The Lucky Caller No.9 is scheduled for release on October 24th
'The Lucky Caller No.9' is the long awaited first full length studio album from Ian Whitty And The Exchange. The record was produced by top Irish producer Ken McHugh (Dave Kitt, Autamata) and mastered by Dave Collins in Los Angeles (Bruce Springsteen, Janes Addiction). It was recorded by Ian Whitty And The Exchange in 2007 between the legendary Connelleys of leap in West Cork and Adda/My Sanctuary studio's in the hills of Wicklow.
The singles from the album 'Not On Your Side' and 'Houndstooth Shirt' have been playlisted on national, regional and college stations nationwide. 'Houndstooth shirt' also appeared on this years IMRO Tour compilation. Lush strings and brass dominate the indie pop arrangements of the new recordings and the up tempo nature of the songs marks an exciting progression from Ian's stripped back beginnings.
Since Ian's emergence, he has been a highly active figure in the thriving Cork scene as well as being invited to perform with many of the luminaries of the Irish scene including Declan O Rourke, Bell X1, Josh Ritter, Damien Rice, The Frames and Roderigo y Gabriella.
Ian is a songwriter who firmly believes in craft and in always placing substance over style. He is most often praised for his distinctive vocal delivery and lyricism that manages to be urgent, humorous and razor sharp without ever sacrificing the storytelling that underpins his songs.
Ian Whitty and The Exchange were recent winners of the Hotpress/Tisch video
competition and had a video made for 'Not On Your Side'. The video is
currently up for viewing on www.hotpress.com
Ian Whitty And The Exchange were also amongst the first acts to be selected
by Alison Curtis of Today FM in her Ireland Rocks section where she gives
the thumbs up to the cream of up and coming Irish Acts.
Praise for Ian Whitty And The Exchange:
Just when you thought the one guy and a guitar formula was done? He is so
much more! ~Alison Curtis, Today FM.
A set of such sterling quality you?d be forgiven for thinking he has a huge
back catelogue of classics to call upon. It bodes well for his forthcoming
album. ~Don O Mahony, The Evening Echo
Ian Whitty has managed to carve out a personality, a sense of identity and
idiosyncrasy, which is becoming increasingly difficult to do within the
Irish scene. ~Tanya Sweeney, Hot Press
The Lucky Caller No. 9 promises to lengthen the breadth of the folk rock
realm. ~Shilpa Ganatra, The Scene (Irish Daily Star).
Ian Whitty's new stuff sounds bloody good!? ~Michael Carr, 96fm - The Green
Room
Not On Your Side is a great pop song, and we will be hearing a lot more from
Ian Whitty ~Alan Jacques, 95fm - Green and Live
I love it! Its different and different works for me? ~Roddie Cleere, Irish
Nightlife WLR FM
Ian Whitty and The Exchange:
Houndstooth Shirt is the first single to be taken from the Ian Whitty and The Exchange full length debut album. The song was written about a shirt that Ian bought in a thrift store in New York whilst doing some gigs there a couple of years ago. “I guess the song itself is about the feeling of promise and release that comes with a Friday after you have been dragged by the eye balls across your working week,” is what Ian himself says about the song.
The single features vibrant string and brass arrangements, and was recorded by Ian Whitty and his band ‘The Exchange’ with top Irish producer Ken Mc Hugh last year.
News 21/03/2008
Hey Folks,
Here is some news regarding the new single and tour.
All the very best,
Ian.
• ‘Houndstooth Shirt’ will be available for download from iTunes, eMusic and indiestore from April 18th 2008.
Ian Whitty: Houndstooth Shirt.
Tour Dates.
March 27th Limerick. Dolans Upstairs. Green And Live Gig for Live 95FM with Ian Whitty and The Exchange/Deaf animal orchestra/Walter Mitty and the Realists.
April 5th Cork. Cyprus Avenue. IMRO tour 2008. Ian Whitty and Strings.
April 17th Cork. Roundy Rooms. Ian Whitty and The Exchange 'Houndstooth Shirt Single Launch' with Supermodel Twins.
April 23rd Galway. The Crane. Ian Whitty and The Exchange 'Houndstooth Shirt Single Tour' with Armoured Bear.
April 25th Oland Sweden. The Yellow Box. Ian Whitty performing as part of the Yellow Box music comtempory music from Ireland weekend.
April 26th. Oland Sweden. The Yellow Box. Ian Whitty performing as part of the Yellow Box music comtempory music from Ireland weekend.
