This Friday August 27th, not one, not two, not even three, but four of the most highly anticipated Irish albums of the year are set to be released.
The first, and biggest, is the follow up to Fight Like Apes' Choice Prize nominated debut 'Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion', the blasphemously titled 'The Body of Christ and the Legs of Tina Turner'.
The second is Wexford instrumental rockers Adebisi Shank, who made waves with their debut 'This is the Album of a Band called Adebisi Shank' in 2008, and now follow it up with 'This is the Second Album of a Band called Adebisi Shank'. Anyone who picked up ASIWYFA's debut last year should really give it a listen.
The third are mates with FLApes, and are even supporting them in Cork's Cyprus Avenue this Friday (27th)ahead of their own album launch in Whelan's on Saturday (28th). Yes, Grand Pocket Orchestra's debut 'The Ice Cream' is out this Friday too.
And finally, a band whose god awful name has undoubtedly held them back, The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra release their debut 'Lowering the Tone'.
Meanwhile, last week saw the release of the third album from Groom. 'Marriage' has been put out by relatively new Dublin collective Popical Island, who've also just released a 15 track compilation which also features the likes of Feed the Bears, Land Lovers, Yeh Deadlies and So Cow. Get it at popicalisland.bandcamp.com.
But it's a great week for Irish music in more ways than one. James Vincent McMorrow has gone and gotten himself new record deal with American record label Vagrant (home to Stars, Eels, Placebo , Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, School Of Seven Bells, The Hold Steady) who'll be releasing his debut 'Early in the Morning' in the States and Canada.
And some great up and coming Irish acts have made new gig announcements this week too. O Emperor will play their own headline show at the Sugar Club on November 6th (€15). They're also playing the Picnic next weekend and are set to release their debut album 'Hither Tither' on October 1st. We're really looking forward to that one, as are we looking forward to the debut album from Belfast electro-pop duo SkiBunny, who will be celebrating the release of 'Hugs' (September 27th) with a very special launch show on A Barge beside The Waterfront Hall on September 15th. Email [email protected] for free admission.
And the list goes on. The Cast of Cheers (whose album 'Chariot' you can download entirely for free from https://thecastofcheers.bandcamp.com/ and we advise you to do so) have announced an entire Irish tour, which looks like this:
Wed 22 Sep DERRY, Mason's
Fri 24 Sep BELFAST, Stiff Kitten
Thu 30 Sep DUNDALK, Spirit Store
Tue 5 Oct LIMERICK, Dolan's
Wed 6 Oct CORK, Cyprus Avenue
Thu 7 Oct DUBLIN, Academy 2
Fri 8 Oct GALWAY, Roisin Dubh
