With live music coming to a sudden stop with the onset of the pandemic, Cork-based rock trio The Last Vinci have taken to crowdfunding site GoFundMe to rally support and raise funds for their second album. Mike McGrath-Bryan takes to Zoom to speak with guitarist and singer Alex Vinci about the endeavour and the post-Covid shape of Leeside music.

Having released ‘the fourth in a trilogy’ of singles that have been years in the making, Cork post-punk veterans Ricky Dineen and Liam Heffernan of Big Boy Foolish have been spending their lockdown bringing a legacy of wilfully strange sounds into the present. Downtown finds out more.

It’s been an odd Covid time for Mayfield post-punks Pretty Happy, being apart for much of it, playing one of the last gigs to happen at the Kino inbetween lockdowns, and working together in other media outside of the band. Mike McGrath-Bryan catches up with the three-piece via Zoom, right before they release new single ‘Salami’.

Ronan Leonard catches up with drummer Niall Dennehy and discusses a new single which looks at how mental health is often overlooked

Comprised of Bantum producer Ruairí Lynch and Ealadha guitarist/vocalist Dom Murphy, The Gauze brings its members’ sonic worlds together into dark, textured electronica. Mike McGrath-Bryan talks with the duo just after the release of second single Uphold.

Comprised of Bantum producer Ruairí Lynch and Ealadha guitarist/vocalist Dom Murphy, The Gauze brings its members’ sonic worlds together into dark, textured electronica. Mike McGrath-Bryan talks with the duo just after the release of second single Uphold.

Ronan Leonard catches up with Cork based DJ and producer Ian Ring, whose latest EP project, in the guise of Boku, is an exploration of his own personal tastes and roots, unlike many of his other collaborative titles

Having worked through two lockdowns and come out on the other side with a new single and video, Cork post-hardcore four-piece Red Sun Alert are approaching 2021 with optimism. Mike McGrath-Bryan talks to frontwoman Julia Pawlak.

More good news for Emperor of Ice Cream fans this weekend as the Cork indie outfit have released a new video in conjunction with the fourth single from their album.

In the final part of our five-part series, our correspondents, Eddie Kiely (FIFA Records) and Eddie Butt (bass player with Emperor of Ice Cream), profile Laurie Shaw.   

In the final part of our five-part series, our correspondents, Eddie Kiely (FIFA Records) and Eddie Butt (bass player with Emperor of Ice Cream), profile Laurie Shaw.   

In the final part of our five-part Cork And The Riff series, our correspondents, Eddie Kiely (FIFA Records) and Eddie Butt (bass player with Emperor of Ice Cream), profile Fred.

Over the decades, Cork has consistently produced not just great acts, but acts that had in their possession a swagger, an edge, and an ability to write and create great music. Here we profile Boa Morte.

Over the decades Cork has continually had a plethora of bands, labels, venues and promoters. There were even times the Cork music scene seemed ready to explode. The rebel county has consistently produced not just great acts but acts that had in their possession, a swagger, an edge and an ability to write and create music that would lead you to believe there’s some special ingredient in the water of the people’s republic. Echo 'Downtown' correspondents Eddie Kiely (FIFA Records) and Eddie Butt (bass player with Emperor of Ice Cream) take a closer look at some of the Leeside acts, both past and present, that have helped to illuminate the Cork music scene. Here we focus on Hope Is Noise. 

Over the decades Cork has consistently produced acts that have a swagger, an edge, and an ability to write and create great music. The Echo 'Downtown' correspondents Eddie Kiely (FIFA Records) and Eddie Butt (Emperor of Ice Cream) profile Cypress Mine!

Over the decades Cork has consistently produced acts that have a swagger, an edge, and an ability to write and create great music. The Echo 'Downtown' correspondents Eddie Kiely (FIFA Records) and Eddie Butt (bass player with Emperor of Ice Cream) profile The Shanks.

Over the decades Cork has consistently produced acts that have a swagger, an edge, and an ability to write and create great music. The Echo 'Downtown' correspondents Eddie Kiely (FIFA Records) and Eddie Butt (bass player with Emperor of Ice Cream) profile Altered Hours.

Cork band Emperor of Ice Cream are back up and running, 25 years after their breakup, to finally put out their debut album, in one of the musical stories of Cork’s period of lockdown. 

After over 25 years since their breakup, and the unceremonious shelving by major-label bosses of their debut long-player, Cork indie outfit Emperor of Ice Cream are saddling up for a return.