Across the island, we’re absolutely spoiled for world-beating festivals that marry place with purpose. From the Atlantic coast to deep city venues, Ireland continues to conjure immersive events that defy template. Common Threads, returning to the Burren this October, is once again throwing its hat into the ring with something quietly radical. Now in its third year, the festival is a three-day trail of music, art and discovery set in the singular surroundings of North Clare’s Burren. Running from 10th-12th October, it brings together a wide-ranging cast including Martin Hayes, Morgana, Daithí, RÓIS, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Lullahush, Bantum, Aindrias…

It’s been a little while since we last heard from Deadman’s Ghost – the boundary-dissolving project of Belfast sound artist Jason Mills – but his return is nothing short of spellbinding. Having released some masterfully shapeshifting LPs, among them Hypocratical Oath, Saccadic Rhythms, The Broken Zoetrope and Cerebral Frontier, Mills has long operated in his own slipstream, merging avant-garde electronics, drone, folk instrumentation and ambient textures into work that feels truly scopic and deeply uncanny. Now, he re-emerges with A Votive Offering, a potent new album on Cruel Nature Records (out 22nd September on vinyl, cassette, and digital). It’s a collection…

Undisputed good band of the moment, Turnstile bring their Never Enough tour to the National Stadium in Dublin on Halloween night. Off the back of playing a phenomenal rise off the back of their fourth album of the same – notwithstanding a stand-out set at this year’s Glastonbury at the weekend – the Baltimore hardcore heroes play the show with support from High Vis on Friday, 31st October. Tickets priced €39.20-€49.20 and go on sale this Friday, 4th July at 10AM.

From a surprise single by Problem Patterns to the debut EP from Belfast post-punk quartet Madrúa, it’s a banner week for Irish releases – also featuring essential new music from Poor Creature, AM Shanley, Foreign Mornings and more. Problem Patterns – I’m Fine and I’m Doing Great Madrúa – Metamorphosis Metamorphosis by Madrúa Poor Creature – All Smiles Tonight AM Shanley – Let’s Get Invisible Foreign Mornings – Beginnings SPRINTS – Descartes Throwing Shapes – Chosen Talk Throwing Shapes by Throwing Shapes Jean Pack – Birthday i n n e r l i z a r d s – things…

By far the island’s agitator supreme, Post Punk Podge takes us on a guided journey through TECHNOHIPPIES! ACTIVATE!, the thrilling new EP from he and his ever-masterful Technonippies. A genre-mutating barrage of feeling and fury, it veers between white-knuckle mania and moments of striking, slow-burn reflection – in ways that only Podge and co. truly can. Below, the masked master unpacks it all, track by track. 1. Plassey Air Redux This is a fiddle tune I wrote a few years ago after a walk along Plassey bank by the University of Limerick. I was thinking of my childhood spent with…

One of the most stacked weeks for Irish music all year. Check out brand new Just Mustard, pôt-pot, CMAT, Fierce Shook, Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies, and more. Photo by Kate Lawlor Just Mustard – Pollyanna pôt-pot – WRSW Warsaw 480km by pôt-pot Ciaran Lavery – Ida CMAT – The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station Fierce Shook – Pay the Price Sons of Dis by Fierce Shook Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies – TECHNOHIPPIES! ACTIVATE! TECHNOHIPPIES! ACTIVATE! by Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies Christy Moore – Music to Our Ears Amanda Feery – Nest NEST by Amanda Feery…

Dig into the very best Irish releases of the week, from Cardinals, Cosign and Morgana, to A. Smyth, Ahmed, With Love., and beyond Cardinals – Big Empty Heart Cosign – Bagpuss Bagpuss by cosign Morgana – Party Killer George Houston – The Original Death Card A. Smyth – Hello Goliath Hello Goliath by A. Smyth Madams Last Discovery – WASTE DUG – Livelong Day Foreign Mornings – Born To Be This Way Luke McGuinness – Far Out Woo Woo Kendino & Deleon feat. Sushee – Rust Ahmed, With Love. – Bedroom Bullies’ feat. Kibo & Lil Skag Sexy Tadhg –…