With arts festivals reaffirming themselves as a staple in rural areas around the country, the North Cork town of Mallow has established its own via the newly-founded Mallow Arts Collective, with the inaugural installment presenting a programme of music, film, and visual arts that takes in venues and spaces throughout the town.
Among the wider array of programming, the Mallow Arts Collective and Cork music heads #CorkLovesMusic have collaborated on the new music bill for the event, including all-day events and pop-up DJ sets.
The afternoon of Saturday July 29th sees Cork hip-hop legend Stevie G spinning discs in the intimate surrounds of Springfort Hall Café, on the town’s main street. Meanwhile over at St. James’ Church, an all-dayer takes place from 12pm, featuring renowned sound-art/improv group The Quiet Club, troubadour extraordinaire Saint Caoilian, and conceptual artist/rapper Outsider YP, as well as new Cork outfit The Electronic Folk and classical guitar/baritone duo Noel Walsh & Eoin Leahy.
Saturday night sees the music head up the hill to Albert Lynch’s, where post-rockers Ealadha will be providing a stripped-back set, following the release of last year’s ‘Limit of Our Sight’ extended-player, followed by Mallow outfit Stay, supplying folk-rock into the wee hours. Uptown, Ocana’s plays host to live afro-Irish reggae outfit The Light Runners.
Meanwhile, the following night finishes with Bate to Debt, a three-piece blues combo featuring Robbie Barron (The Shaker Hymn/Milky Teeth) at Keppler’s, and Cork music journalist Ronan Leonard leading Maureen’s in a round of Ringo: Music Bingo.
Mallow Arts Festival takes place in Mallow, Co. Cork, from Wednesday July 26th to Sunday July 30th. For set times, the full line-up and more information on the festival, check out their website, and find them on Facebook and Twitter.
This album is a masterpiece in my opinion. I listen to it incessantly, and this is one of the tracks that I keep rotating when the kids are in the car, as it has no curses! The album is experimental and captivating, and this is perfect.
2.
The Weeknd & Daft Punk – I Feel It Coming
An early ’80s throwback sounding jam that is just perfect really. The album is full of killer jams and this will be his biggest pop hit yet when it drops as a single. Love when tunes like this blow the charts open too.
3.
Beyoncé – Sorry
People have fallen over themselves to call Lemonade a revolutionary album that re-invented black feminism. They’ve obviously not been looking too closely at soul music for awhile. Beyonce herself is still short that classic album but it’s definitely in her and this is another great jam. Solange and ‘Cranes in the sky’ was close too from an album that is easily as good.
4.
Kanye West – Fade
I couldn’t wait to play this track when i first heard it. I love the Mr Fingers jam and I’ve always been a big fan of hip-hop and house colliding. The Rare earth sample was genius too. Get well soon.
5.
Ekkah and Dam-Funk – What’s Up
Dam-Funk is a genius who seems to go in and out of fashion but he is consistently funky and prolific. If you are looking for a new Prince, he can help fill the void. This is a wonderful modern funk jam produced for his UK duo, who get extra points for the ad-libbed spoken word bits. Irresistible.
6.
Lethal Bizzle feat Diztortion- Fester Skank
Dancehall grime vibes and a club banger. A good portion of the music I play is rooted in Jamaican rhythms; this and the massive “Tom Cruise” by Don Andre were huge. Jamaican music, grime, reggaeton and new skool afro-beat are all on point right now.
7.
Chance the Rapper – All Night
Kaytranada helped run things this year and his own album is terrific. He produced one of my favourite singles for Goldlink and this club banger from the always impressive Chance the Rapper, plus loads of remixes. This, like ‘Fade’, was a massive festival track for yours truly.
8.
Anderson Paak – Celebrate
Another artist who dominated the year. Two great albums including “Malibu” and “Yes Lawd!” (with Knxwledge), guest spots with everyone from Mac Miller to A Tribe Called Quest. Like Childish Gambino, he is not afraid to take chances either. Imperious.
9.
Alicia Keys – In Common
Impressive album and a great uptempo anthem from Alicia Keys. Not pop musics greatest ever year by any means, but there’s still plenty of solid talented artists who operate in these realms too. She went back to the roots on this record and the roy ayers guest spot on the album is nice too. I picked the Kaskade remix
10.
Jesse Boykins III – Earth Girls
I’m a club DJ, but I try to play as mellow as possible as my favourite music is often slow burning soul. Jesse boykins joined my aboveDat project for a big dance single during the summer, but this is a more introverted vibe, and a wonderful song that should have been heard by the world
Stevie G & Young Wonder’s Ian Ring Abovedat project debuted a couple of months back with ‘Addicted’ featuring Christiana Underwood.
For their second single, they’ve roped in Chicago singer Jesse Boykins III (previously vocalist for Daithí, Little Simz and Machinedrum) for an neo disco-soul dance number.
aboveDat will be doing select DJ appearances throughout the summer of 2016, starting with an audio visual show in Connollys of Leap (Cork) on July 22nd. The single is released that day.
aboveDat is a new project brought to you by two of Cork’s brightest music talents – OG Stevie G, DJ, vinyl lover and radio presenter with REDFM and his younger Ian Ring, producer with Young Wonder.
Stevie G DJs regularly around the country and produces music with Ian Ring as aboveDat, which launches on their Soul Jamz label in early 2016. Here are his top 10 tracks of 2015, in no particular order, as part of the Best of 2015 series. Check out his 2015 mix below.
1. Jamie XX featuring Popcaan & Young Thug – “I know there’s gonna be (good times)
“Have to turn it up pon the weekends”
The sound of the summer! So many great memories of playing this at all of the festivals, particularly when it was breaking back in May and June. It’s perfect really, and right up my street, blending some of my favourite sounds. I’m big on reggae anyway and this a real sound-system number, I play the Skepta and dancehall mixes quite a bit too. I have sampled the Persuasions album myself and a couple of times, but Jamie XX got everything just right on this jam.
2. Thundercat – Them Changes
“Nobody leave, there’s blood on the floor”
What a start. Isley brothers drums, that distinctive Thundecat bass, and my favourite opening line of any tune this year. Something special has been happening for quite some time with Thundercat and many of his peers, and it’s great fun being an observer watching it take shape. This guy is unbelievable and he was also responsible for my favourite gig of the year, in Dublin’s Sugar Club recently.
3. Major Lazer – Lean on (feat MØ)
“We would only hold on to let go”
The best songs are often deceptively simple. And some of the best ones can survive being completely overplayed too. This track still makes me smile and it provided me with my best moment of the year late one saturday afternoon playing it outside in the sunshine at the Bacardi area of the Electric Picnic, as a huge crowd danced like it was the last sunny day of the summer. It probably was, and all of those smiling faces can’t be wrong.
“Sorry to annoy you, but what the fuck is that?”. This happens every single time, what a record! Floating Points is one of the very best, and his own recent album is outstanding. This is from earlier in the year, even though I only picked it up a couple of months back from Albert in Plug’d. Can’t help you with the lyrics this time though.
5. Drake & Future – “Jumpman”
“Jumpman them boys up to something”
Hate him or be mildly annoyed by him, he’s got the bangers and he is very prolific. This could have been any of a number of tracks released this year, and I’m a fan of Future too. The BPMs are a lot slower than when i used first play hip-hop 20 years ago, but it’s great music to dance to nonetheless. I personally go crazy when I hear this music.
Okay, it seems to have been with us forever, but the remix only dropped this year and it’s a big club and festival favourite once again. Gregory Porter is one of many outstanding jazz artists making their mark in not only jazz circles, and it’s great to see himself, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Christian Scott, Esperanza Spalding and many more, getting more established. Great remix.
