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  • A match made in TUD: When flowers are no longer enough

    A match made in TUD: When flowers are no longer enough

    Technological University Dublin’s African society Valentine’s event represents love beyond just romance and serves as a medium for promoting cultural integration.

    By Samuel Adeleke

    Photo credit: Samuel Adeleke

     With Valentine’s Day around the corner, a time often seen as a period to show and express love, TUD African Society brought the celebration early by organizing a Valentine’s event on 10th of February, at Bst259 Bolton Street.

    For Sharon Ojuade, President of the TUD African society, the theme of ‘A match made in TUD’ was not chosen for love and romance alone.

    “With this event, we aimed to create a relaxed and comfortable environment where people from the same background, different backgrounds, and experiences gather in one room, enjoying the atmosphere,” said Ojuade.

    In organising the event, the committee also sought the support of student entrepreneurs who offered services or provided freebies to participants in an African style.

    This included DJs, photographers, MCs, and the types of foods to be served.

    “Events like this give people a sense of belonging and serve as an avenue to promote student entrepreneurs from Africa and allow them to thrive,” said Ojuade.

    “Before the world loves you, your community must also love,” she added.

    The committee has experienced a record number of ticket sales for the event. For the president, it is inspiring to see that they live in a country with a strong sense of community.

    “Just because we live here doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have fun moments; people should still pursue what they need to pursue outside the community,” said Ojuade.

    Although it is an African society gathering, the event is open to other nationalities. “The first person to get a ticket for the event is an Asian. He reached and said he wanted to be part of it.” said Ojuade.

    According to Divine Nebo, the social director of the society, “the event is not just about finding love, it is about finding people who are like you to bond with on a different level.”

    And by extension, the theme of the event, ‘A match made in TUD’, is to show that love can be found anywhere, not just in school, but in environments like this, outside of social media.

    With students outside the African community feeling the pull of the event, Divine said, “the event is not only about Africa, but expressing the depth of African culture to non-Africans to see what African culture is about, beyond what social media portrays.”

    John Ologunlola, the event manager, also collaborated and highlighted the potential of the event to serve as a platform for non-Africans to experience African culture.

    “Even though they might not fully understand the African culture in its entirety, it is a valuable learning process,” said Ologunlola.

     Ologunlola mentioned that, as a Nigerian, he is learning more about the African culture and finding expression in the community alongside other African nationals, including Ghanaians and Congolese.

    With students like River Rogers, who is half Irish and half Polish, the intentions of the TU African society executive came to light.

    “It is my first time being in an African event,” Rogers said. “I am not African, but I can still attend and make some new friends,” he added.

    Not only did Rivers find the Afrobeat songs being played amusing, but he also left with the intention of trying an African dish. “I definitely need to try the African jollof rice,” he said.

    Mark Ologunlola, a former executive of the society, commended the event as a brilliant way of promoting cultural pride.

     “Events like this help people develop real relationships, and give people a picture of what love is,” he said.

     Ologunlola expressed excitement at seeing other people at the event, “no matter what part of Africa or the world you come from, we are all one body.”

    While the event promotes communal love, in a friendly society that helps people socialise, Nicole Okerikre, an African national from Nigeria, who participated in the event as a contestant, said, “This is a period of love, but people should find love in themselves first.”

    Denoting that self-love is non-negotiable.

    For Jaeson Jang, an Asian, ‘A match made in TUD’ was not just a Valentine’s event, but an opportunity to find expression among people of other cultures.

    “The African culture is amazing, I feel like family, I feel welcome. Everyone is enjoying themselves; no one feels lonely,” Jang said.

    Jang’s experience underscored the aims of the TU African Society to promote an atmosphere where joy, laughter, and love are shared without identity being a barrier.

    “Everyone can integrate into every culture; you only have to do it respectfully,” said Jang.

    By the end of the night, a match was indeed made in TUD as the event ended with Jaeson Jang from Asia and Nicole Odunsin from Africa emerging as winners.

    It was a reminder that love in its most powerful form goes beyond just being African or giving flowers; it is in identifying with people from other nationalities and embracing a sense of community.

