It was Christmas Eve, Babe on The London Ear! Episode 416 brings together a few festive tunes along with some Irish and international tracks that made a splash in ’22.
Enjoy! Have a great festive season!
The London Ear – Christmas Eve ’22 Playlist
Here’s what was on the playlist for this week’s episode of The London Ear.
Hour 1:
Damien Dempsey: Failte Abhaile
Fontaines DC: Skinty Fia
Houseplants: Seaglass
Wendy Jacks: Wooly Jumpers
First Class and Coach: Neon Hip
The Late David Turpin + Gar Cox: What The Winter Brings
Gar Cox: Too Late For Christmas
Carrie Baxter + Jafaris: Satellite
The Beths: Experts in a Dying Field
Col Patterson: Bedford Falls
Slow Clib: Christmas TV
Elkae: Girls Like You Like Me
Rodney Cromwell: Cold Christmas
The Specials: Ghost Town Hour 2:
Autamata: Liberty Bell
Housemartins: Build
Telifis: Archbishop Beardmouth at The ChemOlympics
Clara Tracey: Baby Witch
Oliver Cole: Cuddle a Puddle
Kormac An Equivilant Exchange
Biig Piig: Kerosene
Nine 8: Noodle Poodle
Podge Lane: Just Like Christmas (Low Cover)
Screaming Orphans: Christime Time Is Here
UppBeat: Psychotic
Daithi feat Neil Dexter: Keep It For The Next One
Trick Mist: Willingdon Island
Pillow Queens: Hearts & Minds
Wekin: All I Want For Christmas
Listen On-Demand to The London Ear
Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ 2XM. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1200.
Hello and welcome to another episode of The London Ear, made with love, and filled with delicious sounds to whet your appetite to dig further into the sounds you find.
Sound of The Underground
Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London-based artist or band. This week’s featured act is The Cool Greenhouse with Hard Rock Potato.
Listen to all the tracks chosen for ‘Sound of The Underground’ in this nice handy playlist!
Nessy Recommends:
Once upon a time, I had a feature on this blog ‘Nessy Recommends’ followed ‘Tune of The Week’ from the late 00s. Yes, I’ve been BSing on the internet for that long! I thought it was something I could include in The London Ear.
This week’s ‘Nessy Recommends’ track is from Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Burning!
Here’s what was on the playliston this week’s episode of The London Ear.
Hour 1:
Video Blue: WEATHERSPEAK
Connie Constance: Til The World’s Awake
Echo Northstar: Someone else
Chameleon: Show Me When
Roe: Cut My Teeth
Hagan: Pray For Me ft Ayeisha Raquel
Altered Images: Glitter Ball
The Art Crimes Band: Neon Skyline
The Burma: Hard To Say
Biig Piig: Fun
Rowan: Bring Back The Day
Irish Track From The Vault: Junkster – Waen
Ailbhe Reddy: Shoulderblades
Columbia Mills: Momentum
Loyle Carner: Georgetown
Hour 2:
Ezra Collective ft Sampa The Great: Life Goes On
Kealan X: Fever
Sound of The Underground: The Cool Greenhouse: Hard Rock Potato
Mhaol: Bored of Men
Yumi And The Weather: Can You Tell
Telifis ft Will Sergeant: The Age of Cling
Sohn: MIA
First Class and Coach: Neon Hip
Duvet: Upon Landing
Sweat Threats: Questions
Kynsy: Love of Your Life
Wekin: seams to sea
PRTLND: High
Nessy Recommends: Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Burning
The Pixes: Monkey’s Gone To Heaven
Listen On-Demand to The London Ear
Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ 2XM. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1200.
The London Ear #401: Siobhán + Niall from Sweat Threats
Hello! Welcome, bienvenue! Have another great episode of The London Ear for you! This week, I’m joined by London based singer songwriter Siobhán and Niall Jackson from Sweat Threats. Thanks also to James OR who popped in to introduce a track ahead of his London album launch.
Interview with Siobhán
Siobhán
A couple of weeks ago, I chose Siobhán’s debut single as my ‘Sound of The Underground’ track. When I found out there was an Irish connection (through her parents), I had to take the opportunity to chat to her on The London Ear.
‘Black Hole’, has reached 80K streams on Spotify and she’s starting to pick up radio play across the UK. It’s an exciting time for her and from chatting to her, it’s easy to see that she wants to make the most of the opportunity she’s getting. She’s been writing for years and she’s now ready to unleash her music on the world.
Siobhán joined me in the first hour of the programme.
It’s great to see new music from Sweat Threats. Two thirds Irish in Londoners add one third Scouser and you’re in for a special treat.
I was delighted to be joined in the second hour by Niall from Sweat Threats. Niall also plays bass in Bouts and is a solo artist in his own right, as Swimmers Jackson, and is gearing up to release his second album.
Sweat Threats are now releasing four singles over four Fridays, which were recorded just as the world was locking down. The first single ‘Questions?’ features Niall on vocals is a mellower cut than ‘Call Bullshit’ where Matt lets loose.
I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of the tracks and I’m with Niall in his belief that you should pay for your music rather than stream. Have a listen to the trio on Bandcamp and if you can afford it, make a purchase!
This week’s Irish track From The Vault comes from 2010 and ‘Starry Eyed’ from Codes. Codes’ first album ‘Trees Dream In Algebra was nominated for a Choice Music Prize in that year. Their second album ‘AALTARS’ was released in 2015 but sadly seemed to signal the end of the band.
