The Killers to headline at Oxegen - shock horror

MCD tell me that this is "just announced", The Killers are to headline at Oxegen in July - obviously this has been one of the most well-known facts about this summer's annual trip to Punchestown.

Not much else to say but, Yawn.. Not to impressed with their choice of headliners (Kings of Leon and the increasingly poppy Killers) so far, but on closer inspection there are a number of interesting acts already announced, including:

Blur (woo-hoo!)
Bloc Party
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Elbow
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah's
Pendulum
Fight Like Apes

That's a bit more like it. Obviously the current climate is having an impact on festivals scheduled to take place in the summer, seems there won't be anywhere near the same number as last year, be interesting to see who takes a punt.. Not much word on Electric Picnic yet, but news expected soon.

The Cork marquee gigs are slated to take place again this summer, with mixed line-up - I'll wait for Slane to see the Prodigy - but they play Cork on June 18, also playing are Gilbert O’Sullivan (June 20), Kasabian (June 21), Christy Moore (June 27), Josh Ritter (July 4), Rod Stewart (July 7)

Delorentos no more?

This just in off the wire (frankly a bit bizarre if you ask me - but obviously a knock-on effect of the band's record company folding before Christmas. A shame, especially after the buzz created by In Love With Detail - superb Irish album - and various tours, nationally and abroad)

Delorentos released the following statement today:

We've got some sad news.

It's with a very heavy heart that we have to let you know that Ronan has decided to leave the band. He feels it’s best for him to move on and do other things.

The three of us will still be making music and will let you know what happens next.

As our songs always came from the four of us playing together we've also decided that it wouldn't feel right to continue "delorentos" without him.

We're all very proud of the songs we've written over the last year, we feel they're some of the best we've ever done, and as a result we're determined not to discard them or let them go.

Next month, the four of us are going to record this album together and plan on making it something we'll all be proud of.

It'll be our last collection of songs as delorentos, and we hope you'll like them.We want to thank everyone that's supported us since we started, we'd never have gotten this far without you.

We hope to play a gig or two to say goodbye.

We'll be in touch soon with more details. Ross, Níal and Kieran and Ro

Mick Flannery in conversation with the Limerick Leader

Cracking chat with Cork musician and Choice nominated artist Mick Flannery last week, one of the most entertaining I've had in a long time. He gave some very honest answers to every question I asked him.

See below for an entertaining (I think so anyway) slice of our conversation. See Leader 2 this weekend for the full interview.

(From about five minutes into the conversation)

(Me) What do you think about talking about yourself - you weren't used to it at the start?

(Mick) Yeah, I'm starting to get used to it now and I don't know if I like that either. This is grand now because you didn't start the conversation with (adopts tone) 'Mick Flannery - your rise has been described as metoric, how does that make you feel?"

(Me) I'm buttering you up though! (he laughs)

I don't fucking talk, like. You've got me on a day when I'm not hungover as well. I'd be very quiet most of the time. I suppose it is easier for the two of us if I talk. (we both laugh)

(Me) Do you like doing this type of thing (phoners)?

I can't say I look forward to them, but I don't mind them. It's a strange thing, I don't know you like, and it's a one way conversation, I'm not asking you questions. I wouldn't know where to start, we'd have to be sitting over a few pints.

(Fast forward a few minutes)

(Me) Tell us a bit about making/recording the album (White Lies)?

The record company lads wanted me to use a producer. I had never looked into producers before, what they did or what their role was - they said it gets things moved along, gets things done quicker, it's good to have an extra pair of ears around. It turned out anyway that I didn't know who to pick - the only person I would pick was Rick Rubin, and they weren't getting me him. (laughs)

Anyway, they got me this lad and it didn't really work out - to my mind anyway, he was more pop oriented. We didn't really see eye to eye. It was uncomfortable and a big contrast to the previous time we recorded, because it was a family friend in Cork, who I used to go out to on weekends and eat dinner with his family. Up in Dublin was totally different. It felt like we were in a cave, starting at four in the evening and working till four at night - and there was often problems and tensions.

So eventually I said there's something going on here. That didn't work out that well so we had to go and re-record a couple of things with a different guy. I ended up getting a producer credit.

(Me - I see that, it says Mick Flannery on the album sleeve)

I didn't get on with that c*** at all. (laughs)

I had been fighting my corner with this other guy all the time, so it ended up with me trying to call all the shots anyway, because I wasn't a huge fan. Don't print too much of this bad shit!

Mick Flannery plays in Dolan's Warehouse this Friday night, February 21.

David Holmes provides perfect score for Gentlemen's Tea Drinking Society

DESPITE boasting one of the most bizarre names we have yet to encounter in the theatre world, the Gentlemen’s Tea Drinking Society is a play to be very excited about.

There are two reasons for this; one, the barmy title is backed up by the equally baffling-sounding subject matter which deals with a demented physicist and is set on the eve of the destruction of the universe; two, and far more importantly in our opinion, it features a score specially written for the occasion by Belfast musician David Holmes (pictured above), a prospect that has us mouth-a-watering with anticipation.