7 . Chronixx – Play some roots
“Don’t you be funny, music doesn’t pay”
More reggae and soul vibes! Being self-employed sure sucks a lot of the time, but this song will make all of us involved in music feel a whole lot better. We are the lucky ones! Beautiful lyrics and a big anthem in my car, my daughter in particular loves this one.
8-. Kendrick Lamar – Alright/King Kunta
“We gon’ be alright”
I mentioned some of the jazz cats involved in “To Pimp a Butterfly” already, and again, it’s been a real privilege to see something like this grow so big week by week on dance-floors as it happens. An important album full of important musicians and huge anthems; and one which managed to do the impossible in satisfying expectation levels that were already through the roof after “Section.80” and “Good Kid, M.A.A.D. city”. Massive.
9. Murli – Champagne and Chinchillas
“I’m just a simple artist trying to do my job”
The Rusangano Family coming on strong. I can’t wait for the next album in 2016. Murli, God Knows, Mynameisjohn and Naive Ted (who crafted this beat for the Murli Surface Tension EP) are making great music, and I’m fully confident of an international breakout next year too.
10. Erykah Badu feat Andre 3000 – Hello
“I never want to make you change for me babe”
Two of the greatest musical talents of all of my years DJing drop a pre Christmas treat. Erykah Badu has never made a bad step so far, and this little mixtape will keep things ticking nicely over until she releases her next album proper. She is as relevant as ever and can effortlessly come up with hooks and jams at will.
Backstory No.1 is a new club night hosted by Donal Dineen billed as “a night of dancing tunes and original visuals”.
Each installment will feature a guest DJ and Cork’s finest Stevie G will be the inaugural incumbent. The idea is to tell a story using tunes from all decades of dance music from 1930’s West Africa to the present day. All manner of rhythms and every kind of beat will be on the menu.
Documenting the many shades of soul music and the myriad mysterious ways of the boogie will be the golden thread that runs throughout the night. All of dance music’s rich tapestry will be on display. It’s an exploration of the history of the groove with an ear to the present and an eye on the future. Ideally the story should end somewhere in 2025.
The first one takes place on Friday 20th November in The Sugar Club / €5 before 12 midnight €7 / 11.30pm til Late
The idea is simple: DJs playing 7 of their favourite 7 inches all day.
I thought the day looked like fun so I asked him could we do the same in Dublin, except this time for a special cause. The Marriage referendum is taking place on May 22nd this year and I wanted to do something to raise money for Marriage Equality.
Having just got married myself, I think it’s unjust, unfair and indecent that two people can’t get married because of their gender/sexual orientation and the Marriage Referendum is our opportunity equalise that right for all Irish citizens.
So, Vinyl Love is a celebration of love and vinyl taking place two months before the vote on Sunday March 22nd on the rooftop of the Odessa Club. We’ll go all day from noon til the early hours of Monday morning.
There will be over 20 DJs and music lovers lining up to play 7 of their favourite 7 inches including:
Kelly-Anne Byrne (TXFM / Today FM) / Discotekken / Paul McLoone (Today FM/The Undertones) / Hidden Agenda / All City Records / Mother Club / Sally Cinnamon / Choice Cuts / Young Hearts Run Free / Nialler9 / Stevie G / Adultrock / Gib Cassidy (Elastic Witch & Girls Names) / Sweatbox / Una Mullally / le cool Dublin / State Magazine / Ships and more.
Stevie G is a DJ, radio presenter and all-round legend from Cork; a lover of soul, hip-hop, disco and R&B, a maker of tracks, a mentor, a promoter and label owner. Here are his 10 favourite tracks of the year.
This one crept by virtually ignored but it was a very significant record in some ways. A limited 7 inch dropped from the sky on Record Store Day, and a guy even more reclusive than D’Angelo managed to submit a remix. Ludovic Navarre is the man behind St Germain and some amazing jazz, soul and house music, but he has been out of the spotlight for over 10 years. Gregory Porter is one of the finest jazz singers and writers of his generation and the original of this was a good example of a great artist who has something important to say too. The remix uses subtle bits of the Roy Ayers produced “Daylight” by Ramp (a hip-hop staple since the days of A Tribe Called Quest), and it’s a beautiful combination.
