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BLARNEY STONE IRISH BAR has featured 150
different SL artists and 100 different
live music festivals and simulcasts since January 28, 2006
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AMAZING GRACE Cylindrian Rutabaga charms
the crowd at a Dublin in SL Live Music Showcase.
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BY CHER HARRINGTON
It's 2009, a new year with new goals, new heights to climb, and a time to reflect briefly on the past. I was asked about the history of live music in SL to catch a glimpse of our musical heritage and our foundation for the future.
I asked Sitearm Madonna, Project and Development Manager for Dublin in SL, “How long has the Blarney Stone been hosting live music in SL?” "Gah," she replied, then thought:
"OK, the FIRST live music event ever in the Blarney Stone was January 28th and 29th 2006. It was the 'Cyberland Music Fest' with Alyssa Suavage, Flaming Moe, Astrin Few and Frogg Marlowe. OMG we learned a LOT from that, but people loved it!"
Madonna continues, “The Blarney Stone, guided by Ham Rambler, has become an institution for supporting the spirit of Live Music in SL, featuring premiere artists regularly, new talent relentlessly, and continued innovations in simulcasts and music fests."
"The Blarney Stone has promoted many artists, created many fans, and been many times imitated but never duplicated!”
Performer Cylindrian Rutabaga says, “The Blarney Stone was the first place that I performed in Second Life that was created based on a real world place. I love the fusion of real world with virtual world, and the Blarney Stone was my introduction to that.”
Musician Rich Desoto adds, "When I first arrived in SL I asked people where the hottest places for live music might be. They told me, 'Blarney Stone!' When I first saw the place, I couldn't believe the fantastic atmosphere. There were people there around the clock! I knew that I had to play this stage."
"I've enjoyed each performance in Dublin, from Blarney Stone, to Beatlefest, to Fibber Magees, to all over the properties. I can't wait to go back each time I'm invited to play."
In April 2006 Dublin hosted the “Dublin Rocks Grand Opening” with SL live musicians Paradise Popinijay, Nez Sleeper, Mel Cheeky, Russell Eponym, Pitney Doowangle, Jeff Tully, Cylindrian Rutabaga, Flaming Moe, Foxyflwr Cure, Kourosh Eusebio, Juel Resistance, Frogg Marlowe, and U2inSL.
In May 2006 the Celtic Lights Music Fest was held with Kazoo Twang, Wayfinder Wishbringer, and Keltish Band. Starting June 2006, Dublin hosted the first of its new weekly series, “Live Music Showcase”, with Paradise Popinjay and Chelle Fish. The series has run ever since with over 150 different artists now featured.
Not content with that, the first simulcast from the Blarney Stone Irish Pub in SL to the Bedford Music Pub in London RL was held in July 2006 with Frogg Marlowe. Frogg comments, “Being able to reach across this globe, and touch another soul with these simple songs of mine has been the realization of my dreams.”
UK artists began streaming each week live from the London Bedford Music Pub to the Blarney Stone in November 2006. A Stones Fest Birthday Party for Ham Rambler was organized in December which included Billy Thunders (organizer and performer), Rich Desoto, Elmo Balderdash, and Ricardo Sprocket.
Catch a Rising Star was also held in December to debut new-to-SL artists. The showcase included Jamba Losangeles, JimmyT49 Dukes, Johnny99 Gumshoe, Julian Vesta, Matthew Perreault, and Uncle Funky Shoes (UFS Hyde).
Johnny99 recalls, "I joined the line up for Catch A Rising Star in Dublin. It was a major event for me as I rocked, guitar blazing, headphones cranked, sharing the experience with a global audience of incredible music fans and performers!" The tradition continues today with new artists featured regularly with experienced artists.
More recently, in April 2008 Dublin premiered Let's Talk Music, a real world television chat show simulcast into SL, with Tony Moore hosting each week a panel of music professionals before a public audience on music-related topics. The SL audience was able to query the Let's Talk Music panel in Malta and be answered live, on air!
In addition to Blarney Stone Live music, Dublin in SL owns SL Live Radio, which started November 2007 with 30 artists and now 210 artists streaming 24/7. SL Live Radio is headquartered in Dublin 2 and features posters and kiosks of many artists on the station. A SL Live Radio Fun Quiz Kiosk is coming out shortly, available in the studio and many popular music venues.