May 4th Dublin. Bewleys Theatre. Ian Whitty and The Exchange 'Houndstooth Shirt Single Tour' with Armoured Bear time 9.00.
May 24th Mitchelstown. The Trevor/Bohan Literary Festival Ian Whitty Songwriter workshop time 9.00
News 23/12/2007
Hey Folks,
Have a wonderful Christmas, I hope the year to come brings you all bright and brilliant things.
All the very best,
Ian.
News 27/11/2007
Hey,
The good folks at the Síle show on TG4 have invited Ian Whitty to perform live in the show this coming Friday the 27th of November. It will go out between 6.30 and 7.00 o clock.
Past guests of the show have included Violent Femmes, José Gonzalez, Jack L, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Roesy, Mundy, Block Party, Maximo Park, Erin Mc Keown, Duke Special, Leya, Republic of Loose, Dark Room Notes, Ash, Dave Geraghty, Josh Ritter and Tom Baxter.
Thanks,
K.
News 24/10/2007
Hey All,
We have just made a preview of the New record available to purchase online at www.indiestore.com/ianwhitty . The record itself wont be out until the spring of 2008 but we really wanted to get something out there this year. The tour release which will be available at shows between now and Christmas features two new songs from Ian's new record and a live version of 'September it Heaved' from his last show in the Lobby bar in Cork City. Ian will be doing shows around Ireland between now and the end of December so keep checking the gigs page and myspace.com/ianwhitty for details.
Thanks,
The Metatron.
News 10/07/07 2006
Hey Folks..I hope the Summer has got you all under her wing....i'm heading back into the studio tomorrow to do a couple of vocals and after that we start mixing the new record...I'm really happy with how its shaping up..from time to time I will pop some of the new songs up on myspace so you can decide for yourselves...After the record is mixed we are going to book in some band and string shows for Autumn and Winter..I can't wait to start gigging again as it's been far too long since I did a good run of shows and I have also been really enjoying playing with the band recently.....take good care and God Speed..Ian
News 24/02/07 2006
Hey folks....we're back in the rehearsal room getting ready to do the second half of the record..we start recording again in March and should be finished well before the Summer is showing some leg..we will however be taking a break on Sunday the 25th of March to do a show in the Roundy room sessions in Cork City...the full band and strings will be there and we will be performing a fistful of my new songs..the doors for the show are at 8.00 bells..tickets are available from the roundy and are limited to about eighty...my special guest on the night is the excellent Armoured Bear(solo)...to hear a glimpse of what to expect go to www.myspace.com/ianwhitty and listen to 'While the drunken Jailor sleeps' from our August Recording Session last year....Take good care folks and God Speed...Ian
News 10/12/06 2006
I bid you all compliments of the season..I have a tit and a bit to relay before the coming of Santa and the birthday of Jesus...I will be heading back into the studio in January to do more work on the record..we are half way there now..to hear how things are shaping up pop by www.myspace.com/ianwhitty and listen to City Friend from our August recording session...before Christmas there are two little appearances which are as follows:
December 17th at The Tikki Lounge on Hanover Street in Cork city as a guest of the Tikki Social Sunday. Seeing as it is Christmas this one's a free gig.
December 20th at the sitting room Sessions in De Barras in Clonakilty as a Guest of Gavin Moore at his Christmas Special.
Take the very best of care..I hope you all have a really wonderful and peaceful Christmas and that his royal redness and his Elfin Kin deliver you something to smile at..God Speed..Ian
News 20/06/06 2006
Hey Folks I pray all is well with you...i thought i would convey some news trinkets for the mag pies amongst you...firstly I am delighted to recount that I wll be going into the studio in July to record some tracks..when these recordings will see the light of day is hard to say with any great accuracy as there are a few more variables involved this time round..in the mean time I have been featured on two new compilations of late.
The first compilation being 'magic nights at the lobby bar' which is a collection of 53 artists recorded live in the lobby bar in Cork city during 2005 as part of the capital of culture celebrations. My own track is a live recording of 'Houndstooth shirt' featuring strings,brass and no small amount of crowd particiation. If you want a listen it is to be heard at www.myspace.com/ianwhitty .
"Magic Nights in the Lobby Bar" is available at Virgin Records, The Living Tradition, Plugd Records, and on-line at www.madfortrad.com and www.livingtradition.com . It is also available at some of Cork's music venues; The Corner House, The Tikki Lounge, Charlies, Beale Street Blues Bar, An Cruiscin Lan, Cyprus Avenue, Old Oak and The Far Side.
