19 Laois artists feature on upcoming compilation album

Laois Music Connect

Laois Music Connect are finally about to release our compilation album featuring 19 of the best musical acts Laois has to offer this November.
Connect One is the title of the new and eagerly awaited debut album from a new music collective in the midlands (of Ireland) called Laois Music Connect.

With the music industry currently in a state of flux, the establishment of a new non-profit local music collective by music fans for music fans is an interesting experiment for Laois Music Connect. The collective intend to promote, publicise and invest in future music projects, hoping to spring-board Laois artists onto the national Irish scene and develop local musical talent.

Laois Music Connect hopes to provide a new vehicle for local artists to progress their careers in an environment where many of the major players in the music industry seem focused on reality tv type contests. The collective have already received wide support for their initiative from both existing fans of local music and new fans discovering new original music on their doorstep.

The compilation album contains new original material from 19 of the best original musical acts performing in County Laois at the moment. One of Laois’s best kept secrets is its vibrant and diverse music scene which has been enjoyed by fans for many years. This album captures a snapshot of just what talent is available week-in week-out in the venues throughout the county. The album has been produced to the highest professional standards of recording, production and mastering with a five figure budget which has been part financed by Laois Partnership and by fundraising efforts of Laois Music Connect.

Connect One encompasses many genres of music including indie, rock, alternative, contemporary folk, punk, modern trad and electronica. The album features new tracks from Nova Static and James O'Connor with Audrey Trainor who both recently played at Electric Picnic. All Ireland Youth Music Award winners Bebop and Rocksteady and The Little Smoke who won this year’s UCD Battle of the Bands bolster the strength in depth of this compilation offering.

The full line up of artists appearing is: The Little Smoke, Beresque, Nova Static, James O'Connor with Audrey Trainor, Billy Kenrick, Ceolaire, Burning Boy - Terry Byrne, Kevin Healy, Emer Dunne, Dave Morrissey, Eva Queen, The Keepers, Global Trad Underground, Adela and The Meanits , Bebop & Rocksteady, Dog Star Shine, Rapunzels Wig, The Perfect Skins, and DJ Producer Jay Skelly

Connect One costs 10 euro and will be launched on November 11. The album will be on sale in Laois outlets and from Tower Records in Dublin. Presales are now available from Anthem Music and Trax in Portlaoise.
More information on launch gigs and in-store promotion gigs will be announced soon.

For more information contact Mary Kavanagh, chairperson of Laois Music Connect
email - mary@laoismusic.com


ABOUT LAOIS MUSIC CONNECT:

Laois Music Connect was established last year to improve and promote 'popular' music in Co Laois. The collectives’ first project was a mini "Hard Working Class Heroes" type festival where 31 local bands played in 5 venues over 3 days. It was hugely successful showcase of talent enjoyed by music fans and set to be repeated again at Easter 2011.

Laois Music Connect have forged a partnership with Electric Picnic whose world class festival takes place in their home county of Laois each September. The collective organised a series of auditions from which the festival bookers POD Concerts LTD chose two bands to represent the Laois music scene and play on their Electric Arena and Crawdaddy stages.

PaulBrewer

I was lucky enough to record one of the bands , Nova Static .
They were a pleasure to work with !

The whole project represents, to me anyway, music 'moving on' without the usual structure of the 'Music Biz' ...

I'm looking forward to hearing the completed project !