     

  • 2026’s Dublin Bowie Festival kicks off a decade on from his death 

    2026’s Dublin Bowie Festival kicks off a decade on from his death 

    Temple Bar, Dublin. Photo credit: Adam Jackson.

    Events include live podcasts, Bowie tribute bands, and former Bowie band members. 

    by Adam Jackson 

    David Bowie’s presence looms large in Dublin this week in the form of the yearly Dublin Bowie Festival. 

    The festival, founded by John Brereton in 2016, includes many events across Dublin, celebrating the life and work of David Bowie.   

    Brereton, who is the festival’s director, has been hosting Bowie-related events since 2009. 

    “I was manager of the Grand Social, and in 2009, I started doing Bowie birthday bashes in January,” Brereton said.  

    “Then in 2016, Peter Quinn, the singer in a trivia band called Rebel Rebel, and I said, ‘why don’t we expand it into sort of a mini festival?’”  

    The festival had an immediate draw as it featured musicians who had previously worked with Bowie.  

    “By magic luck, Bowie’s guitarist, who’s a Dubliner, Jerry Leonard, was in town, and we got him involved and had a great weekend,” Brereton said. 

    “People from the UK and Europe came over, then we woke up on Monday and found out Bowie had died, so it was all kind of mad.” 

    Ten years on, the festival still has a big appeal, attracting a large number of both Irish and international attendees.  

    “Most of the gigs are sold out already. We get a lot of people from abroad, from all over the world, from as far as Australia, Mexico, Iceland, America, all over Europe, and the UK is an especially big contingent. Lots of Irish people as well, of course,” Brereton said. 

    Although it is such a big tourism draw, the festival has not received much funding, relying mostly on ticket and merchandise sales. 

    “We’re getting a tiny bit of funding this year from the Dublin City Council, which helps greatly, but it’s our eleventh festival, and we don’t get any support from Fáilte Ireland, or Tourism Ireland, and we bring a lot of people over in an especially quiet time of year,” said Brereton. 

    “It’s the biggest Bowie event in the world, and not getting any support on that level is a bit disappointing.” 

    2026 marks the tenth anniversary of David Bowie’s death, as well as his final album, Blackstar. 

     Although it has been so long since Bowie’s death, the singer’s popularity and by extension that of the festival remains as high as ever.  

    Brereton expressed his thoughts on why Bowie has been such an enduring figure. 

    “I think he was the first and probably the only rock star who embraced and excelled at so many artistic disciplines. Obviously, he was a brilliant singer, songwriter and musician, but he was also an actor, and he painted as well.” 

    “Through his music and his life, he opened a lot of cultural doors for people; I got into a lot of movie directors and books, because Bowie loved them, so it wasn’t just about his music.” 

    Brereton also mentioned Bowie’s connection to the LGBT community as an important factor for the singer’s continued cultural significance. 

    “He was one of the first rock stars who was openly bisexual, and made people in the LGBT community feel that they weren’t alone. He opened a lot of doors and made people feel like there was a community there, and that it was okay to come out.” 

    “That was a huge thing in the seventies and eighties, when it was hard for people with different sexualities.” 

    The festival’s first event, taking place tonight, is a live podcast discussing the time when David Bowie lived in Dublin.  

    Different events are set to take place throughout the week, culminating in a live performance of Bowie’s 1976 album Station to Station, celebrating the album’s 50th anniversary. 

  • Precinct: From school project to rising rock act

    Precinct: From school project to rising rock act

    By Sean Kavanagh

    Many rock bands take much consideration when coming up with the name of their group. Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament reportedly spent over three months arguing about what they would name their grunge-rock startup before settling on the name Pearl Jam. 

    Precinct, however, took a slightly different approach.  

    “We had two names. One, I can’t even remember, it was that forgettable. The other one was Precinct, and we asked a waitress at the bar ‘which do you prefer?’,” guitarist Barry Fenton said. 

    “I can’t even remember the first one, I only remember precinct,” the waitress replied. 

    And so, they went with Precinct.  

    The group was formed in 2017 during a Junior Certificate music project by Fenton, fellow guitarist Oliver Grennan and drummer Simon McVeigh, before they were later joined by bassist Zap Dickinson. 

