MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #2 with Featured Artists from the Dublin 2016 Music Festival

09-May-2016 By Shannon Duvall

Welcome back!

Now that we’ve got the hotline to the youbloomDublin 2016 Music Festival artists themselves, I’m thinking we take it #tbt and dig a little deeper. You’ve already tuned in to the music of some of our artists (like The Smoking Giants and Kidd Kidd), but what about where it all began?

MY FIRST TIME isn’t afraid to ask the juicy Qs, namely: What was your first band? Check out some of the – rather surprising – answers below:

Chris, singer-songwriter, A Happy Accident: ‘I was the drummer in a rock band with my brother and a few of his friends, and funnily enough we were called Cringe… However, we were not too shabby as groups of young teens playing Audioslave covers at school discos go!’

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 For fans of: Tom Rush, Leonard Cohen, Red House Painters, and more

Jay, Color Palette: ‘We were called Tension Mounting. And we were horrible! LOL. We did Rage Against The Machine covers, mostly.’

With the epic feel of some of the best to come from the 80s Manchester scene mixed with unexpected elements of hard rock and electronica, this band is a total surprise. We can’t wait to see how this translates live. For fans of: The Stone Roses, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana

Luke Clerkin, singer-songwriter: ‘Clover Coast was the name of the first band I was in; we played quite a lot around Dublin, and we played a festival outside in Duleek once. It was an alt-rock band, and where I learnt how to sing properly and how to carry my voice throughout a room.’

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. For fans of: Tim DeLaughter & The Polyphonic Spree, Brendan Benson, Josh Rouse

Harriet, Hattie Webb: ‘The Webb Sisters. It’s a band I am in with my sister. That’s when I’m not busy playing in Leonard Cohen’s band. Leonard calls us the quietest band in the world.‘

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. For fans of: Luka Bloom, Julie Feeney, Kate Bush

Auxy, keys, Stone & Jezreel: ‘ My first band was church choir and it didn’t go so well. I was very young and scared and still learning and felt put on the spot.’

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. For fans of: Childish Gambino, Asher Roth, Angel Haze

Yikes, Auxy, sorry to hear that. At least the awkward phases have passed and all these rad artists are out there rocking our socks.

**What about you? Were you ever in a band or have you seen one that was obviously brand-spanking-new? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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

04-May-2016 By Shannon Duvall

We’re back, music friends! That’s right, the youbloomDublin 2016 Music Festival & Conference is fast approaching and that, rock and rollers, can only mean one thing: it’s HEADROOM time!

It’s the most fun, interesting, and probably bizarre place on the web to find out more about the future movers and shakers in the big bad world of the music industry.

As champions of DIY and independent music, we at youbloom like to take a little time to get to know all of the incredible artists who will be gracing our stages at our upcoming fest. So we got in touch with all the acts and asked them to spill their guts – figuratively, of course – and let us in on the private world – the motivations, inspirations and far-out tales – of today’s self-made music monsters.

So welcome back to HEADROOM. Today, our first batch of players answers the very tough question: If you woke up tomorrow as any other artist or musician, living or dead, who would you want to be and why?

Carito Plaza, singer/songwriter/one-woman discotheque: “Easy: Ella Fitzgerald. Apart from the fact that she had the most amazing voice I have ever heard, you can see in her videos and interviews how much fun she had with music; she never sang a song in the same way twice, and she was always laughing and enjoying herself, like me.”

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! For fans of: Janet Jackson, J*DaVeY, NDambi

Darragh Mc Grane, lead vox & guitar, Penrose: “I would love to be Paul McCartney in the 60s, simply because he was in the best band in the world, he wrote some of the most beautiful pop-tastic songs that will be listened to hundreds of years from now, and he lived through a period any musician could ever dream about.”

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. For fans of: Oasis, Stereophonics, ELO

Toya, vox, performance, Toya Delazy: “Bob Marley! He lived in his music and was a critical thinker who marched to the beat of his own drum. He cared for the world, and did it for the benefit of people.”

Zulu royal (yes, you read that right), jazz pianist, producer and singer-songwriter Latoya Buthelezi spends her days crafting jazz-electro-hip-hop dancefloor fillers that have received critical acclaim in her native South Africa as well as abroad. It’s crisp, smart music with depth and groove. For fans of: Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, Young Money

Ruth McCartney, backing vox, Great White Lies: “It’s possibly a predictable answer but given my recent heartache over his death, if I could be any musician it would have to be Bowie! His amazing chameleon-like abilities, his artistic vision, the breadth and span of his musical career – it’s all just staggering. Also, imagine waking up and being that beautiful every morning.”

