type of thing get yourself down to Bewleys on Grafton Street for a nice cup of tea and a sit down instead.

Tonight also sees Analog 2008 kick off in style with Dublin Docklands playing host to Lou Reed, Shane McGowan, Gavin Friday and Oscar-winning actor Tim Robbins, to name but a few. Rouge’s Gallery is the brainchild of Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski and music producer extrordinnaire, Hal Willner. Rouge’s Gallery is a collection of old sea shanties and pirate ballads given a modern day twist by a bevy of accomplished singers/songwriters/producers/etc. Willner’s impressive mish-mash of Hollywood A-listers and music industry legends is enough to get even the most discerning of gig-goers chomping at the bit. Go to see Lou Reed and Shane McGowan share a stage for the bargain price of €50.00 and, if this doesn’t stir up your senses, go to throw your knickers at Tim Robbins. A number of tickets are still available here.