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Horslips
The legendary Horslips were founded in Dublin in 1970 and their mixture of traditional Irish folk and hard rock marked them out as the first Celtic rock band. Sharing vocal duties, Barry Devlin (bass), Seán Fean (lead guitar) Eamonn Carr (drums), Charles O'Connor (violin, mandolin) and Jim Lockhart (flute, tin whistle, keyboards) released their debut album 'Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part' in 1972. Horslips stopped touring in 1980 but have since reunited for a couple of one-off gigs and a new album called 'Roll Back', released in December 2004.
Trashcan Sinatras
Releasing their debut album 'Cake' in 1990, the Trashcan Sinatras were college and alternative favourites whose subsequent albums 'I've Seen Everything' and 'A Happy Pocket' built on their reputation as masters of the beguiling melody. But after the latter was released, the band's home Go-Discs was swallowed up in a merger and the quintet found themselves without a record label. Worse followed: the Trashcan Sinatras went bankrupt, lost their Shabby Road recording studio and ended up on the dole. But fans never forgot them and in one of those heartwarming stories about the power of the Internet the band's legend was kept alive through their official website.
Stars
The Arcade Fire have put the Montreal music scene on the international map and those seeking more off-the-beaten path thrills will find their fellow city dwellers Stars another band to cherish. The quintet of Torquil Campbell(vocals/keyboards/trumpet), multi-instrumentalist Evan Cranley (guitars, bass, etc etc), Amy Millan (guitars, vocals), Chris Seligman (keyboards) and drummer Pat McGee summon up that lonely and lovelorn ambience of many of the best British bands of the 1980s, but combine it with a sound that also takes in orchestral pop and even 1970s easy listening.
Emmett Tinley
After spending a dozen years steering Wicklow band The Prayer Boat through the harsh vagaries of the music industry, frontman Emmet Tinley has gone out on his own. 'Attic Faith', released this year on Dublin-based Independent Records, is his debut solo album. Emotive and lyrically beautiful, it is sterling proof to those fans that kept the faith that Tinley is a true survivor.
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