Up Close And Personal with Tim Wheeler from ASH- Hotpress

Hot Press Announces: Up Close and Personal series at The Grand Social Celebrates Six of the Greatest Irish Albums of All-Time Live at the Grand Social, this intimate discussion series will be a deep dive into seminal Irish albums, as we talk to the artists behind the music. Are we looking forward to it? Damn right we are!

Hot Press is proud to announce Up Close & Personal, a series of live conversations with the artists behind seminal Irish albums, to take place at the Grand Social, Dublin.

This intimate discussion series will be a deep dive into a number of classic Irish albums with the artists who created them, talking about the background, the songs, the recordings and the mood of the times in which they were created. It promises the most fascinating insights into some of the greatest Irish albums ever recorded.

The line-up of this initial series will feature Villagers, Gemma Hayes, Mary Coughlan, Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny, Tim Wheeler of Ash and Damien Dempsey, and will take place live at The Grand Social Dublin across six dates from September 28th to October 20th.

At these one-off listening parties, we’ll bring the lucky ticket-holders into the heart of the writing, recording and release of the album in question, as told live – and in person – by the artist that was at the heart of an outstanding creative achievement.

And of course, we’ll listen to the album along the way, allowing listeners to experience the music again, in all its power and glory!

“We’re really looking forward to the Up Close and Personal series,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. “Over the course of six nights this month and next, some of the most important – and brilliant – albums in Irish music history will be revisited and explored in a unique way, with the artists themselves offering both personal and musical insights. I don’t want to single any of these albums out, because they all represent unique, landmark moments in Irish music. It is going to be really special.”

Only 50 tickets will be available per show. This special series of intimate conversations, is produced in association with Aidan Shortall of Up Close and Personal Promotions and supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Tickets go on sale at 9am tomorrow, Friday 10 September, for €20 from eventbrite.ie

October 19th - Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny on Planxty: Released in 1973, Planxty – the debut album from the band of the same name – rescued Irish folk music from the leather-elbowed ballad groups. With uilleann piper Liam O’Flynn joining Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine and Christy Moore in what was a folk super-group, they combined songs and tunes in a marvellously innovative mix – irrevocably changing the course of Irish music completely in the process.