Song Collector Sessions

The Song Collector Sessions with Corks own Roy Buckley has a new home in Cork. This month sees the first of the Song Collector Sessions shows in one of Corks preimer live venues The Pavilion! The Song Collector Sessions is a monthly event that gets up close and personal with Ireland’s established, leading and promising artists.Hosted by Roy Buckley The Song Collector Sessions allows the audienece to to get an insight into the minds and the music of some of this county’s greatest songwriters and indeed, song collectors. The Song Collector Sessions will feature different guests each month and each show is unique. So far guests have included Mike Hanrahan, Hank Wedel, Ricky Lynch,  Andy Dunne, among others.

Gene Stuart

Gene Stuart - A welcome return to Co Waterford.

Country singer Gene Stuart hit the Irish music scene over thirty five years ago. In his first band Gene sang the country songs with ‘The Dynamic Sounds’ a talented local pop group. Because of the lack of work in Ireland Gene traveled to England and spent some time on the construction Sites in Birmingham. He stayed for awhile but returned home where he found work with Ken Kennedy’s band from Monaghan, He then moved onto the Mc Geogh brother’s band before securing his big break.

Leo Mullane

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with 17year old Leo Mullane from Youghal about his new EP and upcoming gig where he will be a guest with Declan O Rourke at the end of the month. I started off by asking him the usual question. Where did it all start for him?.  He told me he got an electric guitar and practice amp for Christmas when he was 9yrs old and from that moment on he never looked back. Countless hours spent practicing in his room lead him to join the Youth Café in Youghal where he was able to meet with other young musicians. 

John Hogan

Sometimes known as 'Ireland's Prince of Country Music', John Hogan celebrates his 25th year of success within Ireland's music scene this year, as well as an ambassador to Ireland and Irish Country Music around the world. John Hogan is one of very few singers that can claim to have had a hit record before ever performing at a gig. Although music was a big part of his life growing up, he secured a good job with Board-Na-Mona. However he often took his guitar to work and entertained his workmates with his singing. He was eventually persuaded to record a single, and chose his mother's favourite song, 'Brown Eyes'. Radio West presenter Don Allen gave the song great airplay, and the single took off from there. It soon went up to the top-ten charts.

Local Music News Bobby Lee

This week I spoke with local musician, Bobby Lee about the current activities in our local area. Bobby, who is very involved in running music classes for the younger people in our town at the Youth Cafe Hot Spot in Youghal among other things had a lot to try and get through in the short time we had on air.

The hot spot music group is a voluntary run club for 12 to 18 years and is based in Youghal. It has been in existence for the past 2 years. Every Thursday, the young and inspired can gather there to develop their musical skills through song writing, learning an instrument, jamming out in the hot spot music room kitted out by ‘IRMA’ (the Irish recorded music association) whom last year provided a bank of instruments for use by the club, or they can hang out in the youth cafe, nothing too serious but a whole lotta fun and freedom to learn. The club is facilitated by national youth organization Forage who provide a safe and warm environment for the group to happen

Nathan Carter

Nathan Carter is the brightest young singing star to hit Ireland for many years.  Nathan was born in the City of Liverpool. At the age of four he found his love for music and was given a piano accordion, which he quickly mastered.  At seven, Nathan started to enter Fleadh Ceoil Competitions in Accordion and Singing.  At 15, he won the All Ireland Title for Traditional Singing.   Nathan was determined to seek a career in the Music Industry, and at the tender age of 16 years, decided to leave school and follow his dream. 

Jimmy Crowley’s Cork Folk Club:

Jimmy Crowley & John Spillane

Oh what a night. The launch of Jimmy Crowley's Cork Folk Club was absolutely amazing, you couldn't have asked for a more perfect night. Now where would you find two extraordinary artists such as Jimmy Crowley and John Spillane raising the roof to the Boys of Fairhill?. Well the answer is quite simple “only in Cork Boi” live at the Windsor Inn Lv Bar. For music enthusiasts it was great to see two of Cork’s greatest songwriters engrossed in the gig, and sing along to classic favourites like the Boys of Fairhill, Salonika, Oro se do bheatha bhaile, Dunnes Stores Girl, Cherrytree and many more favorite songs.

Mick Flavin

Mick Flavin

Irish country singer Mick Flavin has been a favourite at the dance halls singing Irish & Country songs for over 20 years, celebrated his incredible journey from Drumlish to Nashville via Wembley Stadium with the release of a double CD As Good As I Once Was. Recognised by his pure, deep voice and for his reputation as being a 'big, friendly giant', Mick has accumulated a large fan base throughout the years.

