We’re in the second weekend of the new edition of the Hot Press Y&E Series, kicking off tonight with multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Daragh Daly!

Presented in conjunction with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the new series will feature an impressive total of 40 exclusive, intimate sets. You can watch Daly’s performance tonight, October 21, at 7pm, streamed live on the Hot Press Instagram.

Since his first encounter with his granddad’s guitar, the now-21-year-old Co. Meath artist has established himself as a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who isn’t afraid to break beyond the confines of genre. As well as being crowned a regional winner in the A New Local Hero talent show earlier this year, he garnered impressive radio and streaming attention for his debut single, ‘On My Own.’

The self-taught multi-instrumentalist has zero qualms about crossing genre boundaries; his influences range from folksy artists such as Noah Kahan to sombre pop the likes of Lewis Capaldi, to Joy Division's more obscure post-punk new wave. His recent releases ‘Falling’ and ‘Wait Up’ are repeat-worthy tunes that promise a hopeful future for the rising Irish artist!

Watch Daragh Daly on the Hot Press Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media – live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) at 7pm tonight.

Coming up in October…

Sunday 22nd: Melina Malone
Following collaborations with Mango x Mathman, Zaska, Irish Women In Harmony, Booka Brass and more, the Irish-Greek artist has earned her reputation as one of the country's most thrilling forces in R&B. She lands on the Y&E Series fresh from the release of her long awaited debut album, Aphrodite, which put a fascinatingly fresh spin on the role of women in Greek mythology.

Monday 23rd: Kayleigh Noble
Dublin’s ‘pop princess’ will grace the Y&E series as she prepares to release her debut album, Just a Girl. With a recently sold-out headline show at Dublin’s Grand Social, and her ever-growing streaming audience, Noble’s future is luminous. The pop star’s debut – worked on almost exclusively by women – will narrate a layered story of dysfunctional love, marked by her vocal depth and lyrical prowess.

Tuesday 24th: Ispíní na hEireann
After honing their chops at some of the best trad and folk sessions in Dublin, the dazzlingly raucous group – who boast a massive online following – burst onto the scene in a big way last year, with the release of their debut album, the aptly-titled The Hard Working Men. They've maintained a socially-conscious stance on their latest single, 'The Mica'.

Wednesday 25th: Brinda Irani
Initially rising to prominence as a popular busker in Dublin, the teenage singer-songwriter cemented her status as a star-in-the-making with her stunning debut original single, ‘A Shadow’ last year – followed by a string of brilliant tracks in 2023. This year also saw her crowned one of the regional winners in the A New Local Hero talent search.