A strong foundation helps assure a strong future. The Blarney Stone, with SL's other top music venues, assures that the Spirit of Live Music in SL will continue for years to come!
SIDEBAR
The list of SL Live Musicians that have played in the Blarney Stone and Dublin in SL to date is astonishing. From A to Z, these include:
Al Hofmann, Aisha Yao, Angel Stormwind, Ankari Holder, Andrea Teatime, Arman Finesmith, Astrin Few, Ayden Kruh, Azriahl Hax
BabbleGrabble Swindlehurst, BigJim Allerhand, Billy Mikoyan, Billy Thunders, Blindboy Gumbo, Blue4u Nowika, Brent Renard, BubbaC John, Burnt Benoir
CelticMaidenWarrior Lancaster, Chance Jampuler, Charles Coleman, Charlesey Llewellyn, Chelle Fish, Clayton Band, Curbguy Zerbino. Cylindrian Rutabaga, dakota7z7 Pluto
Dallas Horsefly, Dann Numbers, Dewran Wopat, DimiVan Ludwig, Djai Skjellerup, Doubledown Tandino
Eliz Watanabe, Elmo Balderdash, Elvis Duffy, Etherian Kamaboko, EvaMoon Ember
Flaming Moe, Forsythe Whitfield, Foxyflwr Cure, Friendly Fire Band, Frogg Marlowe and Jaycatt Nico, Funky Rang, Fyrm Fouroux
Grateful Stryker, Greg Colossus, Groucho March
Hep Shepherd, Hollivals Allen, Hugh Dench
Ictus Belford, Iriskaye Siamendes
Jackdog Snook, Jano Runo, Jaque Foggarty, Jase Branner, Jaynine Scarborough, Jasmine Usher, Jean Munro, JeanChristophe Chevalier, Jeff Tully, JimmyT49 Dukes, Joaquin Gustav, Johnny99 Gumshoe, Jon Bazar, Jordo Carnell, Juel Resistance, Julian Vesta
Kaklick Martin, Keiko Takamura, Keltish Band, KelvinBlue Oh, KevinMThomas Carpool, Kim Seifert, Komuso Tokugawa, Kourosh Eusebio, Krell Karu, Kyle Beltran
Luigi DiPrima, Lyn Carlberg Lyndon Heart
Madmax Huet, Marijkie Freenote, Mash Rhode, Mason Thorne, Matthew Perreault, Mauro Bender, Maximillion Kleene, Mel Cheeky, Melvin Took, MidKnight Auer, Mikelec Criss, Mimi Carpenter
Nad Gough, Neil Morrison, Niko Donburi, Niles Compton, Noma Falta, Norris Shepherd
Oldwolf Criss, orangelife Holmer
Pa Decosta, Pakito Crimson, Pam and Bill Havercamp, Paradise Popinjay, Patrick LaSalle, Peet Peterman, Phal Beaumont, Picker Apogee, PickerJohn Haystack, Pillowfish, Pmann Sands, Pocket Pfeffer, Produto Acabado Band, Professor Beliveau, Push Chandler
Quinton Whitman
Ray Weyland, Ricardo Sprocket, Rich Desoto, Ridha Cooljoke, Ronnie Carr, RoseDrop Rust
Shamanes, Shantu Selene, Shoe Spitteler , Silas Scarborough, Singerman Marquette, Skinny Shepherd, Soundcircel Flanagan, Spence Wilder, Spinning Mule, Srv4u Conacher, Starflower Orbit, Stella Silvansky, Swina Allen
TallGuy Kidd, Tarragon Pelous, The Born Again Pagans Band, Tone Uriza, Tony Moore, Torben Asp, Tpenta Vanalten, Tukso Okey
UKD Project, UFS Hyde (Uncle Funky Shoes)
Vincent Merricks, Virtual Live Band,
XanderNichting Writer
Zak Claxton, Zachariah Loon, Zaphod Theas, Zen Revnik, and Zorch Boomhauer
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ST. PATRICK'S DAY March 17 2008
simulcasts a Festival of New Irish Music live from New York City to
Dublin in SL.
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