Tree Sleepers

Tree Sleepers

 This week we take a look at “The Tree Sleepers” who are a Cork based alternative rock band. The band is the creative outlet of LJ Devlin who after studying music at Ballyfermot College and playing in a number of bands and as a solo artist around Dublin returned to Cork to release her successful debut album Hunters Moon. Having worked with the lads on other projects in the past they decided to get together and form the LJ Devlin and the Unemployable Tree Sleepers. Which they later shortened to simply The Tree Sleepers after Caleb, found him self waking up after sleeping in a tree during a festival, with a group of little children poking him with a stick to see if he would fall out of the tree.

The Boys are Back in Town

Shane Supple interviews Billy Lane & Tony Hennessey

Well today I had the pleasure of interviewing two very unlikely music stars. Billy Lane and Tony Hennessey, who, without meaning to, have had their faces splashed across tv screens on SKY tv and had their faces appear on thousands of music shops across the world.

The Champions

Gina, Dale Hayes & the Champions,

The original lineup of Gina on vocals , Jerdie Mackey known as Dale Haze on vocals, Mossy Walsh on keyboards, Pat Walsh on guitar, Eddie Fitzgerald on bass and Tony Hornibrook on drums, hit the road as the Herdsmen in early 1973. The band released their first single “Paper Mansions” and was playing the smaller circuit, when they signed with Tony Byrne. When Cork beat Galway in the 1973 All-Ireland Final in Croke Park, they had their new name, The Champions. Their first single recorded as the Champions, Dreams Are Good Friends, climbed to Number 12 in the Irish Charts. The Champions had their first hit and were off and running.

Mark O Sullivan

Mark (Fanta) O Sullivan getting caught on air by Cork Radio.

Louise Morrissey

Louise Morrissey

Louise Morrissey has long been one of Ireland's best loved singers and entertainers.

She has achieved great success, and has brought her easy style of country and folk to many other countries around the world. She has toured extensively in Ireland, Europe, America, Canada and Australia as well as nearly every country in Europe. Louise a former member of The Morrissey’s Folk Group along with her brothers Billy & Norman, toured for many years until 1987

Dirty Vodoo Band

Vocals Colin Lee
Guitar Sean Cudlip
Guitar and vocals David (Dom) Mulcahy
Bass guitar Tommy Collins

David (Dom) Mulcahy is from Ardmore but now lives in Youghal. He has been playing guitar since he was 16. He is mostly self-taught, other than a small amount of lessons from bandmate Sean while he was 18 and still at school.

Robert Mizzell

Robert born on 21st July in Louisiana has made Ireland his home for over 20 years. He served his apprenticeship in Country Music since he first arrived here and is now one of the top Country artists in Ireland, his popularity spreading with extensive airplay into Europe and to such distant territories as Australia. As anyone who ever attended a Robert Mizzell show will testify, Robert with his band The Country Kings put on an energy filled show. Brimming with Country flavour his shows appeal to audiences in Nashville and wherever Country Music is popular.

Paddy O Brien

This year marks Paddy O Brien’s 25th year touring with his band

To mark this special occasion country star Paddy O Brien from Aglish Co Waterford and his band have organised several country music spectacular shows throughout the year. The next big festival of country music for people in this area is taking place on Fri 18^th, Sat 19th and Sun 20th May in Lawlors hotel Dungarvan Co Waterford. Paddy has been performing with his band for the last 25years and in that time has gained a huge fan base locally here in Cork and Waterford as well as fans from all around the world. This is never more evident then when he holds his weekends for his fans every year.

Hot Country Awards

The 3rd annual Hot Country 'country music' awards show was a huge success on Wednesday night last May 3rd, 2012 staged at the Hazel Hotel Monasterevin Co Kildare in front of a capacity crowd, it featured the 'best' in Irish country music. Backing band for the occasion were award winning Conquerors, presenters Hugh O'Brien and Pam Jackson kept the show moving with no delays which meant everything ran on time. Lighting and audio was provided by Spain AV Nenagh Co Tipperary.

Crystal Swing

This week, I spoke with Derek Burke, lead singer and front man for Crystal Swing. Crystal Swing, for those that don’t know, comprises of the Burke family from East Cork, Mary a fine musician and overall brains behind the outfit as well as being mother to, Derek on vocals, and Dervla, an accomplished singer with a great voice, who in my mind is one of the finest singers ever to come out of
Cork. When she sings country you really have to listen.

Country Music on TV

Country Music and Irish Music on our TV screens

You have to ask yourself why there is 16 hours of Country and Irish music to air each week on Showcase SKY Channel 201 Freesat 403. Responding to unprecedented demand from fans of Country music and Irish music in the UK and Ireland, Showcase TV has dedicated more than 16 hours of airtime to showcasing established and upcoming talent from the country and traditional Irish music scene. 

