The Déise Is Full Of Talented People..
But we believe our musicians are something special!
Don't believe us?
Just scroll down to learn more about a small fraction of the musical talent right here in Waterford.
In association with IMRO, Monday March 15th-Friday March 19th is Waterford Music Week on WLR.
Across the week we will be showcasing and supporting local independent artists on air, online and across WLR's social channels.
From rap to indie, pop to folk, you'll be sure to find something to suit your taste and hopefully discover an amazing artist that you might not have heard before.
Now, without further ado, here is your Waterford Music Week line-up!
Official Waterford Music Week Playlist
Alex Gough
In an industry all but built on BS, Alex Gough is a breath of a fresh air. Frank to a fault, with a winningly self-deprecating wit, the 21-year-old drummer/rapper from Waterford is the first to admit to suffering from self-doubt, laughing he says, “I never had an 'I can do this' moment. It was more a ‘Should I do this?’ moment.” Listening to his brilliantly chameleonic productions, the answer to the latter is a resounding yes.
Coming up behind established talent like Rejjie Snow, Gough is helping blaze a trail for Irish hip-hop internationally. Following radio support and prominent placings in high profile playlists, he’s racked up millions of streams for his 2019 EP, ‘80%’, and earned a high profile sync on the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’. This early success is doubly impressive when you consider that Gough has had to forge his own path in the industry, having had no obvious role models or industry mentors growing up in south east Ireland.
Though music was a permanent fixture at home, nobody in the family played an instrument, making Gough something of an anomaly when he picked up drums, aged six. He recalls being drawn to the instrument by a desire to replicate the rhythms of AC/DC, Green Day, The Who and the other rock bands much loved by his parents, but under the influence of his older brother Gough soon gravitated towards hip-hop. Hours were spent memorising the lyrics to Mos Def classic ‘Mathematics’, before he delved even deeper into the scene and discovered seminal records by Slum Village, J Dilla and The Roots.
As a teenager studying at Waterford’s De La Salle College, the music-obsessed Gough was out of step with his sports-loving peers, and though he played in various bands throughout school it wasn’t until he was accepted into the Cork School of Music that he finally found his tribe. Emboldened, he branched out into music production, making instrumentals intended for guest vocalists, “Kaytranada-style”. “I’d send the songs [to people] and they'd be like, ‘It's cool, but it's not really my vibe,’” he laughs at the memory. “And it got to a point then where I was like, well if it's not their vibe, maybe it's just mine. So I decided to try rapping... Let’s just say, it took me a long time to be comfortable with my own voice.”
That Gough makes no attempt to downplay his Irish accent is a big part of his appeal as a vocalist. Indeed, there’s an engaging authenticity to his easy flow, adding additional weight to his quick-witted bars. Allergic to braggadocio, he’s happiest tackling real-life encounters and anxieties in his lyrics, be that smartphone and social media addiction (‘Dear SJ’) or his experience falling foul of a bouncer on a power-trip (‘Heart Attack’).
Sonically, there’s dizzying variety within Gough’s productions. Graduating from the sample-heavy sound of 2018’s acclaimed ‘Infomercial Tape’, ‘80%’ features both brilliantly old school beats on ‘Breakfast’ and jazz-influenced understatement in the shape of ‘Dear SJ’. On recent B-side ‘Be Kind’ he delves even further into the woozier side of the latter, as inspired by contemporary names like Yussef Dayes, Kamal Williams, and Alfa Mist, as he is undisputed giants of the form, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Chet Baker.
According to Gough, future material is set to be even more diverse. Brand new mixtape Forever Classic is billed as 90s-inspired but with a range that reportedly extends from bossa nova to the breakbeat and Beastie Boys-influence of lead single ‘Heart Attack’. It’s this combination of creative restlessness and undeniable talent that makes Gough an exciting proposition, even if he’s far too modest himself to admit it.
