The grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art will be the setting once more for the Forbidden Fruit music festival on the June Bank Holiday Weekend in 2012. Dublin’s only multi staged music and arts festival was arguably the best city centre festival in the 2011 event calendar.

“A festival like this has been a long time coming, one that combines music, art, fashion and simple good vibes into a two-day city-based event” Irish Times

In 2012 it will be extended to three days – Saturday, Sunday & Monday of the June Bank Holiday Weekend – and will have five stages, including a newly added Comedy Tent.

The non-camping festival is a collaborative fusion of music, art, fashion. Together with a fine array of delicious food, creative craft stalls and the usual festival quirks and oddities Forbidden Fruit is the best reason to spend a Bank Holiday Weekend in Dublin.

The official stage times for Bulmers Forbidden Fruit Festival 2012 as as follows:

Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster – click here to buy tickets.

Prices below.

Day Tickets: €49.50 / Two Day Tickets: €89.50 / Weekend Tickets: €115

*Limited Early Bird Tickets available*

Day Tickets: €45 / Two Day Tickets: €85 / Weekend Tickets: €110

Click here to view some images from Forbidden Fruit Festival on Saturday June 4th 2011.

Click here to view some images from Forbidden Fruit Festival on Sunday June 5th 2011.

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Please note: Thin Lizzy will also be performing live at Belsonic 2012 in Custom House Square, Belfast this August 18th 2012. Click here for further details.

Thin Lizzy is one of rock music’s most recognisable names. The fiery Dublin band exploded onto the scene with a fresh sound, look and attitude. Lead by the incomparable Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy reached many peaks and influenced generations of musicians with classic tracks such as “Jailbreak”, “The Boys Are Back In Town”, “Still In Love With You”, “Cold Sweat”, “Emerald” and “Don’t Believe A Word”.

Most rock historians would agree the pinnacle of Thin Lizzy’s commercial success was in 1983, followed by the bands’ premature demise, as they played their last gig in September of 1984. Just two years later, the world was shocked when lead singer / bassist and founding member Phil Lynott passed away at the age of thirty six.

Twenty six years have passed, the world has changed, but the amazing body of work that is Thin Lizzy still retains all of its vibrancy and influence. A new line-up has formed to take Thin Lizzy’s music to a whole new generation of music fans. Led by alumni Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton (all of whom played in Thin Lizzy with Phil Lynott) the stellar line-up of the new Thin Lizzy is completed by guitarist Damon Johnson (Alice Cooper, Brother Cane), Bassist Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Ted Nugent) and The Almighty’s Ricky Warwick on vocals and guitar.

Thin Lizzy have already wow-ed fans and critics alike on a sold out UK tour in Jan/Feb 2011 and a show stealing performance at Download festival 2011.

Alongside the new line-up, Universal Music continues it’s acclaimed series of re-issues, deluxe and special releases of classic Thin Lizzy material. The latest offerings are deluxe expanded editions of the classic albums “Fighting” and “Nightlife”.

VIP packages for Thin Lizzy live at The Olympia Theatre in Dublin this August 2012 will be available through the bands official website.

Don’t miss Thin Lizzy performing live on stage at The Olympia Theatre in Dublin on Thursday the 1^3th of December 2012.

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Donna Summer was well known for hits such as ‘Last Dance’, ‘Love To Love You Baby’, and ‘Bad Girl’ to name but a few, and sold over 130 Million records throughout her career. Donna leaves behind husband Bruce Sudano and her three daughters.

RIP Donna Summer.

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BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG

Video Games
Written by: Lana Del Rey / Justin Parker
Performed by: Lana Del Rey
UK Publishers: EMI Music Publishing / Sony/ATV Music Publishing

PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORK

Rolling In The Deep
Written by: Adele Adkins / Paul Epworth
Performed by: Adele

UK Publishers: Universal Music Publishing / EMI Music Publishing

BEST TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK

The Shadow Line
Composed by: Martin Phipps

UK Publishers: Du Vinage Publishing Ltd

THE IVORS JAZZ AWARD

Stan Tracey

ALBUM AWARD

Let England Shake
Written & Performed by: PJ Harvey
UK Publishers: EMI Music Publishing / Hot Head Music

OUTSTANDING SONG COLLECTION

Gary Kemp

THE IVORS INSPIRATION AWARD

Siouxsie Sioux

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE

The First Grader
Composed by: Alex Heffes
UK Publishers: Fintage Publishing BV / Resonant Music (1) Limited Partners

PRS FOR MUSIC OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BRITISH MUSIC

Take That

BEST SONG MUSICALLY & LYRICALLY

The A Team
Written & Performed by: Ed Sheeran
UK Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Mark Knopfler

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Adele

PRS FOR MUSIC SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Jimmy Webb

BASCA FELLOWSHIP

Andrew Lloyd Webber

If this is your first time visiting Music Scene, why not become a fan of our Facebook and Twitter pages through the icons at the top of the page. Also, check out some of our great competitions by clicking here!

