The fabulously named Trivium singer Matthew Kiichichaos Heafy has cheered us up enormously with his heavy metal thunder take on the Joe Exotic, er, classic, which soundtracked Netflix’s Tiger King. “Tell ’em that the tiger needs a little bit of love/ Let ’em run the jungle, let ’em roam their land,” he croons on the best animal song since ‘My Lovely Horse’. Like most things these days you’ll find it on YouTube.

Conor J. O'Brien took time out from recording the new Villagers album to perform this awesome online Ruby Session in support of the Simon Community. The numerous highlights include Wallis Bird Zooming in to play Dolly to Conor's Kenny. He's also inadvertently managed to spark a Twitter war between Little Mix fans and their Spice Girls counterparts, which dramatically unfolded last night on his timeline. Thank God the Bananarama Barmy Army didn't pile on as well...

Highlights from Tuesday’s @rubysessions Home show - watch and donate to @SimonCommunity if you can 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ruTzpn0Ojl

— Villagers (@wearevillagers) April 2, 2020

Congratulations to Lisa Lambe on the release today of Juniper, a stunning new collection of songs which spans from folk and Nashville to pop and Stevie Nicks-style gypsy rock. From Dublin, she studied acting at Trinity College and then went on to become part of the Celtic Woman phenomenon. Lisa's also played Sorcha in the stage version of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly's stage version of Ross O'Caroll Kelly's The Last Days Of The Celtic Tiger - and also appeared in TV shows like Bachelor's Walk and Legend . She's throwing an online launch party tonight at 8pm, which you're allowed to have a little look at between Hot Press Lockdown Sessions!

Jimi Cullen has premiered this alternate video for 'Keep Your Head Up My Friend', a standout from the renegade folk merchant's Life album which is really resonating with us at the moment.

A doff of the Hot Press headphones to Damian Poplawski who captures the eerie silence of Letterkenny in this brilliant short film, which also reminds us to stay the fuck at home!

The amount of amazing music being made on this island continues to amaze us. From Belfast with much love comes Dark Tropics whose 'Badlands' single has been on 'repeat' this afternoon in Hot Press' Meath bureau.

We were delighted yesterday to premiere the video for 'Blackbird', the new single from Donegal duo Blackbird & Crow who, in addition to a healthy Irish following, have really started to take off in continental Europe with Belgium and Germany two of their big markets. It's the accompaniment to one of the standouts from their recently released second album, Ailm, and showcases the talents of Irish graphic design artist and illustrator Steven Crane.

Mark Power and Ian Henderson, AKA Eden, have penned a gorgeous track encouraging us to be mindful of our mental health during lockdown. Sending the love right back to ya, lads!

Today we quietly release a new song “living room” that we recorded recently. It’s a song about mental health. Everybody look after yourselves. https://t.co/jj1YLsgvcK @nikkihayes @nbrez @GoldenPlec @Nialler9 @TotallyIrish98 pic.twitter.com/ZJFEn9n8Wa

— Eden (@eden1official) April 3, 2020

With his KCLRFM show temporarily on 'hold, Roddie Cleere has gone the rock 'n' roll podcast route with the highly enjoyable Talking Heads.

Talking Heads - A Podcast with Roddie Cleere - The Viral Sessions - EP3 - @dylancrampton Cramptonhttps://t.co/FKawhDVLBb@PlayIrish_com @hotpress @stuartclark66 #irishmusicparty #MyRock pic.twitter.com/9qLFim4tlT

— Roddie Cleere ☘️🇮🇪 (@AreYouRoddie) April 2, 2020

Over the past few days we've been increasingly asking ourselves, "What would Captain Mainwaring do in a situation like this?" To usher in the weekend, we present what is undoubtedly his finest Dad's Army hour.