Press Book

from 01.01.2013 to 30.01.2013

Copyright Material. This may only be copied under the terms of a Newspaper Licensing Ireland agreement(www.newspaperlicensing.ie) or wirtten publisher permission.

Table of Contents

26/01/2013 Westmeath Independent:Song for Simon live final next week.............................................................................................. 3

17/01/2013 Dundrum Gazette:Songwriter Club back for 2013 gathering......................................................................................4

18/01/2013 Athlone Advertiser:Top songwriting talent at 'Song for Simon' live final.....................................................................5

18/01/2013 Mullingar Advertiser:Top songwriting talent at 'Song for Simon' live final.....................................................................6

30/01/2013 Hot Press:TRAD, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT?................................................................................................. 7

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Copyright Material. This may only be copied under the terms of a Newspaper Licensing Ireland agreement(www.newspaperlicensing.ie) or wirtten publisher permission.

Song for Simon livefinal next weekTHE live final of the 'Songfor Simon' national songwrit-ing contest will be held in theSheraton Hotel Athlone onSaturday, February 2, at Bpm.

The contest is in aid oftheMidlands Simon Communityand ten finalists will performon the night, with only oneofthe finalists being from themidlands area.

The ten finalists are: Tay-lors Lane (AKA Jackie & ShaneHennessy) from Rathfarnham,Co. Dublin; Kenny Grant fromMalahide, Co. Dublin; TomConroy (AKA Father Einstein),Clonaslee, Co. Laois; AilbheDunne (of Mongoose) fromBallinteer, Dublin 16; GerryMcGerty from Butlersbridge,Co. Cavan; Karen O'Mahonyfrom Glasnevin, Dublin 9; An-dreja Volenec from Blackrock,Co. Dublin; Simon Gibsonfrom Bolton Street, Dublin1; Deane James (Connaghan)from Donegal town and Dar-ragh Shannon from Douglas,Cork City.

In a statement this week,Midlands Simon Communitysaid:

"The event is an excellentway for people across themidlands to experience top

new song writing talent fromall around the country andalso show solidarity with Mid-lands Simon Community aswe continue our work to helpend homelessness across themidlands.

Speaking about the live finalTony O'Riordan, CEO of Mid-lands Simon Community said:"We are very excited about the'Song for Simon' final, thereis a wealth of musical talentperforming and would liketo extend a huge thank you toour sponsors, for making thiscontest possible.

We would also like to givea special thank you to ColinFahy, whose expertise hasbeen instrumental in bringingthe song contest to fruition."

The judging panel will con-sist of Fiona Killeen, Marketingand Event Production GrouseLodge Studios; Keith Johnson,Director of Marketing andMembership IMRO; June Car-ley, Midlands 103FM and TomKeady, Midlands Simon Com-munity.

Tickets are €10 and can bepurchased from the SheratonHotel Athlone on 0906451000.

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Songwriter Club backfor 2013 gatherings

THE Songwriter Club has proved itself to bea positive social network for aspiring musi-cians in 2012, and is looking to keep up itsmomentum throughout 2013.

The Songwriter Club returns later thismonth with Dundalk singer/songwriterSinead McNally and community radio pre-senter and music manager Keith McLoughlinhosting the gathering on Saturday, January26 from 2 to 5pm at The Teachers Club on 36Parnell Square West, Dublin 1. There is a €2donation per person for the use of the venue.

Guest speakers on the day will includeMark Crossingham, the managing director ofUniversal Music Ireland andTamala Clarkfrom Music Medium Live.

Singer/songwriters who attend have theopportunity to perform a song to their peers.

Speaking about the club and its goals forthe coming year, Keith said: "The purpose ofThe Songwriter Club is to form a new musiccommunity whereby songwriters, performersand independent professionals connectedto the music industry can meet regularly todiscuss issues of importance, share experi-ences and information and become a voicefor 'independents' in the industry.

"The club started in late 2011 when Sineadand I spoke about trying to set up a meet-up group for musicians. The club has met anumber of times during 2012 and is set tocarry on doing so in 2013. The club has hadmany guest speakers, from music managers,producers, CD printing companies, organisa-tions such as 1MRO and RA AP plus manymore."

The Songwriter Club is a non-profitableorganisation and contributors operate ona voluntary basis. The meeting will have anumber of special guests who wish to sharetheir advice, their experience or their businessideas.

Anyone involved in music is welcome totake part and you can find more informationon The Songwriter Club page on Facebook.

