Mundy If you thought this boy from Birr, Co Offaly was just about big, bug-eyed pop songs such as July, Mexico, or indeed, the most downloaded song of 2007 & 2008 Galway Girl (and it’s worth repeating that he didn’t write it - Steve Earle did!) then his latest collection boasts fourteen great songs to make you throw all your preconceptions out the window.   This is Strawberry Blood, Mundy’s fourth studio album and most accomplished to date. Recorded in Grouse Lodge, Co Westmeath and the Cauldron, Dublin by Joe Chester, Strawberry Blood features an intriguing cast of contributors including Shane McGowan (Love is Casino), Gemma Hayes (Fever) and Interference man Fergus O’Farrell (Pepper in My Dreams).   Strawberry Blood is the long-awaited follow up to the Number One album Raining Down Arrows (2004). The subsequent tour was documented on Live & Confusion, a stopgap live album and DVD that impressively notched up double platinum sales and delayed Mundy’s return to the studio due to the unexpected success of the live versions of ‘July’ and ‘Galway Girl’.   A chance run-in with Joe Chester at an airport led to a long discussion about recording and mutual favourite music and then to some casual recordings. “Joe’s work was so good,” Mundy remembers. “We tried out a few demos but they sounded like keepers. There was no need to hire a big name name producer.”   The result is a beautiful and uplfiting album that’s a true tonic for the times. “With what’s going on with the country and the world, it’s very easy to be negative and it’s very easy to write negative songs,” Mundy muses. “It’s more challenging to be positive. This album is thought provoking and reflective but fun and upbeat. It’s about taking on a challenge…and God loves a trier.”   www.mundy.ie
	The Flaws The Flaws released their debut album 'Achieving Vagueness', on their own independent label Arrivals Records in Sept ’07 and it entered the Irish Charts at No. 18. The album went on to receive amazing reviews and by the end of the year they were cramming venues across the country. ‘Achieving Vagueness’ was nominated for the Choice Music Prize and two Meteor Awards. ‘Idolise’, was chosen by RTE as the music for their Euro 2008 closer. The lads were invited into RTE’s studios to record a special visual piece to accompany the footy footage, the result was a classy piece of video which was watched by 600,000 viewers. The Flaws spent the summer of ‘08 playing festivals at home and abroad, starting with a brilliant set at Glastonbury where they played to a packed tent on the Leftfield Stage. Next up was Castlepalooza where they wooed the crowd into a dancing frenzy and left them screaming for more. The bands festival season ended with a much anticipated appearance on The Crawdaddy Stage at Electric Picnic. Having performed twice at the festival the previous year the lads really enjoyed heading back to Stradbally for what was a very impressive live performance. After a short tour in Autumn of last year  which marked the end of a hectic 18 months of touring and promoting ‘Achieving Vagueness’, the lads were finally able to take a breath!
	Hogan   One of Ireland’s finest POP/ROCK acts -HOGAN- are fronted by singer songwriter and guitarist Mark Hogan, backed up on guitar by Wayne Brereton, on bass guitar Johnny Westman and drummer Ronan Nolan.  Fast making a name for themselves for their energetic live set which critics have hailed “not to be missed”. Their first Single “Here I go again” was used on RTE televisions hit children’s show Aisling’s Diary and also Spanish TV show EXTRA”S. It was heavily supported on many playlist’s on Irish radio, with Ian Dempsey’s (Today FM) breakfast show choosing it for “Song of the week” (and on their second single “I’m Gonna” awarded it “Song of the week” again, hailing HOGAN as the only act to be receive that accolade twice!). It was “Song of the month” on Hotpress while well known RTE DJ and TV presenter Dave Fanning invited Mark onto his television show “The last broadcast” to discuss his budding career. FM104 have been very supportive also, along with Regional & College radio nationwide. Their last single “Miss you” written for a close friend who tragically died in a car accident launched them into the Top 40 Irish Charts, which is high praise for all involved considering they are an independent band making their debut in the Irish music industry. “Miss You” also featured on the playlist of 2FM.   Well known for their vast gigging all over the country (including some of Ireland’s finest Venues & Festivals: Castlepalooza, Spraoi Fest, Whelan’s, Eamonn Doran's, Vicar street, The Sugar Club, Crawdaddy, The Village and the RDS in Dublin) HOGAN have shared the stage with some of Irelands best bands:  Delorentos, The Coronas, Republic of Loose, The Saw Doctors and The Blizzards to name but a few. Inevitably impressing audiences along the way with an incredibly energetic live performance, complimented by a catalogue of songs that couldn’t fail to impress even the harshest critic. Yes they are that good.   With new songs in place and the new Single “JEALOUSY”- HOGAN returns to the studio very soon to lay down some more very impressive songs with the onset of ha releasing an Album later in the year. They also will be continually gigging in the months ahead. Another song of note is “WANT YOU” which was produced by Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals). The forthcoming album is definitely set to please. It is exciting times for this incredibly infectious band’s music. Their current Single “Jealousy” certainly proves that. Forget the recession and don’t miss these guys playing a session in a town near you!
	Mick Flannery   In the last year Mick Flannery has gone from part time stonemason to one of Irelands most sought after musicians. Since the release of his critically acclaimed album ‘White Lies’ he has played a string of sold out shows all over Ireland, been nominated for the Choice album awards, been cited as ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ by Hotpress readers and won ‘Best Male’ at the Meteor awards. Flannery is a refreshingly unassuming artist whos sole focus seems to be on his craft, song-writing. A Mick Flannery gig has a feeling of intimacy to it, Flannery’s stage presence exudes no superficial gimmicks, just a man sharing his songs in an understated but powerful manner. But if asked, Mick adamantly refuses to talk about himself or his achievements; he shies away from these things. Though it’s hard to get this talented musician to open up about himself in a conversation, the heartfelt honesty in his lyrics speak in reams. That’s why he has so far been compared to such great songwriters as Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits. With a rollercoaster year ahead packed full of gigs including the Marquee in Cork on the 9th of July with fellow Corkonian John Spillane, things are definitely on the up for Mick Flannery.

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