Interview with Joe Dolman

I suppose in many ways, this interview kind of happened by accident! I had been keeping quite a close eye on Joe's work for quite some time, but last month, I was over in Leeds reviewing a gig and saw on social media that Joe was playing a headline gig in the same town on the same night so we took advantage!

The headline show was in The Fox and Newt just outside the town centre and was his second last gig as part of his hugely successful UK Tour.

"It was an amazing experience. We played 7 shows in a range of different towns and got a really good reception. For me, the most important thing is that people enjoy my music, I don't mind if I get 20, 100 or 200 people to a gig, once they like what they're hearing! Incidentally, I used to live in Brighton and we played a gig in The Hope and Ruin and that was great because I saw lots of familiar faces! But I'm really excited at the moment because I feel as though things are headed in the right direction with touring and new releases - there's lots of exciting things in the pipeline."

This tour was also the first time Joe has brought a proper full band with him on the road and he says that made for the experience to be much more enjoyable too!

"Despite that fact that I'm playing with a band, the shows are still quite stripped back and intimate which I love! But like, this was the first proper tour that I actually had a band with me. I did an EP launch with a band and played a couple of gigs before but nothing to this extent and it's been really fun because often when you're touring on your own it can be pretty tiring and if things don't go right, you have no one there to support you or whatever so they guys have been great to have with me!"

As Joe said earlier, and it was something that really caught my attention, "there's lots of exciting things in the pipeline", naturally I was intrigued to know what was going on, as I'm sure his fans are too!

"Some things are still being put into motion but there is definitely going to be at least one, if not two tours, I'm going to be playing quite a few festivals over the summer which I will be announcing over the next couple of months and then also going to be releasing some brand new music too which I'm really excited about because I've been playing some new music on this tour and it's been getting a great reaction and everyone seems to be really liking the new stuff so it's filling me with a lot of confidence ahead of releasing it."

One thing to note is that he is an independent artist and he seems to have organised quite a lot of this stuff on his own, but like everything, I'm sure there are pros and cons?

"The funding bit is really tough because everyone would love to do bigger and better, especially me because I love to put on the best show I can. I mean, I'd love to make sure we had the best gear and play in the best venues but sometimes it just comes down to budget and that isn't always possible. But that said, I'm happy where I am at the moment and I don't compare myself to artists that are signed because it's a completely different way of doing things and I don't think either is better or worse. And although funding can be tough, I find it really rewarding when I make something happen just off my own back if that makes sense?"

For up and coming artists nowadays, media plays a massive part in helping them connect with people and reaching new audiences and Joe agrees that the likes of Twitter and Facebook have played a pivotal role in his career so far.

"Social media is probably the most important thing out there for artists at the moment, whether you're signed to a label or not. You can't put a price on that instant connection to people and it's so useful for artists to be able to grow and promote themselves. Twitter and YouTube really helped me out when I was starting out and it still helps me with letting people know about new music and upcoming shows!"

Joe Dolman is definitely a name to be keeping tabs on in 2017 because with new music and upcoming tours planned, you'll be hearing a lot more of him before the year is finished! In the mean time, check out his latest video on YouTube - the official video for his single "Separate Ways".

Gig Review: The Weeknd @ First Direct Arena, Leeds

Undoubtedly one of the biggest artists on the planet at the moment, and definitely one of the most high-profile gigs I've reviewed here on View From the Stalls.

The Weeknd absolutely smashed it in Leeds on Tuesday night - from the lighting and effects to stage presence and vocals, the entire show was incredible.

In a sold out venue, packed to the rafters with 13,500 people, he played tunes from his new album as well as a few older classics such as The Hills, Often, Earned It and I Cant Feel My Face!

Obvious crowd-pleasers were tunes such as I Feel It Coming, Party Monster and Starboy amongst others!

One thing that I found great about his show was the fact that he just let the music do the talking. Sometimes artists spend far too much time on stage talking and not enough time performing. He kept hitting out song after song after song and I reckon he easily played over 20 tracks in a 90 minute set!

The stage was insane too! The fact that it came right out into the crowd meant that he spent the majority of the show in the crowd and had the feel of an intimate gig despite being in a massive arena.

The gig in Leeds was the final show of the European leg of his tour and he now has his mind set on the North American leg over the next couple of months before performing at a number of festivals across the globe, including Longitude in Ireland!

Intimate and Unique Gig In Naas This Friday Night.

Last year saw the introduction of the Shortgrass Sessions by Naas based record label Downda Road Productions. Artists such as Davie Furey, The Mariannes, Underhill Rose and Keith Plunkett amongst a host of others made an appearance in venues around the town.

Friday night, however, is a slightly different Shortgrass Session, and when I say different, I mean unique.

As I'm sure you will be well aware by now, it's International Women's Week, and to celebrate that, Maria Kelly, Saoirse Casey and Zara Duffin will be performing 'in the round' at McAuley Place on the Sallins Road in Naas.

I have seen each of these musicians play individually, but not all on the same stage and I can only imagine it will be a cracking show.

Tickets are €12 and more information can be found on www.downdaroad.com

But we have teamed up with the guys from Downda Road and have two tickets to give away! Check out their Facebook page or send us a message for more details on how you can get your hands on a pair!

Keith Plunkett Releases Music Video For "100 Cracks"

This guy has certainly been busy over the past number of weeks. Fresh from a hugely successful tour of Ireland to celebrate the launch of his new single "100 Cracks", Keith Plunkett has now released the official music video for the track in the last 24 hours.

The video is almost like a tour diary, including clips from shows, people he met and venues he performed at along the way.

As we have mentioned previously here on View From the Stalls, Keith will now be focusing on the release of his second studio EP which he hopes to bring out later on this year, and no doubt we will be sure to feature it.

But in the mean time, check out the "100 Cracks" music video below, it's a gem!

Interskalactic Announce EP Release Date and Irish Tour

I remember seeing these guys perform live at a festival in Leixlip last year and just being in complete awe of what they did. Although it wouldn't typically be my type of music, I would have to agree with Ryan Tubridy when he says that Interskalactic are the "future of ska in Ireland".

The band are set to release their forthcoming EP on the 31st of March before setting off to play a host of pre-summer shows throughout Ireland.

Their upbeat set features covers from classic ska artists including Prince Buster, The Skatalites and Byron Lee and The Dragonaires, their own ska-ified versions of popular hits from the last few decades, and now also their own music - this upcoming EP features five new and original big band ska tracks.

Although this will be their debut EP, the guys have a huge amount of experience behind them. Playing at festivals up and down the country as well as some iconic venues such as Vicar Street, The Workman's Club and Whelan's.

2017 TOUR DATES

01 Apr - 5th on Teeling, Sligo
08 Apr - Whelan's, Dublin
15 Apr - Monroe's, Galway
27 Apr - Harbour Bar, Dublin
05 May - Cathedral Quarter Arts, Belfast
06 May - Crane Lane, Cork
26 May - Dolan's, Limerick
27 May - Live on Air, Sligo
04 June - Halfway Skafest, Wexford

REWS Finish Tour in Ireland This Week

Exciting Irish/London female alt-rock duo REWS have signed to Marshall Records, the label set up by the iconic amp manufacturer, and play 4 Irish dates this week, bringing their extensive tour to a close.

Marshall Records have booked the band straight into the legendary Abbey Road Studios to start recording their much anticipated debut album!

They have already played in some great venues across the UK and just last night they performed in the iconic Whelan's in Dublin. Tonight, they take to the stage in Voodoo, Belfast, before playing in the Nerve Centre in Derry on Friday night and finishing up in the Barrow Lodge in Portarlington.

No doubt you'll be hearing a lot more about these guys in the future and we'll be keeping a close eye on them here at View From the Stalls.

Check out their recent single 'Miss You in the Dark' below!

Dan Owen Includes Ireland on Spring Tour

As he said himself, English singer/songwriter Dan Owen is heading off on "the world's largest pub crawl". He'll be playing 33 gigs over the next couple of months and the good news for Irish fans is that he'll be stopping off for five dates here!

You may remember that due to illness, Owen had to cancel his tour in December but he vows to come back better than ever and even owes fans a Guinness!

We've been keeping an eye on this artist for quite a while here on View From the Stalls and no doubt he'll be back in Ireland quite regularly playing even bigger venues, but for the time being, check out his upcoming dates in May below!

09 May - McHugh's, Belfast
10 May - Grand Social, Dublin
12 May - The Loft, Galway
13 May - Dolan's, Limerick
14 May - Cyprus Avenue, Cork