2010 in Irish music

2010 in music

By location

Canada – Europe – Great Britain – Ireland – Sweden – Japan – New Zealand – United States

By genre

Alternative, country, electropop, heavy metal, hip-hop, opera

By topic

List of albums released in 2010 List of Japanese albums released in 2010

Part of a series of articles on the Irish contemporary music scene

Genre

Rock • Rebel • Hip hop • Jazz

Topics

Albums • Bands • Music • Songs Producers • Charts • IMRO

Awards

Meteor Music Awards Choice Music Prize IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards

Competitions

Eurosonic

Festivals

Current Festivals Oxegen • Electric Picnic • Slane Cois Fharraige • Green Energy Castlepalooza • Indie-pendence Live at the Marquee • Solas Defunct festivals Download • Féile • Witnness Creamfields • Garden Party

Venues

Indoor theatres Ambassador • Olympia • O2 • RDS Outdoor venues Belvedere House and Gardens Malahide Castle • Marlay Park Slane Castle • Dublin Castle Phoenix Park • Thomond Park Punchestown Racecourse Stradbally Hall Smaller venues The Academy • Eamonn Doran's Róisín Dubh • Vicar Street The Village • Whelan's

Recording studios

Grouse Lodge • Windmill Lane Studios

Media

Publications Foggy Notions • Hot Press State • entertainment.ie Day & Night • The Ticket Radio programming Phantom FM • RTÉ 2fm RTÉ 2XM • Today FM Television programming The Last Broadcast MT-USA • 2TV Night Shift • Day Shift No Disco • Other Voices The Raw Sessions

Timeline 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • (full list)

This is a summary of the year 2010 in the Irish music industry.

Contents 1 Summary 1.1 January 1.2 February 1.3 March 1.4 April 1.5 May 1.6 June 1.7 July 1.8 Rest of year 2 Bands disbanded 3 Bands reformed 4 Albums & EPs 5 Singles 6 Festivals 6.1 Oxegen 2010 6.2 Electric Picnic 2010 6.3 Indie-pendence '10 6.4 Castlepalooza '10 6.5 Live at the Marquee 6.6 Slane 2010 7 Music awards 7.1 2010 Meteor Awards 7.2 Choice Music Prize 7.3 IMTV Video Music Awards 8 References 9 External links

Summary

January

• On January 7, the nominees for the 2010 Meteor Awards were announced.^[1][2][3]
• On January 11, Neil Hannon was nominated in the Original Score category at the 7th Irish Film and Television Awards for his soundtrack to the film Wide Open Spaces.^[4][5]
• On January 13, the nominees for Best Album of 2009 at the Choice Music Prize were announced.^[6][7][8][9]
• On January 14, the BBC admitted giving "inappropriate" promotional coverage and "undue prominence" to U2 and their 2009 album No Line on the Horizon through their use of the U2 = BBC slogan.^{[10][11][12][13]}
• From January 14 to January 16: And So I Watch You From Afar, Delorentos, Imelda May and Villagers represented Ireland in the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen, Netherlands.^[14][15] It was broadcast live in Ireland on RTÉ 2fm.^[16]
• Aftermath of 2010 Haiti earthquake:
  • 15 January: Concern Worldwide's Emergency Appeal fundraiser was held at the weekly Rock' n' Roll club Shakedown in Pacino's on Suffolk Street, Dublin 2.^[17]
  • 22 January: Bono performed the collaborative effort "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" at the live televised Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief charity telethon.^[18]
  • 24 January: Glen Hansard performed a benefit concert for Haiti in Whelan's, Dublin.^[19]
  • 24 January: Noise Control headlined the Help Haiti Fundraising Extravaganza in the Twisted Pepper, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 2.^[20]
  • 31 January: The Answer and David Holmes were among the headlining acts at the Belfast 4 Haiti event.^[21]
• On January 31, the 52nd Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles, United States. Beoga were nominated in the Best Contemporary World Music Album category for their album The Incident.^[22] U2 received three nominations.^[23][24] Imelda May performed at the awards ceremony alongside Jeff Beck on the Les Paul tribute, "How High the Moon".^[25][26] May, the second Irish act to perform at the awards in their history, was praised by American critics for "the strong Irish inflection of her pronunciation".^[27][28][29]

