Half of Me Interview

For the blog we caught up with Greg Purcell and Feargal Corrigan, two-thirds of band Half of Me, to discuss the release of their upcoming EP and the journey that has brought three old musical friends back into the studio to record some Brooklyn tinged songs over the next year.

This triumvirate, completed by bassist and lead singer Luke Nelson, are very familiar with each other having lived in a cramped New York apartment for a year. Their close quarters familiarity has not bred any contempt, far from it. Instead they’ve put a structure on their jam sessions and are hoping to establish themselves on the Dublin music scene by releasing material that was written in Brooklyn and recorded in a studio back home.

The band members have gigged in Dublin before, doing so for years with previous project Killer Chloe. Half of Me has the same spine, the only member not present is ex-lead singer Peter McNamara, he’s currently drafting his first novel. The lads describe Killer Chloe as a fun musical apprenticeship – as 98% of all teenage bands tend to be. They committed themselves wholeheartedly at the time and it flourished in the competitive Battle of the Bands atmosphere that thrived on Dublin’s college music scene. They welcomed the opportunities it afforded them: to play in venues like Crawdaddy’s and Whelan’s in front of friends and family – all fond memories, for which they’re grateful, but they are quick to point out that they’re not trying to emulate that.

“We gigged a lot with Killer Chloe but we only released the EP right at the end. We had this material recorded but we’d already decided to end the band, it’d run its course but we released the tracks anyway and I guess they were sort of a goodbye, a ‘this was us’ kind’ve thing. Half of Me is different, at least we hope it is. We want to make music and have the gigs follow on from the recorded material.”

With Killer Chloe they realised their limits, creatively that project stalled and the group parted ways.

During the break, which lasted two years, the band members became more self assured in their own musical abilities. Guitarist Fearg completed his studies in music technology, while the others finished their respective degrees and day jobbed.

“We all went off separately after Chloe and did our own thing. As a result we grew up a little both musically and as individuals, I don’t mean to sound like a dick-head by saying this but what it translated into is individual self confidence and we hope that comes through in the music.” Greg echoes that sentiment, “As a young band you feel compelled to play all the time, it comes from an insecurity, a “do I deserve to be here feeling”, so to justify your being there you tend to over play.  As a teenager you felt left out if you weren’t bashing your instrument all the time. Now we’re more comfortable stepping back and just concentrating on the song as a whole and playing when we’re needed. What the two year break taught me the most was when to play and when not to. We learned the importance of lulls in allowing the tension to build. Like in theatre, the silences and gaps are very important for a listener connecting to a piece. That’s the same for a song. Letting it breath and develop at it’s own pace is so important. That’s difficult to understand when you’re young.”

Sticks and strings were never out of hand during the hiatus and soon they became restless without the band dynamic. They found themselves all heading to New York together and they slipped back into the familiar routine of practicing. They had a different mentality after the break, “whereas before we were very much a garage rock band wanting to just play together. That was the only goal. Now we’re interested in constructing songs and seeing if we can make a record.” Luke Nelson took over lead vocals but the others are comfortable on the mic as well.

The band have about 12 songs that they are working on. I asked why they choose to avoid the album format if that’s the case? “We see releasing an EP as a better choice for us. There’s a danger with releasing a full length album that it’s just lost to the ether, just thrown out there and forgotten. With an EP we can create some momentum and as a band with new material that’s what we need. Bringing out an EP and getting straight back into the studio and recording more songs is ideal. It keeps us busy and sharp. I mean if you build towards an album release it’s a huge culmination and it’s hard to pick yourself up after that, you’re drained. Also we’re learning and picking up a great deal and we’re just really keen for our release to be the start of something and then to gig the songs and see where it goes from there. We want to leave some in reserve. I mean we have a few songs that are more ready than others and that’s really the only criteria for being on one EP over the next.”

