Indie rock band, Search Party have a busy year planned. With three singles lined up for the first half of 2024 and then a new EP in the second half before a headline show in the Empire Belfast in November. The first of those releases ‘Paradise’, is led by a driving riff put together with the help of Neal Calderwood at Manor Park Studios. We tasked the band with setting out the artists and songs that influence their sound. Chris (Keys) CMAT – Stay For Something – Stay For Something is an outrageously brilliant & catchy tune that dominated my listening for the end of 2023. When it came to r ..read more

Virgins put out their debut EP ‘Transmit a Little Heaven’ to critical acclaim back in October 2022 and have spent much of the interim touring Ireland and the UK as headliners or as support to Bleach Lab and Bdrmm on their respective Irish tours. The strength of that EP and the experience garnered on the road have equipped them with a confidence on full display on ‘nothing hurt and everything was beautiful’, their most collaborative effort to date. This confidence is palpable from the get-go, with the Guns ‘n’ Roses-like guitar licks in opening track ‘Softer’ and the stoically confident lyric ..read more

Our fortnightly gig guide picks out a handful of must see gigs taking place across Northern Ireland. Yes, exam season is coming up vastly. Take a break with some live and local music. Reaction Music Showcase – Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast – 19th April 2024 UK based management Reaction eagerly celebrates some of their thriving Irish talents in no other than the beloved music hub at the heart of Belfast, the Oh Yeah Centre, and the lineup is hard to beat. Performing, we have heavy metal titans Foreign Wolf, embarking on their anticipated UK tour this month. Also, the anthemic rock of EB and the Deadl ..read more

When Chordblossom came into existence, it was always our aim to shine a spotlight on the artists and bands that make up the music scene in Northern Ireland. We’ve been doing it for over ten years now and one of our favourite methods is our Introducing feature. Put the kettle on, curl up on your sofa and and join us for a quickfire Q&A with some of our favourite new musicians. Who knows, maybe you’ll even discover your new favourite artists. This iteration of Introducing features the musical talents of NADIA who just released her new single ‘Buzz’. What was the inspiration behind your ..read more

Unquiet Nights have been around longer than us which is saying something. Their debut album 21st Century Redemption Songs appeared a month before Chordblossom debuted back in 2012. Fast forward twelve years to the present day and they are back with their third full length record, Seasons In Exile.  It was recorded at Credential Sound, with additional recording at Manor Park Studio before being mixed & mastered by Neal Calderwood. Luke Mathers took some time out of his busy schedule to give us a run through of each track on the record. Diamond and the Missing Son The whole idea for the ..read more

Every month we take a look back at the best new releases from Northern Ireland in our featured playlist. A showcase for the sheer amount of talent coming out of the North, and a playlist worthy of repeat listening. This month’s cover artist is Esmeralda Road. Words by Aaron Cunningham and Martha Greer. Esmeralda Road – I Think Esmeralda Road, formerly Moonboot, throw a range of styles into the mix for the third single ‘I Think’. There’s an intensity in the track led by insistent vocals, quick bass and percussion and of course the splashes of trumpet and sax. Multiple influences have ..read more

Our fortnightly gig guide picks out a handful of must see gigs taking place across Northern Ireland. Songbook: Grand Finale – 2nd April 2024 – Ulster Sports Club, Belfast Organised by Nathan O’Regan Songbook has been the source of some fantastic gigs over the last few years. A really unique concept where the artists on the bill would be teamed up with the Songbook house band. This Tuesday marks the grand finale and they are going out with a bang with the help of Gareth Dunlop and Lucy Bell with possibly another surprise or two to come. Tickets & Further Info Radio Houston Sessions – 4th Ap ..read more

For yet another year, four artists provide concrete proof of the success of the Oh Yeah‘s talent development programme. Scratch My Progress has been providing invaluable experience for a selected group of artists for the past twelve years, with the Oh Yeah providing workshops, showcases, studio time and continued guidance to the four artists. The culmination of that is the Scratch My Progress release, with four tracks by the four artists: Garrett Laurie, HY:LY, Martha Greer & beat up car. Garrett Laurie‘s ‘No Warning’ is another step in his unique songwriting voice. A song about queer rela ..read more

To mark International Women’s Day we asked seven of our favourite artists to talk about the women in music who have inspired them. Each offer up an incredible insight into what inspires them as artists alongside some beautiful photography. Aoibha – Photography by Aaron Cunningham AOIBHA – Inspired by Norah Jones Music was a big part of my childhood. This was largely thanks to my dad, who was always singing in the car and showing me his favourite music from the 1970s and 1980s. Although we listened to a wide variety of music, the usual suspects were artists like Norah Jones, Van Morrison, Joni ..read more

When Chordblossom came into existence, it was always our aim to shine a spotlight on the artists and bands that make up the music scene in Northern Ireland. We’ve been doing it for over ten years now and one of our favourite methods is our Introducing feature. Put the kettle on, curl up on your sofa and and join us for a quickfire Q&A with some of our favourite new musicians. Who knows, maybe you’ll even discover your new favourite artists. This iteration of Introducing features the musical talents of The Capris who just released their new single ‘No Valve’. What was the inspiration b ..read more