Citing Irish-made music of all genres as a primary influence on their own output, Cork-based alternative rockers Mirrors seek to address guilt and catharsis on debut extended-player ‘Envious of the Faithful’. Mike McGrath-Bryan finds out more, ahead of a gig at the Pavilion tonight.

Cork-based indie four-piece Elbé are taking a more hopeful tack when it comes to the possibilities of a new year - with new single ‘Shy Boy Trá’ encouraging a ‘carpe diem’ attitude. Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with frontman/guitarist Seamus Allen and drummer Nora Friedrich.

2023 was a chaotic and often harrowing year in the wider world - and in the midst of heavy times, for many of us, it will always be music that gives us the mileage to keep going. Mike McGrath-Bryan looks at talking points for Leeside music in the year ahead.

Rua Rí Your writer has seen this lad a few times in the past year or two, and is frankly bewitched with the Cobh singer-songwriter’s easy, humble presence on a small stage, and the ability with which he summons ...

With the crisis years growing distant in the rear view mirrors of many, the musicians, producers and facilitators of Cork City turned their efforts to acting on ideas that became points of aspiration in our darkest days. It’s taken longer for the dust to settle than any of us might have thought - but Mike McGrath-Bryan takes the end of the year as an opportunity to reflect.

Perhaps you’ll want to take in a gig or two while enjoying your Christmas holiday, and we recommend it! Ronan Leonard picks 12 live music events happening in Cork before the end of the year. And it’s not too late to gift a gig, and to support artists and venues in Cork

Cork post-metallers Partholón’s second long-player ‘The Ocean Pours In’ has been six years and two line-up changes in the making - and is as heavy as its circumstances and inspirations. Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with guitarist/vocalist Daniel Howard and drummer Alan Setter.

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of de Jazz, a two-day special across An Spailpín Fánach and Fred Zeppelin’s features some rock ‘n’ roll - for a donation to Cork Simon, right as the city’s homeless population faces the challenges of winter and recent weather events. Mike McGrath-Bryan talks with co-organiser Seán Masterson.

Darren O'Keeffe talks about the steps he took in eventually starting his band Shadows Calling

Cork dream-poppers Emperor of Ice Cream were the big ‘what if’ story for many Cork music heads of the 1990s, until the covid crisis gave its members pause to go about finishing the band’s story on their terms. Having finally released their debut album after a 25+-year gap, the band takes a bow with its one and only reunion gig on Saturday, August 26, at Cyprus Avenue. Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with vocalist John “Haggis” Hegarty.

One of a generation of Cork bands to have come together during the covid crisis, indie/pop outfit Iris are emerging at a time when things are still changing for the city’s music scene - Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with the band ahead of their debut headline gig this June Bank Holiday at Fredz.

With second album ‘Neon Hip’ freshly out on record-shop shelves via Cork’s FIFA Records, Ballydehob-based alt-rockers First Class and Coach spent last weekend on the road - Mike Mcgrath–Bryan caught guitarist/vocalist Reuben Maher amid the chaos.

Cork alt-rock four-piece Pebbledash are among a generation of young bands to have come together while the local music scene was becalmed by the Covid crisis - over a year on from the lifting of restrictions, they tell Mike Mcgrath-Bryan what it’s been like to write their own rites of passage.

Having set about his debut Irish headline tour last month, and making inroads with alternative pop music with a heart as big as its choruses, Cork-based Lloyd John seeks to pick up his momentum with upcoming single ‘I HOPE THAT U CRY!’. Mike McGrath-Bryan chats with the singer and songwriter.

With new album ‘The Total Space’, Cork alt-folkers Boa Morte move into ambience and soundscaping, representing a departure for the long-running four-piece on the 25th anniversary of their formation, and a new context for longtime production partner Daniel Presley. Mike McGrath-Bryan finds out more.

The Drive’s second extended-player ‘In Reverse’ melds shoegaze tumult with a propulsive rhythmic sensibility - and they’ve got a pair of Leeside gigs in the coming weeks. Mike McGrath-Bryan finds out more.

