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JOHN Shelly And The Creatures whose single ‘Long May You Reign’ was used in the Discover Northern Ireland advert on the TV will headline the second last Green and Live Sessions ever in Dolan’s on Thursday February 25. In July 2009 the band won Best New Irish Act at the Balcony TV Awards and have just signed a publishing deal with Big Life Music (Snow Patrol, The Verve, Badly Drawn Boy). They have spent the last few months in the studio recording their stunning debut album “Dinosaur” which has a release date set for March 5th 2010. This is their current single ‘Angeline’
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Also on the bill are Kilkenny live favorites Saving J. Saving J have honed their tight-assed riffs and melodic choruses into guitar pop epics which you can hear on their debut album This City Street available now. Check out their take on x-factor here on ‘Indication Street’

Ennis town for as long as I remember (being old enough to have seen gigs in Laydens & The Banner Arms) has a rich musical tradition and when local bands created their own music it was invariably impossible to categorize, just a joyous cacophony of great and good ideas totally ambivalent to charts and trends. And so it is with fresh-faced, three-piece, Cities who formed in 2007 while still sitting their Leaving Cert and have been on an “endless barrage of gigging ever since then, stopping only for loo breaks and instrument repairs”. Which goes some way to explaining the quality of their debut EP. On it the band plunder metal, techno, punk and electro to make their own type of west-coast-instrumental-space-rock. Tracks ’15728′ and ‘Satellites’ stand out but the EP flows like a mini album rising from melancholy to white noise with another wicked hook around each corner. Live they will be loud and first on stage at Green and Live Sessions 23, Dolan’s on Thursday February 25

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Shortlisted for The XFM New Music Award and now also one of 10 nominees for The Choice Music award for their eponymously titled debut album, And So I Watch You From Afar, hail from Belfast and have been playing together for the last four years. Rory “The Chip” Friers and Tony “The Grounded Pounder” Wright on guitars, Jonathan “The Bearded Dragon” Adger on bass and Chris “The Bigs” Wee on drums released this monster in April 2009. From the album opener ‘Set Guitars to Kill’, this is ferocious stuff, layers and layers of noise and melody. To these ears this is the most thrilling racket to come out of the north since first hearing Therapy? play ‘Meat Abstract’. As a live show this will be mindblowing and it’s coming to Limerick on Thursday 11th Feb with guests Maslow and Hope is Noise. Their motto: “We are the bull, you are the china shop” . Their new EP, ‘Letters’ will be released on 08/02/10 featuring ‘S Is For Salamander’. See them play ‘Set Guitars to Kill’ here on the blog limerickpost.ie/music

DUBLIN outfit Zealots will headline the first Live 95FM Green and Live Sessions gig of 2010 with support from kick-ass Limerick bands Secret Police and Labatts.
Zealots have been compared to Depeche Mode, Interpol and Wire although it is difficult to pinpoint a direct influence, as theirs is an undeniably unique concoction. Ruth Kennington’s angelic vocals drape over soundscapes that can shift from expansively liberating to claustrophobically paranoid. The quartet’s debut EP, ‘Flowers For My Broken Head’ captures both vulnerability and bombastic grace in a vice like grip. Zealots have had rapturous responses from the growing crowds at home and away and are steadily building a loyal fan base. Their gigs are intense, energetic, vibrant and above all else loud as hell! Don’t miss them when they headline Green and Live Sessions 22 on Thursday January 28. Doors open at 8pm and admission is free. Check out two tracks from the ‘Flowers For My Broken Head’ EP here.
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A four piece rock band from Limerick. They will be joining Zealots on stage on Thursday January 28 (Upstairs at Dolan’s). Wearing their 90’s Seattle Grunge Rock / Dinosaur Jnr influences on their sleeve with absolutely no shortage of charisma and energy, Secret Police are armed with what every good guitar band needs; a battalion of heavy yet catchy riffs accompanied by quality, melodic gravely vocals. Despite not following the common sound of todays music scene Secret Police are no strangers to the charts as they have reached number 32 in the Irish Charts with their debut single entitled “Bootie Call” whilst simultaneously securing number 1 in the download charts for five weeks and attaining single of the week on Newmusicireland Podcast radio. Check out the band playing ‘Body on my Bed ‘ live here

Supermodel Twins have announced line-up changes. Thom O’Keeffe – Vox/Guitar, Alan O’Keeffe – Guitar/Vox are now joined by new members, Noel Mooney – Drums, Mike Gavin – Bass/Keys/Vocals and a 3rd Guitarist/Keys Player/Vocalist, Davey O ‘Keeffe. They have been busy rehearsing and organising the release of their first single from the upcoming album. The single will be “Bruises” with a release date chalked for March 19TH! Supporting tour to be announced.