The second compilation is one entitled 'The garden Sessions'. This record features 28 recordings done during the garden session festival in Birr last summer. Basically while you had a minute before or after your gig you would be recorded in a real sit down sing the song and be on your way sort of schematic. The result is some lovely stripped down versions of songs you may or may not already know. For my own part I sang 'she knocks me out' once and that is whats to be heard on the record. All proceeds of this record are in aid of The Irish Hospice Foundation. This record will be distributed by RMG so will be widely available from July 18th. Again if you would like a listen to this track check out www.myspace.com/ianwhitty
Take great care folks and God Speed..Ian
The Metatron
Here is an interview that Ian did earlier this month with Ciarán Ryan of the Limerick Independent:.
ian Whitty, Limerick Boatclub, Saturday May 6th
By Ciarán Ryan
There is an abundance of singer-songwriters in this country, and
unfortunately, the quality control level has slipped in recent years.
However, amidst all the Tom, Dick and Damiens, a couple of truly fine
talents have emerged.
Kerry native Ian Whitty, who is one such example, feels the crutch of being
stuck in this genre. "Being a singer songwriter sometimes feels a bit like
being the musical equivalent of a car clamper. There is this 'not
another one' attitude being expressed in the bigger Irish music press
right now. I know that comes from there being a lot of people doing the
songwriter thing at the moment, some of whom might sound samey or be
sub standard, but the same is without a doubt true of the band scene in
Ireland. I also think the reference points for being a songwriter in
Ireland are quite narrow. Sometimes I read reviews where people are
compared to someone on the domestic scene and there are forty different
international acts that I would reference before falling back on such lazy
comparisons"
Whitty has enough musical savvy for his work to stand out from the crowd. A
couple of years ago, he appeared with debut album "Will O' The Whisp" in
tow. Over the seven tracks on "Will O'…", Ian's particularly distinctive
vocal style surfaced. His proficiency as a lyricist cannot be understated,
and he agrees that there is an influence of both the literary and physical
landscapes of his native county in his lyrics. "I think that the songs are
like vessels for the words a little bit. I think that spending my teenage
years rambling around Kerry definitely resulted in songs like "Will o" and
the "Whimsical River" . I think there is a little bit of urban tension
present in there too like on 'The Neon Show' . I am also very happy with the
lyricism in the new songs. It all feels a bit more integrated with the
music, and if "Will o" sprung from the rural, then this new set of songs are
very much the older brother who moved to the city"
It seems that the aforementioned "Neon Show", the spoken word album closer
from "Will O…" that examined urban society has provided a thematic template
for the new material. "The songs have a lot going on in them that will
resonate with a lot of people. There is a lot of displacement in modern
living both geographically and emotionally. There has also been a swapping
of this expectancy on us to have an unfaltering belief in religion to an
unfaltering belief in the economy. I think alot of us are confused as
to why we are not more actively exploring something in between. I think
the new songs deal with some of those things from a personal point of
view", Ian adds.
As Ian mentions the new songs, you begin to wonder when they are going to
appear in some form of recorded fashion. Initially the plan was to follow up
"Will O' The Wisp" rather swiftly, but he explains that "time wears
faster shoes than I do so I am afraid I am in arrears with the next
instalment". There will be some recordings done within the next month, which
will have more of a band feel to them than Whitty's previous work.
This has been somewhat prompted by live performances over the past year or
so that have seen various members added to the ensemble. When Ian comes to
Limerick Boatlcub this weekend, he will be joined by a cellist and a
violinist. He explains why he decided to make the move: "I really wanted to
see how the songs would react to a bigger treatment. I'm very happy that it
has all added positively to the music. It gives it a bit of a kick and more
urgency. I think the
audiences have reacted really well to it, they have even started
dancing".
However, as he adds, it has yet to have had the impact of Dylan turning
electric. "No one has shouted 'Judas' or 'traitor' at me yet which is a
little disappointing in its own way!"
The Metatron
By all accounts the Roesy tour was a fine old how do you do. The next show is on in Limerick city in the Boat house on Saturday the 6th of May. Ian will be bringing strings with him to the show and will be singing a fistfull of new songs. Doors are at 9.00 O clock.
