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.
Stanford Revisited
Áine Mulvey
Jeremy Dibble has recently published a revised and expanded version of his major work 'Charles Villiers Stanford: Man and Musician', marking the centenary of the composer's death. Áine Mulvey reviews.
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.
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Silence is Not Complicity: A Reply to Sebastian Adams
In a previous article in the Journal of Music, composer Sebastian Adams criticised music organisations for not supporting activist musicians. Here, music writer Adrian Smith replies and makes the case for the political independence of promoters. 
'Never since .... have I forgotten Erin': The Life and Work of Irish Composer William Vincent Wallace
On Friday 26 July at the National Concert Hall, the National Symphony Orchestra and Heritage Music Productions will present a concert performance of Waterford-born William Vincent Wallace's opera 'Lurline'. In this essay, Una Hunt explores his adventurous life and key works. 
Where is the Support for Activist Musicians?
Since the crisis in Gaza began, Irish musicians have made a huge effort as regards activism and fundraising, but where has the support been from music organisations, asks Sebastian Adams. 
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.