Eugene McGuiness launches debut album

The Early Listenings Of… is released on August 6 and has already won the support of BBC Radio One’s Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq.

The HP Newsdesk is particularly fond of lead single, ‘Monsters Under The Bed’, which is accompanied by a superb animated video. Sound-wise, we’re reminded of The Shins and – ask your dad – Spizz Oil.

The official launch takes place on August 6 in the London Social with, naturally, a Hot Press hack on hand to witness the shenanigans.

Also qualifying to play for Ireland is Wallis Bird, a German-based songstress who was born in Meath, grew up in Wexford, raised hell in Dublin and then moved with bandmate Aoife O’Sullivan to Stuttgart. Now signed internationally to Island, the 25-year-old releases her debut Spoons album next month.