Author: Zoé Piater

Irish artist Iann Brennan has made quite the impression around the Irish music scene over the years with his energetic and captivating live performances.

Iann Brennan is an Irish Indie Rock artist from Dublin, Ireland. He started out playing guitar at the age of 12 and then started writing songs shortly after learning his first 4 chords. The first band Iann was in was a band with 2 of his cousins. After that split up, Iann formed another band which went on to support renowned Irish band Aslan. From there, Iann met Vinny who is Iann’s manager now.

Iann went solo in 2015 after his old band split up. With no intention of playing music anymore, Iann’s friend was playing a gig and the support act dropped out last minute and she asked Iann to stand in and open the gig. Iann played 4 songs which what was meant to be the next batch of his old band’s songs. This sparked Iann to get the fire going again so Iann called Vinny and asked if he could have any support slots he would know of. Iann did a few shows with Vinny who then put Iann in touch with Irish producer Ray Traynor who Iann has worked with ever since.

Since then, Iann has gone on to write a collection of anthemic, melodic, catchy, heartfelt songs which are influenced by Iann’s heroes such as Oasis, Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys and Stereophonics. His unique brand of entertainment fuses anthemic melodic songs and driving guitar lines with energetic and witty stage banter that will make you want to sing and get lost in the music.

Iann was shocked to hear that his music had reached the ears of German label AGR Television Records. Iann signed to the label in 2023.

Notable past performances include opening for Damien Dempsey, Aslan, Declan O’Rourke, Mary Coghlan, Hazel O’Connor, Eddi Reader and Lisa Hannigan and has played in iconic venues and festivals such as Electric Picnic, 3Olympia Theatre, Vicar St. and Cork Opera House.

CMAT was recently presented an IMRO Award in recognition of her album Crazymad, For Me.

The IMRO Number 1 Award was introduced to acknowledge IMRO members who reach number 1 in the album charts here in Ireland.

Second album ‘Crazymad, For Me’ takes popstar CMAT through a reinvention of what came before: this is the grand statement of an ambitious mature sound, a textured sonic feel and details of a complex emotional and metaphorical landscape. ‘It’s an abstract break-up album. about what happens when you are still angry about something that happened 10 years ago’. It’s grand, full of hooks and picture-painting lyrics projected by her singular vocals. It’s the mainstream indie that CMAT loved as a teenager, filtered through 20th century country music, amplified by knowledge of 80’s and 90’s pop hits with a slide guitar and a camp twist. Complex, intimate and with influences far-flung across time and place, ‘CrazyMad, For Me’ is an instant classic album for the broadest audience.

Best known to Irish audiences as a onetime writer and folk music columnist for both Hot Press and the Evening Herald, Sarah McQuaid has since moved to England and become a full time musician, with six critically acclaimed albums under her belt including her new live-in-lockdown album The St Buryan Sessions.

She’ll be touring the island of Ireland from April 19 through 28, with shows as follows (see https://sarahmcquaid.com/tour for full details including times, ticket links etc.):

Apr 19   Ennis: glór (Studio Theatre)
Apr 20   Naul: Séamus Ennis Arts Centre
Apr 21   Newtownards: Ards International Guitar Festival
Apr 24   Omagh: Ophelia’s Loft at Daly’s
Apr 25   Cushendun: The Old Church Centre
Apr 26   Kilmacow: Live @ The Seantí
Apr 27   Enniskeane: The Hollies
Apr 28   Birr Theatre & Arts Centre

Born in Spain to a Spanish father and American mother, Sarah grew up in Chicago, touring the US and Canada as a member of The Chicago Children’s Choir. In the mid-1990s she made her way to Ireland, where her authorship of The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book led to invitations to write regular music columns and reviews for Hot Press magazine and Dublin’s Evening Herald.

In 2007, she switched roles from interviewer to interviewee, launching her first solo tour with a memorable appearance as musical guest on John Kelly’s Friday night arts television programme “The View” on RTÉ One (a video of which can still be watched via Sarah’s YouTube channel).

The same year saw her moving to rural West Cornwall, where she struck up a friendship with a fellow mum outside the gates of her children’s school. That fellow mum turned out to be Zoë Pollock, writer and performer of 1991 UK Top 5 single “Sunshine On A Rainy Day.”

The pair soon found themselves co-writing songs for an album released in 2008 under the band name Mama, lauded by MOJO’s Colin Irwin as “a pleasingly maverick mix” and by Siobhán Long in The Irish Times as “Janis Joplin’s freewheeling spirit crossed with Joni Mitchell’s lyrical density.”