    They discovered their current lead singer, Andrew O’Donovan, at a ‘battle of the bands’ style event in University College Dublin shortly after Dickinson joined the band in 2022. 

    “We did our set with a different singer at the time, and then Andrew came on after on his own with just a guitar and f—ing blasted the place away,” Fenton said.  

    Soon after, Precinct parted ways with their original lead singer due to problems with punctuality and differing musical styles, though the group insists that the breakup was “nothing dramatic”. 

    The first choice for their new frontman was O’Donovan, whom they contacted through a mutual friend and asked to come and do an audition. 

    According to Fenton, there was an instant connection between the band and their new lead singer, and the moment Andrew left, the rest of the members knew that they had “hit the jackpot”. 

    “It’s almost like a relationship; you just hit it off.” Fenton said.  

    The first song the band wrote together was “We’ll Be Fine”, though the band decided not to release the track.  

    “If we’re going to record a song we all have to be fairly enthusiastic about that song. If there’s much questioning about it, we probably wouldn’t do it,” Fenton said.  

    But it didn’t take long for the fivesome to put together their first single-worthy track, “Marlay Park”.  

    The song originated from a chord progression written by Grennan just moments before a rehearsal began and turning it into a full composition took a collaborative effort from each member of the group.  

    “There wasn’t much buzz around [the song] at first, but I think once we got the full band on it and we got some lyrics, and Barry wrote a really nice riff, like you hear in the song. I think in that moment it all just clicked,” Grennan said.   

    This spontaneous collaboration is indicative of the groups writing style and Fenton says that there is no methodology behind their making of music. If it doesn’t come naturally, he says, then the entire process becomes an “uphill battle”.  

    Precinct then moved from their rehearsal studio in McVeigh’s house to Paradise Studio Dublin. They worked with producer Cian Tisdall, hoping that his expertise would add a level of professionalism to the record that they couldn’t get at home. 

    “I remember the first time we tried to record something, we just got out a laptop and tried to do it ourselves, and it went terribly. So, we learned that lesson,” Fenton said.  

    The song, like the band’s music in general, fuses jazz, rock and R&B to create a unique, fast-paced indie-rock sound that could be likened to The Strokes or fellow Irish band Two Door Cinema Club.  

    This style blends the musical interests of the three founding members, though the addition of O’Donovan, according to McVeigh, added “a little bit of sauce” to their music.  

    Although Precinct are yet to earn royalties from their music, they have begun to get paid to play at small venues and functions, which helps to fund their studio time.  

    The band’s first paid gig wasn’t exactly the rock’n’roll birthing you might expect, as they mainly performed cover songs in the Talbot Hotel to a group of pharmaceutical toxicology students at a ‘master’s ball’. 

    Precinct perform live at a 'battle of the bands' event - Photo: Andrew O'Donovan
    Precinct perform at a ‘battle of the bands’ event. Photo: Andrew O’Donovan

    “I would 100% prefer to do our originals over covers. When we’re doing covers, they’re not judging us, they’re judging how the original band sound, and then our sound,” O’Donovan said. 

    “It was just an insane night. We were so underprepared,” Fenton added. 

    O’Donovan was no stranger to live performing prior to joining Precinct, having spent much of secondary school doing solo shows in front of classmates with his only backing being an acoustic guitar.  

    He still struggled in their first live shows, though, feeling naked without his guitar and unsure what to do with his hands. But as the band played more and more shows, O’Donovan has found his footing.  

    “I think we’re all still kind of finding out what our performances are like on stage, what kind of people we are as performers. I tend to run off the stage for Marley Park and then just literally run around everything. It feels great to interact that way on stage,” O’Donovan said.  

    Fenton also admits that the group struggles most with finding the balance between being musically accurate on stage, whilst still displaying the dynamism and showmanship that defines all great live performers.  

    Precinct’s two newest singles, “Take Me Home” and “Light Up The Ceiling”, are available to stream on Spotify and you can click here to follow them on Instagram.  

  • Emporium gives Dublin a taste of the big apple 

    Emporium gives Dublin a taste of the big apple 

    By Rían Cahill

    Dublin-based streetwear brand Emporium announced a brand-new collaboration last week with their New York-based counterparts Brigade, along with a special homecoming show with Wiki in the Sugar Club.

