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E-mailLaunching Stars Via the Zodiac
Some of the biggest names on the Irish music scene came from the small folk clubs tucked within the side streets of Dublin. Damien Rice, Damien Dempsey, Gemma Hayes and Paddy Casey are just some of the stars that have sprung from this green folk revival.
Showcasing unsigned musicians since 2005, the Zodiac Sessions run every Wednesday evening downstairs in Dublin bar Bruxelles, located just off Grafton Street. Watched over by the statue of legendary Thin Lizzy lead singer Phil Lynott, Bruxelles is the kind of club that provides the launching pad for the next Damiens of the world.
Their "open mic" Zodiac Sessions have produced two volumes of an acoustic compilation called The Potential Collection.
Most of the tracks have nothing more than an acoustic guitar, giving the melodies plenty of room to breathe. While some artists on this disc may not want to quit their day jobs anytime soon, you would likely throw a few bob in each of their guitar cases if you passed them by in the subway.
Still, there are some diamonds in the rough in this gem of a collection, which was produced by Zodiac Sessions organizer Barry "Jazz" Finnegan.
"I started working in that bar and I knew some of the musicians," Jazz explains. "I worked in some other pubs before where we did showcases of new music and was able to bring some of the musicians here.
"I went to the owner and thought there might be something mutually beneficial. There are three bars in Bruxelles, and one of them was not being used of a Wednesday night. We started it and then it got to be some huge crowds showing up and from there it snowballed."
Finnegan is not only producing music for the bands on the stage; he has an elaborate promotional system that makes the most out of online marketing.
"I built a website for Zodiac Sessions, recorded video of the performers and uploaded them. We have up to 200 videos there now. The artists can then upload their videos on Myspace or their Youtube pages. It is as much a benefit to me as it is to them."
The Zodiac Sessions have become one of the premier showcases in Dublin within a very short timeframe, and has even drawn the attention of the international community.
"We have musicians from Europe and Canada drop by as well," says Finnegan. "The back drop is the Zodiac Sessions, so when the artists in those countries show it to their fans back home we get visibility.
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