A lemon orchard in the Upper Galilee in Israel.

A community apple orchard originally planted for productive use during the 1920s, in Westcliff on Sea (Essex, England)

Streuobstwiese, a rural community orchard, traditionally for productive use. Today endorsed for its quality of habitat and biodiversity

An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive purpose.^[1] A fruit garden is generally synonymous with an orchard, although it is set on a smaller non-commercial scale and may emphasize berry shrubs in preference to fruit trees.

Most temperate-zone orchards are laid out in a regular grid, with a grazed or mown grass or bare soil base that makes maintenance and fruit gathering easy.

Many Orchards where originally planted alongside Public Houses so that the fruit could be harvested to make alcohol, such as cider and wine. Many traditional pubs still maintain their orchards as to keep with tradition but alcohol is rarely made from its fruit. The Old Orchard in Devon still produces cider from its orchard.

Orchards are often concentrated near bodies of water, where climatic extremes are moderated and blossom time is retarded until frost danger is past.

The forest garden is a food production system that is closely related to the orchard. A move towards more ecologically-friendly coffee production has led to forest-garden production of coffee. Brazil nuts and rubber are produced in such a method in some areas.

Often, mixed orchards are planted. In Europe, quince is sometimes planted along with apples.

Meadow orchard (Streuobstwiese)[link]

Streuobstwiese (pl. Streuobstwiesen) is a German word that means a meadow with scattered fruit trees or fruit trees that are planted in a field.^[2] Streuobstwiese, or a meadow orchard,^[3] is a traditional landscape in the temperate, maritime climate of continental Western Europe. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Streuobstwiesen were a kind of a rural community orchard that were intended for productive cultivation of stone fruit. In recent years, ecologists have successfully lobbied for state subsidies to valuable habitats, biodiversity and natural landscapes, which are also used to preserve old meadow orchards. Both conventional and meadow orchards provide a suitable habitat for many animal species that live in a cultured landscape. A notable example is the hoopoe that nests in tree hollows of old fruit trees and, in the absence of alternative nesting sites, is threatened in many parts of Europe, because of the destruction of old orchards.^[4]

Crops[link]

Layout[link]

At the Orchard painting by Canadian Artist

An orchard's layout is the technique of planting the crops in a proper system. There are different methods of planting and thus different layouts. Some of these layout types include:

1. Square method
2. Rectangular method
3. Quincunx method
4. Triangular method
5. Hexagonal (or Equilateral triangle) method
6. Contour (or Terracing) method

For different varieties, these systems may vary by some extent.

Orchards by region[link]

Apple orchards in Azwell, Washington surrounding a community of pickers' cabins

Sour cherry orchard on Lake Erie shoreline (Leamington, Ontario)

The most extensive orchards in the United States are apple and orange orchards, although citrus orchards are more commonly called groves. The most extensive apple orchard area is in eastern Washington state, with a lesser but significant apple orchard area in most of Upstate New York. Extensive orange orchards are found in Florida and southern California. In eastern North America, many orchards are along the shores of Lake Michigan (such as the Fruit Ridge Region), Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.

In Canada, apple and other fruit orchards are widespread on the Niagara Peninsula, south of Lake Ontario. This region is known as Canada Fruitbelt and, in addition to large-scale commercial fruit marketing, it is a favorite playground for "pick-your-own" activities in the summer.

Murcia is a major orchard area (or la huerta) in Europe, with citrus crops. New Zealand, China, Argentina and Chile also have extensive apple orchards.

Towns associated with orchards[link]

Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire has been called The Town in the Orchard, since the 19th century, because it was surrounded by extensive orchards. Today, this heritage is celebrated through an annual Applefest.^[5]

Airports associated with orchards[link]

• ORD
• Orchard Field

Historical orchards[link]

Old growth apple orchard in Ottawa, Canada

• Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts was the residence of American celebrated writer Louisa May Alcott.
• Fruita, Utah part of Capitol Reef National Park has Mormon pioneer orchards maintained by the United States National Park Service.