Great White Lies blend jazz, 60s soul, and singer-songwriter styles so seamlessly it’s hard to tell what genre you’re helplessly bobbing your head to. Addictively groovy, captivating and skillful tunes. A true surprise. For fans of: Natalie Merchant, Stevie Wonder, Minnie Riperton

What about you guys? If you woke up tomorrow as a famous artist, whose face would you want to see staring back at you from the bathroom mirror? Let us know in the comments below!

BEFORE I DIE: youbloom | HEADROOM # 10 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA Music Festival

30-Nov-2015 By Shannon Duvall

“Before I die, I need to make sure I properly load the dishwasher, choose a stable career in something like insurance, and be in bed by 10pm every night.” SAID NO MUSICIAN EVER.

Goals like these, while perhaps completely acceptable for Arnold Accountant over there, lack a certain…je ne sais rah! for the discerning musician. I mean, sure, you’ve got aims. They’re just less…traditional. Writing hit songs and playing Wembley? Now you’re talking.

Whatever instrument you play – whatever your genre as an artist – you’ve invested a lot of time and energy already to get where you are. So the things that make your list are real-deal, life-is-short kinda things. Unless you’re writing the blues, there’s no time for regrets, and only one way to go, which is, of course, up.

Jim Priest (singer/songwriter):

1| Perform my musical adaptation of the Upanishads on a mellotron. (I haven’t read the Upanishads and I can’t play the mellotron, but this is about “before I die” so I think I still have time.

2| Make the bartender at The Viper Room cry with my music. Any bartender at the Viper Room. If I can wrench a tear from one of those heartless bastards, I’ll know I’m an artist of the highest calibre.

3| Busk on the streets of Hollywood. Oh wait, I’ve done that. Nothing says “musical integrity” like getting chased across Sunset Blvd. by a rent-a-cop. Before I die I’d like to busk somewhere less repressive – like Riyadh, maybe…

Hypnotic acoustic guitar meets wrong side of the tracks storytelling, leading us down a dark alley of spoken-word intrigue; it’s tangible, like a newspaper headline – we wonder where it all went wrong. Jagged harmonicas tear in, reminding us that we’re only listeners, but we’re involved, guilty by association. Jim Priest is not to be missed. For fans of: Tom Waits, Loudoun Wainwright III, Sage Francis

BJ Smith (singer, composer, soul man):

1| Motivate, encourage, and unite people across the world, on some level, through my music. You can be at a festival, a concert, a club, or just riding in your car, and whether you’re familiar with the material or not, masses of people will come together and unite, party, or groove to music. Music has been used throughout the history of mankind to bring us together. Whether it’s been to signal ancient tribes for war, a feast, or a celebration, music is a universal language second only to love! Our heart produces a musical beat as we live and breath; it’s within all of us.

2| I want people to reflect and give love a chance through our worldly camaraderie within music.

3| Hopefully I can become an “influencer” to future generations and gain acknowledgement and respect from my musical peers. Being able to inspire people to want to sing, make music, or at least respect and love each other a little more, can hopefully touch the mind, body, heart, and soul of others with my voice, my lyrics, and my message. To inspire something positive, or help someone get through a moment, or remember a unique moment creates infinite emotional connections. Any other rewards bestowed upon me and additional financial security are just extra blessings!

Cool, clever, and impassioned, the masterly BJ Smith has the kind of industry chops you hear whispered about across the bartop when he walks into the room. He produces. He sings and plays. He writes songs. He tours with top brass; picks his own band members; slides an R&B song your way like passing a love note. He’s impeccable. Don’t miss him. For fans of: Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, your own heartbeat

Victoria Scott (lead vox, The Blue Dolphins):

1| I want to play Glastonbury with The Blue Dolphins.

2| I also want to play some mega venues around the world, including Mexico City.

3| I’d like to be a part of a history or humanity-changing concert, like Live Aid in the 80’s. I would like to write a sweet and sensitive song that connects with a lot of people all around the world.

The once acoustic-driven sound of The Blue Dolphins has evolved, blending clear, pretty vocals with south-of-the-border, surfy sentiments, and something altogether harder to pigeonhole. Unabashedly succinct, feel-good tunes from a duo who, from the sounds of it, are just getting started seeing what they can do. For fans of: The Sleepovers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a sweeter, less fuzzy Mika Miko

Anthony Greene aka. Prada Gino (fresh rhymes):

1| I have always told myself that before I can even begin to look at success, I need at least three Grammys.

2| I need to have at least five platinum singles as well.