Aliensincaves
Tara Kennedy, also known as Aliensincaves is a 17 year old indie artist from Waterford City. She's been writing music since she was 12 years old, and hasn't stopped since. Her main instruments are the guitar and the ukulele. Her new EP, Catharsis, has been her most personal project yet, which is to come out March 19th. Her main inspirations are Clairo, Cavetown and The 1975. All her socials are @aliensincaves. She also loves pretending to know how to knit, creating false scenarios and nonstop listening to ABBA.
Arkipelagoes
New Indie band Arkipelagoes are attracting some serious interest in the Irish music scene of late. With the release of two singles since January this year, they have gotten extensive radio play both here and in the UK and have attracted listeners online from as far afield as New York City and Berlin.
Formed nearly a year ago and based in the Comeragh Mountains they are made up of four friends, (Andy, Ger, Ken and Padraig). They play a brand of melodic rock infused with hints of Arcade Fire, Villagers and BellX1 amongst others. There is a pinch of country music sprinkled over some of their songs too. This probably came about as many of their songs were written in an abandoned shepherds hut high in the hills, far away from any towns or cities.
They have been spending the lockdown period building up a catalogue of over 100 songs and once restrictions are lifted you will no doubt see them on the festival and live music scene around Waterford and the rest of the country. Arkipelagoes mightn't be the easiest name to pronounce but it's one you'll surely come to remember!
Backroad Smokers Club
Waterford ensemble Backroad Smokers Club blend funky beats, jazzy chords and psychedelic rock. The band consists of 5 core members that build a larger group of up to 12 around them. This features brass section, backing harmonies and guest collaborations from musicians/vocalists.
Summer 2019 brought a headline show at Theatre Royal Waterford, a slot at All Together Now as an ‘Emerging Act to Watch’ and the headline slot on ’The Word Stage’ at Electric Picnic.
The band have released 3 singles this year (Music is a Movement, Get Out of Your Head & Colour the World) and are currently putting the final touches on their debut 10 track album due to be released early 2021.
Check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Carrie Baxter
Nobody does jazz and soul-drenched melodies quite like Carrie Baxter. Although she has been compared to some of her idols like Erykah Badu and the late Amy Winehouse, the Irish singer brings a distinctively sweet vocal style to everything she does - one that is authentically hers. Since her debut single release in October 2019, she has been hotly-tipped, with indie music bible Earmilk branding her ‘an artist on the precipice of greatness’ and Hot Press Magazine calling her ‘one of the most thrilling new forces in Irish music’.
2020 saw Carrie independently release her debut EP, Placebo. The EP earned Carrie support from key media including COLORS, Hot Press, Ear Milk, Nialler9, Verge Magazine and Golden Plec as well as radio support on both sides of the Irish Sea from the likes of BBC Radio 1 (Introducing), Jazz FM, BBC Introducing LDN, BBC 6 Music, RTÉ 2fm, Beat 102 103, WLR FM and Red FM. Hot Press Magazine listed ‘Love Me Better’ at no. 31 in their ‘2020 Tracks of the Year’ and described Carrie’s sound as being ‘in a similar vein as the legendary likes of Amy Winehouse and Erykah Badu’ as they tipped her as ‘one of the most exciting talents in the country’. Carrie also had two of her songs included on the coveted Spotify end-of-year playlist, ‘The Best of Fresh Éire 2020’, complementing the support she received from the streaming platform earlier in the year when she graced the cover of their ‘The New Éire’ playlist followed by the cover of their “R&B UK” playlist a year later.
In January of 2021 alone, Carrie Baxter has entered the Irish Radio Breakers Chart top 10, been named on Hot Press Magazine’s ‘Hot for 2021’ list and received praise from the likes of District Magazine, Golden Plec and The Last Mixed Tape. Her latest single, ‘Pray’ has been names 2fm’s Track of the Week, added to the RTÉ Radio 1 Recommends playlist, tipped by Ed Smith on Today FM as one of his ‘Ceol for the Soul’ tracks and made Beat 102103’s PlayIrish Artist of the Week.
Check Carrie out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Cian CuXack
Cian CuXack is a local producer/artist from Waterford City. For years he has been playing around local venues across the South East with bands such as Southern Emperor and Apaches. Over the last couple of years, Cian has begun releasing songs as a solo artist. On May 15th, 2019, he released his debut single 'Unnecessary Times', which received airplay on radio stations across the country.