Orchard conservation and promotion organisations and schemes within England[link]

• Natural England, through its Countryside Stewardship Scheme, Environmental Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme, gives grant aid and advice for the maintenance, enhancement or re-creation of historical orchards.^[6]

• The 'Orchard Link' organisation provides advice on how to manage and restore the county of Devon's orchards, as well as enabling the local community to use the local orchard produce.^[7] An organisation called 'Orchards Live' carries out similar work in North Devon.^[8]

• The 'People's Trust for Endangered Species' aims to locate, assess and map every traditional orchard within England.^[9]

• The UK Biodiversity Partnership lists traditional orchards and a priority UK Biodiversity Action Plan habitat.^[10]

• The Wiltshire Traditional Orchards Project maps, conserves and restores traditional orchards within Wiltshire, England.

See also[link]

Trees portal

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Orchard

• Home Orchard Society
• North American Fruit Explorers
• Orchards pathway on England In Particular
• Pennsylvania tree fruit production guide; a guide on how to set up an orchard in practice
• Traditional Orchards A Summary by Natural England. Other free publications are also available in the same series on this website.
•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Orchard". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

Liam Clancy
Liam Clancy (right) with singer Odetta in 2006.
Background information
Birth name	William Clancy
Born	(1935-09-02)2 September 1935
Origin	Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland
Died	4 December 2009(2009-12-04) (aged 74) Cork, Ireland
Genres	Folk, traditional Irish
Occupations	Musician, actor
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, concertina
Years active	1955–2009
Associated acts	The Clancy Brothers, Makem and Clancy
Website	http://www.liamclancy.com/

William "Liam" Clancy (2 September 1935 – 4 December 2009) (Irish Liam Mac Fhlannchadha) was an Irish folk singer and actor from Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. He was the youngest and last surviving member of performing group The Clancy Brothers. The group were regarded as Ireland's first pop stars.^[1] They recorded 55 albums, achieving global sales of millions and appearing at a sold-out Carnegie Hall, New York and the Royal Albert Hall, London.^[2][3]

Liam was regarded as the group's most powerful vocalist.^[4] Bob Dylan regarded him as the greatest ballad singer ever,^[1][3][5][6] whilst Gay Byrne described him as one of the “most famous four Irishmen in the world”.^[2] He was a central figure during the 1960s folk revival,^[3] on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.^[7] Shortly before his death in 2009 The Irish Times said Clancy "does seem a little like a figure from the Pleistocene era":^[8] upon his death the newspaper said his legacy was secured.^[7]

Biography[link]

As a child he was known as William or Willie.^[9] He displayed an artistic disposition at an early age, while growing up in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. Born there he was in 1935 as one of eleven children of Robert Joseph Clancy and Joanna McGrath.^[2] The first song he learned was "The Croppy Boy".^[4] He received a Christian Brothers education before taking a job as an insurance man in Dublin.^[2] Whilst there he also took night classes at the National College of Art and Design.^[2]

However, while still in his teens, Liam explored writing and painting, though he was particularly drawn to the theatre. In his early performing days, he began to call himself Liam rather than William or Willie. Before he was twenty years old, Liam had founded the local dramatic society now called "Brewery Lane Theatre and Arts Centre", and had produced, directed, set-directed, and starred in John Millington Synge's The Playboy of the Western World. Liam also performed at the renowned Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.^[10] He encountered Diane Hamilton Guggenheim when she came to his hometown to visit his mother, and set off on a tour of Ireland alongside her.^[2][3] During her 1955 trip to Keady, Clancy encountered Tommy Makem for the first time.^[2] He would later pursue Guggenheim to the United States.^[3] He referred to Greenwich Village as "the island for people escaped from repressed backgrounds".^[7]

Clancy began singing with his brothers at fund-raising events for the Cherry Lane Theatre and the Guthrie benefits. The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, began recording on Paddy Clancy's Tradition label in the late 1950s. Liam Clancy played guitar in addition to singing and also recorded several solo albums. They recorded their seminal The Rising of the Moon album in 1959, giving live performances in the American cities of Boston, Chicago and New York.^[2] A record-breaking sixteen minute long performance^[9] on American TV's The Ed Sullivan Show on 17 March 1961 launched the group into stardom.^[2][3] They were supposed to only play two songs but the main act cancelled at short notice.^[11] There were international tours, which included performances at Carnegie Hall (a sell-out in 1962)^[11] and the Royal Albert Hall.^[3] Their trademark attire was Aran geansaí—these were sent across the water by Mrs Clancy for her boys to wear against the unforgiving American climate.^[3] The quartet recorded numerous albums for Columbia Records and enjoyed great success during the 1960s folk revival. Liam was a close friend of Bob Dylan when they both were going out with two sisters in New York. He performed live for United States President John F. Kennedy.^[12] Liam Clancy was the last surviving member of the original Clancy Brothers; Tom Clancy died on November 7, 1990, Patrick Clancy died on November 11, 1998 and Tommy Makem died on August 1, 2007. Liam said of his status as last known survivor,