The Metatron
Ian will be opening for Declan O Rourke on Thursday night (the 06/04/06) in the Crane in Galway city. He will be performing solo. On Friday night he and the band will be in Whelans in Dublin with Roesy. Thanks.
The Metatron
Hey folks, the Seachtain na Gaeilge C.D has just been launched and is presently in the shops. I have recorded an Irish Version of a new song for the compilation. The song is 'Houndstooth Shirt' which translates as Léine cú Fhiacaile. The Full line up on the record includes;
2. The Saw Doctors - An Cailín Sin
3. The Frames – Pian agus Ciúnas
4. The Frank and Walters – Nua Eabhrac
5. Kíla / Oki - Tóg é go Bog é
6. The Revs – Tabhair Seans Dom
7. Emmet Tinley - Níos Gaire do Shona
8. Autamata – Leabharmharcanna
9. Q – Carol
10. Traic - Grá Mór
11. Ger Wolfe – Flaithis Dé
12. The Fuschia Band – Grá dá raibh
13. Ian Whitty – Léine Chúfhiacaile
CD2
1. Luka Bloom – Cathair Mhór Chicago
2. The Corrs – Bríd Óg Ní Mháille
3. The Waterboys - Síocháin Iona
4. John Spillane – Éist do Bhéal
5. Rónán Ó Snodaigh – Bhí mé Ann
6. The Pale - Féileacán
7. Lisa Hannigan - Banríon mo Chroí
8. Roesy - Ná Bí faoi Scáth
9. The Mongrels – Reo/Crannlaoch
10. Susan McKeown agus Róisín Chambers – Dó Ín Dú 11. Conor O’Tuama – Chomh Fada lem' Bheo 12. Ross Breen - Ailleacht 13. Morgan The Bouncer - Rapsódaí i gKay Hay (Cé hÍ Kay Hay Mix)
Here's the press;
CEOL ’06 contains a selection of breathtaking songs in Irish put together by some of the best singers and bands in the music industry. The Irish language belongs to all and these CDs show that there are many different ways to use it. All profits from these CDs will be donated to Concern to help with educational projects in Mozambique (last year we raised €20,000 for Mozambique and this year we believe that we can double the amount with your help!). The double album will be released on the 3rd of March 2006.
Is bailiúcháin é CEOL ’06 d’amhráin Ghaeilge den chéad scoth atá curtha le chéile ag cuid de na hamhránaithe agus bannaí ceoil is fearr atá ann. Is linne ar fad an Ghaeilge agus taispeánann na dlúthcheirníní seo go bhfuil an iomaí bealaí ann gur féidir úsáid a bhaint aisti. Rachaidh gach brabús ó na dlúthcheirníní seo chuig Concern chun cabhrú le cúrsaí oideachais i Mósaimbíc (anuraidh d’éirigh linn €20,000 a bhailiú do mhuintir na Mósaimbíc agus i mbliana táimid cinnte gur féidir linn an méid sin a dhúblú le do chabhair!). Beidh an albam dúbailte ar fáil sna siopaí ceoil ón 3 Márta 2006.
Tabhair aire..le gach dea-ghuí..ian
January/February 2006
I hope all is the right way up now that the new year is playing with her rattle..i have news to relay;
Secondly I was equally delighted to get a call from Roesy asking me and the band to open for him on four of his 'colour me colourful' tour dates. The tour wil promote his new record 'colour me colourful'. I have heard the demo's and it rocks entirely. For our part we will be playing some new songs and arrangements...the dates are thus;
Sat 25/03/06
Roesy and band, The Half Moon, Cork. Support by Ian Whitty and band.
Tue 28/03/06
Roesy and band, Roisin Dubh, Galway. Support by Ian Whitty and band.
Sat 01/04/06
Roesy and band, Dolans, Limerick. Support by Ian Whitty and band.
Fri 07/04/06
Roesy and band, Whelans, Dublin. Support by Ian Whitty and band.
Thirdly I hope the year to come brings all your heart desires.
Take the very best of care folks and god speed..ian
December 2005
Seasons greetings to all the elfin lads and ladies. The itty bitty Whitty Committee would like to sincerely thank everyone for their support this year. Thanks for coming out to the shows and for all your posts in the forum. We hope to be bigger and brighter in the new year. I hope you all have a truly wonderful Christmas with equal measures of hush and hectic. In the knowledge that it can be a ragged time of the year for some I have drawn up a Winter/Christmas survival kit.
5 folk records to get you through the Winter.
The be good Tanya’s: Blue horse.
