| |
Hennessy is delighted to announce that the leading light of Irish indie-electro and one of Ireland’s most promising artists, Jape, will headline the final Hennessy Artistry event for 2008. Jape will join the internationally acclaimed and majestic; DHOL Foundation and rising Irish band Dirty Epics for the special event.
This exclusive invite only event will take place at The Sugar Club in Dublin on Thursday, 6 November 2008. Launched in 2006, Hennessey Artistry is an established music platform that brings different genres of music together on one stage and this event is set to showcase a spectacular display of diverse musical talent. Previous Artistry events in Ireland have seen the performances from acts such as Laura Izibor, The Flaws, Director, Pops Mohamed among many others.
Richie Egan, Dublin resident and sole proprietor of the Jape alter ego has been making great music for a number of years. Redneck Manifesto was his first band, before he set out to make his own songwriter/electronica music. The first Jape record was called ‘Cosmophere’, and came out in 2003. Only 500 copies were pressed and comprised of eight songs – “it’s a charmingly lo-fi affair, split down the middle between skewed alt.folk songs…” His current album ‘Ritual’ is out now on V2 Recordings and is full of fantastically warped-yet-positvely-hummable songs. His performance at Hennessy Artistry will include his three piece band, with the help of their array of vintage synths, guitars and sometimes temperamental drum machines. As Richie says himself, “It used to be that people would be just stood there, not really knowing what to make of it, but now we’ve got it right and people just go nuts. Which is what we want of course!”
The Dhol Foundation has brought their eclectic blend of sounds from the indigenous Dhol Drums and blended it into the electronica beats of the UK Asian Underground. From their first album, ‘Big Drum Small World’ (that featured in Martin Scorsese’s ‘Gangs of New York’), the Dhol Foundation have worked with everyone from Peter Gabriel to Natasha Beddingfield and have performed to audiences throughout the world.
Dirty Epics will perform songs from their debut album, Straight in No Kissing (due out on 31st October). Their unique raunchy sounds and vigorous performances have seen them gig around hotspots throughout the country. The band fronted by their boisterous singer Sarah Jane Wai O’Flynn is Cormac Farrell (guitar), Richie Power (Bass Guitar) and Alan Delaney (drums).
Earlier this month, Hennessy hosted its third annual Hennessy Artistry concert series in the US. Curated by Grammy Award winner, Ne-Yo, the number one selling artist, visited five US cities, culminating with a finale event in Gotham Hall, New York. The highly anticipated and star studded show featured performances by Ne-Yo who was joined on stage by Brooklyn’s top rapper, Fabolous, Philadelphian DJ and producer, DJ Jazzy Jeff, number one selling artist, Leona Lewis and local NY boy, DJ Cassidy.
The Sugar Club event will be exclusively hosted by Hennessy which boasts a long and supportive partnership with emerging and established music. Along with some of the most promising Irish acts and electrifying world music today, guests will be treated to exciting Hennessy City Cocktails.
Hennessey Artistry at the Sugar Club in November 2008 will challenge the audience to listen to the music and discern the vast differences in styles that ultimately blend together. The styles of the acts selected are set to simultaneously create a contrasting musical blending session while honouring the individual craft of each of the acts performing.
The concept behind Hennessy Artistry is that true greatness in any art form is achieved when influences, cultures, ideas, styles and talents are blended or mixed. This art of mixing applies to all art forms, including the blending of Hennessy’s eaux-de-vie to produce the World’s leading Cognac brand.
Ever since, Richard Hennessy emigrated from his native County Cork to establish, in 1765, the world’s leading cognac house, Hennessy cognac has held a special place in Irish life. Now, over 200 years later the Irishman’s Cognac is changing the face of music on a world stage by blending completely diverse genres of music in manner never before deemed possible. Hennessy Artistry is a continuation of Hennessy’s relationship with contemporary music. The programme sees Hennessy continue its support of music and urban culture.
|
colm 