88 Cornelia street is the Brooklyn address where everything was written, it’s also a song title in this numeric heavy release. Today’s music scene is a numbers game, but it’s about Youtube and Soundcloud hits rather than record sales – a sad fact with record store day tomorrow. “It’s a constant live show with the way a band interacts with it’s audience and you’re not limited in how you reach that audience, that’s something we’re keen to take advantage of – the different platforms for getting your stuff out there. With this EP, it’s our tentative reintroduction. We’re just looking to reach an audience that wants to hear us and cultivate that audience by giving them a number of songs over a few EPs. We’ve an album worth of stuff that we’re in the process of figuring out and releasing”. Half of Me are hoping to generate some noise over the next year and it starts with the 99 EP.

House keeping: This music video is the first release from Half of Me, their 99 EP will be released in full on May 22. Their launch gig will be held in the Button Factory on Friday the 6th of June.

Music roundup: From Dingle to the Button Factory to the Sugar Club

Shit Robot made a hometown return to the Button Factory Saturday gone to release new record “We Got A Love”, support was from DFA stablemate Juan MacLean, what a stable it is. The new album is one of my favourite releases so far this year, it bristles with the same disco house oomph that alerted the world to this Dubliner in 2010 when he released the brilliantly titled “From the Cradle to the Rave”. No second album syndrome evident here, it was worth the four year wait. Expect this record to feature in disco mixes over festival season.

 

Recently I spent a week in the scenic surrounds of Dingle. Each December this remote Irish village plays host to one of the few truely unique music pilgrimages left. Other Voices is like SxSW before the brands and masses thronged to Austin, Texas. It has been going for a decade now but its cache hasn’t been compromised.  Part of the charm is held in the venue, St. James Church is 200 years old and tiny. The venue is perfect for an acoustic set but only the lucky ones get to hear sets live from the pews every year, the punters have to settle for numerous spin-off pub sessions that crop up throughout the week. The pubs in Dingle are a quaint delight with a few still doubling as shops and licensed premises, or tourist goldmines. The Dingle Film Festival was on and “The Irish Pub” was screened in St.James which allowed us to slip into the hallowed pews to catch the characters that make this Irish institution fleshed out in Alex Fegan’s endearing documentary.

 

 

The below playlist soundtracked the week in Dingle as the peninsula and remoteness offered a welcome respite from the city.

 

Being back it’s time to seek out some gigs: Friday sees the Sugar Club hosting Omar, a producer to the funk constellation. His back catalogue is a veritable who’s who including work with Erykah Badu and none other than Stevie Wonder. It’s the opening track on the Dingle playlist, also check out the Henrik Schwarz remix of his song – it’s a belter.

 

Ten Walls is an act who comes earmarked by those who know the newest beats emanating from the underground. Catch a live set Friday night in the Button Factory. He’s one to watch.

These are the destinations of choice for live music this week.

An album that is on repeat is Amp Fiddler’s “Waltz of a Ghetto Fly”, give it a listen and believe in the simple message delivered in the song Possibilities.

 

 

Andrew Ashong at the Sugar Club

With the crowd suitably Buttered-up by the support, Andrew Ashong took to the Sugar Club stage to deliver his Choice Cuts. Of British Ghanian descent, and brought to this writer’s attention through Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide show, this was a much anticipated gig. Ashong’s Flowers was chosen by master beat purveyor Gilles Peterson as his track of 2013, it announced him to the world and slowly word is getting out. His eponymous EP was released a month ago. Soulful whisperers with this much talent can only flourish.

The aura he projects is Bob Marley without the super-stardom. It’s not just his Rasta demeanour and compelling voice but also the trappings as seated African beauties strum on their base and six string guitars and Ashong’s dreads pertrude from his peaked cap. He is new to this, not music but to gigging acoustically and being the main attraction. It happened on a whim when GP asked him to bring his distinctive brand of funk out of the recording studio and onto the live stage. Prodded by the indomitable radio dj, who he credits with his recent rise and this spate of gigs, he felt he couldn’t refuse.

On stage he’s restricted in that he can’t really recreate the full band sound and expert edits that he put out with Theo Parish from the comfortable confines of the studio. He is bashful in acknowledging this to the Sugar Club crowd who come to terms with the paired back versions of Flowers and Special before embracing them. What is clear is that Ashong is progressing and improving as he gigs, gaining in confidence.

