Author: Zoé Piater

U.M.A.N, an acronym for U Must Act Now, is set to release his self-titled album on the 7th of June this year.

His first album produced by grammy-nominated Billy Farrell, is a testament to his commitment to excellence in music. Featuring harmony driven vocals, sophisticated songwriting and feet-tapping melodies, each track resonates with passion and purpose.

Audiences can expect an electrifying experience as U.M.A.N takes the stage for a Winter/Spring tour of Ireland with their all-star 6-piece band. From the heart-pounding rhythms to the soul-stirring lyrics, each performance will bring something different.

With a diverse repertoire that spans genres and generations, U.M.A.N is set to leave a lasting impression on audiences.

U.M.A.N has recorded, performed or written for artists as diverse as Folk Blues Legend Eric Bibb, Brian Kennedy, Finbar Furey, Michael Flatley and Nadine Coyle.
His track Flamin’ Day which he performed on the Late Late Show was a nationwide radio hit as was his biographical tribute to Adele, The Adele Song released through Universal Music which garnered critical acclaim, showcasing U.M.A.N’s versatility and creativity.

‘Crossroads’ is produced by Billy Farrell (The Corrs, Westlife, Eddie Reader) and is a mix of R&B, Gospel and Pop.

Tipperary man Cormac Looby  showcases his envious knack  for synthesise diaristic emotions into heart-rending Euphoria with his latest release ‘Angel, Baby’.
– Hot Press

“Cormac Looby’s ‘Angel, Baby’ is an exploration of life’s complexities. The track is a soul-stirring narrative woven from threads of nostalgia, candid reflections, and bittersweet melodies.”
– Curious For Music

“With his debut body of work perfectly meshing together the old and the new, and Cormac utilising a nostalgic Irish sound along with his staple indie pop persona, this up-and-coming star has managed to perfectly emulate the trials and tribulations of being a modern Irish man straight out the gate.”
– IMRO

Cormac Looby is a singer-songwriter from Co. Tipperary. He draws inspiration from a range of artists including Mick Flannery, Bell X1, Phoebe Bridgers and Sam Fender. Cormac combines elements of folk, pop, and rock; with introspective and honest song-writing.

Cormac’s debut single ‘I Don’t Need Your Love’ was released in 2020, independently amassing over 20,000 streams and featuring on BBC Introducing and RTÉ Radio 1 Recommends. This was followed up by his second single ‘Feel Good’ that same year. 2022 heralded the release of Cormac’s debut EP, ‘Things We Don’t Control’, recorded with a full live band at the Black Gate Studio, Galway. The singles taken from it, ‘Patriot’ and ‘Hard-wiring’ also featured on RTÉ Recommends and BBC Introducing respectively.

In support of the EP, Cormac and his band toured extensively, playing venues such as Fiddler’s Elbow London, Róisín Dubh Galway and two sold-out shows Upstairs at Dublin’s iconic venue, Whelan’s. They concluded the year with a headline gig in the Workman’s Cellar, Dublin and a hometown show in Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

In the intervening period, there have been two more singles; ‘Lobsters’ and ‘I Don’t Want To Let You Down’. In February 2023, Cormac was chosen as a nominee for the Irish Music Month ‘Local Hero’ with Radio Nova for the latter of these singles. That same year, he played the renowned Ruby Sessions in Dublin, sharing the stage with Bombay Bicycle Club, as well as supporting folk musicians David Keenan and Maria Kelly.

December 2023 saw his biggest headline show to date in the main room at the Workman’s Club. Cormac and band return there Saturday June 15th and will also appear at Mountshannon Arts, Forest Fest and ‘When Next We Meet’ this summer.

He’ll be sharing the stage with two of Ireland’s finest folk acts, Ye Vegabonds and Susan O’Neil.

2024 will see the release of his debut album; ‘A Perpetual State of Irony’. Consisting of ten brand-new tracks, Cormac and his live band have teamed up once more with the Black Gate Studio in his most ambitious and exciting project to date.