Singer songwriter Corrina Jaye entertains herpeers ata meeting of the Songwriter's Club

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Athlone Advertiser

Friday, 18 January 2013Page: 6Circulation: 19150Area of Clip: 18300mm²Clip ID: 22886

Page 1 of 1

Top songwriting talent at 'Song for Simon' live final Midlands Simon Community, in partnership with their sponsors, are delighted to announce that the first annual 'A Song for Simon' live final will take place on Saturday February 2 at 8pm in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel.

The event is an excellent way for people to experience top new songwriting talent from all around the country, and to show solidarity with Midlands Simon Community as they continue their work to help end homelessness across the Midlands.

Applications for the song contest arrived from all over the country. The quality of songs submitted was top class and with careful consideration the final 10 songs and performers, from country music to urban rap, were selected to compete in the live final on February 2. MC on the night is Midlands 103's Will Faulkner. Tickets are just €10 and can be purchased from the Sheraton Hotel Athlone on (090) 6451000.

Speaking about the' live final, Tony O'Riordan, CEO of Midlands Simon Community, said "We are very excited about the Song for Simon final. There is a wealth of musical talent performing and we would like to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors for making this contest possible. Without the support of those involved in A Song for Simon, and throughout our organisation, we simply couldn't continue to provide services for those experiencing homelessness in the Midlands. We would also like to give a special thank you

to Colin Fahy, whose expertise has been instrumental in bringing the song contest to fruition."

The judging panel will consist of Fiona Killeen, marketing and event production with Grouse Lodge Studios; Keith Johnson, director of marketing and membership with IMRO; June Carley, Midlands 103FM; and Tom Keady, Midlands Simon Community.

The prize on offer to the overall winner on the night includes one day recording in Grouse Lodge Studios; mastering of the winning song by RMC Recording Studios; CD duplication (100 jewel-encrusted CDs) by MD Online; full music video production by Big Idea Films; a photoshoot

by RUA Photography; graphic design and artwork by Snap Printing Athlone; and guaranteed promotion, airplay, and interviews with Midlands 103.

The winner's song will also be aired on Midlands Simon Community's website upon its launch.

Sponsors of the event are Midlands 103, Rua Photography, RMC Studios, Midland Duplication, Midland Sound Equipment, Snap Printing Athlone, IMRO, Big Idea Films, Sheraton Hotel Athlone, and Grouse Lodge Studios.

For further information please contact Cormac Lally of Midlands Simon on (090) 6444641 or (087) 9925083, or see www.facebook.com/asongforsimon or @ASongForSimon on Twitter.

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Mullingar Advertiser

Friday, 18 January 2013Page: 6Circulation: 5500Area of Clip: 18200mm²Clip ID: 22856

Page 1 of 1

Top songwriting talent at 'Song for Simon' live final Midlands Simon Community, in partnership with their sponsors, are delighted to announce that the first annual 'A Song for Simon' live final will take place on Saturday February 2 at 8pm in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel.

The event is an excellent way for people to experience top new songwriting talent from all around the country, and to show solidarity with Midlands Simon Community as they continue their work to help end homelessness across the Midlands.

Applications for the song contest arrived from all over the country. The quality of songs submitted was top class and with careful consideration the final 10 songs and performers, from country music to urban rap, were selected to compete in the live final on February 2. MC on the night is Midlands 103's Will Faulkner. Tickets are just €10 and can be purchased from the Sheraton Hotel Athlone on (090) 6451000.

Speaking about the live final, Tony O'Riordan, CEO of Midlands Simon Community, said "We are very excited about the Song for Simon final. There is a wealth of musical talent performing and we would like to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors for making this contest possible. Without the support of those involved in A Song for Simon, and throughout our organisation, we simply couldn't continue to provide services for those experiencing homelessness in the Midlands. We would also like to give a special thank you

to Colin Fahy, whose expertise has been instrumental in bringing the song contest to fruition."

The judging panel will consist of Fiona Killeen, marketing and event production with Grouse Lodge Studios; Keith Johnson, director of marketing and membership with IMRO; June Carley, Midlands 103FM; and Tom Keady, Midlands Simon Community.

The prize on offer to the overall winner on the night includes one day recording in Grouse Lodge Studios; mastering of the winning song by RMC Recording Studios; CD duplication (100 jewel-encrusted CDs) by MD Online; full music video production by Big Idea Films; a photoshoot

by RUA Photography; graphic design and artwork by Snap Printing Athlone; and guaranteed promotion, airplay, and interviews with Midlands 103.

The winner's song will also be aired on Midlands Simon Community's website upon its launch.

Sponsors of the event are Midlands 103, Rua Photography, RMC Studios, Midland Duplication, Midland Sound Equipment, Snap Printing Athlone, IMRO, Big Idea Films, Sheraton Hotel Athlone, and Grouse Lodge Studios.