Cian's music is a mix between Alternative Pop and Electronic Indie, drawing inspiration from the likes of The Chainsmokers, Jon Bellion and Athlete. Music has always been a dream of Cian's and he hopes to continue to create songs that speak to people. Cian's new single 'Chester (The Ending.)' featuring VNV released last month and is available now on all streaming platforms.
Crome Yellow
"Crome Yellow are a raincoat donning four-piece from Waterford who make alt-rock music. Blending modern textures with that of sounds of the 60s and 70s" - Nialler9
Originally forming in 2014, the band launched their 'Yellow Road' EP in June of 2017 after settling on their current line-up. Having grown a massively loyal fanbase in Waterford, they have been expanding their operations into Dublin and Cork with an eye to accomplishing the same there. In 2019, the boys in yellow released their first full-length album, See Why, which displayed Crome Yellow’s progression from their moodier psych-based sounds found on their previous effort into a more feel good, technicolor expression of pop.
"The funk is so cool, but so strong, the music is extremely laid-back to the point the Waterford four-piece are barely playing their instruments (but they are obviously). I want to disappear in this forever, also, lil' bit Republic of Loose, yurt." - REMY
"There is something vintage about this Waterford band. They have a sound which wouldn't be out of place in the 60s. It's bordering on psychedelic, but laced with great melodies bringing you in and getting you involved." - Joe.ie
“The band have been making waves in the Deise music scene with their groove heavy form of tongue-in-cheek ‘pretentious mysticism’.” – Irish Daily Star
Crome Yellow released their second album, No Friends Or Mirrors, in November 2020. The album features the singles 2.0, Constant Delay, No.9 and Don’t Really Want To Know Ya.
"With infectiously catchy melodies and a laidback ambience, Crome Yellow's noteworthy brand of chilled out indie toes the line between 1960s rock influences, 2000s alt-rock and pop funk throughout No Friends or Mirrors". - HotPress
"Crome Yellow’s second album demonstrates the band producing more fresh, lively material in line with their recent vein of creative form." - Nialler9
The lads are looking forward to releasing No Friends Or Mirrors on wax, with the vinyls set to go on sale at the end of May 2021. And of course, getting back to playing shows. All of Crome Yellow’s music is available on all major streaming platforms.
Check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Glenn Murphy
Glenn started his musical training at the age of 9 years old when he joined a local choir. After playing numerous theatre roles in his hometown of Waterford City, Glenn moved to Dublin to study music in University College Dublin. It was here that he was granted a choral scholarship with the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin as well as a UCD Ad Astra Performing Arts Solo Scholarship. This gave Glenn the opportunity to travel to many countries in Europe and beyond representing the university and performing on various world stages, including the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Upon his graduation from UCD, Glenn, along with his friend Ronan, experienced the whirlwind of being brought onstage by famed singer Adele to perform a medley of her songs in front of 15,000 people at Dublin’s 3 Arena.
After this, it was not long until Ellen DeGeneres came calling, and invited them both to Los Angeles to appear on her show and perform. Glenn then had the opportunity to travel the world with the internationally renowned music show “Celtic Woman”, which allowed him to craft his stage artistry and create a show all of his own. He then had widespread success with his own show, “From Me to You”, and is currently working on his debut EP
Jess Reinl
Incredibly talented 19 year old Irish Singer/Songwriter, Jess Reinl is proving a force to be reckoned with. Propelled into internet fame at just 17, following the globally viral video of her co-cover of 'Shallow' from blockbuster movie 'A Star Is Born', Jess was soon inundated with messages from around the world - from both fans & industry alike. Building a highly dedicated international following of her own, Jess has gone from strength to strength continuing to deliver regular covers to her vast online audience.