2. Saun & Starr – ‘Hot Shot’
We are always slaves to the past but soul music, like jazz, is producing great new artists and music too. These two have backed Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings live but their debut single on Daptone is an irresistible brass infected jam that is typical of the label. I was inspired by labels such as Daptone in starting my own Soul Jamz record label this summer and we released “Deep Down south” with Christiana soon after, hopefully the first of many singles. Shookrah are another Cork band worth mentioning here, but in truth, there’s loads of good soul music out there if you dig.
3. D’Angelo & the Vanguard – ‘Prayer’
“I believe that some day we will rise”. It could have been almost anything from this album; a stunning reminder that he’s still got it. And then some. Soul music probably needed this shot in the arm, as it will throw more light on many of the other artists doing very good stuff. Sonically it is incredible and it keeps up an impressive record of one great record every decade!
4. Ilovemakkonen – Tuesday’ (Drake remix)
I played this for weeks and weeks before it got any bites, but that moment when it hit home was special. I actually play every Tuesday night, to a young student crowd, and they are very open to newer hip-hop and r&b so it works out. This, the Rae Sremmurd singles, Future, Tyga, Schoolboy Q, Young Thug, Tinashe and many more were all big for me in quite a productive year for low slung throwaway minimal music.
5. Run the Jewels – ‘Love Again’ (Akinyele Back)
“I think I’m in love again”.
Many hip-hop fans are reluctant to move past the ’90s; but if there’s one group capable of waking them from their slumber it’s Run the Jewels. El-P and Killer Mike are pretty much veterans of the game at this stage, but their two albums together have helped ensure things are still going on an upward trajectory. They’ve got a lot to say, and were among the most vocal rappers after a turbulent year which included tragedies such as Ferguson. Special shouts to Danny Brown and Dej Loaf for great singles as well.
In Ireland, we had some great hip-hop too. Mynameisjohn, Lethal Dialect and Corkman Trigger all coming out with impressive albums, while the likes of Deviant and Naive Ted, Spekultiv Fixtion, Jimmy Penguin and others continued to represent prolifically for the underground. Also, domestically, a few of us helped set up anam recordings to release music from Tommy KD, a recovering addict who has enlisted the legendary Hazo and DJ Mek in his team and who is already causing a stir too. Keeping it real for 2014.
6. Lorde – “Tennis Court” (Flume Remix)
I’m a big fan of this track in it’s original form, but this remix bangs and brings back some great memories of 2014, particularly my set at Body and Soul Festival in June. SertOne’s remix of Hannah Diamond’s ‘Pink and Blue’ is another that killed it in 14.
Lots of the best jazz these days is made by electronic artists, or even hip-hoppers who grew up discovering jazz through sampling and rap. We now have jazz artists covering hip-hop classics and it’s all gone full circle, as bands like BadbadnotGood have shown really well. FlyLo’s jazz credentials are in his family tree, but his Brainfeeder label showcases some amazing music from Thundercat, who is an essential element of the FlyLo sound, as well as Ras G and more. Taylor McFerrin made one of the jazz albums of the year on Brainfeeder, with the long awaited “Early Riser”, while FlyLo’s latest opus did not disappoint either. He managed to once again get big names like Snoop and Herbie Hancock to compliment his sound, and this track with Kendrick offers a big hint of what is to come from the Compton rapper, as he prepares to deliver one of the most eagerly awaited rap albums in years in the the next few months
8. James Vincent McMorrow – ‘When I Leave
Beautiful track, which he released on soundcloud, and which is on the bonus version of “Post Tropical”. Also worth mentioning Talos here. He released a couple of great singles on Feel Good Lost and there’s plenty more where that came from.
