The best of new and future worldwide music from an Ireland-based music blog.

My 50 best Irish music acts right now

Friday, April 3, 2009 by Nialler9 | 58 comments |

I took my cue from the list published in The Irish Times today. While that does suffer slightly from “middle-of-the-road-itis” or “lowest common denominator-list” theory (Both made up on the spot obviously), there’s nothing overtly wrong with the list as picked by Jim Carroll, Tony Clayton-Lea, Sinead Gleeson and Lauren Murphy. It’s a good representation of Irish music right now even though everybody will probably agree that there’s something missing from the list and that it favours indie or rock acts over other genres. Someone on Jim’s blog scoffed at the ability to be able to come up with 50 great Irish acts in operation right now but I’d also like to test that theory. Most lists will always favour the already-established, more well-known names who perhaps are riding on the coat-tails of former glories. That’s why all lists are pants. They are fun to make however.

As blogs are seeing as an alternative to mainstream media, I thought it’d be fun to post my own. My list was selected as an accurate representation of the 50 acts I’m most interested in hearing more of right now. These are the 50 acts who are making Irish music good enough to stick around this country in the times of recession and who are not eye-rollingly shit. The fact that it was such a piss-easy exercise and I left off loads proves that Irish music is healthier than its been for years and years. Get purchasing.

So here are the top 50 acts in Ireland, in alphabetical order I’m keenly watching right now.

  1. 202s
  2. Adebisi Shank
  3. Adrian Crowley
  4. Alias Empire
  5. And So I Watch You From Afar..
  6. Baby Beef
  7. Bats
  8. Cap Pas Cap
  9. Cashier no. 9
  10. Cathy Davey
  11. Chequerboard (aka Boldypants)
  12. David Kitt
  13. Fight Like Apes
  14. Gran Casino
  15. Grand Pocket Orchestra
  16. Halves
  17. Heathers
  18. Hunter Gatherer
  19. Jape
  20. John Shelley and the Creatures
  21. Kill Krinkle Club
  22. Le Galaxie
  23. Legion of Two
  24. Lines Drawing Circles
  25. Lisa Hannigan
  26. Mail Order Messiahs
  27. Messiah J and the Expert
  28. Mumblin Deaf Ro
  29. Nouveaunoise
  30. One Day International
  31. Patrick Kelleher and Band
  32. Prince Kong
  33. R.S.A.G
  34. Robotnik
  35. Sarsparilla
  36. So Cow
  37. Sunken Foal
  38. Super Extra Bonus Party
  39. Tenaka
  40. The Ambience Affair
  41. The Holy Roman Army
  42. The Infomatics
  43. The Jimmy Cake
  44. The Lowly Knights
  45. The Mighty Stef
  46. The Rubberbandits
  47. The Spook of the 13th Lock
  48. The Vinny Club
  49. Villagers
  50. You’re Only Massive

Of course, it doesn’t end there. These lists are all about awareness. So if you feel like it, make your own list or suggest away. It won’t change this list but it might change others.

  • pappy25

    Are you leaving no.50 free for one more act to shqueeze in, how’s about one from the following or just for debates sake… Simple Kid, The Flaws, Sanzkrit, The Things, Pinky, Humanzi, Giveamanakick, or Jinx Lennon… and don’t forget the best rapper in South Central KY Achilles (Barry K)

  • Vinny

    Niall,
    Speaking of music lists and our infernal addiction to same, look at this list of releases from 1997 a friend pointed out to me. What a strong year for music!
    Can’t believe all these “old” bands released so much stuff in one year.
    Hope things state-wise going well, keep up the good work.
    All the best .
    Vinny.
    http://rateyourmusic.com/list/outdoor_miner/nme_albums_of_the_year_1997/

  • http://www.brightsky.ie Paul

    Saw a band the other night called Howl, should put them in and make room for Captain Moonlight and “Pappy25″‘s suggestions Jinx Lennon and GAMAK.

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    Fuck … left one out. Will fill in.

    I left out David Kitt. his new album is fantastic.

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    Vinny,

    that year is kind of an important year for in terms of musical immersion I’ve never quite come out of. Great list.

  • http://www.2bitmusic.com 2BiT

    Boxcutter? Captain Moonlight? Corrugated Tunnel? Twoc? Herv?
    Yep yer right…there’s just too many to choose from! The problem ain’t lack of good Irish music, it’s getting it out there! Step up the music biz svengali’s looking to expand the Irish scene off the island…

  • Mike 202s

    Ha, dropping the “the” from our name was the best thing we ever did!

  • http://www.brightsky.ie Paul

    Should have left it at 49 and let people fight out who deserved the last spot, now people like me are just going to moan that you left out certain acts :)

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    2 Bit I considered all of them (apart from Corrugated, not my thing) but as of this week, that’s what I’m most interested in RIGHT NOW.

    Mike – Alphabetical lists can work wonders for you.

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    paul, do it anyways! or make your own list!

  • pandemic

    good stuff..this list gives a much better appraisal of where Irish music is currently at..too many cooks in the irish times one

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    As ana example of who I left out. The Redneck Manifesto – they are recording a new album.

  • http://donewaiting.com duffy

    now you need your list of 50 irish acts to avoid… like that one band that was playing st paddy’s day in austin

  • jed

    am liking this list.

    still don’t get cathy davey, david kitt. all totally over rated / conservative.

    great to see cap pas cap, patrick kelleher, bats, halves on there.
    the real irish underground.

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    Cathy Davey is really good live. Though I’m not a huge fan of Silversleeve, I’ve seen her do a covers night of blues and jazz standards. Her voice is incredible. I’ve high hopes for her next one.

    David Kitt’s new album The nightsaver is great. Nice subtle electronic backbone to the whole thing.

    Duffy – I told you who they were. We don’t need the negativity!

  • http://www.2bitmusic.com 2BiT

    Ah yeh, just throwin in my 2c! Best thing about lists is the fightin over who got left off :D

  • http://diplah.wordpress.com/ Dip

    fair play, naill, i wouldn’t even dare. and alphabetically! crafty.

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    Dip, I did not have the time nor patience to rank them in order so yeh proper crafty :)

  • http://www.myspace.com/roadsignsofourage Tony

    I am WAY more into this list than the other one, by a mile….

  • JTM

    I’d throw Cowboy X and Sparks Fly in there personally, as well as a few others, but good to see John Shelly and The Creatures in there, definitely my tip for ’09

  • http://thosegeese.wordpress.com Karl

    This list is miles and miles better. I was going to say something about the order as well, but then I copped that it was alphabetical. Still a few overlooks… but some perceptive inclusions as well, so on the whole, Nialler9 > Irish Times. Print this in Day and Night.

  • Colin

    This is more like it! Good too see more of the unsigned category making an appearance here. Great too see someone is clued in with the more unknown Irish bands that do work incredibly hard.

  • Sharon

    There are a couple of WHO’s on this list (I will research though!!) but what happened to Jinx Lennon, Mick Flannery, The Flaws, Angel Pier, Halfset & The Lost Brothers???? Otherwise, sweet list!!

  • http://www.myspace.com/theholyromanarmy chris

    Cheers Niall! Really good list, looking fwd in particular to Patrick Kelleher’s album, saw him a few weeks ago and the new tunes sounded great.

  • dr.stu

    No salads ya cunt!

  • http://astonishingsodape.blogspot.com/ AstonishingSodApe

    Thanks very much Niall! Now I really need to pull up the socks, as they say. Genuinely mortified to be included on a list that doesn’t contain the legend that is Herv, but I’ll take it all the same…

  • http://toofamoustogetfullydressed.blogspot.com Dave

    @AstonishingSodApe: which one are you, if it’s not a stupid question?

    I do like this list a lot more than the Irish Times list: if that was a compromise list, this one takes account of everything that’s going on at the fringes. Adebisi, BATS, Halves, SEBP and the Infomatics are all acts I’d have liked to see on the Ticket list.

  • http://www.psychonavigation.com/ninelivescauseway.html Keith Downey

    All the ’50 best irish Music acts’ lists I’ve seen today have mostly consisted of indie bands so from an electro / Ambient side of things I’d like to suggest Ciaran Byrne aka Adeyhawke, Roger Doyle,fovea Hex,Neosupervital, Sie Schroeder,Matthew Devereux to name a few. Lie down and be counted :)

  • http://www.2uibestow.blogspot.com Peter N

    Great list here and fair play to the ticket as it creates decent discussion and I’m sure helped with paper sales today. I’m a tad baffled by the omission of Angel Pier, Butterfly Explosion, A Lazarus Soul and Martin Finke. Great to see One Day International in your list who were on top form this evening in Whelans.

  • Colm Ó Colm

    luka bloom(newbridge!), david holmes, Boxcutter

  • http://astonishingsodape.blogspot.com/ AstonishingSodApe

    @Dave: number 18.

  • http://www.theworldinapapercup.blogspot.com Emma

    I was just thinking that I needed to reup my Irish band watch. Many thanks!

  • fernando torresss

    Tralee’s best band are called Philtre.

  • http://thebubbleboy.blogspot.com Joey

    David Kitt should be bumped to make way for Ugly Megan.

  • UnaRocks

    I’d lash in Howl, Ugly Megan, Julie Feeney (new album is meant to be genius) Ed Devane and a few more I can’t think of because I’m hungover. and of course my new most amazing band of all times in the universe etc Wolfie (because I’m in it.)

    Good list though.

    Surprised Boners didn’t make the Ticket list.

  • http://cal-tv.net Cal

    Odd that John Daly made neither list…..

  • himself

    THE GORGEOUS COLOURS….

  • Macca

    Fuckin Rubber Bandits are daycent.

  • http://welldonefillet.blogspot.com/ manuel

    try some of this….. http://www.myspace.com/rgshiels

    “Robyn’s new album is just breathtaking. It’s a really moving piece of work.”
    David Holmes

  • jonesy

    Great to see the rubber bandits in there, and thank you Nialler 9 for introducing them to me [from what I can see I don't think the mainstream journo s are even aware of them so Thumbs up on your part for spotting, where did you find them first if you dont mind me asking]. I ve seen them live twice now and the second one was even better than the first which I thought was a cracker. Everything I ve found by them on the net either pranks or calls has something special going on.

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    Mike from the Bonus Party got me into the Rubberbandits. So now, they’ll be supporting them at their album launch next month.

  • http://pintofunspecific.blogspot.com rdlp715

    Whats the criteria really? Im sure few of them havent released more than an EP?

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    No criteria other than Irish and existing in a live or recorded entitiy in the last year or so . Sure what else do you need?

  • http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com Ronan
  • Graham

    No Land Lovers? See they have a new EP ready to drop. They killed it at that IMRO gig.

  • http://naymca@gmail.com Nay

    *salutes* fair play Nialler, this is why you’re a bastion of the fringe. Some good names, a few i don’t know, some I don’t agree with – Holy Roman Army are bloody boring. But they have a new album and I’ll givem a second chance when that’s ready for hearing.

    I tried to stay out of it myself but relented in the end. Except I couldn’t stop at 50.
    They’re here:
    http://wordpress.hotpress.com/offherrocker/2009/03/06/the-least-important-post-ever/#comment-5356

  • Vinny

    @ Niall re 1997 list. Too true! A formative year for many folk! But objectively still a whopper of a year for long lasting releases. Great list on new irish, some nice new stuff to check out. Cheers.

  • Ed

    Great list, love 99% of the acts there but very surprised to see who you have @
    no. 50……….terrible band

  • d OO bs

    Lists are gay. Seriously, like.

  • db

    we should be dead? walter mitty and the realists? fox jaw bounty hunters? last days of death country? rest? ten past seven? seriously yous are missing some quality names from the south there people

  • http://musicroad.blogspot.com Kerry Dexter

    Niall,
    I see I am going to have to get to work on my own list, which will be mostly trad…

  • unbiased

    i dont know where you’ve been fr the last couple years, but theres a band called the answer who are on tour with a little known band called ac/dc who thought they were the best act to bring on tour, and here you are not avin them in the best 50 irish acts when ther one of the best in the world lol i just find that hilarious lol they are by far in my opinion the best and most talented band to come out of the country for at least 10 yrs, and fr the independent to ave them at 86th was also a disgrace, sorry but this fact alone destroys ur list

  • http://www.nialler9.com Niall

    Unbiased, The Answer are not on my list cos I don’t like them, OK? Thanks.

  • AstonishingSodApe

    The Answer are so horrible their music has toppled special schools

  • Jellyman

    lol.. i’m sure they’ve created a few *special* people too!!

    really lovely stuff out on slow loris as usual..

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  • http://www.myspace.com/trainstheband Harry

    Great list. some great bands out there now. surprised not to see enemies up there though. its understandable why you dont have ten past seven, they havn’t really done much this year to be fair. savage band but just need to play more gigs than they did this year.

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