Dublin acts in song contest contention

THREE Dublin acts have made it to the semi-finals of this year’s Le Crunch Apple of my Eye song contest.

The three contenders are Leah Tiernan (17) with her version of ‘Little Bump’ by Ed Sheeran, Northside band, The Rattling Kind with their cover of New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’ and Kayleigh Noble, the youngest contestant at age 13 with her version of ‘Wrecking Ball’ by Miley Cyrus.

They will join seven other semi-finalists from around the country, chosen from around 1,000 entries.

The Apple of my Eye contest returned to the airwaves on Today FM’s KC Show last month following the overwhelming success of last year’s competition.

During the semi-final stage five acts will be selected to perform at the final in The Sugar Club on March 7, which will be broadcast live on the KC Show.

The finalists will perform live on stage in front of a panel of judges and the 150,000 KC Show listeners.

Royseven and RTE star Paul Walsh and songwriter Roisin O will be helping decide who has what it takes to win the Apple of My Eye Song Contest 2014.

We managed to catch up with Ed from The Rattling Kind and Kayleigh Noble shortly after they found out they’d made it through to the final ten acts.

What made you decide to enter the competition?

Kayleigh:

“I was in the kitchen at home when I heard about the competition on the radio on Today FM. It’s my favourite radio station! I love singing. I have been singing for years since I could move my lips!

?

Ed, The Rattling Kind:

“To be honest, the few bob. We’re only a new band starting out and we fund everything ourselves. If we won the competition, we’d spend it on the recording of our debut album. It would be a nice start to it anyway and a few cappuccinos for the boys!

?

Who would make up your ideal band?

Kayleigh:

“My dream band would be myself fronting, One direction backing (just dancing really), Will I Am MCing, Grace Jones doing harmonies and myself and Katy Perry doing a mash up to ‘Unconditionally’!

?

Ed, The Rattling Kind:

“Emmm.. if it was a dead and alive kinda scenario and The Rattling Kind was non-existent, it would have to be The Dubliners back when they were at the height of their fame. Now, that had to be some craic..! haha

?

Favourite places in Dublin?

Kayleigh:

“Favourite place in Dublin is definitely Grafton Street; I love going there and watching the hustle and bustle, the street performers and the shops. I also love walking in St Stephen’s Green.

?

Ed, The Rattling Kind:

“The Bottom of the Hill, Finglas on a Thursday for ‘Coddle & Craic’ – you get a free bowl of coddle and the craic is also free. Craic meaning, live music and good banter that is..

?

?¢ For a limited time, the public can vote for their favourite cover version by logging onto the official Le Crunch Apple of My Eye website at www.ouitole crunch.com. The final five acts will go onto the final, which takes place at the Sugar Club in Dublin on March 7.