Capturing the attention of a number of highly acclaimed publications, blogs & radio stations across Ireland, UK & indeed the rest of the world, Jess is no stranger to profile, yet remains humble and focussed. Having appeared on national TV in Ireland, performed live at the Proms & even collaborating on a recent charity performance with the likes of Gary Barlow, it's no surprise that Jess has been dubbed one of Ireland's 'Rising Artists' for 2021.
Check Jess out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
King Kong Company
The story so far: King Kong Company are a band from Waterford, five blokes and a Boxhead. In 2011 they started putting out one video a month, put on the first gig in 2012 and played Indiependence on the back of a truck at 2am to 20 people. Soon after Body & Soul heard a track and booked them for an early Sunday evening at Electric Picnic where they got lucky and played to, maybe, thousands. Thinking they had now made it, they tried to get a Dublin gig and, a well known, but won’t be named, Dublin venue turned them down saying they’d be lucky to get 100 people to it. But the Sugar Club offered them a gig, and it sold out. Then the Button Factory sold out (5 times so far), The Academy (like 4 times) and they sold out The Olympia, but only the one time (they’re not The Script).
They’ve also stuck 13,000 people in a tent at Electric Picnic for Sunday Mass, had thousands of hedonists lay siege to the Body & Soul arena for their stuffed to the gills lock in that closed the legendary stage. And in between there’s been tracks, an album produced by The Prodigy’s producer Neil McLellan, a Buckfast beer, Glastonbury, a robot, All Together Now, late nights, parties, early mornings, ferries, Prague, London, Newcastle, the Cork Opera House, the proposal, broken down vans, Spraoi, a Best Band in Ireland award and stuff that should never end up in print. Now you’re all caught up.
But are you ready for the next bit?
Moncrieff
Moncrieff’s music is probably best described as a mix of classic R&B and soul with a modern electronic twist. He moved to London to pursue his music career at just 19 and has since made it onto numerous 'Ones To Watch' lists across Ireland and the UK. His fan base even includes Elton John, who gave him a shout out on his radio show, Rocket Hour, on Beats 1 radio. His growing reputation also landed support slots touring with headline Irish acts Picture This and Walking on Cars and his own first headline show in Dublin sold out in less than 3 hours
The Tramore native's latest EP is called 'The Class of 2020' and he's currently working on new music too.
Check Moncrieff out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Spotify.
Moylan
Moylan is a singer songwriter from Waterford, Ireland. She is known for her silky celtic tones and her carefully crafted lyrics. Her most recent single ‘It’s Alright’ was released in March 2020 and attracted attention from the likes for TLMT, Nialler 9, Entertainment RTÉ, N-eight, Mnásome and Covert Music Club. It was also featured on many playlists such as The Irish Beat, Indie Arena Music and Fluttertone. In June 2019, she released her Debut EP- ‘For The Birds’. Moylan’s debut EP is a work of strength and variety. It attracted attention has also received great support and air play from radio stations such as WLR FM, Spin FM, RTÉ Pulse, Stradbane Radio and KCLR FM, where she was the feature musician in June 2019. In November 2018, Moylan performed on RTÉ Radio1 with Miriam O’ Callaghan. She was a semi-finalist in the Voice of Ireland 2016.
In recent years Moylan has been making waves in the Irish music scene with appearances in Irish festivals (Electric Picnic, Imagine Arts Festival, IMBOLC festival, Comeraghs Wild Festival) and striking headline shows in Dublin (Whelans, Workmans club, the Soundhouse), Dungarvan and Carrick-On-Suir.
In September 2019, Moylan moved to Germany and since then she has played Sofar Sounds Weimar, Sofar Sounds Nuremberg and a number of intimate gigs around Berlin. Her Christmas Tour 2019 in Ireland was a great success which included venues in Waterford, Limerick, Galway and Dublin. Now, with the uncertainty surrounding the future of the music industry, Moylan is using her time to work on recording and music production. You can expect to see some new releases in the not so distant future.
Check Moylan out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Mulcahy
Mulcahy is a singer/songwriter from the sunny South East of Ireland (Waterford), though his music draws on more melancholy moods from his own experiences. The Tramore based musician paints vivid pictures of life, love, the past and the future by blending folk with an array of synth sounds to create an atmospheric and ethereal mood.