February

• Aftermath of 2010 Haiti earthquake:
  • On February 3, Michelle Doherty hosted Haiti Aid at Whelan's and The Village in Dublin, featuring Ham Sandwich, O Emperor, The Chapters and Patrick Kelleher.^[30]
  • On February 11, Cathy Davey, The Chapters, Julie Feeney and Villagers were scheduled to perform at a Drop Haiti's Debt fundraiser in Vicar Street.^[31] This was later cancelled due to "unavoidable circumstances".^[32]
  • On February 27, Clash Jam Wallop, The Dubtones, Aces Wild, Primitevo and Skelton Crew are among the acts scheduled to perform at Aid for Haiti in Button Factory, Dublin.^[33]
• In February 2010, U2 won "Best Live Production" for their U2 360° Tour at the 2009 Total Production Awards in London.^[34][35][36]
• On February 19, the 2010 Ireland Music Awards took place at the RDS in Dublin, presented by Amanda Byram.^[37]
• On February 23, the first 33 acts were announced at the Oxegen 2010 launch at The Academy.^{[38][39][40][41]}
• On February 26, Eleanor McEvoy began her 2010 Australian Tour at Nannup Folk Festival in Western Australia, with the final date due on March 21 as part of the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Sydney.^[42]
• On February 26, Prince settled his court case with MCD Productions which had sued the musician after he cancelled a 2008 Croke Park concert at short notice.^[43][44]

March

• On March 3, the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2009 was awarded during a live ceremony at Vicar Street, Dublin.^[45] It was awarded to Adrian Crowley for his album Season of the Sparks.^[46]
• On Mach 4, The Saw Doctors commenced their first Australian tour for seventeen years in Perth. The tour included a Saint Patrick's Day show in Sydney.^[47]
• On March 8, Arcade Fire and Fatboy Slim were announced for Oxegen 2010, with this being Arcade Fire's first 2010 European show to be announced.^[48][49][50]
• On March 12, the 20th anniversary show of Power of Dreams's internationally successful album Immigrants, Emigrants and Me took place at Whelan's in Dublin.^[51]
• On March 12 and March 13, Delorentos and Something Happens performed at a festival event for Saint Patrick's Day in Den Haag (The Hague).^[52]
• Between March 15 and March 20, 2010: The Waterboys performed twenty poems by William Butler Yeats set to music in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.^[53] All dates had sold out by January: a fifth date was announced for November 20 at the Grand Canal Theatre.^[54]
• On March 17, Laura Izibor attended a party at the White House, Washington, D.C., United States at the invitation of President of the United States Barack Obama.^[55][56]
• On March 17 and March 19, Irish artists performed at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, United States.^[57]
• On March 19, the first acts of the 2010 Indie-pendence line-up were announced.^[58]
• On March 23, Christy Moore and John Spillane performed a show in aid of the 2010 Haiti earthquake at Vicar Street, with proceeds given to GOAL.^[59]
• On March 24, Electric Picnic 2010 was launched.^[60][61][62]
• On March 25, the 2010 IMRO Showcase Tour began in Belfast, continuing until May 1 at The Academy, Dublin.^[63]
• On March 30, several new additions to the Oxegen 2010 line-up were announced: these included Dizzee Rascal, Julian Casablancas, Groove Armada, The Black Keys, The Cribs, The Stranglers and Earth, Wind & Fire.^[64][65]

April

• On 7 April, the line-up for Castlepalooza was announced, with tickets going on sale two days later.^[66]
• On 8 April, six bands competed in the King Kong Club Grand Final music competition at The Village in Dublin.^[67]
• On 16 April, Ireland's first National Music Day took place, with free live events around the country in locations such as Cork, Limerick and Portlaoise being broadcast on RTÉ lyric fm.^[68]
• On 13 April, Mindfield, scheduled for April 30 to May 2, was postponed until Electric Picnic 2010 after several of the acts who intended to be there were distracted by the announcement of United Kingdom general election, 2010 for May 6.^[69]
• On April 17, April 18 and April 20: Whitney Houston played three dates at the O₂, Dublin, as part of her first tour for at least eleven years.^[70][71][72]
• On 20 April, Duckworth Lewis Method's Neil Hannon and Thomas Walsh were nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for their debut album.^[73]

May

• On May 7, Kiss played a date in Dublin, taking place at the O₂, as part of their Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour.^{[citation needed]}
• On May 11 and May 12, Metallica played their first shows in Belfast for more than two decades, taking place at the Odyssey.^[74]
• 20 May - Ivor Novello Awards at Grosvenor House Hotel, London: Duckworth Lewis Method's Neil Hannon and Thomas Walsh were defeated by Paolo Nutini in their category.^[75]

