Rob spoke with Colin from Murphy's Live semi-finalists "Walter Mitty & The Realists" - surely a candidate for best band name ever?!

Tramore-native Rebecca Collins was in studio to talk about her new album, "The Living Room Project" musical collective she's part of and played a beautiful acoustic version of her tune 'Aeroplane.'

A moritorium on "howya" texting - only random facts and free thinking allowed. "If I had opposable thumbs i could take over the world! Muahahaha!" "I hate maths... Number 5 is after my soul." "My teddy bears try to kill me at night... So i chopped them up... There's stuffing everywhere." Excellent. Abstraction achieved.

6-7PM
01. Tuesday - Mark Geary
02. Mr. Kill - Cathy Davey
03. Sad Songs - Ham Sandwich
04. Wake Up - The Infomatics
05. Empire is a Cave - Ilya K
06. Lame Dog - Rebecca Collins
** Interview with Rebecca Collins **
07. Involved - Rebecca Collins
** Interview with Rebecca Collins **
08. Aeroplane - Rebecca Collins
09. Cartwheels - Reindeer Section

7-8PM
01. Cradle Burns - Rollerskate Skinny
02. This Song is Your Own - Juno Falls
03. Bad Seed - Jezzebelle
04. Suckerpunched - PreNup
05. Go On My Son - Gorbachov
** Interview with Walter Mitty & The Realists **
06. Red is the Number - Walter Mitty & The Realists
07. Are You Not Wanting Me Yet - The Aftermath
08. Bite the Bullet - The Kinetiks
09. Don't Go Back to Rockville - David Kitt
10. People Walk Away - Robotnik
11. Sing Song Sung - La Rocca
12. 42 West Avenue - Cashier No. 9

Ms. Ubiquity herself Maria Doyle Kennedy was on the phone to Rob from her home in Spain to talk about the release of her new album "Skullcover", some gigs back home in Ireland and her role as Catherine of Aragon in hit TV-show The Tudors.

A bushel of musique nouveau tonight - new singles from Pugwash, Robotnik, The Spikes, Mark Geary and many more. Also had an interview with Ms. Ubiquity Maria Doyle Kennedy - who's just released another album "Skullcover". How she finds the time what with starring in top-rated TV show "The Tudors" I don't know!

6-7PM
01. Breaking Through - Jaded Sun
02. Are You Not Wanting Me Yet - The Aftermath
03. Get Balsamic Vinegar .... Quick You Fool - Snow Patrol
04. Lull - Lines Drawing Circles
05. Houndstooth Shirt - Ian Whitty
06. Maybe This Is Not Love - Joe Chester
07. People Walk Away - Robotnik
08. Jump In The River - Sinead O'Connor
09. Suckerpunched - Prenup
10. Hypnotised - The Spikes
11. When Your Mind's Made Up - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
12. Getchoo - Hybrasil
13. Blue Skies - The Tripps
14. Back of My Hand - Gemma Hayes

7-8PM
01. F*&kability - Maria Doyle Kennedy
** Interview with Maria Doyle Kennedy **
02. Shipbuilding - Maria Doyle Kennedy
** Interview with Maria Doyle Kennedy
03. Mother - Maria Doyle Kennedy
04. Alphabet Soup - Bell X1
05. Tuesday - Mark Geary
06. Damn You Hollywood - Fred
07. Take Me Away - Pugwash
08. The Opposite of Everything - Juno Falls
09. Love Like Nicotine - Dark Room Notes
10. Breadcrumb Trail - Chaplin

Well, the line-up for Electric Picnic has been announced and as usual it's a veritable musical feast for the Boutique festival. As well as the big names of Sigur Ros, Franz Ferdinand and Elbow, I'm very interested in the Irish acts on the bill. No doubt this'll be added to in the coming months:

• My Bloody Valentine: Yes yes yes!!!!
• Christy Moore: Quiet down the front.
• Lisa Hannigan: Could be brilliant.
• Cathy Davey: I am Mr. Kill, hear me roar!
• That Petrol Emotion: No big decision to go see these guys.
• Sinead O' Connor: Was brilliant at Oxegen last year and I think she'll be more at home at EP, so expect a great show.
• Kila: Whirling dervishes a-plenty
• Mark Geary: In my opinion, the best Irish singer/songwriter on the circuit
• Boss Volenti: Get your rocks on
• Dublin Gospel Choir: Get your rocks off

I'm also very excited about the Cooking Stage (surely a first for a music festival???) featuring the likes of Rachael Allen, Dylan McGrath and Kevin Thornton. I hope to pick up a few culinary tips, but I probably won't remember any of them come the Monday ....