    Emporium, who have rapidly grown from a small local brand to a cultural hub in the centre of the capital in the form of their Drury Street Store, also announced a surprise culture night pop up on the 19th with music and complimentary drinks from long time partners Hennessey. 

    The exclusive collection and shows were announced on the brands’ Instagram page in a video hosted by New York rapper Wiki, a longtime friend of both brands with deep roots in Ireland.

    Emporium Owners, Robbie Fidgeon (left) and Charlie Proctor Quigley (Right) with American Rapper Wiki (Middle)

    The brand and rapper’s relationship was first displayed at the 2024 Paris Fashion Week, where they bonded over their similar approaches to fashion and culture. Wiki’s regular visits to Ireland also encouraged his decision to join the brand for future projects. 

    “I might have stopped by the shop before, but not put it all together, then at Paris Fashion week, we put it all together” 

    Wiki

    The culture night pop up shop brought some New York style to the city, with the collections boasting exclusive, one-off caps featuring both brands’ graphics, and a heavy knit jumper with graphics of the Wiki flag, a combination of the Irish and Puerto Rican flags, an Ode to Wiki’s family ties with the two island nations. 

    In classic Emporium fashion, the crowds and sounds from the store leaked out onto the streets, and the event turned into a public reminder of the influence that the brand has gained on the city’s youth. 

    On Saturday, the crew took over Leeson Street for their Sugar Club show with DJ sets from Brigade’s resident DJs and a set from Irish rapper Curtisy before Wiki was welcomed to the stage for his second show in the country since 2023. 

    Poster for Wiki's Sugar Club Show with Emporium and Brigade

    The former Ratking Member has harboured a cult following from devoted rap fans throughout his solo journey since 2016 with a rough and fast-paced approach to his music, which portrays his New York attitude to life. 

    Emporium

    This Dublin Brand has exploded in popularity in recent years, with their logo being featured in a glimpse of any trendy bar around the city centre, and a mainstay of the Irish DJ culture through collaborations with nightclub, Index.  

    They have also continued their tradition of a free drop of exclusive, one-off shirts at the Heineken stage at Electric Picnic in collaboration with the brand. 

    Growing in leaps and bounds, Emporium have also just announced a new collaboration with NFL team the Pittsburgh Steelers, consisting of varsity jackets, jumpers and t-shirts. 

    Emporium's newly announced collaboration with NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers

    Brigade USA

    Brigade is a New York-based brand which deals in unisex, one-off clothing releases which prides itself in firmly rooting itself in the essence of New York life.

    Similar to Emporium, they take pride in creating a community through ongoing collaborations with local artists, designers, models, stylists and musicians. 

    Although Emporium originates from the bedroom of two young Dubliners, ambition has forced their vision out of the confines of the Irish fashion scene as they continue to conquer worldwide fashion. From New York Collabs to Japanese stores, Emporium seem to have a solid grasp on worldwide fashion so far. 

  • ‘I don’t plan on doing it forever’ – Allie Sherlock on busking, music, and having millions of followers

    ‘I don’t plan on doing it forever’ – Allie Sherlock on busking, music, and having millions of followers

    By Liam Murphy

    Allie Sherlock was just 9 years old when she first started playing music. 

    The Cork native then took to the streets busking just two years after, aged 11.  

    Since then, the singer songwriter, now aged 19, has gone on to gain an online following of almost 15 million, amassed over 1.5 billion views online, performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the Late Late Toy Show, and at a concert for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, has completed a sold-out UK and Ireland headline tour, and is now working on releasing her own music and growing herself. 

    Following a performance of her brand-new single ‘How Love Works’ on RTÉ’s Late Late Show on Friday, November 22, Sherlock spoke with The City about her career so far, and what’s next. 

    Allie Sherlock poses in front of Grafton Street’s Brown Thomas, a popular spot for buskers – Photo: Liam Murphy 

    “I started busking because I wanted to perform in front of people,” Sherlock said. “Also, just simply because I loved music.” 

    “Busking on the street is very unpredictable,” she said. “You never know what can happen.” 

