Dream pop four-piece NewDad have released their debut album Madra on the Fair Youth/Atlantic label. The album, which follows previously released EPs Waves (2021) and Banshee (2022), is an 11-track record with highlights such as ‘Angel’, ‘In My Head’ and ‘Nightmares’. The band are currently on a sold-out tour across the UK and recently recorded a live session with BBC Radio 1 that can be heard here. 

Uilleann piper Leonard Barry has recently released a new album Littoral. Launched at Celtic Connections in Glasgow last month, the album includes sets of traditional tunes, compositions by Jackie Mollard and Paddy Kelly, and features guest musicians such as Shane McGowan (guitars), Seamie O’Dowd (bouzouki), Michael McGoldrick (flute) and Kevin Burke (fiddle). 

Singer-songwriter Niamh Regan has announced that her upcoming second album Come as You Are will be released on Faction Records in May 2024. The singer, whose debut Hemet won the 2020 RTÉ Choice Music Prize Album of the Year award, has also shared the first single from the new album, ‘Madonna’.  

The latest release on traditional music label Raelach Records is Keane Connolly McGorman by piper Pádraic Keane, fiddle player Aidan Connolly, flute player Fergus McGorman and bouzouki player and guitarist Ruairí McGorman. This debut release from the four-piece demonstrates influences from a range of styles including Sliabh Luachra, west Clare and Roscommon, and features tunes such as ‘Tír na Flúirse’ composed by piper Peter Browne and Nicky McAuliffe’s ‘Athnuachán Dónal’.

Other new records include cellist Ailbhe McDonagh’s major album on the Steinway & Sons label featuring Bach’s complete suites for solo cello – the first recording of Bach’s complete suites by an Irish cellist. Folk band Ispíní na hÉireann have also released a new EP Worse Things Than Dying, which includes ‘The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ and Richard Thompson’s ‘Beeswing’; singer-songwriter Megan Nic Ruairí has released a new EP Made of Sin; and Dublin four-piece Sprints last month released their debut album Letter to Self on the City Slang label – highlights include ‘Shadow of a Doubt’ and ‘Heavy’. 

Clare singer Susan Quirke and producer Enda Gallery have collaborated on a new track ‘Ó a Bhríd – Ode to Brigid’ marking St Brigid’s Day; HousePlants – the duo of Paul Noonan and Daithí – have announced that their second album will be released later this year and have shared its first single ‘No Pushover’; indie band Pillow Queens have shared a new single ‘Gone’ and announced that their third album Name Your Sorrow will be released in April; and singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow has announced his signing to Nettwerk Music Group and shared a new song ‘Stay Cool’.

Other new singles include ‘Elvis is Alive’ by alt-pop band The Crayon Set; singer-songwriter Anna Mieke’s latest release ‘Red Sun (Live)’ – a new arrangement of the song from her 2022 album Theatre; rapper JYellowL has released ‘Judas’, featuring singer Toshín; and cellist and singer Naomi Berrill, who is currently on tour across Ireland, has shared a new single ‘Heron’, with an accompanying music video, taken from her 2023 album Inish. 

Listen to a playlist of all recent releases below. To submit your release, email newreleases [at] journalofmusic.com.

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