This is Galway - September/October Edition - Issue #4

SEPT - OCT // FREE // THISISGALWAY.IE

ISSUE # 4

YOUR WEEKEND PLANS ARE HERE!

WHAT’S INSIDE 4-5

Al the Young Dude // Al Porter talks Comedy Carnival, next moves and more

7-9

Veggie and Vegan Delights // Your guide to the best vegetarian and vegan eats around

10-13

But First, Cocktails // Shake it, mix it, pour it: specialty cocktails in Galway

15-18

The Vodafone Comedy Carnival // Shows you’d be mad to miss at this year’s Carnival

20-21

Fresh Places, New Faces // Welcoming new spots to Galway’s streets

22-24

Laoise // Galway’s electro-pop queen on festivals and new music

25-30

Autumn festivals, student nights, and Halloween craic

WHO WE ARE...

Art Direction & Design Martin Browne info@thisisgalway.ie

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Photography Boyd Challenger boyd@thisisgalway.ie

Editor Caitlin Foley caitlin@thisisgalway.ie

Advertising Queries Maxi Browne maxi@thisisgalway.ie

AL THE YOUNG DUDE Camper than a row of sparkly tents at a Gay Pride festival, the irrepressible AL PORTER is a man of many talents.

The Tallaght-born standup, Today FM presenter and host of TV3’s new Blind Date show, has quite a hectic Galway Comedy Carnival ahead of him.

Words: OLAF TYARANSEN

FEATURE

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“

ey, I’m really sorry I’ve been messing you around. I’ve just been all over the place for the last few days.”

Comedian, actor and broadcaster Al Porter is not an easy man to pin down. With print deadlines looming, the 24-year-old Dubliner has driven the This Is Galway staff to demented distraction over a 36-hour period of missed calls and opportunities. It didn’t help that he lost his mobile at the Edinburgh festival, but desperate attempts to reach him at Today FM (where he presents a hugely popular daytime show) or at the Sunday Independent offices (where he was doing a photoshoot for Life magazine) proved fruitless.

When we do finally catch him, he’s in a car en route to the TV3 studios where he’ll be filming interviews for their forthcoming version of Blind Date. “Yeah, these will be the final recordings for the show,” he explains. “We already did the ones where we matched up the pairs, and they met each other. They’ve gone off on their holidays now. What I’ll do today is I’ll record the bits where they’ve been on holiday and now I want to find out did they get along, have they got love, have they got matchmaking, do I need to buy a hat, as Cilla [Black] would say, or did they absolutely fecking hate each other? I’m hoping they either despise each other or love each other, because anything else is crap telly.”

But enough of all that. Blind Date will already be on air by the time Al hits Galway for multiple appearances at the Vodafone Comedy Carnival. A regular visitor to the City of the Tribes, this won’t be his first Carnival rodeo.

“I love going to Galway,” he enthuses. “Dublin always has an artistic temperament, but Galway has artists. It’s buzzing with singers, and artists – eventually they’re going to have to have a weekend that’s just called ‘There’s Nothing On This Weekend Festival’ because artists and performers have completely taken over that town, and taken it to heart as the cultural centre of Ireland. I just love visiting the place.”

He also maintains that it’s a great place to road-test new comedic material. “Yeah, it’s the best place to do any work in progress. Whenever I’m putting on something new, I’ll take it into the Roisin Dubh or the King’s Head and try to put it together. The audiences are always incredibly generous. You hear that Tommy Tiernan has relocated there, or spends a load of time there. Then you hear people like Ed Sheeran and Mundy and everyone else fascinated with the place; there’s some-thing really special about the city.”

It’s particularly special in the cool autumnal months.

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“The Carnival itself is on in October,” he says. “It’s It’s particularly special in the cool autumnal months. “The Carnival itself is on in October,” he says. “It’s great because I always find in the summer months there’s other things to do than comedy. There’s something about those twilight months when it’s starting to get a bit dimmer, a bit colder, that people want to huddle together inside a tent and laugh and feel good about themselves.”

