THE GUINNESS AMPLIFY Live Stages gigs come to Galway on Thursday February 26 with the Róisín Dubh and Monroe’s Live announced as the venues where the shows will take place. Each venue will host three bands on the night.
The line-up for the Róisín Dubh is Elm, Saramai, and GANGS, while Monroe’s Live will host Hare Squead, Rocstrong, and Galway singer-songwriter Chris Haze. The shows, produced in association with First Music Contact, are intended to provide the acts with a platform to showcase their talents and to bring their music to a larger audience.
Róisín Dubh gig
Their sound ranges from 1960s rock’n’roll to 1980s mod rock. They are Dublin quartet Gangs - Jordan Curtis, Dan Smith, James Connolly, and Jonny Halpin - who have supported The Strypes and the legendary Irish band The Blades, and who have earned praise from Gem Archer and Andy Bell (Oasis/Beady Eye ). Check out their debut EP Back to School.
Navan singer-songwriter Saramai Leech has performed her original songs, which fuse acoustica with electro, across Ireland from the National Concert Hall to Sligo Live. She is currently recording her debut EP RedMoon.
Elm are Dublin quartet Dylan Walsh, Aidan Clancy, Gary Molloy, Cathy Ahearne, whose dark, indie-rock sound comes from a combination of cello, drums, guitar, and vocals. Dylan Walsh said of the bands’ Guinness Amplify experience: "We’ve found Guinness Amplify has helped our band to take some really positive steps forward. When we found out we had been chosen to receive studio time by Jonny Quinn we were so pleased, but when he showed up at the studio to offer his advice and listen to our work we were all floored! We are really looking forward to performing at the Róisín Dubh. It’s going to be a great show."
Monroe’s Live
Galway singer-songwriter Chris Haze is returning to his native city and he is currently promoting his new single ‘Don’t Wanna Fall Asleep’, which is out now, and his forthcoming EP, Thoughts To Words, which will be out later this month.
Chris has been steadily gaining attention for his music since the release of his debut single ‘Over And Over’. Since then he has been praised by Hotpress, supported the Original Rudeboys in The Olympia Theatre and The Academy; supported hip-hop acts Coolio and Sheppard, and had his music played on RTÉ 2FM and Today FM.
Irish hip hop trio Hare Squead might be said to be mould-breakers within their genre as they rap without uttering a curseword. It is an artistic choice rather than prudishness, as the trio want to be known as proper wordsmiths. Among their obsessions are skateboarding and vintage shirts. They are also developing their own idiosyncratic, secret, sign-language.
Rocstrong is Dublin funk-rock singer-songwriter Andre JP Bangala. His influences include Prince, Jesse Johnson, Pharrell Williams, and Elvis Presley.
Doors for the Róisín Dubh gig is 8pm. Doors for Monroe’s is 9pm. Admission is free. Over 18s only For more information see www.guinnessamplify.com.
