Susie Q – I Like The Way

Good times never seemed so good.

That’s the vibe off the life- and love-affirming new video from Susan Quirke (top) aka Susie Q who shares home video footage of her and her husband Ruairi having the time of their lives in various scenic locations around the country,  including the Wild Atlantic Way.

The musicians featured here will be familiar to many local music fans, with Colm Quearney on guitar, Graham Hopkins on drums and Rob Malone on bass.

Susie’s new album Into The Sea follows next year.

Nick says: Form an orderly Q.

Susie Q

NibZz – Dog With A Bone

Ready for some block rockin beats?

Then put your headphones on for NibZz (top), a Somali-born Dublin-forged rapper who is here to jazz up the neighbourhood.

The video for his debut single was directed by David Williams with cool animation by Ryan Emmett.

Nick says: Dogtastic.

NibZz

The Wha – Innocents

Introducing the bright young things of the Marble City.

Kilkenny city newcomers The Wha are cut from the same stone as Arctic Monkeys and Elvis Costello.

Led by dual songwriters Finn Cusack and Sam Cullen with the line-up completed by Marek Lech on bass and Abe G Harris on drums, the group have the classic rock gang look to complement the spitfire melodic guitar riffs.

The video was directed by Conor Dockery at Dock Visual.

Nick says: Kilkenny calling.

The Wha

Kevin Ryan – Loons

Luke writes:

Filmmaker Fergal Brennan constructed the video (above) using home movies he has collected from flea markets and charity shops over the years.

The video portrays brief glimpses into everyday events – seaside holidays, visits to the zoo, family occasions.

Like our memories of past events, these images are unstable, but provide brief moments of clarity.

All Irish I think, some of it Irish people on holidays abroad. Some people may even see a friend or relative in there from days gone by….

Fergal Brennan

Kevin Ryan

The Atrix – Teasure On The Wasteland

Like a phoenix from the embers of Dublin’s fabled post-punk new wave scene, The Atrix have risen.

Tonight a reconfigured line-up featuring two members of the original band (Hugh Friel now sings in place of the late John Borrowman) as well as Horslips‘ Jim Lockhart on keyboards plays The Sugar Club, Dublin 2, where they will launch a new retrospective album of their finest songs.

With perfect timing, a new video for the band’s seminal 1980 (Midge Ure-produced) hit Treasure On The Wasteland (above) has just been uploaded to YouTube directed by Alex Bradley of Guns And Butter.

It’s a visually stunning piece of work that does justice to the pioneering spirit of the group when they were in their pomp.

If you want to read a definitive in-depth feature on the history and legacy of The Atrix then check out John Fleming’s piece in the Irish Times here.

Nick says: Hidden Treasure gleams the brightest.

The Atrix at the Sugar Ciub (Sugar Club)

Joni Morris – When The Party’s Over

Tá ‘s ad nach mbeidh mé riamh gan thú
A fhad ‘s go mbeidh mé n-ann análú
Toram deis breathnaigh mo éadan
Is tú an chúis mé beo ar éigean

Pop goes our mother tongue.

Teenage sensation Joni Morris has already racked up over 20,000 views on YouTube since she posted this mesmerising video of her singing Billie Eilish‘s hit as Gaeilge.

Named after Joni Mitchell, the 14-year-old from Greystones, County Wicklow, cemented her love affair with the Irish language during trips to Colaiste Lurgan in County Galway.

Joni also sings in a trio called Fuze.

Nick says: Billie Irish, anyone?

Malojian – Dirt

Sick of Brexit, Boris, Trump and climate change?

Then let Malojian aka Steve Scullion channel your frustrations with this expertly assembled new video directed by Colm Laverty and animated by Michael Winchester.

The singer/songwriter from Lurgan, County Armagh, is currently beavering away on a new album which features Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle.

Nick says: Malojian tonic.

Malojian

Dinah Brand – Garden

How lo-fi can you go?

Regarding this video from esoteric Dublin guitar hombres Dinah Brand the answer is very lo-fi indeed.

The scratchy home video footage complements the angular alt.rock sound that calls to mind ’90s college radio stalwarts Pavement and Built To Spill.

The duelling guitars of singer Dylan Phillips and Stephen Ryan (on loan from The Drays) form the bedrock of the group’s ragged charm.

Garden is taken from their current album Thank You Driver (top).

Nick says: I’m with the Brand.

Dinah Brand

Laura Elizabeth Hughes – In My Defence

“I brought a brick to a stick fight”

Dublin songstress Laura has a way with words and a voice to match.

This quirky promo comes courtesy of director Elena Horgan.

Laura follows up this alt.pop slow-burner with a new single Straight For Tomorrow which drops tomorrow from her Ceremony EP.

You can see her live at the Workman’s Club, Dublin 2, on October 9.

Nick says: Have I got Hughes for you.

Laura Elizabeth Hughes