    Allie says that although her performance on ABC’s The Ellen Show was six years ago, what followed afterwards was still her best day on Grafton Street. 

    “When I came back from The Ellen Show, I got one of the biggest crowds I have ever gotten,” she said, speaking of the success the show gave her.  

    “That whole day was crazy. The most amount of CD sales, most tips, most selfies. It was all so crazy.” 

    Allie Sherlock speaking with Ellen DeGeneres following a performance of Adele’s Million Years Ago. The show estimated 2.1 million views during 2018. Photo: TheEllenShow / YouTube 

    It’s clear while speaking with Sherlock just how much she loves Grafton Street.  

    After all, the Cork singer is touring, doing various TV and Radio appearances, topping the Spotify viral charts, but still continues to travel up from Cork to Dublin every weekend for busking.  

    But why is that? 

    “I love it,” she said. “I’ll stop when I can’t do it anymore or if I really don’t want to do it anymore.” 

    “I don’t plan on doing it forever. If this whole music thing works out, I’ll be touring more, charting more, and eventually it will stop, but for now I’ll continue.” 

    Allie Sherlock during a busking set on Grafton Street – Photo: Liam Murphy 

    ‘This whole music thing’, as Allie calls it, has recently taken off following the release of Sherlock’s debut original single ‘How Love Works’. 

    The track, co-written by X Factor star Ella Henderson, released in October, has already gained almost 300,000 streams on Spotify, and is currently ranked number one on Spotify’s Viral 50 Irish charts, at time of writing.  

    Allie says that after all this time of writing songs in her room, with friends, and during writing sessions, she felt that now was the best time to start releasing her own music.  

    “Over the years I’ve been offered loads of label deals and record deals but never took them because I was always too young or it just wasn’t the right deal, but I’m now with a label and I’m thinking ‘I’m at a perfect age, this is a great deal, let’s do this’.” 

    “I wasn’t sure what to expect but I’m really happy with how it [the release of ‘How Love Works’] has gone.” 

    “I don’t let numbers get to me,” Allie said, of both streaming figures and her almost 15 million online followers. 

    “I never think that ‘oh my god this is so scary’ or that I have all these eyes on me. I just think it’s all crazy how many people decided to follow me, or watch my videos, like over a billion on YouTube is just crazy to me.” 

    “I’m just out here living my best life.” 

    ‘Out here living my best life’ – A smiling Allie Sherlock plays for crowds on Grafton Street – Photo: Liam Murphy 

    But what’s next for a 19-year-old who has seemingly already made it?  

    “Next year will see more releasing and more touring,” Allie said, before hinting at a tour announcement for early next year, followed by an “I don’t know if I can say that.” 

    “But what I can say is definitely a lot more music and more tour dates.” 

    “It’s going to be an exciting year.” 

  • Meet Dublin’s Newest Art Collective Celebrating Black Alternative Culture

    Meet Dublin’s Newest Art Collective Celebrating Black Alternative Culture

    By Dearbhla Kiarie 

    The AV Club is a new art collective seeking to promote Black alternative culture in Ireland, by curating events that celebrate Black individuals in subcultures, such as punk, goth, rock, metal.  

    Founders Tina Wekare and Jasmine Odabi described their creation as an aim to “return these subcultures to the control of their original creators.”   

    They have also said they are “dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, where everyone can express themselves authentically and connect with like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of community and empowerment within the vibrant subcultures we champion.” 

    The new art collective opened their doors to the public for the first time this month with their inaugural event, ‘BLACKOUT.’ The event included a headline performance from band Cable Boy, as well as pop up stalls for various Black Irish artists. 

    Cable Boy performing at BLACKOUT event – Photo: Lucia Burke

    According to organisers Wekare and Odabi, this event was created to “foster a burgeoning Black Irish alternative scene, which is only now starting to reach mainstream. It was created in a response to the constant racism within alternative spaces, which for the longest time, has been predominantly white.” 

    However, the aim of these events is not only to benefit Black people seeking community in Dublin. A portion of the proceeds of ‘BLACKOUT’ ticket sales were donated to Friends of the Congo, a nonprofit organisation who strive to “bring about peaceful and lasting change” in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  

    Event organisers said the reason behind making the event a fundraiser was to start a conversation.  

