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2024-12-02 Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - The Academy, Dublin

Christmas came early this year for me.  Never did I think that  Me First and the Gimme Gimmes  would be playing Dublin, and never did I ever think I'd get to shoot one of their shows! Well, that all changed last week when they played the Academy in Dublin on a cold, damp, Monday night! I've been a fan since 1997, when one of the lads I worked with, brought in a copy of Have a Ball . It was love at first listen! I did manage to catch them live back in 2019 when they played the O2 Forum in Kentish Town , London, and it was every bit as good as I'd hoped, but it paled in comparison to Monday night in Dublin. So, how did it come about?  Well, back in 2013, I interviewed the band for a now defunct Irish website called Chunk.ie .  Over the years, I've stayed on their PR roster, so I took a chance and emailed my contact there.  Lo and behold, a few emails later and all was sorted, I was down to photograph the show. How was it?  Brilliant, amazing, fantastic,...

2020 MJs

It's the end of the year, time to work my way through all the live gigs I've been to in the last 12 months, pick my best gigs, festivals, songs and so on...

Seven, SEVEN, gigs I got to this year.  Yes yes, I know there are others that didn't even get to one, but when 2019 had in excess of 50 gigs, well, you can see why I'm frustrated.

Enough complaining though, time to get to the 2020 MJs!

First up is Best Irish Single. There were a lot of contenders this year, but for me, Cold Blue Light by Kynsy edged them all out.


Next up is Best Irish Album. Again there were many contenders, but for me, All The Leaves Are Falling by Nealo was the best.  Irish hip-hop is coming of age!


Best Irish Gig is next.  This gig would win any year!  It was Denise Chaila in Dolans, Limerick.  Amazing night.


I've listed to the Irish Music Industry Podcast since it launched and find it both entertaining and informative.  This year though, they produced two specials this year that deep dived into the MISP debacle. So, for that alone, they win Best Irish Podcast.


2020 should have been a big one for Corks very own Happyalone. Well COVID put paid to that, so they are my Ones to Watch for 2021!


Did you ever here an album that spoke to you straight away?  I did.

The Best International Album goes to Idles for Ultra Mono, a powerful, rage filled, passionate piece of music.


The last award is for the Best Irish Campaign. This had to go to Linda Coogan Byrne and her team for their Gender Disparity Data Report on Irish Radio. It's only when the facts are pointed out to you, in black and white, that you go 'oh shit...'


And that's it for the 2020 MJs.  Hopefully next year will bring back some normality, some gigs, some festivals, who knows...  Wash your hands, wear your mask and social distance.  The live music industry depends on you!!!


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