Honest and deeply personal lyrics are laid bare over these ambient foundations, drawing inspiration from his own surroundings, as well as artists from Glen Hansard to Bon Iver to The National. Mulcahy wrote, self-produced and released his first single L I S T E N in October 2018. Follow up single “Dear Anna” was released in April of 2019 along with a remixed version of the track beautifully produced by Thomple (Owen Begley).
Mulcahy released his debut EP “We Were Here” at the end of 2020. The self-produced alternative folk EP is the culmination of an artist dedicated to lyricism and rooted in folk, refining his sound by incorporating synths, layered vocal techniques and electronic drums.
'His music is marked with a sense of tranquility and beauty that is bound to culminate in a captivating and emotional live experience' (Alison Traynor, University Times).
Niamh Hayes
Niamh Hayes is a 19 year old musician based in Dungarvan Co.Waterford. Niamh is currently studying Popular Music Keyboards in Cork School of Music. She released her debut Ep Eye To Eye on the 8th of February. In this EP Niamh has written and produced four tracks heavily based on instrumental piano, which also features a spoken word track, in collaboration with London based actress and poet Talitha Wing.
Eye To Eye has many influences, which include elements from classical jazz and pop. 'Eye to Eye' is available for streaming on many music streaming platforms such as, Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes and YouTube. You can also follow her Instagram @hear_niamh where she will be releasing pre-recorded live videos of her EP and you can follow her with her music endeavours.
One Morning In August
One Morning In August formed in 2018, released their first single ’Reverb’ in June 2019 and they released their self titled debut album in August 2020 to critical acclaim.
In October 2020 they announced they had signed to Cork based label FIFA Records who also have Frank & Walters, Power of Dreams, Emperor of Ice cream and August Wells on their books.
Check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Paul J Bolger
Paul J Bolger is what some would call a ‘Renaissance Man’, even if mentioning that makes him feel a tad self-conscious. Born and raised in Waterford, Ireland – where he recently returned to – Paul continues to work from his studio near the city.
Everything Paul has done since entering the entertainment industry in the late 1980s has been from the heart. Whether it was lending his drawing, directing and design skills to films, books and graphic novels, the visual arts or writing, recording and performing his songs, he is a consummate creator. PJB has worked on many animated feature films (Land Before Time, All Dogs Go To Heaven, Arthur Christmas and Shaun The Sheep to name a few) along with making music since his early days in Waterford, Ireland – fronting local hard rock heroes Purple Haze.
It’s been a quarter of a century since he released his last album, The Moss House, to critical acclaim with Hot Press rating it 8/10 at the time. Paul followed this, and the wall-to-wall airplay the album received, by playing all over Ireland for the rest of the decade before returning to filmmaking.
A fateful meeting with Gary Kehoe, of Waterford promoters Subterranean Sounds, brought new opportunities to an old player and Paul leaped at them. He was invited to support the American singer David Corley when Corley came to play Waterford, Ireland and the rest is history. Paul and Corley’s producer Hugh Christopher Brown, of Wolfe Island Records, hit it off like brothers from different mothers and the seeds of a new musical adventure were sown.
Paul had already begun to put down new songs with old friend and master guitarist/producer Dave Molloy in Northern Ireland which saw the release of an EP, The Start Of It, in 2018, with Paul directing a promo video for each song. These sessions had spawned enough material for an album when Wolfe Island came calling.
On a trip to Canada to consult on a movie, Paul visited the home of Wolfe Island Records where more songs than Paul knew what to do with were in the offing, so 2019 became a year of writing and recording. What began as a slow return to documenting some old songs saw Paul and his producers complete two records at the same time on both sides of the Atlantic; a bit like a Dublin bus - you wait for ages for one and then two show up at the same time, full to the brim.
With a style Celtic Rock legends Horslips termed ‘Bog Gothic’, a genre the artist is happy to embrace and propagate, Paul released the first of these albums, produced by Hugh Christopher Brown, on CD and digitally through Wolfe Island Records, in the summer of 2020, making Paul the label’s very first East-of-the-Atlantic signing. The album was released on vinyl in December 2020.
