First, though, congratulations to Lankum and CMAT, two Irish music acts that, on the face of it, couldn’t be more different. With mainstream US media coverage and album-of-the-year wins in magazines and newspapers around the world, Lankum went international in 2023. Photograph: Ellius Grace/New York TimesWhat’s also clear from the way our critics’ votes landed is the success of reinvigorated, reshaped traditional music. Other Irish acts that hit the sweet spot include David Holmes, Ailbhe Reddy, The Scratch, Sorcha Richardson, Kneecap, Jazzy, Róisín Murphy, Nealo, Rachael Lavelle, Soda Blonde, The Bonk, BellX1 and, yes, The Wolfe Tones. That’s no doubt true for audiences that can afford to get there and for music acts that will perform in it, but you don’t hear much of that game-changing language in Ireland (or elsewhere, no doubt).

Source: The Irish Times December 16, 2023 10:36 UTC