“I owe Zoë a massive debt of gratitude for getting me into songwriting in a serious way,” says Sarah. “Prior to that I’d thought of myself basically as a folksinger who happened to write an occasional song, but through working with Zoë I not only learned a hell of a lot about the craft of songwriting, but also just the fact of someone of her calibre wanting to co-write with me was what finally gave me the confidence to start focusing on my own original material.

“And of course, if it weren’t for Zoë I’d never have met Martin” – Martin Stansbury, a longtime collaborator and former bandmate of Zoë’s who produced and engineered the Mama album, then became Sarah’s manager and sound engineer, accompanying her on all her tours worldwide since 2009.

Most recently, Martin produced and engineered Sarah’s sixth solo album, The St Buryan Sessions, recorded live in lockdown in the beautiful medieval church of St Buryan, just over a mile from Sarah’s home.

Released in October 2021 on CD and limited-edition double LP, the album made it onto “Best of 2021” lists on three continents and features stunning solo performances by Sarah on acoustic and electric guitars, piano and floor tom drum, her lush, distinctive vocals echoing through the soaring space.

“McQuaid’s voice, a fragile, starkly resonant alto, has always been a thing of folk-trad beauty,” wrote reviewer Kenny Berkowitz in Acoustic Guitar magazine, “but here, with ambient mics placed around the church’s interior, it takes on a new joyfulness and a deeper darkness.” Ink 19’s Bob Pomeroy called it “a starkly minimalist recording of exceptional beauty”, and Folk Radio UK described it as “a wonderful, expressive and intimate live album from a consummate performer.”

“There is an audience,” wrote Adrian Jones in Songlines, “– it’s you, and you’ve kept shtum in the back pew. It’s an intimate and changing 70 minutes, ending with the silence of this hallowed setting. Sneak out quietly. And then listen to it again!”

The entire album was filmed as it was being recorded, and videos of all 15 tracks can be viewed on Sarah’s website – https://sarahmcquaid.com – together with details of all Sarah’s tour dates and more information including a 10-minute video intro to Sarah and her music.

(Photographer credit: Daniel Harris)

The Workman’s Club & Cellar, Dublin

Full Access and Showcase Only tickets on sale here.

The Music & Mental Health Festival is set to return to Dublin’s Workman’s Club and Cellar for its second edition on the 9th of June 2024 with an exciting lineup, headlined by Irish indie-rockers modernlove. The festival will feature panel discussions, workshops, and live music performances to promote open conversations about mental health in the music industry.

This year’s edition aims to raise awareness about the impact touring can have on musicians, industry professionals and fans’ wellbeing, while supporting charities focusing on mental health in the creative sector.

The festival will bring seven acts spanning across two stages, offering attendees a unique blend of genres, ranging from punk to folk, from indie to electronic music. Featuring performances by modernlove., Emileo, anna leah, Elaphi, The Amniotics, Navya Sharma and Nancy Kate, the lineup was carefully curated to showcase artists at different stages of their career, providing insight into their live performance process and their experience with its impact on mental health. Attendees can expect to not only enjoy a diverse range of musical acts but also gain valuable knowledge and insights into the live music industry through panels and an interactive workshop, with speakers to be announced soon.

The organisers of the festival commented, “We are thrilled to bring together such a talented group of artists who are passionate about both music and mental health advocacy. By creating a safe space where musicians, music industry professionals, and fans can share their experiences, we are hoping to help normalise conversations surrounding mental well-being in the music industry, while also providing information on available support.”

Full access and showcase-only tickets from €12.90 to €15.90 are available now and can be purchased from here.

Join the conversation and stay connected with us on the festival’s socials:
Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

MMHF is kindly supported by IMRO, Minding Creative Minds and Ex Oh Promotions.

• Experimental Indie Stalwart Patrick Wolf on his Crown of Stars tour
• National Concert Hall Studio 
• Friday 10 May 2024 8.30pm  
• Tickets €22  
• On Sale Friday 22 March 10am – NCH Box Office 01 4170000 / nch.ie

The National Concert Hall is delighted to present the long-awaited return to Ireland of celebrated indie artist Patrick Wolf. With the release of 2003’s acclaimed Lycanthropy, Patrick made a name for himself as a singular creative force unafraid to break boundaries. The multi-instrumentalist’s output blended electronic sampling with classical instrumentation and baroque chamber pop sensibilities to widespread acclaim.

