Focus
When it Comes to New Music, the NSO Needs to Get a Move On
The National Symphony Orchestra's new season begins on Friday 8 September, the second full season since it moved to the NCH. Adrian Smith looks ahead to some of the highlights and also considers the orchestra's programming of new music.
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.
How Ireland Treats Its Free Thinkers – The Life and Death of Sinéad O'Connor
The great Sinéad O'Connor has left Ireland with a lot to think about with regard to how we deal with dissent, writes Toner Quinn.
Vital Space in the City Experience
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
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.
Widening the Cracks in the Edifice of Neoliberalism
Are contemporary music groups falling prey to 'the experience economy'? Or are they challenging the neoliberal consensus? Sebastian Adams, composer and Artistic Director of Kirkos, responds to a recent discussion on the Contemporary Music Centre’s Amplify podcast.
A Landmark Recording in Irish Piping
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
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
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.