SLOW PLACE LIKE HOME – FEAT. FEARGHAL MCKEE

August 28, 2017louiseclarkemedia Leave a comment

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‘Slow Place Like Home’ is the brainchild of producer/musician Keith Mannion.
Straight from the forests of Donegal, in the North-West of Ireland, he has already released a series of EPs and his debut album ‘Romola’.
2016 saw him release the double A-sided singles ‘Tiger Lilly’ & ‘Friday’ on special edition limited 10″ vinyl.

Having appeared at all major Irish festivals, he has also played with such acts as, Dan Deacon, Squarepusher, Perfume Genius, Day Wave, Ezra Furman, Moodoïd, Prince Rama, Glass Animals and Pantha Du Prince.

Mannion’s sophomore album is due for release in late 2017 on Galway’s Strange Brew Rekkids, along with an extensive tour.

First single “When I See You… Ice Cream!” was released on June 19th 2017.
The Irish Times Tony Clayton-Lea called it “Song of the week (if not the Summer!)”

INTRODUCING // JANAJ

August 28, 2017louiseclarkemedia Leave a comment

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JANAJ are an alternative rock band from Galway. Riff driven, synth based, hook laden songs for the broken hearted and eccendentesiasts.
In 2016 they won an All-Ireland original music prize; the Irish Youth Music Award. They also recorded on an album that made it to the top 5 of the album charts with no label or media backing.
They have headlined sell-out gigs in their hometown Galway, played in the Aviva Stadium, and for the President of Ireland.
Their debut EP is OUT NOW!

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INTRODUCING // PAINTED SKIES

August 28, 2017louiseclarkemedia Leave a comment

Painted Skies is a 3 piece band from Longford

Band members are Adam Fenelon, Maryann Lynch and Adam Farrell

INTRODUCING // FLAT OUT

August 24, 2017louiseclarkemedia Leave a comment

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Flat Out are an Irish four piece who have developed their own unique Pop/Folk sound with a contemporary twist. Originating from Mayo and sharing an eclectic range of musical influences Bríd, Ciara, Harry and Mark are all vocalists and multi-instrumentalists.

‘Turn Out The Light’ has a very powerful meaning throughout the lyrics and was the official song approved by Pieta House to coincide with the ‘On Your Bike to Save a Life’ initiative, a fundraising cycle along the Wild Atlantic Way. Ciara from the band explains the inspiration behind the song – “The opening verse of Turn Out the Light immediately delves into a conversation I had with our friend about who we are and how much we have changed. The realisation of how unrecognisable they had become to themselves. Struggling with mental health alone is undoubtedly a scary process. I was taken aback to see someone I had perceived to be one of the strongest people close to me, crumble internally. The message we want to get across to everyone who struggles with their mental health is knowing that they can open up and that there is help out there” – ‘You held my hand, did not let go, you took me back to a place that I call home…there’s no need to turn out the light’

In 2015 Flat Out released their debut EP ‘Half Empty, Half Full‘, which featured four original songs and received fantastic radio airplay both in Ireland and abroad. March 2017 saw the release of their single “Dreamland”, which featured as Joe.ie’s ‘Song of the Day’ and reached #2 on the iTunes World Songs Chart in Ireland. Also armed with an impressive repertoire of covers, the band like to perform their take on anything from Nirvana to Nancy Sinatra and Elbow to Ed Sheeran.

This month the band won the Ballyshannon Folk Festival Showcase and with their brand new single ‘Turn Out the Light’, co-produced and recorded with Martin Quinn in Jam Studios and set for release 18 August, this year promises to be a busy year for Flat Out.

INTRODUCING // ROBERT DELANEY

August 24, 2017louiseclarkemedia Leave a comment

Robert Delaney is a singer/songwriter/lyricist from Dublin, Ireland with influences of folk, blues, jazz & soul. Upon the release of his critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Rising Tide’, his songs have featured on popular Irish Television shows; ‘Don’t Tell The Bride’, ‘Fade Street’ and ‘Room To Improve’. After two years spent touring and writing in Germany, Robert has returned with the first single, That Faithless Love, from his second album, Numbers (due for release Autumn 2017).

His resume to date also includes composing of the title track for Irish feature film ‘Between The Canals’. Robert has also written lyrics for a number of Irish and UK acts of varying genres, has published a book of lyrics and has been a feature on national Irish radio throughout 2012 and 2013.

Robert was writing poetry before he ever picked up a guitar and that love of lyricism shines through his songwriting. Following the release of his taster solo EP – ‘Lilies For My Sweetheart’ – Robert Delaney’s debut album, ‘Rising Tide’ is available now from Tower Records, HMV and iTunes. This is an album about life, about love, lost and found, with soul searching lyrics and carefully crafted meoldies which draw the listener in.

