Bayview Sounds

Navan based 7 piece Pilgrim St are back with their new EP ingeniously titled "The EP". The EP was recorded in Experimental Audio in Crumlin, Dublin. It was produced by Oisin Leech of Lost Brothers fame. The 4 track EP includes the recently released single "My Little Blackbird" and the new single "Givin It Up This Time". The EP kicks off with the excellent "My Little Blackbird". When I reviewed this as a single, I said it was tremendous. Nothing has changed. It's still bloody tremendous. The onslaught of strings creates a thing of sheer beauty. "Givin It Up This Time" is less energetic than "My Little Blackbird" and has a more funereal vibe that creates an eerie atmosphere. It's truly breathtaking. "Emerald" is an incredible tale of battles lost and won. The track has everything from overlords to bloodcurdling battle cry's. The story will suck you in immediately. The song could easily have b...

Saturday night saw Cork folk musician John Spillane take to the stage of the magnificent Dundalk Gaol. As the name might suggest, the venue was a former jail from 1854 to 1931. The gig took place in what used to be the Men's wing. Nestled in between a row of cells, John emerged and instantly captivated the audience. He began with Princes Street and then into the fiercely depressing (his words, not mine) "You're The Only One For Me". Everytime John speaks to the audience they are attentive and engaged. He exudes a natural charisma and is genuinely a brilliant storyteller. He then treated the Dundalk crowd with an Irish language song "Rinn Na Mara" which was enchanting to say the least. After each song, John assures the audience that he is doing a great job which nobody disagrees with. Given the venue, "I Want To Set You Free" is particularly relevant. John tells the audience about his former work as a music teacher in prisons which was t...

Paul McCann is a singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist hailing from Co. Cavan. Since 1996, Paul has been playing in various bands including Aine Cahill's band and a Johnny Cash tribute act called Get Rhythm. He has also played live gigs with the likes of The Strypes, Pugwash and Nelson Bragg. Paul released his debut EP "The Magician" in 2015 and received some very high praise and recognition. He followed that up with another EP "Beginning To End". He lists Jack White, Johnny Cash and The Divine Comedy as his main influences. The opening track on the album "Keep The Devil Within" is a great way to kick things off and set you up for what to expect from the rest of the album. It's power pop at it's finest and it definitely has that sing-a-long feel good factor. "It's Only A Fantasy"  follows in the same vain but certainly has an 80's vibe to it. Think George Harrison meets Tom Petty and you're in the rig...

John Andrews is a 30 year old singer songwriter hailing from East Belfast. He released his debut EP in 2014 but has now returned with his second offering "Johnny Was". John has garnered a respectable following in Belfast through extensive gigging and playing at festivals such as the Eastside Arts Festival, Sunflower Fest and Fiele Fest. His music has been described as gritty, raw and honest. His influences vary from Frank Sinatra to Eminem and The Doors to Kendrick Lamar. The opening track from the EP is "Pray". It begins with the musings of a preacher followed closely by an incredible blues beat. From the first word, it's obvious that John has a captivating voice that commands respect. The tempo and grittiness of "Pray" is truly impressive. "Don't Let Me Fade Away" takes the listener down to another level which is more laid back and incredibly intriguing. There is a definite Radiohead vibe to it. Another cracking song. ...

Adam Grant is a singer songwriter from Co. Down. His style is indie, folk punk which he picked up from listening to Blink 182, Green Day, Oasis, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen whilst he was growing up in the 90's. Between 2006-2014, Adam was the front man for some local punk and rock bands which produced 3 EP's and several live gigs in prestigious venues such as Mandela Hall, The Limelight and Nottingham Rock City. He went solo in 2015 and released his first solo EP "The Fight" in 2016. earlier this year, Adam made it to the final of Bangor's Battle Of The Bands. In April he released his debut album "My World" which was recorded in Belfast and Lisburn. The album opens with the infectious "My Crowd". This track is incredibly catchy and has a very Lemonheads feel to it. Definitely a great way to kick off the album. "Closed Door" is a bit more of a chilled out and mellow love song. "What Ifs And Buts" is punk to i...

Pilgrim St are a 7 piece bluegrass outfit from Navan, Co. Meath and made up of Peader Farrelly, Eugene Donegan, Eoin McDonnell, Francis McGinn, Mark Lynch, Brendan Kelly and Cathal McQuaid. Pilgrim St have just released their latest single "My Little Blackbird" which is taken from the band's upcoming self titled EP due for release in September. "My Little Blackbird" is a tremendous track full of heart, energy, passion and desire. Everything you would expect from a bluegrass song. It has elements of Bruce Springsteen (Seeger Sessions), Old Crow Medicine Show, The Punch Brothers and a little hint of The Pogues. The band have also announced several tour dates which will take their raucous live show across the country. The dates are as follows: August 25th & 26th - Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival , Waterford September 22nd - Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda September 23rd - The Black Box, Belfast October 20th - Gorteen, Sligo October 27th - Balor A...

Ethan Hanna is a singer songwriter from Lisburn, Northern Ireland who will release his debut single "Perfect" this Friday, July 20th. The single is taken from the forthcoming album "Welcome To The Batlands" which Hanna has been working on for several years and has recorded it in Millbank Studios in Lisburn. The album will be released later this year through the Tin Man Heart record label. Ethan Hanna has been a regular performer around Belfast and is finally able to satiate the thirst for recorded music from the many followers he has garnered. Ethan's songs are heavily basted in Americana but deeply rooted in Northern Ireland. He sings about love, loss, family and his childhood in Northern Ireland. The single "Perfect" is moody, gravelly and very Springsteenesque. The guitar really drives the track home and is the (pardon the pun) perfect accompaniment to Ethan's fantastic voice. His voice has a sound that I would imagine is how Tom ...