SLADY – all female Slade tribute band! and one of the first acts we just had to have back in the Dublin once Covid restrictions were lifted, the unbeatable SLADY, Bugbear’s favourite tribute band bar none, because what’s on offer exceeds all expectations from what you might call a mere ‘tribute’…it’s a not to be missed crazee luv’d up skweeze me pleeze me fest to delight all fans of top drawer ’70s glam and classy Brit Rock. A celebration of one of the greatest bands of all time indeed. Gobby – Singer/Guitarist, Jem Lea – Bass, Donna Powell – Drummer, Davina Hill – Lead Guitar/Singer…  C’mon Feel The Noize…

The Satellites- Unabashed big bollocked Punk-Rock band from Acton, West London. Formed in 1977 on October 4th, twenty years to the day that the Russians launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite. Ya see?! Singer Derek Gibbs took on an early mantle of punk rock fame as the model on the front of the infamous 1977 ‘New Wave’ compilation album…every young punker had one, and admired Del’s beer flobbing antics before they ever heard his sonorous singing. They supported Gary Numan’s Tubeway Army on their first ever gig in that sainted year of ’77, and have played with all the great and the good of punk in the ensuing years….proper punk… and tonite they play with… DamageUK – Brian Damage outta Nuffin‘s new band, bringing his cousin Paul Flynn from those top geezers on bass, plus Reg Charles on drums. So think post Nuffin, post punk, think 1979 and the riffing has slowed down and it’s gotten a tad more dare I say new wave- like the difference between early Lurkers and the stuff they did later- or any of them bands come to mention it. Songs echo Clash circa London Calling, plus some nice Joy Division-ish guitar figures…dynamic stuff.

The Collective A.K.A- Magnificent mod/2 Tone/punk and new wave covers act who switch effortlessly between the likes of The Specials, The Jam, Madness, The Beat, The Who, The Clash, Small Faces and more modernist marvels , all done with musical chops to die for and a whole lotta soulful attention to detail. Top Ranking, No Full Stop! Bring yer dancing loafers/hush puppies/monkey boots/DMs!  Sharp Class – superb high energy young mod band.

The Dekkertones – Playing authentic ska, although a lickle more emphasis on yer  rudeboy reggae really- skinhead reggae, boss reggae, whatever you prefer! Male singer, female singer, juxtaposing beautifully, full brass front line and a nicely skanking rocksteady vibe. ‘Sweet Soul Music’….’Hurts So Good’…’Everything I Own’ etc. Got the look. Do it super sweetly, nuff vibes… Jack The Lad –  playing classic Punk,Ska and Oi from the past-covering Sparrer, Blitz, Ruts, Specials to name just a few – for your total satisfaction and indulgence.

Blue Orchids, as a post punk psychedelic adjunct to Fall -world are well established in the music enthusiast’s consciousness, and yes, Martin Bramah was a founding father of The Fall, and as expressed recently might have reasonable grounds to even call himself  The Fall, well, why not…but then he’s not daft. Perhaps people could do with reconnecting with Martin’s  oeuvre a little more deeply than obsessing over the ex Fall schtick, specially what with the recent albums being a succession of magik pop psych masterpieces choc stock (oh yes) with fabulous gems full of rich, resonant sounds and stinging, esoteric lyrics. 2018’s “Righteous Harmony Fist” was a total triumph, one of them stick to the turntable type records you used to know and love in the seventies and eighties.  2019’s ‘The Magical Record Of Blue Orchids’ psych and garage covers record was another gem. And the accompanying live shows were remarkable. A definite air of the ‘wow man we’re not worthy’ was rife amidst the awestruck punters in the Dublin Castle three years ago as they shook the embers of harmonic feedback off their clothing and made off into the night. That was a superb Blue Orchids show. Well at long last here’s your chance to enjoy the Blue Orchids experience again… Buy the records, attend the gigs, appreciate the illusive magic of  Blue Orchids. A very special group. Oldfield Youth Club – Formed in Autumn 2018 OYC is made up of 3/4 of critically acclaimed 1980’s pop group The Last Party (2 Peel Sessions & Melody Maker Single of the Week with their debut single ‘Mr Hurst’). Featuring Simon Rivers (Bitter Springs)…

