Lost Brothers find Benson helpful

MUSIC NEWS:Irish acoustic duo The Lost Brothers are recording with part-time Raconteur and solo artist Brendan Benson.

Following gigs at SXSW in Austin, Texas, the pair continued on to Nashville – where Benson is based – to have the singer-songwriter produce some new songs.

The Lost Brothers hail from Navan and Omagh, and are preparing the release of their second studio album So Long, John Fante, which was recorded last year in Sheffield with members of Richard Hawley's band. Their sessions with Benson are taking place in the renowned Welcome to 1979 Studios, and members of The Cardinals, Old Crow Medicine Show and Richmond Fontaine are lending a hand as backing musicians.

"Between Navan, Omagh and Texas, we've written a bunch of new songs," said Oisín Leech. "The Lost Brothers toured with Brendan last year, and I toured with The Raconteurs years ago in my old band. The recording sessions have been the most fun we've ever had in a studio, with crates of red wine, lots of very strange instruments and the oldest analogue gear we have ever seen."

The duo's US jaunt caught the ear of Roy Orbison's estate, who invited them to contribute a song to a forthcoming tribute album.

Sounds of the sea

Fans of music by the seaside are spoiled for choice this summer. The Cois Fharraige festival will take place from September 9th to 11th. The line-up and location will be posted on coisfharraige.com. The Sea Sessions (Bundoran, June 24th-26th) line-up includes The Go! Team and Bell X1. And the first Cold Pro surf’n’music festival is in Miltown Malbray, Co Clare on June 4th and 5th. Imelda May, Peter Hook and Jamie xx will perform.

Ireland’s first hall of famers

The Imro Academy, Ireland's answer to the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame, was launched this week. Its first inductees were Riverdance composer Bill Whelan and Brendan Graham, who has written several Eurovision-winning songs, as well as the lyrics to the much-covered song You Raise Me Up.

Whelan and Graham were given the special treatment with a ceremony at Dublin's Four Seasons Hotel, which also hosted the world premiere of their compositional collaboration The High Line, performed by Brian Kennedy.

There will be two inductees into the Imro Academy each year, which aims “to celebrate and mark the successes of Ireland’s iconic songwriters and composers who have made a very significant cultural and social impact in Ireland and/or internationally.”

“No creator goes out with the expressed intention of being a flag bearer for Ireland, but nonetheless, this is the inevitable consequence when their work resonates so powerfully with overseas audiences,” said chief executive Victor Finn. “The Imro Academy will celebrate Ireland’s creatives.”

Lips attempt a ‘Tommy’

The Flaming Lips, a band renowned for theatrical live performances, are planning a musical based on their album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Frontman Wayne Coyne told Billboardthat the project was in the "early stages of production" and that they were working with Des McAnuff, who brought The Who's Tommyto the stage. It will incorporate songs from the Oklahoma band's most recent albums.

ETC

Radio report:Contrary to last week's report, Radiohead's Record Store Day 12in release will be available in Ireland. There will be about 100 copies available nationwide.

Ten-acious: Adele's latest album has broken a record set by Madonna in 1990 – 21has been top of the UK charts for 10 consecutive weeks.

Island disc: Comedy band The Lonely Island release their second album Turtleneck Chainnext month, with contributions from Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Nicki Minaj.

App of our eye: David Bowie's Golden Yearsis to get its own iPhone app that enables users to remix the song. It's out June 6th.

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