3| Major sponsorship from a leading company (like Nike, Adidas or Prada)

4| Perform at a major awards show and also host one as well!

5| Breakthrough artist of the year at least twice.

6| Be inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame!

Yes, I have lots of career goals, but they are all possible.

Sincere prose is woven through thoughtfully chosen samples and surprisingly sultry and classy beats. Belongs on a list of the top intellectual rappers in the game. Hometown Chicago oughtta be proud. For fans of: Kid Cudi, Illogic, Eyedea & Abilities

Matthew Irwin (rhythm guitar/lead vox, Foreign Affairs NI): My biggest musical goals are quite simple! I want to do this forever! I don’t care on how large of a scale! I want to wake up in the morning and the only thing I have to worry about is music. I won’t be happy until I’m at a place in my life where I can make enough to survive off (of) music alone!

That said, some nice things I’d like to happen:

1| I’d love to support an amazing band on a tour.

2| I’d like to play even more amazing festivals like SXSW and Reading and Leeds.

3| Finally, I’d like to record an album with a musical inspiration of mine, like Billie Joe Armstrong or Justin Pierre.
An ardent, sincere take on a well-loved genre. Sounds are clean and tight. There’s energy and storytelling in spades. Foreign Affairs NI show up with their hearts on their sleeves, ready to sleep on your kitchen floor if you’ll let them play a gig. This is how the best pop punk should be. For fans of: The Ataris, You Know The Drill, The Get Up Kids

Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival, hitting Northeast Los Angeles this Dec 10.11.12. Click the link for full lineup and ticket info.

youbloom HEADROOM VIP : Stephen Kennedy from the Dublin Beatles Festival

16-Sep-2015 By Shannon Duvall

It may be nothing but a car park now, but the nondescript white building on Middle Abbey Street on Dublin’s north side was once Ireland’s premier art deco movie and live music palace.

It was a place abuzz with glamour and entertainment – and, on one particular night, the scene of riots, mania, and a singular music event the likes of which our Fair City will never see again.

It was called the Adelphi, and the night in question was November 7th, 1963 – the night the Beatles came to town.

Baby, you can park my car. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

It was the legendary band’s first Dublin show: the year of ‘Please, Please Me’, ‘Love Me Do’, and ‘All My Lovin”. Beatlemania was a fever rampaging through the record shops and bedrooms of teenagers everywhere, and Dublin’s fresh-faced were no exception.

As the band took to the stage, screams of overwhelming adoration were answered the length of Middle Abbey Street by hysterical fans giving the Gardai a run for their money as they vied for just a look at the foursome; later the band would be trapped on stage as the crowd of over 2000 inside the Adelphi grew insatiable, demanding more songs, more reasons to go bananas.

Eventually the four lads from Liverpool did escape, sheltering in the nearby Gresham Hotel, in for the night for fear of being overrun by the frantic fans in the street.

"I have the feeling we're not in the Cavern anymore." The Beatles in Wales. Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons — “I have the feeling we’re not in the Cavern anymore.” Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

For whatever reason, the Beatles never did come back to play Dublin.

The anticipation of that night; the fascination and infatuation; the sound of a new era being cranked up to the max right here in our own city centre, is a feeling consigned to memory – to the tales shared over teary-eyed chuckles and conspiratorially-whispered confessions of those who were there – to those who can only wish they were.

52 years later, and the Adelphi is gone, its grandeur removed, the building now nothing more than a really, really, nice looking car park.

Well, we kinda dropped the ball on that one, didn’t we?

Take heart, music fans, it’s not all bad news.

Three years ago Stephen Kennedy – organiser, playwright, music authority, and general man of fun – decided that the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ only show in Dublin should be marked somehow. Not one to sit on his hands, he decided to throw a festival.

You can just up and throw a festival, you ask?? You betcha. The Dublin Beatles Festival is now entering its third year, having found such huge success and warm reception in 2013 that the organisers decided to do it again – and again! youbloom annoyed* festival director Kennedy until he gave in to our meddling and shared some of his DBF highlights for your pleasure.

(*annoyed might be a gentle way of putting it).

Hi Stephen! Thanks for leaving your back door unlocked. So, this year marks the 52nd anniversary of the Beatles’ trip to Dublin to perform back in 1963. Do you or anyone you know have any memories or stories from that night?

