Tag: Irish Music

The London Ear #396 with Ragerra

Hello! Welcome to episode 396 of The London Ear. My guest this week is Mark from the band Ragerra. The Sound of The Underground comes from Roma Radz and this week’s Irish track From The Vault comes from Future Kings of Spain.

The London Ear with guest, Mark from Ragerra

Ragerra enjoying a few scoops

It was lovely to chat up with Mark from Ragerra. The band are coming to the UK for a string of dates with Blue Stragglers at the end of July.
Catch them at:
July 27th – Cavern, Raynes Park, London
July 28th – Brass, Hastings
July 29th – Anvil, Bournemouth
July 30th – The Malt Shovel, Horsham

I loved hearing Mark’s views on what Dublin is like right now. Living outside Ireland, there’s always a little nostalgia and homesickness when talking about Ireland. So, it was great to hear the views of someone living there.

You can find out more about Ragerra on Insta and Twitter.

Ragerra’s current single, ‘Hone’, is now streaming on Spotify.

Check out the video for Ragerra’s single ‘Runway’, we spoke about the video during our chat.

From The Vault: Future Kings of Spain

This week’s Irish track From The Vault comes from the excellent Future Kings of Spain and their track ‘Guess Again’, which I believe was a CD single in 2007. As far as I’m aware FKOS are still officially on hiatus and there’s nothing to say we won’t hear from them in the future. It would be great to hear the band play together again. Their importance to the Irish music scene cannot be understated. You can check out all you need to find out about Future Kings of Spain on their website.

Check out this fan footage of their show in The Academy in Dublin in May 2008.

You can listen to Future Kings of Spain on Spotify.

Listen to Future Kings of Spain on Spotify

Sound of The Underground: Roma Radz

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 Roma Radz, a London based hyperpop artist. ‘It Didn’t Happen’ is a great track and I’m looking forward to seeing with Roma does next.

Roma uses a great @handle online cd_romz, find out more about her on Insta and Twitter.

The London Ear Playlist
Here’s what happened on this week’s episode of The London Ear, with guest Mark from Ragerra.
Hour 1
Kynsy: Point Of You
Plastic Cowboys: Mundane Ecstasy
Seba Safe: Spitfire
Alvvays: Pharmacist
Ragerra: Hone
Interview with Mark from Ragerra
Ragerra: Runaway
From The Vault: Future Kings of Spain: Guess Again
Robin J Hurt: Song For The 12th of July
Loyle Carner: Hate

Hour 2
Afghan Whigs: The Getaway
Emma Edel: I Reckon Something
Roma Radz: It Didn’t Happen
Patrick Stefan: Drinking Alone In The Moonlight
Lava La Rue Feat Biig Piig: Hi-Fidelity
Fontaines DC: Roman Holiday
Mhaol: Bored of Men
Oliver Cole: Seaside Song
Zasko: Gone In A Minute
DEVMO: Hey Big Sister
Christain Cohle: Wasted
Farah Elle: Desert
Geoffrey Harold: Birdcall
Emma Hynes: The Space Between

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.

You can find all previous episodes on the pages of this site here.

July 14, 2022
The London Ear on RTE 2XM #395

The London Ear #395

Welcome to episode 395 of The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM. I have a bag full of great records to share with you on this week’s programme on RTE 2XM. Hope you enjoy the programme and thanks for all your social interactions when the show was broadcast on Saturday. It truly means a lot.

From The Vault: JJ72

This week’s Irish track from the Vault comes from JJ72, one of the most underrated Irish bands ever, if you ask me. They should have been huge! There’s a great decent overview of the life of the band on Wiki. I guess one of the sad things about the internet and the demise of bands is that no one really hangs on to their domain so all the official websites tend to lapse.

All you really need to know is JJ72 were brilliant. You can listen to them on Spotify.

JJ72’s video for ‘Snow’

Sound of The Underground: Oscar Browne

Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London-based artist or band. South London is full of talent! Oscar Browne proves it! He’s just released his debut single, ‘Never Quite Right’ and I’m delighted it’s this week’s Sound of The Underground.

Oscar have previously played with the likes of Mellah, previous Sound of the Underground artist Wunderhorse, DeadPretties and is part of folk collective Broadside Hacks. Broadside Hacks was formed after the founder Campbell Baum, saw Junior Brother play in a pub in Dublin. It’s an ‘open to all session’ and they’ve got together to release a compilation that I would highly encourage you to check out. Katy J Pearson and Brigid Mae Power are also involved.
<a href="https://broadsidehacks.bandcamp.com/album/songs-without-authors-vol-1">Songs Without Authors Vol. 1 by Various Artists</a>
To find out more about Oscar, head over to Insta, Facebook, Soundcloud. You can also find Oscar on Spotify.

Oscar Browne’s video for ‘Never Quite Right’

The London Ear #395 Playlist // July 2 2022
Here’s what was on the playlist for this week’s episode 395 of The London Ear on July 2 2022.

