By Sarah Donoghue
Are you interested in getting into the Dublin indie music scene? Do you want to support local bands but don’t know where to start? Do you just want an excuse to hang around the grand social club? These 4 indie artists are just what you need.
Here are 4 young musicians who are putting out banger after banger and whose gigs are always worth it.
Lily-May Craig: Lily-May Craig is a singer/songwriter from Dublin studying songwriting at BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute) Dublin. She has self-described “neo-soul and jazz sounds” which manage to be calming and haunting at the same time. This phenomenon is best exemplified by her original song ‘Orange Peel’ which is about finding freedom after a relationship comes to an end.
She takes inspiration from the greats, Amy Winehouse, Norah Jones and Joy Crookes. Her powerful voice begs to be heard live and her lyrics will rip you apart and then give you a new sense of self-understanding.
You can find information about upcoming gigs on Instagram @lilymaycraig_ and videos of performances YouTube under lilymaycraig9677
Florence Road: This band, originally from Bray, has burst onto the Dublin scene and there’s no slowing them down. They started playing lunchtime concerts in school during 5th year and by 6th year they were playing the Olympia opening for the Academic. Their only single ‘Another 17’ is best described as indie pop but the new songs they’ve been teasing are more indie rock than pop.
The lead singer, Lily Aron, guitarist, Emma Brandon, bassist, Ailbhe Barry, and drummer, Hannah Kelly work together to put on a dynamic performance that’s full of energy and sure to get you dancing.
This band seems to be playing a new gig every other week, you can follow their antics on Instagram @florence.road or on Spotify.
Llama Cult: This is a folk duo composed of Karl Touhy and Donagh Kelly. They joined together during the summer of 2021 and have been tearing through the music scene with their acoustic guitars ever since. Their mellow music lets their songwriting abilities shine. All their singles ‘The Chance’, ‘Western Slide’, and ‘The Great Wall of Montreal’ have a bittersweet feeling bursting through the music that leaves you coming back for more.
This duo plays gigs often so it’s easy to get your fill.
You can follow them under @thetruellamacult on Instagram, listen to their singles on Spotify or listen to a whole EP of live music on their SoundCloud.
Pants on Fire: Finn Neilan, Mel Mehigan, Ollie West, and Matthew Reid, usually called Pants on Fire, describe themselves as “two short lads and two tall fellahs” playing “heavy indie” music. Their impressive discography boasts three singles and one album, all released in less than one year. Their music tends to be heavy on drums and the electric guitar, but their sound is versatile so to get a true feel for their music I guess you’ll just have to go to a gig.
If you get home from said gig and still want more, their album ‘Cargo’ is a great listen. Each song is bursting at the seams with musical talent, it’s the type of album you’ll never get bored of.
You can stay up to date with them on Instagram @pantsonfire.music and can listen to them on Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.