Live Report: NewDad on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' Y&E Series

NewDad have rapidly established themselves as one of the most thrilling emerging acts in the country – and with a spectacular set on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' Y&E Series this weekend, their ascent to international stardom shows no signs of slowing down.

The Galway alt-rock quartet have already picked up lots of attention in the UK – with Jack Saunders and Steve Lamacq among their fans – and it's clear why. Bringing their expansive live sound to the intimate setting of the Y&E Series, NewDad kicked off their set with 'Drown', one of the standout tracks from their acclaimed debut EP, Waves, released last month. From that fast-paced track, they shifted gear as they launched into the hypnotising 'I Don't Recognise You' – which has clocked up nearly one million streams on Spotify.

The set, which perfectly captured NewDad's irresistible energy, also featured 'Slowly', 'How', 'Waves', and a breathtaking cover of The Cure's 'Just Like Heaven'.

Watch NewDad's performance on the Y&E Series below:

 

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NewDad play Ulster Sports Club, Belfast (November 8), Roisin Dubh, Galway (10) and The Workman's Club, Dublin (11). Revisit their recent interview with Hot Press here.

Take a look at our spectacular upcoming line-up for the new edition of the Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media – going live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) every night at 7.30pm:

Monday, April 12: BABYLAMB
Specialising in high-energy, dancefloor-friendly bubblegum pop, Babylamb are primed to go supernova over the next 12 months. The quartet of self-described "sad, fresh-faced queers" first announced their arrival as a captivating new presence in Irish music with their debut single 'Bodyright' in 2019 – followed by 2020's 'Icky', and their explosive synth-pop anthem 'Mister Magic' earlier this year.

Tuesday, April 13: THE ZEN ARCADE
Rising from the ashes of The Strypes, three former members of the Cavan crew have joined forces once again – with a new emphasis on doing things their own way. Having launched their own zine and podcast series, The Zen Arcade announced themselves as a very serious, smart new force in Irish music with the release of their debut, ‘Don’t Say A Word’, on their own label, Dental Records.

Wednesday, April 14: FINTAN MCKAHEY
A lo-fi indie singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer from Cork, Fintan McKahey has been releasing music since 2016, and playing support slots for the likes of The Scratch, Junior Brother and Róisín O. His debut EP God Games was released in 2019 to widespread critical acclaim, followed by his 2020 single 'Platinum' – which has clocked up nearly 135,000 streams on Spotify alone.

Thursday, April 15: NERVES
Formed in 2016, NERVES began playing DIY punk shows in their home counties of Mayo and Galway. Since relocating to Dublin for college, they have really hit their groove with an electrifying mix of noise-rock, post-rock and shoegaze – releasing their acclaimed single 'Time Trial' in 2020, followed by their Time Trial Remixes EP.