New kid on the block Jennifer Allen was in studio with Rob to talk about her eponymous debut album.

One of the best interviews Irish Beats has ever had. Irish musical institution The Pale were in with Rob. Lots of talk about new albums, films and a certain bloodsucker from Transylvania ...

Very exciting show tonight. The Pale - LIVE in studio, discussing their latest album, their home at 1969 Records and challenging Ulysses' dominance as the greatest Irish novel of all time, nominating Bram Stoker's Dracula instead. Does it get any better than this??! Actually, it did with Jennifer Clarke in studio for the second half of the show....

6-7PM
01. Maybe This is Not Love - Joe Chester
02. Facing Down - Pocket Promise
03. Lull - Lines Drawing Circles
04. Don't Rescue Me - Christine Deady
05. Mr. Kill - Cathy Davey
06. The New Resistance - The Pale
** Interview with the Pale **
07. Elizabeth Sna Bratoga - The Pale
** Interview with the Pale **
08. Lady Gregory - The Pale ** LIVE **

7-8PM
01. Tuesday - Mark Geary
02. Rolling Dice - Neil White
03. People Walk Away - Robotnik
04. Gone to Sea - New Amusement
05. Pony Tears - David Turpin
06. Shine - Jennifer Clarke
** Interview with Jennifer Clarke **
07. It's Alright - Jennifer Clarke
** Interview with Jennifer Clarke **
08. Closer - Jennifer Clarke ** LIVE **
09. I Want It - Saviours of Space
10. Gone Out - Green Lights
11. Take Me Away - Pugwash

Gaz and Jim from hotly-tipped up-and-comers were in studio with Rob for a chat. Lovely acoustic track on there too.

Seactain na Gaeilge agus La Le Padraigh Speisulta!

6-7PM
01. Griann Gheal Lonrach - The Walls
02. Fear Seo - The Spikes
03. Elizabeth Sna Bratoga - The Pale
04. Rith Me Go Crich - Gemma Hayes
05. Drochdomhan More Alainn - Declan O'Rourke
06. Cabhraigh Lei - Kila
07. Realtanna - Maria Doyle Kennedy
08. Cailin na Gallaimhe - Mundy
09. Wickerman - Lir
10. Tony Cochrane - The Frank & Walters
11. The Day that You Were Born - Iarla O'Lionard
12. Cruthaitear Ead - Tadhg Cooke
13. Si Do Mhamo I - The Hothouse Flowers

7-8PM
01. Bunas ar Gach Uile Ni - Delorentos
02. Caileidoscop - Dave Geraghty
03. Oh La La - Q
04. Fan Socair - Blink
05. Fagail - Paddy Casey
06. Bladhm - Bell X1
07. Comhaireamh chun Codladh - Wallis Bird
08. An Dragun - The Guggenheim Grotto
09. Whirl-Y-Reel 2- Afro Celt Sound System
10. Bata Romhair Ag Toitin - Morgan Is Mosney
11. Mo Gra Gheal - Gavin Glass
12. Tabhsi no Laochra - The Coronas
13. Oro Se Do Bheatha Bhaile - Sinead O'Connor

The Kinetiks live in studio as well as plenty of evil sounds from Channel One, Dae Kim and Hope is Noise.