    “We need people to join the dialogue and the fight. We want people to leave with a sense of empowerment; to feel like they too can help out – no matter how small the impact. Every little helps,” they said. 

    When asked about plans in the works for more events like this for the Black Alt community in the future, Wekare and Omondi said, “Absolutely! There is a need for more events and safe spaces for Black alternative people in Ireland. AV stands for ‘Audio Visual’. And we plan to have a lot of events that explore alternative art in all its mediums, from music to fashion to films to visual art etc.” 

    Eventgoer Ani Dhore said the event evoked “a sense of belonging” and was “inspiring” for her, which organisers said was one of their many goals. 

    DJ Booth at BLACKOUT Event – Photo: Dearbhla Kiarie

    “We want people to come out feeling like they’ve found like-minded alternative people,” they said. “And we want others to feel like they have a safe space to be loud as well. To be truly heard. To feel seen.” 

    The AV Club has plans to host a movie night as one of their next projects in December, as “Christmas time is notoriously a lonely time for the outcasts. It will hopefully be a great time, having people just hang out and get to enjoy being weird and free and together.” 

    What the event organisers want people to take away from their collective is that “Black people aren’t a monolith. We fit into a vast variety of subcultures which is why intersectionality is so important to us; and why we are dedicated to curating a safe space for people all over the diaspora.” 

  • Hundreds line the streets of Nenagh to celebrate Shane MacGowan mural launch

    Hundreds line the streets of Nenagh to celebrate Shane MacGowan mural launch

    By Jason Quigley

    The wait is finally over for locals in the town of Nenagh, Co Tipperary, many of whom have watched and waited for the mural of the late Shane MacGowan to be completed. 

    The official launch ceremony took place at the gable end of a building at Emmet Place just off Mitchell Street. 

    Shane’s wife, Victoria Mary Clark and his sister, Siobhan arrived marking the launch with speeches about the famous song writer. The painting of the mural was proposed by members of Tipperary County Council and for artist, Neil O’Dwyer it was the opportunity of a lifetime. We spent the day at the mural event in the “Premier County” and spoke with some familiar faces. 

  • Vigilante Maestro Brings the Rage to the Soundhouse 

    Vigilante Maestro Brings the Rage to the Soundhouse 

    By Mene Agbofodoh

    The Vigilante Maestro also known as Fortune Igiebor brought the rage against racism to the Soundhouse on the 19th of September. 

    Fortune Igiebor is an emerging creative talent known for his work in visual arts, particularly in music and mixed media. He focuses on themes like identity, culture, and the experiences of Black people in Ireland and beyond. 

    The Soundhouse is home to many hip hop and rap concerts in Dublin. Not too long ago, the venue held the first-ever IRIS event from the collective, SPG with which Fortune Igiebor has collaborated in the past. 

    The show was titled Rage against Racism as that is the genre Mr Igiebor’s music reflects the most. “Rage Against Racism is a call to action for all who believe in the fundamental values that define the Irish spirit: kindness, inclusivity, and the unwavering belief in the dignity of every human being,” he said. 

    “Ireland has always been a land of welcomes, where communities are built on the foundations of solidarity and shared humanity. We are a nation that knows the pain of discrimination, the struggle for equality, and the joy of standing together in the face of adversity. At a time when hate seeks to divide us, it is more important than ever to reaffirm our commitment to these values and each other.” said Mr.Igiebor. 

    The event was free of charge and instead, attendees were asked to support the charities the event was hosted for, Doras and NASC, the two charities that help to fight for the rights of migrants in Ireland. 

    “We could have charged maybe €10 or €15 for the tickets but we decided to let the people decide how much they want to put into it, we have a lot of people in the Irish music scene right putting on events and as a performer myself I know sometimes not everyone has the money to spend to go to these concerts. That was one of the reasons why the event was also free of charge.” 

    “After dropping the Love Rage and Vigilante Maestro EP, the opening track ‘Scorching Sun’ which was inspired by the Dublin Riot that happened back in November, I started seeing more anti-immigration protests around the country and wanted to do something for the community because you see the Vigilante Maestro is someone who believes he is a man of the community something like a Robin Hood.” 

