youbloom LA 2016 Press Release

22-Aug-2016 By Ciara Sheahan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 22, 2016

youbloomLA Music Summit and Festival enters its third year showcasing local and international bands and music industry speakers.
September 29, 30, and October 1st across Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, CA: youbloom, an annual international music festival and conference, expands its reach for youbloomLA 2016 to include Downtown LA, Northeast LA, and Culver City.

Now in its third year, youbloomLA 2016 is excited to announce its bands and speakers. “No”, and “Mars and the Massacre” are two of the musical highlights this year. The conference organizers have managed to maintain the level of intimacy and integrity expected from a youbloom conference while growing their reach considerably. The panelists are top notch and the areas of expertise covered have widened, and youbloom will be presenting special sessions on live and touring, music licensing, digital marketing, and a special panel on “Women in Music”. Music conferences are often underrepresented on the Westside, and youbloomLA is thrilled to partner with Hamilton High School for the Arts for the conference segment and with Musicians Institute with a number of its artists showcasing.

This year’s keynote speakers are Liz Garo, talent buyer/event producer at Spaceland Productions (The Echo, Echoplex, Regent Theater and more) and Darrell Brown, songwriter, arranger with worldwide music sales of over 72 million units. There will be over 40 speakers from all areas of the industry, including Loretta Munoz (ASCAP), Brad Rains (Atlantic), Les Borsai (Gridhub), Kevin Day (SkyRocket), and Jeremy Hammond (Western Front).

The youbloom A&R Team has also curated over 80 bands from 6 countries as well as the US, including, Brazil, UK, Sweden and Ireland and includes genres such as hip hop, rock, reggae, folk, bluegrass, pop, Mediterranean and more. Full list http://www.youbloom.com/ybla-2016/

A truly signature aspect of youbloom is the community it develops; their generosity and understanding of artists’ essential needs and comfort is paramount. To that end, the local LA bands will be adopting and hosting acts from farther afield. These ambassadors include Evol Walks, The Blue Dolphins, The Vigils and Turning Violet, along with about 25 more fabulous discoveries and hometown treasures.

The conference will be held Friday and Saturday, September 30/October 1 at Hamilton High School for the Arts (Culver City adjacent) from 11am to 6pm. Tickets are on sale now as follows: Delegate price $100 ($75 students with ID) with access to all of conference and gigs.
All 3 nights gig wristband $30. Otherwise buy tickets at door, $7 Old Towne Pub, Five Star Bar and The Lexington. Free entry to La Cuevita and Griffins of Kinsale.

Available online at http://tinyurl.com/jmarwar and at the door. At last, the music! On Thursday September 29th, and Friday September 30th and Saturday October 1st to wee hours of the morning, music lovers and discoverers can find it all at five locations: Griffins of Kinsale; La Cuevita; The Old Towne Pub; The Lexington Bar; and Five Star Bar. Cover charges range from free to $7. See ALL Artists

About youbloom: Learn. Connect. Play. That’s the youbloom motto; the creed for this community of music enthusiasts whose mission it is to help artists build a sustainable living. youbloom was founded in Ireland by doctor, musician, Phil Harrington and nurtured by visionaries like Bob Geldof and Nigel Grainge. What started as a modest online song contest in 2010 surged into an annual Music Festival and Conference in both Dublin and Los Angeles, bringing nearly 100 bands from a dozen countries to each event.

For more information contact Phil Harrington philh@youbloom.com
website http://www.youbloom.com/ybla-2016/
Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/youbloom
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/youbloom
Instagram.com/officialyoubloom
YouTube youbloomTV

BEFORE I DIE: youbloom | HEADROOM #2 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival.

15-Aug-2016 By Shannon Duvall

You don’t have to have a bucket to have a list: BEFORE I DIE is youbloom | HEADROOM‘s ultimate question: When all is said and done and they’re carving your name into granite, what are the Top 3 things you want to have done with your time in the world of music?

Five featured artists from our upcoming youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival narrow it down for us in this week’s edition of HEADROOM.