“There was always a pecking order, especially when you’re working with family. But they all died off, and I got to the top of the pecking order, with nobody looking over my shoulder. There’s a great sense of freedom about that”.^[2]

After The Clancy Brothers split, Liam had a solo career in Canada.^[3] He made several television performances both in CBC's National television variety show, The Irish Rovers Show from Vancouver and in Calgary, Alberta.^[2] He had a hit with "The Dutchman" and presented his own television show in Calgary, also appearing on the CBC concert series Summer Evening in 1976.^[13] In 1975, he was booked to play a festival in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, where Tommy Makem was also playing.^[2] The two played a set together and formed Makem and Clancy, performing in numerous concerts and recording several albums as a duo, until 1988.^[2] The whole ensemble also got back together in the 1980s for a reunion tour.^[2][3] After the death of Tom Clancy in 1990, Liam came together with Paddy and Bobby Clancy and nephew Robbie O'Connell.^[2] He also performed alongside his Fayreweather Band and the Phil Coulter Orchestra.^[2]

In later life, Liam maintained a solo career accompanied by musicians Paul Grant and Kevin Evans, whilst also engaging in other pursuits. He lived in County Waterford at this stage.^[3] He had a recording studio in Ring, County Waterford.^[2]

In 2001, Liam Clancy published a memoir titled The Mountain of the Women. He also was in No Direction Home, the 2005 Bob Dylan documentary directed by Martin Scorsese.^[2]

In 2006, Clancy was profiled in a two-hour documentary titled The Legend of Liam Clancy, produced by Anna Rodgers and John Murray with Crossing the Line Films, and screened on the Irish channel RTÉ. In February 2007, this documentary won the award for best series at the Irish Film and Television Awards in Dublin. In 2008 Liam performed in a filmed concert titled Liam Clancy and Friends, Live at The Bitter End which featured the last filmed performance of his friend Odetta, as well as songs from Tom Paxton, Shane MacGowan, Gemma Hayes, Eric Bibb, and Fionn Regan as well as members of Danú.

The same director Alan Gilsenan went on to direct a full length biography of Liam Clancy, The Yellow Bittern: The Life and Times of Liam Clancy.^[5] This was released at the 2009 Dublin Film Festival and went on to have a theatrical and DVD release in Ireland the UK. The film includes appearances by Pete Seeger, Jean Ritchie, Bob Dylan, Odetta, and many others^[12] as well as much unseen archive such as The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem at Newport Festival. The Irish Times praised the film and director Gilsenan who it said had "tracked down an impressive number of secondary sources, and his use of other performers’ music is often inspired".^[8]

His final album The Wheels of Life was released in 2009: this included duets with Mary Black and Gemma Hayes as well as songs by Tom Paxton and Donovan.^[2]

Liam was an ardent proponent of political views and often outspoken on matters of social injustice right up until his death.^[14] He criticised both Gulf Wars and the grim, harsh economic climate which gripped Ireland during his last months alive.^[4] He told The Irish Times in September 2009 that he was on his “last legs”.^[15] He had already given his final performance, at the National Concert Hall the previous May, during which he recited the Dylan Thomas poem "And death shall have no dominion".^[15] He was unable to perform a full-length show on the final night of a two-night sold-out run but put in a 40-minute appearance nonetheless.^[16] His manager described it as “a very profound moment. He expressed his fear of dying, but he did it with great dignity”.^[15]

Death[link]