Amongst the crowd was Avril Stanley, the creative pulse of the Body & Soul festival that has flourished as the best part of this country’s best festival, Electric Picnic, over the last decade. Its inevitable growth has led to a stand alone version held in Ballinlough Castle. The first raft of acts for 2014 were released last week but the chief scout will be filling the bill soon and will probably be persuaded by tonight’s fair. Depending on her view of Ashong’s brand of soul he could find himself in Westmeath for a weekend in June. It would be a perfect fit and equipped with a full band this show would be something special.

Later Seven Davies Jnr took to the decks treating the audience to his cosmic funk: don’t be surprised if he’s given a late night slot in Body & Soul on the back of this.

Music Roundup: New Releases, Mixes, Gigs and a Playlist

The music year is gaining momentum as a series of singles, EP’s and albums have been released and spring gigging season nears, even the Summer festivals are releasing their early line-ups trying to capture the minds of music fans looking for something to distract them from the January blues – there’s nothing like February to do away with them.

Soon the choice-dilemma of finite funds and infinite options will begin to occupy our minds. Presently there’s still the chance to stay in without missing out on a potential gig of the year, but not for long.

Here I look at upcoming gigs, new EP’s and albums that have my grabbed my attention, I’ve also included a playlist made for friends departing to the slopes of Sol in Austria.

 

Andrew Ashong’s  gem “Flowers” won song of the year at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide awards in 2013. Last Monday he released his new eponymous EP. The British Ghanaian will bring his sumptuous funk to the Sugar Club on the last day of February, it’s not one to miss as the €12.50 asking price will have doubled the next time he gigs these shores.

 

Abstract, the agency responsible for Pygmalion’s stellar booking policy, are taking over the aristocratic surrounds of the Powerscourt Centre once again over Paddy’s weekend. Their New Year’s Eve gig, pictured above, managed to deliver on the impossible hype that comes with that night. Leftfield tore it up on the decks in front of a pulsating crowd: a rave in the usually uber civilised shopping centre was surreal.

Hot Since 82 will top the bill for the next installment on Sunday March 16th, here is a great mix that I’ve been listening to get you in mood for this one.

 

Playlist

The genesis of this 20 track, 2 hour jaunt was mainly jealously as friends requested some tunes for their trip to the slopes of Sol in Austria this week. However, I shelved any negativity as the code orange storm warning in Dublin blew in torrents of rain and instead choose to fight back with the sunniest disco numbers interspersed with some sultry house jams that have occupied a lot of my listening over the last 12 months.

 

Singles

A new single has been released by Elbow called “New York Morning” – 2014 will see the release of their 6th studio album. On this single the trademark Guy Garvey vocals deliver another distinctly soaring Elbow track.

 

Remember those pumped up kicks? The catchy 2012 number with the subtle yet harrowing lyrics brought an American curse into the pop culture spotlight, Foster The People, responsible for that hit, are back with this new track.

 

Albums

Three records have been on repeat over the last two weeks, two of them are brand new. Check them out.

 

 

 

Festivals

Primavera has a lot going for it as the foreign festival of choice. Firstly it’s on the beach in Barcelona and then you’ve got the lineup. It’d actually be economical if you consider the summer gigs you could tick off in one week. Take a look and take a week in May.

Year in Review: Albums of 2013

In an era when it’s taken for granted that albums are a thing of the past, musicians themselves are still using the format to articulate their musical directions.

2013 saw the album in rude health as it offered up a plethora of quality releases across every genre; here I outline my picks of the year.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Push the Sky Away

This is accessible Nick Cave. Far removed from some of the depths of his Birthday Party and Grinderman days he seems to be comfortable allowing his non-devotees access to one of the great musical minds of our generation. The lyrics aren’t the usual fear inducing murder ballads, instead he engages with modern society in an amusing and sarcastic way but the results still carry his rough panache. Gems on this record include Jubilee Street, Higgs Boson Blues and “We No Who U R”. A dynamic performer as evidenced by his headline slot at the Body & Soul festival.