For further information please contact Cormac Lally of Midlands Simon on (090) 6444641 or (087) 9925083, or see www.facebook.com/asongforsimon or @ASongForSimon on Twitter.

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/% %*. 1/1/ H li ! \ 111'?- if 'This year's Temple Bar TradFestfeatures a widely varied line-upcovering acoustic rockers, traditionalinstrumentalists and Baltic bandsalike -posing the $60,000 question:what is trad? words GregMcAteer

This year's Temple Bar TradFest,by dint of its January slot, willbe viewed as a primer for the12 months ahead. There is, asusual, a fairly broad selection

of events on offer, challenging- whether deliberately or not -preconceptions as to what traditionalmusic really means. Let the debatebegin!

Make no mistake, there are somevery fine trad acts on the bill for 2013.City Hall is the venue for a series oflunchtime shows, each of whichpairs an American exponent of thetradition with an Irish practitioner.Joanie Madden (January 23) will beduelling with Eamon Cotter on theflutes. The following day (24) New Yorkfiddle player Brian Conway will givea recital for which he'll be joined byPhilip Duffy. In the same venue (25)US box player Billy McComiskey willbe playing, alongside Cavan fiddlemaestro Anton MacCabhann.

In what will undoubtedly be one ofthe high points of the festival, TheSands Family and Martin Hayes&. Dennis Cahill perform in ChristChurch Cathedral on the eveningof January 23. That's a gig not to bemissed. Meanwhile Maura O'Connelland banjo player Gerry O'Connor teamup in the same venue the followingevening. Quite simply, any opportunityto see Cerry work that banjo should beseized with both hands - no-one doesit better.

Another virtuoso, Sharon Shannon,celebrates 21 years of bringing a smileto the nation's face with a concert inSt. Patrick's Cathedral (25), for whichshe will be joined by members of herfamily. And, from Thursday 24 toSaturday 26, there are free showcasesand masterclasses (the latter featuringJohn Spillane and Charlie Lennon),sponsored by IMRO, in the NewTheatre.

The prognosis for uncompromisingtraditional music isn't uniformlypositive, however. Turning the clock

back for a minute, on Tuesday January22, you can treat yourself to the massedforces of some of the finest voices andinstrumentalists in, or in the vicinityof, traditional music. Karan Casey,Muireann NicAmhlaoibh, Lumiere,John Spillane, Donogh Hennessy,John McSherry and Donal O'Connorare the performers adopting a super-group approach for this one-off event.

Very little wrong with that froman audience point of view. Except,perhaps, that we won't get to seeany of these artists put in a full setor deliver more than an instagram ofwhat they might be capable of- whichis a curious reflection on Irish people'sapparent lack of depth-appreciation oftraditional music right now.

It does make you wonder - as I'm surethe organisers must - how wide youcan stretch the term trad. For example,over the weekend of January 26 and 27,there is an outdoor 'Headline Stage'featuring hours of free entertainment- 'from rock tunes with a trad twist toIrish dancers from all over the world'.This manages to encompass almost theentire gamut - mixing, among manymore, Aoife Scott and Mary Coughlanwith The Latvian Choir Elve, MoHat Mo Ceansai and SupertonicOrchestra, who play mostly traditionalPolish music. . .

One of the impressive things about

the festival is the extent to whichdifferent venues have been drawn intoits ambit. Declan O'Rourke - whohas been moving in a decidedly folkierdirection in recent times - gives what'sbilled as a Special Guest performanceat Saint Werburgh's Church on theevening of Sunday Jamuary 27th .

The Irish Stock Exchange, somewhatironically one assumes, plays hostto Othered Voices (Tuesday 22 andWednesday 23). "Who speaks and whosings the protest song for the out ofwork or redundant bank worker?" theprogramme notes ask. "Where arethe emerging anthems of challenge?Who sings the melody of discontent?Who writes the ballad of austerity andmeagre times?"

As of now, there are no performerslisted for this one, so it'll be fascinatingto find out what the answers willbe - just as it will be to discuss theessential question: what is trad?

Elsewhere this fortnight, NormaWaterson, Martin Carthy and The

Unthanks headline Drogheda'sSinging Gathering, a coming togetherof traditional artists from across theglobe February 8-10. The focus is onacapella and harmony singing andthe festival is part of The Gatheringtourist initiative. The public is invitedto participate in informal and intimatesinging sessions. Concerts will be heldin such unique sites as the entranceto Newgrange and storied Millmounttower. Details: droichead.com

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Mary Coughlan: on the Headline Stage

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