The best of ideas can be thought up over a few pints in the local but the plans and promises can soon be forgotten in the light of a new day. Not so with new Limerick 4-piece, Protobaby. Formed over a year and a half ago when guitar player Tony and bass player Aidan first met Dublin born singer Colm for the first time through an ad placed in a national newspaper. Meeting in a local bar, sat next to an open fire Colm took out his guitar and played some of his songs. The lads loved his deep baritone Johnny Cash / Ian Curtis flavoured voice and captivating lyrics. A rehearsal was arranged and drummer Bryan was soon onboard. Colm’s songs, mixed with riffs and guitar ideas from Tony along with the musical ideas and arrangements from the entire band have come to form the Protobaby sound. Protobaby will be officially launching their EP ‘Freedom’ in Whelans Dublin on Jan 9th and in Limerick at Upstairs, Dolans on Jan 22nd. Support acts on the night will be singer/songwriter Tom Ryne and a local band to be confirmed.
Check out the new song “Freedom” here.
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For more information check out www.myspace.com/protobaby

TG4′s new music series Ceol ar an Imeall starts off this Thursday Jan 14th for 10 episodes with an interview with this year’s Mercury Prize winner Speech Debelle. Julian Casablancas, Grizzly Bear, The XX, Passion Pit, Delorentos, Marina and the Diamonds well as Adrian Crowley, Heathers, Delorentos, Channel One and Bitches With Wolves are due to appear. The series is fronted by Sunday Tribune journalist and music critic Una Mullally. The show is broadcast every Thursday at 23.45pm on TG4. The promo for the show is is available here.

Ceol Ar An Imeall promo from Ceol Ar An Imeall on Vimeo.

Last Days of Death Country
These emo/grunge rockers have in their short time together garnered a reputation for intense live shows. Their Fergal Lawler (Cranberries sticksman) produced E.P. “Mode and Effect” is due for release in the Spring and features the tracks “Venom” and “Words” which you can check out on myspace

Windings
Windings, Steve Ryan’s side project while he rocked with the late and great Givamanakick now takes centre-stage this year . The line-up has now swelled to a full 4-piece band. Their new album, recorded by Tommy McLaughlin-(Villagers, giveamanakick, Cathy Davey) is ready and due for release. Windings are playing in Dolans with Ambience Affair and Puzzle Muteson on January 20th

Supermodel Twins
This 4-piece make power pop with melody and harmony. Their debut album produced by “The Cranberries” guitarist and songwriter, Noel Hogan is ready for release with the track “Bruises” slated to be the lead single. myspace

We Should Be Dead
Based in LA for most of last year WSBD have toured and toured some more to establish a US profile for the release of their, as yet untitled, second album which was produced in California by Owen Lewis ( R.E.M, Snow Patrol, The Game, Courtney, Killers, Lady Gaga). “Where Do We Stand”, “Electric”, “Breathe In” and “Up All Night” are all songs that have potential to be hit singles. The band have even impressed a hip hop legend… “That’s some top 40 shit right there” – The Game, October 2009. Here is a gem from their debut record filmed by Shane Serrano.

Murphy’s Big Night Out has announced Mercury prize winning, multi platinum selling and general all round international superstar Florence and the Machine as the headline act for this year’s Murphy’s Big Night Out, at the Opera House, Cork on Saturday December 5th. Tickets are extremely limited and in huge demand for Murphy’s Big Night Out so apply now by logging on to www.littlebignightsout.com or Tel: 01 5224850! Check out the Leo Zero Remix of the Florence and The Machine – Rabbit Heart (Raise it up) here