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Bursting out of the heart of Cork City, BABYRAT has the future of music looking Pretty in Punk with their abrasive bitch-pop sound. Sonically landing somewhere between The Strokes and Olivia Rodrigo, BABYRAT’s sing-along melodies are intertwined with unapologetic lyrics that are thrust forward by the electrifying future-nostalgia sound that the band have created. BABYRAT delivers an infectious energy with a confidence and chemistry that is unmatched.

Rock like Hendrix, roll like a céilí band
Eoin ‘Stan’ O’Sullivan & Shane Murphy bring their ‘Bog Jazz’ duo to Clonakilty International Guitar Festival

Eoin ‘Stan’ O’Sullivan (The Ceili Allstars, Stanley Super 800) and Shane Murphy (The Guilteens, The Shaker Hymn) have teamed up as a genre-bending duo exploring the wild edges of Sliabh Luachra fiddle music—armed with electric guitar and drums.

Irish musicians have long worn their traditional roots with pride, even as they’ve pushed into contemporary sounds—but this is something else. This isn’t the polished innovation of Moving Hearts or the Celtic-glam of Horslips. Stan and Shane sound like they’ve come from a parallel timeline—one where the Public Dance Halls Act of 1935 was never passed, and traditional music naturally rode the same electric wave as rock ’n’ roll, psych, and punk.

The result is raw, rooted, and defiantly off-road—traditional music reimagined on dirty guitar and big drums. There’s a surprising likeness to the Desert Blues of artists like Tinariwen or Mdou Moctar—something the duo leans into proudly. As Stan puts it:

“If Ali Farka Touré played accordion, we might say he sounded like Joe Cooley. I think the resemblance shows the kinship of all folk music—and those parallels become obvious when the tunes are sung in the same language: electric guitar.”

Traditional Singing from Dublin, the debut album by Macdara Yeates, marks a new arrival on the Irish folkscape. Named in MOJO’s Top 10 Folk Albums of the Year and nominated for two RTÉ Folk Awards, the ten-track effort features a rich store of old and weathered folk songs, ranging from the comic and surreal to the mournful and disconsolate. Siobhán Long of The Irish Times writes: “Raucous, bawdy, reflective and wistful in turn, Traditional Singing from Dublin is a candid, clear-eyed snapshot from a singer who is finally stepping into the spotlight.”

Macdara Yeates is an Irish folk singer. Born and raised in Dublin, Yeates is one of a crop of artists associated with the recent resurgence of young folk talent in the Irish capital, alongside acts such as Lankum, Ye Vagabonds, and Landless. In 2012, Macdara became a founding member of The Night Before Larry Got Stretched, a monthly Dublin folk gathering, counting such luminaries as Lisa O’Neill, Ian Lynch and Radie Peat (Lankum) among its earliest attendees. Then, from 2013 to 2017, Yeates served as a member of seven-piece trad ensemble Skipper’s Alley, recording and touring across the UK, Europe, India, Canada, and the USA. Following the release of Traditional
Singing from Dublin, Macdara was nominated for two RTÉ Radio One Folk Awards, including a nomination for ‘Best Folk Singer’ alongside Ríognach Connolly, Cathy Joran and Christy Moore.

With a stentorian voice described as “a bracing, baleful, baritone that sounds as if it’s been dug from the deepest, most fragrant turf” (Songlines), Macdara Yeates is ploughing his furrow as a solo performer, garnering wide critical praise and performing on some of the most coveted stages in folk music, from An Góilín Traditional Singers’ Circle to the Sidmouth Folk Festival.

“Macdara Yeates is a mighty chanter.” – Christy Moore
“A heart aching classic. Essential Listening” ★★★★★ – Songlines
“In a golden age for traditional singing in Ireland, Yeates’s debut comes as a further welcome affirmation that the torch is being passed to a generation who truly understand and value its worth, while unafraid to inhabit it with their own particular voice.” – The Irish Times

John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer. Rooted in people, place and story, his music transports the listener and his live performances captivate audiences around the world.

As an artist his music appeals to listeners across many genres and generations. His vocal style has a unique almost sean-nós like quality and his performances shimmer with the magic realism that permeates many of his songs as he effortlessly flits between beautiful poetry tinged with melancholy to roguish, irreverent humour. John has the ability to charm, mesmerise and entertain in equal measure.

A native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe” and a source of huge creative influence throughout his career. John’s music is inspired by and encapsulates Irish traditional music in its contemporary form – a reflection of Ireland today.

