The Raw Sessions
Encyclopedia
The Raw Sessions is an Irish
interactive music television programme broadcast on RTÉ Two
in 2009. The country's first ever rockumentary
series, it is presented by Dez Ryan and follows the attempts of eight musical acts to write and record an original composition in the space of twelve hours. It is produced by Lotus Media.
The Raw Sessions commenced broadcast on 12 May 2009. Episodes are broadcast late on Tuesday nights and repeated late on Saturday nights.
Each week the two recorded tracks are made available for download, with downloads counting towards the Irish Singles Chart
. Tracks were recorded in destinations such as Sun Studios in Temple Bar, Dublin
, Windmill Lane Studios
on Ringsend Road, Dublin, and Grouse Lodge
in County Westmeath
. There was also a celebrity episode which featured more established musicians recording a cover version
for charity.
Eight acts took part in the show. These were Dirty Epics
, Hoarsebox
, The Infomatics
, Majella Murphy
, Noise Control
, R.S.A.G.
, Sickboy and Sweet Jane. The four acts which made it to the semi-finals recorded a track at Grouse Lodge. The top three from that vote progressed to the final at the Button Factory in Dublin.
The winning artist was awarded the title Sony Ericsson Artist of the Year.
journalist Una Mullally, Phantom FM
presenter Sinister Pete and Hot Press
editor Niall Stokes
. R.S.A.G. won the first heat and a prize of recording an original track at Grouse Lodge.
The second episode was broadcast on 19 May 2009 and featured Dirty Epics and Sickboy. Dirty Epics won with their track "All Time Favourite" which beat Sickboy's "Yellow Moon".
The third episode was broadcast on 26 May 2009 and featured The Infomatics and Noise Control. The Infomatics progressed to the semi-final at Grouse Lodge.
The fourth episode was broadcast on 2 June 2009 and featured Hoarsebox and Majella Murphy. Majella Murphy progressed to the semi-final at Grouse Lodge.
at Windmill Lane Studios. The song was released on 22 May 2009 in aid of the Irish Youth Foundation and was performed on The Late Late Show
later that day. Calling themselves The Troublemakers, they featured Kevin Godley
, Brian Hogan
and members of bands such as 10cc
, Horslips, The Blizzards
and Republic of Loose
. The track was produced by Lance Hogan of Kíla
.
The seventh episode was broadcast on 23 June 2009 and featured The Infomatics and Majella Murphy. They recorded "Let Me Fly" and "From the Sun" respectively with producers Lance Hogan and Michael Keeney and producer duo Arveene and Misk at Grouse Lodge.
The three acts with the most votes (and downloads) progressed to the final.
said beforehand that "the launch of any new music series on Irish television is something to be applauded" and the show seemed "particularly interesting".
Jim Carroll
of The Irish Times
praised the idea behind the show but was critical of its execution which he called a "hames" and the interactive part of the show which he said would induce a "collective groan around the nation". He was dissatisfied at the length of time—half the show—it took to introduce the bands and criticised the amount of time spent on "capturing the “personality” of the acts". Carroll was also critical of Ryan for his lack of presentational clue and his ignorance of the acts involved. Furthermore, he disagreed with the concept of RTÉ owning the rights to all the recorded tracks for one year.
Competing artist R.S.A.G. said The Raw Sessions was "a great thing".
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
interactive music television programme broadcast on RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
in 2009. The country's first ever rockumentary
Rockumentary
The term rockumentary is a neologism denoting a documentary about rock music or its musicians. The term was used by Bill Drake in the 1969 History of Rock & Roll radio broadcast, and by Rob Reiner in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap....
series, it is presented by Dez Ryan and follows the attempts of eight musical acts to write and record an original composition in the space of twelve hours. It is produced by Lotus Media.
The Raw Sessions commenced broadcast on 12 May 2009. Episodes are broadcast late on Tuesday nights and repeated late on Saturday nights.
Each week the two recorded tracks are made available for download, with downloads counting towards the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
. Tracks were recorded in destinations such as Sun Studios in Temple Bar, Dublin
Temple Bar, Dublin
Temple Bar is an area on the south bank of the River Liffey in central Dublin, Ireland. Unlike the areas surrounding it, Temple Bar has preserved its medieval street pattern, with many narrow cobbled streets. It is promoted as "Dublin's cultural quarter" and has a lively nightlife that is popular...