6-7PM
01. We Have Control - Alloy Mental
02. Rhythm & Purpose - Channel One
03. Sticky Fingers - Dae Kim
04. Slow Puncture - Dark Room Notes
05. Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
06. Bit the Bullet - The Kinetiks
** Interview with The Kinetiks **
07. A Smile'd Crack Your Face - The Kinetiks
** Interview with The Kinetiks **
08. If It All Kicks Off Tonight - The Kinetiks (LIVE in Studio)
09. Shuffle Your Feet - The Kinetiks
10. Go On My Son - Gorbachov
11. We the People - Sinead O'Connor & Republic of Loose

7-8PM
01. Keepsake - Ham Sandwich
02. Wake Up - The Infomatics
03. When the Bull Gores the Matador - Messiah J & The Expert
04. Lost in the Forest - Crayonsmith
05. Lend Me Your Face - Fight Like Apes
06. Miss Sarajevo - U2 feat Lucianno Pavoritti
07. If You Want Me - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
08. 42 West Avenue - Cashier No. 9
09. Sing Song Sung - La Rocca
10. Everything Flows - Super Extra Bonus Party
11. I Live With Bruce Banner - Hope is Noise
12. Bladhm - Bell X1
13. Born Greasy - Dustin the Turkey

As I was browsing around the Murphy's Live website, I noticed they have a bunch of cut-out-and-keep guides to surviving the music business in Ireland (and abroad). With contributions from some of the hardest-working operators around, including Aileen Galvin (Entertainment Architects), Stuart Clarke (Hotpress), Ashley Keating (FIFA Records & Frank & Walters) and many more. If you're a performer or in an original band of some type, well worth taking the time to read these:

• What Makes a Good Demo: How to approach and make best use of print and radio media. (Stuart Clark, Assistant Editor, Hot Press)
• Getting your act together. (Ashley Keating, A&R with Fifa Records)
• Know Your Rights: Easy steps to knowing your rights, protecting your music and getting to know who's who in the music industry (Angela Dorgan, Director FMC)
• Zen and the Art of Effective Stage Management OR How to Become the Most Unpopular Guy at the Gig! 10 great tips on how to manage a stage. (Paddy McPoland, Ireland's most revered Stage & Production Manager)
• Music P.R. - What to do and what not to do: How to get your band seen, heard and read about...music publicity (Aileen Galvin, Director, Entertainment Architects)

They have two more to go on The Live Arena (by Shilpa Ganatra of Hotpress) and Dealing With Venue by Gugai (The Roisin Dubh). Get readin'!

Murphy's Live 2008 have announced Cathy Davey and The Flaws as headline performers for the semi-finals of Ireland's biggest band competition.

Meteor Award winner Davey will guest perform at the Murphy's Live Dublin semi-final in Whelans on April 3. The following week will see The Flaws top the bill at the Cork semis in Cyprus Ave on April 10.

A spikier alternative to many of the female singer-songwriters in the UK and Ireland at present, Cathy Davey earned her indie credentials with her debut album release in 2004 - 'Something Ilk'. The album proclaimed her as one of Europe's rising music talents and her second recently released and Choice Award Nominated album, Tales of Silversleeve, has confirmed that assumption.

The Flaws released their debut album Achieving Vagueness in September 2007 on their own independent label Arrivals Records. Entering the Irish Charts at No. 18, the album received amazing reviews in the Irish press and confirmed The Flaws as one of the most exciting bands to come out of Ireland for years.

Four semi-finalist qualifiers have now been chosen from the fourteen bands who recently performed in Murphy's Live heats all over the country. These selected acts willl be announced next Monday 17 April at 2pm on www.murphyslive.com.

The sixteen bands in contention for this years trophy are (drum roll please!): From Cork - My Evil Ex and Painting By Numbers, from Clonakilty - Chucklehead and Setmaker, from Dublin - Bravado, Superjimenez, Stagger Lee and Story of Hair, from Waterford - Gorbachov and Floyd Soul & The Wolf, from Limerick - Seneca and Walter Mitty and The Realists and finally, from Kerry - B-Movie Monster and Japan Four.

Go on the 'chov and the 'wolf ....

With Easter coming up, Lent coming to an end....the national holiday of Good Friday is just about upon us. A day where there is never really somewhere to go unless it's a house party. Well, this year....In celebration of The Tivoli's 1st Birthday, Choice Cuts have joined forces with The Tivoli and put together a mouthwatering lineup of local talent with more than 8 hours of entertainment.

