Focus

Duos Moving in Many Directions Duos Moving in Many Directions James Camien McGuiggan 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 How Ireland Treats Its Free Thinkers – The Life and Death of Sinéad O'Connor Toner Quinn 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 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 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.
Widening the Cracks in the Edifice of Neoliberalism Widening the Cracks in the Edifice of Neoliberalism Sebastian Adams 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 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 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 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.
Does the RTÉ Crisis Imperil Music? Does the RTÉ Crisis Imperil Music? Toner Quinn RTÉ is immersed in a crisis that has long-term implications for the broadcaster, but what will the consequences be for music, asks Toner Quinn.
Embracing the Louth Spirit 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.

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