You see Holmes is the man who made the Ocean’s 11 movies move with that extra bit of zip and zing, the man who made Steven Soderbergh appear far cooler than his appearance would suggest, who provided the soundtrack to George Clooney’s seduction of Jennifer Lopez in the noir-filled comedy caper Out of Sight.

Holmes was also responsible for one of the finest albums of last year, the electro-rock sonata The Holy Pictures. Suffice to say he has got some game. This will be the former DJ’s first crack at writing a musical score specifically for the stage, hence why we are getting so excited.

The Belfast DJ was approached to write the score by Belfast based theatre company, Ransom Productions, who won rave reviews and awards for their debut play Hurricane, the one-man show about the life of one of snooker’s most notorious champions, Alex Higgins.

This time out Ransom focus their attention on CERN, the Hadron Collider and a scientist who claims to have discovered the secret of the universe.

The black comedy was written by and stars Richard Dormer (pic below) as the demented physicist Brian, as well some of the cream of UK acting talent in the form of David Ireland, Howard Teale and Matthew Flynn.

The Gentlemen’s Tea Drinking Society will be performed in the Belltable next Wednesday and Thursday, February 18 and 19. Tickets are available on 061-319866.

Natty dread

Good one in town tonight, as the Wailers make the trip to Dolan's Warehouse, continuing a tour they started on the 30th anniversary of the release of the seminal Exodus album, to play what Time magazine voted the album of the 20th century. High praise, and not unwarranted when you consider the classics contained within; Released in 1977, it contained the likes of the title track, Jamming, Turn the Lights Down Low, Three Little Birds, and the superb Waiting in Vain.

Of course Bob's not around to play with these lads, but they are some of the original members of Marley's troupe. Let's be specific, here's the basic blurb..

"The nucleus of the Wailers formed in 1969, when Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh recruited the Barrett brothers – bassist Aston “Family Man” and drummer Carly – from Lee Perry’s Upsetters to play on hits such as Lively Up Yourself, Trenchtown Rock, Duppy Conqueror, and many more beside..

Bunny and Peter left in 1973, two years after the posse signed to Island records. It was at this point that the in-demand Barrett brothers – whose rhythms also underpinned innumerable seventies’ reggae hits by other acts – assumed the title of Wailers, and backed Marley on the group’s international breakthrough album, Natty Dread. Under Family Man’s musical leadership, they then partnered Bob Marley on the succession of hit singles and albums (including Exodus) that made him a global icon, etc etc..

Drummer Carlton “Carly” Barrett died in 1987, leaving his brother as the main beneficiary of the Wailers' mantle. Subsequent line-ups have revolved around Family Man, who is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest bass players (modest too).

Family Man (you'll love this, so called because he has fathered something like 52 kids, wow) and lead singer Elan Atias form the main axis of the current Wailers line-up."

Interestingly, Family Man sued Marley's estate a couple of years ago, citing a right to royalties, which he claimed to have been promised by the reggae superstar, but this action failed, much to his chagrin.

There you have it. Family Man contributed some of the finest bass lines in musical recording history, and has been cited by musicians such as Flea as a massive influence.

I'll be at this, front row, centre. See you there.

UnFringed awards

The UnFringed awards were presented last Saturday night, finishing off a superb nine days of original theatre, comedy and music - most of which played, thankfully, to large and appreciative audiences.

There was fierce competition in each of the categories, with much debate taking place as to the deserving winners - I know this because I was a judge, and was witness to skin and hair flying (I jest). Full list is below, well done to all that took part, and to the winners!

Best Female Performance
Deirdre Burke – Down the Valley, Performance Lab

Best Male Performance
Shane Casey – Love, Peace & Robbery

Best Production
The Magic Boy – Yew Tree Theatre

Spirit of Innovation
Down the Valley – Performance Lab

Judges’ Special Award
Choke Comedy Improv

On the FRINGE..

Excuse my lack of activity over the last week or so. Back now. I know it has been on since last Friday but UnFringed 2009 is still alive and kicking, and perhaps the highlight of the week was last night's Choke Comedy Improv, my sides still hurt from laughing. And the first sell out of the Belltable's new reign in Red Cross Hall (I think, at the very least the first sell out of UnFringed 09).

Magic Boy was good, as was the Hunt for Red Willie. I'm reserving judgement on most of the rest of the stuff I have seen, as is my perogative. (Who do I think I am, Britney Spears?)

Anyway, although it is Thursday, there is still loads to see, including Mr Jarlath Regan (above Fri, 10pm) and Redmond O'Toole and his funny guitar (tonight, 8pm, go and see what I mean), plus various theatrical highlights including Down the Valley, Stop/Over and American Poodle. Full info here.

If you haven't been out to see something already, shame on you. Still time tho, so get moving.