Tickets for Helium Music Festival 2012 are priced from €40 and are available to purchase through www.tickets.ie.

Oh, and did we mention that Helium Music Festival 2012 provides a free campsite for all ticket holders!

Check out the line-up & scheduled stage times for Helium Festival 2012 below:

Main Stage

11:30 – 01:00 Ash
10:00 – 11:00 Delorentos
8:30 – 9:30 Duke Special
7:50 – 8:20 Nathan Flutebox Lee And The Clinic
7:00 – 7:45 The Kanyu Tree
6:15 – 6:45 Saint John The Gambler
5:30 – 6:00 Peter Doran Band
4:45 – 5:15 The Driftwood Manor

No Ego Stage

12:15 – 01:00 Tivo Trad Hop DJ
11:30 – 12:15 Chewing On Tinfoil
10:30 – 11:15 Rebel Souls
9:00 – 10:15 Jape
7:55 – 8:35 Neon Wolf
7:00 – 7:40 Frantic Jack
6:15 – 6:45 Of Fiction
5:30 – 6:00 Stephen Young And The Union
4:45 – 5:15 Reverend JM And the Panic Worship
4:00 – 4:30 Gypsy Rebel Rabble
3:20 – 3:50 Bill Coleman
2:40 – 3:10 Tommy Moore Band
2:10 – 2:30 Conor McCauley

Skelly’s Stage

10:30 – 11:00 Icon On Fire
9:45 – 10:15 The Disconnected Bliss
9:00 – 9:30 Ka Tet
8:15 – 8:45 Event Horizon
7:30 – 8:00 Soldiers Can’t Dance
6:45 – 7:15 Neon Tetras
6:00 – 6:30 Loyal Cuckoo
5:30 – 6:00 Sister Lovers
4:45 – 5:15 TV After Midnight
4:00 – 4:30 JP13
3:15 – 3:45 Bite The Killer Cat
2:45 – 3:05 Resin Effect
2:15 – 2:35 TBC

Stay tuned to Music Scene for regular updates.

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As punk’s history enters 2012, the impact of The Damned initially judged “the least likely to succeed” seems to grow ever more each day. They are most notable for being the first of the British Punk bands to release a single “New Rose”, put out an album (Damned Damned Damned), tour the United States, break up (1979) and reform (1980).

The Damned, Dave Vanian, Brian James, Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies played their first gig on July 6, 1976, supporting the Sex Pistols at the 100 Club in London. The first single “New Rose “remains a classic of early Punk noise, It was SOUNDS magazine single of the week and on the whole it is one of the greatest 3 minute blasts of Punk Rock releases of all time.

Of all the bands to hail from the original punk explosion, The Damned have accomplished so much and are still filling venues and touring worldwide 35 years on. The line-up has seen some 20 former members come and go, but Dave Vanian and Sensible have remained the backbone of the band, from former gravediggers and toilet cleaners to Punk Rock /Gothic legends.

‘Damned, Damned, Damned’ reached number 36 in the UK charts in February 1977, the same year second album ‘Music For Pleasure’ was released in November. The Damned had often been seen as a novelty act, but by the 3rd album ‘Machine Gun Etiquette’ (1979) they forced critics and the public alike to make a reassessment. Sensible, at this point the band’s main songwriter, emerged as a notable lead guitarist taking over from founder member Brian James.

By the ‘The Black Album’, (1980) the band turned into a Proto-Goth ensemble, emphasizing Vanian’s serious role (From the beginning of The Damned, Vanian has affected a Vampire-like appearance onstage, with chalk-white makeup and formal dress). over Sensible’s outlandish costumes and clownish persona, the rhythm section also somewhat modified their characteristic stoner-thug appearance.

‘The Black Album’ demonstrated the band’s staying power, packed with such legendary singles as the intentionally ridiculous “Love Song,” the anthemic “Smash It Up,” and “Wait for the Blackout” and the catchy Satanism of “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today.”

On the live front, The Damned were unstoppable, chaotic, violent, messy, funny and unpredictable, riding out punk’s supposed death with a series of fiery performances laden with both great playing and notable antics on and off stage. The Damned went through a dozen agents and managers in this era, (one such misfortune was set alight on the tour bus, another was thrown onto the motorway from the moving bus).

After the subsequent (and more polished) 1982 album ‘Strawberries’ and a brace of non-LP singles released by the band in absence of a record deal (1983–84), Sensible left to pursue a successful solo career. The guitarist having surprisingly found himself on Top Of The Pops at number one with a version of “Happy Talk” from South Pacific.