Mano Le Tough – Changing Days 

Mano Le Tough was responsible for two of the best Irish house gigs this year: a 4 hour set in the Button Factory and a tented Electric Picnic offering which were nuanced house at its most visceral. However, his monthly Passion Beat night in Berlin meant his gigging skills were already more than established worldwide, this album was his first full length release so it was his chance to confirm his reputation on wax. On the record his vocals coalesce with a captivating and layered sound to produce tracks that envelop the listener with a cumulative build: brick by brick, listen by listen, track by track this 12″ etches itself onto the listeners mind. Recently I drove from Galway to Clifden in stormy conditions close to midnight, the road twisted, turned and dipped in front of us and there were few cars for company. Mano’s Primative People played as we chased the cats eyes through the rain, it was eerily perfect: eponymous in the primitive landscape.

Niall Mannion, hailing from Greystones in Wicklow, has gone to Berlin and established himself as one of the pioneers of house music, this release is unequivocal proof that he will enrich the 4×4 beat legacy. The album finishes with the water lapping in the melodic Sea Inside, let this one wash over you regularly.

Also seek out the remixes of this album as others have twisted this canvas with interesting results, peer interest is the best accolade for Mano Le Tough,

Jon Hopkins – Immunity

One complete night out in one hour. Jon Hopkins has created a record that charts the euphoria and comedown that one night of clubbing can offer and does so in a perfectly condensed one hour, not a minute more or less. It’s that symmetry that underlies the potential kinetic chaos of this, and every, proper night out. In the opening track you hear a key turn in a lock and feet drag in a corridor as Hopkins opens the door to the hour that oscillates from harsh techno to ambient electro. After heading out that door the album builds to an 11 minute techno dance-floor peak called Collider before beginning the introspective journey home that slows and slows and slows until sleep can be welcomed. This is musical euphoria without the comedown.

Arcade Fire – Reflektor

The magical collaboration of Arcade Fire and James Murphy delivered the best pop record of 2013. While Daft Punk and Arcade Fire took musical hype & marketing in new and exciting directions in how they promoted their releases, the latter also managed to push on musically while the former simply paid homage to a disco past. Many have rubbished Arcade Fire’s fourth album saying it’s too long but this is one that’ll be played for longer than Daft Punk’s release that delivered the best pop song of the year but little beyond that.

King Krule – 6 Feet Beneath

King Krule and Gilles Peterson

Gilles Peterson introduced me to the sounds of King Krule. I heard him before I saw him; that’s relevant because it’s a shock. King Krule sounds like London grunge, a hardened drawl that matches the alienation that the unforgiving metropolis creates and fosters in its teenagers. His real name is Archy Marshall and he looks undeniably like innocence, a doppelgänger for Harry Potter’s flaming sidekick Ronald Weasley in fact. The two, Krule and Marshall, voice and looks, are one and the same and he manages to channel his teenage angst through a musical mind that belies his years. He’s 19 years old, but musically he’s decades of Thames influence older: London’s jazz, garage, rap, R’n’b and soul scenes flow through him. His is
the most interesting voice on 2013’s eclectic music landscape: he is the pipe piper – follow him into 2014 and beyond.

Gregory Porter – Liquid Spirit

Once again Gilles Peterson turned me onto this man, if you don’t already listen to GP’s worldwide show then make it your New Year’s resolution: it’s the eclectic musical gym that you’ll willingly revisit every Saturday afternoon from 3 to 6 on BBC radio 6. Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Gregory Porter’s first Blue Note release is perfectly in tune with the rest of that label’s staple, which is class brass. The single Liquid Spirit is all the evidence one needs:

 

Maya Jane Coles – Comfort

Maya Jane Coles was laughably christened the “diva of the underground” by Rolling Stone, who are usually miles behind the underground dance scene. If she’s on their radar she’s no longer subterranean but her sound has unquestionable defined the deeper side of house and dance music in 2013. Many tracks here are dark, dirty and compelling none more so than “Easier to Hide”, after this album Maya will have nowhere to hide in 2014.

Darkside – Pyschic

In 2011 Nicholas Jarr gave us Space Is Only Noise, it topped Resident Advisor’s album of the year chart, we’re still gripped by that record. Jarr has moved on while we remain fascinated by his minimalist electro canvas. In 2013 he teamed up with guitarist, and fellow New York resident, Dave Harrington to provide us with more fodder for our fascination mill. They pair back the noise and leave us following their musical trails, Paper Trails, that invariable leave us hanging off of their guitar strings, gripped by their sparse melodic hooks wondering what it all means: enraptured. Jarr is only 23 and runs the subscription label Other People, unique is far too common a word to describe him and his work.

