Location: Cafe Sessions @ Chapter 1 - Main St. Cavan
Admission: Suggested donation: Waged €5 Unwaged €3
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Blue Valentines presents Up Close and Pumpin' A night with R.S.A.G at Café Sessions Chapter 1 Special Guest: Etáin Thursday: 17 December 8pm Adm: Suggested donation €5 unwaged €3 Assisted by Cavan Co. Council Arts Awards & The Anglo Celt. Rarely Seen Above Ground a.k.a Jeremy Hickey is a Irish multi-instrumentalist who has gained the reputation as one of Europe's leading drummers. He's been hand picked by various international acts including Grammy Award winning Xavier De Rosnay (Justice) and Cosmo Vitelli (I'm A Cliche label) as well as leaving an explosive trail on festival circuits at home and abroad. R.S.A.G. has been making waves since 2008 as one of the countries most talented solo artists with his organic, electronic, percussive sound. Live he experiments with a virtual band while his drums, vocals and sampler are mixed with an array of hypnotic imagery and silhouettes projected on-screen. His debut album ‘Organic Sampler’ received a 5 star review from the Irish Times as well as gaining a Choice Music Prize nomination. in 2010 Hickey worked with Leo Pearson (U2 & Elvis Costello) who produced the follow-up album ‘Be It Right Or Wrong. He has made numerous TV appearances at home and abroad including The Raw Sessions, Other Voices, The Late Late Show, The Saturday Night Show and opened for The Pixies sold out gigs at The Olympia, Dublin. His talents were globally recognised in 2011 when he performed Stateside at the SXSW festival and at various New York venues. Over the next 2 years Hickey toured extensively whilst splitting his time with the Parisian Electronic outfit Bot'Ox. Major gigs included Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, Calvi On The Rocks, Corsica and Electron Festival, Geneva. He also played the length and breadth of France including the Tsugi Festival and the renowned L’Olympia Theatre, Paris. In 2013, Hickey released the Rotate EP, his most successful material to date and received a huge response from on the Irish festival circuit. He continued to perform in France and on his return began collaborating with Jerry Fish, Cathy Davey and other well known Irish acts. Last year, his most accomplished yet, saw Hickey's two new tracks receive an enormous response ending up in every major 'Best Track Polls' of 2014. He also received a personal invitation from Grammy Award winning artist Xavier de Rosnay (Justice) to collaborate with Mehdi Pinson (DVNO) on a international project. Hickey is currently fine tuning new material with leading producer James Darkin (Kanye West, Rihanna, Hozier) resulting in a diverse mix that reflects this one-man-bands phenomenal versatility, evolving style and rapid progression. After his busiest festival season to date, his 3rd album is in it's final stages of completion with a new single set for release this Autumn. MEDIA / REVIEWS: R.S.A.G. is rumoured to be "one of the most innovative and astonishing Irish musicians around" - The Irish Times. One of the most talented mavericks on the independent scene, winning considerable praise and building up a devoted following - Hot Press Magazine The highlight of the weekend was R.S.A.G., whose quirky explosive sounds filled the tent and whipped the crowd up into one of the weekends more frenzied moments. Review from Castlepalooza 2013 - Entertainment.ie His grooves are extraordinary, a heavyweight percussive storm conducted by the lightest and finest of touches. Hickey's David Byrne-like yelp gives the album a touch of the Talking Heads, but there's nothing wrong with that. Out all this together and you have tunes that are compelling, dramatic and exciting - Jim Carroll, The Ticket. Among all of the musical treats we witnessed, we saved the best for last. Kilkenny's R.S.A.G. (or Jeremy Hickey to his mother) played an absolute blinder to a packed Body & Soul crowd. R.S.A.G. (Rarely Seen Above Ground), for the unaware, is a drummer/vocalist who sits solo on the stage and plays along with a musical backing track - and dear lord, was it ever amazing. Simply put, Hickey is one of the best drummers we've ever seen, perfectly blending awe-inspiring power and delicate, intricate touches behind his kit. Magic. -Entertainment.ie How can one guy and a drum kit fill a room and galvanize the audience on his own? Mesmerizing and sickeningly talented. If ever there was an artist who was genetically designed to be a rock star this is the man. Plays every instrument on his albums and enjoys and gives 1000% on stage every time. -Festival & Gig Guide Ireland If one thing was notable at Body & Soul it was how just one person on a stage can often bring SO much more than a band noodling their way through endless tune-ups and internal discussions. Jeremy Hickey is a man, a drumkit and a laptop live, but so much more. The instruments he plays (and they are manifold) are cleverly videoed and projected behind him as a live backing-track and he has the same magnetic performance gene as Toby Kaar, and is riveting to behold. His David Byrne-esque voice and sweaty precision drumming pumps the heart faster and sunglasses are falling off heads with the intense nodding going on. Early evening magic in the Midnight Circus tent - State Magazine Special guest: Étáin is a 17 year-old captivating singer/songwriter from Leitrim. Her eclectic styles emulate the wide range of her inspirations and influences. Shaped by music from The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Bob Dylan and the 70's punk movement, the product of Étáin's work is stunning to say the least. She has received regional and national airplay and has gigged extensively across Ireland debuting her demo 'A Faint Sense of Heaven' in The Cavern Club, Liverpool. "Her lyrics, melodies and work commitment floored me. As a scout I’ve never met a 16 year old like her. " - Ed Darragh, TV/Radio Producer.

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