The first single off that album, ‘Angel Baby’ released in early May and picked up success with RTE Radio 1, Hot Press, Beat 102103, Pure Mzine, Unhappier, Corks Red FM, The Beat, Curious For Music, LMFM, RTE 2XM and many more.

‘Ordinary Woman’ finds its roots in a thought-provoking piece of graffiti Cormac stumbled upon during his time living in Galway: “Don’t be a fearful old crone, be a young Irish rebel.” This powerful statement sparked a creative journey, culminating in a tribute to the quiet courage exhibited every day by women, in the face of the constant threat of gender-based violence.

The track was recorded at Black Mountain Studios, Dundalk and at the Clinic, Dublin. It was mixed and produced by Liam King from the Black Gate Studio, Galway and mastered by Pete Maher Mastering (U2, The Killers, Damien Rice).

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Photo credit: @Pizza Egg

“Clerkin has a knack for catchy lyrics, using endlessly relatable themes and uplifting vocal tones.”
–     HotPress.

“Clerkin displays his ability to present sweet melodies and heartfelt songwriting through a lush blend of genres”
–     Indie Buddie

“Clerkin has transformed my playlist from conventional to extraordinary”
–     Otherside Reviews

Luke Clerkin is known for his euphoric live performances, deep and infectious music, and his extraordinary work ethic. With a career that has seen him famously play over 250 gigs in 2015, and gain international recognition through multiple tours, festival appearances and chart-topping singles, Luke is showing no signs of giving up. Throughout his career, he has played at festivals such as Electric Picnic, Body & Soul, Stendhal and Edinburgh Free Fringe, and he has headlined venues all over Ireland including Whelan’s, The Workman’s Club, The Cobblestone, Hole in the Wall Kilkenny, and John Lee’s in Tullamore. In addition, Luke has also toured Germany on multiple occasions and has also toured Ireland with The Circle Sessions and Cycle Against Suicide.

Throughout his career, Luke has been invited to perform for government officials at both Leinster House (Irish Government Buildings) and The Mansion House (Dublin City Council Buildings). His song “Home” was used in Dublin’s bid for the 2020 Capital of Culture. Luke served as the inaugural North Clondalkin Library Musician in Residence, where he recorded and released his “Live From The Library” EP in 2023.

This was followed by sold-out shows across Ireland and the UK, including one at London’s Camden Chapel. Luke also performed at major summer festivals such as Electric Picnic, All Together Now, and The Works Festival. After an exceptional show in Workman’s Cellar in March, 2024 is shaping up to be an even more incredible year with the release of his debut album ‘Orpheus’ set to release in October.

Tallaght’s very own Luke Clerkin is set to release his first piece of music in over a year. ‘Wow Wow Wow’ is the first song to be released from Luke Clerkin’s upcoming debut album ‘Orpheus’. It was produced by Gavin Doyle, a frequent collaborator and close friend of Luke, in Gavin’s home studio in Clondalkin. It was mixed and mastered by Martin Quinn (Heroes In Hiding, Aine Cahill) at Jam Studios in Kells.

“This album has been a year in the making when it comes to the recording and production side of things, but I really feel that it’s the culmination of all of the hard work that I’ve put in for the last eight years! I’m so excited to finally be releasing something from this project, and I can’t wait to hear what people think of it.”

Luke Clerkin 

Talking about the meaning of the song, Luke said “Wow Wow Wow at its core is a vulnerable piece of music depicting one of my hopeless pursuits of finding love. This one in particular involves an embarrassing experience where after thinking that I’d finally made a connection with somebody, I found myself fifth wheeling in the middle of a busy Temple Bar pub. The song describes the even more awkward conversation that followed this experience.”

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Rising Irish indie-folk band Kingfishr have released two new tracks ‘Go Loud’ and ’Alone’.

Lead single, and focus track, ‘Go Loud’ creates that cinematic and anthemic feel that Kingfishr love so much. It opens with an infectious banjo rhythm that pulls you in, continues through a striking chorus and builds to a crescendo finish with swelling vocals. ‘Go Loud’ intertwines Irish heritage with modern music in the classic Kingfishr way. Speaking on

‘Go Loud’ the band said “It’s about telling the hard truths. If you don’t, the weight of those words will warp you out of shape and some day you’ll wake up and wonder how you ended up halfway down the wrong road.”