Bob Dylan – Another Self Portrait Bootleg Vol. 10 (1969-1971)

Might the release of 43 year old outtakes/alternatives/previously unreleased songs and a live concert from the early 1970s
possibly be the album of 2013 – especially as the original 1970s Self Portrait was considered critically a dud for its cover versions?
Well, like time being the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter, perhaps time has made Another Self Portrait, Bob Dylan’s volume 10 of The Bootleg Series, the surprise sleeper of the past year.

Two songs stand out from the New Morning album, the title song itself and If Not For You together with a cover of an Eighteenth century folk song Pretty Saro released as a single earlier in the year. Who knows how Dylan arrives at the final cut of his original albums but fans are infinitely better off that the Bootleg master has given us access to another cache.

Disco Mix

Disco has kept the world moving and grooving for years. Its peak was in the 70s as it dominated the charts and powered places like Studio 54 in New York . Originally the preserve of the outsider, Disco flourished in the 70s and 80s managing to challenge rocks chart dominance and drive minority sounds into the mainstream, elucidating through dance rich veins of music culture such as soul, funk and jazz which could now occupy their rightful place on the dancefloor: beneath the disco ball.

The genre is far from dated as over the decades fresh things have fused with its core dancefloor focused principles creating multiple sub-genres and spin-offs. Daft Punk have made it as relevant in 2013 as it ever was with their homage album “Random Access Memories” topping charts.

This mix features a plethora of artists both new and old to illustrate the power that disco possesses. Have a listen and enjoy.

Once More Into The Breach @ Pygmalion

As we retreat indoors after this glorious and extended summer we head into basements for our musical fixes. The past few months are now immortalised by certain tunes that captured us in that moment, that place, that dancefloor which encapsulated our summer.

One artist that stood out in 2013 was Breach and he comes to Pygmalion for a set this Friday, the 11th of October. His track ‘Jack’ is being hailed as an anthem and can be found on numerous summer mixes. The man behind that moniker is English DJ/producer Ben Westbeech who now operates out of Amsterdam.

Westbeech was signed to Brownswood Recordings in 2007 by the label’s pioneering founder BBC radio 6 music’s broadcaster and DJ Gilles Peterson. Peterson’s mission in life is to ‘Search for the Perfect Beat’. We are all beneficiaries of this insatiable quest of his. Gilles is the compilation king and his ear is permanently rooted to the electro scene and with Westbeech he managed to unearth another gem. Westbeech has been in the finest musical hands since he released his debut album ‘Best Years of Your Life’ on the Brownswood label in ’07.

With Brownswood he explored his jazz, house and electro sensibilities with exciting results. He partnered with the Berlin DJ collective Jazzanova producing the cracking tune ‘I Can See’.

Since then he has explored some deeper house under the stage name Breach. The results of which will be on show this Friday as he takes to the decks. Deep, dark, dancefloor enthusiasts will revel in this one.

The Abstract & Bedlam crews combine to deliver another top booking.

Support on the night is from the Bedlam DJs & an Abstract favourite Colin Perkins, follow the link to check out his recent Radiomade Abstract set.

Arcade Fire “justareflektor”

Artistic marketing hype is not solely the preserve of Daft Punk as Arcade Fire leaked their first single from their soon to be released album at 9pm tonight. That is at 9pm in whatever timezone you happen to be in: so in Oz first and then right across the globe.

“justareflektor” is a great track with a fascinating and intriguing interactive video created by Vicent Morisset. James Murphy has produced the forthcoming album and it hints at greatness, well this is the only hint we have but it’s a compelling one.

Aracade Fire, James Murphy and even a cameo from David Bowie.

Check this out… (On Google Chrome)

https://www.justareflektor.com/

For info:

https://www.justareflektor.com/about

Picks for the 10th Instalment of EP

Electric Picnic makes its tenth appearance this weekend and it’s bigger than ever.

