Top 50 Irish Acts in Ireland Today

Here's the top 50 acts in Ireland according to my humble tastes. The list acts as a guide to the recently released music which excites me at this moment in time. It excludes bands not currently working in Ireland or who have been dormant for some time. So in basic terms here's a list of bands to watch out for on a random night in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Dundalk etc ....

50. Heritage Centre  http://www.facebook.com/theheritagecentre
49. Seamus Fogarty http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seamus-Fogarty-Music/112030042201855
48. The Man Whom http://www.facebook.com/themanwhom
47. SJ McArdle http://www.facebook.com/sjmcardlemusic
46. Allie Bradley http://www.facebook.com/alliebrads
45. Drunken Boat http://www.facebook.com/drunkenboatie
44. Polly Barrett http://www.facebook.com/pages/Polly-Barrett-Music/108088589256392
43. The Manhattan Syndrome http://www.facebook.com/TheManhattanSyndrome
42. Aaron Shanley http://www.facebook.com/aaronshanley
41. Bouts  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bouts/275118665844806
40. Shannon http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannon/354158321282914
39. Preachers Son http://www.facebook.com/preacherssonofficial
38. Wicker Bones http://www.facebook.com/WickerBones
37. Pearse McGloughlin http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pearse-McGloughlin/153142284726895
36. Eric McGrath http://www.facebook.com/EricMcGrathMusica
35. Ghost Estates http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ghost-estates/143095429068791
34. The Henry Girls http://www.thehenrygirls.com
33. Rams Pocket Radio http://soundcloud.com/ramspocketradio/tracks
32. The Dirty 9s http://www.facebook.com/theDirty9s
31. The Crayon Set http://www.facebook.com/thecrayonset
30. Twin Terrace http://www.facebook.com/twinterrace
29. The Lost Brothers http://www.facebook.com/thelostbrothers
28. Little Green Cars http://www.facebook.com/littlegreencars
27. Fox E. & The Good Hands http://foxeandthegoodhands.com/
26. Valentine Black http://www.facebook.com/valentineblack
25. Youth Mass http://www.facebook.com/thisisyouthmass
24. Autumn Long http://www.facebook.com/Autumnlongmusic
23. Arrow in the Sky http://www.facebook.com/arrowinthesky
22. Storyfold http://www.facebook.com/storyfold
21. Senakah http://www.facebook.com/senakah.ireland
20. Fling http://www.facebook.com/Flingfolk
19. The Riot Tapes http://www.facebook.com/TheRiotTapes
18. The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock http://www.facebook.com/thespookofthethirteenthlock
17. We Cut Corners http://www.facebook.com/wecutcorners
16. Ham Sandwich http://www.hamsandwichmusic.com/
15. Sive http://www.facebook.com/siveband
14. Wallis Bird http://www.wallisbird.com/
13. Lisa Hanningan http://www.facebook.com/lisahannigan
12. A Plastic Rose http://www.facebook.com/aplasticrose
11. David Hope http://www.facebook.com/davehopemusic
10. The Gorgeous Colours https://www.facebook.com/TheGorgeousColours
9. Bona Fide Federation http://www.facebook.com/bonafidefederation
8. Junah http://www.junah.com/
7. Bill Coleman http://bcoleman.com/
6. The Young Folk http://www.facebook.com/TheYoungFolkMusic

5. Mossy Nolan http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mossy-Nolan/193571684009953?ref=ts

Mossy quietly released his self-titled debut album earlier this year. It's a wonderful album of folk classics and traditional compositions which is bursting with both charm and integrity.

4. Marc O'Reilly http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marc-OReilly/188928571123136

I'd rate Marc O'Reilly as the best guitarist in Ireland. Along with this fantastic talent he can also write a great song as evidenced on his fantastic debut album 'My Friend Marx' released in Ireland last year. Also I'm delighted to hear great things about Marc's career in the UK and Europe.








3. Jukebox Gypsy http://www.facebook.com/jukeboxgypsymusic

After two full albums, a live album and about six tours of Ireland Jukebox Gypsy are still relatively unknown in blogging media circles. However their Irish shows invariably sell out with their fanbase expanding mainly on 'Word of Mouth'! If it's tap dancing entertainment and good songs you want then Jukebox Gypsy is your band!







2. I Draw Slow http://www.facebook.com/idrawslow

On the band's facebook page it describes their sound as '.... rooted in the old time style of the Appalachian Mountains, drawing on Irish traditional music and modern Americana. However, this is a whole new songbook of stories and melodies.'

 'I Draw Slow' are such a great live band and they deserve to be headlining the biggest venues playing to as many people as possible.

Here's a recent clip of 'I Draw Slow' getting a lovely reception from the crowd at this year's Celtic Connections.




1. Ana Gog http://www.facebook.com/anagogmusic

Ana Gog released an EP a good few years back and have since been preparing their debut album which is apparently on the way in the coming weeks. Ana Gog's sound, to me anyway, is completely unique. The best way to describe it is that they are taking that 70's Genesis sound and re-inventing and updating it. The vocals are pitch perfect, the musicianship is top notch and their songs are inspirational. Best act in Ireland at the moment? Yes!