Liam Clancy died from pulmonary fibrosis on 4 December 2009, in Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, Ireland. Bobby Clancy died of the same disease seven years previously^[5] and is buried in the new cemetery in Ring, Co. Waterford, where he spent the last number of years of his life, owning a successful recording studio. Clancy was survived by his wife, Kim, and their four children, Eben, Siobhán, Fiona and Donal, as well three previous children Sean, Andrew and Anya.^[3][5] His son Eben was in the process of coming over from the United Kingdom and he had had a chat with his son Donal who was in the middle of a tour of California.^[16] The other three sat beside him as he died.^[3] Liam had intended to give another interview at the time but succumbed to the disease before this was possible.^[16]

The leader of Fine Gael, Enda Kenny, mourned the loss of a "brilliant musician".^[5] Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen said, "Liam Clancy was a nationally and internationally renowned folk singer and was an example of an absolutely dedicated artistic craftsman. This generous and life-giving person enriched all of our lives with memorable songs and was part of the fabric of Ireland’s proud traditional music culture".^[17] Alan Gilsenan described the death as the "end of an era".^[5]

The American city of Boston was said to be in shock at the news as his influence there is "inescapable".^[18] Radio disc jockeys in New York paid tribute to the man who, according to the New York Daily News, "played a major role in defining how Americans heard Irish popular music over the last half century", with one DJ saying The Clancy Brothers had "broke down a wall that was long overdue".^[19] Christy Moore, on a prescheduled appearance on The Late Late Show aired live on the night of Liam's death, said, "I would have been listening to Radio Luxembourg and rock 'n' roll as a young fellow and then I got to hear of the Clancy brothers, when I was 16 I came to Dublin to hear them in a concert. It was about 1962, I think it was the Olympia, it was the most exciting concert I had ever attended. It was Irish, it was rock 'n' roll, it was funky and it was even sexy".^[20][21]

Clancy's lunchtime funeral at St Mary's Church in Dungarvan on 7 December was attended by hundreds of mourners, including both the Aides de Camp of the Taoiseach and President of Ireland, Minister Cullen and various musicians and artists.^[22] He was later buried in Ring.^[22]

Discography[link]

Solo recordings[link]

• 1965 – Liam Clancy – Vanguard LP/CD

*re-released with bonus tracks as 'Irish Troubadour' on Vanguard CD

• 1974 – Farewell to Tarwaithie – Plainsong LP

*on Shanachie CD as "The Dutchman"

• 2007 - Yes Those Were The Days: The Essential Liam Clancy Dolphin Records
• 2008 - “The Wheels of Life”, Dolphin Records
• Kerrygold Cheddar Cheese – special edition 45rpm – unknown year

Guest recordings[link]

• 1955 – The Lark in the Morning – Tradition LP/Rykodisc CD
• 1956 – The Countess Cathleen – Tradition LP
• 1989 – Phil Coulter: Words and Music – Shanachie CD
• 1992 – Phil Coulter: A Touch of Tranquility – Shanachie CD
• 1994 – Joanie Madden: Whistle on the Wind – Green Linnet CD
• 1999 – Cherish the Ladies: At Home – RCA CD
• 2000 – The Boys Won't Leave the Girls Alone – Windham Hill CD
• 2002 – Danú: All Things Considered – Shanachie CD

Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem[link]

Tradition Records

• The Lark in the Morning – Tradition LP/Rykodisc CD – (1955)
• The Rising of the Moon (or Irish Songs of Rebellion) (1956, 1959 second version)
• Come Fill Your Glass with Us (or Irish Songs of Drinking and Blackguarding) (1959)
• The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem (self-titled) – (1961)

Columbia Records

• A Spontaneous Performance Recording (1961)
• Hearty and Hellish! A Live Nightclub Performance (1962)
• The Boys Won't Leave the Girls Alone (1962) – 2 stereo issues (one includes alternate mixes)

*the last two albums were issued on now out of print Shanachie CDs

• In Person at Carnegie Hall (1963) – also on Columbia CD
• The First Hurrah! (1964)
• Recorded LIVE in Ireland (1965)
• Isn't It Grand, Boys (1966)
• Freedom's Sons (1966)
• In Concert (1967) – also on Columbia CD
• The Irish Uprising (1967)
• Home, Boys, Home (1968)
• Sing of the Sea (1968)
• The Bold Fenian Men (1969)
• Reunion (1984) – Released on Blackbird LP/Shanachie CD
• Luck Of The Irish – Columbia/Sony compilation. Contains 1 new song (Wars Of Germany) and 3 new performances of previously released songs: (Home Boys Home, The Old Orange Flute and They're Moving Father's Grave To Build A Sewer) (1992)
• Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1992)
• Irish Drinking Songs (1993) – contains unreleased material from the Carnegie Hall album
• Ain't it Grand: A Collection of Unissued Gems (1995) – unreleased material from the 1960s era

