Two fast-rising Belfast singer-songwriters have been selected for a new UNESCO City of Music Initiative. Off the back of Belfast being awarded prestigious status in late 2021, Niall McDowell and Ciara O’Neill will travel to fellow UNESCO City of Music London, in Ontario, Canada, to perform as part of the Home County Music and Art Festival. Arranged through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which brings cities together to share skills and develop networks between musicians, the trip will also see McDowell and O’Neill taking part in co-writing sessions with other artists and get the chance to work with world-class producers…
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Taking in every corner of the island, here’s the very best tracks of the week from Lankum, Chalk, Niall McDowell, The Fae, Krea, The Wood Burning Savages and many more Lankum – False Lankum False Lankum by Lankum Phil Kieran – The Strand Cinema The Strand Cinema by Phil Kieran Chalk – Asking Niall McDowell – I Have Given Up The Wood Burning Savages – Climb The Ladder The Fae – Chloe Gnarkats – Homesick Krea – Don’t Tell Me Seba Safe – On My Way Drew Makes Noise – Lemonade Derek Ellard & The Future Business Model – Electricity…
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Dig into the very best Irish releases of the week, featuring Uly, The Mary Wallopers, Lõwli, Niall McDowell, Seamus O’Muineachain and more. The Mary Wallopers – Frost Is All Over Niall McDowell – It Was an Honour To Be Nominated Uly – Fishing Seamus O’Muineachain – Mouth of the Isthmus Lõwli – Otherworld Ways of Seeing – The Other Side Of Summer Anna Mullarkey – Damsha Hall JW Soundworks – Hypoxic Reverie Last Survivor – Midnight Run The Art Crimes Band – Neon Skyline
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It’s been another big week for new Irish music, with tracks and albums coming from all over the country from emerging artists and established favourites. Dig into new releases from Maria Kelly, Kojaque, Strange Boy, Elephant, NUXSENSE, VerseChorusVerse, Biig Piig, Toasted Heretic and more. Maria Kelly – eight hours Kojaque – Wickid Tongues Strange Boy – Prayers NUXSENSE – A sacred journey through the golden path A sacred journey through the golden path by NUXSENSE Rory Sweeney X Emby – Two Faces Cherym – Listening To My Head Hex Hue – Aquiver VerseChorusVerse – what if we won what if…
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In the summer of 2019, Belfast artist Niall McDowell marked his arrival via ‘Valentine’, a candid and homespun five-minute statement of intent. Following a string of equally promising releases including ‘You Have My Heart’, new single ‘Do You Think I’m Pretty?’ is a vivid snapshot of an artist swiftly on the rise. A self-proclaimed “chaotic ode to the moments within a relationship that are too specific to call out, in fear of seeming too much,” the song – his first song to be played with a full band – is a wonderfully wistful that bears the imprint of artists including…