On the lineup are Twoc, a man who is heavily involved in the music scene in Dublin and responsible for putting out releases on his Alphabetset label (releases include the current Choice Music Awards album of the year by Super Extra Bonus Party and Sarsparilla's recent outing 'Karahee'). Joining Twoc on the dubstep/reggae tip will be none other than Colz, one of Dublin's most respected mixtape and Dubstep afficianado's. Hip Hop, Soul & Funk representation will be from Dj Scope & Rizm and joining them on the night will be none other than the multi-talented David Kitt who will be spinning some of his party favourites for the revellers with Steve Reddy finishing of the evening's proceedings.

Alongside all of this, one of Irelands most promising producers Sarsparilla will be performing live and a late addition to the billing is man of the moment Richie Egan aka Jape. Jape will be performing an exclusive one man show for this event.

Sounds like a "good" Friday to me (I'll get me coat)

What can you say really? How can you comment on a man dressed in combats and a body armour holding a flute he claims is thousands of years old and was passed down through his family from his great grandfather who was Irish? Don't be afraid folks - he's gonna git that leprechaun sucka! All the crazies are coming out in preparation for St. Patrick's Day ....

So in my inbox this morning was an invitation to another one of those online quizzes. Mostly I ignore these as I'm a very busy and important man and don't have time for such frivolous distractions ;) Anyway, being a sucker for Paddywhackery, I just had to take a gander at this "How Irish Are You?" quiz. One of the questions was:

What flavour is Red Lemonade?

* Flavour?? It's just red!
* A mixture of strawberry and lemon
* A mixture of pink grapefruit and lemon
* The tears of a ginger child

Pity all those poor ginger children, sent to Leitrim to cry into bottles at the red lemonade factory .....

The new Irish music magazine State will launch its first issue on 6 March. State Magazine editors are John Walshe and Phil Udell who, between them, have more than twenty years of music journalism under their belts. Designer Simon Roche is renowned for his design work in the publishing world, as well as creating innovative CD inlays, tour t-shirts and festival programmes. Publisher Roger Woolman is an internationally renowned music photographer who has been published by everyone from Rolling Stone to the NME. State.ie is helmed by Niall Byrne (otherwise known as nialler9) who is one of the country's best known and read independent bloggers.

I've been browsing the state.ie website for a while now and there seems to be plenty of content up there. I did an interview with Niall Byrne about the magazine a few weeks back, which you can listen to below. The Irish print market is an extremely tough nut to crack, so I wish them well. I wonder if Hotpress' recent revamp had anything to do with these New Kids On The Block? Hang tough everyone ....

April 2008: The Irish Times' Ticket supplement published a Top 40 Irish Albums of all time, which has caused quite a stir. Rob spoke with chief stirrer Jim Carroll about the list, who had a great many things to say. He has quite the turn of phrase!

Download MP3 (21.1 MB)

The Ticket supplement of the Irish Times published a list of the Top 40 Irish album of all time in their latest issue. As you can expect, this is an issue that has caused mass insanity, panic, headlessness and tomfoolery. I was delighted to see My Bloody Valentine's Loveless at the top of the list. The top ten also includes U2 (Achtung Baby), Rollerskate Skinny (Horsedrawn Wishes) and my own personal favourite Heartworm by Whipping Boy.

Where was Acrojunk though???!!! Oh yeah, we haven't released an album yet!

The Register have a very interesting article with former Undertones frontman and music impressario Feargal Sharkey. He recently joined the British Music Rights (BMR) society, an organisation that represents music publishers, composers and songwriters (as opposed to record labels represented by the BPI). In the article he gives his opinion on the digital music business, online distribution and has some very insightful thoughts on the need for record companies. Well worth the read over at El Reg.

Tonight's show featured tracks from albums listed in The Ticket's Top 40 Irish Albums OF ALL TIME (tm) as well as an interview with one of the list compilers, Jim Carroll. Dane McMahon from The Flaws also made an appearance as did tracks from Ham Sandwich, Dae Kim, Large Mound and Super Extra Bonus Party .....

Oscars! Choice Prize! Fr. Ted! Liam Merriman! All happening tonight ....

Rob met up with awards-magnet Cathy Davey shortly before her recent gig in Waterford City and they had a great auld chat about "Tales of Silversleeve", gigging, the Choice Prize and plans for her next album, full of sea-shanties.