Writing
Journalism for various print and online outlets.
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Wyvern Lingo: “We Can’t Get Enough of It”
Wyvern Lingo’s whirlwind 2016 winds down with an Irish tour, stopping at Cyprus Avenue on the 27th. Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with vocalist and pianist Karen Cowley. They’re one of the group of names in independent Irish music threatening to bother the mainstream in a major fashion, but having built up a solid fanbase across the…
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Cuttin’ Heads Collective: At the Cutting Edge
Ahead of their first anniversary shows, Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with Cuttin’ Heads Collective members and DJs JusMe, Ross Herlihy and Six-Foot Apprentice. In a little over a year, the Cuttin’ Heads Collective of rappers, beatmakers, promoters and DJs have changed Cork hip-hop utterly, unifying some of its main players under one banner for the common…
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John Blek: Cutting the Light
Ahead of his upcoming solo show at Coughlan’s on the 25th, Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with John Blek about his new record. Glanmire singer-songwriter John O’Connor, better known as John Blek, has been touring and performing for years, with a knack for whip-smart indie-pop accompanied by friends and collaborators referred to as the Rats, a play…
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Megacone: Hitting Cork With Absolute Magnitude
Ahead of their trip to UrbanJungle on November 12th, Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with Megacone guitarist Conor Callan about their formation, new extended-player and the support they’ve received so far. With a sunny disposition as prevalent in their output as their consummate musicianship and eclectic musical frame of reference, it’s little wonder that Dubliners Megacone have…
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Loudon Wainwright III: “There’s Work to Be Done”
Folk legend and actor Loudon Wainwright finishes the Jazz for the Opera House on Hallowe’en night. Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with him on family, acting, and getting bottled at Páirc Ui Chaoimh. A musician, an actor, the great-great-grandson of a politician, and both progeny & progenitor of an immensely musical family, Loudon Wainwright III has done…
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Marc O’Reilly: No Morality Play
Ahead of a gig in Cyprus Avenue on October 22nd to launch third full-length Mortality Morality, Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with singer-songwriter Marc O’Reilly. Corkman Marc O’Reilly has been a busy man this past week, getting ready to head off on a comprehensive run of dates around the UK and Europe, and tonight, O’Reilly finally manages…
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Michael Kiwanuka: Love and Hate
Mike McGrath-Bryan takes a look at the rise of soul’s newest superstar, Michael Kiwanuka, ahead of another sold-out show in Cyprus Avenue on the 13th. Londoner Michael Kiwanuka’s star has been slowly on the ascendant in recent years, with soul-oriented debut album ‘Home Again’ leading to critical acclaim and major touring, in addition to the…
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Windings: Honesty is the Best Policy
Before Windings launch new album ‘Be Honest and Fear Not’ on the 15th at Coughlan’s, Mike McGrath-Bryan talks with singer/guitarist Steve Ryan. Limerick five-piece Windings are the sort of band that subtly confound any easy labelling, moving fluidly between pop, alternative and folk oeuvres as the band’s music does. Nowhere is this more evident than…
Mike McGrath-Bryan 