A two-time Meteor Award winner for Best Folk/Trad act John is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Ireland. With an extensive back catalogue beginning with the 1997 album The Wells of the World, his songs have been covered by Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Sean Keaneand many others. Twelve albums later in April 2021, John released his first independent album in 20 years, 100 Snow White Horses.

John Spillane shared his most artistically ambitious work to date: Fíoruisce – The Legend of the Lough, on Friday 13th September 2024. The concept album, released on double CD and digital, features John alongside a stellar cast of collaborators: Ríoghnach Connolly, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Farrell, Nell Ní Chróinín, and more and has gone on to be named as ‘Album of The Year’ at the RTE Folk Awards.

Martin Leahy is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter who has worked with some of Ireland’s greatest musicians, including Christy Moore, Declan Sinnott and John Spillane. In recent years, he’s gained national and international attention for his songwriting and activism, particularly his song “Everyone Should Have A Home”, which has become a rallying cry for housing justice. Martin has had the honour of Christy Moore covering his song “Snowflakes” on Christy’s latest album called “A Terrible Beauty”

He released his song, “Everyone Should Have A Home”, in April 2022. He has been travelling from Cork to Dublin every week to protest outside Dáil Éireann by singing his song since May 2022. He has performed at all the major Cost Of Living Crisis protests in Dublin and in Cork including the recent Raise The Roof Protest in Dublin. His song and protest has been featured on RTE News, Al Jazeera News, American public radio npr, Dutch, German and French TV national broadcasters, The Guardian, The World.Org, The Irish Times (front cover) The Irish Examiner,  Irish Independent, Hot Press, Echo, Joe.ie, Virgin Media TV,  TG4 etc.. “Everyone Should Have A Home” has also been covered multiple times by different artists as a means to raise awareness of the Irish housing crisis. The song is also mentioned in the latest edition of Rory Hearne’s book on the housing crisis called ‘Gaffs”.

The guy who gave the crisis a soundtrack  – The Guardian

Martin has had the honour recently of Christy Moore covering “Snowflakes” on his album and at his live gigs. The song is related to Martin’s own experience of social media trolling. Martin joined Christy at Vicar Street and The Cork Opera House recently where they both performed “Everyone Should Have A Home” and “Snowflakes”.

He also has written a number of songs in solidarity with the people of Palestine and performs weekly at the Cork City protests and has also performed at the national march in Dublin. His song “Palestine” has been shared multiple times including Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye and also by the activist and musician Lowkey.

Martin has been playing as a session musician on the Irish music scene for about 25 years. Along with his recent successes as a singer/songwriter he has worked with songwriters and musicians including John Spillane, Christy Moore (on his No.1 selling album ‘Listen’) Jimmy McCarthy,  Seamus Begley and Jim Murray, Declan Sinnott among many others. He has toured the world with the traditional band North Cregg. An accomplished multi instrumentalist, he has produced many albums including Leah Sohotra, Cormac O Caoimh, and the recent single by John Spillane called Palestine Sunbird. 

Paula Bilá is a singer-songwriter from Chiclana, Spain, currently based in Amsterdam. She began her musical journey at the age of nine, studying viola at a conservatory.
It was during these formative years that she discovered her passion for songwriting and singing, which has since become the core of her career.

Her debut album, Love & Hate, was created during her five years living in southern Ireland. Produced by guitarist Bill Shanley, known for his work with Mary Black and Ray Davies, the album was released in both Spain and Ireland and was featured at the Canadian Music Week festival in 2014.

In 2017, Paula recorded her second album, Choices, in Madrid with producer Manu Sanz. The album was launched at the iconic Galileo Galilei venue and marked a significant milestone in her career.
In 2020, driven by a desire to reconnect with her roots, Paula moved back to Cádiz. During this period, she began a duo project with double bassist Joan Masana. They recorded new music through a series of live videos and toured extensively across Spain and Europe, participating in jazz festivals such as the Copenhagen Jazz Festival.

Now based in the Netherlands, Paula continues this project with Italian double bassist Mauro Cottone. They are working on a new album and have performed at notable Dutch venues, including De Rode Bioscoop with the AMARTE concert series, the Grachten Festival, and Pand P Podium in Eindhoven. They are also planning to record a trio album with renowned drummer Giacomo Camiletti.

