Fionn Regan: 100 Acres Of Sycamore

Y’know the way now we have Google+? Fionn Regan is like Irish Singer/Songwriter+. As cute as Donovan crossed with a hobbit, the Mercury-nominated musician isn’t your average tousled dreamboat with a guitar; he has his own sound, but he can’t seem to stop messing with it. Which is great, because I bore easily. Pop over to Soundcloud for the title track from 100 Acres Of Sycamore, the album due in August. It’s gratifyingly bigger than it has any right to be. Bluesy, over folksy. Eerie, over twee. You can also download 100 Acres free from Fionn’s website, and the album is on preorder now from iTunes and that. Fionn is currently traipsing around the country showcasing his new stuff, and has still to get to the following gaffs. July 21st, Thursday - The Grand Social, Dublin July 22nd, Friday - The INEC, Kilarney July 23rd, Saturday - The Set Theatre, … There’s more

There Is A God! Johnny Flynn plays Ireland in September.

And with a name like that, he should be kept here, and all. Nu-folk’s smokin’ist talent, the wonderful Mr. Johnny Flynn, has just announced a number of gigs in September all about our fair isle, which will have to do until he’s made mandatory. He plays Auntie Annie’s in Belfast on the 17th, Academy 2 in Dublin on the 19th, Cyprus Avenue in Cork on the 21st, Monet Theatre in Limerick on the 22nd, and Arthur’s Day in Galway on the 23rd. Now, aren’t we all very lucky? (Answer: fuck, yes) If you haven’t yet given in to my persistent nagging and bought his new album, Been Listening, or even downloaded the single Kentucky Pill (for the price of your email address on Johnny’s site), I must state in the strongest possible terms that Johnny Flynn sets utter poetry to gripping melody and should be immediately made mayor of everyone’s … There’s more

Limerick for Haiti

Say what you like about Limerick (Dolores O’Riordan is from Limerick, so I figure they’re to blame for Zo-om-bay, ay, ay, ay, which directly inspired Umber-ella-ella-ella), but its people have a mighty inclination towards the grand scale when they want something done. So it is with the plans for Hurt For Haiti, a special day-long benefit taking place on February 21st in various venues on O’Connell Street. There will be street entertainment, lovely grub, local luminaries, and even nice massages and the like, if all the lovely grub gets a bit much. And people with ears will enjoy performances from the likes of Walter Mitty and The Realists, The Funk Junkies, and The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra (Brad Pitt not included). All proceeds go to the Irish Red Cross. The ever-tenacious Bock has a big hand in this, so you can head over to his blog for more information and … There’s more