Focus

Through the Darkness Through the Darkness Don O'Mahony Cork house music duo Fish Go Deep have recently released a new album, 'This Bit of Earth'. Don O'Mahony reviews.
A Modern Tour of Ancient Music A Modern Tour of Ancient Music Brendan Finan The 25th Galway Early Music Festival took place on 21–23 May, featuring Enea Sorini and Peppe Frana, the Irish Consort and Siobhán Armstrong, Aisling Kenny, Róisín Elsafty, Resurgam and more. Brendan Finan reviews.
Exciting Scene Let Down by Stagnant Staging Exciting Scene Let Down by Stagnant Staging Andrea Cleary Andrea Cleary reviews 'Extraterrestrial' – an evening of music and spoken word at the National Concert Hall celebrating Black Irish artists.
We Need to Talk about Creativity in the Post-Pandemic Era We Need to Talk about Creativity in the Post-Pandemic Era Toner Quinn Right now, the world is talking about ‘creative solutions’ for the post-pandemic era, for the climate crisis, and for every other challenge that we face, but we need to get clear about what creativity means, writes Toner Quinn.
A European Tour Under Lockdown A European Tour Under Lockdown James Camien McGuiggan The Sligo International Chamber Music Festival took place online this year with four concerts and three new commissions from Irish composers. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
'Artists who are at their wits' end can’t afford another glitzy policy announcement': Basic Income for Artists Needs More Scrutiny 'Artists who are at their wits' end can’t afford another glitzy policy announcement': Basic Income for Artists Needs More Scrutiny Aengus Ó Snodaigh The basic income for artists was recommended in a government report last November, but since then progress has been sluggish and the ideas need much more scrutiny, writes Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD.
Airs for an Ocean Under Duress Airs for an Ocean Under Duress Adrian Scahill Máirtín O’Connor's new climate-emergency-inspired suite of music 'The Mighty Ocean' recently aired on TG4. Adrian Scahill reviews.
Is Music Timeless? Is Music Timeless? James Camien McGuiggan Presented as part of the MusicTown festival this year, 'A Weldon Kane Report – Joe Heaney Is a Time Traveller' explores the revelation that there exists a secret society of time-travelling Irish traditional musicians. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Music Worth Making Music Worth Making Adrian Smith The 8th edition of New Music Dublin, Ireland's largest festival of contemporary music, took place on 23–26 April, this time online. With 33 world premieres and a weekend full of concerts, did it manage to maintain the momentum of recent years? Adrian Smith reviews.
A Festival of Different Futures A Festival of Different Futures Brendan Finan On 14–18 April, Louth Contemporary Music Society presented a five-day online festival featuring work by Sarah Hennies, Kevin Volans, Cornelius Cardew, Leo Brouwer and more. Brendan Finan reviews.

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