Dark Tales in a City at Play
Brendan Finan
Brendan Finan reviews the musical fare at the opening weekend of the 2024 Kilkenny Arts Festival, including the Carducci Quartet, Chamber Choir Ireland, Bassekou Kouyate, and Emma O'Halloran's operas 'Trade' and 'Mary Motorhead'.
An Expressive Portrait
James Camien McGuiggan
Composer Greg Caffrey has just released 'Environments', an orchestral album featuring the Ulster Orchestra conducted by Sinead Hayes, guitarist Craig Ogden and pianist Daniel Browell. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Crash the Universe
Brendan Finan
Crash Ensemble's two most recent recordings focus on works by Irish composer Sam Perkin and Canadian Bekah Simms. Brendan Finan reviews 'Children in the Universe' and 'Metamold', both released on the group's own label.
A Remarkable Conversation
James Camien McGuiggan
The Blue Chopsticks label has just released 'In the Merry Month of May', a collaboration between Irish composer Jennifer Walshe and the late American experimental artist Tony Conrad who died in 2016. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
The Wonders of Bantry
Adrian Smith
The 2024 West Cork Chamber Music Festival took place from 28 June to 7 July in Bantry and featured Camerata Øresund, Chiaroscuro Quartet, Esther Hoppe, Boris Giltburg, Dana Zemtsov and many more. Adrian Smith reviews the concerts on 4 and 5 July.
Kneecap's Pushback Against Power
Verena Commins
Kneecap's recently released debut album, 'Fine Art', unveils an extraordinary, bilingual Belfast world and features Radie Peat, Manchán Magan and Grian Chatten. Verena Commins reviews.
A Festival Drawn to the Introspective
Brendan Finan
The 2024 Louth Contemporary Music Festival took place on 14–15 June and featured music by Robert Ashley, Linda Catlin Smith and Stockhausen with performances by Varispeed Collective, Neue Vocalsolisten, Rihab Azar, Zoë Conway, Inni-k and more. Brendan Finan reviews.
Pages
Traditional Tunes as Points of Departure
Córas Trio – Kevin McCullagh, Paddy McKeown and Conor McAuley – have just released their debut album of experimental traditional music. Adrian Scahill reviews. 
Exploring Identity and Solitude at the Cutting Edge
A new film exploring the making of Úna Monaghan's experimental album 'Aonaracht' was broadcast on TG4 on 5 June. Don O'Mahony reviews. 
A Composer's Guide to Cataclysm
RTÉ Lyric FM recently broadcast a two-part documentary on Irish composers and climate change, presented and produced by Jonathan Grimes of the Contemporary Music Centre. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.