Dame Neema, F.Y.I.:

1 | Put out an album on a major label that will be at major retail chains for sale.

2 | Tour the world performing songs from albums I’ve released.

3 | Be considered one of Top 50 MCs of all time

This is smart and seriously well-produced hip-hop that leaves no stone unturned in terms of composition. Every opportunity for a great riff is taken. Every hummable melody and razor-sharp hook is put to use, making for an instantly danceable, ridable, head-noddable record. Do not miss this one. For fans of: Consequence, Rhymefest, The Alchemist

Danny Cieplinski, lead vox, The Vigils:

1 | I already achieved one of them when we recently recorded She’s Gone. I don’t imagine I’ll ever write another song that’s as important to me personally as that one.

2 | I would love the opportunity to perform our music around the world, in Australia in particular.

3 | Lastly, striving audaciously high here, I would ultimately like to be viewed, at least by some, as the Joe Strummer equivalent of my generation! Gene Vincent, Lou Reed, Phil Lynott, Stiv Bators, Michael Hutchence, Lux Interior, Peter Steele, the Ramones…It’s rather sad and pathetic to think that there’s no one under the age of 50 that comes remotely close to their level, representing and defining Rock ‘N’ Roll the way they did. I like to think it’s never too late. And there can only be one Bowie.

The best thing about rock ‘n roll in the late 50s and early 60s was undoubtedly its IDGAF sentiment, a vibe that’s been echoed through the decades by some of the very best artists and bands to coif their hair and pick up a guitar. The rebels behind the Vigils serve up exactly this calibre of quality rock, keeping the torch lit for generations to come.

For fans of: anything Phil Spector ever touched, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Cramps

James Cottriall:

1 | My number one goal has always been my dream from the moment I first strummed a guitar: to play at Madison Square Garden. I don’t care if it’s a sold-out headline show or in the foyer at a convention…I won’t rest until I have played in that building.

2 | The second goal is to play on every continent in the world, including the Antarctic. I’ve already played North America, Europe, Asia and Africa so I am well on my way to achieving this, but there’re still a few to go!

3 | Finally, number three would be to write a song for another artist that became a global smash, so that everyone sang it and loved it but no one really knew it was me responsible for that awesomeness: the unsung hero.

Confessional and heartfelt, with carefully placed synthy elements and a born-for-the-radio pop groove, James Cottriall’s music is as satisfying as a summertime road trip with best friends or the glint in the eye of a new crush. The production is perfection and Cottriall holds his own as a talent to watch. For fans of: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Noah and the Whale, Peter Bjorn and John

Paige Byrd, guitar & vox, The Captain’s Son:

1 | Tour the world.

2 | Get a parody about me/us on South Park.

3 | Build a recording studio in which I record my stuff and help other artists develop.

For fabulously loose-hinged min pop masterpieces, with jangly guitars and a fuzzed-out vibe that resists having the finger put squarely on it, The Captain’s Son sound like they time-traveled to every era of rock n’ roll, taking the very best elements from each and returning with a freakish, beautiful creation that’s impossible to turn off. Brilliant stuff.

For fans of: The Black Keys, early Nirvana, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Who

Mackenzie Robert, vox & songwriting, HERØINE:

1 | To have never given up.

2 | To have created dialogue around God’s word.

3 | To have created a powerful community for my fans.

Want powerful electro-pop anthems with white hot vocals and made for the dancefloor grooves? Look no further than HERØINE, whose epic, beat-driven tunes are the glorious dance-pop gems you’ve been waiting for. Sure to put on a superb performance at youbloomLA; fans of slick, sexy electro won’t want to miss this. For fans of: Sia, Clean Bandit, Zara Larsson

So what’s on your list? If you had to write a BEFORE I DIE, what three things would be most important to you? Let us know below:

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE: youbloom | HEADROOM #4 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival

10-Aug-2016 By Shannon Duvall

It’s not always easy to know what your purpose is in life, but it’s even tougher to make THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE and consider a backup plan should a dream fail to see the light of day.

Five incredibly talented artists set to play our upcoming festival are up to the challenge, however, so we asked them: if you had to choose another road, where would it lead? Read on to find out what they said.

