It’s Hard Working Class Heroes time again in Dublin this weekend (October 6th – 8th), with many of Ireland’s best and brightest emerging talents playing in venues across the city. It has become an important part of Irish music now, not only for allowing artists to showcase their talents but there’s always a great buzz too.
The festival kicks off on Thursday and takes place in The Button Factory, The Mercantile, The Grand Social, Shebeen Chic, Twisted Pepper and The Workman’s Club. Tickets are still available with weekend tickets priced €45 and nightly tickets are €20 (+ fees).
Every year involves lots of new musical discoveries but I’ve taken some time to list acts to be considered. If you would like to do the same why not leave a comment or two?
Thursday:
We Cut Corners (9:40 The Button Factory)
The Dublin duo’s latest single ‘Leopard’ received many plaudits and rightfully so, it is one of the finest slices of indie rock this year. With their debut album out in November I’m interested to hear more from these guys.
Friday:
Tenaka (7:35 The Button Factory)
Limerick producer Ronan Carroll recently released the stunning EPhemeral EP; a brooding blend of chillout electronica mixing deep and dreamy atmospherics with subtle, crisp and shuffled beats. As a recent convert to his music I’m very excited about this one.
Tenaka – The Alaskan (featuring Sacred Animals)
No Monster Club (9:30 The Workman’s Club)
This Dublin trio are always an exciting live prospect live, chaotic, high energy performances are their forte. It suits their mixture of sunshine surf-rock and hyper rough-a-round the edges Strokes-esque sound perfectly. They took time out from polishing off their forthcoming album to play the last Barrygruff gig and lets just say no one was disappointed.
No Monster Club – The Last Bottle In The World
Squarehead (9.35 The Button Factory)
The Dublin trio have rightly received plenty of praise for singles ‘Midnight Enchilada’ and ‘Fake Blood’, as well as their excellent debut LP, Yeah Nothing. Squarehead have something of a knack for snappy sun soaked indie pop songs which should be a treat for Friday night punters.
We Are Losers (11:00 The Workman’s Club):
It has been remarkable 12 months since the band’s first live show at last years HWCH, gracing stages at Leeds Festival and Castlepalooza (*cough* and the last Barrygruff Presents) and releasing their sizzling double a-side ‘Sunset Song / Cheerleader’ on Leeds Indie label ‘Dance to the Radio’. No matter how many times I see them live I keep coming back for more of their fuzzed-up lo-fi indie. With out doubt one of the most exciting emerging acts in Ireland right now.
Saturday:
Kid Karate (9:50 The Mercantile):
Like you music loud? Look no further than Dublin ragged rock/punk duo Kid Karate who have impressed greatly over the past 12 months or so. As a live act few come anywhere close to their gritty riff-laden rock n roll, or in terms of volume and energy.
House of Dolls (9:50 The Button Factory)
I caught these guys toward the end of last year and thought they were fantastic. So far the band have only released a double A-side single ‘Gimme Some Glory’/’Before She Wakes’, but a debut album has been promised soon. Their sound? A mixture of dark, dirty, atmospheric and moody psychedelic rock. You won’t be disappointed.
House of Dolls – Gimme Some Glory
Moths (10:15 The Workman’s Club):
The 18 year old Newbridge native sent blogs across the world buzzing with excitement about his fresh, chilled electronica. This year has seen the rise and rise of this guy and his music. I’ve caught a couple of his shows and well, you won’t want to miss this. His is an especially prodigious talent, no doubt about it.
Bon Iver – Babys (Moths Remix)
Ginola (11:15 The Mercantile)
Everything so far about these guys has been impressive; double a-side You Never Met Someone Like Me, split release with Turning Down Sex (who are well worth seeing too), It’s A Disagreeable Thing To Be Whipped and live. Lot’s of loud feisty shout-a-long garage punk is to be expected.
You can check out the full schedule here.
Loving the sound of We Cut Corners, nice one for bringing them to my attention…
I’d recommend Last Days of 1984, they’re down to play The Workman’s @ 11pm on the Saturday, the 8th. Interesting band, certain similarities with Animal Collective.
I’ll try get in to see them as long as their not clashing with someone else.