, Windmill Lane Studios
Windmill Lane Studios
Windmill Lane Studios, also known as the "U2 studio", is a three-storey music recording studio located in Dublin, Ireland. It is located on Windmill Lane, a small street just south of City Quay and the River Liffey and a little north of Pearse Station. It was opened in 1978 by Brian Masterson who...
on Ringsend Road, Dublin, and Grouse Lodge
Grouse Lodge
Grouse Lodge is a recording studio in County Westmeath, Ireland. Designed by Andy Munro it has two studios and living quarters in nine stone outhouses, integrating the existing 275 year old stone structure...
in County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
. There was also a celebrity episode which featured more established musicians recording a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
for charity.
Eight acts took part in the show. These were Dirty Epics
Dirty Epics
Dirty Epics are a four-piece Irish New Wave band formed in Greystones, County Wicklow, but now resided in Dublin. They are composed of vocalist Sarah Jane Wai, bassist Richard Power, guitarist Darren McCoy and drummer Alan Delaney and are managed by Nadine O'Flynn. They have performed at numerous...
, Hoarsebox
Hoarsebox
This Club is an indie rock band from Dublin, Republic of Ireland.The band formed in 2006 and consists of Johnny Holden , Philip Broadbery , Kieran Walkin and Max Carpio ....
, The Infomatics
The Infomatics
The Infomatics are an Irish hip hop musical ensemble from Dublin. They consist of Bugs, BOC, Steo and Mr. Dero. Steo's brother, Damien Gunn, was lead vocalist and saxman with DC Nien, a 1970s band who at one stage rivalled U2....
, Majella Murphy
Majella Murphy
Majella Murphy is a Kilkenny born singer–songwriter with critical acclaim.Born in 1973 she released one album in 2007 "Brave new world", the first Album globally to be released on a mobile phone by Sony Ericsson.-Music:...
, Noise Control
Noise control
Noise control is an active or passive means of reducing sound emissions, often incentivised by personal comfort, environmental considerations or legal compliance. Practical and efficient noise control is wholly reliant on an accurate diagnosis of what is causing the noise, which first involves...
, R.S.A.G.
R.S.A.G.
Jeremy Hickey is an Irish multi-instrumentalist from Kilkenny. He has three albums: 'Secret Class Tunes' Organic Sampler and the forthcoming Be It Right Or Wrong .Following a performance at Electric Picnic in 2008, he appeared on the television series Other Voices...
, Sickboy and Sweet Jane. The four acts which made it to the semi-finals recorded a track at Grouse Lodge. The top three from that vote progressed to the final at the Button Factory in Dublin.
The winning artist was awarded the title Sony Ericsson Artist of the Year.
Format
Two acts per episode have one day each to write and record an original musical piece. A public vote is used to decide who progresses to the semi-final. Four acts compete in the semi-final and perform at a live show in the Button Factory venue. The three acts with the most votes feature in the final broadcast and the one with the most wins the title of Sony Ericsson Artist of the Year.Heats
The first episode was broadcast on 12 May 2009 and featured Sweet Jane and R.S.A.G. who recorded the tracks "Black Eyes" and "All Along That Road" respectively at Sun Studios. Commentary was provided by Sunday TribuneSunday Tribune
The Sunday Tribune was an Irish Sunday broadsheet newspaper published by Tribune Newspapers plc. It was edited in its final years by Nóirín Hegarty, who changed both the tone and the physical format of the newspaper from broadsheet to tabloid. Former editors include Conor Brady, Vincent Browne,...
journalist Una Mullally, Phantom FM
Phantom FM
Phantom 105.2 is a Dublin based radio station, founded in 1996 as a pirate radio station. Phantom broadcasts under a contract awarded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland ....
presenter Sinister Pete and Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
editor Niall Stokes
Niall Stokes
Niall Stokes is the award-winning editor of the long-running fortnightly Ireland music and political magazine Hot Press based in Dublin. He has edited the magazine since 1977. He has been a longstanding champion of Irish music, most famously U2 in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s...
. R.S.A.G. won the first heat and a prize of recording an original track at Grouse Lodge.
The second episode was broadcast on 19 May 2009 and featured Dirty Epics and Sickboy. Dirty Epics won with their track "All Time Favourite" which beat Sickboy's "Yellow Moon".
The third episode was broadcast on 26 May 2009 and featured The Infomatics and Noise Control. The Infomatics progressed to the semi-final at Grouse Lodge.
The fourth episode was broadcast on 2 June 2009 and featured Hoarsebox and Majella Murphy. Majella Murphy progressed to the semi-final at Grouse Lodge.