A multitalented performer, Al will be doing a number of different shows at this year’s Carnival. “I am on for a few days and I’m doing brand new material,” he explains.

“I might throw in the odd joke from the last show if people haven’t heard it. But I’m just back from Edinburgh with a show called Campus Maximus, which was well reviewed

by The Scotsman. That’s a show that has loads of stories that people haven’t heard before, about ‘pink-collar’ boxing, meeting Roger Moore, stuff that happened on cruise ships, and so on.

“There are familiar themes like religion, family, sex, the working class. I’m obsessed with the same things again and again, but with new perspectives. I’ve got a boyfriend now for the last year, so that’s a serious change in my life.”

Now that he’s become a respected daytime radio DJ, he admits that his stage act has become a lot less lewd.

“Yeah, obviously I do radio now as well, so that’s cleaned up the show a lot. I’m so used to speaking to people in the afternoon now that the show has become a bit cleaner – but still outrageous enough. I won’t give anything away but there’s a joke about the royalty that offended people in the UK and actually made them walk out (laughs). But it will be great fun.”

A talented vocalist, Al will also be singing with his sweetly monikered backing band The Sugarcubes. “I’m bringing my eight-piece band, The Sugarcubes, who over the years I’ve gigged with. They’re a really, really good band, and we’ve played all the festivals just doing sing-along classics this year. We’ve done Longitude, Body and Soul, Electric Picnic, and it’s literally me and this fantastic band doing anything from swing songs like Frank Sinatra, to a bit of Neil Diamond and a bit of Abba.

“Now they’re on my standup show with me, people can expect brand new material they haven’t heard me do, plus the band doing their own sing-along stuff before I’m on, and then me and the band doing funny songs. So it’s kind of the biggest spectacle that I’ve done in Galway ever. I genuinely can’t wait!” (*) For more details visit www.vodafonecomedycarnival.com

VEGGIE & VEGAN DELIGHTS

more than soup and salad...

FOOD

EAT: VEGETARIAN & VEGAN IN GALWAY

PLANT POWERED PLATES...

There’s more than just soup and cheese toasties on the menu for vegetarians and vegans in Galway! Take a peek at these dedicated veggie joints and get hungry, whether you’re a vegetarian or not.

TGO Falafel Bar The Gourmet Offensive (TGO) bring delicious vegan and vegetarian food, prepared with ethics and care, made with locally grown ingredients.

Their veggie burger will delight any burger-lover, and the different permutations of falafel wraps are always a good time. Chip butties and spice bags get a new spin here, too. Yum! 11 Mary Street, Galway // +353(0)91 865924

The Light House This charming tea room and cafe is just steps away from Shop Street, with some of the best vegan cakes and vegetarian meals around. The vegetarian menu is small but mighty -- even a meat-eater can happily sit down for some grub. Chickpea burgers, vegan chocolate cake and tarts are just a few tasty options.

8 Abbeygate Street Upper // +353(0)87 3520198

Delight Health Cafe They’ve been serving vegetarian food for over sixteen years in Galway. They’re veggie, vegan and paleo friendly, with a menu that focuses on real natural foods from local sources. Sandwiches, salads and fresh juice and smoothies are all popular options.

The Kingfisher Club, Renmore Ave // +353(0)91 761466

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FOOD The Kitchen This buzzing cafe near the Spanish Arch has a menu influenced from cuisine around the world. Don’t miss the daily specials; that’s where the real magic happens! Hearty salads, vegetarian dahl, and other adventurous options will leave you stuffed and happy.

Galway City Museum, Merchants Road // +353(0)91 534883

Photo by: Anita Murphy

The Noodle House Their specialty is a massive helping of hand-pulled noodles in vegetarianfriendly broth, served with loads of veg. It’s immensely warming and satisfying, and made in the authentic Chinese Lanzhou style where it’s popular. Their vegetarian potstickers are pan-fried to perfection as well.