In addition to her duo project, Paula is actively involved in other jazz initiatives. She is a member of The Leaning in Underground quartet, which is set to release an album in October 2024. Paula has also participated in the Fuensanta Music Project, performing at Teatro Barrio Alto in Lisbon and De Doelen in Rotterdam. Additionally, she has been involved in jazz projects in Spain, including the Andalucia Big Band and the Clasijazz Big Band Pro.”
Paula’s music seamlessly blends jazz and folk influences with her Spanish heritage, reflecting her ongoing evolution as an artist.

Folk Americana trio The Raines (Juliana Erkkonen, Yvonne Tiernan and Ruth Dillon) are delighted to make their first appearance at the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival as part of their 2025 Summer Tour. Following on from recently appearing as special guests to Hothouse Flowers, Mick Flannery, and the White Horse Guitar Club, the band will bring new music as well as songs from their album Reverie. As always, their lyrics, cleverly arranged songs, glorious harmonies, and lush strings will guarantee that you are in for a special evening.

“The Raines put me in mind of something from Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue from 1975 — particularly with the parts with Scarlet Rivera on violin opposite Bob — meets an edgy Emmylou Harris…”
— Barry Egan (Independent.ie)

Irish trio Adore have signed to Big Scary Monsters and today release ‘Show Me Your Teeth’, a track fuelled by months of sleep deprivation, recurring nightmares, and the strange clarity that comes from staring fear in the face.

With just a handful of singles to their name, Adore have already drawn attention from key tastemakers across press (The Guardian, So Young Magazine, DIY Magazine, CLASH Magazine, Louder, The Line of Best Fit, Dork Magazine, Rough Trade, Nialler9) and radio (BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq and John Kennedy at Radio X). ‘Show Me Your Teeth’ follows recent support runs with Chalk and Sprints, landing ahead of their first UK headline shows this month.

“Show Me Your Teeth was written during a period where I had nightmares every night for 5 months,” says guitarist and vocalist Lara Minchin. “These nightmares often lead to me waking up several times throughout the night, resulting in several nightmares with different, sometimes interwoven storylines. An ambivalence developed towards these nightmares which then translated into waking life.”

Working once again with producer and Gilla Band bassist Daniel Fox, ‘Show Me Your Teeth’ doesn’t flinch. Jagged, heavy, and unrelenting, it demands the truth, whether it comforts or cuts. Lara drew further inspiration from horror films, vampire folklore, and personal illness: “It’s about wanting to see the imperfections alongside the ideal, about wanting intentions to be revealed; good or bad and the excitement of anticipation of the unknown being revealed,” Lara says.

Adore pull from a lineage of bands that made messiness feel deliberate. Their sound is angular, twitchy, sometimes abrasive; “Musically, I’m never quite sure what has inspired a particular song because it’s all rather subconscious, but I do remember I was listening to the album Deluxe 85 by Sanity Band and Double Thriller by The Glands on repeat!”, Lara recalls.

Hailing from Dublin, Donegal and Galway respectively, the trio consisting of Lara Minchin (guitar, vocals), Lachlann Ó Fionnáin (bass, vocals) and Naoise Jordan Cavanagh (drums) share a kinetic, intuitive bond – “We are three feens with guitars and drums. We make music that feels right to us,” the band say.

Adore have already established themselves as hot prospects in Ireland. Releasing their debut single ‘Postcards’ in June 2023, the band have played live relentlessly since – supporting SPRINTS on tour across the UK in late 2024, along with further dates supporting CHALK, The Scratch, 86TVs, The Bug Club and Cardinals across Ireland. With the autumn 2024 release of singles ‘Can We Talk’ – an enraged blast of melodic garage-punk, and their explosive call to action ‘Supermum!’, the band reaped the rewards of their hard graft with a sold-out headline show at Dublin’s 450 capacity Whelan’s in December 2024.

With every release, Adore sharpen their edge and stretch their reach, building something that could define the next chapter of Irish punk.

Adore’s new single ‘Show Me Your Teeth’ is out now via Big Scary Monsters. Adore tour across the UK, Ireland and France over the coming months.

Thriving on creating bold, genre defiant music with the sole purpose of converting negativity and mental struggles into positive energy, Rex Arcum is a fully independent Rap Rock artist from Cork, Ireland. With the release of his debut album “Origins” in 2022 and a collaborative EP “COMPOUND” in 2023 Rex Arcum started to turn heads and bring together fans of rap/hip-hop and rock/metal throughout Ireland, the U.K. and beyond. Rex Arcum’s music fits perfectly in the libraries of fans of acts like Linkin Park, Grandson and Rage Against The Machine.