Daragh Anderson, singer of the band, now lives in the UK and is a an award winning designer and creative technologist. You can check out his website here.
Sound of The Underground: Connie Constance
Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London-based artist or band.
This week’s track comes from Connie Constance. She released her debut long player, ‘English Rose’, in 2019 and I’m ashamed to say it passed me by. Her new album ‘Miss Power’ is due for release in November. Already, the new single ‘Til The World’s Awake’, is making lots of waves.
Keep up to date with what Connie gets up to on her website itsconniesworld.com
Listen to all the tracks chosen for ‘Sound of The Underground’ in this nice handy playlist!
Nessy Recommends: Young Fathers
Once upon a time, I had a feature on this blog ‘Nessy Recommends‘ followed ‘Tune of The Week’ from the late 00s. Yes, I’ve been bullsh1tting on the internet for that long! I thought it was something I could include in The London Ear.
This week’s ‘Nessy Recommends’ track is from Young Father’s with Geronmino. It’s the first new music from them since 2018. It’s out on Ninja Tune and I’ve been humming this all week.
Here’s what was on the playlist for The London Ear 401.
Hour 1:
Meltybrains?: Journey To/From The Meltyworld
The Murder Capital: Only Good Things
Kynsy: Love of Your Life
Piglet: It Isn’t Fair
Interview with Siobhan
Siobhan: Black Hole
Antony Smerzeriek: The Hitchhikers Guide to The Fallacy
James Or: Miserable
From The Vault: Codes: Starry Eyed
Elkae: Lie To Me
Interplanetary Rap Crew: Shell Shock
I Jordan: Always Been
Hour 2:
Dry Cleaning: Don’t Press Me
Carrie Baxter Feat Jafaris: Satellite
Sound of The Underground:Connie Constance:
Ham Sandwich: All My Blood
Telifis feat Sean O’Hagan: Space is Us
Zapho: Big Song Blue
Neil Dexter: I’ll Be Ready
Sweat Threats: Questions?
Interview with Niall from Sweat Threats
Sweat Threats: Call Bullshit
Elaine Howley: Silent Talk
Motorcycle Display Team: Armchair Politican
Nessy Recommends: Young Fathers: Geronimo
Darius: Colourblind
Listen On-Demand to The London Ear
Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ 2XM. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1200.
Imagine! 400 episodes of The London Ear. That’s over 500 shows for RTE 2XM and previously, 2FM, including Culture Cafe when I lived in Dublin. I never take the 2XM platform for granted and I’m delighted that you choose to listen and join me on this journey. Thank you.
Irish Track From The Vault: Futures Apart
Today’s Irish track From The Vault comes from Futures Apartwith their very first single ‘Andrew’s Pride’, released in 2010. They were from Wexford and featured Brendan Millar on vocals. Brendan now lives here in London and rumour has it he is working on solo material.
I really loved ‘Andrew’s Pride’, I even gave it a little review back in the day and hearing it this week, well, it still sounds very fresh and current. Just a pity it’s not possible to find it online. So, for your chance to hear it, head to 45 minutes in on Mixcloud below. Don’t forget to turn up the volume!
During Lockdown 1, I digitised all my CDs so I had this track on my hard drive. Need to dig out the cover!
Sound of The Underground: TMPLE
I love the sound of TMPLE. I recently saw a live version of ‘Whispers’ online and had to investigate more. ‘Whispers’ was released towards the end of 2021 as part of an EP and over the past little while, I’ve seen the TMPLE name pop up over and over again, so I just had to investigate.
The lads seem to be more active on Instagram so I’d advise you to head over there to find out more.
Listen to all the tracks chosen for ‘Sound of The Underground’ in this nice handy playlist!
Nessy Recommends: Antony Szmierek
Once upon a time, I had a feature on this blog ‘Nessy Recommends’ followed ‘Tune of The Week’ from the late 00s. Yes, I’ve been BSing on the internet for that long! I thought it was something I could include in The London Ear.
This week’s ‘Nessy Recommends’ track is from Antony Szmierek, a Manchester-based – spoken word/hip hop artist.
Here’s what was on the playlist for this week’s episode of The London Ear.
Hour 1
Telifis VS Basement Jaxx feat Sean O’Hagan The Space is Us
Carrie Baxter Ft Jafaris: Satellite
Just Wondering: Just My Luck
Roe: Cold Feet
I. Jordan: Always Been
Siobhan: Black Hole
Two Door Cinema Club: Lucky
Clara Tracey: Baby Witch
The Murder Capital: Only Good Things
Pa Sheehy feat Sinead White: Surrender
Sampa The Great feat Chef187 Tio Nason, Mwanje – Never Forget
From The Vault: Futures Apart: Andrew’s Pride
Nell Mescall: Graduating
Local Boy: Milkshake Pilltaste
Joy Orbison: Pink Ring
Hour 2:
Black midi: Sugar Tzu
Piglet: It Isn’t Fair
Sound of The Underground: TMPLE: Whispers
Biig Piig: Fun
Patrick Stefan: Drinking Alone in The Moonlight
Zapho: Big Song Blue
Hudson Taylor: Over My Head
Def Nettle: Any Day Now
Keeley: Where The Monster Lives
Neil Dexter: I’ll Be Ready
Nessy Recommends: Antony Smerick The Hitchikers Guide to The Fallacy
Cat Dowling: Animals
Bicep: Meli (II)
Billie Eilish: all the good girls go to hell
Listen On-Demand to The London Ear
Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ 2XM. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1200.
