Jape – Vicar Street, December 12th

This Chemical Sea is the critically-acclaimed top ten album by Jape, his fifth studio album to date.

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, and now calling Sweden home; Jape began as the solo moniker of Richie Egan – formerly of Redneck Manifesto – and has evolved over the past 6 years into one of the most exciting live acts in Europe.

The band broke into global consciousness in 2008 when The Raconteurs’ Brendan Benson encountered Jape’s track “Floating” while on a trip to Ireland. Benson loved it so much he would soon begin incorporating a cover of it into live sets. Jape found themselves supporting the Jack White-fronted supergroup on stages around the world, and having their track reinterpreted by the likes of Soulwax.

Jape’s regard within Ireland has reached levels unprecedented by musical peers, becoming the first act ever to win the regarded Choice Music Prize for Best Irish Album twice: first for 2008’s ‘Ritual’ and in 2012 for ‘Ocean Of Frequency’. The award has long been regarded as a launching pad for Ireland’s finest, with previous winners including Two Door Cinema Club and Villagers. The Jape live show has also become a huge event with Richie and his various band-mates conjuring an atmosphere of community and liberation. He stole the show at the recent Electric Picnic amongst some of the biggest international live acts in Europe.

This will be his first time headlining Vicar Street and an important occasion for Irish music.