Unfortunately I wasn’t born when The Beatles played in Dublin – but I have met a lot of people who saw them when they played here. One of my favourite stories about that night was told to me by Catherine Hansard, the mother of Glen Hansard. Catherine was about 16 when The Beatles played the Adelphi in Dublin. She knew the layout of the venue very well, and on the day of the concert, she managed to climb a drainpipe with two of her friends. They hid in a room which turned out to be The Beatles’ dressing-room. Many years later Catherine found herself in LA when Glen was receiving an Oscar for the song ‘Falling Slowly’ (from the film Once). Catherine ended up meeting Ringo that night at one of the parties after the Oscars and she told him all about the dressing-room in the Adelphi in 1963. He (gave) her a Ringo badge when he was leaving the Oscars party!

Where did they perform?

The Beatles performed two shows in Dublin on the evening of Thursday, November 7th, 1963. Both shows were played at the Adelphi Cinema on Middle Abbey Street. It is now the car-park for Arnotts.

Were the Irish as screamy as other audiences, or was it more “Ah, sure, The Beatles, aren’t they just lovely?”

No – it was screamy. Very screamy. Beatlemania had hit its full stride in Britain by the autumn of 1963 – and Ireland wasn’t far behind. There were even riots on Middle Abbey Street when The Beatles played here. In fact, there is footage online of Frank Hall reporting for RTE in the middle of the crowd outside the Adelphi. It’s well worth looking up. And the Welsh writer Alun Owen travelled to Dublin with The Beatles in 1963. Owen used the Dublin trip as research into Beatlemania and he used it to write the script for the film A Hard Day’s Night.

Your favourite Beatles album.

It changes from week to week, but I’d probably pick Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, if I really had to. It had a massive impact when it was released in 1967 and it still sounds amazing today.

Favourite song?

Again, the answer to that question is open to change, but today I’ll go with ‘A Day in the Life’. I think it’s a brilliant piece of music – written and recorded by The Beatles on top form. Every time I hear Lennon’s vocal on that song – I get shivers. Pure class.

And yes, favourite Beatle.

For this question I really will have to plead the Fifth Amendment – as they say in the US – because one of my plays (LENNON v McCARTNEY) is about two guys in a pub arguing about who is the top Beatle. So I try not to give my own opinion on that subject. I try not to give it away.

Leaving us in suspense, eh? This is the third year of the festival. What was the inspiration when it all began?

We ran the Dublin Beatles Festival for the first time in November 2013 – because it was the 50th anniversary of The Beatles playing at the Adelphi. It was only supposed to be a one-off thing – but I had so much fun I ran it again in November 2014. We have no sponsorship, and no funding, so I’m not sure how long I can keep going. But the crowds are still coming in big numbers every year, and the venues are packed, and I am still enjoying it, so let’s see what happens.

What can a first-timer to a Beatles Festival expect?

You can expect to have a lot of fun. I know it sounds corny, but most of The Beatles’ songs are upbeat and positive, and if you spend three days surrounded by that music, you’re going to feel upbeat and positive too. And that’s no joke. It’s like taking a happy pill for your ears. You simply haven’t lived until you’ve stood in the middle of hundreds of people and screamed along to lines such as “And when I tell you that I love you / You’re gonna say you love me too / And when I ask you to be mine / You’re gonna say you love me too”. You can get full details of events over at the website for the Dublin Beatles Festival – but, in short, we have Beatles gigs, film, theatre, free events, table quiz, public interview, art, memorabilia, merchandise… and whatever you’re having yourself.

The festival lasts three days. If you had to choose a Top 3 Must See for 2015, what would be on it?

Again – that is a very tough question for me to answer – but, feck it, I’ll give it a go. I think The Rockits at the Workman’s on Saturday, November 7th, is going to be one hell of a big party gig – so I’d definitely recommend that for a start. The Rockits are a resident band at the Cavern in Liverpool and they really know how to put on a show. Their first set on November 7th is going to be the Hits of the 1960s; songs from acts like The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Kinks, The Who and The Small Faces. Their second set in the show will be songs exclusively from The Beatles. I can’t wait.

The Rockits at the legendary Cavern Club.

The next event I’d recommend is the award-winning documentary Good Ol’ Freda, followed by a public interview with Freda Kelly herself. Freda worked as secretary for The Beatles for over a decade – and it really is an honour to have her at the Dublin Beatles Festival in November. As George Harrison pointed out, “Freda was there at the very beginning and she stayed until the very end.” This lady is one of a kind. It’s no wonder she is worshipped by Beatles fans all over the world.

And finally, I’m going to be selfish, and plug my play PETE BEST OF THE BEATLES. The full two hour play won’t premiere until next February at the New Theatre in Dublin, but on the afternoon of Sunday, November 8th, at the Grand Social, we’re going to put on a sneak preview of part of the play, and it’s FREE in for the public. The play is going to be performed by Padraic McGinley. I saw him in rehearsals the other day – and he is amazing. It’s going to be a good show.

