Six local acts to perform at this weekend’s Electric Picnic

Pat McDonnell will be in the comedy tent on Saturday

Six local acts will be performing at this weekend’s Electric Picnic Festival in Stradbally, Co Laois.

Amongst those set to take the stage over the course of the weekend are bands RichardRichard, The Beached Whales, Elephant and Third Smoke, as well as DJ collective Evil Presidentes.

The Beached Whales are first to perform this evening on The Salt Dog Stage from 5pm to 5.50pm. On Saturday Dromiskin-based comedian Pat McDonnell will also be in the comedy tent from 4.35pm to 5pm.

Be sure to check the locals out if you’re at the Picnic this weekend.

Lockup Festival coming to Bellurgan Park next month

A new music festival will take place at Bellurgan Park next month.

The Lockup Festival will take place on August 1st and 2nd and feature the likes of Kormac, Cian Finn and Elephant as headliners, with bands including The Beached Whales, Evil Presidentes, Black Svan and Carron supporting.

Tickets, with camping, are €45 including booking fee and can be bought on www.ticketmaster.ie

Beached Whales looking forward to All-Ireland inter-varsity battle of the bands final

Local band Beached Whales recently booked their place in the All-Ireland inter-varsity battle of the bands final, representing Dundalk IT.

The final will take place on April 14th in Galway and comes after the band won the Leinster and Ulster finals in Maynooth at the end of February.

The Beached Whales, who have been gigging around the North East since 2008 are made up of Daire Stanley (vocals), Feargal Donaghy (bass), Ben Lawlor (drums), David Noonan (guitar and vocals), Sean O’Brien (saxophone) and David Joyce (keyboard and flute).

Up against the band in the final will be groups from DIT, Maynooth, UL, NUIG and GMIT.

Local band The Beached Whales to launch new EP in The Spirit Store this Friday

Local funk band The Beached Whales will launch their hotly anticipated second EP ‘The School of Fish’ this Friday night in The Spirit Store

The band, who have been gigging around the North East since 2008 are made up of Daire Stanley (vocals), Feargal Donaghy (bass), Ben Lawlor (drums), David Noonan (guitar and vocals), Sean O’Brien (saxophone) and David Joyce (keyboard and flute).

Commenting on the band, bassist Feargal said: “From our humble origins as a funky four piece, Beached Whales have grown over the last 6 years to become a collection of six groovy individuals, characterised by our unique blend of funk, rock, reggae and ska.

“We have played gigs in venues such as The Academy II, Whelans, Sweeneys and many sold out headline shows in the Spirit Store Dundalk,a s well as supporting bands such as Crow Black Chicken, The Trampz, The Flaws and Third Smoke.

“We recorded our fist EP ‘Arch Nemesis Fence’ in 2012 and are set to release our hotly anticipated second EP “The School of Fish” on the 28th of November in our beloved Spirit Store. The record was produced by Peter Baldwin of Black Mountain recording studio and has a uniquely soulful sound with distinctive funk and reggae undertones. Beached Whales have big aspirations of playing many festivals next summer and to bring our dancy music to as many people as possible.”

You can listen to the band on SoundCloud here or follow them on Facebook.

Support on the night comes from the fantastic RichardRichard and The Brown Notes.

Doors open at 9pm, with admission €8.

Big Top Carlingford to host Last of the Summer Wine event this Saturday

The Big Top Carlingford will be hosting a Last Of The Summer Wine event this Saturday, featuring a stock clearance party and BBQ.

The Beached Whales and The School of Fish will be performing on the night at the Carlingford Marina venue, followed by DJ sets from Barry Hoey and Evil Presidentes.

Complimentary buses will be running to and from the event, collecting at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dundalk at 9pm and returning from the marina at 2.30am.

All stock of beer, cider, wine and spirits have to go on the night with admission €10 on the door.

This will be the last event at the venue this year.

 

Dundalk funk band The Beached Whales prepare for Spirit Store gig this Friday

Local funk band The Beached Whales will perform what they have described as the biggest gig of their lives when they headline The Spirit Store this Friday night along with The School of Fish.

The band, who have been gigging around the North East since 2008 are made up of four Dundalk natives – Daire Stanley, Feargal Donaghy, Ben Lawlor and David Noonan.

Commenting on the gig, bassist Feargal said: “Friday night will be the first time we play with a big funk band line up. We have got four extra members from DKIT music school and they are Lauren Murphy, Theresa McKenna, David Joyce and Sean O’Brien.

“I think people will find our set quite similar to that of The Trampz except slightly less 1970s funk and a bit more early Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

You can listen to the band on SoundCloud here or follow them on Facebook.

Support on the night comes from the fantastic RichardRichard and CFD Crimson.

Doors open at 9pm, with admission €7.