The Lions Mane Is Coming

Following on from a successful acoustic debut performance at the last One Take Sessions (two weeks ago), The Lions Mane hits the stage in Cleere’s Theatre in Kilkenny this Saturday night (16th) for a debut full-band performance.

The Lions Mane is an idea that represents the thoughts and ideals of those who justify their actions with reflective clarity. The pursuit of music that is both rhythmical and melodic but always adapting to its own surroundings.

The progressive grunge-rock experiment was formed earlier this year by local musician Alan Dawson, Resident Engineer for popular music promoter KilkennyMusic.com. The band has already built a steady following of loyal fans in the online world with it’s own brand of melodic, riff-heavy songs filled with ambient guitars, layered vocals and highly percussive-independent rhythms.

To date The Lions Mane has released four tracks; ‘Leaf’, ‘Buddha’, ‘The Dragon’s Breath’ and ‘Pull It Out’ which were initially recorded with Dawson playing all of the instruments. The growing fan response to the tracks on MySpace and Bebo which have already garnered several thousand, quickly pushed him to recruit more band members in order to perform live.

The debut full-band performance will now feature members of other local bands PigeonHole and Chemical Addiction. Support on the night will come from Dublin-based progressive metallers Hero in Error, a band with features former members of the now disbanded Clergy and Waiting for Vega, as they also play their long awaited Kilkenny debut.

Following the upcoming gig in Cleere’s, The Lions Mane will release their debut E.P, ‘Strands’ near the end of August. The release will come just before heading back into the studio, this time recording as a full band, with initial plans to release a second E.P near the end of 2008 along with an official website and tour dates.

Doors open this Saturday night in Cleeres Theatre at 10pm, admission €5.

For more go to www.myspace.com/iamthelionsmane.