2003 in Irish music

This is a summary of the year 2003 in the Irish music industry.

Summary

July

* On July 16, R.E.M. played to a crowd of 16,000 at Marlay Park in Dublin, arriving on stage at 9 p.m. They were supported by Orager and Starsailor. [http://www.myrem.com/showthread.php?t=9285]

Bands formed

* The Blizzards
* Boss Volenti
* The Coronas
* Hal
* The Marshals
* Royseven (then known as Jove)

Bands disbanded

* The Cranberries "(hiatus)"
* Skindive [http://www.irishmusiccentral.com/skindive/news.html]

Bands reformed

* The Stunning

Albums & EPs

:"Below is a list of notable albums & EPs released by Irish artists in Ireland in 2003."
* "So Much for the City" - The Thrills (May 27 2003)
* "Forward" - Turn (May 30 2003)'
* "Music in Mouth" - Bell X1 (July 18 2003)
* "Square One" - David Kitt (September __ 2003) [cite web|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/2679016.html|title="David Kitt's album set to blast charts"|date=2003-09-12|accessdate=2008-08-22|publisher="Hot Press"]
* "Get What You Need" - The Undertones (September 30 2003)
* "Living" - Paddy Casey (October 17 2003)Unknown
* "My Sanctuary" - Autamata (2003) [ [http://www.thumped.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=18861] ]
* "Live from the Union Chapel" - Damien Rice (2003)
* "Hotel Room EP" - Fionn Regan (2003) "(EP)"
* "Set List" - The Frames (2003) "(Live album)"
* "The Roads Outgrown" - The Frames (2003) "(EP)"

Singles

:"Below is a list of notable singles released by Irish artists in Ireland in 2003."
* "Always and Forever" - JJ72 (February __ 2003)
* "Family Tree" - Paddy Casey (March 7 2003)
* "White Water Song" - Bell X1 (April 25 2003) [http://www.irishmusiccentral.com/bellx1/discography_singles.html]
* "Tongue" - Bell X1 (July 11 2003) [http://www.irishmusiccentral.com/bellx1/discography_singles.html]
* "Fake" - The Frames (September 12 2003)
* "Saints and Sinners" - Paddy Casey (October 3 2003)
* "Snakes and Snakes" - Bell X1 (October 6 2003) [http://www.irishmusiccentral.com/bellx1/discography_singles.html]
* "The Lucky One" - Paddy Casey (December 5 2003)

Date unknown
* "Spitting Games" - Snow Patrol (2003)
* "One Horse Town" - The Thrills (2003)
* "Big Sur" - The Thrills (2003)
* "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)" - The Thrills (2003)
* "Don't Steal Our Sun" - The Thrills (2003)

Festivals

Witnness 2003

* Witnness 2003 was the fourth and final Witnness festival to take place. It took place in a new venue, Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare on Saturday July 12 and Sunday July 13. Acts to appear included Coldplay, Damien Rice, The Frames, The Cardigans, The Walls, The Streets, David Gray, Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals, The Polyphonic Spree, Röyksopp, The Coral, Gemma Hayes, Mogwai, The Thrills, The Rapture, OK Go, Turn, Berkeley, Fionn Regan, Paddy Casey, Snow Patrol and Bell X1. The White Stripes scheduled appearance was cancelled due to frontman Jack White suffering a broken hand. The Flaming Lips were stepped up the bill to replace The White Stripes and delivered a well-received set which included a version of White Stripes' single "Seven Nation Army". [http://www.virtualfestivals.com/festivals/event/193]

Heineken Green Energy

* Heineken Green Energy took place for the 8th year in 2003. It was held in Dublin over the May Bank Holiday weekend. 2003's venues included Dublin Castle, the Ambassador, Temple Bar Music Centre, The Village and Whelans as well as 20 other key music venues in Dublin City. Over the weekend approximately 40,000 people attended in excess of 17 live gigs. Musicians to play the 2003 festival included Groove Armada, Moloko, Craig David, Stereophonics and Beck. [http://www.checkout.ie/DrinksNews.asp?ID=17]

Slane 2003

* Slane 2003 took place on Saturday August 23 and was headlined by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Support came from Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Feeder, Morcheeba and Halite. Tickets sold out 2 and a half hours after going on sale. [http://www.nireland.com/petercdonnelly/concerts.htm]

Music awards

2003 Meteor Awards

The 2003 Meteor Awards were hosted by comedian Dara Ó Briain on February ?, 2003. [http://www.meteor.ie/misc/MIMA.html#2003]

* Best Irish Male: Mundy
* Best Irish Female: Carly Hennessy
* Best Irish Band: U2
* Best Irish Album: "Skylarkin'" - Mic Christopher
* Best New Irish Act: The Thrills
* Best Folk/Traditional Act: John Spillane
* Best Country/Roots Artist: Jerry Fish
* Best Irish Pop Act: Westlife
* Best Irish Dance Act: Luke Thomas
* Best Live Performance: Red Hot Chili Peppers (Lansdowne Road 2002)
* Best Irish DJ: Ian Dempsey
* Hope For 2003: Rubyhorse
* Best International Band: Coldplay
* Best International Male: Eminem
* Best International Female: Avril Lavigne
* Best International Album: "By the Way" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
* Lifetime Achievement Award: Bob Geldof
* Humanitarian Award: Bono
* Industry Award: Phil Coulter

References

External links

News
* [http://www.hotpress.com/ Official "Hot Press" website]
* [http://www.muse.ie/ MUSE.ie] Festivals
* [http://www.oxegen.ie/ Official Oxegen website]
* [http://www.electricpicnic.ie/flash.html Official Electric Picnic website]
* [http://www.budrising.ie/ Official Bud Rising website]
* [http://www.heinekenmusic.ie/index1.php Official Green Energy website] Other
* [http://www.imro.ie/ Official IMRO website]
* [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/ Official 2fm website]
* [http://www.mcd.ie/home/splash.php3 Official MCD website]
* [http://www.aikenpromotions.com/ Official Aiken Promotions website]