Check out his latest single “Gold” here:

CATCH UP // BRAVE GIANT

July 24, 2017July 24, 2017louiseclarkemedia Leave a comment

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Formed in 2011, Mark Prunty (guitar/vox), Podge Gill (guitar/vox), Ross McNerney (banjo/mandolin), Emmett Collum (drums) are the four young Longford men of Brave Giant. Their love of Irish music is evident in their sound, a skillfully achieved blend of rock, folk and alternative influences.

Brave Giant popped into iRadio to play a First Play session. They’ve got lots of performances coming up over the next few months. If you missed out live on air, you can catch up below.

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What a day! Massive thanks to the @bravegiantofficial guys for popping into @thisisiradio for a #FirstPlay session! So talented and unbelievably nice. They’re playing Electric Picnic this Summer so if you’re going, make sure you check them out. 📻🎧🎵🎶🎼

A post shared by Louise Clarke (@louiseclarkeradio) on Jul 23, 2017 at 4:01pm PDT

Louise Clarke -- Email

INTRODUCING // STOLEN CITY

July 20, 2017louiseclarkemedia Leave a comment

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Stolen city release their DEBUT music video to their song “Faces”.

“Having started out as two duos and a marching band drummer from various parts of Dublin, These five young energetic acoustic rock lovers decided to merge together to form Stolen City. Taking the lead with his vocals is singer-songwriter Sean McGrath followed by his right-hand man on stage David McCabe who gets the crowd going with his quirky sense of humour and epic mandolin skills. Lead guitarist Jordan Higgins is often the main focus on stage swinging his guitar behind his back while continuing to play, Taking the Bass is sound engineer/songwriter Adam Treacy, On the drums, is Ian Baily who is known for his solo which leads to all the lads hitting the floor to ensure all eyes are on him”.

“We see a big disconnect between bands and their fans nowadays, It’s as if once people get famous they can forget where they came from, We want to make sure that never happens to us and hope if we lead by example people will follow”.

Adventures // Three European festivals you gotta check out!

March 10, 2017louiseclarkemedia Leave a comment

I bang on about festivals 24/7 on the radio so this year I’m going to put my money where my mouth is and check out as many as I can during the summer months. I’m lucky enough through work that I have the opportunity to check out some pretty awesome Irish festivals, so this year I’m planning on going to at least one European Festival.

1.

Pukkelpop

My Experience:

I’ve been to Pukkelpop three times, a good few years ago. Pukkelpop was my first experience of a European festival and oh my god I loved it. The weather, the people, the fact that food and drink are super cheap and the lineup is always amazing. This festival is so well run it’s four days of absolute bliss! And did I mention tickets are E199 for FOUR DAYS! I know!

What:

Pukkelpop is a three-day festival organised by Leopoldsburg’s Humanistische Jongeren (“Young Humanists”) which began in 1985. Pukkelpop started life as a small, local music event before becoming an outdoor alternative festival. Pukkelpop has now become one of Europe’s greatest music events.

The festival is a complete experience and one which has been promoting community relationships for over 30 years.

Where:

The Festival location is in a little town called Hasselt. The locals are awesome in this town, they set up beer gardens in their own gardens and even sell amazing home cooked food outside their homes.

Pukkelpop is about 70km from Brussels.

You can fly into Brussels Charleroi airport with Ryanair or Brussels main airport with Air Lingus

When:

It’s happening 2017 August 16, 17, 18, 19.

How much:

Combi Ticket: E199 (This is a pass for the 4-day festival)

Day ticket: E99

Acts announced:

If you like Mumford and Sons, London Grammar, Bakermat, George Ezra, Band of Horses, Bastille, Boys Noize, Chance The Rapper, Clean Bandit, Sigala and Walking on cars, you’re in for a treat!

2. Sziget Festival

My Experience:

This is a huge contender, I’ve never been to this festival so I might just have to go and have a look!

What:

Sziget Festival is seven days of a festival on a sunny island in the Danube in the beautiful city of Budapest. But Sziget is more than just a festival: it’s a place to meet, a place to make friends and fall in love; where one can spend a week self-abandoned, where parties await the inquirer. Seven days in paradise!

Sounds like bliss. Where do I sign up?

Where:

Sziget Festival is on the well-known Obuda Island in Budapest.

When:

Sziget Festival 2017 will be from 10 to 17 August

How much:

7-day pass – E299

5-day pass – E269

Day tickets E65

All of the ticket details are here: Tickets

2. Primavera sound

My Experience:

Again, I’m a Primavera virgin and I, really really really wanna go!