Peter Vogelaar
Inner Creatures is the sophomore album from Irish producer & bass player Peter Vogelaar. Hitting a playlist reach of 1 million on its week of release, it has been playlisted by Spotify UK New Music Friday, Ministry Of Sound, Kiss FM, EnRoute Records and many more.
Peter Vogelaar’s newest long-play ‘Inner Creatures’ Is a firm nod to the likes of Four Tet, Bonobo and Caribou. The album’s title alludes to the introspective nature of crafting a body of work, not just the moments writing but those reflecting.
Peter's earthy sounding organic electronica has been licensed to HBO, ABC & MTV, most recently on How To Get Away With Murder. He has remixed many artists from his native Ireland including Wyvern Lingo, SON (Susan O'Neill) & King Kong Company.
Propeller Palms
Propeller Palms, are a 10-piece outfit from Waterford featuring three brass players and three females singers crafted onto the basic rock format, with lead vocals handled by dynamic singer-guitarist Paul Butler, once of Neuro fame.
Check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Rachel English
Rachel English is a 21 year old emerging entry to the music industry. Rachel is a dynamic singer/songwriter born in Waterford City. She always displayed a love for music and performing in her hometown and across Ireland. At 18, Rachel moved to Manchester, United Kingdom to pursue her main passion for singing/songwriting. She brings energy, creativity and originality to her craft.
Rachel is eager to share her talent with the world and hopes listeners can resonate with her music. Rachel is working on multiple projects with producers and Dj's across Ireland, Uk and Spain. She is very excited about what 2021 has to bring in terms of musical opportunities. If initial impressions are anything to go by, this trailblazer has a promising future in this industry.
Shane Barry
Shane Barry finally released his debut solo EP, ‘The Nearly Man’ in 2020. The 5 tracks represent Shane’s progression from 70’s influenced brass and soul recordings towards a more diverse influence, including rock, alt. country and electronica. With planned live shows cancelled last year, he has been putting the finishing touches on a new release due for the end of 2021.
Previous to this, Shane fronted Shane Barry & the Distractions until 2010, having released the album ‘Radio Friction’ to critical acclaim. The band regularly toured Ireland and the UK, and supported acts such as Ron Sexsmith, the Stunning and the Pale.
During lockdown, Shane has been working on a new project – The Sunday Service, a mainly instrumental/ambient live group, featuring members of the Distractions and the Usual Suspects. The band are hoping to release some music in 2021 and play some gigs if we are ever allowed!
Skazoo
Skazoo hail from Irish home of ska, Tramore. The 6 piece band have been doing the usual festival runs over the last 10 years from EP to the Cork Jazz weekender. Only in recent times have they started releasing their own material but have always been quietly writing away. The band consists of Owen Kav on vocals, guitar and the main song writing duties. Owen Corrigan on bass, main arrangements, mixing and all round superman. Jimi "Clather" Waters on drums, Neil "Shanty" Cantwell on keys. Kieran and Pauline on sax and trumpet 'cause they're married now.
The lads love their Waterfordness and can be heard when listening to the Tramaican accents on their recordings.
They originally were all part of Skunk until the singer fecked off to be a superstar in King Kong Company so after a few line up changes, Skazoo are now firmly a unit once again with new singles and an album hopefully done by this years' end. Bouncy lively party music is a guarantee so download Da Rude Boi Shuffle on all the usual places.
Sons Phonetic
Sons Phonetic are a six piece hip hop group hailing from Waterford, Ireland. Hot Press Magazine has described them as “Razor tongued rhymers with some icy production” The group released their debut album ‘Twelve Labours’ in 2011. With guest appearances from pioneering Irish hip hop legend Rí Rá (Scary Eire) the project has since been written into the annals of Irish hip hop. The Sons became regulars on the live circuit touring across the country and overseas. They have worked alongside notable hip hop acts including Lethal Dialect, Urban Intelligence and also supported Maverick Sabre on his ‘Lonely are the Brave’ Irish tour.
Check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Tadhg Williams
Tadhg Williams is a 22-year-old songwriter and poet originally from Waterford, now based in Dublin. His music has become known for its lyricism and heart-on-sleeve melodies endearing him to an already significant fanbase including some well know musicians and critics in the industry including Fiachna Ó Braonáin, Tony Clayton Lea and David Keenan.
Williams’ releases to date have received significant support across Irish media with Hot Press describing him as "one of Ireland's most thrilling emerging songwriters". ‘My Father’s Clouds’ was released in February 2020 and two headline shows in Dublin and Waterford to complement its release sold out. His latest release ‘The Hope Song’ enjoyed huge support from RTÉ Radio One, Ireland’s national broadcaster.
Often writing about his hometown, Williams credits his time writing poetry with Waterford writing collective Modwords for his development as a lyricist. His ability to write empathically has earned him praise from the likes of Stephen James Smith and David Keenan. His songs and poems are both deeply personal and deeply familiar.
Having supported acts in the past such as Glen Hansard, David Keenan, Rozi Plain (This is the Kit) and FIELDS, Tadhg's live performances personify his music. Whether performing solo or, on occasion with his band The Council House, his shows have been described as eloquent, endearing and wholesome.
The Boofs
Teenage rock band sensation The Boofs formed in January 2020 on lunch break at Blackwater Community School Lismore Co Waterford. They are a five-piece band with many influences such as The Sex Pistols, The Pogues and Avenged Sevenfold to mention but a few.
They are a high energy and explosive band with ambition to match. Four members of the band are still in secondary school at Blackwater Community School with the exception of Lead guitarist Danny McCarthy Thompson who is currently studying Sound Engineering and Music at The East Cork Music project Middleton Cork. They have high hopes for the future and are currently recording their Debut EP called The Johnny Music EP at Claycastle
Recording Studios Youghal, East Cork.
The Plainest Truth
The Plainest Truth is a new collaboration between Joe Harney (Deaf Joe) and Aisling Browne (Solar Taxi, Cut Once), rooted in the shared experience of their long-standing, long-distance friendship. Debut singles The Drift and Waiting For You provide a reflection on how life can often set us apart, yet we somehow remain linked to what really matters.
Hailing from Waterford, Joe and Aisling first got to know each other through their city’s vibrant music scene where a hundred bands were buzzing, bonding and disbanding faster than anyone could keep up with. They played many gigs together as part of Katie Kim’s live band before Joe uprooted to Scotland. The pair remained good friends and kept in touch, eventually agreeing to start sharing musical ideas, sketch out ideas for songs, melodies and lyrics between Dublin and Edinburgh. Without the pressure of recording under a title, songs slowly began to take shape and crystallise into something meaningful. When they finally got together to record properly, in Joe’s words, “...we just felt it worked from the get-go, that very first track we tried, 'Waiting For You'. Our voices felt like they had that elusive bit of magic you're always chasing. The way they sat really plainly together, without any effects or studio trickery.”
And so, the essential elements of The Plainest Truth were created: “It's a band realising our shared ideas for songs from afar, over distance. Lyrically, it's about missing people, needing them, the connections you can't deny and what that longing does to your head. The music is unhurried, a kind of dreamy take on classic folk songwriting, it takes its time, unconcerned with much else going on in the world. We're just focused on writing big, honest songs that allow our voices shine together.”
Check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Toucan
TOUCAN is the pop, funk and soul artist from Tramore, Conor Clancy. Alongside him, he has an incredible group of musicians from drums, to brass, to backing vocals. With the full ten-piece band behind him, the contagiously funky songs have an explosive live sound.
Since releasing the debut single 'We Fell For Miles' in 2018, TOUCAN has seen huge momentum in Ireland and abroad, garnering millions of streams on Spotify from a growing fanbase in the UK and Australia. The Summer before the pandemic, they supported Nile Rogers & CHIC in Dublin, they played a slot for The Average White Band in London's Royal Albert Hall and finished out a busy Summer with a packed show in the Electric Arena tent at Electric Picnic.