Follow them on Facebook for updates: @GalwayVeganFoodTours

Photo by: Boyd Challenger

Vegan Food Tours Can’t decide between all the delicious vegan-led options in Galway? Go on a Vegan Food Tour to try a taste of everything!

They showcase the best of Galway’s vegan eating spots, and reveal some hidden gems along the way.

Follow them on Facebook for updates: @GalwayVeganFoodTours

Photo by: Boyd Challenger

Honest Kitchen They always offer options for vegan and vegetarian diets in their delicious array of sweet treats. They also have an inventive array of salads, smoothie bowls and sandwiches which change daily! If something isn’t vegetarian, you can ask tehm to hold off on this or that.

Shangort Road, Knocknacarra // +353(0)83 8802233

Photo by: Boyd Challenger

T S R I F BUT

S L I A T K C O C

DRINK

DRINK: COCKTAIL BARS IN GALWAY

WHY LIMIT HAPPY TO AN HOUR? It’s hard to choose only a few, because Galway has so many great cocktail bars around! But if you’re on the hunt for some one-of-a-kind drinks, check these out.

Biteclub Streetfood Discotheque Go for… Lemon Meringue Sour

The Universal

This delicious blend of Absolut Citron, frangelico, lemon, sugar and egg white is delicately finished with a fiery flame for a sweet taste.

Stay for… lots of colour and disco beats downstairs, a relaxed open-air market feeling in the Garden upstairs, and great street food style grub.

Go for… Gin Basil Smash

36 Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway City // +353(0)91 569824

Tastes like a dangerously delicious adult juice, with gin, muddled basil, sugar and lemon -- we could sip away all night.

Stay for… a slightly hipster vibe, and their uniquely delicious, thoughtful food menu from 4pm every day.

9 William Street West, Galway // +353(0)91 728271

The Front Door Pub Go for… The Ed Sheeran

Galway’s thirst for Ed Sheeran is strong, especially with his Galway tour dates ´ Irish Gin, Absolut creeping closer , so this only makes sense. A combination of Mor Citron, Triple Sec, lime and cranberry juice (with a dash of ginger!) will have you drinking out loud.

Stay for… an energetic and varied crowd, five bars and live music if you make it in the door early enough.

8 Cross Street Upper, Galway’s Latin Quarter // +353(0)91 563757

DRINK

Massimo Go for… The Dead Witch

This beer fusion cocktail uses White Hag’s dry-hopped lemon sour beer, with silver tequila, lime juice, agave, chili flakes, and grand marnier for a deadly cocktail unlike anything in Galway.

Stay for… the banging tunes, banter, and intimate setting, characteristic of Galway’s bohemian Westend.

10 William St West, Galway’s Westend // +353(0)91 582239

Bierhaus Go for… Waltzing Matilda

This blood-red little number is a mix of gin, cointreau, pinot grigio, ginger and fresh passion fruit!

Stay for… An eclectic hipster bar that welcomes all types in the heart of Galway’s Westend. Try their hot dogs, they’re amazing.

2 Henry Street, Galway // +353(0)91 587766

Busker Browne’s Go for… Lemon Meringue Pie

This fruity spin on a popular mix is made with Absolut vanilla vodka, fresh lemon, pineapple juice and egg white served in a chilled glass.

Stay for… Food, live music and a great party atmosphere in Galway’s Latin Quarter, with two bars and a full restaurant too. On Thursdays and Fridays, cocktails are two for €10!

Cross Street, Galway’s Latin Quarter // +353(0)91 563377

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" I NEVER DRINK WATER; THAT IS THE STUFF THAT RUSTS PIPES."

DRINK

WC Fields

The House Hotel Go for… The Duchess

A delicate blend of Dingle Gin, Mumm champagne and elderflower liqueur, served with ice cubes infused with rosemary, orange, lemon and lime zest.

