Music from the Heart

Hailing from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, Barry Jay Hughes has that ability to immediately captivate the listeners and audiences. It's not only his ability as a classically trained musician, his passionate vocal that pulls the right strings in your soul but also his warm personality. He could serve as an inspiration for aspiring songwriters - he gave up his day job to pursue music full time and we have no doubt this was the best decision he has ever made. Of course it's not an easy thing to do but if you have a passion in your heart and you work hard to achieve it, nothing is impossible. Yes, we paraphrased a famous quote by Michael Flatley here but feels appropriate. Barry Jay Hughes released a couple of singles throughout last year and the latest EP Just Be Honest With Yourself could be considered a culmination of these efforts.

Do you believe in magic, in supernatural, in things that are hard to explained and often cannot be explained? Well, after listening to RUNAH, ambient folk artist based between Manchester and Dublin, you certainly will. There's something in her voice and the whole delivery of the songs that will get into you and you'll feel enchanted without even realizing it. Strange is her debut album, released through Beardfire Music.

The Lost Gecko are a band hailing from Cork, Ireland, formed in 2006 by Scottish-born singer-songwriter Malcolm Urquhart. Having recorded 9 EPs, with cellist Elaine McCarthy and percussionist John O'Connor, The Lost Gecko have released a new album, 'Solasta', meaning 'Luminous' in Scots-Gael. Between Malcolm's soaring vocals, intense lyrics, vibrant guitar playing, Elaine's emotive cello lines and John's atmospheric and enriching use of percussion, The Lost Gecko's music is outside the box; an intricate weaving of sound, melody and rhythms with spontaneous bursts of exploratory improvisation.

County Down singer/songwriter Brendan Monaghan performs his material at home and in many countries around the world. He has released eight albums to date, received very enthusiastic reviews as he continues to progress in his art form. His Christmas release is called " The snow fell down."

Black Bank Folk from Dublin burst onto Irish music scene in 2016 with their critically acclaimed debut album Rising.They spent 2016 and much of 2017 touring the country including 3 Vicar Street appearances supporting Damien Dempsey and performances at Electric Picnic 2016 and 2017. The band went back into the studio with Gavin Glass last year to begin recording Last Star Fall, the follow up to Rising. This album promises much. Recorded at Orphan Studios and featuring a collaboration track with Damien Dempsey, the album shows a musical progression from the band's first outing.

Anna Mieke is the musical project of Wicklow-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Anna-Mieke Bishop, in which musical landscapes are weaved into song on Greek bouzouki, guitar and piano (and cello, in recordings). As a solo performer and collaborative artist, she has joined forces with a diverse mélange of other artists, most notably Brían Mac Gloinn (of folk duo Ye Vagabonds), who, as well as playing on all of the above, adds drones on Indian harmonium and fiddle accompaniment. Anna has supported the likes of Lisa Hannigan, Lankum or Ye Vagabonds to name a few, shared the stage with David Kitt, Landless and Rosie Carney. Idle Mind is her debut album.

Belfast born Owen Denvir has already established himself as one of the most interesting acts on the singer/songwriter scene. In order to make the mark for his name even stronger he decided to do something we think nobody has done before (or at least that we're not aware of) - releasing a series of 3 EPs that will eventually form his debut album. Certainly a concept that attracts attention. Sticks is the first EP from the series where the songs are linked thematically through each.

The early 1990s seems to be an era where some of the most influential acts on the Irish music scene and beyond emerged. Dublin rockers The Pale are without doubt key part of that period but we have to say, after seeing them live quite a lot in the last year or two, they are like the fine wine - the older the better. Nearly 30 years in the game that is music industry and going from strength to strength. It took them a while to come with the new release but the wait was totally worth it. The offering is entitled Merciful Hour and was released earlier this year.

The Belfast singer/songwriter has had an extremely busy year since the release of his second EP, “Out Of Babylon” in January 2019. From career defining gigs supporting Peter McVeigh at a sold out show in the Sunflower, an evening of support for Tony Villiers in Eastside Arts to the Forest Songwriter stage at Dalriada Festival- Andrew can be found honing his craft and shining the light of song in every performance, with passion and a love of storytelling. "Upon The Shore" is his latest single.