Dre DiMura, guitar & backing vox, Evol Walks: ‘Well in addition to my career as a musician I also spend a great deal of time acting, so I imagine I would be on set making films. I’d actually really like to live in London and do Shakespeare. Doing Twelfth Night or maybe playing one of the artisans in Midsummer Night’s Dream, or Brutus in Julius Caesar. There are too many great parts! I’ve also thought about becoming a journalist or moving to Italy to teach English.’

Endlessly catchy riffs and smart hooks form the backbone of Evol Walks’ songs, in parts a nod to shamelessly badass 80s hard rock progressions, while in others an ultra-contemporary fuzz chug…thing. It’s tough to categorize, which we LOVE, and it’s got guts. The kind of stuff to break things to…or just hold your lighter in the air and bang your head. Fantastic. For fans of: Le Butcherettes, Black Lips, The Kills

Adriana, vox, Tigercide: ‘Probably an archaeologist.’

Brendan, synths, DJ, Tigercide: ‘I would be a mushroom farmer and movie director. I would still wear black.’

For everyone currently frothing for the music from hit Netflix series Stranger Things, the resurgence of smart, sexy electro pop made well is a dream come true. Enter Tigercide, who have all the elements – throbbing beat, atmospheric synths, otherworldly vocals – and they know exactly how to put them together to create a sonic escape for the listener that evokes your most Nintendo/John Carpenter nostalgia. Ones to watch. For fans of: Gunship, Shit Robot, The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Victoria Scott, lead vox & songwriting, The Blue Dolphins: ‘Last year I said I’d be a novelist and this year I can say that I have the first draft of a novel that I am currently submitting places. I love words, in song or prose. The crafting of them entertains me infinitely. Words are powerful! I think ‘yes’ and ‘no’ are the two most powerful words in the world, in any language.’

A favorite in LA in 2015, the Blue Dolphins are back, their sound evolved even further, blending clear, pretty vocals with south-of-the-border, surfy sentiments, and a growing confidence. Unabashedly succinct, feel-good tunes from a duo who, from the sounds of it, are well on their way. For fans of: The Sleepovers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a sweeter, less fuzzy Mika Miko

Grover Anderson: ‘I love the English language and I love theater, so I’d probably be teaching at a high school and doing community theatre on the weekends. But I’d definitely be that cool English teacher who plays vintage vinyl records during tests.’

Wistful and clever, the wonderfully proficient Grover Anderson weaves together songs that mix youthful whimsy with heartfelt daydreams, delivering them to eager ears with a stripped-back, pure and well-considered expression. From the acoustic gems to rockier grooves, It’s the perfect road trip music, and it’s sure to be a killer live. For fans of: Paddy Casey, Josh Ritter, Ryan Adams

What’s your backup plan? It might be THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE but you never know if you’ll have to make it someday. Let us know in the comments below:

WOKE UP THIS MORNIN’ : youbloom | HEADROOM #1 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival

07-Aug-2016 By Shannon Duvall

WOKE UP THIS MORNIN’…

From the sultry streets of Ireland’s capital city to the sunny shores of southern California, the youbloom festival train never stops.

Next stop: the youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival, and it’s approaching fast so it’s time to dust off the HEADROOM hat and get back in the conductor’s chair for the only place on the internet where independent musicians can come together to share their wildest, most WTF stories, hopes and dreams.

It’s a crazy world out there for a musician – luckily we’re here to share the crazy for all the world to see.

As always, we’ve asked four of our phenomenal artists who will be playing their hearts out at the upcoming festival to share a little something…personal with us. And the answers are pretty dang interesting, if I do say so myself.

Today’s question: If you woke up tomorrow as any other artist or musician, living or dead, who would you want to be and why? Check out their answers below, as well as bios for each artist and links to their music.

Huxley Rittman, singer/songwriter: ‘I’d like to be someone somewhere between Hendrix and GG Allin. I think they’re sort of at two different ends of the spectrum of abnormality. Regardless, they will always remain the only ones of their kind.’

