The X Collective - Featuring - Toshin, Shiv, Shy Mascot

The Grand Social Presents: Social Connections - Dec 21st 

The X Collective - w/ Toshin, Shiv, Shy Mascot 9pm

The X Collective is a community of creatives including artists, singers, rappers, songwriters, spoken word artists producers, photographers, videographers, directors, graphic designers, content creators, event coordinators, and marketing and PR. It is a platform for the production and promotion of artistic expression, with music at its core and collaboration at its forefront.

The X Collective revolves around people and is driven by an effort that is always combined, always shared. Our team of artists and industry professionals are scattered throughout Dublin, Cork, Belfast, London, Paris, Germany, New York & Vancouver. Collaboration between members of The X Collective community can cross musical styles and art forms, as well as international borders.

Through shared musical knowledge and years of combined industry experience, we recognise the effort and the manpower it takes to release a song. The X Collective will see each of its artists collaborate with a fellow member to create an original song, which we will then release through the collective and promote together. From writing, recording, production and subsequent release, Our artists will work together to optimise creativity and achieve combined success, with the backing of The X Collective brand throughout. Collaborations within the X Collective allows independent artists to benefit from higher creativity as well as wider exposure.

Toshin 

Founded in 2016, Toshín have evolved over the last three years into the vibrant 6-piece it is today. Taking inspiration from a variety of music spanning from early Motown to modern soul/RnB artists such as Tank and the Bangas and Anderson. Paak, their original songs can be put into an incredibly wide range of genres. This is thanks to lead vocalist Tosin Bankole, guitarist Taran Plouzane-Brady and help from various collaborators, including Lisa Rogers (Girlfriend) and Ele Breslin (Zapho).

Shy Mascot 

Shy Mascot are a Dublin-based quintet who, through their inventive blend of familiar

genres, bring a uniquely provocative sound to Ireland and beyond. By combining

elements of funk, jazz, and hip-hop, they succeed in blurring the lines between

traditional genres and reviving them with a fresh new groove. True to their musical

ethos, Shy Mascot create music that is an outward expression of inward experience.

The product of their craft is a modern progression of sound to which the listener, the

one who appreciates the authentic and embraces the different, can move and groove

to.

In a fresh collision of hypnotic rap (Jamel), soulful vocals (Fiadh), and electric jazz

instrumentals (Keith), Shy Mascot make for an exciting display of talent no matter

what the setting. They have commanded the stages of reputable Dublin venues like

The Grand Social and WigWam, as well as independent music festival

'Knockanstockan' and the iconic 'Galway Jazz Festival'. They have also played

Kilkenny's Sofa sessions which was curated by Irish Times jazz critic Cormac Larkin,

and Red Bull's FREE GAFF event in 2019. In August of 2020 the band took part in 'A

Modern Ireland In Music', a virtual event in association with the Irish Arts Centre

NY, along with creative platform 'The X Collective' of which they are a part.

Behind the scenes of a challenging new environment, Shy Mascot continue to write,

create and record. Their new single 'Telepathic' will be released on November 13th,

2020.

Shiv 

Shiv is a Zimbabwean/Irish musician based in Dublin. Having established herself as a house DJ, she turned her attention to where her passion truly lay in song-writing. Drawing influence from the likes of Pip Millet, Frank Ocean and Lianne La Havas she began crafting her debut release. shiv's first singles were born during a writing period of five of weeks in Mozambique. After spending the initial four weeks learning the basics of production and establishing her influences, shiv wrote, produced and recorded her debut releases. Her music, though simple in its musicality, envelops you in her world. She uses her unique blend of R&B and Lo-fi Hip-Hop with elements of Soul and Neo-Soul to create music that is emotive and brimming with feeling. Shiv’s silky-sweet voice wraps you in a hug that carries her soulful lyrics and brings them to life over the warm, hazy instrumentals.

This project has been part-funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht Sport and Media from the Live Performance Support Scheme.

Social Connections is a series of 16 recorded live performances by a wonderful multi genre collection of Irish based artists. The Grand Social is delighted to open it’s doors with this fresh mixture of showcases by some of Ireland's most iconic artists and a chance to explore the new breed of songwriters who are taking the scene by storm. The Grand Social has teamed up with collectives, booking agents, other venues and a multiple of friends to create Social Connections.

The Grand Social is also delighted to be a part of the Live Music Venue Collective which has created numerous days of work for the live entertainment industry during the pandemic by working together across the country. Find out more here.https://www.livevenuecollective.ie/who-we-are

Please join us this December for any or even all of these amazing performances that will embrace you in the magic of music. Invite your friends and families from anywhere to the Grand Social. All tickets are free of charge and a live link will be mailed to you once you have registered. www.thegrandsocial.ie

Line up and date is here.

Dec 15th N.C. Lawlor 9pm

Dec 16th Jem Mitchel 9pm

Dec 17th Oliver Cole + Friends

Dec 18th Aoife Nessa Frances 9pm

Dec 19th Leila Jane 9pm

Dec 20th A.Smyth 9pm

Dec 21st The X Collective w/ Toshin, Shiv, Shy Mascot 9pm

Dec 22nd The Young Folk ( Elgin) 9pm

Dec 23rd Mongoose 9pm

Dec 24th Lemoncello 9pm

Dec 25th Liam Ó Maonlaí 9pm

Dec 26th MUNDY 9pm

Dec 27th SACK 9pm

Dec 28th SON 9pm

Dec 29th The Zen Arcade (former members from the Strypes) 9pm

Dec 30th Ryan O'Shaughnessy 9pm

Each performance will be accompanied by the work of Douglas O’Connor, a Dublin based photojournalist, who has spent a life time walking the streets of Dublin, camera in hand. Since the lockdowns began in 2020 he has continued to document the city in all of it’s nakedness, shy of people.  Walk the quiet streets of Dublin through the eyes of Douglas O’Connor.

This series of images is taken from his book “Eat Yer Rent, Dublin Lockdown 2020” and can be seen at:https://www.blurb.com/b/10071236-lockdown-dublin-2020