• In Photos: The Choice Music Prize 2023

    March 10, 2023 - By 

    The RTE Choice Music Prize 2023 took place at Vicar Street in Dublin last night, with CMAT winning the coveted Irish Album of the Year award, accepted on her behalf by drag artist Lavender. In other awards, Moncrieff took home the Irish Song of the Year prize for ‘Warm,’ Fontaines D.C. won Irish Artist of the Year, Cian Ducrot scooped the Irish Breakthrough Artist and Sinéad O’Connor made an appearance to be awarded the inaugural Irish Classic Album for ‘I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got. Live performances on the night came from Pillow Queens, Just Mustard, Aoife Nessa…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – March 3rd

    March 3, 2023 - By 

    It’s Bandcamp Friday once again, and it’s been yet another stacked week for Irish releases. Dig into the best of them featuring Lankum, Aoife Nessa Frances, Gareth Quinn Redmond, Conor Mason, Hands Up Who Wants To Die and more Lankum – The New York Trader False Lankum by Lankum Aoife Nessa Frances – Automatic Love Automatic Love by Aoife Nessa Frances Gareth Quinn Redmond – Ar Ais Aris Ar Ais Arís by Gareth Quinn Redmond Hands Up Who Wants To Die – Nil All HANDS UP WHO WANTS TO DIE – Nil all by FONORADAR brawni – Amber Brawni –…

  • RTÉ Choice Music Prize Shortlist Revealed

    January 9, 2023 - By 

    The shortlist for the 18th annual Irish Album of the Year in association with IMRO and IRMA has been revealed, as well as the announcement of three new prizes. The nominees for the main prize are as follows: Anna Mieke – Theatre (Anna Mieke under license to Nettwerk Music Group) Aoife Nessa Frances – Protector (Partisan Records) CMAT – If My Wife New I’d Be Dead (CMATBABY) Dermot Kennedy – Sonder (Island) Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia (Partisan Records) Just Mustard – Heart Under (Partisan Records) Pillow Queens – Leave the Light On (Royal Mountain Records) Sorcha Richardson – Smiling Like An Idiot (Faction Records) The Mary Wallopers – The Mary Wallopers (The Mary Wallopers) Thumper – Delusions of…

  • First Acts Announced for Body & Soul 2023

    November 25, 2022 - By 

    Body & Soul have announced the first acts to play its 2023 edition. Returning to Ballinlough Caste Estate in Co. Meath across 16-18th June, Ireland’s longest-running independent festival will mark its 13th year with another carefully-curated bill of Irish and international acts. With the full programme to be revealed in the coming months, Aoife Nessa Frances (pictured), Moderat, Gilles Peterson, Shanti Celeste, BCUC and Sorcha Richardson are the first names to drop. Just over 5,000 weekend tickets will be available for this year’s festival. It remains strictly over 21s but families with children aged 13 and below are welcomed back for 2023.…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 28th October

    October 28, 2022 - By 

    It’s another hefty Tracks of the Week, with stellar releases from the Mary Wallopers, Aoife Nessa Frances, Jape, One Leg One Eye, Ciaran Lavery and more. Definitely something in the water. One Leg One Eye – … And Take The Black Worm With Me …. And Take The Black Worm With Me by One Leg One Eye The Mary Wallopers – The Mary Wallopers The Mary Wallopers by The Mary Wallopers Aoife Nessa Frances – Protector Protector by Aoife Nessa Frances Ciaran Lavery – My Body’s a Zombie For You Everything Shook – Three Crows Drew Makes Noise – Something To…

  • Aoife Nessa Frances – Protector

    October 25, 2022 - By 

    In the spring of 2020, Aoife Nessa Frances escaped Dublin for the west of Ireland, relocating to county Clare on a mission to reconnect with nature and rebuild herself spiritually in the aftermath of her much acclaimed debut Land Of No Junction. The result of this journey of restoration and self-discovery is her remarkable second album, Protector. Recorded in the foothills of Annascaul, a small village located on the Dingle Peninsula at the westernmost point of Ireland and Europe, it’s a dreamlike trip that blossoms and evolves across eight tracks of psychedelic folk rock. ‘Way To Say Goodbye’ welcomes us in…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – July 22

    July 22, 2022 - By 

    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…

  • In Photos: Beyond the Pale Festival 2022

    June 13, 2022 - By 

    The inaugural Beyond the Pale festival took place in Glendalough Estate in Co. Wicklow over the weekend with live performances from Boy Harsher, Soule, Bonobo, Nealo, Soda Blonde, John Francis Flynn, Murli, Aoife Nessa Frances and more. Photos by Mark Earley. Day 1: Carrie Baxter / Murli / Nealo / Dublin Old School / Romare / Aindrias de Staic & The Latchikos / Lyon Vynehall / Paradise Cabaret / Elaine Mai / Four Tet Day 2: Glasshouse Ensemble / John Francis Flynn / Mad Professor / Abandoman / Soda Blonde / Aoife Nessa Frances / Boy Harsher / Stereo MCs /…