Forging links between independent musicians

Groove Tube with Jimi McDonnell  – tribunegroove@live.ie

The Galway Fringe Festival is bringing some exciting, independent music to The Loft, Bridge Street next Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28. On Friday, the Limerick-based collective DIY LK bring Casavettes and Van Panther to town.  Then, on Saturday, a triple bill of French Ketamine, 60-Watt Girl and Echo Harter come to the Fringe.

The nights are being organised by David Boland, the Galway-based musician who co-founded Citóg, a weekly independent music showcase which ran for seven years.

Next weekend’s gigs in The Loft follow other shows at this year’s Fringe from Galway’s Rusted Rail label and Mayo’s Umbrella Records.

“One of the main aims for this is to support DIY and independent music with a view to building connections between Galway and other places,” says David, explaining why he decided to put on four nights of shows during the Fringe.

“Especially with Galway 2020 around the corner, I think there’s an opportunity to make Galway a hub for the independent and DIY side of music,” he adds.

“So, I looked into it, and I was aware of Umbrella Records, who are a Mayo label. Their members have a lot of connections with Galway and some of them would have played Citóg back in the day. And I’d also heard a lot about DIY LK from Galway bands who’d played it, and the reputation it’s getting as a quality, regular platform and collective.”

In its seven years, Citóg brought some of Ireland’s best independent acts to Galway. It began in The Cellar, then moved to the Róisín Dubh. The showcase wrapped up at the end of last year, but the name and spirit live on with Citóg Records.  David is still an impassioned advocate for the independent scene and the sense of community that comes with it.

“It’s a shared ethos among independent music makers and record labels,” he says. “I think the most important thing we can do is reach out to each other, especially in different cities. Try to build the connection, because if you’re trying to make independent music and you don’t have anyone promoting it or managing you or booking you, meeting people of the same ilk so you can share practical things like that can help.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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