Stay for… drinks on the back patio in the sunshine, or a fun evening in their elegant, colourful and femme bar and parlour!

Spanish Parade, The Latin Quarter, Galway // +353(0)91 538900

Seven Go for… Blueberry Muffin

It tastes like it sounds! A tasty marriage of vanilla vodka, gingerbread syrup, homemade blueberry jam and fresh lemon for a rich and unusual flavour!

Stay for… a massive cocktail menu that invites you to try everything on it! Live music and an energetic atmosphere makes it one of Galway’s hot spots.

5-7 Bridge Street, Galway’s Latin Quarter // +353(0)91 563804

Tribeton Go for… Galway Gin Co Cucumber Sour

Gin, cucumber syrup, lemon juice, egg white and cranberry bitters are shaken hard and poured over ice into an old-fashioned glass, garnished with a slice of cucumber for a refreshing treat.

Stay for… Music and food before a night out (especially on Fridays, when a featured cocktail is offered for €5 after 5pm!), or a comfortable sit-down over drinks in this massive art-deco restaurant and bar.

1-3 Merchants Road Lower, Galway City // +353(0)91 421600

T

Headliners

he Vodafone Comedy Carnival is bringing some major international acts to town. Dara O’Briain is easily one of Ireland’s best-loved comedians; he’s a festival favourite in Edinburgh, regularly fills theatres across the UK and has had major mainstream television success, from his role on The Panel to Mock The Week. The Guardian describe his shows as “a consistently delightful trip around the extremely fertile mind of one of Ireland’s finest comic talents.”

Kevin Bridges is one of Scotland’s biggest exports in comedy today, with a gravelly deadpan that’s seen him through best-selling documentary series and sold-out tours as well. Billy Connolly dubbed him “brilliant” and that’s pretty much the highest praise a person could get, especially for a fellow Scotsman.

Tommy Tiernan returns to Galway with his famous ‘Under the Influence’. Dancing round the stage like a hunchbacked Mick

Jagger and using language like the drunken offspring of Patrick Kavanagh and St Brigid is just part of his every day.

Jon Richardson is coming to Galway to complain about the state of the world and offer no solutions. He’s a British Comedy Award nominee and star of Live At The Apollo and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, if you thought he looked familiar.

Reginald D. Hunter was raised in Georgia and moved to the UK, making a career out of pointing out the sheer oddness of his adopted home. Irish audiences bring out the best in him, so don’t miss it.

Al Porter spent years becoming a massive overnight success and boy is he enjoying it. Today FM’s Mr Entertainment will perform for three nights in the round in the iconic Magic Mirror Spiegeltent in the heart of Galway City.

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acts not to miss...

You (probably) can’t go see them all, but you can certainly try! Here’s a roadmap to some of the wild minds showing face at this year’s Vodafone Comedy Carnival Galway, so take a look and get your tickets ASAP from vodafonecomedycarnival.com

Rubberbandits

Rich Hall’s Hoe Down

Foil, Arms & Hog

David O’Doherty

Artists, satirists and Gas C**ts The Rubberbandits have had a busy year, and they’re being awful tight-lipped about their new project. Currently, we can only reveal that the project is called "Gammon Wranglers" and is about Denim.

Rich Hall’s critically acclaimed grouchy, deadpan style has established him as a master of absurdist irony and the king of rapid-fire wit.

American-born, he likes taking the piss out of us this side of the Atlantic, as well as his homeland.

This is sketch comedy at its best. Foil, Arms and Hog perform fast-paced gag-filled comedy sketches with a surreal edge.

He describes his comedy as ‘very low-energy musical whimsy’ or occasionally as the ‘Ryanair Enya’ and previously has said he is a ‘failed jazz musician, scrambling about for something else to do with his life’.