Terry Callier: The new folk sound of Terry Callier.
Kate Rusby: Underneath the stars.
Dick Gaughan: Handful Of Earth.
Tim Buckley: Dream letter.
5 other records to get you through the Winter.
The Bill Wells trio: Also in white.
Arcade Fire: Funeral.
Martin Finke: Crown Time.
Belly: Star.
The Cure: Disintegration.
5 tunes to get you through the Winter.
The Bad Plus: Flim.
Ron Sexsmith: There’s gold in them hills.
Dar Williams: The nuclear family.
Paddy Casey: Winter’s fire.
Angelo Badalamenti: Laurens Walking.
5 books to get you through the Winter.
Michael Ondaatje: Coming through slaughter.
Richard Brautigan: So the wind wont blow it all away.
Anne Michaels: Fugitive Pieces.
Noam Chomsky: Understanding power.
Catherine Donnelly: A gathering light.
5 films to get you through the Winter.
The Straight story.
Winged Migration.
American splendour.
Some like it hot.
Once upon a time in the west.
5 beverages to get you through the Winter.
Red wine.
Peppermint tea.
Anything containing caffeine.
Hot port.
Hot Whiskey.
Take great care of yourselves folks and God Speed...Ian
Septmeber/October 2005
Adieu folks and God speed.
Ian.
AUGUST 2005
August 17th: The Garden Sessions in the Chestnut Bar Birr with Roesy as Host,(an amazing little festival with a secret line up, well not entirely secret now that I've let the old cat out of the bag..oops..My band will be there too..oops again)
August 19th: The granary, Killarney, A hometown Headline show with full band and special guests.
I'd like to thank every one who made it down to the last lobby show. Thanks for singing along and bringing that lobby magic in with you. I am really going to miss the place. Over the years I've often thought that if I were a doctor I would put the lobby on prescription. Take one dose weekly until symptoms ease. It was always a really honest room to play in, you generally always got back what you put in, you were never left blowing kisses in the dark. It always seemed like people were genuinely out for a good night and on your side. Thanks so much to all the lobby staff for treating me so kindly over the years. The sound and alcohol mechanics, the door and office folk, the tradders downstairs, the singers poets and bands, the sirens, but most of all thanks to Pat Conway. Pat Conway has nurtured some of this country's most talented artists and given them a stage when other places didn't really give a fuck because they weren't pulling in the crowds. Pat knows good music when he hears it. That's why alot of people own rooms and why Pat Conway has owned a venue. I wish him the very best of luck with all his future endeavours whether they be musical or otherwise.
God Speed folks.
Ian.
JUNE/JULY 2005
On Thursday the 21st of July I will be doing a show in the Lobby. It will be my last ever show there due to the closure of the same venue at the end of July. The Lobby has been a sort of musical home to me over the last few years so I will be deeply saddened to see it go. On the night I will be joined by some strings and brass and I also have some new songs cooling on the window sill for the occasion. My special guest on the evening will be Q. Tickets for the gig are available from the Lobby and are regretably limited to 50. It will be an absolute pleasure to sing in the lobby one last time.
Thanks to everyone who made the recent Spiegel tent show, it was a real treat to sing songs in such an amazing venue. Thanks also to everyone who popped along in Birr, Roundstone and Dublin too. It has been a really enjoyable tour outside of the fact that I sometimes got to feeling like a half man half car cyborg.
God Speed folks and take good care.
Ian.
May 2005
You are most welcome to the new site. The Itty Bitty Whitty Committee felt it was time for a change...anyway I will leave the key under the mat so do call around for the odd how do you do.
I am delighted to tell you all that I will be performing a double bill with FRED as part of the Midsummer Festival that will be taking place in Cork this June.
The show will take place in The Spiegeltent on Wednesday June 15th. I will be doing the show with my new band. This will be the first show we will do in Cork city. The doors are at 7pm and we will be on stage at 8.00pm sharp as it is an early show. Full details about this show and others are to be found on the gigs page.
God Speed folks and take good care.
Ian.
April 2005
I have a bit and a bob to be recounting.
I will be doing a headline show in Dublin on Wednesday the 11th of May, my very special guest on the night will be Q. I will be doing the show with my new band. It's on upstairs in the Stags Head and the doors are at 8.00 bells.
There are a few other things in the pipeline so keep checking the gigs page.
The Message board is having some me time at the moment for some unknown reason but we have dispatched all sorts of internet wizards and mechanics to sort it out. Apologies to all but we hope to have it up and running real soon.