One weekend a year the Stradbally estate is transformed for the Electric Picnic festival and that pays Tomas Cosby’s bills for the rest of the year. The Picnic is a sell out in 2013 with 35,000 people reportedly descending on Stradbally over the weekend for a carnival that is much more than the sum of its big names. There are no controversial Killers in the line-up this year and the bill has the stamp of eclectic excellence that has brought EP from what was humble boutique beginnings in 2004 to its present position as the biggest festival in the country in 2013. Michael Franti put it succinctly saying that Electric Picnic managed to strike “the perfect balance of hedonism and social consciousness.”

Today FM cast a nostalgic glance over the last 9 years with some Electric Picnic history to whet the appetite. Yesterday, word came in that Cosby has signed on for 10 more years of the festival at Stradbally, which is good news for all.

Below I give some of my picks for the weekend; the clashes are difficult to navigate and the musical treats are endless so its in no way exhaustive but here is a selection to get you started or give the uninitiated a push in my direction.

Friday:

Friday morning the camp-site is scheduled to open at the earlier than usual time of 9am. This crazed hour is for the early birds, eager beavers and first settlers to lay claim to all important land for tented circles dictated along massive marquee lines. These will be the smug folk looking on from deck chairs with a can in hand as others haul their supplies by them tired having rushed in rush hour from work. They will laugh at your misfortune and the shrinking real estate for pegs as you seek out some remaining pastures but you’ll be grateful if these are your friends and they’ve reserved some tent space for you to join the circle.

Now that you’ve done your scouts’ duty for the year and quenched that tent-building thirst it’s time to venture into the arena.

Daithi – Body & Soul Stage: (19:00 – 19:30) – 

Giorgio Moroder – Electric Arena: (22:30 – 00:00)

Nile Rodgers is not the only one enjoying an Indian Summer off the back of Daft Punk’s new record. “Random Access Memories” is a homage to original disco sounds and none are more synonymous with the dancefloor than Giorgio Moroder. He was the sound of the future way back in the 70s past as he used the Moog synth to create a distinctive electronic beat that is now omnipresent in modern music. He produced records for Donna Summer and David Bowie and expect them to be dropped in to his set in the Electric Arena Tent. DJ-ing is new to him but it’ll nothing if not unique.

FatBoy Slim – Main Stage: (22:30 – 00:00)

One of the uncompromising greats returns to Electric Picnic having been part of that famous 2005 bill that launched the festival on a wave of critical acclaim. The clash with Giorgio Moroder is a toughie, this is the safe bet.

The question is can you dance like Christopher Walken?

Ben Klock – RBMA Wood Stage: (00:00 – 04:00)

The dancing is far from over on this powerhouse of a Friday. There is some heavy techno from Berlin producer to lose yourself into the wee hours and at some stage you’ll look around and realise the weekend is in full swing.

Some alternatives:

My Bloody Valentine – Main Stage: (21:00 – 22:00)  If you want rock over dance then check out MBV & their much lauded new album.

“Together Disco” – Trailer Park Stage: (00:00 – 04:00) For something a little less intense than Klock  and more of a festival bop head to the Trailer Park stage that is being run by Jerry Fish.

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Some direction

Saturday:

Cyril Hahn – Electric Arena: (17:30 – 18:30)

BBC Radio 6 Music’s Anne Mac has championed this Swiss producer’s remixes and for good reason.

Space Dimension Controller – Little Big Tent: (19:00 – 20:15)

Futuristic funk.

Hercules & Love Affair – Casa Bacardi: (20:00 – 21:30)

Casa Bacardi has evolved from humble tent beginnings into a veritable party Hacienda that has pumped great tunes into the ears of eager mojito drinkers for whole weekends. It will be rammed this year and you’ll find yourself here more often than not, some never leave, but try and make it coincide with this camp disco set.

Matthew E. White – Body & Soul Stage: (00:15 – 01:15)

This soulful giant comes from a music commune of sorts in Richmond, Virginia. I saw him in Whelan’s in January and it was special, his debut album “Big – Inner” (multiple puns there) is one of the best albums of the year and has survived sustained listening. The Body & Soul stage is made for this man and his full band. A must see.

