Ireland Music Week, Ireland’s Official Music Showcase Festival and Conference, is taking place this week - from October 4 - 7. Spread across Lost Lane, Workman's Club, and The Grand Social - the week combines both hugely interesting media talks and gigs featuring emerging Irish artists.

The conference kicked off on Wednesday, with AIM talks throughout the day. AIM is the Irish Association of Independent Music and the Collective Voice of the Independent Music Industry in Ireland. The day featured panel discussions with Kneecap, Una Mullally, Robert Grace, and more.

Yesterday, October 6, saw discussions on streaming, touring the UK post-Brexit, publishing, approaching media, and so on. The gigs also kicked off last night with a plethora of phenomenal Irish acts playing across the three venues.

Tonight's timetable sees more incredible performances hit the IMW stages.

Ahead of their performances this evening, Hot Press chatted to some of the emerging artists taking part in 2022's Ireland Music Week.

Negro Impacto supporting Aby Coulibaly at The Sound House. 21st of April 2022. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Negro Impacto:

The Dundalk duo Chi Chi and Laurence, AKA Strangelove, have taken the Irish scene by storm, opening for the likes of Aby Coulibaly and Denise Chaila over the last year. Having released their first 5-track EP in 2021, the two have earned their way onto the IMW stage - no doubt promising an excellent show.

Q: What acts are you most looking forward to seeing at Ireland Music Week?
A: There’s quite a few but priorities for us are definitely Bricknasty, Chris Wong, Sweet Lemondae and Skinner!

Q: Will you take this as an opportunity to see bands you haven’t heard of before?
A: For sure, you always see them about gigging or at festivals but sometimes they conflict with time, so, it’s nice to be somewhere you can see so many at once! Gurriers, Bullet Girl and Banríon are some we’ll definitely be seeing!

Q: Are you looking forward to taking part? How did you get involved?
A: Yeah, it’s an opportunity we’re quite fortunate to have, especially for independent artists like ourselves who may find the industry a bit daunting and puzzling to navigate. It’s something we were made aware of as soon as we decided to pursue music as Negro Impacto and we’re glad we’re able to be part of it.

Q: Have you attended any of the talks/conference? What are you looking forward to from these events?
A: We’ve attended the majority of them! Each one being equally as worthwhile in the knowledge you’re given. We particularly found the talks speaking on approaching Irish and International media outlets quite useful.

Q: What can attendees expect from your gig?
A: You can expect the greatest and potentially the best show you’ll ever see on a Friday in the Workman’s Cellar at 7.40 PM!!! Pull up!!!

Laura Duff supporting Rowan at Whelan's. Friday 6th of May 2022. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Laura Duff:

Laura Duff is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Limerick, who has previously been selected as the Paul Clancy Songwriter of the Year at 2015’s Irish Youth Music Awards, and as Circuit Festival’s Music Project Awardee and Arts Council Agility Awardee more recently, in 2021. Duff was also selected as the recipient of Limerick City and County Council’s Dolores O’Riordan Music Bursary in 2021. Boasting a special brand of alternative indie-pop, the singer is joined by musicians and friends: JJ Lee on bass, Chris O’Sullivan on drums, and Jack Hussey on guitar.

Q: What acts are you most looking forward to seeing at Ireland Music Week?
A: I’m feeling very grateful to be sharing the IMW 2022 line up with some friends of ours. I’m looking forward to Of All Living Things, Seba Safe and Banríon. Also hoping to catch Aoife Wolf and Really Good Time - there’s so many great acts, and too many clashes! A good complaint of course.

Q: Will you take this as an opportunity to see bands you haven’t heard of before?
A: Yeah for sure. There are some I’ve been recommended to check out that I haven’t heard of before, I’m really excited for those!

Q: Are you looking forward to taking part? How did you get involved?
A: Yeah I’m really looking forward to our showcase, it feels like a long build up to it all week - and we were so thrilled to be selected and one of the 50 showcasing acts this year.

Q: Have you attended any of the talks/conference? What are you looking forward to from these events?
A: I have yes. A lot of them were really helpful and informative. We’re writing and recording our debut album at the moment, so hearing from industry Irish and International professionals around PR, media, touring, festivals, and more has been really motivating.

Q: What can attendees expect from your gig/showcase?
A: Some new material from our upcoming album, and some older stuff. Our Workman’s Cellar gig this year was my favourite gig yet so I’m excited to play another Dublin show - and hope to meet some new faces/friends! We play The Grand Social Ballroom on Friday at 8.15pm.

Banríon by Niamh Barry.

Banríon:

Dublin indie-rockers Banríon features singer/songwriter and guitarist Róisín Ní Haicéid, bassist John Harding, guitarist Robbie Stickland and drummer Cian Rellis. The quartet boast a series of entrancing head-bangers, with dreamy melodies and incredibly raw lyrics. The group have grown incredibly since their 2020 EP airport dads, now preparing for the release of their forthcoming EP dare to crush. Great craic and great tunes can be expected from their set at IMW.

Q: What acts are you most looking forward to seeing at Ireland Music Week?
A: Excited to see some of our friends like Issac Jones, Laura Duff, Grave Goods, Sky Atlas, Skinner and Pretty Happy!

Q: Will you take this as an opportunity to see bands you haven’t heard of before?
A: Definitely! There are some acts we haven't seen in person yet but are dying to see like Laura Duff and the Scratch!

Q: Are you looking forward to taking part? How did you get involved?
A: We applied through first music contact's website breaking tunes and we're lucky enough to be chosen to attend.

Q: Have you attended any of the talks/conference? What are you looking forward to from these events?
A: We have been to a few interesting talks but the best bit about the showcase so far has been just meeting other artists and talking to them. The real highlight was the free bar though!

Q: What can attendees expect from your gig/showcase?
A: We will be rocking our new single 'fooling' along with some other new songs and our favourite older tracks!

Bobbi Arlo at We've Only Just Begun at Whelan's. Copyright Laura Klepeisz/hotpress.com

Bobbi Arlo:

One of Ireland's rising pop stars, Bobbi Arlo has been performing across a slew of festivals over the last few months, including Indiependence, Sea Sessions, Kaleidoscope, Dublin Pride, We've Only Just Begun, CAPPA FEST, and more. Pop-vibes and outstanding vocal ooze from this young singer. With a impressive amount of singles under her belt, we're excited to see what is to come from this incredibly talented musician.

Q: What acts are you most looking forward to seeing at Ireland Music Week?
A: I’m looking forward to seeing alot of artists. I’m a big fan of the lineup this year. Negro Impacto is an amazing act on and off stage. I’m looking forward to seeing EFÈ because we started out backing singing together and now we are playing events we only could have wished to do so that’s super dope! Pretty Happy are great too. Everyone is super talented and I’m honoured to be sharing stages with them this year.

Q: Will you take this as an opportunity to see bands you haven’t heard of before?
A: For sure. I love being introduced to new acts, especially in a live setting and Ireland Music Week is the perfect platform for that.

Q: Are you looking forward to taking part? How did you get involved?
A: I’m absolutely buzzing. It’s such a dope event to be part of as an independent artist. When the applications opened, I put the best application in that I could, and just hoped I’d get the call.

Q: Have you attended any of the talks/conference? What are you looking forward to from these events?
A: I have. You don’t usually get direct access to the industry people IMW bring together so I want to soak up as much knowledge as possible. I’m here to network and have a good time.

Q: What can attendees expect from your gig/showcase?
A: High energy alt pop songs. Lots of dancing and a bloody good time.

These wonderful acts are playing across the Ireland Music Week stages tonight. Check out the timetable below:

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