Over the next ten years Patrick released four more lauded albums copper-fastening his reputation as one of the most talented and idiosyncratic musicians of his generation. Following a hiatus, in 2023 Patrick marked the 20-year anniversary of his first release with his EP The Night Safari followed by a collection of B-sides and other rarities, The Circling Sky.

Don’t miss this chance to see an extraordinary talent in the intimate surrounds of the NCH Studio.

The Guardian – ‘Many kinds of Wonderful’

Tilda Swinton – ‘My feeling is that we certainly come from the same planet: kith and kin. His music sounds like the great unexpressed soundtrack of a great film I want to see – and try to catch every night before I go to sleep..’

Tickets €22 On Sale Now

10% Discount for Friends of NCH and Groups of 10 or more.

www.nch.ie

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CONCERT HALL          

The National Concert Hall (NCH) is Ireland’s national cultural institution for music, proudly serving the Irish public since it opened in 1981 through live music performances and significant educational and cultural programmes. Based in the heart of Dublin’s city centre, next door to the picturesque Iveagh Gardens, the NCH is proud home to our National Symphony Orchestra, as well as providing residence for a range of other music organisations including Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Music Network, Crash Ensemble and Music Generation. It is currently planning for a major redevelopment of all facilities as part of the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040.

Lyra has unveiled her new single ‘Queen’, which is set to drop three weeks ahead of her self-titled studio album ‘LYRA’ via Rubyworks Records . The single which exudes a sense of  being free from sexual limitations was produced and co-written by Phil Cook (Lewis Capaldi, Ellie Goulding, and Calum Scott) who also produced the records Falling and Lovers.

‘Queen’ is about promiscuity, about pleasure, about a one night stand, of owning it and not needing anymore in that moment of exchange.  It’s about empowerment and taking back that control, the opening chords of the record harness Lyra’s raw and powerful vocals with her signature drum beats and intensity from the get go.

“This song is bad-ass” explains Lyra, “…it presents a version of myself that I was always scared to be. It’s a reminder that you need me and I don’t need you, and I can be my own Queen”.

‘Queen’ is for everyone, about being your own Queen. The gender battle, why do men get commended for their sexual endeavours, while women are defined as ‘easy’ on a one night stand?  Candid and confessional in its narrative, it is about taking back ownership!

“It’s a reminder that I/we don’t need validation from anyone, this is my life so watch me live it. I will be my own Queen”, mentions Lyra.

“Sipping whiskey in the club, Watch me levitate”

As Lyra is set to release her studio album next month, which includes the pop anthems Chess, Drink Me Up and You, the Irish pop sensation and fashionista concludes a hectic month following her return to live performances across Ireland. These included two sold out 3Olympia Theatre Shows and two sold out Cork Opera House shows. Lyra has received rapturous applause across the width and breadth of the country.

On speaking of the record Lyra explains “I wanted this song to be grittier and underground, with a lot of attitude”, it’s a sassy song”.  This is for all women, about being our own Queens”.

Lyra has reached over  21 million streams globally (Spotify and YouTube)

“Queen” on release today March 27^th, 2024 from all platforms.

The Brady’s Sessions take place on Monday 8th April from 8.30pm in Brady’s Bar, Terenure, Dublin 6w.

Playing on the night are Kate Dineen, Jim Murphy, Michelle Gahan, Tríona Sings.

Donations on the night to help the acts are very welcome.

Bandcamp:

https://ciaraoneillmusic.bandcamp.com/music

Streaming: https://emubands.ffm.to/mother

Following the release of the celebrated ‘La Lune’ and ‘Le Soleil’ singles, RTE Radio1 Folk Award nominee (Best Emerging Artist category 2022), Ciara O’Neill releases new track ‘Mother’, the second single from her upcoming EP ‘Woman’, coming 8^th May 2024.

Co-Written with Northern Irish songwriter Ciaran Lavery, ‘Mother’ was produced by Dan Byrne-McCullough and features contributions from Zarah Fleming (Cello) Katie McGown (Violin 1), Maebh Martin (Violin 2 & Viola), Sarah Martin (Trumpet) and Conor Burnside (Drums).

Speaking about the song Ciara says “Mother is a deep dive into the world of Women. What it means to be a woman in the modern world, the desire to live a life on your own terms without the pressure of looking, acting and living a certain way, a way that is deemed acceptable by society.”

If Ciara O’Neill’s music has one central theme it is her voice, one that silences a room with the first note as well as her heartfelt crafted lyricism never shying away from emotions that are both uncomfortable and universal. The new EP will be sure to appeal to fans of her older material as well as fans of other well-loved artists Lisa Hannigan and Juliet Turner.