Celebrity episode
A celebrity episode which aired as the fifth episode of The Raw Sessions on 9 June 2009 saw several more established musicians record a cover version of "Trouble with a Capital T" by HorslipsHorslips
Horslips are an Irish Celtic rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs based on traditional Irish jigs and reels. The group are regarded as 'founding fathers of Celtic rock' for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts....
at Windmill Lane Studios. The song was released on 22 May 2009 in aid of the Irish Youth Foundation and was performed on The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
later that day. Calling themselves The Troublemakers, they featured Kevin Godley
Kevin Godley
Kevin Godley is a British musician and music video director.He was born in a family of Jewish descent, and went to North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham....
, Brian Hogan
Brian Hogan
Brian Hogan is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a centre-back for the Kilkenny senior team.Hogan made his first appearance for the team during the 2004 championship and has become a regular player over the last few seasons. During that time he has won four All-Ireland winner's medals, four...
and members of bands such as 10cc
10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...
, Horslips, The Blizzards
The Blizzards
The Blizzards are an Irish band from Mullingar in County Westmeath. They were formed by Niall Breslin in late 2004, and also feature Dec Murphy , Justin Ryan, Anthony Doran and Aidan Lynch...
and Republic of Loose
Republic of Loose
Republic of Loose are an Irish funk rock band from Dublin. Formed in 2001, the band currently consists of lead vocalist Mick Pyro, bass guitarist and vocalist Benjamin Loose, keyboardist Darragh, guitarists and vocalists Dave Pyro and Darach O' Laoire and drummers and percussionists Andre Lopes...
. The track was produced by Lance Hogan of Kíla
Kíla
Kíla are an Irish folk music/World music group, originally formed in 1987 in the Irish Language secondary school, Coláiste Eoin in Co. Dublin. Kila's blend of Irish traditional music and World Music with a modern rock sensibility is generally credited with breathing new life into contemporary Irish...
.
Semi-final
The sixth episode was broadcast on 16 June 2009 and featured Dirty Epics and R.S.A.G. They recorded "White Out" and "Movement" respectively with producers Leo Pearson and Ken McHugh at Grouse Lodge. They had eighteen hours to record an original song.The seventh episode was broadcast on 23 June 2009 and featured The Infomatics and Majella Murphy. They recorded "Let Me Fly" and "From the Sun" respectively with producers Lance Hogan and Michael Keeney and producer duo Arveene and Misk at Grouse Lodge.
The three acts with the most votes (and downloads) progressed to the final.
Final
The final was recorded live at the Button Factory on 26 June 2009, with tickets made available the week before. It was broadcast on 30 June 2009. This featured performances from the top three artists; Dirty Epics, The Infomatics and R.S.A.G. The winner was announced on 4 July 2009, with the voting lines having shut at midnight the previous night. The winner was The Infomatics. They were awarded the title Sony Ericsson Artist of the Year and received a prize of one week of recording at Grouse Lodge, a package from Sony Ericsson and a feature on a flip-cover of the 16 July 2009 issue of Hot Press.Reception
StateState (magazine)
State.ie is an Irish website and formerly a monthly music magazine, which launched in March 2008 and folded in January 2009 having published a total of nine issues...
said beforehand that "the launch of any new music series on Irish television is something to be applauded" and the show seemed "particularly interesting".
Jim Carroll
Jim Carroll (journalist)
Jim Carroll is an Irish music journalist, blogger and editor who is currently employed by The Irish Times. He runs a blog titled "On the Record" for the newspaper....
of The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
praised the idea behind the show but was critical of its execution which he called a "hames" and the interactive part of the show which he said would induce a "collective groan around the nation". He was dissatisfied at the length of time—half the show—it took to introduce the bands and criticised the amount of time spent on "capturing the “personality” of the acts". Carroll was also critical of Ryan for his lack of presentational clue and his ignorance of the acts involved. Furthermore, he disagreed with the concept of RTÉ owning the rights to all the recorded tracks for one year.
Competing artist R.S.A.G. said The Raw Sessions was "a great thing".
External links
- Official site
- Page at RTÉ.ieRte.ieRTÉ.ie is the brand name and home of RTÉ's online activities, located at the URL http://rte.ie. The site began publishing on 26 May 1996. According to RTÉ, it operates on an entirely commercial basis, receiving none of the licence fee which funds much of RTÉ's activity. The site, it says, is funded...
- Interview with Dez Ryan (presenter)
- Photos in Hot PressHot PressHot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
- Cover featuring The Infomatics in Hot Press