Jimeoin: Ridiculous

Deirdre O’Kane

Dermot and Dave: Ah Sure Lookit

Katy Brand: I Was a Teenage Christian

Notorious for being Ridiculous, Jimeoin is internationally acclaimed as one of comedy’s live masters.

Irish comedy’s prodigal daughter has made a long-awaited return to her stand up roots, delighting audiences across the country.

Dermot and Dave return with their ridiculously funny show, as part of the seemingly never-ending Ah Sure Lookit’ tour.

One Sunday, aged 13, Katy went to a local church service and became a fundamentalist Christian. She was an obnoxious, self-important dick, but at least she knew she was going to heaven.

Now she’s not so sure.

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Karl Spain: Late Night Karlnival This clunkily titled show is jammed every night as people come to see the very best comedians perform their very darkest material.

This one always fills up quickly and is not for the faint-hearted.

David McSavage

Phill Jupitus

Neil Delamare

David’s truth filled commentary and performance leave no stone unturned.

No Cow is sacred… All will come out when he dispatches his own verbal hand grenades.

A regular visitor to Galway, standup, slam poet, actor, cartoonist, TV stalwart and all-round diamond geezer Phill Jupitus will be performing everywhere at this year’s Comedy Carnival.

The master of mirth is back with his own unique brand of his irreverent humour. He’s now back to where it all started, talking to strangers in rooms for money.

Ardal O’Hanlon

PJ Gallagher

Andrew Maxwell

Phil Nichol

Yes, he is extremely likeable and yes, we all know how he became really famous, but, crucially, he is very very funny. He has a comic brain parexcellence which can reduce any audience to helpless tears of laughter.

He is most widely known for the huge success of the hilarious and sometimes outrageous hit TV show Naked Camera.

He’s a TV sensation and a Vicar Street regular.

More than a stand-up comedian, the acerbic Dubliner is an intrepid social commentator and political protagonist on a mission to liberate minds with the power of comedy.

If you like your comedy offensive, foul mouthed, moral majority baiting, and funny, this is the comic for you.

Kevin Gildea

Colin Murphy

Joanne McNally

Steve Bennett

Gildea's mild manner and quirky absurdist viewpoint create side-splittingly funny ruminations. He’s performed all over the world, and his Edinburgh Fringe shows regularly achieve critical acclaim and sell-out runs.

When everyone around you is having deep uncontrollable belly laughs, it is hard not to join in. Colin has been described as ‘an aggressive charmer’ which is probably a Northern thing but it really works.

From competitive eating disorders to leftfield romances, Joanne has never been shy of mining her life for humour and there’s something reassuring about that.

Resident MC of Róisín Dubh Comedy Club, Steve is one of this country’s most hotly-tipped comedic talents. A charismatic and energetic presence, with an enviable beard, he blends charming wit and musical comedy.

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Quirky _ stuff 1. Bob’s BlundaBus

When is a venue not a venue? When it’s a double-decker bus!

This award-wining pop-up Comedy Theatre and Bar is a converted double decker bus, where there’s seats for 45, tickets for a fiver and where the craic will be ninety. Find it in Eyre Square!

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2. Lords of Strut: Absolute Legends Sean and Seamus’ dreams of becoming famous came true when they made it to Britain’s Got Talent. Street Performance World Champions and Britain's Got Talent favorites, Lords of Strut deliver their most ridiculous and sublime family show to date.

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3. Stephen Frost Impro Allstars Four fantastic performers – Steve Steen, Andy Smart, Ian Coppinger and Stephen himself – and some special guests are coming to the Comedy Carnival to transform random audience suggestions into a night of spontaneous, magical, never to be repeated again, comedy.

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4. Frank Sanazi His show has been described as “extreme cabaret”, but he prefers the title “ze Ubermeister of Swing.” He’s the charismatic leader of the Iraq Pack, a group of infamous crooners otherwise known by NATO as “The Four Singers of the Apocalypse”.

5. Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience Featuring all the best gags and a great meal, this is the loosely scripted, pitch-perfect ‘13th episode’ of the TV series which develops the characters made famous by John Cleese, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs.

6. The Dirty Circus Let them take you by the sweaty hand and lead you to a night of cabaret, naughtiness, devilish decandency and debauchery. Featuring burlesque comedy, freaks, music, fire, contortion and circus skills, it’s a Galway favourite and a night unlike anything else around!

7. Rory’s Stories and Giz A Laugh

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Two Facebook sensations: Rory brings his GAA parodies to life, along with sketches about charmless Irish men and the vagaries of typical Irish life. And Giz A Laugh’s hugely popular characters Chanto and Shardon will arrive in Galway for the very first time, answering vital life questions like: what happens when you ask your fella to help with your fake tan?

8. Wild Atlantic Way Comedy Mystery Tour It’s a pub crawl where you don’t have to use your legs, the laughs are provided and at the end of it, you’re delivered back where you started.

The day will start with brunch with Phil Jupitus, before you head out to Connemara for a series of laughs and pints, before landing back at the Blue Note. Don’t miss the bus.

O’CONNELL’S Gin Lane, Beer Street... Take a stroll through O’Connell’s Here’s a pub where the good times start early and last all night.

The inside is cosy and warm, and an extensive whiskey and gin portfolio offers a world of options.

The beer garden to the back is one of the best in the country, and we’re not just saying that: on the weekends, there’s a live DJ, and the Dough Bro’s cook up and serve their legendary wood-fired pizza. There are also heat lamps and shelters, because optimism about the weather doesn’t keep a person dry.

With the Vodafone Comedy Carnival’s Spiegeltent hitting Eyre Square in October, O’Connell’s makes the perfect pre- and post-comedy drinking hole! Get in early, or stay late: it’s up to you.

Where: 8 Eyre Square, Galway // +353 (0)91 563634

Hey there, Handsome: give me craft beer + burgers

31 Woodquay, Galway // +353 (0)85 8016804

Galway’s newest, coolest bar has got to be Caribou in Woodquay.

New craft beer on tap every week and a hip, chilled-out vibe makes it the perfect spot for weekend drinks, or a pint whenever. Combine that with some of Galway’s best burgers and you’ve got a winning combination. Handsome Burger are now permanently installed upstairs, serving up juicy burgers and chips fried in beef drippings for you to enjoy with pints in the bar downstairs. See you there in 10? Sound.

FEATURE

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FRESH PLACES NEW FACES! Brand spanking new businesses to check out in Galway!

SALT Restaurant & Bar Rethink Salthill with a visit to this stylish new venue along Galway’s coast. Colourful abstract art, plush chesterfield sofas, and sultry jazz sounds of a weekend make SALT the future hub of Salthill’s social scene.

Their menu is inspired by their coastal views, with plenty of local seafood to choose from.

They also serve lovely dishes with tastes from around the world, for both lunch and dinner.

Don’t miss the cocktail menu; their creative concoctions make it hard to choose just one!

63 Upper Salthill, Salthill // (0)91 448441

Photo by: Astrid P Velasquez

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New to Galway Handsome Burger Galway’s been drooling for burgers since the Handsome lads arrived on the market scene with a grill, a marquee and some of the best burgers around.

Now, you can get some Handsome goodness any time you like, because they’ve set up a proper permanent location in Woodquay!

31 Woodquay, Galway

Petite Beaute This French-inspired beauty salon is just off of Eyre Square, and has all the beauty treatments and relaxation you need!

They specialise in deep tissue massages and facials, and also offer nails, tanning, waxing and plenty more. They run specials monthly and weekly, so stay tuned on their website!

(PetiteBeaute.ie) 2 Forster Court, Galway // +353(0)87 1680140

Forster Court Hotel This chic hotel, just steps from Eyre Square, has just opened its doors. Dinner is served nightly in the bistro, and a full cocktail menu at the classy new bar will get you ready for a night on the town! The rooms are bright, comfortable and tastefully decorated for a perfect relaxing weekend away in Galway.

