April, Dan McCabe, Emily O'Sullivan and Púca have been picked out as local finalists in the A New Local Hero national talent search - a key part of Irish Music Month which is set to kick off on 21 stations across Ireland on September 1st.

As one of the central features of Irish Music Month, A New Local Hero is a major call to arms for Irish musicians and bands – with all 21 participating radio stations having reached out for submissions in recent months. The excitement is rising, with a slew of announcements arriving over the next few days. Each of the acts selected by the stations will perform and be interviewed on their local station, with one act from each station going forward onto the long-list of contenders for the national A New Local Hero award.

Launched in 2021, Irish Music Month is an initiative of Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, and is funded by Coimisiún na Meán.

What Irish Music Month means, across participating independent stations, is:

– More Irish music song plays

– More Irish music artist mentions

– More Irish music features

– More Irish artist gig pushes

– More Irish artist interviews

And – what's more – we'll be putting over €100,000 into the hands of music makers and their crews across the country too.

Without further ado, let's meet KFM's shortlisted artists...

Dan McCabe:

Coming from a long line of folk musicians, the enviable highlight of this singer's hitherto exciting career came during NYE 2020,  when he performed 'The Parting Glass' at Áras an Uachtaráin by request of President Michael D Higgins. It's either that, or his appearance on The Sunday Game, when he delivered a version of Luke Kelly's 'Song for Ireland' as a tribute to healthcare workers battling the Covid-19 pandemic. Either way, McCabe has got a seriously impressive résumé. Once you here his high-powered, folk-tailored voice, it's no secret as to why.​

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Dan McCabe (Photo danmccabe-music.com).

April:

Inspired by the wave of 2010s DIY acts like Gus Dapperton, Clairo and Kojaque, Kilcullen native April Lawlor is as indie as they come. Adept at self-producing lo-fi bedroom-pop bangers, she initially uploaded some tracks to Soundcloud for fun, before she quickly gained some attention and eventually moved to London. Angelic and ethereal, these are sad girl anthems which fans of artists like Phoebe Bridgers will feel right at home getting lost in.

Photo credit: Nicole Busch

Emily O'Sullivan:

This youngster first dipped her toes into the music industry through an adorable audition to Kildare's Next Superstar in 2021, with her rendition of Miley Cyrus' 'Wrecking Ball' booking her ticket in that year's final. Still frighteningly young, the singer has been evidently honing in on her craft in recent years, if her emotional, wise-beyond-her years number 'My Fairytale' is anything to go by.  The 2024 single wouldn't be out of place on Disney's next animated blockbuster soundtrack.

Púca:

Left-of-centre tunes with a darker, industrial edge, Kildare-born Colm Conlan introduced his own unique brand of Irish Funeral Pop earlier this year, with his debut single 'And I Gleam Along A Knife Edge'. A cattle farmer by day, the artist might be familiar to some as the keyboardist and backing vocalist to chart-topping sensation CMAT. Recently adopting the on-stage persona of Púca, he offers up a phantom-like mix of dance music, folk and pop, and we can't get enough.

Puca.

Irish Music Month is also supported by IMRO, RAAP, Live Nation, Rubyworks and Camden Recording Studios.

See the full list of participating radio stations below:

Clare FM
Classic Hits
Cork's 96FM
East Coast FM
FM104
Galway Bay Fm
Highland Radio
KCLR
KFM
Limerick Live 95FM
LMFM
Midlands 103
MidWest Radio
Northern Sound
Ocean FM
Radio Kerry
Radio Nova
Shannonside
South-East Radio
Tipp FM
WLR FM

• Irish Music Month - Irish Radio Supporting Artists - in association with IBI, Hot Press & Coimisiún na Meán's Sound & Vision Scheme, funded by the Television License Fee.

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