Commiserations to Wexford - ye've made the football season for me and no doubt Jason Ryan, Mattie Ford and the team will be back for 2009! Anyway, a mix of music and comedy was on the menu tonight as we celebrated David O'Doherty's winning of the If.Comedy award at the Edinburgh Festival. Some laugh bai ....

6-7PM
01. Lazy Boy - Robotnik
02. Country Bumpkin - Wallis Bird
03. FAQ for the DOD - Davis O'Doherty
04. Party On - Damien Dempsey
05. Young People - Dara O'Brian
06. Skyscrapers - Fred
07. Empire is a Cave - Ilya K
08. I Know a Girl - The Undertones
09. Dogs vs Cats - Sean Hughes
10. Back to Front - The Infomatics
11. 1981 - The Flaws
12. Accents - Dylan Moran
13. Go Radio! - The Radio
14. Sticky Fingers - Dae Kim

7-8PM
01. Fee Da Da Dee - Guggenheim Grotto
02. My Lovely Horse (Fr. Ted) - Dermot Morgan & Ardal O'Hanlon
03. Lille - Lisa Hannigan
04. Hippety Hoppity Microphone - Tommy Tiernan
05. Rock n'Roll Train - AC/DC
06. Pony - Dirty Epics
07. Mixed Marriages - Dara O'Brian
08. Waiting - Delorentos
09. Crimebusters Part 1 - D'Unbelievables
10. After All - The Frank & Walters
11. Crimebusters Part 2 - D'Unbelievables
12. Irish Music on Irish Radio - Ray Heffernan
13. What Happens When the Heart Just Stops - The Frames
14. Very Mild Superpowers - David O'Doherty
15. The Comedy is Over - A House

I am ignoring the existence of that 'picnic' (not really). Sometimes the hard decisions have to be made ... Up the Déise!!!!

6-7PM
01. Go Radio! - The Radio
02. Human Nature - Alphastates
03. Hollywood - Gary Dunne
04. Lille - Lisa Hannigan
05. Enough is Enough - Myp Et Jeep
06. What You All About - Autamata
07. Jake Summers - Fight Like Apes
08. A Man Called Gerald - Shane Barry & The Distractions
09. Mr. Farenheit - Gorbachov
$$ Interview with Jimmy O'Neill (Cashelised) $$
10. Got - Republic of Loose
11. I'm Gonna Be - Nicole Maguire
12. The Irish Rovaer - The Dubliners & The Pogues
13. Never Talk - Ham Sandwich

7-8PM
01. Not On Your Side - Ian Whitty & The Exchange
02. Diamond Jill and Crazy Jane - Engine Alley
03. Bachelors of Pearse Park - Jinx Lennon
04. At the Sea - Pugwash
05. The Johnny & Ruth Story - Boathouse
06. Fee Da Da Dee - Guggenheim Grotto
07. Mission to the Sun - Revolution for Dogs
08. Running - Fred
09. She's Got the Lonliest Eyes - Ilya K
10. Back of My Hand - Gemma Hayes
11. Hiphopopotamus vs. Rymenoceros - Flight of the Conchords*
12. Well Now - Captain Moonlight
13. Leeches - Fighting Spiders
14. Rock n'Roll Train - AC/DC*

* Yes, I am aware these acts are not Irish. Damn good though!

OK - any regular readers of the site or listeners to the radio programme will know that I used to be great for the auld podcasts. However, back in May, something untoward happened. The steady stream dried up completely and a barren podcasting desert was left in its place. This was due to a web server move, a few stray 1s and 0s and the digital yings not being connected to the digital yangs.

Months later, we're still having problems, but I rolled up my sleeves and did what all techies do in these situations - I hacked a solution! What's a 'hack' you might ask. In this instance, it does NOT mean "to cut or sever with repeated irregular or unskillful blows" instead it refers to "a quick-and-dirty computer patchwork job." That means, the overall podcasting engine is still kaputt, but I have found a work around. So this morning, I have uploaded podcasts of Irish Beats interview with the following acts. Ugly Megan, Simon Fagan, Saving J, Republic of Loose, Red Eye Society, Jimi Cullen, Issue-72, Floyd Soul & The Wolf, Cars in Walls and my personal favourite Clive Barnes.

