Gig Review - The Walls, The Grand Social Thursday 30th June

To paraphrase the Coen brothers; this ain’t no country for middle-aged musicians. Unless you’re insanely successful (and irritating) like Bono or Sting, continuing to make music into your forties like, you know, as a career, is a tough game. Most bands form in secondary school or college, record an EP or two and maybe scrape together enough cash to make a full-length album. A tour and second album might follow depending on response to the first. But, in time, most musicians end up quitting as the mundane necessity of putting food on the table kicks in. Poverty is not a hot look when you hit your late thirties, especially when compared to your contemporaries and original fans, those who went down the straight and narrow, got the profession, bought the suit, and are now furnishing their second homes with Danish-designed sofas. There are a few who keep at it though. … There’s more

Temple House Festival: 10th - 12th June

Coming back for its second year this June, the Temple House Festival held in the grounds of the Temple House Estate, Ballymote, Co Sligo, has announced a rocking great line-up for this year’s 4 stages of fun. Ash, Lisa Hannigan, Whipping Boy and Riptide Movement were some of the names announced last week to join the already stellar offering of Declan O’Rourke, Something Happens, Andrew Strong, The Walls, Heathers, Miracle Bell, Oddsocks Revival and Culch.ie favourites Bipolar Empire. We were lucky enough to be treated to a preview of the 3-day festival’s offering during the Temple House press day which featured a tour of the grounds and live sets by Oddsocks Revival and Bipolar Empire and maybe it was the blistering heat on the day, the magical feeling of the place (it includes a lake and the ruins of a Knights Templar castle) or the genuine love for the festival … There’s more

Culch.ie Calling Cards - Gigs - September 20 - 26 2010

GIGS Brandon Flowers, usually the front man of Killers, remains stubbornly proud of his hometown, Las Vegas. he makes that clear when discussing his first solo album, Flamingo, which takes its name from a Sin City downtown street on which Sam’s Town is located. That’s where Flowers used to buy his records. “I grew up there, so it’s close to my heart,” … “I feel a responsibility to represent where I’m from, to defend it. It’s a place that a lot of people loathe. I can’t help but love it. I grew up with a lot of people who couldn’t wait to leave, and that was always strange to me. I feel a real connection to it. It’s in my blood.” He plays The Academy, Dublin on 22 September. Tickets. “Flamingo” is on the shelves now. Tim Robbins and The Rogues Gallery Band (yes, THAT Tim Robbins) plays at Whelans, … There’s more