Unshaped Form to perform in The Spirit Store this Sunday

Local musician James Mackin will be bringing his musical experience group Unshaped Form to The Spirit Store on Sunday November 1^st for a Halloween special.

On the day a series of movie shorts will be played with live musical accompaniment from the group.

From its beginnings within Dublin based music collective 3epkano, Unshaped Form’s musical experience in composing alternative sound tracks to silent movies is vast.

Featuring Dundalk drummer James Mackin, this interesting and musically diverse ensemble has played many critically acclaimed gigs in the US and has sold out the National Concert Hall as members of 3epkano, with guesting artists like The Gloaming’s Iarla Ó Lionáird.

Now known as Unshaped Form, thy headline a Halloween special In The Spirit Store on Sunday that promises to be something memorable for all in attendance.

Instrumentation on the night will include voice, cello, synths, guitar, drums, electronics and percussion. For the gig Unshaped Form will be joined by musician and producer Steve Shannon, cellist Lioba Petrie and Cameron Doyle. The group have promised a Halloween vibe to the movies and have specially composed new music to the films to be screened.

Mackin said: “I’m really excited to be back in my hometown with the lads, we’ve been very privileged and played some amazing gigs here and abroad but it’s always nice to play the Store.

“We are going to really push the Halloween vibe so be sure to come down.”

Mackin has recently been composing the soundtrack for a new movie, Monged, as well as working with many bands and artists as a session drummer.

A graduate of the prestigious drummers collective in New York, he is also now involved in a PhD as well as lecturing in music and drum set.

“The more I seem to develop on the instrument the less I feel I actually know but the journey is the fun part. I love improvisation in music. I’m really just trying to constantly expand my vocabulary to be able to communicate in music, It’s just like having a natural conversation.

“I do a monthly jazz gig in Byrnes of Hill Street and it’s become really popular. I think people feel part of the music. The Spirit Store show with the lads will be the same.”

Tickets, priced €10, are available on the door on the night. The show gets underway from 8pm.

Jazz session returns to Byrne’s Pub this Sunday

The popular jazz sessions return to Byrne’s Pub in Hill Street this Sunday.

The James Mackin Quartet will be performing in the afternoon with a guest appearance to be confirmed.

The jazz session takes place in Byrne’s of No 10 on the first Sunday of every month.

New acoustic sessions kicking off in Byrne’s of Hill Street this Sunday

After the huge success of the monthly jazz gigs, Byrne’s of Hill Street have decided to add new monthly acoustic sessions to their offering – the first of which gets underway this Sunday.

James Mackin

The jazz events have seen some of the country’s top musicians appear as guests with the band led by local drummer James Mackin. Mackin has rised through the ranks as a drummer since travelling to New York to study drums. It was his idea to bring jazz back to Dundalk.

“I knew there was an audience even if the audience didn’t know it. When you put quality in a room the music will speak for itself, the audience become part of the music and they in turn inspire the musicians to improvise. It becomes a circular experience where everyone gets something. We have a great audience who respect what we do and listen, it makes it very easy to perform.”

The new acoustic sessions will feature a full band line up led by Mackin again but the genres will be that of classic Motown, folk, rock and blues.

“Just like the jazz gigs, I want to bring a high calibre of musician to the show,” said James.

“People have responded so well to the jazz, I know that the audience loves to sing so this show is for them. I have played with so many super musicians through the years and I will be calling on all of them to guest. These gigs are a celebration of what music really should be, live and organic. We pull the audience in every month and it continues to grow. People want quality music, it’s an escape for a few hours, almost therapeutic.

“There will also be an open mic option to those who are players or singers and want to play with the band. The idea for me with the acoustic sessions is to pay respect and celebrate all musical genres. Byrne’s do not even charge in and the musicians are just as generous with their time. We want to make quality music accessible to a quality audience.”

Why not go and see what all fuss is about but get there early if you want a seat at the new place to be.

The jazz continues on the first Sunday of every month with the acoustic Sessions beginning this Sunday August 17^th at 5.30pm. It will run every third Sunday of the month. Special guests will feature every month with a full band.