Hour 1
Two Door Cinema Club: Wonderful Life
Ragerra: Hone
Biig Piig: Fun
Biig Piig & Metronomy: 405
Viscose: Focus
Yard: Autoerotic
Circuit 3: Future Radio
Clara Tracey: Baby WItch
Mick Jagger: Strange Game
Just Mustard: Seed
Jena Keating: Nobody Can Have Me
From The Vault: JJ72 Snow
Sal: Everything
Maverick Sabre & Jorja Smith: Slow Down (James Cole Edit)

Hour 2
Maggie Rogers: Want Want
Ham Sandwich: Le Soleil
Sound of The Underground: Oscar Browne: Never Quite Right
Fizzy Orange: Wonder
Loah: Your Word
Gammy Origami: Now That You Got Me Thinking
Ailbhe Reddy: A Mess
kae Tempest: Don’t You Ever
Columbia Mills: Nevada
Sinead O’Brien: Like Culture
Driven Snow: Sunlight
Matt Ó: Sonny
Sampa The Great: Never Forget [Feat. Chef 187, Tio Nason, Mwanjé]
Myles O’Reilly: Coocooning Heart
Matt McManmon: Out Of THe Cold
Keeley: Shadow on The Hills
Plan B: ill Manors
Swimmers Jackson: Summer’s Herald

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.

You can find all previous episodes on the pages of this site here. Catch you next week!

July 6, 2022
The London Ear #392: Mark T Cox + Apollo Munroe

The London Ear #392

Kicking off Pride month, I have two fantastic guests on this week’s episode of The London Ear who are both valued members of the LGBTQ community. Both Mark T Cox and Apollo Munroe are legends and absolutely brilliant in bringing visibility to the community.

Interview: Mark T Cox

Mark T Cox chats to Nessy on Zoom

Mark T Cox is a gem, no other way of putting it. He’s an Irish Cabaret performer based here in London and has a show in the Sugar Club in Dublin on June 24th cooly titled ‘ Mark T Cox – Friday Night Pride’.

We chat about the art of cabaret as well as Mark’s other life in London, as a Walking Tour Guide. Calling Mark a Tour Guide kinda underestimates what he actually does. I was recently on his LGBTQ Walking Tour of London’s Soho was it was more than just a tour. Mark is an architect so his passion for the buildings and their change of use is always very apparent. He’s extremely knowledgeable and has a really lovely manner which will instantly make him one of your favourite people.

I’ve only crossed paths with Mark in the past year, but he’s genuinely lovely and a very valued member of both the LGBTQ and Irish communities here in London.

Check out his website marktcoxartiste.com

Interview: Apollo Munroe

Apollo Munroe chats to Nessy on Zoom

Apollo Munroe is the pop star we all need right now. Hyper pop with a big dollop of neon is what we all need right now in this dreary world. Really enjoyed the chat and learning more about the LGBTQ music scene in Ireland right now.

Apollo has a new single out ‘Sweet Tooth’ and a very cute video to match in which he outs himself at the end. Damn, did I just ruin the ending?

You can find out more about Apollo Munroe on Insta and listen on that there Spotify.

From The Vault: Phil Lynott – Yellow Pearl

This week’s Irish track From The Vault comes from the legendary Phil Lynott. Many of us will remember ‘Yellow Pearl’ track as the theme tune to Top Of The Pops in the 1980s. I knew this track as it was on the compilation album, ‘Chart Hits ’82’, as well as being the soundtrack to music’s most important TV show.

‘Yellow Pearl’ also appeared on the 1980 album by Phil Lynott, ‘Solo in Soho’ but there were a couple of remixes for 7 inch versions.

I still love the track.

Sound of The Underground: Keaton Rich

I’m seriously impressed by the new single from Keaton Rich. Sound of The Underground is the segment of the show where I introduce you to a London-based artist who you may be unaware of. Keaton Rich certainly deserved your attention. He’s a musician and photographer and a very talented guy.

Keaton has made some really good videos on Instagram, introducing you to his world and where he has come from. I thoroughly encourage you to check them out. I’ve included the first one here – go look up the others!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cbj2k1QoeuE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Keaton Rich on Insta

Listen to Keaton on Spotify.

Pretty Promo Pics of This Week’s Guests

Sexy Boyz: Promos for this week’s guests

The London Ear Playlist
Here’s what happened on this week’s episode of The London Ear.

Hour 1
The Swedish Railway Orchestra: Fallen Devil
Ríona Sally Hartman, Alasdair C Whyte, Ross Whyte, Cian Mac Cárthaigh: Mar is Miann Leam
Tadhg Daly & Etaoin: Not Over You
Chat with Mark T Cox Part 1
Jennifer Paige: Crush
Irish Track From The Vault: Phil Lynnot: Yellow Pearl
A Boy in Cords: Stupid Like That
jackLNDN: Bad Decisions

Hour 2:
Diana Ross & Tame Impala: Turn up The Sunshine
Zoid & Meljoann: Spacemission
Sound of The Underground: Keaton Rich
Tadhg Daly & Etaoinn: Not Over You
Chat with Apollo Munroe:
Apollo Munroe: Soda Pop
Chat with Apollo Munroe Part 2
Apollo Munroe: Sweet Tooth
Yune Pinku: DC Rot
Daithi + Ailbhe Reddy: Sunset
Phoeno: Kelly Brook
Keeley: Shadow On The Hill
The Burma: Sleepers
Minnie Ripperton: Les Fleurs

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. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME OF MIDDAY!

