New Music

David Byrne kicking things off (with guest Hayley Williams) sets us up nicely ahead of the Talking Heads legend bringing his Who Is the Sky? tour back to Ireland in a fortnight’s time (Saint Anne’s Park, Dublin, 7th June). Gilla Band are back with Giraffe after a long silence, still doing the thing nobody else does. The Belair Lip Bombs appeared on my radar only recently thanks to an impressive KEXP session. St. Vincent keeps going bigger. Kristin Hersh has a new album incoming, and she’s coming to Ireland (and Cork) in October. Aja Monet closes it out on a completely different frequency.

Click on the player below to start the playlist.

Tour News

Gigs on the way:

• David Byrne: 7th June 2026 — St. Anne’s Park, Dublin (outdoor show, with Arlo Parks)
• Kristin Hersh — a whole run of Irish dates confirmed: 8 Oct — Spirit Store, Dundalk 9 Oct — Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo 10 Oct — Cleeres, Kilkenny 11 Oct — Skelper Quane’s, Kerry 12 Oct — Róisín Dubh, Galway 13 Oct — Cyprus Avenue, Cork
• Gilla Band — All Together Now festival, Curraghmore House, Portlaw, 31 July 2026.

See the Cork Gig Guide for more.

Like any of the above artists? Why not pencil in a reminder to pick up some merch the next time Bandcamp Friday comes around.

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post David Byrne, Gilla Band & Kristin Hersh Feature on Low Trees Playlist #778 appeared first on low trees.

New Music

Playlist 777 — lucky for some. Kneecap kick things off with Fenian, as Belfast’s finest continue their unstoppable run into arena and festival headliner territory. Have you heard that they’re coming to Cork? Death Cab for Cutie return with Punching the Flowers, the first taste of their new album I Built You A Tower — and they’re coming to Dublin in September, so worth noting. Cat Clyde brings some moody Canadiana with Dark Back, and The Love Buzz keep it loose with Freeloaded (Cool Kitten). The Last Dinner Party‘s Big Dog (On The Road) from From The Pyre is hot off the presses too. Laurie Shaw and Lemoncello both float through nicely, while The Messsthetics and James Brandon Lewisteam-up brings something altogether more angular to close things out.

Click on the player below to start the playlist.

Tour News

Gigs on the way:

• Kneecap — 6th July 2026, Live at the Marquee, Cork (on-sale today)
• Death Cab for Cutie — 16th & 17th September 2026, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
• Lemoncello – 23rd September, Cyprus Avenue Cork and more Irish dates

See the Cork Gig Guide for more.

Like any of the above artists? Why not pencil in a reminder to pick up some merch the next time Bandcamp Friday comes around.

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post Kneecap, Death Cab For Cutie, The Love Buzz — low trees playlist #777 appeared first on low trees.

New Music

This week opens with the first new music from the inimitable Beck in quite some time — his first release since 2023 (I think). Ride Lonesome sits in the same quiet(er) corner as Sea Change and Morning Phase. Man/Woman/Chainsaw are on there too with Nosedive — the lead single from their debut album Cannonball, out 7th August on Fiction Records. I caught them last summer at End of the Road, where they played the Piano Stage secret session — squeezed in right after their afternoon set in the Big Top, finishing with a ludicrously wonderful cover of Lola Young’s Conceited. Jana Horn‘s Come On, new music from Modest Mouse, Die Spitz, Swapmeet, Mikaela Davis and DIVIL‘s Thanks A Million round things out — fanning from the tender to the wired.

Click on the player below to start the playlist.

Tour News

Gigs on the way:

• Man/Woman/Chainsaw play Whelan’s, Dublin Sun 20 September. Tickets from whelanslive.com.

See the Cork Gig Guide for more.

Like any of the above artists? Why not pencil in a reminder to pick up some merch the next time Bandcamp Friday comes around.

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Beck and more — low trees playlist #776 appeared first on low trees.

New Music

Playlist #775 opens with deary‘s Alma — it’s a track from their debut album Birding, which just dropped earlier this month on Bella Union. A big surprise this week is the unexpected but very welcome collaboration between Massive Attack and Tom Waits. Champions Bore Me from Gurry Wurry is on there too, sitting nicely alongside Juha Mäki-Patola and a new track from the formidable Fatoumata Diawara. Rounding things out: Panic Shack‘s Pockets, Work Money Death‘s sprawling A Portal To Here – Sometimes It’s Death, and Body Type. Welcome to the week.

Tour News

Gigs on the way:

• deary play The Button Factory, Dublin on 9th May appearing as special guests for The Twilight Sad as part of their spring 2026 UK/EU tour. Tickets are on sale now.

See the Cork Gig Guide for more.

Like any of the above artists? Why not pencil in a reminder to pick up some merch the next time Bandcamp Friday comes around.

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post deary, Massive Attack/Tom Waits and more – Playlist #775 appeared first on low trees.

New Music

Welcome to another batch of new music via playlist #774. Eight tracks this week with a real thread running through — unhurried, a little cinematic. Alela Diane kicks things off with the new single In My Own Time. Kevin Morby‘s Die Young has me looking forward to the album in May. Aldous Harding doing her (very) own thing, Seamus Fogarty sounding like he found the song somewhere and just carried it home. Kim Gordon, Acolyte, Nerves — and closing with Avalon Emerson, who featured on the previous playlist, which was too long ago.

Tour News

Gigs on the way:

• Aldous Harding plays Vicar Street, Dublin on 5th June as part of her spring 2026 Ireland/UK tour. Tickets are on sale now.

See the Cork Gig Guide for more.