The hotly tipped trio have also released the enchantingly melodic ‘Alone’. Packed with soaring vocals and harmonies by lead singer Eddie, and coupled with gentle acoustic guitar and banjo, this song shows a softer side to Kingfishr. Speaking on ‘Alone’ the band said “It’s about rumination of unrequited love. A story about rejection and placing yourself at the whim of someone that doesn’t feel the same way. Growing up means coming to terms with this, especially for young men.”

Kingfishr have announced a massive UK and Ireland headline tour for this autumn. The tour will see them play seventeen venues, making it their biggest run of headline shows to date. Starting in Ireland, the UK tour consists of shows at The Fleece, Bristol on Monday 11th October, Academy 2 Manchester on Tuesday 12th November, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London on Wednesday 13th November, The Arts Club Theatre, Liverpool, on Friday 15th November, Foundry, Sheffield on Saturday 16th November, Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Sunday 17th November, SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow on Tuesday 19th November, Stylus, Leeds on Wednesday 20th November and O2 Academy2, Birmingham on Thursday 21st November. Full tour listing below. Tickets here.

The trio played eight sold out headline shows across the UK and Ireland earlier this year, The run of dates concluded with two shows at The Olympia Theatre in Ireland, a live recording of which will be available on the 19th July. Pre-order here. Kingfishr have also just finished a 14 date tour supporting Tom Walker, with a support slot for Snow Patrol’s show at Thomond Park Stadium coming in July.

Summer 2024 will see the band perform at festivals across Europe including Glastonbury, TRNMST, Isle Of Wight, Reading and Leeds, All Together Now, Sea Sessions, Down The Rabbit Hole and Rock Werchter.

Formed while members Eddie (vocals, guitar), McGoo (banjo), and Fitz (bass) were studying engineering at university in Limerick, the Irish trio lean into their heritage with traditional instruments and poetic songwriting. Kingfishr’s music is hugely cinematic, they pride themselves on deep textures and a grand sonic atmospheric nature, with influences ranging from Hanz Zimmer to Ben Howard. They have racked up over 28 million streams to date, with three of their previous releases being performed on The Independent’s live music session Music Box.

June 2024

Friday 7th June – ST ANNE’S PARK, Dublin (w/ Cian Ducrot) Friday 21st June – ISLE OF WIGHT Festival
Saturday 22nd June – SEA SESSIONS Festival
Wednesday 26th – Sunday 30th – GLASTONBURY Festival

July 2024

Thursday 4th – ROCK WERCHTER Festival, Belgium
Friday 5th – DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE Festival, Netherlands
Saturday 6th – MUSIQUES EN STOCK, France
Sunday 7th – LUXEXPO, Luxembourg (w/ Snow Patrol)
Friday 12th – THOMOND PARK STADIUM, Limerick City (w/ Snow Patrol) Sunday 14th – TRNSMT Festival, Glasgow

August 2024

Thursday 1st – Sunday 4th – ALL TOGETHER NOW Festival Sunday 11th – WINTERTHURER, Switzerland
Friday 23rd – LEEDS Festival, Leeds
Sunday 25th – READING Festival, Reading

October 2024

Thursday 24th – Set Theatre, Kilkenny Friday 25th – Theatre Royal, Castlebar Saturday 26th – INEC Arena, Killarney

November 2024

Friday 1st – The Set Theatre, Killarney

Saturday 2nd – Wexford Spiegeltent Festival Sunday 3rd – TLT, Drogheda
Tuesday 5th – City Hall, Cork
Wednesday 6th – City Hall, Cork

Friday 8th – Leisureland, Galway
Saturday 9th – The Telegraph Building, Belfast
Monday 11th – The Fleece, Bristol
Tuesday 12th – Academy 2, Manchester
Wednesday 13th – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London Friday 15th – The Arts Club Theatre, Liverpool
Saturday 16th – Foundry, Sheffield
Sunday 17th – Boiler Shop, Newcastle
Tuesday 19th – SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow
Wednesday 20th – Stylus, Leeds
Thursday 21st – O2 Academy2, Birmingham

Turps, the visionary artist behind the highly anticipated double album “Age of Uncertainty,” is set to release his latest project on Motion Club Records. Produced and engineered by Turps, the album offers a unique sonic experience.

