Scene and Heard
Owner Paul O’Reilly pointed to digital downloads as the main culprit for the decline in business at the 40-year-old store, as much as 40% in the past three years. Another Irish music entrepreneur in some difficulty is Vince Power, the former owner of the Mean Fiddler in London. His Music Festivals company is going into administration, according to British newspaper reports. Among the major events the company is involved in are Benicassim in Spain and Hop Farm in England, with the man from Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford and his family owning more than 40% of Music Festivals. Villagers mainman Conor J O’Brien has told Hot Press that their new album Awayland will be released in January. Muse also have a new release on the shelves, and it’s somewhat comforting to hear that lead singer Matt Bellamy no longer believes in the conspiracy theories that 9/11 was an inside job. Finally, Coldplay have announced Nov 16 as the release date for Live 2012, a live film and album documenting their Mylo Xyloto tour. A new single, ‘Hurts Like Heaven’, will be released on the same date.
GIG WISE: Illness meant that Lionel Richie had to cancel his Dublin show last Monday, with punters given a choice between a refund or attending a replacement gig on Dec 10. Tickets went on sale this morning for Pink’s gig at the O2 on Apr 12, and bookings are also open for John Cale at the Button Factory on Oct 3. In Cork, the Triskel is sold out for gigs by Paul Brady (Oct 7) and Sinead O’Connor (Oct 19), but the venue does have tickets available for Maria Doyle Kennedy (Oct 12). Heathers play Cyprus Avenue next Thursday, while Bressie is at the Big Top in Limerick tonight.
