• Irish Tracks of the Week – July 22

    If you can believe it, it’s Friday again, and there’s a fresh round-up of the very best in brand new Irish music to dig into, featuring Junior Brother, Aoife Nessa Frances, Meltybrains?, Arthur Itis, Sorcha Richardson and more Junior Brother – No Snitch Arthur Itis – Neglected Ambient Shirts Vol. II Neglected Ambient Shirts Vol.II by Arthur Itis Aoife Nessa Frances – Way To Say Goodbye The Plastic Ensemble – Mantra Meltybrains? – Journey To/From The Meltyworld Journey To / From The Meltyworld by Meltybrains? Sorcha Richardson – Shark Eyes Frankenstein Bolts – Your Father Your Father by Frankenstein Bolts…

  • Track Record: Junior Brother

    Co. Kerry experimental folk trailblazer Ronan Kealy aka Junior Brother handpicks a selection of records that have left an indelible imprint on his music and life Photo by Leah Carroll Planxty – The Woman I Loved So Well Whenever I stick this album on, without fail I become lost in its world of folk characters, and in its landscape of field, castle, ditch and twilight. The whistle tune at the end of the final song, ‘Little Musgrave’, is as close to the sound of ascending to heaven as I’ve ever heard on record. Kate Bush – Hounds of Love Like…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – February 11th

    It’s been another great week for new releases in every corner of the island. Delve into the best of the lot, featuring NewDad, Junior Brother, Pillow Queens, Frank and Beans, Axis Of, Melts and more. NewDad – Banshee Pillow Queens – Hearts & Minds Junior Brother – No Country For Young Men Frank and Beans – Slán Axis Of – Beach Light Melts – Outlier Qwerty Mick – Google Your Symptoms Pauline Scanlon – The Bird In The Bush Cat Dowling – All That I Can Do

  • Watch: Junior Brother – No Country For Young Men

    Ronan Kealy’s evolution as an artist has been a rare delight to behold. The Co. Kerry singer-songwriter known as Junior Brother has all but single-handedly upended the (granted, somewhat kneejerk) conception of experimental folk on these shores. It’s a trajectory, the power of which shines searingly through new single ‘No Country For Young Men’. The follow-up to last October’s inspired ‘Life’s New Haircut’, it’s a masterfully mesmeric effort that explores the culture shock – and straight-up experiential doom – of Kealy’s relocation to the capital. “I wrote this song in response to the tangible feeling of dread and anxiety I…

  • Merchy Christmas at the Grand Social, Dublin

    Returning for its second consecutive year, Merchy Christmas will take over Dublin’s Grand Social later this month to throw Irish artists a lifeline in the face of the huge challenges presented by COVID-19. Running from 10am-4pm on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th December, countless TTA favourites including Lankum, Myles Manley, Junior Brother, Pillow Queens, Silverbacks, Nealo and Loah will set up stall for a real-life merch market. “The Christmas merch sale last year was one of the highlights of the year for me,” said Nealo. “It was heartwarming to meet people face to face and to hang out and chat…

  • Irish tracks of the week – October 22nd

    If you can believe it, it’s Friday again, and there’s a fresh round-up of the very best in brand new Irish music to dig into, featuring MuRli, Gemma Dunleavy x2, Junior Brother, windings, The Altered Hours, Melts, New Pagans and more MuRli w/ Gemma Dunleavy – Odyssey windings – Apocryphal Apocryphal by windings Junior Brother – Life’s New Haircut Life’s New Haircut by Junior Brother Group Zero – Everyone’s Already Come Apart Everyone’s Already Come Apart by Group Zero The Altered Hours – Thistle Convertible by The Altered Hours New Pagans – Find Fault With Me MELTS – Maelstrom Leveland…

  • Line-Up Announced For Cork’s Quiet Lights Festival

    Islander have announced details of the fourth outing for Cork winter festival, Quiet Lights. Set to return to various venues in the city across 18th-21st November, this year’s bill is another brilliantly curated affair featuring Lisa O’Neill, Junior Brother, Maija Sofia, Joshua Burnside, Trá Pháidín, Brigid Mae Power, Niamh Regan and more. Check out the full line-up below. “After losing out on hosting Quiet Lights by mere days due to renewed restrictions last year, we are excited (and a little nervous) to be bringing our little festival back to Cork this year,” said festival director Jonathan Pearson. “We’re very proud…

  • MusicTown 2021

    Of the myriad annual events, series and festivals that tap into what makes Dublin a truly world-beating creative city, MusicTown feels special. Suffice to say,  shining a light on the city – and the Irish music and arc community at large – has never felt more important, which is why the series’ return across April 15th-25th is one we’re marking down as unmissable. Setting out, as ever, to celebrate the rich music heritage and contemporary artistic lifeblood of the city, the series boasts yet another masterfully mottled schedule across ten days and nights. Kicking off with Cathy Davey, live at the Pepper Canister…

  • Junior Brother and Kneecap Set For Live From Guerrilla Studios

    The next line-up for Live From Guerrilla Studios has just been announced – and it’s a biggie. Following some breathtaking performances from the likes of Maija Sofia and The Bonk, episode three of the Dublin live-stream series on Thursday, August 6th will feature sets by Junior Brother and Belfast Hip-Hop trio Kneecap. Presented, as ever, by Ray Wingnut – and featuring Moojoo the Merch Monkey and resident DJ Djackulate, episode three will also feature specially commissioned videos by Silverbacks and Rising Damp. Things kick off, direct from the Live From Guerrilla Studios YouTube page, from 10pm.