Can you tell us a little about how Freda became involved?

I got Freda involved in the festival sort of by luck. Basically, there is a couple from England called Steve and Gloria, (who) trade under the name Beatlesdays (selling memorabilia and merchandise at festivals all over the world). Anyway, Steve and Gloria come over to Dublin a few times a year, and one night in the pub they mentioned to me that they knew Freda. I couldn’t believe it. I asked them if it would be OK for me to give Freda a call, and they arranged it. The lucky thing for me is that Freda is Irish, and as soon as she heard my accent, we got on like a house on fire. That first phone call was only supposed to be for five minutes – but it lasted over an hour and a half. After that Freda was more than happy to come to the Dublin Beatles Festival. Actually, I met her for a coffee in Liverpool a couple of weeks ago – and I think I’m in love!

Ticket To Ride or Day Tripper?

Both are amazing songs. But I think I’ll go with ‘Day Tripper’. Simply because I was in the Garage in Dublin last Saturday night and they played that song and the place went mad. It was great to see 18 year olds singing their hearts out to The Beatles.

Hey, Jude or Let It Be?

I’m not a huge fan of either (sorry), but I’d probably side with ‘Hey Jude’.

Something or Yesterday?

I’d probably go with ‘Something’. It’s surely one of the greatest love songs ever written. And it’s nice that it’s a George song.

Help! or We Can Work It Out?

I think I’d go with ‘We Can Work It Out’ because it’s got a killer middle eight (“Life is very short and there’s no time for fussing and fighting, my friend”). By the way, Lennon once claimed that he’d only ever written two good songs: ‘Strawberry Fields’ and ‘Help’.

Haha. Good choice. I think so, too. Finally, were the Beatles bigger than Jesus?

It’s very hard to judge that now. I mean, McCartney was the tallest Beatle, coming in at just under 5 foot 11 inches. How tall was Jesus?

*****
Stephen Kennedy is the Director of the Dublin Beatles Festival. It runs from November 6th – 8th. Full details at www.dublinbeatlesfestival.com. Stephen’s play JOHN LENNON’S LAST DAY will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 at 10pm on October 8th. And Stephen’s new stage play, PETE BEST OF THE BEATLES, will premiere at the New Theatre in Dublin in February.

Hey Lana Del Ray, there’s a new girl in town.

02-Sep-2015 By Ciara Sheahan

This year over sixty bands played at our youbloom Dublin music festival. You name it, we had it. Indie rock ‘n rollers, heavy metal moshers, earnest singer songwriters, feisty folksters and electro pop synth wizards. Hidden in amongst this treasure trove of unsigned talent was a wee lassy from Cavan. She arrived unassumingly at the youbloom tv pop up studio in Musicmaker. Herself and the inimitable Paul Cox, he of Cavan TV fame were ready to shock and awe us.

Aine Cahill stunned the room into silence as soon as the first note of Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang Bang” hit.
She’s twenty and writes all her own songs. She’s a shimmering little songbird with powerful polished vocals and a penchant for writing tales of glossy melodrama.
Believe it or not, this is the girl who couldn’t get into the school choir. At Loreto College, Cavan they was told her she wasn’t good enough. She never sang at all till she was sixteen. Her pivotal moment happened when two pupils sitting at the school piano were struggling to hit the high notes of an Adele song. Aine walked over and started singing. She hasn’t stopped since. She did a music course in Cavan five years ago, just as she started writing her own material. She gets inspiration from artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Melody Gardot, Lana Del Ray, Marina And The Diamonds and Lady Gaga.

We discovered Aine in June. Since then she has been chosen by 2FM to play at Ireland’s biggest festival Electric Picnic. She’s playing three stages over three days. She’s performed her new single “Black Dahlia” live for Ian Dempsey on national commercial Irish radio station Today FM. She wowed crowds at the boutique Ballinamore Fringe Festival. She’s turned up at secret gigs and is set to headline her own gig at Whelan’s in Dublin on September 27th.
Here’s a link to her new song “Black Dahlia”. A tale of Hollywood murder mystery from the 1950’s. If chocolate was sonic, it would sound like this… (but that’s just my opinion).

MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #2 with Featured Artists from the Dublin 2016 Music Festival

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

BEFORE I DIE: youbloom | HEADROOM # 10 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA Music Festival

youbloom HEADROOM VIP : Stephen Kennedy from the Dublin Beatles Festival

Hey Lana Del Ray, there’s a new girl in town.

Main Pages

Get Involved

Contact

Legal