Since the live industry has stopped, Conor's been writing new material from his home in Tramore and excited to get back performing the new songs next year.
Check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Waiting Space
Waiting Space’ is an audio & visual project - and the alias of musician & creator, Chris Falconer, from Waterford, Ireland - formed in 2014.Through a D.I.Y. process that is enabled by contemporary technology, as ‘Waiting Space’, he cre-ates entirely self-recorded/self-produced musical pieces - that are characterised by dynamic vo-cals and cinematic instrumentals - typically blending programmed-electronics & live-instruments. Influenced by diverse musical artists from Nine Inch Nails, to Ólafur Arnalds - Waiting Space is essentially a ‘genre-less’ project, producing pieces that can jump between beat-focused, moody electronica; occasional synth-pop; and onwards to neo-classical, slow-tempo, atmospheric pieces. Each musical piece is also ‘complemented’ by visuals which Falconer creates in response -including cover artwork, digital animations, travel footage, or short films. As a result, the project has crossed over into the gallery-world - and Waiting Space pieces have been exhibited in Lismore Castle Arts, in Waterford, and was also commissioned by the Luan Gallery in Athlone, to create a musical-score to a ‘virtual walkthrough’ video of the gallery’s spaces, hosted online for Culture Night 2020, allowing audiences to ‘visit’ the gallery from a distance, despite COVID-19 lockdowns. Having released 9 singles to-date - Waiting Space is currently working on a debut album, to be released between 2021 and 2022.
Check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Ward
Ward is the alias of Sean Ward, a Waterford-born and based multi-instrumentalist. The 17-year-old became proficient in guitar, bass, piano and drums in recent years. Taking influence from a variety of modern artists such as Dominic Fike, Still Woozy and Rex Orange County. Ward writes, performs and produces each element of his bedroom-pop injected tracks.
Signing to Waterford’s independent Egg Twelve Records at the top of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 saw Ward cut his teeth with his debut single “Romeo,” followed shortly thereafter by his Summer sophomore single “Light Switch”.
Woody
Woody are an indie rock band from Waterford formed in 2014 as part of a school talent show. Craig Dunphy leads the band as the singer, rhythm guitarist and songwriter, Alan Patrick O'Brien plays lead guitar and helps to compose the songs musically and the rhythm section features Colm Dempsey on bass and new addition Cian Weldon on the drums. Craig Dunphy being a producer with the local media outlet Volcano Predators began recording music late in 2019, which turned into Woody's debut EP 'Bananas' which was released in the Summer of 2020.
Check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.
Yung Shakur
Yung Shakur, 19, is an Independent Artist from Waterford, Ireland. Birth name Odudu Johnson also known as 'Oh Jay' has been making music as early as 2013. Widely known for his Viral Hit All Ireland Hurling Song 'Swing' which took social media by storm in 2020.
Oh Jay started uploading videos on Facebook of covers from artists like Eminem, Tupac Shakur and Drake. He then started making a name for himself in his hometown. Odudu released his first studio recorded single “Be Yourself” produced by GMCBeats in 2015 which he recorded with a few of his classmates. The song was awarded Young Artist in Dublin that year.
At the tender age of 13 he brought the art of Rap to the table at his school choir (The Mount Sion Choir) performing in places like WAMA and The Theatre Royal and has been on the radio on many occasions.
In 2018 he led the Mount Sion Choir to Silver in the Young Bohemia choir competition in Prague, Czech Republic. “It’s not a choir anymore, it’s family” - Yung Shakur. Yung Shakur is releasing many songs which are being streamed rapidly on Spotify and also available on music platforms. His influences are the likes of Eminem , Dr. Dre , 2Pac, Akon, Skepta, Chip, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Stormzy, J Hus, Not3s, Dave, MoStack, Kodak Black, Lil Mosey, J. Cole, Tory Lanez, Bryson Tiller, Tyga, Burna Boy and Drake
“Yung Shakur is the future of music” - Murcury Kitchen.
Waterford Music Week on WLR is proudly supported by IMRO
