Check It Out (RTE Guide, 31 March 1989)

A Dave Fanning piece in the March 31 1989 edition of the RTE Guide promoting a new TV show ‘Check It Out’ which will feature 2 tracks each from 14 up and coming acts. Dave details the bands in alphabetical order but runs out of space after 7. The profiled 7 are Belsonic Sound, Blue in Heaven, The Big Noise, The Carrellines, The DixonsThe Dixons, The Fireflys, The Golden Horde. The remaining 7 were Interference, Missing Link, Paul Cleary & The Partisans, Stars of Heaven, The Stunning, The Swinging Swine and Swim. Thanks to Dave for digging out and scanning this article.If you like retro scans be sure to check out Brand New Retro.

‘The sessions that give bands a break’ (Irish Times 1990)

The Fanning sessions, which give new bands valuable airtime and a professional demo tape for nothing, are 10 years old this month. Michael Cunningham reports.

Here’s a great article from a 1990 issue of The Irish Times as the Fanning sessions were about to turn 10. Michael Cunningham of The Irish Times interviews producers Ian Wilson and Jim Lockhart and studio engineer Paddy McBreen. We learn that the bands receive a fee of £200 and that the contract forms still refer to “The Dave Fanning Showband Recordings”. I don’t think they got a copy of the tapes for nothing though, someone please correct me if I am wrong.

‘The Bands That Nearly Made It’ Dave Fanning (Irish Independent, 20th April 2013)

Dave Fanning had a two page spread in last weekend’s Irish Independent titled ‘The Bands That Nearly Made It‘. In it he recounts the story of his early days at RTE when himself and Ian Wilson started the Fanning Sessions and what that meant to up and coming Irish bands of the time. Dave then gives a nod to Rodriguez and Gilbert O’Sullivan before turning to Stephen Ryan of The Stars of Heaven and The Revenants (did they do a Fanning session?). Others mentioned are Paul Cleary, Gerry Leonard, liR and The Undertones. Read the full article online, thank you to Reekus Records for the image.

Hot Press Unsigned Irish Music Act 1991 Public Vote

It’s too late to submit your vote but you might be interested to see who was on the shortlist for the Smithwicks / Hot Press Public Vote Award as published in the 12th December 1991 edition of Hot Press magazine. Votes were not restricted to the listed bands.

Engine Alley – Full Steam Ahead (Hot Press, 17th Oct 1991)

Barely two months after the release of their debut EP, Kilkenny’s finest Engine Alley achieved another milestone when Ireland’s premier music magazine Hot Press dedicated a full page to the band. As part of RTE’s TV50 celebrations the band’s entire TV career can now be viewed on YouTube.

Your Head (RTE Late Late Show 1991)

No More Demos – In Dublin #140 (13/11/1981)

This article from In Dublin magazine offers some interesting background on the Fanning sessions. According to the piece ‘No More Demos’ by Gerard Siggins, when the new radio centre in Donnybrook was built “the two 16 track studios lay idle for eight years until Ian Wilson opened them (after much wrangling with Radio 1) to the cream of Ireland’s rock bands”. At the time of the article on 13th November 1981 the “Rock Show sessions” were a year old and the 41st visitors to Studio 8 were “a fine young band” from Waterford Neuro. The photo shows engineer Colm O’Rourke and a youthful Ian Wilson. For more retro scans be sure to check out brandnewretro. Incidentally Paul Butler of Neuro is currently active with Propellor Palms and was the subject of a recent interview in Hot Press.

Elvera Butler Interview / Shellshock Rock UCC Downtown Campus (30/6/1979)

The following is the poster for the screening of Shellshock Rock at the U.C.C. Downtown Campus on June 30th 1979 which also featured live performances from two of the bands featured in the documentary Rudi and The Outcasts. The photo was kindly sent in by John Dundon from Limerick who commented on that Outcasts session post.

That gig was promoted by Elvera Butler, the founder and mastermind behind Reekus Records currently celebrating their 30 year anniversary. Elvera was recently interviewed by @nessymon aka Vanessa Monaghan for her Culture Cafe show on RTE 2fm/2XM. Here is an excerpt from that interview where Elvera talks of the label’s origins.

ELvera Butler (Reekus Records)

Dorian Mood (Almost News, 1985)

Came across this while browsing the excellent Brand New Retro site run by Dundalk’s Dougie Devlin. It’s a review of the first Dorian Mood gig in Drogheda monthly ‘Almost News’. The editor of said publication was none other than Tony Clayton-Lea of ‘101 Irish Records‘ fame. The reviewer is Enda Murray.

The Divine Comedy – Hot Press 20th Sep 1990

The latest episode of ‘Pimp my iPod‘ looks at labels one of whom, Setanta released the debut album from The Divine Comedy in 1990. Neil Hannon has I believe since distanced himself from the album but I just came across this review in an old issue of Hot Press and I know of at least one reader who will be interested.

‘In Dublin’ 1984 Ad

Thank you to the folks at Brand New Retro for sending this one our way, an ‘In Dublin’ magazine ad from December 1984: “Christmas Week: Fanning’s Fab Fifty Top Singles of the Year Voted by Listeners. New Years Eve Dave’s Review of 1984. The Dave Fanning Show, 7.30pm Monday – Friday Radio 2 AM & Stereo FM Nationwide”. If anyone has a listing or recording of the 1984 Fab Fifty or the Review show we’d love to hear from you..

Dave Fanning’s Rock Selection (1987)

If you’ve been watching the twitter feed you’ll have heard us mention a site Brand New Retro which specializes in scans of old Irish magazines from the 80s. On that theme we have something you might like; Dave Fanning’s Rock Selection featuring R.E.M., Thee Amazing Colossal Men, Bam Bam & The Calling, Aidan Walsh and Blue In Heaven.

Toasted Heretic / The Divine Comedy (Melody Maker 1/2/1992)

Here’s another post of interest from that 1992 issue of Melody Maker. This time it’s a live review of a gig in Borderline, London and the featured acts are Toasted Heretic and The Divine Comedy.

Sultans Of Ping (Melody Maker 1/2/1992)

There’s a new kid on the block and his name is brandnewretro. The speciality is scans from the past. Well two can play at that game.. More Sultans action in demo form here.

Ian Wilson – Mad Hatter

As featured in last week’s Hot Press it’s none other than Ian Wilson: