Warhol, Groove Armada, Dizzee Rascal at IMMA

Thanks to Gina at the SOLOMON GALLERY gave us the heads-up on this one.

SOME DAYS NEVER END is a series of gigs from POD Concerts (John Reynolds and gang are unstoppable these days) to be held in the fantastic grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin during October

It'll feature THREE tents. One tent with loads of music: the likes of Groove Armada with Dizzee Rascal (October 25), Jose Gonzalez with Duke Special (October 26), Pet Shop Boys (October 27), what’s left of the Buena Vista Social Club with Kila (October 30) and The Frames with John Cale (October 31).

Another tent will recreate Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory. A hip New York City hangout for the Warhol set with artists, musicians and creatives - decorated in tin foil and silver paint the Silver Factory hummed day and night gaining a reputation as a centre for hedonism and decadence. From 1964 to 1968 the Factory provided a physical and conceptual framework for a broad range of activity that pushed the boundaries of what art production can be.

Over the course of the fest, this tent will feature screenings of Warhol arty flicks and other works and installations. All of this Warhiolism is in conjunction with Sligo’s Model Arts and Niland Gallery who are presenting their own Warhol exhibition from October 6 to December 22

And a third tent will feature food and drink.

Inishowen's future economy

OK I know it's barely a few weeks since we dragged a crew of you for your virgin trip to the north INISHOWEN COAST and it's safe to say you all left (just like we promised you would) ...scratching your heads wondering why the hell you'd never been.

So here we go with more shameless marketing of the homeland:

AEIDÍN McCARTER of the DIASPORA ELEMENT OF IRELAND NORTH WEST - MAKING BUSINESS HAPPEN is working to highlight the role that the Donegal diaspora have to play in developing the North West regional economy of the future.

The event will feature talks by Professor TERRI SCOTT, CEO of the RYAN ACADEMY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP at DCU and HENRY McGARVEY, Managing Director, PRAMERICA SYSTEMS IRELAND LIMITED.

I'd love to bring a few of you Donegal heads along - so get cracking and email me so I can forward names and let you know the venue - it's barely a week away!

DATE:
Thursday 11th October 2007
7.30am - 9.00am

Hot Press magazine gives 'Harry Truman' Single of the fortnight

"The engrossing 'HARRY TRUMAN' squeeezes the finest drops of Limerick-based musician DARAGH DUKES' vast talent into one song. The second single from 'FLIGHT CASES', released to general acclaim earlier this year, the track is so beautifully couched in watery piano keys and haunting grooves that several listens will be required to get to grip with the pulsating effects that every note of the song produces." - HOT PRESS, September 2007

'Harry Truman' is the second single release from Headgear's 'Flight Cases' album.

The album design is a collaboration between SEXTON+ and artist JAMES HANLEY, RHA, who worked with us as artist director on the branding. This single was mixed by ALI STATON and is available as download only release.

Daragh played two stages at ELECTRIC PICNIC 2007

This is the latest in a string of successful singles: 'WONDERDOG' and ‘THIS COMES TO PASS’ were released on limited vinyl 7” in 2001 and marked “essential” in London’s ROUGH TRADE STORES which led to SEAN ROWLEY (BBC RADIO DJ) setting up a new label to release ‘WHERE THIS GOOD LIFE GOES’, a 6 track mini-album in October 2002.

IMMINENT LIVE DATES:
Sun. Sep, 30th (Cork, CYPRUS AVENUE) //Wed. Oct. 3rd (Dublin, CRAWDADDY) //Thu. Oct. 4th (Belfast – RADAR at Queens University) //Sat. Oct. 6th (Limerick – DOLAN'S WAREHOUSE) //Mon. Oct. 8th (Galway, ROISíN DUBH)

Check the Headgear website (marthadigs.com) for further tour dates and news.
You'll be hearing a lot more from HEADGEAR!

Working Class Heroes 2007

2-day Exhibition - Dublin, 29 & 30th September 2007

For anyone who's interested Belfast music-photographer Alan Maguire is one of the photographers exhibiting as part of this year's HARD WORKING CLASS HEREOS EXHIBITION this weekend. He's showing some of his shots from ELECTRIC PICNIC 2007.

There will also be shots from a load of other photographers as well as Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan exhibitions.

The exhibition is open to the public on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September from 10am to 5pm (admission free) at the POD COMPLEX, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2

Where did September go?

The last few weeks have whizzed by, with no posts to the blog am afraid.

Well it's been a busy month, but it doesn't feel much like hard work if you're there to catch your clients lash out a few tunes.

First stop a whirl-wind visit to the ROCKenSEINE festival in France for phenomenal gigs (thanks to Micheál). We had an amazing gang of guys and girls from Brittany looking after us but it was only a matter of hours before it all went bananas. It was inevitable really and so, for 3 spectacular days, we were one big Irish-Breton mess ..a very, very happy mess of course.

Next stop the gang were piling into a convoy of camper-vans for the ELECTRIC PICNIC (Ciarán's old camper was dug-out for what we all knew deep-down would be its final voyage). And there we were for another few surreal days - floating around gigs, chasing the sound of some thud-thud in some car-park or other, spinning around with person-sized 'bees' in the body & soul space (could spend the whole weekend in that joint alone). There was a mountain of stuff to do - but we still managed to squeeze-in a spin around the fair-ground and caught some wicked motor-cycle daredevils in Fossett's Circus (keeping with the spirit of the Picnic there were only human performers).