God Speed folks,
Ian.
March 2005
I have some tales for the telling.
I will be doing some shows in March and April so far they are as follows;
Thursday March 10th, Killarney, The Granary, with Fred.
Saturday March 19th, Athlone, Dan Crowe Theatre, with Declan O'Rourke.
Sunday March 27th, Tralee, Siamsa Tire, with Declan O Rourke.
Sunday April 17th, Cork City, Triskel Arts Centre, AFTERNOON SHOW, All ages show with the Shades, Siobhain Oliver, Rory Mc Donnell and Alan Murphy.
Sunday April 17th, Clonakilty, De Barras, EVENING SHOW, Headline Show.
Wednesday April 20th, Galway, Inner ear, Headline Show with Details TBC.
We have one or two more shows to confirm so i'll update the gigs page as the news comes trickling in.
I have started rehearsing with some very talented musician types. The plan is to do some shows with them before the Summer is babbling. In other happenings there is one or two new songs cooling on the window sill so I will be putting them in my spotted napkin for the tour.
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs,
God Speed folks,
Ian.
February 2005
Thanks so much to everyone who came to the United Cork benefit for the Asian disaster...the show completely sold out and there was over 23,000 euro raised...It was a great privilege to be a part of it.
In other news I will be opening for Mark Geary on Friday the 18th of February in the lobby...Mark is also playing on the Thursday night (the 17th).
We have bought some chalk and a black board and when we are not drawing pictures of houses with square windows and smiley suns we are making some plans for March and April.
Mind the buses,
God Speed folks,
Ian.
January 2005
On Friday the 21st of January I will be performing at the Cork tsunami disaster appeal gig...the event will take place in the Savoy..others performing include Waiting Room, Fred, John Spilane, Ger Wolfe, Niall Connolly, Gavin Moore, Freddie White and the Frank and Walters...
Tickets for the event are on sale in Plugd records on Washington street and are twenty euro..there will also be tickets available at the door on the night with a donation system in place rather than the conventional fixed price approach..minimum donation is set at 20 euro..all the proceeds will go to Irish charities working in Asia with those most afflicted by the disaster...distribution of the funds will be overseen by a Cork accountancy firm to ensure transparency.
There has been an amazing response to the gig already and it promises to be a really great night.
Take the best of care,
God Speed folks,
Ian.
December 2004
I hope you have a wonderfull christmas and that you all get what you asked for(and a surprise)..
It's been a great year for the itty bitty whitty committee, thanks so much for all your support.
DECLAN O ROURKE has just invited me to be his special guest at his new years eve concert in Whelans so if your out and about in Dublin city that's where we will be....
Take great care of youselves over the holidays and I hope the year to come treats you all gently,
Ding a ling a ding a ding dong ding,
God Speed folks,
Ian
November 2004
I have some shows on the horizon that i am very enthused about..
I will be opening for MUNDY in the Everyman palace Theatre in Cork on Sunday the 14th of November..all the details for that show are available on Mundy's site which you can get to from my friends page.
On the 16th of this month I will be doing a headline show in the sally port (upstairs) in Limerick with very special guests NORTHSTATION and BILLY RAMSELL, it's in association with the arts college but everyone is welcome..the details are on the gigs page.
I will be opening for DECLAN O ROURKE in Whelans on the 5th of December..see declanorourke.com for details..i will add a link to the friends page in the next week.
There are also a bunch of lovely weather for a slay ride together christmas shows coming up in December which are still being confirmed on the tic tac toe..one which is definitely happening is in Killarney on the 23rd of December with exciting music band FRED. I'll put all the shows up on the gigs page as they get confirmed.
Exciting times for the itty bitty whitty committee indeed.
Take care folks and God Speed,
Ian.
September/October 2004
Thanks so much to everyone who came down to the benefit in Killarney last Saturday...(October 2nd)..it was a really great turn out and it helped to raise alot of money for the Childrens hospital in Crumlin and Kerry Life Education..you all looked very dapper indeed!..
I will be playing at the Eliott Smith tribute in The Lobby in Cork on Wednesday the 27th of October..I will be performing Eliott Smith songs on the night.
Other than that all is hushed...September is a surgeon..i have some new songs in the oven and the itty bitty Whitty comittee is hard at work under the stage so we will let you know as soon as we have any more news and the like..God Speed..Ian.
