29.09.2006: RTE 2fm are going out on the road! And you can come too. . .:Helen Cullen

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To further develop the already massive support RTE 2fm gives to new Irish music and to live music, the RTE 2fm 2moro 2our will give three young bands the chance to be seen by thousands of fans all over Ireland. This is in addition to the hundreds of Irish bands who have recorded RTE 2fm Sessions and the hundreds of hours of live music recorded every year at the likes of Electric Picnic and Oxegen, not to mention the Larks in the Park, and the legendary Cork Rock showcases of the 80’s and 90’s.

There will be 11 gigs in 10 days.

Nov 16 : The Forum, Waterford
Nov 17: Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Nov 18: Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick
Nov 19: Mc.Garrigles, Sligo
Nov 20: Roisin Dubh Galway
Nov 21: The Pulse, Letterkenny
Nov 22: Spirit Store, Dundalk
Nov 23: Sky Venue, Portlaoise
Nov 24: The Stables, Mullingar
Nov 25: Whelan’s, Dublin (2.30pm all ages gig)
Nov 25: Whelan’s, Dublin ( 7.30pm show)


Ireland is in the middle of a boom in talented young acts …but RTE 2fm had to make the hard choice and choose only three acts. The Immediate, Fairuza and Echogram (and some very special guests) are coming to a town near you. RTE 2fm DJs Rick O’Shea, Dan Hegarty, Jenny Huston and Cormac Battle will be presenting their radio shows from the Roadcaster at various points on the tour and introducing the bands on stage.

In each town or city that the tour visits, a local band will be invited to perform as the opening act, details on how you can apply are available from www.rte.ie/2fm/2moro2our

Tickets are free and are available now exclusively from the RTE 2fm website (www.rte.ie/2fm/2moro2our)

The Immediate...
Not every four-piece band can boast four vocalists, three drummers, three guitarists, and three bassists, but then again not every band possesses the versatility, range, and multidirectional eclecticism of Dublin quartet, The Immediate.

One of their early demos made its way to the ears of Fierce Panda Records and early in 2005 that label released The Immediate's debut single, Never Seen/Say This, as a limited edition 7". XFM and Radio One played the track, and the infamous DJ duo Queenz Of Noize included the band on a compilation; a flurry of London shows ensued. It wasn't long before The Immediate signed to another illustrious independent label, Fantastic Plastic Records, to record their debut album.

In the latter half of 2005, the band entered Jacobs Studios in Surrey to record their debut longplayer with US producer Chris Shaw (Wilco, Super Furry Animals, Public Enemy, Dylan). The first recordings from this session were released in April 2006 as the acclaimed make our devils FLOW, a 4 track EP on CD and 7" double-pack. The album, entitled In Towers & Clouds was released in September. It is a debut choc-a-bloc with sparkling tunes that bristle with ambition and ingenuity, delivering a perfectly formed eleven-track pop odyssey by music lovers for music lovers. As the band themselves explain, “This album is for anyone who has ever felt apart from the crowd. That's about as specific as we can be. If you want to understand fully, just listen to the songs.” To date the band have played alongside the likes of The Young Knives, The Magic Numbers, The Flaming Lips, Doves, Guillemots, The Fratellis and The Organ amongst others.

Fairuza:
Def:(pron. Fare-ooze-aah) noun
an eclectic rock threesome with exquisite musicianship who will shock you..send shivers down your spine..sneak in the backdoor to your heart and leave you breathless. Sounds like falling in love..thunderstorms..echoes of your dreams..nightmares and fairytales..weapons of mass inspiration..Not for the faint-hearted..

Fairuza are the antithesis of mediocrity and the band you’ve been waiting for to play the soundtrack to your life in all it’s freakishness and lonesome dreaming.

Fairuza’s first limited edition mini-album “Beautiful” achieved great critical success, receiving national and provincial airplay, a feature on “The Last Broadcast”, and an invitation to record a Fanning session in 2FM, RTE. To follow, Fairuza gave away a free CD at gigs which contained “Get Me a Gun” (which was recorded during a Fanning Session in 2FM and a cover of the Rage Against the Machine song “Snakecharmer”. Fairuza have also made available the cover version they recorded to commemorate Kurt Cobain’s tenth anniversary of “Something in the Way” by Nirvana free to download from their website. Fairuza have attracted major record label attention but have not committed to any deal at present

Their latest ep (a.f.k.) is something special. It was originally released in April and received an overwhelming response. Described as ‘marvelous-an absurd, flamboyant chunk of neo-glam, with grinding riffs and a chorus worth spilling virgin blood for" …and “Utterly Raw and uncompromised”. Fairuza are releasing a special extended version of the EP in November to coincide with the RTE 2fm 2moro 2our.

Come see them on the tour for what promises to be a spectacular show…..

Echogram:
Claiming the distinction of being one of the most played unsigned band's on Irish radio, the EchoGram sound has been described as both "rock with a digital sheen" and "dark pop music"; a mix of chunky guitars and big drums, along with drum loops and synthesisers. This unique approach to making music is what makes EchoGram's material so attractive to radio DJs and music fans alike.

Some of the UK's most high-profile producers and mixers can be counted as EchoGram fans. Alan Moulder, who has worked on albums by U2, Depeche Mode and The Smashing Pumpkins, recently commented that "the tracks are very commercial... The music is very much what is happening in the States at the moment and as Europe tends to follow on [EchoGram] could be in the right place at the right time." Further afield in LA, Larry Little (the man credited with discovering The Killers) wrote in his blog "[EchoGram show] a lot of potential... with a bit of work could really turn heads everywhere."

As a live act EchoGram is becoming one of the most exciting, energy-fraught outfits in this country. The blend of live instruments and electronica, not to mention a charismatic front-man, makes this a full-on entertainment rock show! A recent show in London was attended by a high number of A&R community, surely an indicator that EchoGram is definitely a band for the future...

‘RTE 2fm has an amazing legacy in supporting Irish music….the contribution of Dave Fanning, Larry Gogan and Jim Lockhart to the development of new music in Ireland and the development of the Irish music industry itself is legendary. It’s an honour to work alongside Dan Hegarty, Jenny Huston, Rick O’Shea and Cormac Battle to keep that tradition alive…We’re really excited about this tour…it will cure your sonic depression’- Ian Wilson, Senior Producer, New and Live Music Unit.

What the bands say…
'We, The Immediate, feel pleasured and priviledged to have been asked by 2fm to be carried around the country in a big bus only to be ejected each night and made perform like monkeys for the benefit of the youth of Ireland. Thankyou.’ - The Immediate

‘We’re chuffed to be asked to take part in this tour. It confirms 2fm’s continuing support of new talent and gives bands like us an opportunity to tour extensively around the country without shelling out our precious euro coppers. We say ‘ Gung Ho! Fix Bayonets and ready the sails. See you on the Ice’…- Kryz Reid - Fairuza

"It's really exciting to be invited on this tour to play to thousands of music fans around the country. It's great to have this opportunity to get this kind of music out to a wider audience and boost EchoGram's profile nationally" - Kilian Pettit of EchoGram.

Stay tuned to RTE 2fm or email Helen Cullen, RTE 2fm 2moro 2our co-ordinator for more information to 2our@rte.ie

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