Forster Street, Galway // +353(0)91 564111

LAOISE GALWAY’S QUEEN OF ELECTRO POP

Photo by: Ellie Smith

FEATURE

“ I’M FINDING MYSELF HOLDING BACK LESS AND LESS WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING AND PERFORMING. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHOWING PEOPLE A MORE MATURE VERSION OF MYSELF”

Your debut single reached over 200,000 views on Spotify! Were you surprised how fast things started happening for you?

Yes I was so surprised to see such a response to my debut single, ‘YOU’. I was not expecting it to reach so many people, but I’m so happy that it did! I think starting out as a new artist, or even on a new project can be so scary - you really can’t predict where it’s going to go, so of course I was nervous releasing my own work, but the feedback has been extremely heartwarming. I’m just excited to release more!

What do you think it is that sets you apart from other artists at the moment?

When I began writing and performing a few years back, I was playing mainly acoustic music. As I began developing my own sound, I found myself lost in synths and various electronic sounds. I think because I write with guitar or piano a lot, a lot of the natural, raw sound still translates through

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into my new found electropop sound. I’m not afraid to say what I need to say in a song, even if it is hidden behind a metaphor, and I guess I like to keep a sense of the organic within such a full sound, and I find people connect to the music so well because of it.

2017 has been quite a year for you. What's the plan for the next 12 months?

Thank you, I’ve been so grateful to receive such positive feedback from people. But I’m not nearly finished with 2017 yet.

I’m releasing my next single September 20th. This new music has a little more of a sophisticated feel. I’m finding myself holding back less and less when it comes to writing and performing, so I’m looking forward to showing people a little more of mature version of myself.

I’m also playing at this year’s Hard Working Class Heroes at the end of September. I’m thrilled to be a part of the festival in Dublin. Its music scene is thriving like mad at the moment. As for the rest of the year, you’ll have to just keep and eye out…

FEATURE

When you finish will you re locate to Galway or will you stay in Dublin?

Honestly, I have no idea. Galway will always be my home and I will always call it that no matter where I go. Like any twenty-year-old, I’d love to travel once I graduate and I think I hope to find myself somewhere new and fresh where I can reinvent myself and grow. I can’t be pinned down to one place for too long or I get itchy feet.

Watching your new video you seem to have taken the Michael Stipe hands thing to a whole new level... What’s going on there?

A bit of alien hand syndrome?

Haha, maybe there is some sort of alien hand syndrome coming through in my own hands from time to time. I think it’s more that since I’ve ditched the guitar on stage, I tend to ‘feel’ the music and vocal melodies I’m singing a little more. I’ve become more comfortable on stage that I just let my body go and it’s ended up with my hands learning their own little language I guess.

Is there a bit of an obsession with the colour pink?

Ah a little. I worked with an amazing photographer, Ethan Hart, on my first releases and their artwork played a big role in the songs. I tend to draw from a lot of heavy, dark themes and incorporate them into my own music, so the pink is sort of a paradox to that - you’re not always getting what you see.

By the time this interview goes to print you will have just played your first Electric picnic!

Do you approach festivals differently than other gigs?

Definitely! Festivals are otherworldly at times. I love the fact that people go all out, that sometimes they rediscover their creative side at a festival, be it with their clothes, make-up, hair and such. So because of this, I find myself delving further into my own creativity on stage performing. It’s a beautiful thing.

Who are you looking forward to seeing there (at Electric Picnic)?

Oooft, so many. I hope to see both The xx and London Grammar on the main stage, but I’m especially looking forward to seeing so many Irish acts play various stages over the weekend. The Irish music industry is thriving and it’s so breathtaking to not only see it, but to be a part of such a welcoming, friendly community that it’s made for itself.

