Focus

The Silencing of An Spidéal – Why Catherine Martin Needs to Set Out a New Vision for the Arts The Silencing of An Spidéal – Why Catherine Martin Needs to Set Out a New Vision for the Arts Toner Quinn The experience of one village in the west of Ireland shows that the new Minister for Arts faces a serious challenge, to change the way we think about culture and its role in our society, writes Toner Quinn.
Exploring Schubert's Year Exploring Schubert's Year Tara Broderick Sharon Carty and Jonathan Ware's new album is a collection of Schubert songs centred around the four seasons. Tara Broderick reviews.
Against the Party Line of Western Music Against the Party Line of Western Music Brendan Finan Jennifer Walshe's recent album, 'A Late Anthology of Early Music Vol. 1: Ancient to Renaissance', uses Artificial Intelligence to reimagine the taught history of Western music. Brendan Finan reviews.
On Life's Wave On Life's Wave Shannon McNamee Brigid Mae Power's 'Head Above the Water', released on Fire Records earlier this month, is the third album from the Galway singer-songwriter. Shannon McNamee reviews.
The Unresolved Mystery of David Gray The Unresolved Mystery of David Gray Toner Quinn A new documentary explores the extraordinary story of David Gray and Ireland in the 1990s, the making of 'White Ladder', and how it became Ireland's best-selling album of all time, but is the story as simple as it seems? Toner Quinn reviews.
The Songs We Don't Talk About The Songs We Don't Talk About Toner Quinn If we are going to tackle racism, we need to improve our conversations about culture, writes Toner Quinn.
Circling Inwards Circling Inwards Brendan Finan Andrew Hamilton's new album, 'Joy', on the Ergodos label, is a collection of solo works for violin and voice – performed by the composer himself. Brendan Finan reviews.
Bringing Out the Stillness Bringing Out the Stillness James Camien McGuiggan Violinist Darragh Morgan and pianist John Tilbury have recently released a recording of the demanding work 'For John Cage' by Morton Feldman on Diatribe records. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
‘Ireland Performs’ Series Backed Musicians into an Uncomfortable Corner ‘Ireland Performs’ Series Backed Musicians into an Uncomfortable Corner Toner Quinn The government's 'Ireland Performs' series, which was partly funded by Facebook, put already under pressure artists in an unacceptable position. We have got to think hard about the way we support music into the future, writes Toner Quinn.
Seeds That Flower Seeds That Flower Don O'Mahony Mark Waldron-Hyden, electronic artist and founder of Sunshine Cults Records, has just released his latest album 'Future Life Continuity', a collection of work featuring synths, loops and more. Don O'Mahony reviews.

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