    The atmosphere in the Soundhouse was powerful, there was a sense of unity and understanding among the attendees at Rage Against Racism. 

    Nealo, an Irish artist kicked off the show with Under the Weather from his ‘All the Leaves are Falling’ album, which set the tone for not only his set time but for the night. 

    He continued his set with songs like ‘Tears You Cry’ and ‘You Can’t Go Home Again’ however the song that moved the audience the most was ‘What Colour Would Our Friendship Be’, the song from the vocals to the melody was enough to sway people to tears. 

    Nealo, performing at the Rage Against Racism Concert. Credit- Mene Agbofodoh 

    Celaviedmai brought the energy and stage presence with her performance, her performance was immersive and all-around good vibes.  

    Celaviedmai is an Irish rapper and singer known for her energetic performances and versatile style, blending elements of hip-hop, grime, and dancehall.  

    She has gained attention for her powerful lyrics, often touching on themes like identity, race, and personal empowerment. She raps primarily in English but incorporates her cultural influences into her music, giving her a distinctive sound in the Irish and international music scene. 

    Her rise in popularity reflects the growing diversity in Ireland’s music scene, and she’s seen as a pioneering voice, particularly for women in Irish rap. 

    She performed some of her songs from her recent EP ‘Issa New Era’, and hearing songs like ‘Break Me Down’ and ‘Reckless’ being performed live really added to the overall atmosphere. Celaviedmai had the whole place jumping and screaming her lyrics, she had the crowd going and it led to a great transition to the night’s main attraction, Mr. Igiebor. 

    If there is one thing to expect from a Vigilante Maestro performance, there is going to be energy and mosh pits, and for the people who were at the event, there was that and more. 

    Mr. Igiebor never fails to get the crowd going, creating chants for the people to say, from coming down from the stage to performing hit songs like ‘Leechers’ and ‘Paris at The Metro’. 

    Mr. Igiebor left the night off with the chant ‘Nobody’s free till everybody is free’ and that statement was repeated louder each time by the audience, thanks were given and the amazing night with a great cause came to an end. 

    As for what is next for the Vigilante Maestro, Mr. Rage Stage Three is currently in the works, it needs to be handled with care. 

    “Stage three will show Mr. Rage (myself) in a completely new light, something that has been teased but never shown”. Fortune said. 

    Headline Image; Credit- Mene Agbofodoh 

  • Interview with Brian Kennedy

    Interview with Brian Kennedy

    TheCity.ie paid a visit to singer-songwriter and Irish music legend, Brian Kennedy at his Dublin 8 home. Brian chatted to us about his fascinating career, meeting his heroes, his guitar style, his writing and plenty more. He even gave us a live performance (or two). Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Brian Kennedy…

  • Podcast: The puzzling disappearance of Dublin’s cultural landscape

    Podcast: The puzzling disappearance of Dublin’s cultural landscape

    The disenfranchisement of Dublin’s artistic community is no small issue. Photo from Jigsaw’s toilets courtesy of Jen O’Leary
    Listen to Jake Hurley investigate the disappearance of Dublin’s cultural spaces

    Since its first incarnation as the anti-capitalist social centre Seomra Spraoi, Jigsaw has served as a focal point for creativity in Dublin City – countless collectives of musicians, artists and activists called it home and it served as the base for the left-field programming of Dublin Digital Radio (DDR) for many years. 

    The announcement of its closure last week has reignited the ongoing conversation around the rapidly diminishing cultural infrastructure in Dublin. The growing sentiment amongst artists is that the policies of successive neoliberal governments have been at best indifferent and at worst hostile to creative expression in the capital. 

    To get a better sense of the discontent brewing Dublin’s creative quarters, DDR DJ Jack Hevey, who makes music under the Boyfren moniker and wrote a thesis on the cultural landscape of Dublin while studying at the University of Amsterdam, spoke to The City to give his perspective. 

    Hurley also consulted former Jigsaw and DDR regulars sohotsospicy, a DJ and producer who recently released her debut EP, and the up and coming Irish electronic producer Rory Sweeney who recently shared the track Freak as part of the City Imp Records compilation Chancers.