Recorded in studios across Tuam, Sudbury, Pescara, and Buenos Aires, “Age of Uncertainty” blends diverse influences and global collaboration. Mixed at the Bigger Picture Mixing Suite and mastered by Andres Mayo at Immersive Audio, it achieves a perfect balance of clarity and complexity.

Turps’s multifaceted talents shine through, with contributions from artists like Jamie Parks, Manuel Trabucco, and Juan Ignacio Ferreras, along with guest artists such as Hannah Wujiw and Conor O’Donnell.

The album defies genre categorization, exploring themes from introspection to societal commentary, and promises to captivate audiences worldwide with its bold sonic palette and thought-provoking lyrics.

Prepare for a transformative musical journey as “Age of Uncertainty” pushes the boundaries of artistic expression.

Fresh Off The Heals Of His ‘‘Sad But Tourable’ UK Dates, Podge Lane Gives A Second Glimpse Into His Upcoming Third Album.

Bursting out the gate with electric slide guitar twangs, Podge Lane introduces us to the world of his newest single, ‘Left Foot Right Foot (Panic)’, set for release May 31st via Teip Records.

‘LFRF’ is the second single off of Lane’s upcoming third studio album ‘Multiple Dead Ends’, taking another sonic turn towards the alt-rock and chamber pop sounds, with hints of everything from Harry Nillson and Dawes to Cheap Trick and Jake Bugg.

Lyrically, Lane focuses on a topic most millennials can relate with: fearing growing older.

“It’s about that fear in your late twenties”, Lane confesses, “that you have so much left to do juxtaposed with a fear that because you didn’t make it as a 22 year old rock star, your dreams are over and it’s time to settle down. That middle ground doesn’t get easier to navigate, and tends to stick around even when you pass milestones you believed were unattainable”.

Following on from his ‘Sad But Tourable’ UK tour, Lane released his first single of 2024, ‘Down’, in March, which was lauded as a “spirited and bluesy vocals with a dirty guitar line, it’s hard not to love this infectious new country track.’ and featured heavily in UK and US Publications alike.

As Lane prepares to announce his summer tour dates ahead of the album release in August, “Left Foot Right Foot (Panic)” only further sets the stage for an exciting musical journey ahead

of all living things are a four piece Dublin based band. Initially inspired by their own childhood and art forms that emit themes of nostalgia, their music manifests that sentimental and introspective nature.

The EP was largely written over a winter in a dark rehearsal room after endless days of work. The mood was often low, driving a growing penchant towards writing slower and softer music.

The band’s first EP, On Familiar Ground, was written in the dregs of Covid while still in college. Having become acquainted with the unforgiving nature of the working world, the themes of this EP, as well as the title itself, refer to the environmental changes the band have gone through over the past couple of years.

of all living things on Instagram

Queen Bitch is a distinct and promising, emerging rock band, currently based in Dublin, Ireland. Founded in April 2023, the musical project is spearheaded by frontperson and writer Róisín Bohan. Addressing the breadth of human experience, the songs tell stories of finding strength, overcoming grief, and reconnecting with simple joys in life. The music blends rock, blues, and grunge, to mention a few genres, in empowering and inimitable ways.

“The Last Time” is the third single release by Queen Bitch, following her debut single “Bones” in October 2023, shortly followed by “Confines” in January 2024. Much like “Confines”, “The Last Time” found its inception on the piano, soon moving to the guitar and developing into its full rock sound – with an abundance of dreamy instrumental lead guitar.

