Welcome to The Note, your weekly music news catch up!
This weeks industry news:
Bobby Gillespie hits out at Eurovision
Perpetual moaner and Primal Screen frontman Bobby Gillespie and I finally find common ground. The Glaswegian music legend, long time outspoken on his political views, has slammed 'music' 'competition' 'Euro'vision, and headliner Madonna, for performing in Israel. Calling the 'Like A Prayer' hit maker a "prostitute" who "will do anything for money" for agreeing to turn a blind eye to the apartheid-esque laws implemented by the controversial state, as well as their ongoing conflict with Palestine.
Welsh Festival fears for long term safety of smaller venues
Organisers of 'Focus Wales,' a showcase festival that draws in as many as 10,000 attendees and employs 200 bands over 20 venues, have expressed concern over the long term future of small venues in the coming years. With prices increasing and returns dwindling in parts of the UK, Beverley Whitrick feared for the cultural future. Speaking to the BBC George Herd, she stated, "As we see it, the small venues are the research and development unit of the music industry."
"It's not just local communities that lose their venues, or artists that lose somewhere to play, it's actually got an implication for the whole music industry."
Tyler, The Creator returns to the U.K.
Following a nation wide ban, rapper/performer Tyler, The Creator has returned to the UK. Four years after the ban was implemented, for what lawmakers cited as language that "encouraged violence and intolerance of homosexuality” and “fosters hatred with views that seek to provoke others to terrorist acts,” Tyler's arrival comes on the heel of his sixth-and-latest album IGOR. He attempted to schedule an impromptu live performance, which was shut down by members of the police force.
Woodstock 50 gets new investors
Following the controversial pull out of initial founders Dentsu Inc. and a near-cancellation, iconic festival Woodstock looks set to return following the addition of new funding. U.S. financial services firm Oppenheimer & Co, a unit of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc have agreed to come on as stakeholders in the festival, singling a return to productivity for the legendary music gathering.
Ireland Music Week opens for applicants
Ireland's premier showcase festival returns. Formerly Hard Working Class Heroes (awful name btw. Long time coming this was), the event has been stretched from three days to five, with a number of extra conferences added for industry and band members. Long seen as a gateway to sustained musical success in the UK, Europe and beyond, IMW is now receiving applications from potential performers. Bands must apply through their Breaking Tunes profile before the official shut off date, Sunday June 16th.
This weeks live news:
Inhaler to tour with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Another Love Story lineup is announced (The Redneck Manifesto, Lubomyr Melnyk, Maria Sommerville, Leo Miyagee and others.)
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