August 2004
Hello to every Anthony and Cleopatra...I have several tales to recount,
Firstly I wanted to say thanks so much to everyone for a lovely Summer of songs..to all of you that I met on my own tour the Fred Tour and Brendan O Shea's tour.
Thanks also to the lovely people of Birr for hosting such an amazing festival last week..there was two days of truly inspiring music all in aid of charity and it was indeed a great pleasure to be a part of.
A compilation of cork based songwriters has just been released..the record is entitled 'unlabelled' and features songs by Jason O Driscall, Jenifer Lomasney, Dylan Fitzgerald, Niall Connolly, Tessa Perry, Jamie Burke, Clare O Mahony, Paddy Herlihy, Annette Buckley, Killian Petit and a wayward young gent from Killarney called Ian Whitty...the compilation was recorded by Gary Goggin at Evolution studios..all the songs were recorded specifically for this project...for my own part I re-recorded a version of Two For Joy that is quite different from the Will O' the wisp version...there are some great songs on the record and it is well worth checking out ..more information is available at www.thelabelrecords.net
The next gig will be in The Boathouse in Limerick on September the 18th with my good friends Fred and Martin Finke.
Take great care folks and stay in by the wall....God Speed....Ian.
June/July 2004
Thanks so much to everyone who has been keeping me company on the tour so far and salutations to all the new friends that i've met along the trail..thanks too to those of you who have been requesting the Two for Joy/Dusty Angels single as it has been getting a good few spins about the place....
Remaining Summer gigs are as follows:
July 25th, Dingle, Mc Carthy's Bar (opening for Brendan O'Shea).
July 27th, Dublin, Whelans, (opening for Brendan O'Shea).
July 28th, Cork, The Lobby, (opening for Brendan O'Shea).
August 12th, Killarney, The Granary, Headline show with very Special Guest Mark Dignam.
August 20th, Ballycotton,The Blackbird, Headline Show.
Take good care folks and God Speed..Ian
May 2004
I had a lovely week of music and rambling in New York and Boston at Easter....incidentally New York is a great town to buy a watch in (battery operated and water resistant).....I saw a chiwawah in a hoody and i bought myself a new hat..i will put some photo's from the trip in the photo section shortly.
In other news Two for Joy/Dusty Angels will be released as a double A-side radio single at the start of June..so we will be sending it to all manner of tune spinning D.J folk....I will also be doing a tour shortly after its release..i have put a bunch of the dates up in the gigs section and I'll keep adding them as they get confirmed..I will be kicking off the tour in the Lobby on Saturday the 12th of June..as always it would be a pleasure to see you at the shows..
Take good care folks and God Speed..Ian
March/April 2004
last weekend the good folks at Ardan on Tg4 put me and 'will o the wisp' on the television..thanks so much to the Ardan crew for being so kind to me...
One of the songs from the record 'Dusty Angels' was included on the freakscene club compilation that was released in Cork City last month.
I will be doing the 'Songs From The Parlour' gig in Dublin on the 31st of March upstairs in the stags head..details are to be found in the gigs section..
On the first of April I will be stepping on to a metal bird and setting a course for the states for a week to do some gigs in New York and Boston....I'll put all of the details about those shows up on the gigs section as they become available.....if any of you have friends in the states who might be into going along to the gigs it would be great if you could pass on the word....
Adios and God Speed folks...Ian
January/Febuary 2004
I hope you are all in good fettle now that the year is young again....I have a few little trinkets of news...the record and I will be singing a pocketfull of songs in Cork, Galway, Kinsale, Dublin and Killarney over the next while....all the details are to be found on the gigs page...
There is also a bunch of radio sessions and the like on the horizon so i will put all the particulars on the gigs page as soon as i know them...there is an interview thing to be found on www.musician.ie....
anyway take great care folks and God Speed...Ian
November/December 2003
i hope the season of goodwill has left you all in a rested and peaceful disposition..its been a busy couple of months since last i wrote virtual tidings for the site...at the end of November the little record was released, it's still learning how to walk and talk for itself...thanks so much to everyone who came to the tour gigs to help me celebrate its birthday..i had some really lovely nights.....
I n case any of you are wondering the will o the wisp singalongwiththesongometer competition results are currently being tallied by the balloon man and the other carnival folk that live in my brain..they are an unpredictable people so its anyone's guess when we'll have a definitive winner announced...
in other news the record itself is available from the following consumer havens...
To buy a copy of Will o the wisp on line from Road Records click here.
