Cork on a Good Day
Don O'Mahony
The fourth edition of the Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival took place in Cork on 7–10 September and featured Ólafur Arnalds, The Vernon Spring, Richard Reed Parry, Ye Vagabonds, Niamh Regan and more. Don O'Mahony reviews.
Vital Space in the City Experience
Drew Stephens
The recent MusicTown festival featured a varied line-up of genres and artists including Izumi Kimura, ALYXIS, Crash Ensemble, Péist, Poor Creature, Paddy Keenan and more. Drew Stephens reviews two of the event's four days.
A Nightlife Against All Odds
Drew Stephens
DJs KETTAMA and Shampain, founders of the G–Town Records label, performed a headline show and took part in an artist talk at Galway International Arts Festival last week. Drew Stephens reviews.
A Landmark Recording in Irish Piping
Verena Commins
Na Píobairí Uilleann has recently released the first full album of women uilleann pipers, 'Mná na bPíob Uilleann: Vol. 1', featuring Emer Mayock, Rita Farrell, Muireann Ní Shé, Claire Fennell, Marion McCarthy, Maeve O’Donnell and Pamela Schweblin. Verena Commins reviews.
A Wealth of Musics in West Cork
Brendan Finan
The West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Bantry, Co. Cork, took place from 23 June to 2 July and featured Ensemble Diderot, Trio Gaspard, Armida Quartet, Mairéad Hickey, Anna Devin, Lotte Betts-Dean, Caroline Melzer and more. Brendan Finan reviews the final weekend.
Unconventional Éire
Don O'Mahony
TG4's new series 'Éire Eile', presented by Cóilí Collins (DJ Shampain) explores subcultures and alternative scenes in Ireland, including interviews with Strange Boy, Problem Patterns and the Mary Wallopers. Don O'Mahony reviews.
Embracing the Louth Spirit
Brendan Finan
The Louth Contemporary Music Festival took place last weekend and featured American composer Caroline Shaw, new work by Linda Catlin Smith, Cassandra Miller and Sam Perkin, and a version of Terry Riley's 'In C' performed by Irish traditional musicians. Brendan Finan reviews.
Pages
Demonstrating the Breadth of Irish Contemporary Styles
On 3 September at the Hugh Lane Gallery, violinist Larissa O'Grady performed six new works for violin by Irish composers. Brendan Finan reviews. 
Continuing the Flow and Subtlety of the Clare Fiddle Tradition
Fiddle player Tony Linnane has recently released his solo album, 'Ceol na Fidle', on Raelach Records. Adrian Scahill reviews. 
Duos Moving in Many Directions
NMC Recordings have recently released 'The Last Time I Died' by Ailís Ní Ríain, the first full-length album from the Irish composer. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.