Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
Belfast-based singer-songwriter Joshua Burnside released the excellent Teeth Of Time this year, as featured on our Irish album of the year list.
On March 20th, 2026 Burnside will release the new album It’s Not Going to be Okay via Nettwerk Music Group, and the first single and video is ‘Moon High’. 2026 tour dates are below.
1.
Shamrock showband – Euphoria
‘WTF is this???!!’ If I don’t have that thought when I’m listening to new music then I’m not interested. It’s that feeling of joy, confusion and a hint of jealousy that all music makers get when they hear new music that effortlessly collides genres to create something entirely original and exciting. It was hard to pick a favourite song off this incredible debut by the Shamrock Showband.
2.
Junior Brother – Take Guilt
The man can do no wrong, every record is stronger than the last. The way this song builds is hugely rewarding. The lyrics are uncompromisingly honest, and forces us to look in the mirror and ask some hard questions about ourselves, but it doesn’t come across preachy or judgmental. Not an easy thing to do!
3.
Brighde Chaimbeul – she went astray
Brighde Chaimbeul must be the coolest piper in the world right? This track is, and I don’t say this lightly, a total banger. How can something sound so modern and yet entirely ancient at the same time? The sounds of the pipes, the reverb, the way that vocal comes in… shocking stuff.
4.
Alfi – Jack of Diamonds
Another wee beauty from the Irish folk supergroup ( Fiachra Meek, Ryan McAuley and Alannah Thornburgh) we all want more from. Ryan’s voice is stronger than ever and the arrangement of the ballad and tune is just perfect. As usual.
5.
Lullahush – Maddy na Farraige
The only way I can describe how this music sounds to me, is that it’s like the music that’s been in my dreams for years. But when I wake up it’s gone and I’m just left with the amazing feeling of it. And now lullahush has made it, and it’s even better than the music in my dreams.
6.
Sam Amidon – Friends and Neighbours
I love a recording with a false start.
It instantly makes me feel more relaxed, it’s like, okay he’s having fun, working something out.
And the sounds of people chatting and mucking around; you feel like you have just walked into a little house party at 2 am and everyone’s in great form and you’ve got nothing on the next day so you may as well join in the craic.
Beautiful experimental folk.
7.
Nathan Gourley/Joey Arbata/Owen Marshall – Callaghan’s / boys of ballycastle
More great tunes from the lads, beautifully played, arranged and recorded. This one’s from my most listened to album of the year.
8.
Rois / HHH – did ye ever get the ride at the wakehouse
Dark, funny, surreal, subversive and downright unsettling all at once. Rois is like some mythical, unstoppable creative force of nature that has suddenly been unleashed upon the world. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
9.
Poor Creature – Bury Me Not
From another incredible debut album. Tasty synths and even tastier vocals on this delicious slice of electro-folk. There’s something so steady and strong about the music as it holds up that gorgeously lamenting vocal.
10.
MJ Lenderman/This is Loreli – Dancing in the Club
Effortless cool and instant nostalgia with this cover from MJ Lenderman. There is something highly addictive about this recording.
Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
Joshua Burnside – It’s Not Going to be Okay Tour Dates:
Feb 7 – Letterkenny – Lasta Festival
Mar 21 – Manchester – Hallé St Peter’s
May 1 – Cork – Cyprus Avenue
May 2 – Dublin – Button Factory
May – Glasgow – Oran Mor
May 7 – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
May 9 – Stroud – Prince Albert (2 shows 14:00 & 21:00)
May 10 – London – EartH Theatre
May 11 – Bristol – Beacon
June 17 – Falmouth – Cornish Bank
June 18 – Totnes – Barrel House
June 19 – Frome – The Tree House
June 20 – Milton Keynes – Craufurd Arms
June 21 – Beverley – Beverley Folk Festival
August 15 – Belfast – Custom House Square (Foy Vance show)
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