“The Last Time” was written in spring 2023 by Róisín, and recorded later that autumn at Beardfire Studios, with the powerhouse production team; Rohan Healy, Al Quiff, and head producer David Virgin. The record features Róisín Bohan on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Rohan Healy on bass and lead guitar, and Al Quiff on drums. “The Last Time” is a song about growing up, moving on, and learning to have greater appreciation in life. It is one of Queen Bitch’s briefest songs from a lyrical perspective, centered around lush, elongated guitar solos, evoking a tranquil atmosphere. Best enjoyed while lying on a patch of grass somewhere, gazing at the sky and watching the clouds, “The Last Time” invites listeners to embrace its soothing, reflective mood.

The song has various layers of meaning, with a focus on life’s transient nature and learning to cherish the time we have. Using clouds as a metaphor for our journey through life, it explores
themes of personal growth, forgiveness, and the wisdom to walk away from what no longer serves us—such as one-sided relationships or situations where we feel invisible. “The Last Time” encourages us to trust our intuition, follow our own path, and release any sense of burden that may be weighing us down.

The song is written like a letter addressing a loved one – perhaps the loved one is even ourselves – conveying that this is our final attempt to make them hear and see us. It declares that we no longer seek their validation; essentially, we no longer care because we have been tested for too long. The song evokes a feeling of sadness, wrapped in the nostalgia that accompanies the choice to move on, however, it also carries a sense of hope for what lies ahead.

Queen Bitch is paving her way into the music scene with her promising sound. Beginning with solo performances by Róisín at open mic nights in Dublin in January 2023, the project took to the stage with a full band for the first time in November 2023, now with 4 shows under their belt, and more lining up for later in 2024. The band’s next show will see the newest member, Rafael Barrelo, joining on lead guitar.

Don’t miss Queen Bitch’s rise as she conquers the rock scene with her powerful live shows and string of compelling releases into 2024 and beyond.

Critically acclaimed Irish artist Niamh Regan shares her second album ‘Come As You Are’ on vinyl, CD, and digital today (31^st May 2024) via Faction Records, along with a new video for ‘Waves’ https://youtu.be/zVkoyqgA2YI

VIDEOS:

(*NEW) Waves – https://youtu.be/zVkoyqgA2YI
Madonna – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcO3Achn5tk
Belly – https://youtu.be/xH_c8H3HTHU?si=20Xsk0rhrcNeC28X
Music – https://youtu.be/jsEBqmx5AKA?si=Bf3Uz3SIGBfypoPQ

Niamh Regan’s 2020 debut album ‘Hemet’ introduced her as an artist with a gift for crafting folk-tinged songs with a quiet, reflective intensity. The release started to make waves and achieved over 1 million streams on Spotify and led to nominations for both the RTÉ Folk Awards and the Choice Music Prize ‘Album of the Year’.

Since its release, Niamh has embarked on headline tours from Ireland, to UK, Australia, Spain + more. Pairing this with many festivals and a variety of support opportunities with artist such as CMAT, Villagers, John Grant, SOAK, Patrick Watson, Sam Amidon, Cormac Begley, and Sorcha Richardson.

In between her performances, Niamh began to write her second record in Attica Studios with producer Tommy McLaughlin. She says, ‘I arrived in Donegal to meet Tommy for the first time with a bunch of demos, half-baked ideas and feeling not ready, it was scary. But I’m so glad that I did it that way. Trusted the process and came into the studio with the intention of capturing exactly where I was with it all and Tommy helped me build from there.’

And here we are, with the release of that second album, titled ‘Come As You Are’. It’s an album full of acutely observed vulnerabilities and introspection. Its themes are the issues that many of us find loom large in the small hours: questions of self-doubt, uncertainty about your life’s direction, whether relationships are flourishing in the way you’d hoped and determining priorities.

“A lot of it is about being in your late twenties and kind of realising we’re all running out of time,” she ponders. “I’d have bouts of massive self-belief in the studio, and then in the next breath I would be like, ‘This is the worst piece of music I could have even imagined.’ It was a rollercoaster. But through that I found self-acceptance; this is where I’m at and making peace with that. That’s what the album essentially is, just making peace with where I’m at and being realistic with myself.”