An act we’re pleased to welcome back to the youbloom stage, Rittman is an artist who brings fresh footfall to the well-hiked trails of acoustic storytelling. He makes it more about the listener than about himself, which is dignified and refreshing. Like a relaxed, neofolk Dylan instantly persuasive and warmly addictive. For fans of: Nick Drake, Hudson Taylor, Mark Kozelek

Kalina, vox, piano & ukelele, Rocky’s Revival: ‘I would definitely want to be Paul McCartney. He is my favorite Beatle. He redefined music and the music industry. McCartney wrote brilliant and innovative songs. I would love to be a part of the band that created pop culture and changed music forever.’

Exquisite instrumental arrangements underpin clever and thoughtful lyrics delivered with deft harmonic skill and a powerful sense of confession. A heartfelt yet wry take on the singer/songwriter duo genre. For fans of: Sarah Bareilles, The Pierces, Nerina Pallot.

Matt Jaffe, Matt Jaffe and the Distractions: ‘I’d like be Hank Williams. I think he wrote the most perfect songs. Although he wrote in a populist form, the fluidity of his songwriting has the same divine inspiration that people attribute to the likes of Mozart. His voice is plaintive, yet confident, his lyrics are desperate, yet self-effacing. Although he died way too young, his legacy is just stunning. Songwriting is the cornerstone of my love for music and pure songwriting doesn’t get much more brilliant than Hank.’

With a confident delivery, speeding tempo, and bruised lyrics reminiscent of the road-weary performers who spent entire lives on tour, the surprisingly young and massively talented Matt Jaffe and the Distractions will take you from barroom to boulevard and back again. Super enjoyable and one to watch. For fans of: The White Stripes, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Cage the Elephant

Tim Jarzabek, drums, No: ‘If I had to wake up tomorrow as any other artist, God forbid, I would wake up as Keith Moon one second before he died. I would hate to be anyone except me. I’d rather be dead.’

Refreshingly refusing to be pinned to the board of any one genre or playing style, the band NO lend their considerably talented hands to an impressive array of sounds, weaving them together to create music that is singularly smart and enticing: a rare ability. For fans of: Spring King, The Beach Boys, The Beta Band

What about you? If you had to brush the teeth of a legendary musician when you got out of bed tomorrow, who would it be? Let us know in the comments below.

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE: youbloom | HEADROOM #8 with Featured Artists from the Dublin 2016 Music Festival

30-May-2016 By Shannon Duvall

Everyone already knows that in their time before rock stardom, Jack White was an upholsterer, Kurt Cobain made a living as a janitor, and Madonna worked at Dunkin Donuts. But what would you do if you were forced to give up your musical passion and go with a Plan B? For some, the lure of upholstery is…still pretty strong. For others, there’s just no way they could ever see themselves doing anything but music; it’s an impossible choice.

In this last installment of the youbloomDublin 2016 HEADROOM series, we’ve asked a whopping 16 of our dynamite artists – all of whom will be taking to stages across Dublin city centre from Wed Jun 1 – Fri Jun 3 – what their second choice, if any, would be.

Many thanks to all of the brilliant artists for taking part in the most successful HEADROOM yet, and for all the hilarious and heartfelt stories they’ve shared so that you, dear reader, can get to know them just that little bit better. So without further ado, The Impossible Choice.

We’ll see you at the shows.

Damien McFly, singer-songwriter: ‘I would shoot video clips and also be a photographer. I still do that in my free time; it’s a creative job and I love it!’

With a voice that recalls the late, great Jeff Buckley and a fervent style that bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary styles, the Italian-born Damien McFly is an exciting find in the world of acoustic singer/songwriters. With stripped back instrumentation and daring melodic choices, he’s one to watch. See him do his thing live on The Grand Social acoustic stage on Thursday, June 2 at 9.55pm. For fans of: Jeff Buckley, Antony and the Johnsons, Ben Harper

NINA, singer-songwriter: ‘ I’d be a photographer and maybe also a perfumer; I’d love to create my own fragrances.’