To buy a copy of Will o the wisp by mail please send 10 euro to Whimsical River Records, Flat c, 2 Summerhill Terrace, Wellington Rd, Cork City.
Will o the wisp is currently available from the following outlets:
I have had a really great year of singing so thank you all so very very much for all the support and good wishes...i hope the year to come brings you all great joy....we'll see this season through...
take the greatest of care and God Speed..ian
October 2003
I've just finished making my debut record and I felt that it would be unpardonable remisness on my part not to inform you... The mini album will be entitled Will o' the wisp... Most of it was recorded in the honourable Steve Fanagans' bedroom, whilst dogs barked on the street and the neighbours children ran riot in the sunshine... There were train journeys, pizza, political discourse and no little amount of giggling involved... One of the tracks was recorded with the noble Ray Barron and another two were done in my good friend Ruairi O'Flatherys' studio in Killarney... Steve, Ruairi and I mixed and mastered it in recent weeks in Verdi Masters Studios...
I wanted to make a quite record so I've left all the giddy songs off this one... They'll be on the next one... Consequently Will o' the wisp is seven songs long... Those songs being Dusty Angels, Wait till the Morning, The Whimsical River, Build you Wings, The Neon Show, Two for Joy and Will o' the wisp...
Will o' the wisp will be launched officially in the Half Moon Theatre in Cork City, on Sunday the 30th of November... I shall be doing a bit of touring over the next while... I'll get out my virtual glue and paste details of the shows to the gigs section as they get confirmed...
I've put an MP3 of Dusty Angels from the record up on the site in the music section...
Take great care folks and I hope to see you all before the season grows much older...
God speed... Ian
News 20/05/06 2006
News 16/04/06 2006
News 04/04/06 2006
News 03/03/06 2006
CD1
1. Mundy – Meicsiceo
Firstly I was really thrilled to get a call from the good folk at Seachtain na Gaeilge asking me to submit an Irish language version of one of my songs for their compilation cd...The Seachtain na gaeilge festivities will be running from the 4-17th of March..the record will be released a little before that to raise interest levels..some of those featuring include the Frames, Mundy, The Frank and Walters and Emmet Tinley amongst a whole host of others..we dont have the details but we will put them here as soon as we do..last years compilation got to number four in the Irish charts..more information may be gleamed from www.snag.ie/
The Ian Whitty Winter/Christmas survival kit
Hey folks i hope you are all the right way up...things have been a little hushed lately..for the best part i have beeen watching the Autumn play strip poker with the trees.
There will be one or two scattered gigs this side of Christmas and other than that we are working on band and string arrrangements and playing with casio keyboards what make doggie sounds and the like, finishing some new songs and in general being all wintery.
Hey Folks..i hope your all merrily swinging from a choc ice.
A couple of gigs approaching at speed are:
A how do you do to every John and Sue.
I hope the Summer has got you whistling.
Courteous Salutations to one and all.
I hope you are all in good spirits now that the Summer is showing some leg.
Hey Folks..hope your all one step ahead of the shoe shine.
Hello to every Clark Kent and Lois Lane..I hope all is golden on your side of the divide.
Hey there..I hope you are all whistling a sunny tune now that the spring has come to coax the winter from our hearts,
Salutations..hope all is well now that the year is bright eyed and innocent,
Seasons Greetings to one and all,
Hey Folks..i hope all is well now that winter is the architect,
Hey Folks..i hope all is as it should be,
Hey Folks..I hope you are all in good fettle now that the summer has got us truly under her wing.
Felicitations to one and all....I pray you are all in high spirits..I have several lodgements to make in this months tidings installment..
Hello to every Billy the kid and Calamity Jane...i hope the spring time has delivered you all safely from the winters jaws...I've had a lovely month of shuffling in and out of various record shops and venues to sing songs with the little record...I met alot of old and new friends on the way....
Hey Folks...
Seasons greetings to one and all...
Cork; Plugd Records, The living Tradition.
Dublin; Tower Records, Road Records.
Galway; Mulligan Records.
Killarney; Roxy Records, Lee Records.
Kinsale; Roots Records.
Tralee; Road Records.
If you know of any shops that might be interested in stocking the record please send suggestions to ianwhitty@ianwhitty.net
"Songs don't like to be recorded any more than birds like to be put in shoe boxes or children like to sit still in barber chairs...", (Charles Schwab, from the liner notes of Tom Waits' Used Songs).