Ireland Music Week 2019 Plec Picks

50 acts will play live showcases at Ireland Music Week around Dublin this weekend.

The shows will take place in The Workman’s Club, The Button Factory, The Grand Social and Lost Lane on Friday and Saturday night.

We’ve selected some of the best acts playing Ireland Music Week showcases this weekend for your consideration.

Thumper

These noise merchants return to Ireland Music Week following a summer that saw them headline Knockanstockan for the first time. With a debut album on the horizon things look set to take off for Thumper in 2020.

Thumper at The Workman’s – Friday at 11pm

Somebody’s Child

Somebody’s Child are set for big things having caused a record industry bidding war for their signatures in 2019.

Somebody’s Child at Lost Lane – Friday, 8:15pm

Elm

After some line-up changes Elm are back and ready to take on the world with their infectious melodies in 2020.

Elm at Lost Lane – Friday, 12pm

Ailbhe Reddy

Ailbhe Reddy has been steadily building up her reputation as one of Ireland’s most promising singer-songwriters. Recent collaborations with Daithi and Sacred Animals have showcased her vocal prowess. 2020 should solidify that reputation with the release of her long-awaited debut album

Ailbhe Reddy at The Button Factory – Friday, 10pm

Rushes

West Cork R’N’B practitioner Rushes has been brewing up a storm with his Diffusion Labs produced EP ‘Glimpse’ with the likes of Soule and Jafaris as labelmates there’s only one way for Rushes to go. And that’s up.

Rushes At The Grand Social Loft – Friday 9:30pm

JyellowL

Newbridge rapper Jean-Luc Adenrele Ibrahim Koko Uddoh aka JyellowL has just finished studying politics at UCD and is ready to start making strides in the UK & Ireland music scene. JyellowL was a Pleck Pick act for 2019 and was selected for 2FM Rising 2019 and can be currently be heard on the soundtrack for FIFA 2020.

JyellowL at The Grand Social Loft – Friday 11:30pm

April

Put simply, April is one of the Irish musical finds of 2019. Her debut single Know Too Well stopped us in our tracks.

April at The Grand Social Ballroom – Friday, 9pm

Uly

Uly aka Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist Rafino Murphy has successfully collaborated with some of Ireland’s finest acts, such as Nealo and INNRSPACE. Murphy has been releasing music under the moniker of Uly since 2018 and has struck a cord with his lo-fi bedroom beats and dreamy sounscapes.

Uly at The Grand Social Ballroom – Friday, 11pm

Touts

Derry punks Touts channel the spirit of Stiff Little Fingers and The Jam. They are without a doubt the most experienced act on the line-up having opened for the likes of Paul Weller and Liam Gallagher and sold-out their own tour and hit the festival circuit with a vengence in 2019. The even received the blessing of Joe Strummer’s estate to write music for an unused set of lyrics.

Elkin

Ellen O’Mahony and Carla Ryan have impressed in 2019 with singles such as Green Eyes and their recent collaboration with 1000 Beasts Fall So Easy.

Elkin at Lost Lane – Saturday, 9:45pm

Sinead O Brien

It’s been a big year for Clare’s Sinead O Brien who signed to Chess Club Records in the UK. O’Brien is set to go on tour with whenyoung throughout the UK and Ireland.

Junior Brother

Junior Brother has set the Irish music scene alight with songs about being from the country and being hungover at mass. His vocal delivery divides opinion but there’s no doubting there’s something inherently fun about Junior Brother’s carefree approach.

Junior Brother at Lost Lane – Saturday, 12pm

Super Silly

Super Silly at The Button Factory – Saturday, 8:30pm

Alex Gough

Drummer/Producer/Rapper and member of the influential ‘Anomaly’ collective Alex Gough has been making waves in 2019. The Waterford man’s single Breakfast has over 340,000 streams and counting on Spotify since it’s release in February. Subsequent single Step To Me and 80% proving that Alex Gough is more than worth the tag one to watch.

Happyalone.

With over a million streams on Spotify to date Baxter Robot, Slee and Paperclip have been building up a reputation as one of Ireland’s most ferocious live acts. Tracks such as Colours show a pathway to potential international success.

Happyalone. at The Grand Social Ballroom – Saturday, 7pm

Maija Sofia

Galway singer-songwriter Maija Sofia is getting set to release her debut album following a sporadic string of singles including Stains. Sofia has appeared at major festivals across Ireland and the UK and supported Joan As Police Woman, Julien Baker, Stella Donnelly, and Adrian Crowley amongst others. Katie Kim and Lankum’s Radie Peat covered her track ‘The Wife of Michael Cleary’ at a special one-off concert in Pepper Canister Church.

Maija Sofia at The Grand Social Ballroom – Saturday, 12pm