In the new issue: Cover stars Mumford & Sons answer your questions in the Mixed Grill Interview

Summer is officially here – and we're already spoiled for choice when it comes to massive, world-class outdoor shows, in parks, stadiums and historical landmarks right across the country. Among the upcoming highlights are Mumford & Sons, who – still riding high on the success of their latest album, Prizefighter, released earlier this year – are gearing up for a major headline gig at Dublin's Marlay Park on July 5. To celebrate, we're bringing you a special Mixed Grill Interview, as our brand new cover story...

What makes this interview so unique is that every question was submitted by you: the readers and fans, who know Mumford & Sons' music better than anyone. Topics on the eclectic agenda include dream collaborations, the World Cup, who'd play the band in a biopic, their favourite Irish artists and loads more...

Elsewhere in the new issue:

Ahead of his 11th album, Holywell, Damien Dempsey talks to Jess Murray about singing as Gaeilge, Miriam Margolyes, the power of a singsong, and Sinéad O'Connor.

Maggie O’Farrell talks to Paul Nolan about her compelling new historical novel Land, and the hugely acclaimed film adaptation of her novel Hamnet, which famously landed Jesse Buckley Best Actress at this year’s Oscars.

Currently flying solo and Kilkenny bound for a headline summer show, Matt Berninger talks to Stuart Clark about the Disunited States of America, Kneecap and when he might be returning to his day job with The National.

Ahead of her Electric Picnic debut, BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026 winner Skye Newman has unveiled her powerful new project, SE9 Part 2. In between sold-out shows in Dublin, she talks authenticity, her "bestie" Aaron Rowe, and sharing painful personal stories in her music.

Copyright Maizy Kharrazian-www.hotpress.com

Wexford-raised, Berlin-based Wallis Bird discusses how the loss of a close friend culminated in her most important album to date, I Can See Your House From Here.

Comic and social media phenomenon, Garron Noone, discusses charity work in East Africa, supporting Westlife and Robbie Williams, his debut single, and covering Shane MacGowan.

Sligo-born and Tallaght-raised, Dublin representative Suad Mooge is among the favourites to win this year’s Rose Of Tralee. She talks entrepreneurship, sport, music, fashion, her Somali heritage and ignoring racist trolls with Stuart Clark.

As fantasy hit House Of The Dragon returns for an exhilarating third season, we meet stars Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy and Steve Toussaint.

Matt Smith in House Of The Dragon, Season 3. Photograph by Theo Whiteman/HBO

Irish director John Carney tells us about his new musical comedy Power Ballad, his youthful desire for success, and his relationship with his Oscar-winning hit Once.

From co-creating and co-starring in the wonderfully weird, era-defining Broad City, to calling out authoritarianism and human rights violations on her new It’s Open podcast, Ilana Glazer’s career has been anything but predictable. Ahead of her first ever Irish stand-up shows, she talks AOC, Palestine, Joanne McNally, her Broadway debut, and living through this “anti-human, techno-fascist moment in the United States.”

As he releases his latest novel, John Of John, Douglas Stuart talks forbidden love, bible-bashing, knitted erections, acid house, The Smiths, Oprah Winfrey, Dua Lipa and CMAT...

In a special op-ed, Oisín O’Reilly – the Chief Executive Officer of Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre and the Chairperson of the Irish Refugee Council – writes that, in an international climate where LGBTQ+ rights are under attack from far-right movements, Ireland needs to continue working to deliver genuine equality.

You can also look forward to interviews with Dea Matrona, Child Of Prague, Nothing But Thieves, Shark School, Beta Da Silva, Goldbug, Disorder and more – as well as all the must-read reviews, previews and news...

So don't miss out! Copies of this action-packed new issue land in shops this week – and are available to order online below: