Avery Grace
Avery Grace has carved out a niche within Dublin’s music scene through evocative folk melodies and incisive songwriting. She released her debut album, Analisa, last year. She says it serves as a time capsule through which she can “look back at Avery in high school and [her] first year of college”. Written in her room in Dublin, the record’s standouts, like the melancholy title track and acoustic song Distance, evoke a sense of quiet tragedy. Originally from Connecticut, where she played bass in a band called Waiting on Mom, Avery first drew acclaim busking on Grafton St. There, she blended original music with covers of folk icons like Joni Mitchell to Phoebe Bridgers, inspirational artists that she believes “would be doing an injustice to themselves if they didn’t write”.
That talent for reimagining these songs is particularly striking in her cover of Better Oblivion Community Center’s Didn’t Know What I Was In For. Though she only began songwriting four years ago, Avery’s voice carries a palpable sense of yearning and maturity. Her lyricism weaves a tapestry that dances delicately between heartache and reflection. Such raw sincerity might seem clichéd in the hands of a lesser artist, but Avery excels at striking an emotional chord with her audience. Inspired by the recording process of folk legend Elliott Smith, her music possesses a distinctive atmospheric quality that feels deeply personal. Her latest single, Breath on Me, further expands her soundscape, introducing her banjo and the slide guitar of Chris Vitarello. Avery continues to perform around Dublin, dedicated to the live performances that “bring her so much joy”.
a.m. Camden
a.m. Camden bring a distinctive flair to the Dublin indie rock scene. Comprising guitarists Rory Luff and Christian Gribben, vocalist Stephen Wong, and drummer Nick Kelly, the quartet arrived on the scene following the release of their first single, Rose, last September. Recorded at the iconic Windmill Lane studio, the track crackles with a brilliant urgency and energy, exhibiting the band’s post-punk roots. Within their wider repertoire, a wonderfully dark edge emerges. This is particularly striking on the haunting Empty Tank. Influenced by the sonic direction of bands like Bloc Party and Slint, the track’s angst and intensity immerse the listener in their brooding world.
Beyond their original songwriting, the band has a talent for reimagining classics. Joy Division’s Disorder is perfectly suited to their brand of alternative rock, breathing new life into this anthem. Dublin remains at the core of the band’s identity. Their name itself captures the disorientating chaos of the early hours on Camden St, and they channel the chaotic energy of the city streets into their live performances. Having made their mark at The Sound House and Whelan’s Upstairs, a.m. Camden is becoming essential listening for those who prefer their indie rock with a hint of darkness and urban grit.
RECO
RECO are a four-piece alt-rock outfit delivering powerful tracks charged with electric energy. Composed of Harry Frost (vocals), Mark O’Loan (lead guitar), Dillon Palmer (rhythm guitar), and Paddy Dowling (drums), the band released their debut single, Lifeboat, in 2023. They followed that up a year later with the blistering Nutmeg, the lead single off their first EP. The group originally formed when a friend of Frost’s needed a live band for a 21st. In a 2023 interview with Radius, they revealed that their name was inspired by Rico’s, a kebab shop on Upper Camden Street.
Blending the punchy energy of Fontaines D.C. with the ambient textures of Slowdive, RECO fuse post-punk grit with a shoegaze aesthetic. This atmospheric depth is anchored by their driving melodies and guitar riffs. Their musical influences extend well beyond contemporary alt-rock; during their headline set at the Grand Social, RECO walked out to the Beatles’ Helter Skelter and closed with a performance of Rihanna’s Umbrella. The band has recently pivoted from “crowd-pleasing” indie tracks towards a heavier, atmospheric sound that better reflects their unique musical identity. RECO have taken the stage at the Workman’s Cellar, the Grand Social, and The Star in London, and have even supported indie rock icons Two Door Cinema Club. Their rising reputation was further cemented by securing a performance slot at the 2023 Trinity Ball via popular vote. Whether it is the brooding, uneasy live version of Indecision at the Sound House, or the cathartic, guitar-driven anthem Dreams, their talent and range is formidable.
Child of Prague
Child of Prague are a six-piece Dublin ensemble known for flirting with an eclectic mix of genres. Spanning folk pop, indie rock, Irish trad, and chamber pop, the group’s sound refuses to be predictable. With roots stretching from Dublin and Tipperary to London, Boston, and San Francisco, the lineup features Jack McDonnell (vocals and guitar), Adam Tracey (guitar), Miranda Gallacher (drums), Noah Edwards (bass), Rachel Baum (saxophone and violin), and Amelia Durac (violin and vocals). Initially formed as a duo by McDonnell and Tracey during their first year at Trinity, the project expanded into a full outfit before releasing their 2023 debut single, Watershed. Its introspective lyricism and fresh indie aesthetic earned instant acclaim.
Two years later, the band released their first EP, Clothed in the Sun. The five-track record traverses a diverse sonic landscape, from the stripped-back folk of Taking to the emotive, driving rock of Basking Sharks. This fluidity continues into the ambient unease of Burning, a track produced in collaboration with the renowned Sergio Matschetzo. Citing influences from Dublin’s James Vincent McMorrow to Windmill scene outfits like Black Country, New Road, their January single saw the band leaning further into Irish trad influences with a contemporary trad rock take on Cooley’s Reel. Described as “an Irish take on Midwest emo”, their genre-bending instrumentation feels fresh and versatile throughout. Child of Prague have been announced for the Trinity Ball in April, with dates at the Grand Social and Amsterdam’s London Calling festival following in May. Clothed in the Sun is available on all streaming platforms and vinyl.
Half Left
Half Left is a four-piece indie outfit comprising Joey Gillen, Sofia Keogh, Oisín O’Sullivan, and Dan Bowe. Drawing members from north and south of the border, the band formed through chance encounters at house parties and late-night gigs at the Workman’s Club. The band declines to reveal the origin of their name, preferring to leave it up to the audience to interpret. Like many of their contemporaries, Half Left draw inspiration from an eclectic spectrum of influences, like the post-punk of Dry Cleaning, the psychedelic grooves of Funkadelic, and the folk tradition of Christy Moore. Oisín, Joey, and Dan lead the songwriting, while Sofia offers artistic flair.
Half Left’s music leans into a reverb-heavy post-punk style. Salmon on the Rocks is a deeply evocative track, drenched in atmosphere. The standout Painted Sky pairs introspective lyricism with a relaxed sound that gradually builds until an ambient outro. The band is due to release Suit Money as their official debut single, and its demo is instantly arresting. Centred on the struggles of the modern world, the song navigates anxiety, pressure, and procrastination. These frustrations are channelled through the central motif of a narrator forced to borrow his father’s suit. This is a high-energy baptism of fire into their brand of alt-rock. From the euphoric, guitar-driven catharsis of Just Don’t Think About It to the plaintive, weary tones of Endless, Half Left bring a distinctive flair to Dublin’s rock scene.