June

• On June 2, a statue of Rory Gallagher was unveiled in his birthplace of Ballyshannon, County Donegal.^[76]
• On June 3, the line-up for Arthur's Day 2010 was announced, including Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini, José González, and The View.^[77]
• On June 5, Snow Patrol played Ward Park in Bangor, County Down, supported by Lisa Hannigan, Band of Horses and General Fiasco. The concert was broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland at a later date.^[78]
• On June 5, Westlife played Croke Park, Dublin, with JLS for support.^[79][80][81] John & Edward were later announced as another support act.^[82]
• On June 8, Rage Against the Machine played The O2 in Dublin, with support from Gallows.^[83]
• On June 9, The Cranberries played at Thomond Park in their first performance in their native city for more than 15 years.^[84]
• On June 14, the complete day and stage breakdown of Oxegen 2010 was announced.^[85][86]
• On June 23, Green Day played Marlay Park in Dublin.^[87][88]
• Glastonbury Festival 2010:
  • On June 25, U2 were scheduled to headline Glastonbury Festival 2010, their first festival performance for more than a quarter of a century.^[89]
  • On 25 May 2010, it was announced that U2 had cancelled their appearance at the festival to allow Bono's recovery from recent back surgery,^[90] with Bono issuing a special message of his heartbreak to the fans - "I'm heartbroken" - and said "we even wrote a song especially for the festival".^[91][92] The following day it was announced that Gorillaz would fill in for U2.^[93]
  • Other Irish acts appearing at the festival included Two Door Cinema Club (June 24), Brian Kennedy, Julie Feeney and The Big Pink (also on June 25), Christy Moore (June 26) and Ash, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Fionn Regan and Imelda May (June 27).^[94]
  • Cavan quintet Shouting at Planes beat more than 100 other acts to win a competition to play at the festival.^[95]
  • Muse were joined on stage by The Edge to perform "Where the Streets Have No Name".^[96]
• On June 30, Sentinel Records closed after ten years.^[97]

July

• Oxegen 2010 took place from 9–11 July 2010 at Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare.^[98]
• On 15 July, music promoter, manager and entrepreneur Derek Nally died after undergoing a myocardial infarction.^[99] His funeral on 19 July was a crowded affair.^[100][101]
• Between 15 and 18 July, Ryan Sheridan played Festival Internacional de Benicàssim in Spain.^[102]
• On 20 July, Villagers were shortlisted for the 2010 Mercury Prize for the album Becoming a Jackal.^{[103][104][105][106][107][108][109]}
• On July 30, Westlife will play Lissadell House in County Sligo, their home county.^[110]
• On July 31, Leonard Cohen will play Lissadell House in County Sligo.^[111]

Rest of year

• In August, Slane Concert 2010 was to occur and was expected to involve an "international artist".^[112] It was later announced that there would be no 2010 concert in Slane.
• In Autumn, Guns N' Roses will bring their Chinese Democracy World Tour to Ireland. They will play the Odyssey Arena, Belfast on August 31 and The O2, Dublin on September 1. This will mark the first time that Guns N' Roses have played indoor shows in Ireland.
• On September 3, 4, & 5, the Electric Picnic 2010 will occur in Stradbally
• On September 7, the winner of the 2010 Mercury Prize will be announced, with Villagers shortlisted.
• On September 23, Arthur's Day 2010 will occur in Cork, Dublin and Galway.
• On September 24 & 25, Michael Bublé will perform at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.^[113]
• In November, the IMTV Video Music Awards are scheduled to take place.^[114]
• On December 10, The Coronas will play a headlining show at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.^[115]

Bands disbanded

• Alphastates (February 18)^[116]

Bands reformed

• The Hitchers (February)^[117]

Albums & EPs

Below is a list of notable albums & EPs released by Irish artists in Ireland in 2010.

