Blog
‘The Rats’ by Stump
A few words on ‘The Rats’ by Stump taking in: Rob McKahey, Kaught at the Karpark, ‘The Waterford Boys’, The Dubliners, Stephen Street, Ron Kavana and ‘Charlton Heston’.
16 Horsepower
From the archives: An interview with 16 Horsepower’s David Eugene Edwards from 2001. Edwards chats about the albums Secret South and Hoarse, 16HP’s sound and shares his thoughts on Americana.
Cathal Coughlan - ‘Im Long Mé Measaim’
A few words on Cathal Coughlan’s first post-Microdisney recording. ‘Im Long Me Measaim’ is a cover version of an Irish poem by renowned Gaeltacht Mhúscraí poet Dónal Ó Liatháin set to music by Peadar Ó Riada.
Van Morrison at 80
A few words on Van Morrison taking in: Millstreet Music Fair 1996, Stump’s Mick lynch, Cork Jazz Festival 1996, Humpers Inc and Rathmines College 2003
The Sentimental Tourists
A few words on The Sentimental Tourists taking in: Dave Long, Paul Page, Into Paradise and Whipping Boy.
Michael O’Shea - Listen Back
A talk from February 2025 about Michael O’Shea’s 1982 self-titled album as part of Cork City Library’s “Listen Back” series in the Rory Gallagher Music Library.
Top 10 Movie 7” Singles
A Top 10 of movie 7” singles taking in: Irish pressings, Czechoslovakian New Wave cinema, film noir, folk horror, a flea market in Brussels, Venice’s side streets, Doris Day, Sly Stone, Brian Wilson and “the worst song ever written”.
Flotsam: Cork’s Old Venues
A few words on arts magazine Flotsam taking in: “sean-nós noise makers” I Dreamed I Dream, the continuing saga of Cork’s Event Centre, and what can be learned from old Cork venues and some of the legendary gigs they hosted.
Listen Hear Seán Ó Riada
A few words on Danny McCarthy, sound installations, Seán Ó Riada, céilí bands and the “buzzing of a bluebottle in an upturned jam jar”.
Martin Barry: 20th Anniversary
Last week was the 20th anniversary of the passing of my great friend Martin Barry.
Factory Records: Top 10 Comps
Factory Records - Top 10 Comps, taking in: Cian Ó Cíobháin’s An Taobh Tuathail Factory special, New Order, Joy Division, Section 25, Happy Mondays, A Certain Radio, Anthony H. Wilson, Ian Curtis, Martin Hannett and a whole lot more.
The Fall at Sir Henry’s
A few words on The Fall taking in: The Fall at the Arcadia in 1980, The Fall at Sir Henry’s in 1997. Mark E. Smith, Dave Simpson’s The Fallen, Freakscene and Gigantic at Sir Henry’s, The Beatles, Freakscene flyers, Uaneen Fitzsimons and No Disco, The Fall at The Pavilion in 2012, and Rob Anthony’s Number One Fan comic strip.
Record Store Day: A Top 10
A Top 10 of Record Store Day releases taking in: New Order, Joy Division, The Wicker Man, Alfred Hitchcock, Fontaines DC, Low, The The, Nick Cave, Pulp, Clint Mansell, and Chris Bell.
Peace Together
A few words on Peace Together, a 1993 benefit album, taking in: Sinéad O’Connor, Peter Gabriel, New Order, My Bloody Valentine, The Fatima Mansions, Cocteau Twins, U2, Lou Reed, Andrew Weatherall, Baywatch, President Mary Robinson and Mother Teresa.
Zerra One and The Cure
A few words on 80s Irish band Zerra One and their 1982 tour of the UK and Europe supporting The Cure taking in: the kindness of Robert Smith, John Peel sessions, producer Todd Rundgren, U2, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Simon Price’s Curepedia and a whole lot more.
Robbie Coltrane’s 50th birthday, Dan Aykroyd, Badly Drawn Boy and Twisted Nerve Records.
A few words on Robbie Coltrane’s 50th birthday party, Dan Aykroyd, Badly Drawn Boy and Twisted Nerve Records taking in: Rough Trade Records, Bends For 166 Miles, Andy Votel, Alfie, Dave Tyack’s Dakota Oak, Aidan Smith, Delia Smith, Voice of the Seven Woods, Twinkranes, John Peel, On the Nose, Brenda Blethyn, Harry Potter, Rubeus Hagrid, Elwood Blues, The Blues Brothers, Don Baker and Dan Aykroyd’s House of Blues.
Songs to Learn and Sing: EP 1000 - the final episode
A few words on Episode 1000 of Songs to Learn and Sing taking in: Cork Campus Radio, West Dublin Access Radio, Dublin City FM, 30 years of community radio, Echo & the Bunnymen, and more.
Robert Forster – Interview
From the Archives - 2017 Robert Forster interview taking in: Grant & I, The Go-Betweens in Dublin, Cathal Coughlan & Microdisney and more.
The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis
A few words on The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2, Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis and my greatest vinyl find.
Top 10 Reissues of 2024
The third and final Top 10 of 2024. This one is a countdown of my favourite reissues from 2024, including three collections of previously unreleased songs.