Tree Sleepers

Tree Sleepers

This week we take a look at “The Tree Sleepers” who are a Cork based alternative rock band. The band is the creative outlet of LJ Devlin who after studying music at Ballyfermot College and playing in a number of bands and as a solo artist around Dublin returned to Cork to release her successful debut album Hunters Moon. Having worked with the lads on other projects in the past they decided to get together and form the LJ Devlin and the Unemployable Tree Sleepers.

Diarmuid De Guide

Diarmuid De Guide interview Thursday 22nd Dec 2011
On Thursday last I had the pleasure of Diarmuid De Guide  from Blarney in County Cork as my guest.  We were joined in studio by his manager Carol Rice who also manages Stephen Leeson, Jimmy Crowley and Irish Folk Group Shebeen. Also in the studio on the day was guest presenter Linda Carroll who presents another program on Youghal Radio. So with a bigger then normal crew of people all gathered around the mic it was going to be an interesting if not fun afternoon. And fun it was with some great tunes thrown in for the listeners. I spoke with Carol about how she came across Diarmuid and I also spoke with Diarmuid about how he came across Carroll, but I am getting ahead of myself again as normal. I guess I should tell you a little about Diarmuid.

Ger Thompson 2nd interview

Ger Thompson 2nd Interview Friday 16th Dec 2011

Well this week we had a chance to catch up with singer songwriter Ger Thompson. Ger who was on the show last March has been working away writing songs and getting himself out there so to speak. Since his last visit much has happened to Ger, today spent the time talking about these new events and how his songwriting was progressing. Ger, as always sang during the interview two of his great new songs. Now I know I am going a little off topic here so bear with me because I feel its important and needs to be said. I find that a second interview can tell a lot about a person, the first interview people are always well behaved, a little guarded and keeping an eye on everything they say, and this is normal after all who wants to sit down and discuss a life story live on air with people they don't know. However with Ger I found the opposite, a relaxed, outgoing, guy who loves his music and loves to talk about music in general. There was no hint of suspicion or any of the things I listed above. Ger from day one when we met in March is still the same guy, still as passionate about music, still as gentle and soft spoken, still as humble and most of all is a gifted songwriter with a lot to offer. The reason I even mention this is to try show you a little of the man rather then the public persona so to speak. I met a guy who, in the music world is a genuine, down to earth, honest hardworking guy. Now having gotten that out of the way read on.

Sinead McNally

Sinead McNally Interview Dec 1st 2011

This week I spoke with the very talented Sinead McNally a singer/songwriter and pianist from Dundalk. I am a lazy person as many of my listeners will tell you so a lot of the information below is from Sinead's own website or Myspace page. So forgive me for copying the text. However the interview is my own and you can listen into that below. Sinead spent her early years studying piano at the College of Music in Dublin and alongside that developed her love for Irish traditional music by learning the fiddle through Comhaltas. When she was 14 she won ‘The Macardle Award’ after being auditioned by renowned Irish conductor Proinnsias O’Duinn on behalf of Louth County Council. She was awarded a scholarship to pursue her classical music studies. She went on to study a degree in music at Canterbury Christchurch University.

Aine Duffy

Aine Duffy interview Friday December 2nd 2011

Well are days when all goes well, nothing can go wrong life is wonderful and nothing can get you down,  but sadly there are days when your not feeling on top of the world and everything goes wrong its dark, gloomy, boring and your simply fed up. Well there is a cure and its not medical. That cure quite simply is Aine Duffy. Now I dont normally dispense medical advice in this blog, but on this occasion what can I say. I can only talk about this miracle cure from personal experience I had on Friday last, I was tired, it had been a long night, I was having a bad day, things were not going to plan and life looked awful. Then at about ten past one, I was cured. This cure came in the form of the energetic, talented, happy, carefree, wild ball of  fun known as Aine Duffy who arrived at the studio for our interview.

Stephen Leeson 3rd Interview

Stephen Leeson Interview Dec 1st 2011

Well this week we caught up with singer songwriter, Stephen Leeson. The last time we spoke with Stephen was march of this year (follow this link to hear that interview). We spoke about his album The Isle of Hope which has received rave reviews around the country from radio presenters to fans alike. Stephen who was once singer with the renowned group The Dublin City ramblers has for the last number of years been working hard recording, promoting and getting his new album out their and available to everyone. As he says himself its hard work promoting a new album, almost as hard as putting it together, recording it and releasing it. I spoke with Stephen on the phone rather then in person today because he was busy on the set of Titanic, a new TV seris being shot in Ireland and Stephen is on set as an extra.