The Clancy Brothers (Liam, Tom, Pat, Bobby)[link]

• Christmas – Columbia LP/CD (1969)
• Flowers in the Valley – Columbia LP (1970)

Audio Fidelity Records

• Welcome to Our House (1970)

Lou Killen, Paddy, Liam, Tom Clancy[link]

Audio Fidelity Records

• Show Me The Way (1972)
• Save the Land! (1972)
• Live on St. Patrick's Day (1973)

Vanguard Records

• Clancy Brothers Greatest Hits (1973) – Vanguard LP/CD

*This was reissued as 'Best of the Vanguard Years' with bonus material from the 1982 Live! album with Bobby Clancy and Robbie O'Connell.

Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem[link]

Blackbird and Shanachie Records

• Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy (1976)
• The Makem & Clancy Concert (1977)
• Two for the Early Dew (1978)
• The Makem and Clancy Collection (1980) – contains previously released material and singles
• Live At The National Concert Hall (1983)
• We've Come A Long Way (1986)

Bob Dylan[link]

• The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (Pat, Liam & Bobby Clancy sing "When The Ship Comes In" with Tommy Makem and Robbie O'Connell)

The Clancy Brothers (Tom, Pat, Bobby) and Robbie O'Connell[link]

• Mini CD (3 inch disc)

The Clancy Brothers (Liam, Pat, Bobby) and Robbie O'Connell[link]

• Older But No Wiser – Vanguard (1995)

Clancy, Evans, and Doherty[link]

• 1996 – Shine on Brighter – Popular CD

Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy[link]

Helvic Records

• Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy – (1997)
• The Wild And Wasteful Ocean – (1998)

Filmography[link]

• 1984 – The Story of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem – Shanchie
• 1984 – Reunion Concert: Belfast – Shanachie
• circa 1985 – Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest (1965) – Central Sun / Shanachie (reissue)
• 1997 – Farewell to Ireland – Pinnacle Vision
• 2007 – Yes...Those Were the Days: Liam Clancy – Live at the Olympia, Dublin – unknown distributor

*originally released in 1992 as "In Close Up: Volumes 1 and 2"

• 2007 – The Best of 'Hootenanny' – Shout!
• 2009 – The Yellow Bittern: The life and times of Liam Clancyhttp://www.liamclancymovie.com/

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official site
• Liam Clancy at the Internet Movie Database
• Liam Clancy on Tubridy Tonight (22 March 2008)
• Obituary at The Irish Times
• Obituary in The Daily Telegraph
• Obituary
• Sineád Crowley, RTÉ Arts & Media Correspondent, looks back at the life and career of folk legend Liam Clancy (Video)
• Troubadour who didn't do justice to his talent- Saturday, December 12, 2009, The Irish Times
• Clancy Brother's Festival
• The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
• The Yellow Bittern - The life and times of Liam Clancy (Documentary)

Damien Rice
Damien Rice performing in Villa Arconati, Milan.
Background information
Birth name	Damien Rice
Born	(1973-12-07) 7 December 1973 (age 38)
Origin	Kildare, Ireland
Genres	Folk, indie pop, folk rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, clarinet, percussion
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Vector Recordings, Republic, Heffa, Warner Bros., DRM/14th Floor
Associated acts	Juniper, Bell X1, Lisa Hannigan
Website	www.damienrice.com

Damien Rice (born 7 December 1973) is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion.

Rice was raised in Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland and began his musical career as a member of the 1990s rock group Juniper. After leaving the band he worked as a farmer in Tuscany and busked throughout Europe before returning to Ireland in 2001 and beginning a solo musical career.

In 2002 his debut album O reached #8 on the UK albums chart, won the Shortlist music prize and generated three top-30 singles in the UK. Rice released his second album 9 in 2006 and his songs have appeared in numerous films and television episodes.

Rice's personal activities include musical contributions to charitable projects such as the Songs for Tibet, Freedom Campaign and the Enough Project.

