It’s been another busy time in the Treaty City music-wise, and we don’t even mean the visit of a certain red haired gentleman.

Certainly one of the highlights is the release of ‘Kuti Gris’, the outstanding debut album from Limerick born Traveller, Willzee. Composed and produced by Matt Paull & Enda Gallery, it’s a deeply personal and powerful work, capped off with On Top, an absolute stomper of a tune which features Strange Boy, Hazey Haze and Jayne.

Also announced in the past week was the exciting long-term musical project between Noel Hogan the Grammy nominated guitarist, co-founder and songwriter with The Cranberries, and Brazilian singer Mell Peck, who following two years of a long-distance collaboration released their first single ‘Prison’ under the moniker The Puro.

Sinead O’Brien recently released her latest single There Are Good Times Coming, which is another taste from her debut album ‘Time Bend and Break The Bower’, which is out in early June on Chess Club Records.

And if that wasn’t enough quality music from Shannonside, there has also been a crackin’ single from dazzling new talent Abby Butler, and not one, but two fresh new tracks by Limerick/Ecuador combo silent vices. Later this month there’s the release of ‘Omphalos’, the brand new album from Headgear, which will be out on May 20th, preview tracks are available on Bandcamp now. Finally if you haven’t heard anything from Martian Subculture it is time to get yourself acquainted, his debut album ‘Bank Prologue’ is an absolute gem of lo-fi elctro psyche indie rock.

On the gigs front there’s plenty for every musical taste coming up.

Maria Kelly brings here delicately woven alt-folk to The Record Room this Friday night with support from local chanteuse Laura Duff, while the following night Junior Brother plays his biggest gig yet in Limerick when he headlines Dolans Warehouse.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, and boasting heavyweight beats then Pharmacia is the place for you as Club Dread hosts Limerick’s own living legend, the masked mixing maestro Naive Ted, who will be smashing out an epic drum’n’bass set backed-up by the Dread crew.

Future Limerick: Climate Arts Festival is a week long festival using art and creativity to engage the wider Limerick community on the issues of sustainability and climate change, and part of the festival line-up is a debut Limerick appearance for the The X Collective – a hybrid supergroup that pushes the boundaries of Ireland’s evolving sound in the Irish soul, hip-hop and jazz scene, who’s artists include Toshin, Mutant Vinyl, Tadgh and making her debut performance on the night Celaviedmai. They play Dolans on the May 19th, with support from Brick Nasty, and a DJ set by Jack Brolly. And if vulnerable but aggressive punk is your thing then The Commercial is the place to be as Vernon Jane are set to rip up The Record Room on May 20th, with Small Talk also on the bill.

Taking the stage in Dolan’s the following week is the massive talent that is SOAK, launching her third album ‘If I Never Know You Like This Again’ with a show on May 25th, a mesmerising live performer, this is a must-see show.

Looking a little later into the summer, Limerick will get to see Denise Chaila play her biggest headline show yet when she tops the bill at Live at the Castle this August, which of course follows her impressive performances wowing the crowds with the Narolane crew, when opening for Ed Sheeran at his series of Irish gigs.

That’s it for now but please hit John Loftus up if you have any Limerick music releases or gigs coming in the next month or so.