There’s been a lot written about Dublin’s music scene, spawning rock veterans like Skinny Lizzy and loud experimentalists like Gilla Band in equal measure. About an hour north, nonetheless, lies Dundalk, the place the members of Simply Mustard put their overlap of noise rock, trip-hop, and digital to chic use. “You get to know everybody fairly shortly as a result of it’s so small,” guitarist/vocalist David Noonan mentioned of their hometown scene in 2019, a yr after the discharge of their debut album, Wednesday, through native unbiased label Pizza Pizza Information. “When you’re enjoying a sure kind of music, there’s solely sure native venues you possibly can play, so you find yourself on payments with folks from everywhere in the nation. It’s nice.” They shortly made their mark domestically at Spirit Retailer earlier than getting tapped to play larger venues alongside the Treatment, Wolf Alice, and Fontaines D.C., however they nonetheless revisit the areas the place they honed their chops.
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Tomorrow, the five-piece return with their third album, WE WERE JUST HERE, which casts their signature components — warped riffs, layered synths, a booming low finish — in a hotter glow. It’s not in contrast to the Treatment’s evolution from blackened post-punk to euphoric area hits, who they’ll rejoin on tour in the summertime throughout the U.Ok. Forward of the LP launch and 2026 headlining tour, the band opened up about the most effective Irish bands doing it proper now, a lot of whom share their love for laying down textured moodiness.
RÓIS
RÓIS’ latest launch, MO LÉAN, is masterful, seamlessly weaving previous Irish custom with mournful synths, drone soundscapes, and her arrestingly highly effective singing main the best way. If her stay performances are something to go by, although, she is simply as able to whipping out dance-floor bangers alongside the funereal dirges. One other unbelievable artist with an thrilling up to date tackle Irish people alongside the likes of Lankum. —Shane Maguire
Junior Brother
buddy of ours who by no means ceases to amaze together with his expansive and persevering with reinvention of people. His songs can lie anyplace between poetic pastoral ballads and prog-rock-like epics. His latest album, The Finish, has maybe his most madcap preparations alongside probably the most in depth instrumentation in a JB launch. My very own private spotlight is seeing him and his band carry out the 20-minute epic “Junior Brother’s Favorite” stay. —Shane Maguire
The Altered Hours
My favourite stay band within the nation. Seeing them stay is like being pulled into and smashed by a wave of rock and largely roll. New album popping out in November is gorgeous — “Lay There With You” is an instantaneous traditional and a type of very uncommon songs that feels prefer it has all the time existed. —David Noonan
Makeshift Artwork Bar
I noticed this band not too long ago, and it was so thrilling. I couldn’t guess the place they’d take a track when it began — the dynamics of their songs had been so good. To me, they gave the impression of if Underworld and Nirvana met someplace within the center however just like the “Limitless, Anonymous” model of Nirvana, if that is smart. They’ve one thing very cool, and I can’t wait to listen to them once more —Katie Ball
Maria Somerville
Heavy, meditative, contemplative, comfortable reminiscence music that feels immediately relatable but in addition deeply private to the artist. Good late-night music, whether or not you’re driving in rural Eire or strolling by means of city. —David Noonan
Stratford Rise
A really spectacular outfit of younger lads primarily based out of Belfast, plying their very own model of erratic noise rock. On first impression, one could hear and see free similarities to early black midi, however they actually have a extra visceral sonic assault to my ears. One more band that excels in a stay context. —Shane Maguire
Merciless Sister
A really proficient producer/songwriter. We’ve all cherished her music from the primary songs launched. Their new EP, A CORPSE IS TALKING, is good, and I’m very excited for extra Merciless Sister sooner or later. —David Noonan
One Leg One Eye
A noise/drone undertaking headed by Ian Lynch of Lankum that’s imbued with Irish historical past. I’m an enormous fan of Lankum and some other adjoining tasks containing their members (additionally positively take a look at ØXN), however One Leg One Eye is a very distinctive proposition. There may be even a touch of black-metal affect, significantly on the opening observe of the one launch to this point, …And Take The Black Worm With Me. I will need to have listened to the album a minimum of 4 instances when not too long ago driving to Achill Island off the West Coast of Eire, convincing me that there was a strong historical power seeping out of the rugged Irish landscapes. —Shane Maguire
Elaine Malone
Elaine’s songwriting and voice are unbelievable and backed by her psychedelic band filled with elbows and angular turns — they create an excellent sweeping cacophony of sound. —David Noonan
Coolgirl
A current discovery for me from late-night Irish radio. An digital undertaking from Lizzie Fitzpatrick, who used to entrance hard-rock band Bitch Falcon. I completely love Highway Closures, an ambient-ish launch steeped in moody, woozy pads with hints of these Boards of Canada cool colours whereas altogether feeling cinematic. —Shane Maguire