Like any of the above artists? Why not pencil in a reminder to pick up some merch the next time Bandcamp Friday comes around.

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post Alela Diane, Kevin Morby and more – Playlist #774 appeared first on low trees.

New Music from Khruangbin, Avalon Emerson, Geckos & more.

Welcome to another batch of new music in the package of playlist #773. Begin the week afresh with new music and videos from Avalon Emerson & the Charm, Khruangbin, Geckos, Ethel Cain, ZENA, faetooth, Dove Ellis, Áine Tyrrell on this week’s video playlist.

Click on the player below to start the playlist.

Tour News

The following gigs from the included artists are scheduled:

• Avalon Emerson: 22nd November, Fidelity Studio, Dublin
• Áine Tyrrell: 22nd November, Luke Kelly tribute, Doolin
• Faetooth: 1st February, The Pav, Cork
• Ethel Cain: 27th June, Fairview Park, Dublin

See the Cork Gig Guide for more.

Like any of the above artists? Why not pencil in a reminder to pick up some merch the next time Bandcamp Friday comes around.

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post Playlist #773: Listen to new music from Avalon Emerson, Khruangbin and more appeared first on low trees.

See Nubya Garcia’s Tiny Desk session.

Nubya Garcia schooled listeners with a recent Tiny Desk performance, the saxophonist and band leader wooing from the intimate confines of the now famous NPR series with a selection of tunes mostly taken from 2024’s wonderful Odyssey. The full setlist:

• Dawn
• Solstice
• Clarity
• Odyssey
• Triumphance

[Nubya Garcia] has the audience eating out of the palm of her hand.
Jazzwise Live Review

Watch the session using the player below.

Nubya Garcia plays Cork Jazz Festival 2025

At the height of the 2020 lockdown and intensely missing the cancelled Cork Jazz Festival, I pondered here over a set of perfect guests for the annual Cork celebration of jazz. The London musician featured not only for her solo work but also as part of drummer Jake Long’s Maisha. That’s how integral Garcia is to the current jazz moment. It was such a joy then to hear the announcement that Nubya Garcia will play this year’s festival, playing The Everyman on Saturday 26th October.

For tickets for Nubya Garcia at The Everyman Cork, see everymancork.com

For more on Nubya Garcia visit nubyagarcia.com

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post Watch Cork Jazz Festival Headliner Nubya Garcia in session for NPR Tiny Desk appeared first on low trees.

New Music from Wednesday, NewDad, Jeff Tweedy & more.

Wednesday photo by Graham Tolbert

Welcome to another batch of new music in the package of playlist #772. Begin the week afresh with new music and videos from Wednesday, NewDad, Jeff Tweedy, Flock of Dimes, Courtney Marie Andrews, Snooper, Rocket, TEKE::TEKE on this week’s video playlist.

Click on the player below to start the playlist.

Tour News

NewDad are set to play a number of dates in Ireland to promote the new record:

• 31st October 2025 (Friday) – 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
• 1st November 2025 (Saturday) – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
• 2nd November 2025 (Sunday) – Leisureland, Galway
• 4th November 2025 (Tuesday) – Mandela Hall, Belfast

See the Cork Gig Guide for more.

Like any of the above artists? Why not pencil in a reminder to pick up some merch the next time Bandcamp Friday comes around.

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post Playlist #772: Listen to New Music from Wednesday appeared first on low trees.

Muireann Bradley, Roy Harper, Zoé Basha, Mohammad Syfkhan and more tune up for the 2025 series of the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival.

Clonakilty International Guitar Festival 2025

Fret-shredding fans converge on West Cork this weekend as the 2025 edition of the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival takes hold. Featuring dozens of musicians across various locations, this year’s celebration of the axe takes place from Wednesday 17th September until Sunday 21st September.

Highlights include Muireann Bradley, Roy and Nick Harper, Zoé Basha, Mohammad Syfkhan and more but if unprepared better be quick as many of the concerts are already sold out. Particular shout-outs for Sean McKenna, founding member of The Mary Wallopers; Clon natives The Clagues; and Tennesse’s experimental adventurer Zoh Amba.

Session Trail

The primary headliners are all ticketed events, with many of the shows scheduled for legendary Clon venue De Barra’s. However, keep an eye out for the free music trail, designed as “a labyrinth of pure discovery”. For a full list of Clonakilty International Guitar Festival gigs, see clonguitarfest.com..

Clonakilty International Guitar Festival takes place across various locations in Clonakilty from Wednesday 17th September until Sunday 21st September.

For more see:

clonguitarfest.com

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post Road Trip to West Cork for the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival appeared first on low trees.

Turn Away is a reminder that The Altered Hours’ eponymous third album is incoming. Fast.

Don’t be fooled by the title; Turn Away is unflinching – a freight-train crashing straight through the listener’s living room and out the other side again, the fivesome’s engine room relentless, unstoppable.

Turn Away is the second single from The Altered Hours‘ upcoming studio album which is less than two weeks away. Early summer personal low trees playlists more often than not featured Lay There With You, the first listen to anything to feature on The Altered Hours, arriving on Pizza Pizza Records in late September.

Pre-order The Altered Hours now over on Bandcamp.

Update:
The Altered Hours release date has since been changed to 7th November.

Listen to Turn Away by The Altered Hours on the player below.
Or via external links here.

The Altered Hours is released via Bandcamp on 26th September 2025.

For more on The Altered Hours visit thealteredhours.bandcamp.com

Support low trees by becoming a patron: thegmanworld.substack.com

Based in Cork? Why not support your local record shop by picking a new record up from one of these great record shops?

The post Listen to Turn Away: The Altered Hours’ Second Single from New Album appeared first on low trees.