Issue date	Album title	Artist	Source	Sales	Notes
Early 2010	Mother Courage and Her Children	Duke Special	[118]
30 January	Sounds of System Breakdown[citation needed]	Sounds of System Breakdown	[119]		Launched on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in The Village on Wexford Street, Dublin.
4 February	Caterpillar Sarabande	Vyvienne Long	[120]
13 February	Strobelight and Torture	Paranoid Visions	[121]		In memory of the victims of the 1981 Stardust fire, available as a three-track 7" and six-track CD.
19 February	The Post War Musical	Pilotlight	[122]		Produced by Dave Odlum after recording in France.
26 February	Kingdom of Ghosts	Humanzi	[123]		Recorded in Berlin.
__ March	Desecrations	The Holy Roman Army	[124]		Five-track covers EP.
__ March	Artificial Horizon	U2	[125]		Remix album available to subscribers of U2.com.
8 March	Brother	Boyzone	[126]		Fourth studio album, first since the death of Stephen Gately
5 March	Dinosaur	John Shelly & The Creatures	[127]		Debut studio album
5 March	Works for Solo Flute	William Dowdall	[128]		Debut solo album from the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra performer. Officially launched at the Royal Irish Academy of Music at 18:00 on this date, available from Tower Records, iTunes, Amazon.com.
12 March	Before We Say Goodbye	Donnacha Costello	[129]		Recorded entirely with analogue equipment, released through Poker Flat.
12 March	Stop Screaming Start Dreaming	The Dirty 9s	[130]		Recorded in Nutshed Studio in Clara, County Offaly, produced by Greg Haver, released through Sci-Fi Girl Records, featuring the single "Corridors".
12 March	Identity Parade	Identity Parade	[131]		Debut album.
26 March	We Albatri	Oliver Cole	[132]		Debut solo album.
26 March	Forever in Disguise	Daniel Jones	[133]		Self-released debut album
26 March	Friendship	The Redneck Manifesto	[134]		First album for six years, ten tracks, released on Dublin indie label, the Richter Collective and available on CD Digipak, gatefold vinyl and MP3 download.
1 April	Lost Trails	Butterfly Explosion	[135][136]		Debut album released to record stores on this date after previously being available on iTunes.
9 April	Gentleman's Club	The Dead Flags	[137]		Debut album, includes lead single "Let's Start a Fire Tonight".
Spring 2010	TBA	Ham Sandwich	[138]
Summer 2010	TBA[citation needed]	The Saw Doctors			7th studio album, songs previewed at live shows include "Friday Town", "Goodbye Again", "Someone Loves You", "Indian Summer" and "Glorious Days of Summer".
Late Spring 2010	You Say, We Say	Royseven	[139]
__ April 2010	TBA	Miracle Bell	[140]
17 April 2010	___ (EP)	Nighthawks	[141]		Five-track EP released in aid of Oxfam Ireland and launched in the Parliament Street OXFAM shop on this date.
23 April	The Dogs Are Parading	David Holmes	[142]		29-track, 2-disc hits and rarities compilation.
23 April	Fable	Roesy	[143]		Fourth album, mainly recorded in New York.
__ May	From Stage to Stage	Dervish	[144]		Live album and DVD released 21 years since the band started.
7 May	The Nameless	Cathy Davey	[145]
14 May	Becoming a Jackal	Villagers	[146]		Debut album released on Domino Records and given a 7" release on April 17 and digital download on April 26. US release date: 8 June 2010.
21 May	The Universe Is Laughing	The Guggenheim Grotto	[147]		Available on the duo's website.
29 May	A National Light	The Rags	[148]		Debut album released by the band.
__ June	Of the People	Sean Millar	[149]
7 June	U2 360° at the Rose Bowl	U2	[150]		Concert film directed by Tom Krueger, available in standard and 2-disc deluxe DVD and Blu-ray formats.
11 June	Be It Right Or Wrong	R.S.A.G.	[151]		His second album.
Summer 2010	TBA[152]	Gemma Hayes
August 2010	This Is the Second Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank	Adebisi Shank	[153]		The second album by the band.
17 September 2010	?	Babybeef	[154]
17 September 2010	I'd Rather Go Blonde	Eleanor McEvoy	[155]		Her eighth studio album.
4 October 2010	Marcata	The Minutes	[156]
2010	Meant to be Machines	Cowboy X	[157]
2010	TBA	Fight Like Apes	[158][159]
2010	TBA	Heritage Centre	[160]
2010	Rise of the Reptile King	Lluther	[161]		Film and album, from which from January until September a single was scheduled to be released on the 10th and 20th of each month.
2010	Stop the Lights	The Walls	[162]

Singles

Below is a list of notable singles released by Irish artists in Ireland in 2010.

