Following the success of TEDx CorkSalon's CorkLovesMusic event last September, #CorkLovesMusic, in association with First Music Contact (FMC), presents a standalone series of free music industry clinics, as well as talks and performances, all beginning on Wednesday February 22nd, and taking place throughout 2017.On the afternoon of the 22nd, UCC Students' Union presents one-on-one music clinics with Angela Dorgan, CEO of First Music Contact. These clinics are open to the public, though they are strictly limited to six places. Anyone interested should send in an application to corklovesmusic@gmail.com.That same evening, at 8pm, Coughlans' of Douglas Street will host talks and performances from musicians and industry professionals. This event is also open to the public, free of charge. You can reserve a place at the event via corklovesmusic.eventbrite.ieSpeaking at the opening event will be Ian Ring, music producer (Young Wonder/aboveDat), Joe Kelly, venue operator/promoter (Live at St. Luke's/The Good Room), Angela Dorgan, FMC CEO (Hard Working Class Heroes/Music from Ireland) and Ellie O'Byrne, arts journalist (Irish Examiner).Theses talks will be joined on the night by special musical guests, including up-and-coming Cork bands Sillk (noir-pop/folk), The Sunshine Factory (psych/shoegaze) and Ghostking ("post-mortem"). Organisers have advised early booking for the event, as places are filling up quickly.This unique collaboration is designed to offer career advice from FMC, inspiration and network opportunities through the talks and panels, as well as the opportunity to discover the wealth of talent in Cork’s music scene.
Cork’s Future
Sillk - Switchblades Don’t Sleep
from the EP ‘Time is a Clock’, sillk.bandcamp.comThe video for this song is available on their Facebook page, and has reached over 11 thousand views within a few weeks. The music is a dark, jaunty tune, reminiscent of Andrew Jackson Jihad or maybe an incredibly deranged Neil Hannon. Undoubtedly part of a neo-folk revival that has characterised the indie scene of the 2010s, Sillk deserve a place among the Cork music pantheon.
The Sunshine Factory - Cruelest Animal
from their eponymous EP, soundcloud.com/4thesunshinefactory8When I interviewed The Sunshine Factory last year, I claimed they had the potential and talent to be truly massive, and in the last year they’ve shown that I may just be right yet. With the same Corkonian honesty & drive that lead Rory Gallagher to worldwide success, and influences in post-punk, blues, psychedelia and anything else you could imagine, you never know where The Sunshine Factory could go next. Cruelest Animal, arguably their most complete song, is a good place to start with this still-growing young Cork band.Bass guitarist Steven Flynn also hosts a weekly radio show Mondays at 4pm on UCC 98.3fm, and writes a monthly column for Motley Magazine, called EVERYTHING IS PROPAGANDA. And you know it’s good if we’re promoting Motley.
Ghostking - Athena
from the EP ‘Journal of Public Affairs’, ghostkingisdead.bandcamp.comI honestly found it quite hard to get a firm hold of Athena; my mind bounced from feelings of a stripped-back Bowie classic, to an uncovered Radiohead demo, ultimately settling on the feeling that this was something utterly new. Matt Corrigan, operating under the pseudonym ‘Deadking’, has the potential & talent to be Cork’s new shining star.
Cork’s Past
Nun Attax - White Cortina
from the EP ‘Kaught at the Kampus’, available on Spotify & YoutubeDisconnected from the mainstream music hubs of Dublin & Belfast, Cork was left to create its own musical identity in the late 70s & early 80s, an identity that can be characterised by the Downtown Kampus and seminal punk band, Nun Attax. Founded by ‘University College Churchfield’ lads Ricky Dineen, brothers Phillip and Keith ‘Smelly’ O’Connell and Belfast-born Finbarr Donnelly, Nun Attax shows the typical funny irreverence of the Cork indie scene, new & old. Appearances on television and music videos may have been filmed, but Nun Attax were truly at home in their dingy mausoleum base, the Arcadia Ballroom. Members of the band would later form ‘Five Go Down To The Sea?’ and ‘Beethoven’, and would experience a modicum of success until the tragic death of frontman Donnelly in London in 1989. White Cortina is a song that captures that distinct, odd punk sound that came out of Leeside in the early 80s, though if you want to hear songs with the greatest titles that could possible come about, I would search out ‘Knocknaheeny Shuffle’ or ‘There's A Fish On Top Of Shandon (Swears He's Elvis)’.
Irish Tour ‘74 - Rory Gallagher
from the film of the same nameI don’t think I really need to tell any of you about Rory Gallagher, or how great he was; but if you need convincing, just google the mythical quotes about him from Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix. You should listen to every song Rory recorded, because every track has an almost spiritual quality; but if you don’t have time for that, then watch the Irish Tour ‘74 film, available in its entirety on Youtube. The film follows Rory, rather unsurprisingly, on his tour of Ireland in 1974, and is probably the most easily accessible way to find out what it means to be from Cork. In 1974 Rory was on top of the musical world, and one of the most talented guitarists there ever was, yet his humble nature and his quiet artist spirit shine through as a prime example of how to act when you make it big.If you want to get a quick crash course on his music, the “greatest hits” album Big Guns is probably a good place to start.
Bad Machine - Elastic Sleep
single, elasticsleep.bandcamp.comIt’s been over a year since we’ve really heard from Elastic Sleep, which is a shame, as it seemed as they were scheduled for greatness. Unlike the other entries in ‘Cork’s Past’ there’s still hope for Elastic Sleep, so I’ll be brief: Elastic Sleep were great, they are great, and you owe it to yourself to track them down.