What:

It’s a festival Primavera Sound, that has taken place in Barcelona since 2001, has consolidated itself as a model reference for urban festivals that is internationally considered as an unmissable musical event. Pixies, Arcade Fire, Queens of the Stone Age, The National, Nine Inch Nails, Kendrick Lamar, Neil Young, Sonic Youth, Portishead, Radiohead, Pet Shop Boys, Pavement, Echo & The Bunnymen, Lou Reed, My Bloody Valentine, Brian Wilson, Pulp, Patti Smith, James Blake, The National, Cat Power, Public Enemy, Grinderman, Franz Ferdinand, Television, Devo, Enrique Morente, The White Stripes, LCD Soundsystem, Tindersticks, PJ Harvey, Shellac, Dinosaur Jr., New Order, Fuck Buttons, Swans, Melvins, Psychic TV, Spiritualized, The Cure, Bon Iver, La Buena Vida, Death Cab For Cutie, Iggy & The Stooges, De La Soul, Marianne Faithfull, Mazzy Star, Blur, Wu-Tang Clan, Phoenix, The Jesus and Mary Chain o Tame Impala, are just a few of the many artists who have played on the stages of the festival to this day.

Where:

It takes place in Barcelona in Spain.

When:

This year it takes place from 31 May to 4 June

How much:

Day tickets are E80 plus a booking fee.

Acts announced:

Here’s a selection of the acts announced at Primavera sound this year:

The full line-up can be found below:

7 Notas 7 Colores · Abdullah Rashim · About Leaving · The Afghan Whigs · Against Me! · Agorazein · Alex Cameron · Alexandra Savior · Alien Tango · Âme live · Angel Olsen · Anímic · Annette Peacock · Aphex Twin · Arcade Fire · Aries · Aurora Halal · Autarkic · Avalon Emerson · BADBADNOTGOOD · Barbott · Belako · Ben UFO · Berri Txarrak · Bicep · The Black Angels · Bon Iver · Broken Social Scene · Cigarettes After Sex · CLUBZ · Dj Coco · Conttra · Converge · Cymbal Eat Guitars · The Damned · Dave P. · Death Grips · Descendents · Discos Paradiso Crew · Dixon · Don’t DJ · Dj Dustin · El Petit de Cal Eril · Elmini · Elza Soares · Fatima Yamaha · Ferenc · Flying Lotus · Formation · Frank Ocean · Front 242 · Gas · Glass Animals · Kevin Morby · Khidja · King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard · King Krule · King Sunny Adé · KiNK · Kokoshca · Kornél Kovács · Lady Wray · Lauer · Les Cruet · Les Sueques · Let’s Eat Grandma · Local Natives · Lord Of The Isles · Lvl Up · Mac DeMarco · The Magnetic Fields · The Make-Up · Mannequin Pussy · Màquina Total · Maresme · Marie Davidson · Marta Delmont · Matrixxman · Medalla · Melange · Metronomy Museless · The Mystery Lights · Nikki Lane · No Zu · Noga Erez · Nots · Odina · Operators · PAVVLA · Pearson Sound · Pedro Vian · Pender Street Steppers · Phurpa · Pinegrove · Playback Maracas · Polar Inertia · Pond · Preoccupations · Priests · Rebuig · Recondite · Retirada! Talaboman · Teenage Fanclub · Dj Tennis · This Is Not This Heat · Triángulo de Amor Bizarro · Tuff City Kids · Tycho · Vaadat Charigim · Van Morrison · Vladimir Ivkovic · Vox Low · Wand · The Waterparties · The Wave Pictures · The Wedding Present · Weval · Weyes Blood · The Wheels · Whitney · Wild Beasts · William Tyler · The xx · Plus many many more.

So there it is, the three European festivals I’m dying to check out this year. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be going full steam ahead on everything festival related. Bring on Summer! Can’t wait.

Louise xXx

Stellar Awards nomination 2016

September 6, 2016louiseclarkemedia Leave a comment

Eeeeeeeek! I’ve been nominated in the Stellar #ShineAwads2016 in the Best Radio DJ category.

Holy Moly! I’ve been nominated again this year in the Stellar Shine awards. I’m absolutely flabbergasted. If you’ve known me for a few years you’ll be well aware that radio is my one true love. As a teenager in leaving cert, I wasn’t exactly encouraged to pursue my dream of becoming a radio DJ, but I’m not the sort of person who accepts NO as an answer. With a very encouraging Mammy, she told me I could do whatever I put my mind to and by feck I did. Nothing was going to stop me!

I’ve been with iRadio for six wonderfully enjoyable years broadcasting on semi-national radio station iRadio and I love every single minute of it. I present lots of different shows in iRadio and throughout the last six years, I’ve been lucky enough to meet and interview some amazing bands and artists.

If you fancy giving me your vote, I’d be completely over the moon. It’s amazing to get a little nod for doing what you love in life. It’s would be even more AMAZING to WIN! 😀

You can vote here: