LOVE MUSIC Hate Racism Ireland will host its Galway launch with a concert in the Róisín Dubh featuring Irish, American, and African acts on Tuesday at 8pm.
On the night there will be performances from US indie/country-rock singer-songwriter Dawn Landes, Galway pop-punksters Mugger Dave, Mayo alternative/experimental band Ka Tet; Africa band Toluking with performance poet Marty Mulligan; and folk-soul singer-songwriter Jamie McDonald.
The line up will be well known to Galway audiences but Dawn Landes may be more unfamiliar. However she is well worth checking out. Dawn last played Galway in September in support of the mighty Okkervil River.
Dawn was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but is now based in New York and the music of both areas converge in her songwriting which mixes cool indie and warm country-rock in equal measure.
Her first two albums - Dawn’s Music (2005 ) and Two Three Four (2006 ) - were limited releases, but her proper debut was Fireproof (2008 ).
The album included beautiful, sparse, country ballads (‘I’m In Love With The Night’ and ‘You Alone’ ) and acoustic indie-pop (‘Kids In A Play’ ). The highlight was ‘Bodyguard’. It’s little more than a drum beat and a sparse banjo riff, topped off with Landes’ indie cool, aloof vocals.
In September Dawn released Sweet Heart Rodeo, an impressive set which further delves into that peculiarly American mix of country and indie on the humorous ‘Wandering Eye’ and the brilliant opener ‘Young Girl’.
Sweet Heart Rodeo was inspired by Landes’ great-grandmother’s beau, who ran away to join the rodeo during the Great Depression. A rodeo theme runs throughout the record as she compares the ups and downs of romance to the rigours of bull riding!
Love Music Hate Racism Ireland wants to promote racial integration and education through musically orientated events, public meetings, workshops, and by working together with different communities to address the issues they find important.
LMHRI will be putting on events across the country ranging from open mic and acoustic sessions, to gigs with full bands and DJs, targeting music of all tastes, cultures, and genres.
“We encourage you to make suggestions and to put on your own events and start your own groups with help from this network,” say the organisers. “Love Music Hate Racism Ireland is a movement for the people, by the people, so we need you to get involved. We want to hear what you have to say.”
Tickets are €10/7 from the Róisín Dubh and Zhivago. See also www.lmhrireland.com