There was no competition when it came to a choice between COIS FHARRAIGE surf & music festival v. Marrakesh ...you guessed it, Morocco won (so sorry we missed MAJELLA MURPHY and KILA perform in Clare).

Might scribble a few lines on the antics when I get through this mountain of emails - you can check out the Picnic forum in the meantime if you want to catch a flavour.

Venu Brasserie by Guilbaud

Headed over to VENU on Anne's Lane (off South Anne Street, Dublin) a few days ago - it's of the Patrick Guilbaud stable, by his son Charles.

The service was good - our waiter was helpful and discrete - atmoshpere was easy-going. A main-course of duck (with baby potato, red-onion, jus) arrived as a generous portion (2 legs) cooked to perfection with crispy skin keeping the very tender meat moist ..sadly the pasta with tarragon and mushroom; the rizotto; and a vegetarian curry with roasted-vegetables (they arrived steamed) were all disappointing. (Maybe it's a kitchens that simply lacks imagination with vegetarian meals.) Cocktails were refreshing but neither they nor the Irish coffee possessed the required measures of alcohol.

The space itself is comfortable enough - crucial since VENU is deep in a basement therefore lacking any external views and relying on artificial light. With no windows more skill should have gone into the selection of artworks - but sadly this is a collection lacking any sense of cohesion or imagination. (Charles could definitely benefit from a word with Gina O'Kelly at the SOLOMON gallery). While the prints are inoffensive the same cannot be said for a muddy collection of paintings in the central area (..and faux-greek casts (plastic) on the entrance stairwell?). A couple of Orla de Brí sculptures are thrown-in for good measure but overall the choice of artworks is unsettling.

We just popped in for a quick bite so had no great expectations but we left agreeing there are much better places in this price-range. Though it got rave reviews when it opened our group agreed there would be no stampede back.

6* / 10*

Déan Nós Bris Nós ..at Festival of World Cultures

With a reputation for housing one of the best atmospheres over the Festival of World Cultures weekend (Fri 24 - Sun 26 Aug 2007), the Festival Club, this year taking place in Déan Nós Bris Nós, features international artists joining Irish artists for some unforgettable impromptu sessions. For two nights - Sat 25th and Sun 26th - the Déan Nós Bris Nós tent will be transformed into a global emporium of superior live and vinyl sounds, bringing you the ultimate Festival of World Cultures club experience.

The return of Déan Nós Bris Nós this year includes Gaelic hip hop/rap, Blindfold Sean Nós Peep Show, an outdoor marquee, bar and food tent along with power trad performances from Ireland and around the globe; an extraordinary celebration of performance, that promises to be a festival highlight!

Two innovative nights of the best in traditional and not so traditional music, song, poetry and dance brought to you by promoters Ronan O'Muirgheasa and Deirdre Learmont.

Booking info here

Ballymun has shown how regeneration can be done - or has it?

Complementing our work in the Arts, Heritage and Entertainment, SEXTON+ collaborate with a range of community groups whose contribution at grass-roots equally benefits society. Most recently we where invited to represent community groups operating in Ballymun.

So is the regeneration picture rosy? SEXTON+ were commissioned by BCON (Ballymun Community Organisations Network) to brand and produce the report 'Building for Change - a community facilities strategy for Ballymun' publishing the research of SMITH EVERETT & ASSOC. & TSA CONSULTANTS. BRIAN HARVEY, Social Researcher and Chairman of BCON launched the document.

According to the Programme for Government the Regeneration of 'Ballymun has shown how it can be done'. However this report raises some doubts over that assertion. The Consultants conclude that, in Ballymun, 'tokenism has led to an erosion of social capital' (the capacity of communities to build self-organisation, skills, leadership, solidarity and 'trust') ...though, ironically, the NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FORUM highlighted the importance of Social Capital and Government encouraged it with a campaign entitled Active Citizenship.

The report is a mature and considered document which focuses energy on constructive solutions going forward.
Grab a transcript of Brian Harvey's speech and the Report from BCON:
ameehan@cap.ie (01-883-2158)

A breath of... Oxegen

Hi guys, here I am, 4 days after my participation to the Oxegen 2007 and I'm still trying to get my strenght back. My Pennies rain boots are still on the balcony, totally muddy, waiting for me to clean them. And my photos are still in the camera waiting to be transferred on my lovely Mac and published (on unquestionable request of my mom) online.

What can I say... one of the most tiring and funniest experience of my life. 80.000 people having fun all together despite rain (then sun, then rain, then sun again...) and mud, a great line-up of bands and artists, good food for all preferences and even toilets clean for most of the day!

Few videos on YouTube, and photos on Flickr.

Many thanks to MCD for the very good organisation and especially to Robert, he knows why.

distractions, diversions

Thanks to Dualta for reminding me about the DIVERSIONS events down in Meeting House Square (Temple Bar). They're FREE and as the D-man himself says 'ya can't get better value than that'!

Have a look at the website - loads of other events like JAMESON MOVIES ON THE SQUARE, the CIRCUS SEASON and the HANDEL FESTIVAL next weekend.

Collect tickets from TEMPLE BAR INFO CENTRE
(M-F 09.00>17.30,
Sa 10.00>18.00, Su 12.00>15.00)


And keep and eye out for : Festafrique 2007 at end July. Festival of African Arts and Culture (FESTAAC) showcases workshops, African films, an art and photographic exhibition, plus an afternoon and evening of live performance.
FESTAAC 2007 runs from 31st July – August 6th.
www.festaac.com