Following on from the success of her last EP where single ‘La Lune’ topped the BBC Radio Ulster and RTE Radio 1 airplay charts and her subsequent nomination for Best Emerging Artist at the 2022 RTE Radio1 Folk awards, it’s an exciting time for Ciara to be releasing new music.

Ciara O’Neill will release her EP ‘Woman’ Wednesday 8^th May 2024.

Ciara will celebrate a live EP launch show at the Linenhall, Belfast, 24^th May 2024.

Photo credit: Christian Tierney

HousePlants is the exciting full-fledged creative vision of two of Ireland’s most respected artists – Bell X1 front man Paul Noonan, and innovative atmospheric producer Daithí. Following their 2021 Choice Prize nominated album ‘Dry Goods’, and 2022 EP ‘Seaglass’, the duo return, suited and booted, with a new album coming later this year.

Following the release of their first single ‘No Pushover’ last month, the pair return with the next sample of what’s to come, ‘Every Flower is a Field’. Official video: https://youtu.be/QYweV581WHg?si=AjESxRhHRyoQKGhJ

Speaking of the track, Paul says:

“Lyrically, the song tries to speak to how the unknowing blank canvas of early childhood gives way to the awkward, burdened teenage bit. My own children are 12 and 14 now, and there is much eye-rolling when we talk about the cuter times…

There’s also still something really arresting about seeing how a child’s mannerism or expression can be exactly like one of your own parent’s moves, a genetic torch burning on.”

And speaking of the upcoming album, Paul continues, “The first record was made in the strangeness of deep dark lockdown, with Daithí and I pinging parts to each other from our respective caves. From this remove I can see how essential an outlet it was for my creativity, my sense of self through that time. There was no long game, we were making the thing for the instant gratification!

So to have toured the record with a great bunch of people and make it work in that way was an unexpected joy, and we want to keep doing that. This time we’ve been in the room together, Daithí and I, flinging paint and making decisions in real time…and a lot of it is informed by the live experience – what we think works and why.”

Daithí adds, “Houseplants has always been about reaching out and connecting, there’s an honesty and rawness to the lyrics, production, and visuals. I think that’s what both the band and the audience really connect to, and you see it in full force when we get to play to an audience, There’s nothing like it.”

HousePlants will embark on a Spring tour this April. See them perform at the Attica, Doolin (March 30^th), Róisín Dubh, Galway (April 12^th), Button Factory, Dublin (April 26^th), Dolan’s, Limerick (April 27^th), and Cyprus Avenue, Cork (May 24^th).

Tickets are on sale now at www.houseplants.band

HOUSEPLANTS SPRING TOUR

Saturday 30^th March – Doolin, The Attic
Friday 12^th April – Galway, Róisín Dubh
Friday 26^th April – Dublin, Button Factory
Sat 27^th April – Limerick, Dolan’s
Fri 24^th May – Cork, Cyprus Avenue

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Brian McGovern is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter from Dublin, Ireland. As the frontman of 2 of Ireland’s most promising bands, The Fallen Drakes, and Saarloos he has toured with various artists including Bon Jovi, Daniel Bedingfield, Kiefer Sutherland, Gavin James, Newton Faulkner, Amistat, Six60, Jamie Cullum, among others.

Brian has received extensive airplay on every national radio station in Ireland, and his songs have been streamed almost 10 Million times on Spotify. He has received numerous accolades for his work including the RTÉ Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award and a nomination for the MTV Newcomer of the Year Award.

Brian has performed in some of the biggest and most iconic venues in Ireland such as the 3arena, The Olympia Theatre, Vicar Street, RDS Stadium, The Marquee in Cork, and King John’s Castle to name a few.  He has headlined the Paradiso in Amsterdam and has also performed at AFAS.

Hey Mom is a song written last year for Brian’s partner after the passing of her Mother, Helena. A recording of her voice was used at the beginning of the song. Brian’s young son, her grandson, created the artwork for the single.

The song was produced by Irish singer Gavin James. They decided it would be very poignant to release it on Helena’s first anniversary, April 12th.

The track serves as a reminder to cherish the memories we have of those who are no longer with us. It’s a beautiful example of how music can be used to keep the memory of loved ones alive and bring comfort to those who are grieving.

 “It’s impossible to put into words the heartbreak and pain you feel when somebody you love passes, so this is my attempt to try to put those emotions into a song”. 

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