Early life[link]

Rice was born to George and Maureen Rice and raised in Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.^[1]

Career[link]

Rice began his music career using the stage name "Dodima" Rice^{[citation needed]} and formed the rock band Juniper along with Paul Noonan, Dominic Philips, David Geraghty and Brian Crosby in 1991. The band met whilst they were attending Salesian College secondary school in Celbridge, Co. Kildare as students. After touring throughout Ireland the band released their debut EP Manna in 1995.^[2]
Based in Straffan, Kildare the band continued touring and signed a six album record deal with Polygram. Their recording projects generated the singles “Weatherman” and “Single of the Fortnight” which received favorable reviews.^[2]

After achieving his musical goals with Juniper, Rice became frustrated with the artistic compromises required by the record label, and he left the band in 1998.^[3] Rice moved to Tuscany in Italy and took up farming for some time, then returned to Ireland before busking around Europe.^[3] After returning to Ireland a second time, Rice gave a demo recording to his cousin, music producer David Arnold who then gave Rice a mobile studio.^[4][5]

2000 to present[link]

Damien Rice at Coachella in 2007

In 2001, Rice's song "The Blower's Daughter" made a top 40 chart.^[4] Over the next year he continued to record his album with New York drummer Tom Osander aka Tomo, Paris pianist Jean Meunier, London producer David Arnold, Dublin vocalist Lisa Hannigan and cellist Vyvienne Long.^[5] Rice then embarked on a tour of Ireland with Hannigan, Tomo, Vyvienne, and Dublin bassist Shane Fitzsimons.^[5]

In 2002, Rice’s debut album O was released in Ireland, the UK and the United States.^[6] The album peaked at #8 on the UK albums chart and remained on the chart for 97 weeks, selling 650,000 copies in the US.^[6][7] The album won the Shortlist music prize and the songs "Cannonball" and "Volcano" became top 30 hits in the UK.^[7][8]

In 2006 Rice released his second album 9 which was recorded during the two years prior.^[9] That year he also recorded at Abbey Road Studios for the program Live from Abbey Road.

2007 was a year of heavy touring with Rice appearing at England's Glastonbury Festival and the Rock Werchter festival in Belgium. That same year he performed with David Gray at the UK leg at Wembley Stadium, London and played at the T in the Park music event in Scotland. Rice also performed at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk, the V Festival in Stafford, Staffordshire, Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex and the Osheaga Festival in Montreal.^[10] He made additional appearances in Ireland and North America.

In 2010, Damien played at the Iceland Inspires concert held in Hljómskálagarðurinn near Reykjavík centrum.^[11]

Rice recorded a cover of the Juniper track, "Crosseyed Bear" for the compilation, Help: A Day in the Life. Rice's albums are published under his record label Heffa (originally named DRM) in Ireland and Vector Records in North American. Records released in the UK, Europe and other countries are published by 14th Floor Records via Warner Music.^[12]

In spring 2011, Rice featured on the debut album by French actress and singer Melanie Laurent. He appears on two tracks on her debut album En t'attendant while collaborating on a total of five tracks which feature on the album.^[13]

In November 2011, the compilation album "AHK-toong BAY-bi Covered" was released to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of U2's Achtung Baby album. AHK-toong BAY-bi features Damien Rice in a cover of "One," a stripped-down, piano-driven interpretation of one of the most popular U2 songs.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2011, his song "Cannonball" was used as the winner's single on The X Factor (UK series 8). Little Mix, the winners released the song.^{[citation needed]}

In May of 2012, Rice's song "Volcano" was covered by American Idol finalist Phillip Phillips, drawing praise from the judges and Steven Tyler specifically, stating "Thats the kind of song I could listen to over and over on my headphones (sp)." ^[14]

Personal life[link]

Rice participated in the Freedom Campaign, the Burma Campaign UK and the U.S. Campaign for Burma to free Burmese democracy movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi.^[15] He campaigned for her release by writing and performing the song "Unplayed Piano" at the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo.^[16]

In 2008 he participated in a music album called Songs for Tibet in support of the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso and Tibet.^[17]

In 2010, he contributed the song "Lonely Soldier" to the Enough Project which supported women's rights in the Congo.^[18]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Live albums[link]

EPs[link]

Singles[link]