Junior Brother – No Country for Young Men
Alt-folk singer-songwriter Junior Brother has this week released a new single ‘No Country for Young Men’ on Strange Brew Records. The song, which was written about the hostile environment that Dublin and Ireland have become for young people, touches on themes of the housing crisis, evictions, and distrust in authority. ‘No Country for Young Men’ follows his debut album Pull the Right Rope (2019), which was nominated for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize, along with receiving two nominations at the RTÉ Folk Awards. Since then, he has collaborated with pop singer-songwriter CMAT on her 2020 single ‘Uncomfortable Christmas’ and will feature on the new TG4 series CUMASC: Seisiúin sa Black Gate. Commenting on the new track, Junior Brother said, ‘I wrote this song in response to the tangible feeling of dread and anxiety I felt across Dublin city during my first few months living there. Increasingly hostile and violent evictions, police complicity in such acts, the housing crisis in general, among other factors seemed to cultivate a distrust of authority, particularly in the youth of the country’. The video is directed by Emma Smith. Visit: https://juniorbrother.bandcamp.com/

Pauline Scanlon – The Bird in the Bush
‘The Bird in the Bush’ is the new release from traditional singer Pauline Scanlon. It will feature in her upcoming album The Unquiet, due for release on 8 April. The traditional song is layered with synths and cadenced percussion and also features musicians Nicola Joyce (harmony vocals), Graham Kearns (electric guitar), Chris Pemberton (keyboards and synths) John Reynolds (drums) and Clare Kenny (bass). Commenting on the song, Scanlon said: ‘”The Bird in the Bush:” is a traditional song of female sensuality. Folk and traditional songs of female sexuality frequently have grave consequences for the women contained within them. I wanted to sing with freedom and agency and “The Bird In The Bush” embodies that energy so succinctly… It is light, sensual and unapologetic, with agency and ownership.’ The song is accompanied by a music video directed by Laura Sheeran and starring dancer Siobhán Manson. The upcoming album includes traditional songs such as ‘The Well Below the Valley-O’, ‘As I Roved Out’ and ‘Cé a Chuirfidh Tú Liom’. Pre-order the album on Bandcamp: https://paulinescanlon.bandcamp.com/album/the-unquie 

NewDad –  Banshee
Banshee is the new EP from Galway indie-pop four-piece NewDad, released this week on Fair Youth Records. The record follows the band’s debut EP Waves from March 2020 and includes previously released singles ‘Ladybird’ and ‘Say It’. The five-track EP has a more refined, richer sound than previous releases with lush instrumentation played by band members Julie Dawson, Sean O’Dowd, Fiachra Parslow and Áindle O’Beirn. Banshee was recorded and co-produced in Belfast with frequent collaborator Chris W Ryan (Just Mustard, Robocobra Quartet) and was mixed by John Congleton (Lana Del Rey, Phoebe Bridgers). Describing the EP, the band said ‘This EP is definitely bigger, having more time in the studio definitely meant we got to experiment more and layer more into each track so there’s an overall bigger sound! The main themes of this EP are restlessness and anxiety, during lockdown that’s how myself and most people were feeling so that’s what inspired a lot of the writing.’ Purchase Banshee on Bandcamp: https://newdadofficial.bandcamp.com/album/banshee-ep-3

Peter Knight and John Spiers – Both in a Tune
Both in a Tune is the second album from English folk duo fiddle and mandolin player Peter Knight and melodeon player John Spiers. The pair first performed together at what was intended as a ‘one-off’ concert at FolkEast festival in Suffolk in 2016 and later toured the UK together, releasing their debut album Well Met in 2018. Both in a Tune takes its name from a line in Shakespeare’s As You Like It and was produced by Knight and Spiers, featuring traditional tunes and new works such as ‘Scarborough Fair’ and ‘Yellow Haired Laddie’. Commenting on recording and performing with Spiers, Knight said: ‘With Both in a Tune I felt it was important to push the boundaries further, without forsaking the integrity of the tune itself. Combining my interest in folk music and free improvisation is not always easy, but I feel the endeavour is absolutely necessary for the world of music. It is probably more risky but I believe it’s a risk well worth taking.’ Knight and Spiers will showcase Both in a Tune on a 26-date UK tour between 23 Feb and 24 March 2022. Purchase the album: https://www.peterknight.net/shop/details/both-in-a-tune 

Pádraig Rynne – Begin with the end in mind
Begin with the end in mind is the first solo album in 17 years from Clare concertina player Pádraig Rynne, and follows his terrific duet album with Tara Breen, Nasc, in 2021. Begin with the end in mind is a mixture of traditional tunes such as ‘McKenna’s Reel’ and ‘The Caoilte mountains’ and new compositions by Rynne such as ‘The snowy hills of Caherea’ and ‘The five pillars’, as well as tunes by John Dwyer and Joe Liddy. He is joined by Conal O’Kane on guitars, Ewen Vernal on electric and double bass, Jarlath Henderson on uilleann pipes, and more. Rynne’s tune ‘The humours of Pinot’ is particularly inventive and flows nicely into another of his compositions, ‘A winning season’. The playing throughout the album has all of Rynne’s characteristic pulsating rhythm and drive. Purchase Begin with the end in mind on Bandcamp: https://padraigrynne.bandcamp.com/album/begin-with-the-end-in-mind

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