Supporting Irish Musicians and Artists
- Music
- 21 Sep 26
Midlands 103: Java Light, Shane Dooley, Nathan Johnston and Jennie B chosen as the station's A New Local Hero finalists
With Irish Music Month underway, the good news continues to roll in for rising stars across the nation, with more than eighty artists being named as local finalists in the national search for A New Local Hero over the coming weeks. Here are Midlands 103's four picks: Java Light, Shane Dooley, Nathan Johnston and Jennie B.
Java Light, Shane Dooley, Nathan Johnston and Jennie B have been picked as Midlands 103'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.
Without further ado, here are Midlands 103's shortlisted artists...
Java Light
A five-piece alternative indie rock band, Java Light blends atmospheric indie textures with driving rhythms, melodic hooks, and haunting lyrics. Known for their tight, energetic live performances—including shows at Fred Zeppelin's and supporting artists like Heidi Curtis—the band released their debut single 'Solid Stone' in August, followed by their single 'Always Almost'.
Java LightShane Dooley
Hailing from Camross, Co Laois, Shane Dooley is a full-time singer-songwriter whose music spans folk, country, and rock. Drawing deeply from personal experience and mental health journeys, Shane crafts heartfelt, expressive songs—such as 'Brittle Bones', 'I Need You', and 'I’m Just a Ghost'—and regularly performs residencies across Dublin and Laois.
Shane DooleyNathan Johnston
A Mullingar-born crooner and storyteller, Nathan Johnston fuses blues grit, laid-back folk, and classic soul. Formerly performing as Sion Hill, he has collaborated with Hamburg’s 10-piece soul collective Angels of Libra (releasing the 2026 album Road to Mandalay) and continues to deliver raw, soulful solo material like his single 'Outlanders'.
Nathan Johnston. Credit: Meli EichlerJennie B
Originally from Glasson in Co Westmeath and now based in Los Angeles, Jennie B is a contemporary pop artist and performer known for her confident visuals, dance-driven energy, and powerful vocals. Blending modern pop production with strong storytelling and international influences, she brings a bold, high-fashion edge to her live shows and original releases.
Jennie B• 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.
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Irish Music Month is supported by IMRO, RAAP, Live Nation, Camden Recording Studios, Spéir Mix & Master, Ticketmaster and Square1