With the Covid crisis in the rearview mirror, Leeside post-hardcore four-piece Red Sun Alert are finally release to unleash their ‘Assume Power’ EP, with a UK and Ireland tour to accompany it. Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with vocalist Julia Pawlak and guitarist Cian Mullane.

As they prepare to launch their debut album with a performance at Sea Church in Ballycotton, Ronan Leonard discovers the various and eclectic paths that the members of Straif came to the band, and how the pandemic helped shape their sound by concentrating minds in the isolation of lockdowns

Having made an impression with debut album ‘ETC.’ and an accompanying tour, Northside ‘sad dancey metallers’ God Alone are gearing up to take their longest UK tour to date this April - culminating in a spot at StrangeForms Festival in Leeds. Mike McGrath-Bryan catches up with Cian Mullane and Jake O’Driscoll.

After the passing of his beloved grandmother at the age of 96, Trick Mist singer and songwriter Gavin Murray found himself in a period of introspection, regarding the nature of time, change and our relationships to each other. Mike McGrath-Bryan talks to Murray and HowlBux’ Elaine Howley, ahead of their Coughlan’s gig on Sunday, October 23.

In part one of an extensive two-week scene report, Mike McGrath-Bryan takes a look at the local psychedelic, punk, post-punk and metal scenes - with folk, electronica, ambient, hip-hop and more to follow in next Thursday’s edition.

These have their fingers on the pulse and keep spotlight on local and Irish talent

In 2018, The Shaker Hymn’s packed gigging schedule was waylaid by illness in the band - and by the time they were getting ready to resume in January 2020, Covid loomed large over the horizon. MIKE McGRATH-BRYAN speaks with the band’s Caoilian Sherlock about the long road back - and launching new album ‘The Last Concorde’ on Friday July 1 at Coughlan’s.

WWE legend Kurt Angle might have recently done a spoken-word show at Cyprus Avenue, but the Olympic Hero hasn’t been the only talent getting ready to rumble at the venue: four of Cork music’s upcoming young acts face off in tag-team action on Friday May 20th. Mike McGrath-Bryan rings the opening bell on the Red vs. Blue showcase. 

After the end of prog-R&B outfit Shookrah, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Emmet O’Riabhaigh had an itch to scratch. With new solo project Mamety, he brings years of divergent influences together with social commentary and his trademark humour. Mike McGrath-Bryan gets a chat in after the release of debut album ‘Gudge’.

With his first solo album in years having come in for critical acclaim, Leeside post-punk legend Cathal Coughlan moved straight to the next challenge - Telefís, a collaborative project with producer Jackknife Lee, that looks at society of the last 60 or so years through its cultural signifiers. Mike McGrath-Bryan investigates.

It’s a strange time for any band to be putting on gigs at present - so a Sunday evening showcase at Cyprus Avenue for two of the city’s upcoming young bands presents challenges and upsides. Mike McGrath-Bryan talks to members of The Flavours and Mossy ahead of this weekend’s gig.

Hard times continued in the second year of the Covid-19 crisis - but the songwriters, bands, and producers of Cork has shown us their resilience and perseverance, making things work and realising the vision in the toughest of times. Here we pick seven records to get into.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but 2021 has been an incredibly difficult year for music, as much so in Cork as anywhere else. But despite it all, the scene has kept going, with artists and facilitators rising mightily to the challenges of the Covid crisis. Here are 10 reasons to be cheerful.

While the Covid crisis has continued to change the face of music in numerous ways, this parish has sought to reach out to artists of all genres and keep telling their stories through the tough times. Here are a few select quotes from interviews that appeared in Downtown in 2021.

Cork indie band were due to play Live at St Luke's in December, but it's been rescheduled to March 4 after new restrictions on live events. Joe Philpott of Rubyhorse talks about the current circumstances, and their upcoming LP.

For Dali’s Hope Alo, the Covid-19 crisis represented a time of deep personal and professional change - from the closure of her and partner Stephen Byrne’s city-centre nightclub, to dealing with a stroke. On the eve of their ‘Stay Home’ weekender in a mystery West Cork location, she talks about recovery - and a new beginning in the post-pandemic picture.

