• Monday Mixtape: Callum Orr

    July 8, 2024 - By 

    Ahead of the release of his highly-anticipated debut album The Trials of Knowing this Friday, Dublin folk artist Callum Orr waxes lyrical on soe of his all-time favourite songs, featuring Tom Waits, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Frightened Rabbit and more Photo by Tadhg O Brien Ann Mayo Muir, Gordon Bok & Ed Trickett – How Can I Keep From Singing I came across this song only in the last year, but this recording immediately imprinted on me. It’s an old hymn from the 1800s, but a new verse was added in the 1950s in protest of McCarthyism, which I think balances its…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – July 5th

    July 5, 2024 - By 

    The very best Irish music of the week is here, featuring FIXITY, Thee U.F.O., A Lazarus Soul, Meryl Streek and more Fixity – FIXTY 8 FIXITY 8 by Fixity Thee U.F.O. – Flutter (I Found Love) Glowing Friends Find Love by Unique Freaks A Lazarus Soul – Factory Fada Meryl Streek – Paddy Love Command0 – Integration Dogpond – Hanging out with A-Tray Diane Anglim – River Armour by Diane Anglim Bren Berry – Beautiful Losers (David Kitt remix)

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 28th June

    June 28, 2024 - By 

    Arvo Party, Problem Patterns, Chubby Cat, Spit and Córas Trio line up as the big-hitters in another stacked week for new Irish music Arvo Party – OPTICS OPTICS by Arvo Party Córas Trio – Jackie Fitzpatrick’s Jackie Fitzpatrick’s by Córas Trio Spit – Suffocate Yrself Suffocate Yrself by Spit how r u – superstar Chubby Cat – Oh Honey Callum Orr – Floorboards Yenkee – Los Angelus Problem Patterns – I Think You Should Leave I Think You Should Leave by Problem Patterns Rodney Paz – Hold On Kayleigh Noble – Notice Me Malaki – Pasta

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 21st June

    June 21, 2024 - By 

    We’ve been a bit blessed with some world-beating Irish music this week. Here’s essential new releases by exmagician (did someone say one of the albums of the year?), Lankum, Stray Planets, The Mary Wallopers, Cold Soviets, Beauty Sleep and more exmagician – Sit Tight Sit Tight by exmagician Stray Planets – Messed Up Cold Soviets – Memories of Year Zero Memories of Year Zero by Cold Soviets Lankum – Live in Dublin The Mary Wallopers – Home Boys Home Fixity – WHY WAIT WHY WAIT by Fixity Beauty Sleep – Big Sky Hazey Haze & mankyy – SHY BOII GETS…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 14th June

    June 14, 2024 - By 

    There’s heaps of new Irish music out there. Dive into the very best of it here, featuring new tracks and releases by Ciaran Lavery, The Redneck Manifesto, Elaine Mai feat. MuRli, And So I Watch You From Afar and Conn Thornton Elaine Mai (feat. MuRli) – Echo And So I Watch You From Afar – North Coast Megafauna Ciaran Lavery feat. Morgana – Oh My God (No, Your God) The Redneck Manifesto – Hidden Hands Caolán Austin – Walking Into The Furname (feat. Our Krypton Son) Caolán Austin · Walking Into The Furnace (ft. Our Krypton Son) Conn Thornton –…

  • Patti Smith: Godmother of Punk – and my Hero

    June 11, 2024 - By 

    From fortuitous meetings to a deep love of her craft, much-loved Belfast music fan and tour guide Dolores Vischer reflects on a life-long affinity for the undisputed Godmother of Punk, Patti Smith, ahead of shows at Vicar Street in Dublin on 27th and 28th June Patti Smith has been an important figure in my life; she is my all-time favourite artist. I first heard her Horses album in 1975, as an impressionable young teenager of 14.  Her voice, attitude, mix of poetry and rock hooked me there and then – before I’d ever heard of punk. Punk music remains one…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 7th June

    June 7, 2024 - By 

    Dive into the very best Irish music of the week, including Landless’ sublime second album, EPs from Autumns, Thom Southern, and Limerick’s finest His Father’s Voice, as well as new PostLast, Cold Soviets and more Landless – Lúireach Lúireach by Landless His Father’s Voice – Forgot To Feed EP Autumns – Dyslexia Sound Source Dyslexia Sound Source by Autumns Thom Southern – there’s no easy way out Cold Soviets – Apocalypse Hour with June and Andy Love Command0 – Make it Right PostLast – Scavenge Cardinals – Twist and Turn EP

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 31st May

    May 31, 2024 - By 

    It’s another stacked week for stellar Irish sounds. Dig into new Oh Boland, The Personal Vanity Project, Niamh Regan, TRÚ, Danny Carroll and more Oh Boland – Western Leisure Western Leisure by Oh Boland The Personal Vanity Project – The Personal Vanity Project The Personal Vanity Project by The Personal Vanity Project Niamh Regan – Come As You Are Come As You Are by Niamh Regan TRÚ – Live in Belfast TRÚ – Live in Belfast by TRÚ David C Clements – Contrast/The Garden Danny Carroll – Pimlico Jake Wallace – Chimera/The Wanderer

  • Open Ear 2024: A Guide

    May 30, 2024 - By 

    Without a slither of a shadow of a doubt, Open Ear is out there, reigning supreme as the island’s finest summer festival. Since launching back in 2016, the festival has consistently re-affirmed its status as Ireland’s most essential haven for open minds and curious ears – a standing that it’s set to nail down for its sixth edition on the stunning North Shore of Sherkin Island, West Cork, this weekend. Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or an absolute newcomer, this year’s line-up is as vital as they come. From Thursday, May 30 until Monday, Sunday June 2, perfectly-pitched venues and…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 24th May

    May 24, 2024 - By 

    Delve into the very best Irish tracks and albums of the week from PANIKATAX, Natalia Beylis, Lankum, Oh Boland, John Blek and more PANIKATAX – A Sudden and Unpleasant Change PANIKATAX – “A Sudden And Unpleasant Change” by Forbidden Place Records Natalia Beylis – Lost – For Annie Lost – For Annie by Natalia Beylis Oh Boland – Grass Walls Lankum – Rocky Road to Dublin (Live) John Blek – Holy Shit Maria Kelly – Drive Sorcha Richardson and Morgana – Naked and Swimming