Conor Kavanagh, RuntheRed, Wendy Godfrey and NIXER have been picked as LMFM's local finalists in the A New Local Hero national talent search - a key part of Irish Music Month which is taking place on 22 stations across Ireland.

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 22 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. Irish Music Month is also supported by IMRO, RAAP and Live Nation, along with Ticketmaster, Rubyworks, Camden Recording Studios and Spéir Mix and Master

The stations participating in Irish Music Month are: 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 FM, South East Radio, Sunshine FM, Tipp FM, and WLR FM.

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.

Now, let's meet LMFM's shortlisted artists...

Conor Kavanagh

Multi-instrumentalist Conor Kavanagh from Co Meath, Ireland, has been writing for some time and feels now is the time to unleash his songwriting talent onto the world, his songs tell tales of love and heartache with wry humour thrown in. Everything you hear on the tracks (drums, guitar, bass etc.), was all played by Conor Kavanagh, with recordings done in Jam Studios Kells Co Meath.

Conor Kavanagh

RuntheRed

RuntheRed are a six-piece indie band from Meath, Offaly and Dublin. They blend emotional songwriting with atmospheric and energetic live performances, combining alternative and indie influences with a touch of Irish character and a strong connection to their roots.The band are constantly pursuing a balance between raw emotion and energetic indie hooks, creating music that feels honest while still getting people moving.

RuntheRed

Wendy Godfrey

Wendy Godfrey is a recording artist, vocalist, songwriter, and performer from Drogheda.  Inispired by performers such as Beyonce, Micheal Jackson and the Clark Sisters, she has been singing and performing from the age of 7. The R&B/Afroswing artist launched into the pop scene in July 2020 with the release of her single ‘How Far’. She later released her debut EP, Purple Emotions, which features soulful vocals and vibrant contemporary melodies.

Wendy Godfrey

NIXER

Emerging from the dual cities of London and Dublin, NIXER is the electric collaboration led by Seán Keenan. It's a project born from isolation, now pulsing with the energy of the dancefloor. Blending the raw immediacy of post-punk with the synth-driven aesthetics of new wave and electro, NIXER crafts a sound that’s both nostalgic and forward-thinking, a unique brand of “Éire Wave” that is distinctly their own.

NIXER. Credit: Louis Blenkinsop

• Keep an eye on hotpress.com and listen to your local participating station for more news on Irish Music Month, A New Local Hero and the Irish song competition, Amhrán na Laoch.