Irish singer-songwriter Rory & The Island has just released his brand new single ‘Miss This’ – writes The Journal Of Music… ‘Miss This’ explores the basic little joys we all miss during this crazy situation, and has become a firm favourite during Rory & The Island’s successful weekly Facebook Live broadcasts which have built up something of a cult following with an average of 30,000 weekly views over the past year. Rory & The Island has had 12 Top 20 iTunes singles in Ireland in the past decade. His most recent single ‘When The Lights Go Down (Valhalla)’ reached Number 1 in early November 2020 and raised a few eyebrows when it kept Miley Cyrus, Lizzo and Dermot Kennedy off the top spot for the weekend. The single also climbed to Number 8 in the UK iTunes Songwriters chart. Rory’s journey began as lead singer of indie-rock band The Revs, who alongside being hotly tipped by the likes of U2, found themselves topping the Irish charts with two top 5 albums and a string of successful tours that made waves throughout Ireland, Europe and even reached Australia with a top 30 single – as well as beating Damien Rice, Relish and Six to take both the Meteor IRMA award and the Hot Press Award for Best Newcomer. After the bands split in 2007, Rory moved to a remote island in the Canaries where he opened a live music venue ‘The Island Bar’. It was there the Donegal songwriter performed weekly residency shows building up a following of people from all over the world that would travel to the island to come and see him perform. It was also here that Rory & The Island was born – with Rory Gallagher beginning his solo project under the name to avoid any confusion with the Ballyshannon/Cork Blues Legend. Two albums later, Rory & The Island independently earned himself 8 top 30s, 2 top 10s and a Number 1 single in the Irish Charts alongside performing all over the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Ocean Colour Scene, Feeder and Alabama 3. 2019 saw Rory leave the island, return back to Ireland and extensively tour, filling out rooms around the UK and Ireland with his London show at The Dublin Castle selling out within 48 hours of going on sale. ‘Miss This’ the brand new single from Rory & The Island is out now across all digital platforms.

Irish singer-songwriter Rory & The Island has just released his brand new single ‘Miss This’ – writes The Journal Of Music… ‘Miss This’ explores the basic little joys we all miss during this crazy situation, and has become a firm favourite during Rory & The Island’s successful weekly Facebook Live broadcasts which have built up something of a cult following with an average of 30,000 weekly views over the past year. Rory & The Island has had 12 Top 20 iTunes singles in Ireland in the past decade. His most recent single ‘When The Lights Go Down (Valhalla)’ reached Number 1 in early November 2020 and raised a few eyebrows when it kept Miley Cyrus, Lizzo and Dermot Kennedy off the top spot for the weekend. The single also climbed to Number 8 in the UK iTunes Songwriters chart. Rory’s journey began as lead singer of indie-rock band The Revs, who alongside being hotly tipped by the likes of U2, found themselves topping the Irish charts with two top 5 albums and a string of successful tours that made waves throughout Ireland, Europe and even reached Australia with a top 30 single – as well as beating Damien Rice, Relish and Six to take both the Meteor IRMA award and the Hot Press Award for Best Newcomer. After the bands split in 2007, Rory moved to a remote island in the Canaries where he opened a live music venue ‘The Island Bar’. It was there the Donegal songwriter performed weekly residency shows building up a following of people from all over the world that would travel to the island to come and see him perform. It was also here that Rory & The Island was born – with Rory Gallagher beginning his solo project under the name to avoid any confusion with the Ballyshannon/Cork Blues Legend. Two albums later, Rory & The Island independently earned himself 8 top 30s, 2 top 10s and a Number 1 single in the Irish Charts alongside performing all over the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Ocean Colour Scene, Feeder and Alabama 3. 2019 saw Rory leave the island, return back to Ireland and extensively tour, filling out rooms around the UK and Ireland with his London show at The Dublin Castle selling out within 48 hours of going on sale. ‘Miss This’ the brand new single from Rory & The Island is out now across all digital platforms.

The Bracknall- Long awaited London appearance by the soulful rocknroll combo  who specialize in skuzzed up bluesey indie rock, with reverberations of The Libertines, King Blues and trace elements of Jamie T.

Growing up listening to The Jam has lead Ben McKelvey to also be influenced by the likes of Bruce Springsteen , Noel Gallagher’ s High Flying Birds , Johnny Cash and Frank Turner . This collection of legendary inspirations is evident in his music, as Ben’s rich melodies and musical storytelling will easily find it’s home with any fan of more contemporary artists like George Ezra , Vance Joy or Mumford & Sons . Produced by Jake Robbins ( Natives ), Ben McKelvey ’s energetic ‘ Wild Child ’ is an uplifting fast-paced album about freedom, believing in your dreams and ultimately regret. The lyrical content starts out as being about the teenage dreams of aspiring musicians, but right at the end, it is tinged with a sense of sadness as regret comes creeping up; thinking about a life that could have been. Driving drums, swooping guitar solos and hypnotic bass lines all work together in perfect harmony as Ben ’s vocal delivery effortlessly portrays his storytelling talent.