Over the weekend, I'll cut together a Best of Oxegen special which'll feature contributions from more stars than you could shake a virtual big stick at! I'll also try and make the RSS feed a little more iTunes-friendly. It's not like I won't have the time, with my lack of attendance at a certain picnic. *sniff*

Naomi McArdle over at OffHerRocker has identified all the Irish acts playing at Electric Picnic year. Highlights for me would be Halves, Wallis Bird, Dark Room Notes, Fred, Jape, David Holmes, Robotnik, Hybrasil, Giveamanakick and of course My Bloody Valentine.

Notice I used the conditional tense there - "highlights would ..." Of course, that's 'cause I'm not going to Electric Picnic this year. But I am going to the All-Ireland Hurling Final!!!!!!!!

Anyway, here's the full list:

Waterford's most adorable duo Ugly Megan like to wax lyrical about their new EP and we're only too delighted to listen!

Download MP3 (9.1 MB)

Musician, actor and all-round good guy Simon Fagan was in with Rob to talk about past glories and future triumphs.

Download MP3 (16.9 MB)

Kilkenny's Saving J were in with Rob to talk about their new single 'Kick Off' and its companion video.

Download MP3 (15.7 MB)

Aaaarrrrrggghhhh! It's the Republic of Loose! The podcast features some live tracks (including a stonking version of latest single "The Steady Song") and plenty of witty banter.

Download MP3 (22.9 MB)

Neil White is back with a new band "The Red Eye Society" who want to put the 'session' back in the recession! They have a shiny EP "Movie" which features the great track 'Predictable.' Unfortunately, in the months between this interview taking place and the podcast actually being uploaded, they've broken up. *sniff*

Download MP3 (16.5 MB)

If you want to go on a journey from protest songs through love songs to those that squeeze every drop of emotion out of you, then Jimi Cullen is the man for you. He dropped into the Beat studios to talk about his new album "The Junkyard Poet."

Download MP3 (13.1 MB)

Enniscorthy group Issue72 were in studio with Rob to talk about some upcoming gigs as well as their plans to record a masterpiece.

Download MP3 (16.6 MB)

Floyd Soul & The Wolf called into Irish Beats to talk about winning the National Student Music Awards, recording a single with a Nashville producer and their plans for World Domination (tm)

Download MP3 (16.4 MB)

Guitar-god (and Wexford native) Clive Barnes was in studio with Rob to talk about his upcoming Irish tour, swap some stories of life on-the-road and entertain listeners with some fine examples of finger-pickin' style.

Download MP3 (24.9 MB)

This half-Irish, half-English quartet produce mesmerising and melodic music. The interview contains some fine examples of this as well as plenty of craic and chat. It also features a mighty verbzilla pedal! (guitarists will know what I mean)

Download MP3 (15.4 MB)

I received an email over the weekend about a new Arts group called Cashelised (unsurprisingly based in Cashel Co. Tipp). Their mission statement is "to create a medium for the Expression of Arts, Music & Performance in Cashel", which sounds pretty good to me.

This Saturday (30th August), they're having a day of live music on the streets of Cashel, featuring Jester, Futurism, Shay FItzgerald and many more. 'Cashelised Live' starts at noon and culminates with a performance from Murphy's Live Winners (and all-round good guys) Gorbachov in the Moor Lane Tavern around 9pm.

If you're not off to the Picnic this weekend and are in the vicinity of Tipp, I'd imagine it'd be a spiffing day out!

When you're out buying your new schoolbag, geansai and black shoes, you might want to pick up a few CDs. Remember, school isn't just about academic education - there's cultural learnings too! If you're off to 3rd level, it's particularly important you open you ears to new sounds. As a student, it is your responsibility!

