At the Oliver Cole gig on Saturday evening, Key Notes found himself in the unusual position of being in front of the stage.  However, it did mean he could get his hands on several of the nights set list's.  They make for some, erm, interesting reading.

Key Notes looks at the line up for Castle Palooza, announced yesterday, and can't help but be excited about the current state of the Irish indie scene.

Key Notes' countdown of his favourite Irish albums returns with a look at Damien Rice's debut record, O.

In this edition, Key Notes talks about Groom, a band that he, sadly, hadn't heard of until last month, but now can't get enough of.

Once again, Key Notes is offering you the chance to beat the recession by seeing some of Dublin's best gigs for free.  This week he has two double passes for Matt Elliot to give away.

Key Notes and Forever Presents team up to give away two double passes for A Place To Bury Strangers in Whelan's on March 31.

In this interview, a CLUAS first, Key Notes talks to Dave Kennedy of Road Records about the news that the store may soon have to close and the efforts being made to try and save it.

Key Notes today attended the launch of OXEGEN 2009 where it was announced that Pet Shop Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Jane's Addiction and Glasvegas were to be added to the line up.

The first in an irregular series, Key Notes takes a look at bands who, having produced interesting or innovative music early in their careers, are now so middle of the road that they're in danger of being knocked down.  Kings of Leon feature in this first edition.

February 27th sees The Academy host the 'Inspirations - Gig of the Year' in aid of Barretstown.

If the Choice Music Prize is the Irish version of the Mercury Music Prize then the Meteor Music Awards are our very own version of Liverpool FC, i.e. predictable and boring.

Key Notes, after a prolonged absence, is back with a look at what's happened over Christmas and the New Year in the world of Irish music.

Made From Sand, the debut album from Alphastates, comes in at number 8 in Key Notes' countdown of his favourite Irish albums.

Number 9 in the countdown of his favourtie Irish albums is Microdisney's The Clock Comes Down The Stairs.

Key Notes looks at his 10 favourite Irish albums starting with Roisin Murphy's Overpowered

Key Notes has been chosen as the release outlet for Laid Open, the fifth track made available by Escape Act in their innovative release strategy for debut album, Loosely Based on Fiction

Indiecater, the digital label offshoot of mp3hugger, has begun reissuing classic forgotten albums and Key Notes, for one, rejoices.

The final part of his two part Rocktober series sees Key Notes examine some of the international artists that will be visiting Ireland this month.

The first in a two part series, Key Notes couldn't help but go with the obvious title for this blog, which gives you the run down on what Irish bands are doing over the coming months.

On Monday November 10 2008, Belfast trio Escape Act will release their debut album Loosely Based on Fiction.  So what you say; bands release records all the time.  Ah yes, but following on from Oasis' free sheet music giveaway, Escape Act will release each and every song from the album online via a series of blogs.  The first track, Kings have Fallen was released on MP3Hugger on September 27 and the next track will be released on BoxSetGo this weekend.

After that tracks will be released weekly with directions as to where to get your next fix been given on the band's website www.escapeact.com.  Apropos of nothing...

Key Notes was saddened to hear that Derrick Dalton (Mexican Pets, Crumb, Hey Paulette) passed away this week.

Key Notes didn't know Derrick personally but this blog was well aware of his support for, and influence on, the Irish music scene through conversations with fellow bloggers, musicians and fans alike.  An illegal cassette version of Mexican Pets' Nobody's Working Title was one of Key Notes favourite records around the mid 90's and for us humble fans it is through his music that Derrick will be remembered.

Sincerest sympathies from Key Notes and all at CLUAS to Derrick's wife, family and friends.

Crumb: Follow Me Home 

 

 



 

 

Mexican Pets: Stigmata Errata 



 

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The global economic crisis became a lot more personal for Key Notes this week.

Key Notes reports on an entertaining, if wet, final day of HWCH 2008.

Key Notes, like certain royalty, has two birthdays, one of which he celebrated this week. To help mark the occasion, Key Notes was joined by 11 of his nearest and dearest as he experienced the sights and sounds of day two of HWCH 2008.