Niamh’s goal for the record was to achieve a richer, full live band sound, inspired by her love of Julia Jacklin, Caroline Rose, and especially Wilco. While there are moments of intimacy, the songs on ‘Come As You Are’ are far grander in scale and ambition than those on ‘Hemet’: the rousing, string-assisted majesty of ‘Waves’, subtle electro-pop beats dancing at the base of the mix in ‘Nice’, the dreamy Petty-esque melancholic swirl of ‘Blame’, and standout track ‘Music’, which, if not for the expressive feminine elegance of her voice, could feel like a lost classic from Jeff Tweedy and co.

Niamh has a contagious passion for performing live, having recently completed tours of Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, the UK, and supporting CMAT in the EU. Niamh explains the joy of releasing new music for her is performing it to a live audience, “It’s the best feeling and I think I’ll be chasing it for the rest of my life.”

And that’s a feeling that ‘Come As You Are’ will help her tap into. It’s an album which is a confident step forward, full of songs with the spark to come alive on stage and with the immediacy to beckon newcomers into her world.

 ‘Come As You Are’, is out now 31^st May 2024 via Faction Records:
https://factionrecords.lnk.to/ComeAsYouAre

TOUR DATES

FREE POP-UP SHOWS + SIGNINGS:

To celebrate the album release, Niamh will be touring across the country performing free pop-up shows in record stores and cafés:

Thurs 30th May – Pot Duggan’s, Ennistymon, Co. Clare, 9pm
Fri 31st May – Fairhill Coffee, Galway, 12 noon
Fri 31st May – Spindizzy Records, Dublin, 6pm
Sat 1st June – MusicZone, Cork, 1pm
Sat 1st June – Prim’s Bookshop, Kinsale, Cork, 4pm
Mon 3rd June – Rollercoaster Records, Kilkenny, 2pm
Weds 5th June – Luca Records, Waterford, 8pm
Thurs 6th June – Steamboat Records, Limerick, 5.15pm

UK (SOLO)

9th June – Metronome, Nottingham | (supporting Memorial)
10th June – Portland Arms, Cambridge | (supporting Memorial)
11th June – Paperdress Vintage, London | (supporting Memorial)
12th June – The Wight Bear, Bournemouth | (supporting Memorial)

IE TOUR DATES 2024

13^th June – Windmill Live Show w/James Vincent McMorrow, Dublin (solo)
16^th June – Doolin Folk Festival (full band)
16^th July – Galway International Arts Festival (full band)
25^th July – Song Room, Wexford (solo)
2^nd August – All Together Now
12^th August – Kilkenny Arts Festival (solo)
17^th August – Electric Picnic (solo)
14^th November – Cyprus Avenue, Cork (full band – presented by In Bloom Agency)
15^th November – Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin (full band – presented by Foggy Notions)

+ more to be announced

For more music, merch, and gig tickets, visit: https://shor.by/zC6c

Follow Niamh on:

TikTok
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

May 2024 – Following the success of his debut EP “Life in Its Purest Form” and a memorable performance on RTE One’s “Songs Of Ireland,” rising star Jaxson dropped his highly anticipated single, “Lost” today! Collaborating with Belgian artist Hunter Falls and Dutch producer Tobi Verheij, Jaxson’s latest track dives deep into themes of heartache and the urge to move forward when things break down.

All proceeds from Jaxson’s release is going to the Irish Red Cross’s appeal for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

The Irish Red Cross is directly supporting their partners, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS).

The PRCS are working day and night, risking, and losing, their lives to deliver assistance. It’s only one of two agencies mandated to receive and distribute aid in Gaza. They are the leading provider of emergency medical services and are delivering first aid, life-saving aid and psychosocial first aid since the conflict’s onset.

“Lost” is available on all major streaming platforms along with B side single “Wrong Again” which was cowritten with Irish artist SJ Talbot and producer Jessica Foxx (whenthebeatisbad)

About Jaxson

Jaxson is a dynamic Irish singer-songwriter celebrated for his powerful vocals & emotive storytelling. With a sold out headline show in Dublin, slots on some of Ireland’s biggest festival stages and 140,000+ Spotify streams under his belt, Jaxson is set to make more waves in 2024.