Island Records (1970's), Factory Records (late 70's), 4AD (early 80's), Elektra Records (mid 60's to early 70's), Stax (60's), Motown (60's), ZE Records (early 80's), Blood & Fire (90's onwards), RCA ("orange label" - mid 70's), Zoo Records (early 80's), Creation (early to mid 90's), Nude (mid 90's), Domino, XL, Rough Trade (present day).
Rubyworks was formed by Niall Muckian in Dublin in 2001. Niall was promoting the now famous Ruby Sessions acoustic evening in Doyle’s Pub.
The first release was by the forty legged groove machine which was the Global Funk Orchestra, fondly remembered for their late night Dublin Olympia gigs. However, the story really starts with a couple of Mexican guitarists called Rodrigo y Gabriela, who had left Central America at the turn of the millennium armed with two acoustic guitars and a taste for adventure. Niall saw them supporting Damien Rice at Vicar Street in Dublin and knew immediately that he wanted to work with them. (Niall was working with Damien Rice at the time helping him with the formative stages of his solo career). Rubyworks released “Re – Foc” in September 2002, and continues to manage Rodrigo y Gabriela to this day.
Rubyworks took its next step by releasing a new Hothouse Flowers (“Into Your Heart”) album in early 2004. Developing an international presence, the label helped established Irish acts like Aslan and Jerry Fish release their music outside of Ireland. The next major break through came later in 2004, when the second Rodrigo y Gabriela album – “Live Manchester And Dublin” – became the first wholly instrumental album to debut in the Irish album chart Top 10. (The album has gone onto to achieve platinum status). Rodrigo y Gabriela’s and Rubyworks’ local and international profile started to increase from this juncture.
In 2005, Roger Quail joined Rubyworks from the UK, having previously had long spells at 3mv (Oasis, Suede, Ministry Of Sound) and Sony’s SINE independent label development wing with a view to developing Rubyworks’ international profile. The label enjoyed further critical success with jazz ‘n’ blues maestro Nigel Mooney and Dublin melodic rockers The Devlins.
In early 2006 Tara McCormack joined Rubyworks to manage PR in-house and the label enjoyed its greatest success to date with the eponymous third Rod & Gab long player, which charted at 1 in the Irish album charts in February 2006, beating off the challenge of Arctic Monkeys and Johnny Cash. Extensive touring in the UK and Europe started to pay off for RyG and Rubyworks was there to develop and support them along the way. The label also released new albums from Leya and Koufax in the same year.
2007 saw Rubyworks busier than ever. With new albums from Sinead O’Connor, Moving Hearts and Foy Vance. Thanks to astute international licensing deals in North America, Australia, Japan, Europe, Mexico and South Africa, global sales of the self-titled Rodrigo y Gabriela album stand at 500,000 and rising.
2008 saw the ongoing promotion of Rodrigo y Gabriela around the world, bolstered by the release of 'Live In Japan' in the autumn. Rubyworks also released the new album from jazz / blues siren Mary Coughlan, plus further releases from Foy Vance, Sinead O'Connor (with Republic Of Loose) and Moving Hearts.
With a philosophy based on signing charismatic performers with amazing live ability and memorable tunes; Rubyworks is living proof that an Irish based independent label can flourish on both domestic and international platforms.
Hey, We're having a launch party upstairs in whelans for our debut EP "Dead Man's Dream" on friday night!! please join us! Best wishes The Whiskey Limbs:>
Hey, I've got a new acoustic demo up of my song "Snapshot Chronicles" up now. Feel free to listen, comment, and if you like it tell your friends. If not, that's cool too.
Every time that we listen & write music... play an instrument... dance... act in a play... or work in some audio/image/video engineering process... something is healing inside...
When we share it with friends... something is healing all over...
cada vez que escuchamos o escribimos musica... tocamos un instrumento... bailamos... o trabajamos en procesos de ingenieria de audio/imagen/video.... algo se sana por dentro...
Cuando lo compartimos con amigos... algo se sana en todas partes...
El Amor puede conducir... de manera simple... todo...
The Annesley House North Strand (Fairview) Dublin 3
The Hootenanny Launch Gig
2 Stages 6 Acts
Collaborations on the night from…
Matthew Devereux (from The Pale) Wally Page Stephen and Tony Boylan Mick Duffy and Niall O’ Shea Alan and Breda Trimble Q and more…
Kicks off at 8.30pm Admission: 5 Euro
Everyones welcome along-it's gonna be a great nite full of fun+frolicks, so come along+join us for lots of Hootenanny Maddness!!! Hope to see ye there, Emma, Q + Co. at The Qube Studio:)