You can find all previous episodes on the pages of this site here.

My guests on next week’s show will be Tadhg Daly & Etaoin and also Lee Rogers.

June 14, 2022
The London Ear #388 DirtBirds + Sive

The London Ear #388

Back once again like the renegade master with another episode of The London Ear. Two, no, three great guests on the show today. In the first hour of the show, I chat to Dirtbirds about their upcoming show in London and find out about always having to be funny. In the second hour, singer-songwriter, Sive, popped in for a chat about her new album, ‘We Begin In Darkness’, which is just beautiful. The most gorgeous album of the year so far. Show #388 also has regular features of ‘From The Vault’ and ‘Sound of The Underground.’

This week’s guests on The London Ear

From The Vault: Little Palace

This week’s Irish track From The Vault comes from Little Palace. They were absolutely cracking band from my hometown of Kells, in Co. Meath. They featured Michael Brunnock, Anne Louise Mulvany, Anthony Cregan, James Quinn, Martin Quinn and Ian Melady (later of Turn) on drums. They released the Beekeeper EP, a 4-track CD, which I had on constant rotation, about 1996. I chose to play ‘Secret’ from the EP.

Sound of The Underground: Wu-Lu

Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London-based artist or band. This week’s artist is Wu-lu and their new track ‘Blame’. The single is taken from the forthcoming album ‘Loggerheads’ which will drop on July 8th on Warp Records.

Another South London boy on The London Ear, keep an eye out. Wulu seems like an interesting character. The album is described as ‘an urgent, post-genre masterpiece for modern times and Wu-Lu’s most fully-realised music yet. Born out of fearless self-examination and expression, LOGGERHEAD is music for the ignored, underrepresented, and those without a voice. A soundtrack to these richly troubled times intended to inspire and encourage.’

Find out more on Facebook and Insta.

Interview with Dirtbirds

Dirtbirds – Photo from Facebook

*Cue dramatic superhero style voiceover* Sinead Culbert and Sue Collins are comedy writers and performers, each in their own right. But when they join forces, they are ‘Dirtbirds’. Dirtbirds have become a bit of a cultural phenomenon in Ireland, thanks to their irreverent real-life comedy, as seen by thousands on their videos.

The pair are coming to London for a show in the London Irish Centre on June 17th and it’s set to be a cracker.

To be honest, it’s a bit daunting, knowing you’re ‘Interviewing’ (I prefer chatting) a pair of comediennes. The pressure!! I did throw one in there though. Really enjoyed the chat with Sinead and Sue and I’m sure the show will be be a cracking night out.

Book your tickets for the show here

Interview with Sive

Sive and Nessy make silly faces on Zoom

I have to say that I was seriously impressed with Sive’s new album ‘We Begin In Darkness’. The musicality and production are just sublime. As I said during our chat, I’ve been listening to more electronic and rock music lately but this just blew me away. The layers and detail of the sounds on this record are just *chef’s kiss*. But that does not take away from the actual songwriting. As it should, it only enhances everything – beautifully.

It’s the first I had the opportunity to chat with Sive and I really enjoyed chatting about her music and chatting about Embrace Music which is a fantastic initiative run with Sharon Murphy. “For the last seven years they have worked both together and separately in County Kildare running community choirs and delivering music sessions to people living with dementia and other age-related illnesses. The overall aim of Embrace Music is to give people as many different opportunities to embrace music, movement and other art forms as possible in their own locality, or even in their own home.“

Find out more on her website: sivemusic.com

The London Ear Playlist May 14 2022
Here’s what happened on this week’s episode of The London Ear.

Hour 1
Strabe: Magic
Roe: A Temporary Thing
Elkae: White Dress
Ger Eaton: Phoenix (Reborn)
Louis Brennan: Full House
Danger Mouse and Black Thought: No Gold Teeth
Interview with Dirt Birds
Pastiche: Written and Directed
Aoife Nessa Francis: Emptiness Follows
From The Vault: Little Palace: Secret
faith Oliveyolive(feat Daryl Bengo, Kevon Dupri & Ammani Bengo)
Axis Of: Blackcomber

Hour 2
Motel Club: La Plage
Brooke Scullion: That’s Rich
Sound of The Underground: Wu-Lu: Blame
Interview with Sive
Sive: Think Before I Speak
Interview with Sive Part 2
Sive: Dancing Alone
Interview with Sive Part 2
Sive: Annamackerrig
Eimhin: Lately
Keeley: 1990’s Brightest Star

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. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME OF MIDDAY!

You can find all previous episodes on the pages of this site here.

Join me next week for chats with Vale and Xnthony.

May 19, 2022