Disclosure – Main Stage: (00:30 – 01:45)

You could say they’ve had a meteoric rise since they released “Settle” this year and that is emphasised by this headline slot on the main stage. This dance-pop album has captured a huge audience because it dips expertly into each genre and mixes that sound into vivacious, pulsating tunes that have resonated across dancefloors. The Lawrence brothers are certainly worth checking out but would they not have worked better in the Electric Arena?

Go deep into the forest.

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Get Motivated come Sunday

Sunday:

Dublin Gospel Choir – Main Stage: (13:00 – 14:00)

Go get your musical mass on and kick those hangovers for the final day – this is EP tradition.

David Byrne & St. Vincent – Electric Arena: (20:30 – 22:00)

One of the sets I’m most looking forward to. The ex-Talking Heads front man is music royalty at this stage but each of his collaborations have offered something new and interesting, this St. Vincent collaboration is funky and they also do Talking Heads’ numbers, what more could you ask for?

The Knife – Electric Arena: (22:30 – 00:00)

New album “Deep Cuts” is excellent. I’m excited to see these retro-electro heads, feast on ‘Heartbeats’.

 

Mano Le Tough – Little Big Tent: (23:00 – 00:00)

A Greystones native, Mano has been adopted by the Berlin scene and runs a monthly night called Passion Beat. His album “Changing Days” is rich and textured and one of the best house releases this year. It points to great things for this purveyor of ambient house.

 

(Very) Special guest/s – Body & Soul Stage: (01:30 – 02:30) – 

Off the back of a headline appearance on Friday night at Body & Soul James Murphy is rumoured for this “special guest” slot. This is further backed up by the fact that he has been announced for the Recession Session in the Sugar Club on Thursday night. This’ll be special in the natural amphitheatre stage; no better man to round off the weekend than ex-frontman of LCD Soundsystem. The band could be the soundtrack to EP and the noughties although his DJ sets tends to only tease the audience with intros of LCD hits before reverting to his newer productions.

EP site map

Frascati Festival 2013

First thing’s first: Happy Birthday Lara x

51 Frascati is certainly no stranger to a late night bash but with the Frascati Festival 2013 comes its 1st social media plugged & Marketed festival where we’re promised “Music & much, much more!!!!!” This is to (exclamation) mark Lara’s birthday and also welcome back Alex who is returning from Down Under for good.

Who knows what the extra trappings will be? Rumours are rife after the party shop in Blackrock reported that they sold out of red tape this week leading Maser’s team of spies (Mark O’D) to be on high alert in case another copy of his work turns up – keep I-phones at the ready for an Insta-shaming. Warren is preparing the garden section of the festival but has been missing in the bamboo for the last two days so lets hope he makes it.

Maser installation at Body & Soul

 

Also this week the 60 year old Mr.Motivator was announced for a second year at Electric Picnic, could he be double booked for the Frascati Fest as we know the birthday girl’s love for the spandex-clad dance maestro!

“I want everybody dressed as me next year” said Mr.Motivator to his adoring dance disciples as we unashamedly generated energy but if Stradbally folks do take that advice literally this year that’d make for some scary sights, or should I say a camp-site…..tumble-weed.

Whatever about the rumours one thing is for sure Mick Hucknall will get some air time on the speakers and we’ll all have to clutch our hearts and declare our undying love for the Manc kipper who looks like a cross between Micky Rourke in the Wrestler and Chucky – don’t believe me? Have a look:

Chucky

And:

Mickey Rourke after too much botox

Equals=

Mick “Simply Red” Hucknall

Ok he’s smiling in this picture but so would you if you’d managed to overcome those looks and slept with over a thousand women as a result of your musical talent. And yes before you ask I have been dragged to see him gyrate those hips at the Olympia as droves of middle-aged women & Lara pined for him; I must begrudgingly admit to him being quite good, a quite good singer I mean! Jesus, you guys are sick!

But hopefully we’ll get some time on the speakers & Nishant or Colin will be on the decks mashing some mad mixes into the wee hours where the neighbours have been forewarned.

Here’s a Frascati Festival playlist: