Lisa O'Neill signs to Rough Trade Records

Iconic London label Rough Trade Records have revealed their latest signee: Lisa O'Neill.

Today @lisaoneillmusic joins the Rough Trade family 💚

‘Raw and unvarnished folk for austere times. Uncompromising, stunning, soul-shaking stuff’ (★★★★★Guardian’s Folk Album of the Year) pic.twitter.com/wK8rkbnpMp

— RoughTradeRecs (@RoughTradeRecs) February 6, 2020

The Cavan artist took to Twitter to break the news, sharing an image of herself with the label's co-owners Geoff Travis and Jeanette Lee – noting that she and the label "opened a new bridge today between Cavan and London."

We opened a new bridge today between Cavan and London. I just signed a record deal with @RoughTradeRecs. Class! pic.twitter.com/e1TZAU28Ar

— Lisa O'Neill Music (@lisaoneillmusic) February 6, 2020

Her new label-mates Lankum were among those who shared their congratulations, joining Cáit O'Riordan, Junior Brother, Paul McLoone and John Francis Flynn.

The signing is a landmark move in Lisa's career. Since its founding 1978, the legendary label has been at the epicentre of some of the biggest movements in music – with a back catalogue that includes early punk classics, as well as era-defining records by The Smiths and The Strokes. Lisa joins Irish acts SOAK, Lankum and Girl Band at Rough Trade.

Lisa released her acclaimed, Choice Prize-nominated album,  Heard A Long Gone on Rough Trade's folk imprint River Lea back in 2018.

"It doesn't get more authentic than Lisa O'Neill, who seems genetically incapable of falsehood, fiction or affectation," Hot Press's John Walshe wrote in his review of the album. "A special talent indeed."

She joins some of Ireland's leading female artists, including SOAK, Radie Peat and Sorcha Richardson, at Imagining Ireland: Speaking Up, Sing Louder at the National Concert Hall, on Sunday, February 9.