New Releases:
God Bless The Big Bang - Rory
Anaesthesia ad Infinitum - Ilya K
Radio Friction - Shane Barry & The Distractions
The Simple Truth - Gary Dunne

Recent Releases:
Overpowered - Roisin Murphy
SK2 - Simple Kid

Classics:
Heartworm - Whipping Boy

Last night, Dublin's David O'Doherty was declared the winner of the 2008 If.Comedy award. Formerly known as the Perrier Award, past Irish recipients include Tommy Tiernan, Dylan Moran and Sean Hughes.

I've seen O'Doherty perform a few times and he's magic - some man on the Casio keyboard! If you're Electric Picnic bound this weekend, he'll be performing in the comedy tent. Get there early!

A bit of an Electric Picnic preview tonight, focussing on the Irish acts who'll be performing at this year's festival.

6-7PM
01. Everything That Rises - The Stunning
02. Country Bumpkin - Wallis Bird
03. Slow Puncture - Dark Room Notes
04. Tickle Me Pink - Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit
05. Lille - Lisa Hannigan
06. Ace of Spades - Hayseed Dixie
07. Opposite Directions - Boss Volenti
08. Lazyboy - Robotnik
09. You and I - The Flaws
10. Mr. Kill - Cathy Davey
11. This is Not a Test - Oppenheimer
12. Medal - Halves
13. Gabbi - Cowboy X
14. On the Skyline - Super Extra Bonus Party
15. 42 West Avenue - Cashier No. 9

7-8PM
01. Let's Get It Wrong - Fred
02. Binary Love - Hybrasil
03. Don't Forget - Gemma Hayes
04. Angel - Mark Geary
05. Apple in an Orchard - Jape
06. Sing Song Sung - La Rocca
07. Walk on Part - Adrian Crowley
08. Human Nature - Alphastates
09. The Cure & The Cause - Fish Go Deep
10. Aquaplanning - Giveamanakick
11. When You Sleep - My Bloody Valentine
12. The Day That You Were Born - Iarla O'Lionard
13. Si Do Mhamo I - The Hothouse Flowers
14. Grace Under Pressure - Elbow feat Cathy Davey

Mick Reilly, one of the crashbangwallop noisemerchants from Ilya K was my guest on the show this evening to talk about their new album 'Anaesthesia ad Infinitum.' During the course of the interview, we did a Man From UNCLE quiz, during which Mick displayed his complete lack of knowledge for the TV series from which Ilya K took their name. Nerds everyone shake their heads in disappointment ...

6-7PM
01. Jake Summers - Fight Like Apew
02. Enough is Enough - Myp Et Jeep
03. Never Talk - Ham Sandwich
04. Alphabet Soup - Bell X1
05. Ace of Spades - Hayseed Dixie
06. Rodeohead - Hand n'Phirm
07. Empire is a Cave - Ilya K
** Interview with Mick Reilly (Ilya K) **
08. Contagious Blue - Ilya K
** Interview with Mick Reilly (Ilya K) **
09. No Easy Ride - Ilya K
** Interview with Mick Reilly (Ilya K) **
10. Don't Expect Me - Saviours of Space

7-8PM
01. Rain Dancer - Rory
02. Not On Your Side - Ian Whitty & The Exchange
03. Angel - Mark Geary
04. Lille - Lisa Hannigan
05. When We Were Young - Whipping Boy
06. Running - Fred
07. Stop - Shane Barry & The Distractions
08. Highlights - The Candies
09. Black Lemonade - The Funeral Suits
10. Overdose of Ghosts - The Jokerr
11. Stop - Jape vs Delorentos
12. Love's An Enigma (Part II) - Simple Kid

Up the Deise!!! To celebrate Waterford's victory over Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final, the second half of tonight's show was given over to acts from Blaaland. Roll on the 7th September!

6-7PM
01. All Your Features - Caruso
02. A Superman - ODi
03. The Zoological Gardens - The Dubliners
04. Jake Summers - Fight Like Apes
05. Outpatients - Side Project
06. Running - Fred
07. Conversation Killer - The Distractors
08. Not On Your Side - Ian Whitty
09. Friction - Whipping Boy
10. Days Without Paracetemol - Snow Patrol
11. Keepsake - Ham Sandwich
12. Don't Go Out - Tenspeedracer
13. No One Knows - The Divine Comedy

7-8PM
01. Mr. Farenheit - Gorbachov
02. Give It A Chance - Floyd Soul & The Wolf
03. I Wonder Why - The Lullabees
04. Rolling Dice - Neil White
05. Let Them All Talk - Deaf Animal Orchestra
06. A Man called Gerald - Shane Barry & The Distractions
07. Steve Austin - Acrojunk
08. Postcards - Dae Kim
09. Glass Eyes - Ilya K
10. Don't Rescue Me - Christine Deady
11. Radio - Katie Kim
12. Leeches - Fighting Spiders
13. Too Many Times - Duped
14. Death Song - Fred

Ronnie Drew has sadly passed away after a long illness. A giant of Irish music, he will be sorely missed. He was 73.

Dublin band Sickboy were supposed to be my guests on tonight's broadcast, but they were no-shows, so I got to play more music instead! I also spoke with Hotpress' Jackie Hayden about the upcoming Rock Clinic in the Wexford Arts Centre. As always, plenty of choons bai ....

6-7PM
01. Leeches - Fighting Spiders
02. This is Not a Test - Oppenheimer
03. Starlight - Muse
04. The Steady Song - Republic of Loose
05. Michael Grady Went to Mexico - Robotnik
06. Rain Dancer - Rory
07. Taken Away in a Car - Sickboy
08. 16 - The Flaws
09. Neon - Delorentos
10. Sticky Fingers - Dae Kim
11. Stop - Shane Barry & The Distractions
12. Skyscrapers - Fred
13. Bone Deep - The Walls
14. Let Them All Talk - Deaf Animal Orchestra

7-8PM
01. Jake Summers - Fight Like Apes
02. The Bodies Start to Move - Joe Chester feat Gemma Hayes
03. The Day I Forgot My Mantra - Giveamankick
04. Slowly Fizzy - Juno Falls
05. God and the Girl - Carly Sings
06. What You All About - Autamata
** Interview with Jackie Hayden (Hotpress) **
07. Forbidden Fruit - Neon Flea Circus
08. Empire is a Cave - Ilya K
09. Cry Baby - Roisin Murphy
10. The Social Life - Jilted
11. We Have Control - Alloy Mental
12. Rhythm & Purpose - Channel One
13. Numb - U2

Are you a solo-artist or in a band? Want to learn more about how "the industry" works? Well, those wonderful people at Hotpress, the Wexford Arts Centre and Beat 102-103 are here to help you out with the First Cuts Rock Clinic on Saturday 6th September!

Eight acts from the South East will be selected for private one-on-one mentoring sessions with a panel of industry movers and shakers. If you've ever had questions like "How do I get my music on the radio?", "What actually is a publishing deal?" or "Who the hell are IMRO anyway?" - this is for you!

On the night in question, Irish Beats will be featuring music from all the selected acts.

As places are limited to 8, to be considered for selection do the following straight away:

1. E-mail an mp3 of one song to clinic@hotpress.ie
2. Make sure your name, address and contact phone number are included in the e-mail.

On Saturday's show, I'll be speaking to main-man Jackie Hayden about the event, so you can hear the lowdown straight from the horses mouth shortly after 6.

Get dem entries in lads ....

Tonight, I shall be visiting the fine establishment that is Electric Avenue, to witness the musical showpiece featuring Northern sound-merchants Oppenheimer, jackeen-noisebox Robotnik and local beat-swaggers Fighting Spiders.

A fine Friday if ever I planned one.

Here's the video for Ian Whitty's excellent "Not On Your Side." Telephones have never looked so good!

