• A Chat with The Mary Wallopers

    March 17, 2021 - By 

    Dundalk brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy have been charming audiences in their guise as hip-hop duo TPM since 2015, with a run of hilarious but infectious singles about life on the dole, their love of curry sauce and their hatred of the national broadcaster. But their more recent reinvention as stout-swilling folk band The Mary Wallopers, with friend Seán McKenna in tow, came as something of a surprise. Armed with guitars, banjos and a seemingly bottomless well of traditional folk ballads, the trio have supported the likes of Lankum and Junior Brother, as well as playing their own riotous and…

  • Acid Granny announce series of “Radio Paddy” releases

    March 15, 2021 - By 

    Acid Granny, the trolly-toting dealers of improvised electronic punk and abstract audio art, have something new in store for the week of St Patrick’s Day: a fake “Paddy-centric” radio station.  Radio Paddy, which will be released episodically throughout the week, is a frequency scrambling pseudo-celebration of “Irishness” at its most self-referential and insincere. Across three 10-30 minute instalments, the crew stitches together music and spoken segments from a countrywide cast of contributors, flipping Paddywhackery on its head and milking it for all its worth. The result is, in part, a tongue-in-cheek examination of the post-colonial stereotypes perpetuated by things like…

  • Inbound: SORBET

    March 12, 2021 - By 

    Over the last few years, you might have spotted Chris Ryan’s name on the credits of any number of Ireland’s most essential musical releases, in just about any capacity. Producer of work alongside the likes of Just Mustard, Careerist & the rising NewDad, and the beating heart of jazz-punk ensemble Robocobra Quartet – most recently namechecked on The Guardian in the same breath as Slint & Tortoise as an influence on ‘post-genre’ outfit Black Country, New Road. Last year, under the SORBET pseudonym, he released the Life Variations EP via Bureau B – home of experimental & electronic pioneers like Faust & Cluster – and…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – March 12th

    March 12, 2021 - By 

    It’s been another stellar week for new releases in every corner of the island. Delve into the best of the lot, featuring Maria Somerville, Sorbet x Maija Sofia, Invaderband, New Pagans, Amerik x Little Rivers, A Ritual Sea and more. Maria Somerville – Seabird SORBET – I Heard His Scythe feat. Maija Sofia Invaderband – I Won’t Remember You I Won’t Remember You by Invaderband New Pagans – Harbour A Ritual Sea – Desire Lines Neptune M. – AA AA by Neptune M. Sprints – Swimming Amerik x Little Rivers – Apricot Captain A & Ciara Ní É Queen Bonobo…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – March 5th

    March 5, 2021 - By 

    It’s been yet another banner week for Irish music. Dig into the best new sounds of the past seven days below, featuring new sounds from Choice Music Prize Album of the Year winner Denise Chaila with God Knows and MuRli, Lighght, Laurie Shaw, Kojaque, Tolü Makay, CATALAN! and more God Knows x Denise Chaila x MuRli – Water Hatfield Field – Survival Is Triumph Enough EP Survival Is Triumph Enough by Hatchet Field Laurie Shaw – Forest Floor Forest Floor (Single) by Laurie Shaw Slomatics – Kaān Split with Ungraven by Slomatics Tolü Makay – Used To Be Conchur White…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – February 26th

    February 26, 2021 - By 

    We’ve been pleasantly inundated with phenomenal new Irish music just as Spring has landed. Check out our pick of the bunch, including tracks from Æ Mak, Fears, Cherym, [indistinct chatter], Kyoto Love Hotel, Jackie Beverly, Ye Vagabonds, LAOISE, Carrie Baxter feat. Nealo, and more. Æ Mak – Jamie [Indistinct Chatter] – Your Excitement Fears – Vines Kyoto Love Hotel – Saithnín Saithnín by Kyoto Love Hotel Jackie Beverly – Headlights Cherym – Kisses On My Cards Carrie Baxter – Without You (feat. Nealo) TANOKI – Loading Midnight Wayne – It’s Alright Hold On Tight Rebekah Fitch – Loose Ends Ye…

  • Monday Mixtape: Niall Jackson

    February 22, 2021 - By 

    London-based Dublin musician and broadcaster Niall Jackson aka Swimmers Jackson selects some of the songs featured on his excellent new radio show/podcast Pears For Lunch. I’m doing a new radio show/podcast on Islington Radio talking to Irish Musicians for an hour. A deep dive, breaking down songs, talking about influences and approach and getting some funny tour stories. The first seven have already been recorded with three episodes out so far. It’s called ‘Pears For Lunch’ and goes out on Mixcloud every Thursday on @IslingtonRadio so far here I’m delighted to give you an exclusive on songs looked at so…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – February 19th

    February 19, 2021 - By 

    It’s safe to say it’s been another stacked week for world-beating Irish music. Here’s the very best of the lot, featuring tracks from Hannah Peel, Plaice, Elaine & Maykay x Daithi, Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra, New Pagans, HAVVK, Christian Cohle, Sal Dulu, Fya Fox and more. Plaice – Gabriel (Ascending) Hannah Peel – Evovocative Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra – I didn’t love you when I said I did and I don’t now Elaine Mai & MayKay – No Forever (Daithí Ambient Mix) New Pagans – Harbour HAVVK – Home Christian Cohle – Holy Trouble Fya Fox – BODY Sal Dulu…

  • Playlist: The Songs That Inspired Body & Soul’s Ériu’s Threshold

    February 17, 2021 - By 

    Created entirely during the Stage 5 Lockdown, Ériu’s Threshold is a majestic, multi-disciplinary project by the team behind leading Irish festival Body & Soul. Originally conceived by festival founder Avril Stanley and Creative Director Mary Hickson during a site visit at Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath, the project “interprets the past in response to the current global pandemic” via an outstanding cast of renowned Irish female talent from the worlds of theatre, dance, music, film, literature and fashion design. Presented as a film, filmed by award-winning director Mia Mullarkey, the project features a re-interpretation of Henry Purcell’s aria Dido’s Lament, which…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – February 12th

    February 12, 2021 - By 

    Here are the very best Irish tracks released this week, featuring Dani Larkin, étáin, Anna’s Anchor, Gavin Da Vinci, Daithi, Cherym, Teishi-1, Amerik with Gareth Dunlop and more. étáin – bone house Dani Larkin – Love Part Three Anna’s Anchor – Thomond Bridge Cherym – Kisses On My Cards Kisses on My Cards by CHERYM Daithi – An Irish Goodbye Gavin Da Vinci – Superman SUPERMAN by GavinDaVinci Teishi-1 – Haptic 3 Acid Break Haptic 3 Acid Break by Teishi-1 Aeons – Smile Amerik w/ Gareth Dunlop – Olive SHOCKS – Crocodile Tears Pretty Happy – Salami