Predictions that The Damned were history with the departure of Sensible proved a nonsense as ‘Phantasmagoria’ (1985) scored a massive U.K. hit with a cover of ‘Eloise’ which charted at number 3. The gothic-type-nursery-rhyme number ‘Grimly Fiendish’, ‘Shadow of Love’ and ‘Is it A Dream’ were all top 30 hits. It a was vindication on a commercial level a decade after having first started.

The following year the ‘Anything’ album was out, it also contained flashes of inspiration and after a full career retrospective release, ‘The Light at the End of the Tunnel’, the band undertook a variety of farewell tours.

After a 9 year absence from the studio ‘Not Of This Earth’ saw the light of day and later in 2001 ‘Grave Disorder’. was bankrolled by long time fan and millionaire OFFSPRING frontman Dexter Holland’s Nitro label.

Aside from Vanian and Sensible, the current line up has remained one of the most stable in The Damned‘s history

It’s been quite a journey for The Damned, 9 studio albums, countless compilations, over 12 singles, some 20 past members, numerous break ups and reformations, chaotic, messy and incendiary live gigs.

The Damned are only predictable in one way, you always know one thing for sure at a Damned show, it will rock!

Question: On which date and year did The Damned play their first ever gig together?

Click here to view the initial starting line-up for Indiependence 2012.

Taking place within the rural setting of Deer Park in Michelstown, Co. Cork from Friday August 3rd until Sunday August 5th 2012, Indiependence Music & Arts Festival returns this year to give us one of the tastiest line-ups they’ve had to date.

There are a number of different tickets available to purchase for Indiependence Music & Arts Festival 2012.

Tickets for Indiependence Music & Arts Festival 2012 are all available to buy through Tickets.ie

3 Day Camping Tickets are priced from €99

3 Day Non-Camping Tickets are priced from €79

Campervan Tickets are priced from €60

Click here to buy tickets for Indiependence Music & Arts Festival 2012.

Stay tuned to Music Scene for regular updates.

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What’s so unique about this image we hear you say?

Well, the picture displays The Beatles walking backwards (right to left) across the Abbey Road zebra crossing, which you can see on the original cover of their 1969 hit studio album release. Some notable differences when compared with the cover of their Abbey Road studio LP include the direction the band are walking, as well as Paul Mc Cartney wearing sandles, rather than walking (forward) in his bare feet.

Why not see if you can spot any more eh? See below.

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If this is your first time visiting Music Scene, why not become a fan of our Facebook and Twitter pages through the icons at the top of the page. Also, check out some of our great competitions by clicking here!

Tom Baxter will also be performing live in Galway, Cork & Limerick as part of his new Irish Tour Dates:

Saturday October 6th 2012 – Roisin Dubh, Galway

Sunday October 7th 2012 – Pavilion, Cork

Monday October 8th 2012 – Dolans Warehouse, Limerick

Click here to buy tickets for Tom Baxter performing live in Ireland this October 2012.

“I needed to recharge – physically and emotionally”.

After years of writing, performing, promoting, touring and not to mention producing a book & 10 original pieces of art for his last album ‘Skybound’, Tom Baxter was ready for some time out.

“It was a great and exciting time, but by the end of it all, I felt I needed a break from music, London and my career”. So off he went to India for the best part of a year.

“For the first few months I hardly touched the guitar but as the time went by it gradually became my closest ally again…’’

“India is a fascinating country, so completely unfamiliar in so many ways, full of contradictions and challenges and it certainly made me see life from a different perspective, which is what I really needed.”

“Ultimately I think everyone who goes travelling hopes that deep down that they might unravel a missing part of themselves, but after spending a fare share of time in ashrams and yoga retreats It wasn’t long before I realised that playing the guitar was my own sort of meditation.”

“I bought an old 1970’s Enfield motorbike and drove through the Himalayas with my guitar strapped on the back – I felt like I was continuously in my own road movie – and at the end of each day, having travelled endless dusty roads, I’d brush myself down, exhausted, crack open my whiskey flask and sit there playing the guitar until I fell asleep.”

On return, Tom Baxter made his way down to the South of Spain for a few months to follow up his yearning to study flamenco guitar and later wound up in Paris busking on the streets.

On arriving back in the UK, Tom Baxter moved all his belongings to the south Devonshire coast where he now lives, and has spent the first months of 2012 recording his third studio album in Los Angeles.

Tom Baxter releases his new EP in mid 2012 and an album to follow in later in the year.

Itching to get back on the road, his London show in June sold out in minutes. Some festivals over the summer, including Cornbury and Westport in Ireland, and then a big old tour of the UK come the Autumn.

Don’t miss Tom Baxter performing live on stage at The Academy in Dublin, Roisin Dubh in Galway, Pavilion in Cork, and Dolans Warehouse in Limerick this October 2012.

If this is your first time visiting Music Scene, why not become a fan of our Facebook and Twitter pages through the icons at the top of the page. Also, check out some of our great competitions by clicking here!