A few people have asked me for this list so it got me thinking. I couldn’t keep it to ten so here are my own personal top 12 gigs of the year.
Prince – Malahide Castle, DublinFrom start to finish, Prince’s greatest hits set
Two of Galway’s bright young things Daithí and Elaine Mai team up for a bonus song that won’t feature on Daithí’s forthcoming 2012 debut album. The video is by another pair of bright young things, Brendan Canty and Conal Thomson of Feel Good Lost. Daithí
Highlights: State’s Midnight Mass with Toby Kaar, Kool Thing, Little Xs For Eyes, Bitches With Wolves, Come On Live Long and more, Lisa Hannigan’s three headline gigs, Skream, Spies Seasonal Soiree, Loud Mouth Compilation Volume 3 Launch Party, The Jimmy Cake, POGO/HSSH’s Stephen’s Day Bash…
One of the most consistent live session sites on the internet, Daytrotter has gone to a monthly membership system ($2 a month for free downloads of sessions, a new one per day). Musicians drop into Rock Island, Illinois on their tours and record a four-track
A music video for Blakey’s Joni Mitchell cover from Enough Thunder EP. It is the best track on the EP. The video stars actress Rebecca Hall (The Prestige, Vicky, Cristina Barcelona, Frost/Nixon) and was directed by film-maker Seb Edwards.
Another gorgeous new tune from Kieran Hebden. It will be released on the We Are The Works In Progess double vinyl compilation out on the 10th January which is a Japan benefit compilation compiled by Blonde Redhead. It also features tracks from Karin Dreijer Andersson,
Myles O’Reilly filmed the West Cork Ukelele Orchestra performing a cover of Boney M’s ‘Ra Ra Rasputin’ in Dartmouth Square, Ranelagh, Dublin. You may have seen these guys on The Late Late on Friday performing a cover of Aha’s ‘Take On Me’ (90 minutes in
Papier Maché heads, an invite shot in Haiti and an interactive webcam version. One of the best songs of 2010 gets two videos directed by Vincent Morisset.
The seal around Azealia Banks has been broken. There’s no going back to the underground space she occupied for 2011. Kanye’s already emailed her, she’s inevitably on the BBC Sound of 2012 poll and ’212′ is being noticed by those beyond the blogs and Tumblrs.
As 2012 approaches, Sweden’s Niki & The Dove look increasingly likely to be a going concern for many. I’m pretty excited about finally seeing them live at Eurosonic in January. While ‘DJ, Ease My Mind’, the song, has been knocking about for a while, its