9. Doc Daneeka featuring Seven Davis Jr – ‘What’s it gonna be’
This is great. The whole EP is really good, and Seven Davis Jr released some wonderful stuff on his own too, including “P.A.R.T.Y.” and “Friends”. On a similar tip SBTRKT brought us “New york New Dorp” featuring Ezra Koenig. Lots of mixed reaction to their music this year but I like the album and love that jam.
10. Jhene Aiko – ‘The Pressure’
The influence of Aaliyah grows stronger as time passed. A year of some fine minimal soul and r&b vibes with Kelela, FKA Twigs, Fatima, The Weeknd, Kali Uchis, Jasmine V, Mapei and many more all contributing some great music. Also big shouts to King Avriel, who I first read about on this blog, and who’s “180” kicks off a mix i did of some of the best hip-hop and r&b from 2014 it’s a free download.
‘Deep Down South’ they love to party. So say Stevie G and his Cork cohort Christiana Underwood. They’ve already recorded those sentiments so now, with the help of Feel Good Lost, they’ve demonstrated it too with a new video show in Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork.
The track is out now digitally but on old-school vinyl next month.
Stevie Grainger has been a long time Cork music compatriat as a DJ, radio host, producer, collector and general good man for encouragement for the younger folk.
Stevie has now turned his hand to label business, with his Soul Jamz label releasing the first of his own music featuring singer Christiana Underwood and co-production from Ian Ring (Young Wonder). The song, ‘Deep Down South’, is a Cork spin on an old-school funk/soul/rap production.
After spending the weekend with a load of sound Cork people at the Mountain Dew Festival, I know the Southern hospitality buzz sung about here is real.
It’s backed with ‘Not About That’ and is out on August 15th digitally and on vinyl next month. Stevie G And the Deep South Soul Soundsystem was added to Electric Picnic today.
The stage times for the Bacardi bar at Indiependence have been revealed today. The likes of Jacques Renault, A-Skillz and Horse Meat Disco lineup alongside some of Ireland’s best DJs: Nightflight’s Lil Dave and Sol O’Carroll, Mother DJs, Burnin’ Up/TXFM/Today FM’s Kelly Anne Byrne, Stevie G and Big Dish Go.
Friday
01:30-03:00 Lil Dave 23:30-01:30 Jacques Renault 21:30-23:30 Mother Djs 20:00-21:30 Eddie Kay 18:30-20:00 Dave Cronin
Saturday
01:30-03:00 Stevie G 23:30-01:30 Horse Meat Disco 21:30-23:30 Deep Sh*T 20:00-21:30 Kelly Anne Byrne 18:30-20:00 Dave Mcgoff 17:00-18:30 Sol O’carroll 15:30-17:00 Groovement Soul
Sunday
01:30-03:00 Kc 23:30-01:30 A-Skillz 21:30-23:30 Hidden Agenda Djs 20:00-21:30 Big Dish Go 18:30-20:00 Christian Homan 17:00-18:30 Mark Taaffe
Dublin, Cork and Galway artists convene in the beautiful location of Connolly’s, Leap, West Cork.
A special party by Feel Good Lost & Nialler9 with some of Ireland’s finest Irish musicians and DJs deep in West Cork. Into The West is hosted in the very special venue Connollys in Leap.
Representing Dublin, we’ll have the makers of my favourite Irish album of the year so far, I Am The Cosmos bringing their “tears-on-the-dancefloor” analogue disco in beautiful Monochrome, Galway’s lugging the boy wonder Daithí for a set of Kaoss and fiddle assisted dance music and Cork’s rep is announced next week. There’ll also be DJ sets from the Red FM’s Stevie G, the Floating Joints crew and Nialler9.
Saturday August 17th. On the lawn from 6pm then inside til late. Food stall / coffee / BYOB.
Weekend visitors – there will be a hostel and accommodation info available shortly. Tickets €12 + fee on sale Tuesday August 7th at 10am from Resident Advisor. Facebook Event.
