irish

UK Indie & Alternative

The Gothic Romanticism of Cardinals: Inside the Irish Quintet’s Darker Evolution Backstage at Reading 2026

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From quiet coastal sanctuaries to the roar of 40,000-strong crowds, Cork’s finest indie innovators discuss the intimate philosophy guiding their highly anticipated sophomore era. Executive Overview The rapid ascent of the Cork-based indie outfit Cardinals has become one of the most compelling narratives in modern alternative music. Emerging from the fertile underground scene of southern … Read more

UK Indie & Alternative

The Raw Cadence of Modern Discontent: How Madra Salach are Redefining Irish Trad for a New Era

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Executive Overview In the subterranean heat of Chalk, a premier music venue in Brighton, a seismic shift in the landscape of contemporary folk took place during this year’s edition of The Great Escape. Amidst a festival designed to showcase the highly polished future of pop, indie, and electronic music, the weekend’s most arresting performance belonged … Read more

British Folk & Acoustic

Transatlantic Strings and Dublin Roots: Paahto & The Bull Breathe New Life into Traditional Irish Music with Debut Album The 123

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Executive Overview Dublin’s vibrant traditional music ecosystem continues to thrive, continually balancing a profound reverence for historical repertoire with fearless, contemporary reinvention. Among the most compelling flag-bearers of this modern renaissance are Patrick “Paahto” Cummins and John Francis Flynn, who perform together as Paahto & The Bull. Long-established figures within Ireland’s underground and contemporary folk … Read more

UK Pop Music

The Return of Irish Pop Royalty: B*Witched Prepare New EP and Cement Their 90s Legacy for a Modern Era

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Executive Overview Irish pop sensation *BWitched* are officially staging a major musical comeback. More than two decades after capturing the global imagination with their signature denim-clad aesthetic, infectious folk-pop hooks, and historic chart dominance, the group has confirmed plans to release a brand-new extended play (EP) later this year. Following the release of their critically … Read more

UK Indie & Alternative

The Drone and the Fury: How Dublin’s Madra Salach is Reclaiming Irish Folk for a New Era of Discontent

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Executive Overview At this year’s edition of the tastemaker new music festival The Great Escape, the most potent and politically charged performance of the weekend did not come from a hyped indie-pop outfit or a polished electronic act. Instead, it belonged to a band whose sonic and thematic roots stretch back more than a century. … Read more

UK Indie & Alternative

The New Vanguard of Irish Trad-Punk: Inside the Visceral Rise of Madra Salach

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Executive Overview In the sweltering, packed basement of Chalk during Brighton’s prestigious tastemaker festival, The Great Escape, a defining musical moment of 2026 unfolded. It did not belong to a glossy synth-pop outfit or a heavily algorithmic indie-rock band, but to a Dublin sextet whose sonic architecture is built upon foundations over a century old. … Read more

Electronic & Club Culture

Techno Legend Carl Cox Unveils Unreleased Music for 1990s Northern Irish Rave Film Skintown

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Executive Overview Electronic music royalty Carl Cox has expanded his cinematic footprint by contributing exclusive, unreleased music to Skintown, a gritty and vibrant new feature film chronicling the 1990s Northern Irish rave scene. Directed by Kieron J. Walsh, the film celebrated its world premiere this past weekend at the prestigious Edinburgh International Film Festival, instantly … Read more

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