Irish comedy duo Rubberbandits and Sideline Productions have secured a broadcast pilot on the back of their success as part of Channel 4’s new online talent platform, Comedy Blaps.

It’s the first ever Channel 4 commission to come from the online showcase which began last November as a grassroots initiative to help develop new programme ideas and discover the next big thing in British comedy.

They will now make a 30 minute pilot which will be broadcast as part of the 4funnies series on Channel 4 later this year.

Produced by Dublin-based Sideline Productions, Rubberbandits was a three part online comedy and music series written and performed by Mr Chrome and Blindboy Boatclub aka The Rubberbandits.

Commissioning Editor Fiona McDermott said: “We always hoped that Comedy Blaps would provide the perfect stepping stone for inspiring new talent to find their feet and hone their craft and that’s exactly what’s happened with the Rubberbandits. They are a truly original comedy duo, with an ever growing fan base. The pilot promises to deliver even more of their musical genius and absurd characters. Aside from that we’re just thrilled we’ve given them the chance to showcase even more supermarket carrier bags on their faces.”

Sideline’s Creative Director Billy McGrath will exec the new project. He said: “Sideline is looking forward once again to working with the Channel 4 comedy team to bring this exciting Irish talent on to a higher level. We all share the strong belief there is something very unique and special going on with The Rubberbandits.”

Channel 4 has plans to increase the number of ideas that will be selected to appear as Comedy Blaps across the year which will then be available to view on Channel4.com, YouTube and Vimeo with a new episode from each series uploaded each week. Comedy Blaps are also promoted via ComedyOn4 using Facebook and Twitter.

Channel 4 Multiplatform Commissioning Editor Jody Smith said: “It’s thrilling how from that first short season of Blaps, we’ve already found an idea that we’re moving to TV. We’re putting even more emphasis on Blaps in 2012, with plans to commission more than double that of last year, with a season in the summer and again in the autumn.”

http://www.musicindustry.ie/?p=1531 As the music industry landscape continues to change and those involved look for a way of embracing the new digital revolution, the artist often finds themselves in greater control of their own business destiny. With self-financed labels, on-line distribution, band promoted gigs and management, the DIY ethic has never been stronger – especially given the advent of social media over recent years.

Bandstand is a new concept that enables artists and bands to take control of all sides of their output (be it music, merchandising or ticket sales) in one handy Facebook and mobile app. Offering the opportunity to present their audience with a variety of services, the Bandstand app puts acts in direct contact with fans and helps them maximise their revenue possibilities.

Already featuring artists such as Aslan, Ham Sandwich and Bipolar Empire, Bandstand offers the following:
• Music sales via Facebook
• Showcase for music, video and photos
• Ticket sales for live shows
• Realtime customer data
• Live gigs calendar
• International promotion
• Twitter feeds
• Share buttons for all social media
The sister company of the AMA Music Agency, Ireland’s leading live music agency, Bandstand has been created by a team of music industry figures with forty years experience between them. With experience in the fields of creative design, management, promotion and live booking, the company is ideally placed to bring an exciting new concept to the music world.

Bandstand will launch at this year’s Hot Press Music Show on 25th / 26th February. Come and visit us on stand C3G.
www.bandstand.ie

Bandstand will launch at the Music Show in the RDS, 25/26 February 2012

Bandstand, is a new Unique Platform to sell, showcase and share your music through Facebook and mobile apps.
This innovative app allows musicians and venues to sell music, tickets, merchandise etc directly to their fans. This creative app allows you to engage with your audience at another level, sell your music, tickets etc directly to your fans without the middle men, meaning you have direct interaction with your fans.
Bandstand also integrates new revenue streams at an international level allowing you to engage with fans globally, hence expanding your fan base significantly.

Features include:
- Sell digital downloads and physical CDs direct from the app
- Set your own prices
- Sharing facility
- Provide fans with exclusive giveaways
- Increase Income Streams
- Increase Opportunities worldwide
and much much more….

See artists that have already joined Bandstand Here…

As the countdown to The Music Show begins, some of Ireland’s top musicians have been busy recording tracks for WholeWorldBand, a revolutionary new interactive tool for iPhone 4 / 4s and iPad2, which has been developed by Kevin Godley (Godley & Crème, 10CC) and Andy Wood (Hypergallery, Cubic Motion). The WholeWorldBand App, which allows musicians to collaborate, share audio and visual creations online, and generate revenue, will be available to download free from the App Store across the world during Spring 2012.

The Music Show, which takes place in RDS on 25th & 26th February, will be first opportunity to see and experience WholeWorldBand. A limited number of attendees will be able to work with Kevin Godley and collaborate on pre-recorded tracks from Gemma Hayes, Cathy Davey, Liam Ó Maonlaí plus additional artists to be revealed. Musicmaker will be providing backline for the weekend so that musicians will be able to turn up and play. (Early arrival and rehearsal essential!)

Gemma Hayes recorded an unplugged version of her song “Keep Running” last week, in Dublin’s Sun Studios for WholeWorldBand. Gemma would like musicians to collaborate with her track at the Music Show. Gemma said “I would love people to add whatever they want – that’s the beauty of it. I would love to hear Ukulele or Bouzouki. It’s very rhythm based and I would love them to have fun adding percussion, drums and really pushing the rhythm part of it.” Check out Gemma’s original version here and be inspired to come along and add to it at The Music Show.

Liam Ó Maonlaí has recorded a song called “Everlasting” for WholeWorldBand. The song was written for piano and a single voice. Liam would like to see people adding many voices to the “Look At These Days” chorus, creating a big Gospel chorus as well as Middle Eastern style reed instruments or some slide guitar. Liam was inspired to get involved in WholeWorldBand after seeing a TV documentary directed by Kevin Godley “One World One Voice”, a massive collaboration of dozens and dozens of international artists and musicians from around the world. Listen to Liam’s track here

Cathy Davey recorded an acoustic version of “Little Red” in Westland Studios, Dublin on Friday last week and she would like Music Show visitors to perform as part of her band on the WholeWorldBand App. Cathy said: “I’m trying to remember when I was in love with bands and going to gigs and really wanted to sing along, play things, and be involved in whatever way I could, and I think WholeWorldBand is an extension of that. I guess it’s hard to figure out though, but I think I’d love to see what people add to my stuff and I’d definitely love to add things to other people’s…definitely backing vocals. I ‘d love to sing along. I think it probably shows you what amount of heart people are putting into the music and brings out the performer, I’d say. It ups those stakes, I’m sure.” Check out Cathy’s track

The Edge (U2), Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones) and Gavin Friday, Richie Buckley, Brian Hogan (Preachers Son), Geoff French (The Brilliant Things), Gar Byrne (Riptide Movement), Callum McAdam & Joe Leech (Bipolar Empire), Tanya O’Callaghan, Mick Kiely, Steve Belton, Kieran Kennedy and Pete Pamf are also collaborating.
The WholeWorldBand App will allow you to originate a track or add yourself to performances by well-known artists and bands, by playing along with them. You will also be able to substitute yourself for any member of a band. WholeWorldBand will allow musicians record and film while playing or singing along to any track on the menu using the microphone and cameras on their iPhone or iPad then upload a unique mix of yourself plus other users to Facebook and YouTube etc.
In WholeWorldBand, musicians will be able to upload their own original tracks and earn money when other users download and share them. The more performances that are downloaded, the more musicians can earn.

Shaefri is a London-born, Irish singer and songwriter. Shaefri plays piano. Shaefri releases her debut EP “Venture” in 2012 and she has been named by Hotpress, as top of the list of acts to watch out for in 2012. The title Track “Venture” has been described as ” an epic chart bound number that snow patrol would love to get their hands on”. “Venure” combines bright melodies with powerful rock with a voice resemblance to Sinead O’Connor and Dolores O’Riordan.

Powerful, Challenging and Seductive.

The pair will demonstrate the new music sharing, revenue generating app for the first time at the 2012 Music Show. The WholeWorldBand app, which allows musicians to collaborate and share their creations online, will then be available to download from the iTunes store across the world from March 2012.

A number of major recording artists including The Edge (U2), Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones), Gavin Friday, Gemma Hayes, Cathy Davey, Mik Pyro (Republic of Loose) and Liam Ó Maonlaí (Hot House Flowers) are currently creating performances for WholeWorldBand and will be uploading new or collaborating on existing tracks in the near future. Attendees at The Music show will be able to check out the WholeWorld Band App over the weekend and work with Kevin Godley to collaborate on tracks from some of these artists at the show.

Musicians and music fans from all over the world will be able to contribute and combine a selection of video performances, including their own, from the WholeWorldBand library to create their own favourite band line-up. And they will also have the opportunity to earn money from their performance.

Kevin Godley said “WholeWorldBand is a revolutionary new online music tool that provides a new platform for distribution while offering the opportunity of new revenue streams for up and coming and established musicians and bands and, in fact, anyone.”

The WholeWorldBand App allows you to originate a track or add yourself to performances by well-known artists and bands by playing along with them, or substituting yourself for any member of a band.

“It’s fantastic that The Music Show is the first place that people will get to see this great project in action,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. “Kevin Godley is a real visionary – exactly the kind of ambitious genius to carry off something special like the WholeWorldBand idea. And he has found the perfect partner for his grand scheme in Andy Wood, who founded Hypergallery, a portal where you can buy all the great cover artwork. Between them, they have created an app that has amazing long term potential. People will see just how much at The Music Show. It is a really exciting development that we’re proud to be part of.”

The band are selling exclusive Fan Bundles Via Facebook.

The Exclusive Fan Bundle offers:

Priority Booking
Exclusive Fans can book their tickets from Jan 25th before they go on sale on 3rd Feb to the general public.

Pit Enclosure
Exclusive Fans have access to the pit

No Queues
Exclusive Fans can enter the concert 30 minutes before the general public

Commemorative Ticket
Exclusive Fans receive a special anniversary ticket. Ideal as a souvenir

Free Digital Downloads
Exclusive fans receive FREE digital downloads via Facebook

Ticket bundle is €49.65 (Standing Only) and includes NO HIDDEN CHARGES

Having announced their reunion in October after 15 years apart, The Stone Roses are gearing up for a massive tour next summer, and today brings the exciting news that Ireland will most definitely feature in their plans.

Tickets for the gig will go on sale Tuesday, 20th December 2011, and are priced at €66.50. Tickets are limited to six per person and demand is sure to be high – 225,000 tickets for their Manchester shows all sold out in less than an hour recently.

At the reunion press conference, the band stated that playing Ireland was high on their list of priorities, with Ian Brown commenting: “Always got plans for dates in Ireland, yeah. And then we’ll do some shows as well… After Manchester, Ireland is next on our list, always.”

Eeehhhhhh See you there!!!!!!!

The band have been performing regularly together since and with the turn of the century they have been busier and more productive than ever before. They have released a string of best selling albums, culminating in 2009′s Uncased covers record that was only kept off the number one spot by Eminem. Excluding their already massive fan base in Ireland and Europe, they have found a huge fan base in Australia and the MiddleEast including Dubai and Bahrain.

Aslan – This Is by A.M.A. Music Agency

They guys look forward to a bright 2012 with touring their new album.
Watch this space for more updates on the Aslan live experience.

To book Aslan for your venue or festival, Call +353 1 201 3660

Tour Dates

Friday, 23rd December 2011 – The Clarence, Sligo

Tuesday, 27th December 2011 – VICAR STREET, DUBLIN

Wednesday, 28th December 2011 – Mo Chuisle, Cork City

Thursday, 29th December 2011 – Tower Hotel, Waterford City

Friday, 30th December 2011 – The Thatch, Tullamore, Offaly

Aslan – This Is by A.M.A. Music Agency