Here we highlight free outdoor performances as part of the Cork CoCo Pops underway across the county of Cork throughout August  

The Great Beyond, in Ballinacurra House, in Kinsale, is a welcome first return to live performance in 18 months for its musicians and comedians. Read Ronan Leonard's report in Downtown

Formed out of friendship and a shared love of a disparate variety of metal bands and subgenres, Hashmaker’s very beginnings were cut off by the pandemic - but their debut EP stands as a testament to their love for their craft - and a nod to B-movie disaster flicks. Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with guitarist Jim Spillane.

With new EP 'Loud Demure', Sarah-Beth O'Mullane flips the switch from alternative pop to piano-driven ruminations and flights of fantasy. The Cork singer-songwriter speaks with Mike McGrath-Bryan about how it's come together, and collaborating over the course of the Covid crisis.

As the city slowly re-emerges from the depths of the Covid-19 crisis, the city’s venues are beginning to make plans for the post-pandemic picture. Cyprus Avenue on Caroline Street is among the handful of Cork venues selling tickets for gigs this autumn - we speak with owner Ger Kiely and booker Eoin Aher about what lies ahead.

Cork singer-songwriter Jack O’Rourke on his latest work, ‘Opera on the Top Floor’, in conversation with Downtown

Heaven is a place on earth for Greg Dowling and Shane Johnson as they emerge from lockdown with some locked grooves. The pair enjoy a staff outing to discuss their new album with Don O’Mahony

Written at the outset of the first lockdown, East Cork singer-songwriter Julia-Maria’s new single Morning Light points to the change of pace that many of us experienced over the Covid crisis’ quieter moments. Mike McGrath-Bryan finds out more.

Ian “Mini” O’Callaghan has put in the hard yards over the years, as part of numerous Leeside hardcore and metal outfits. Now, under the Auld Blue Eyes moniker, he’s exploring a mix of sonic territory, old and new. Mike McGrath-Bryan joins him right after he emerges from the woods while on a Downtown-exclusive photoshoot.

After spending lockdown writing and recording, Cork psych/punk trio The Love Buzz are ready to resume their pre-pandemic momentum. Downtown caught up with members of the band on a Saturday afternoon - right as they were being played on US indie radio institution KEXP...

Downtown catches up with Rebecca Houlihan about her new single ‘Voices’, life performing on the road in Australia, and adapting to lockdown

Prior to Covid-19, pop singer-songwriter Emmet Crotty was going between Cork and Berlin to make a go of matters. Just off a BBC appearance and the release of his new single under the Emmo moniker, he talks to Downtown about how it’s all come together.

From crowd-funding his new album, to keeping his long-running residency at DeBarra’s of Clonakilty alive via the magic of live streaming, it’s been a hectic lockdown for Cork’s songwriter, John Spillane. Downtown gets a chat in via Zoom, while the singer sorts another round of records and CDs for the post-office in his native Passage West.

Having come through life on a major label and experienced its ups and downs, Stephanie Rainey is striking out on her own in 2021. Mike McGrath-Bryan talks with the Glanmire singer-songwriter about the next steps, and upcoming single ‘Ross and Rachel’.

From launching her EP in lockdown and playing the Cork Opera House, to signing with FIFA Records and readying a tune about the changing times in Irish radio, it’s been a busy lockdown for singer-songwriter Lorraine Nash. Downtown finds out more.

While Patrick Hatchett has spent a lifetime in music, gigging in various genres in London, it took a move to West Cork, and the world heading into lockdown, for him to consider his experiences and distill it into his debut solo album. Mike McGrath-Bryan talks to Hatchett about Kʒːlu (pronounced ‘curlew’).

While the second album of Shane O’Leary’s lockdown project Harlow Lake veers toward more familiar territory for fans of his other outfits, Jezery and Lamp, it draws on a mix of lingering musical ideas and observations from within the stasis of the current moment. Downtown catches up on the latest.

Between a quietly-gathering body of solo work taking further shape, and new tracks from Cork sound/performance outfit Magdalena, lockdown has been a busy time for former Elastic Sleep vocalist Muireann Levis, including a move to Glasgow. She chats to Downtown about writing and improvising, collaborating, and getting on with things amid the circumstances.