Here are Katie Kim's playlists from when I was off on me holliers.

playlist sat the 26th august :
mic christopher / hay day
autamata feat cathey davey / cloudseekers
jape / apple in an orchard
ham sandwich / never talk
floyd soul and the wolf / give it a chance
roisin murphy / movie star
fred / skyscrapers
the lullabees / eggshells
giveamanakick / borrowed time
television room / tinabelle
gemma hayes / out of our hands
the future kings of spain / this is the end
stanley super 800 / gatecrashing
the flaws / you and i
delorentos / neon
opppenheimer / this is not a test
channel one / rhythm and purpose
simple kid / lil king kong
humanzi / fix the cracks
fighting with wire / eveyone needs a nemises
fionn regan / put a penny in the slot
david kitt / up to you
dae kim / sticky fingers
ugly megan / one night at my house
republic of loose feat styles p
dry county / lost now
the things / la la la
lisa hannigan / lille

An action packed show tonight, with no less than THREE guests. First up was former Revs-frontman Rory, who's new album 'God Bless the Big Bang' will be released this coming Friday. Next we had Matthew Nolan from the Kilkenny Arts Festival to tell us about some of the gigs taking place (including Mercury Rev & Spiritualised). Finally, Enniscorthy's finest The Tripps were in the studios, plying their wares and generally being brilliant.

6-7PM
01. Leeches - Fighting Spiders
02. People Walk Away - Robotnik
03. You'll Get By - The Infomatics
04. Sticky Fingers - Dae Kim
05. Pony - Dirty Epics
06. Rain Dancer - Rory
** Interview with Rory **
07. Happy Medium - Rory
** Interview with Rory **
08. It's Not Great On Your Own - Rory **LIVE**
09. Time Slippin' - The Revs
10. Running - Fred
11. Mother's Little Helper - Eleanor McEvoy

7-8PM
01. Something Global - Fight Like Apes
02. We Don't Need Nobody Else - Whipping Boy
03. Dead Record in a Vinyl Desert - Good Tiger
** Interview with Matthew Nolan (Kilkenny Arts Festival) **
04. Goddess on a Highway - Mercury Rev
05. Sailing on a Gun - The Tripps
** Interview with The Tripps **
06. Blue Skies - The Tripps
** Interview with The Tripps **
07. Girls on TV - The Tripps **LIVE**
08. So Alive - Primrose
09. When You're Asleep - My Bloody Valentine
10. Lille - Lisa Hannigan
11. Endless Art - A House

Back from holidays with the thunderous bang of a hip-hop special. The Infomatics were the guests in studio, eschewing talent and skill all over the airwaves.

6-7PM
01. Where the streets have no name - U2
02. I Wonder Why - The Lullabees
03. Running - Fred
04. Cry Baby - Roisin Murphy
05. Back to Front - The Infomatics
** Interview with The Infomatics **
06. Wake Up - The Infomatics
** Interview with The Infomatics **
07. You'll Get By - The Infomatics **LIVE**

7-8PM
01. Superfamous Supertune - Messiah J & The Expert
02. Dole Q - Scary Eire
03. Through Intelligent Eyes - Urban Intelligence
04. Wake Up - The INfomatics **LIVE**
05. Roamin' Journeyman - Collie
06. Well Now - Captain Moonlight
07. Bachelors of Pearse Park - Jinx Lennon
08. Gift of Gab - Finesse
09. Cast Adrift - Alien Envoy
10. Remote Control Soul - Bass Odyssey
11. Rapper/Comedian - Team Fresh
12. Back to Front - The Infomatics
13. Zig Zaggin' Around - Zig & Zag

Apologies for the lack of updates over the past few weeks. I was away on me holliers, working on my unhealthy lobster glow, building sandcastles and eating chips.

Big thank you to Katie Kim for filling in while I was gone. From reports I've heard, she built up quite a fan base over the couple of weeks! She's emailed me on playlists, which I'll publish online before the weekend.

Also, at a meeting today I was assured that the podcasting problem has been fixed, so in the next few days I'll be uploading a slew of interviews and live performances to the interweb, including Republic of Loose, Clive Barnes, Saving J and the best of our adventures at Oxegen.

Update: I've just checked the server and the podcasts are STILL fecked. I think I'll hack into the mainframe, reroute the encryptions and fix the problem myself!