Hannah McGinn, Speakers, Ten Hail Marys and Yes Chef! have been selected 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 to musicians and bands across Ireland – with all 21 participating radio stations having reached out for submissions in recent months. The excitement is rising, with a slew of announcements expected 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.

So, without further ado, let's meet Radio Nova's shortlisted artists...

Hannah McGinn:

Drawing inspiration from Adrianne Lenker, Joni Mitchell and Lily Allen, 23-year-old Dubliner Hannah McGinn blends primal folk with modern-sounding indie to form a sound which is distinctly her own. Having cut her teeth with numerous gigs across the capital, she dropped her debut single 'Skin Deep' in June. It showcased some Phoebe Bridgers-style low-fi harmonies and delicate acoustic instrumentation, underlining the young singer's potential as a captivating songwriter and performer.

Hannah McGinn.

Yes Chef!:

Despite being separated by two hours on public transport, Yes Chef! have showed a staunch commitment to their genre-bending craft. Forming in late 2023, they've quickly expanded beyond the practice shed, with shows at Whelan's, the Grand Social and the Workman's Club Main Room under their belts. With rapturous live sets characterised by pop-rock melodies and ripping guitar solos, as well as a mysterious, monochrome image, they've got the look and energy to be more than worthy Local Hero nominees.

Screenshot: Yes Chef! on Instagram.

Ten Hail Marys:

Dark, airy and supernatural, this foursome are one of the most exciting alt-rock outfits emerging from the capital's unbelievably healthy guitar band scene. Championed by the likes of Whipping Boy's Paul Page, they also sold out their debut show in February 2023. This year, the've dropped the rockin', Wunderhorse-flavoured 'I Had A Dream' and have a collaboration with revered local rapper Curtisy lined up for October. Ones to keep an eye (and ear) on.

Ten Hail Marys.

Speakers:

With an eclectic sound rooted in the pop-punk glory days of bands like Blink-182, My Chemical Romance and Paramore, Speakers have performed across a plethora of Ireland’s most well-known stages, including Sea Sessions, since forming in 2020. Having shared their debut EP Endless Summer in 2023, latest single 'Cooler Talk' put their knack for witty social commentary on full blast. Artfully exploring the existential dread of dead-end jobs in your 20s, it's easy to see why the aficionados at Radio Nova have included them here.

SPEAKERS, Credit: Niamh Barry

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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