Stunningly talented electro pop queen NINA serves up synth-drenched, sultry tunes that are as dark and reflective as they are smooth and urbane. With top notch production it’s clear this artist is on top of her game, and only just getting started. She plays the Wiley Fox on Thu June 2 at 9 pm. For fans of: Kavinsky, Salt Ashes, The Motels

Garrett Wall, guitar & lead vox, Track Dogs: ‘I’d probably be working in TV or cinema, writing, producing, acting! Whatever! I’m a huge fan of series and movies so the apple doesn’t fall too far from the musical tree in terms of option B!’

Tongue-in-cheek, fun, Americana from four expats living in Spain. Their influences are broad and spot-on, and the music they make is tight, generous and well-turned-out. We can’t wait for their live show. For fans of: Hayseed Dixie, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Devil Makes Three

AERYNN: singer-songwriter (vocals, guitar, sometimes piano): ‘Food! Experimenting and trying new recipes or ideas in the kitchen is one of my favourite hobbies, and along with that, I enjoy growing produce myself if possible. I don’t have as much time or space for this at the moment, but I love DIY and making everything from raw materials.’

Impeccable, confident folk from an artist with alternative rock roots, Aerynn writes songs with grace and intrigue. Her formula strays from too much structure, enjoying refreshing, attention-grabbing rhythmic choices and stream-of-consciousness delivery. A bright take on a classic. She takes to the stage at KC Peaches on Thu June 2 at 8.45 pm. For fans of: Judee Sill, Laura Nyro, Bert Jansch

Shane Ó Fearghail, singer-songwriter: ‘Writing stories and books for children or developing animation projects in Irish and other languages.’

Vienna-dwelling Tallaght native Shane Ó Fearghail has the kind of vocal style that has traditionally always paired magically with an acoustic guitar. It’s the kind of music that sweeps you up in its storytelling, takes you for a ride and drops you off miles from the nearest pay phone. Thing is, you don’t mind the walk back, humming the tune now stuck in your head. One to watch, and you can see him at Workman’s acoustic stage on Wed June 1 at 9.50 pm. For fans of: Loudoun Wainwright III, Ron Sexsmith, Daniel Lanois

Killian Ruffley, singer, guitarist and songwriter: ‘This is the hardest question to respond to, because music is the only thing that I can be creative with. I’ll say writing and poetry or maybe filmmaking or acting. Those are art forms I very much admire so I guess I would give them a shot if music was not an option!’

Emotive, powerful vocals are the first standout element in Irish singer-songwriter Killian Ruffley’s tunes, which defy categorisation, straddling the line somewhere between 2010s indie stylistics and 90s-influenced hit rock radio (with even a little trad and funk thrown in for good measure). Ruffley is no slouch, doing things his own way, with top notch results. Don’t miss his show at Workman’s acoustic stage on Thu June 2 at 8.15 pm. For fans of: Biffy Clyro, Young the Giant, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Harriet, singer-songwriter, Hattie Webb: ‘ I paint and weave as well as playing music. I would probably be taking more time to invest in these endeavours if I wasn’t playing music full-time. I would also love to work in communities helping people with basic needs.’

Dancing somewhere between light and ethereal and mournful and bewitching, the vocals of Hattie Webb (of the famous Webb Sisters) have a style reminiscent of the nooks and crannies of some of Kate Bush’s best while never releasing hold on that distinctive Webb sound. Beautiful, impressive, what can I say? A must-see. She plays at KC Peaches on Wed June 1 at 10.15 pm. For fans of: Luke Bloom, Julie Feeney, Eddie Reader

Luke Clerkin, singer-songwriter: ‘ I’d definitely be doing something surrounding it, like events management or artist management as that’s what I’ve studied and have experience in.’

The heart-on-the-sleeve musical stylings of singer-songwriter Luke Clerkin may seem straightforward, but underneath the meandering acoustic guitar and raw, tell-all vocals, lies a darker heart, one seemingly inspired by the mysterious great beyond. Fantastic stuff. See him play the Grand Social acoustic stage on Wed June 1 at 7.40 pm. For fans of: Tim DeLaughter & The Polyphonic Spree, Brendan Benson, Josh Rouse

Kellie Marie, singer-songwriter, acoustic and electric guitars, Kellie Marie Reynolds: ‘Words. Anything to do with words. Or old things. Right now I’m working on a script for TV or Film, not sure which one it is yet. Working in that area would be great and I hope to do it some day. After I finish my album, of course. I’d also love to own a little vintage store-slash-cafe. Old things make me happy.’

One of the most unique vocalists to find her way on to the youbloom bill in quite some time, Kellie Marie Reynolds crafts a wicked concoction of stripped-down acoustic melodies, intimate cabaret-style whispers and growling crescendos featuring all the vocal power of a hurricane. She’s up there with the best, and not one to miss. See her play at the Grand Social acoustic stage on Wed June 1 at 9.10 pm. For fans of: Concrete Blonde, Ruth Brown, Rose Royce.

Chris Kestell, singer-songwriter, A Happy Accident: ‘I would be writing unfinished stories, or taking shitty pictures, or something else to represent myself under my own terms. I think that is important. None of it would have to be the best, but music really is what lets me get my thoughts out day to day in a way I enjoy, and without that outlet I would surely explode!’

Piano-driven and sentimental, sparse, reflective, and pure, with enchanting string arrangements and a measured, near-sleep breath pace, there’s so much to love about the music of Happy Accident. It’s nearly impossible to draw one direct line to anything similar, past or present, but so many legendary elements stand out on this year’s Waiting To Happen EP it’ll more than satisfy. Don’t miss the show at Workman’s acoustic stage on Thu June 2 at 7.30 pm. For fans of: Tom Rush, Leonard Cohen, Red House Painters, and more.

Darragh Mc Grane, lead vox & guitar, Penrose: ‘I don’t think I could ever not be involved with music so if I couldn’t play I think I would be in the studio producing bands.’

Taking the best elements from legends of 60s AM radio, Penrose craft a jubilant sound laden with orchestral arrangements, jangling guitars, and well-considered lyrical melodies. Their style will impress fans of retro-inspired indie from the US and UK alike. Catch them at the Wiley Fox on Wed June 1 at 7.30 pm. For fans of: Oasis, Stereophonics, ELO

Carito Plaza: ‘I would be dancing. I love to move, I love to express myself, I can’t just stay still and since I’m not very good with words (I can sing, but find it hard to speak about my feelings) I would be letting my body say what my tongue can’t.’

Sultry latin grooves spread like hot butter over the funky disco-lite beats of Carito Plaza. A favourite from last year’s youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival, she’s sure to impress across the Atlantic in Dublin. Order an exotic cocktail and loosen up your hips for shaking. Carito’s coming to town to play the Grand Social Main Stage on Wed June 1 at 8.15 pm. For fans of: Janet Jackson, J*DaVeY, NDambi

Stone & Jezreel

Francis, bass: ‘I’d be a lawyer or a mechanic.’

Yuki, drums: ‘ I’d probably be a writer.’

Afroot, guitar & keys: ‘Design. Graphics. Making movies.’

Ahamed Harris Momodu AKA STONE, rapper: ‘Playing, having fun, speaking and writing about life and evolution.’

With fresh lyrics, mixed vocals, laid-back beats, and unusual, addicting instrumental choices, Stone& Jezreel have tapped into the hinterlands of great hip-hop, and are busy blazing new trails to the frontiers of what’s possible in the genre. Infectious and satisfying. They rock the Workman’s Club main stage on Wed June 1 at 10.30pm. For fans of: Childish Gambino, Asher Roth, Angel Haze

So what’s your backup plan, your Option B? Let us know in the comments below:

youbloom LA 2016 Press Release

BEFORE I DIE: youbloom | HEADROOM #2 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival.

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE: youbloom | HEADROOM #4 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival

WOKE UP THIS MORNIN’ : youbloom | HEADROOM #1 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE: youbloom | HEADROOM #8 with Featured Artists from the Dublin 2016 Music Festival

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