BLASTERBRA scaffolds a musical outfit sorely needed to rescue Missus Ireland’s droopy drawers: fronted by Anna McCarthy, the Galwegian quartet also consists of Evan O Connor, Stephen Folan and Colin Donohue. Kicking back to Indie’s golden Nineties of whine, women and song set to chunky guitar and endearingly bitchy drawls, Blasterbra sold out their first gig for good reason. Check out Quiet You and My Sweetheart The Punk on MySpace.

BLIND PILOTS don’t need to see how good they sound. The Dundalk quartet couple guitar-pop/rock with an indie jangle for strong, unaffected tunes.
Taking influence from the likes of The National, Whipping Boy and Bellx1, they recognise the recipes for electrifying material, which raises heads beyond the Northeast. A busy 2007 saw them play alongside The Blizzards, Delorentos, Vesta Varro, Hoarsebox, Star Little Thing, Dry County, at various dates in their local Spirit Store and beyond with the JD Set and the IMRO Showcase Tour.

THE DIRTY 9s began in a kitchen, playing to tired and emotional party goers. Based around songwriting partnership of singer Fergal Moloney and talents of guitarist Cian McCarthy, the pair went to school together but didn’t get to know each other until Cian spotted Fergal at an open mic in Maynooth Student Union Bar.
On acquiring Great Wall of Sound Studios for summer 2007, The Dirty 9s recorded the Can You Keep A Secret?’ EP (available for free download from their myspace page) and released to a sold-out crowd at the BoomBoomRoom in September.
On January 29th 2008 the band made their television debut appearing on TG4’s Deis Róc and despite a slagging from Kila’s Ronan O’Snodaigh in the early stages they went on to the finals, scooping the coveted prize on 25th March.

DISCONNECT 4’s drive / delay / dance-rock paved the way for phenomenal achievements last year: despite a lack of releases they made their way from Galway to numerous nationwide gigs alongside Irish behemoths Fight Like Apes, GiveAManAKick, Channel One and DarkRoomNotes. Crackling like pink neon on nylon, get over to MySpace for DISCOnnect4’s sleazed-up songs Running With Scissors and Say What You Said, both free to download for your sleazed-up pleasure.

FLOYD SOUL AND THE WOLF play as if our lives depend on it, if you believe reports round the campfire. Trends and fashions fade away from FS&TW in favour of pick-sick philosophy and plaid-rock, which led to an intoxicating performance at HardWorkingClassHeroes and the promise of more, new recordings of boozy hooks, bandanas and shandied bass. Close your eyes and stick your thumb out: Floyd and the Wolves will hitch you a helluva ride.

FUNZO’s not a band, it’s a fraternity, referring to people who helped make music over the years, in studio and stage, Funzo is frontzo by Liam McDermott, songwriting singer and percussionist pianist. His versatility is a glimpse into the overall diversity of the band, at which the official count is eighteen members. Get this list of inspriral influences: helped mould their sound: The Streets , Stevie Wonder, Simon and Garfunkel, Outkast, Queen and The Lovin’ Spoonful all had a hand in this eclectic collective’s sound.

HIGHWIRED are riding high on the crest of their recent success: debut EP Seem Familar? hit the racks in late 2007 and February’s new single All This Time weighed in at #5 in download charts. A polished number it is too, blending layered rock arrangements with confidence and maturity. Fronted by feisty female Stacy, Highwired hold all the aspects of a good garage band, proud of their hometown of Limerick and their place in Irish music, counting Aslan and Delorentos as great influences.

JEROME’S LAW lay down their own rules: exciting, groundbreaking rock borne of three years’ experience as a solid band carved a corner which is very much their own. No standard band, influences of Jerome’s Law range from XTC and Elliott Smith to Radiohead and The Kinks. Shane O’Neill’s detest for fellow bandmate Adam Fleming is also a driving source of motivation, coupled with the ingenuity of musical maestro Jerome Williams’ ivory-tinkling.
Spotted on an early performance on The Soundgate Gigs, the band were invited to take part in ‘Best Of The Garage Gigs’ nights at Whelans, Sugar Club and The Village, selected to appear on the forthcoming compilation ‘This Is Garageland’ alongside a host of breakthrough acts. About time, too, considering Jerome’s Law has been a simmering with intent since these students were in first class…

Ladydoll’s moniker is a misnomer:there’s nothing airheaded or fatuous in their arrangements. Based in Cork with a rapidly expanding fanbase, the instrumental five-piece strain every drop of juice from their strings and songs, charging through high-tempos to slow melodies and out the back door. Debut EP Wax Lyrical is out now at deadly little records shops near you.

PHILTRE accelerated into music with heady support slots to Republic of Loose, Delorentos,The Frank and Walters and Vesta Varro. Describing their sound as infectious, melodic rock, Philtre recorded an EP Bullet From Nowhere featuring One Step Ahead, a ballad so tender, you’ll want to swoon like a sixteen year-old. In distinct contrast, Took The Time, a rock-at-its-poppest roller, won them a place in Murphy’s Live 2007 tour and exclusive compilation album. Philtre are likened to The Stone Roses and Stereophonics and promise to bring swagger and charm to any crowd.

REASONS TO BE BEAUTIFUL blatantly cherrypick fine attributes of heroic rock to fuse their own sarcastic anthems. A self-titled debut EP sings of youth and broken promises with stonker track Koda’s Box a slab of drums and guitar-frenzy made to maul your heart. RTBB’s trio (Mark Comer, Darren Nestor and Connell McCole) recant equal measures of jaded experience and vitriol into pretty songs, just to swing your head.

SONUS “They talk of the music of the spheres! Dream of the the music of those living orbs turning on their axis for ever and ever, and singing as they shine…” Taken from Charles Robert Maturin’s epic tale of Melmoth the Wanderer, Sonus find their calling in the sounds beyond the world.
Comprising keys/guitars/bass/synths/percussion and vocals, Sonus describe a searching alternative-rock group from Cork city, weaving evocative atmosphere with accessible song-forms, a young band of thinking men’s music
Baptised in fire with a first gig supporting Channel One, Sonus plan a series of serious performances throughout and beyond Ireland in the coming months. The first official release by Sonus, entitled <-initial demonstration->, becomes available from from 26th March 2008. Keep them on your sonar…