Issue date	Single title	Artist	Source	Sales	Notes
__ January	"Far from Here"	The Coronas	[115][163]
4 January	"Austin Cusack"	The Hitchers	[164]		The band's first single release in almost a decade.
__ January	"In the Dollhouse"	Lluther	[161]		First in a series of single releases from the album and film Rise of the Reptile King to occur on the 10th and 20th of each month until September.
10 February	"King of Nothing"	Lluther	[165]
__ February	"Carnivore/Leave the Lights On"	Sanskrit	[166]		Double A-side single taken from the album After the Wedding.
5 February	"Comets"	Super Extra Bonus Party	[167]		Also features Heathers.
25 February	"When You Go"	Identity Parade	[131]		Download only.
1 March	"Gave It All Away"	Boyzone	[126]		First single release since the death of Stephen Gately.
5 March	"Black Room"	The Chapters	[168]		Digital download release on March 5.
6 March	"Tonight Is the Night"	Eugene Donegan	[169]		Released at the Spirit Store in Dundalk on March 6; from Donegan's debut album Little Apples (2009).
8 March	"I Put a Spell on You"	Shane MacGowan/Victoria Mary Clarke	[170]		Video. Download only. Featuring Nick Cave, Bobby Gillespie, Glen Matlock, Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones and Johnny Depp. Proceeds going to Concern Worldwide's aid effort for the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Premiered on The Last Word with Matt Cooper on February 24, 2010.
26 March	"Faces"	Jester	[171]
March/April	"'Us and the U.S."	Aoife Cleary	[172]		Debut solo single from The Blonde Majority's former singer.
April	"Wonderful Way"	Joe Echo	[173]
17 April	"Becoming a Jackal"	Villagers	[174]		Digital download version scheduled for release on April 26, 2010.
23 April	"The Parson"	The Frank and Walters	[175]		The first in a series of four singles.
__ May	"The Roamer"	R.S.A.G.	[151]		First single taken from his second album, Be It Right Or Wrong.
7 May	"Don’t Panic"/"Real Friends"	Talulah Does The Hula	[176]		Double A-side limited-edition, hand numbered CD single.
14 May	"The Naturist"	Ham Sandwich	[177]		Second single released from forthcoming second album.
28 May	"Destroy"	The Japanese Popstars	[178]		First single taken from second album and first after joining EMI/Virgin Records.
28 May	"Something to Prove"	The Skin We're In	[179][180]		Debut single taken from eponymously titled EP and released independently on digital format.
4 June	"Something's Got to Give/Suicide Bomber"	El Hombre Jokes	[181]		Debut double A-Side single by the quartet.
18 June	"Up All Night"	We Should Be Dead	[182]
23 July	"Behind Closed Doors"	Storyfold	[183]
20 August	"Hoo Ha Henry"	Fight Like Apes	[184]		Download single; the band's first from their second (they don't use the word "sophomore") album.

Festivals

Oxegen 2010

• Oxegen 2010 took place from 9–11 July.^[98]

Electric Picnic 2010

• Electric Picnic 2010 will take place from 3–5 September.^[185]

Indie-pendence '10

Castlepalooza '10

Live at the Marquee

Slane 2010

• Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has spoken of his admiration for U2's shows at Slane and, in relation to his band performing there in 2010, has commented: "It's something that's being looked at".^[186] However, this longstanding and recurring rumour was dismissed when the band opted to play Marlay Park instead.^[87]

Music awards

2010 Meteor Awards

The 2010 Meteor Awards took place at the RDS in Dublin on 19 February 2010. Below are the winners:^[187]

Award	Winner(s)
Best Irish Male	Christy Moore
Best Irish Female	Wallis Bird
Best Irish Band	Snow Patrol
Best Irish Album	Tony Was an Ex-Con
Best Irish Pop Act	Westlife
Best Irish Live Performance	The Script
Best National DJ	Ray Foley
Best Regional DJ	Leigh Doyle
Most Promising New Artist of the Year	Amasis
Best International Male	Michael Bublé
Best International Female	Lady Gaga
Best International Band	Florence and the Machine
Best International Album	Sunny Side Up
Best Live International Performance
Industry Award	Lord Henry Mount Charles
Humanitarian Award	Niall Mellon
Lifetime Achievement Award	Brian Kennedy

Choice Music Prize

The Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2009 took place at Vicar Street on 3 March 2010.^[45]

IMTV Video Music Awards

2010 will mark the second year of the IMTV Video Music Awards, recognising Irish video makers and directors involved in producing music videos for Irish artists. Nominees are expected to be announced in October 2010 and the awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the end of November 2010.^[114]

References

External links

• IMRO website
• IRMA website
• Hot Press website
• State website
• MUSE.ie
• CLUAS.com
• News at Phantom FM
• Music at The Irish Times
• Music at the Irish Independent
• Music news and album reviews at RTÉ