There's a real buzz around the Galway music scene at the moment... who's floating your boat Galway wise at the moment?

Any recommendations?

I always love heading down to the Róisín Dubh to see new bands at home. I remember seeing Róisín El Cherif playing there a while back and loving her voice.

What do you miss most about Galway?

I think the most I miss about Galway is walking down Shop Street with a hot chocolate or coffee and seeing familiar faces wherever you go. It’s just home.

What’s the perfect night out in Galway?

Silent Disco in the Róisín Dubh without a doubt.

You're a self confessed Stevie Nicks addict... favourite Stevie moment?

Very hard to choose, but I think my personal favourite would be her live performance of Rhiannon with Fleetwood Mac in 1976. What a woman.

You have a bit of a homecoming gig at the Roisin Dubh in October. What can we expect that night?

Yes! I’m heading on tour with Ailbhe Reddy this autumn, playing in Dublin, Cork and Galway of course. I’ll be playing a stripped-back set on the night so it will be nice and intimate.

I always love playing at home so it’s great to be back soon!

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS Clifden Arts Festival The 40th installment of this arts festival out in beautiful Connemara features a full programme of art, theatre, poetry, comedy, traditional music and plenty more.

When: 13 – 24 September Where: Clifden, Connemara, Co. Galway Info: ClifdenArtsFestival.ie

National Hot Air Balloon Championships Once a year, dozens of hot air balloons ascend to the skies slowly and gracefully over Loughrea for the Championships, or ‘The Irish Meet’. Balloonists from all over the world will participate in this huge spectacle.

When: 24 – 29 September Info at: IrishBalloonChampionships.com

Weekend in the Hills Festival of Traditional Crafts Spend a weekend in the rolling Slieve Aughty mountains, learning age-old crafts like silversmithing, practical herb-lore, leatherwork, and more.

When: 23 – 24 September Where: Slieve Aughty Centre

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Galway International Oyster Festival Events over the 3 days include the Best Dressed Lady competition, Street Party in the Latin Quarter and the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championships.

Gourmet seafood, live music, Guinness and, of course, plenty of oysters: it has to be the Galway Oyster Festival.

When: 22 – 24 September Info at: GalwayOysterFestival.com

STUDENT NIGHTS

Silent Disco

FOMO

Slap on a pair of headphones, dance, and sing your heart out because you can’t hear how bad you sound. It’s wedged, it’s silent disco with a free shot on entry and all the cheesy tunes you love.

Has it ever happened to you that all your friends are out and you feel like you're missing out? Getting that #FOMO? Only way to fight it is to get out there. From classics to fresh, it’s the ultimate party playlist at FOMO.

Roisin Dubh, every Tuesday 21:00.

FourFour Club, every Tuesday 23:00.

Brooklyn Zoo

BOGOFF

Hoolie

Every Wednesday night in FourFour they are going to be bringing some of the world's best DJs and probably some sloppy ones too, but can you really tell the difference? Come in, get loose, dance your little legs off.

Two for one drinks, random giveaways, and banging tunes make this one of the best mid-week sesh spots.

Think your favourite house party, with your favourite music, with your favourite people, in your favourite place. Have a can in the shower. Look deadly.

Be sound. That’s how you Hoolie.

FourFour Club, every Wednesday 23:00.

Carbon Nightclub, every Wednesday 23:00.

Electric Garden & Theatre, every Thursday 23:00.

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Culture Night In its 13th year now, Culture Night sees community-based cultural activities happening across the country, and Galway City is no different! There will be plenty happening, from lie music to circus acts, so head to the website and check it out.

When: 22 September Info: CultureNight.ie

The Dirty Circus: September Sizzle Burlesque, circus freaks, comedy, showgirl antics and more await…

Just push aside the curtain and step inside.

When: 30 September Info: RoisinDubh.net

Rocky Horror Picture Show Extravaganza We would like, if we may, to take you on a strange journey…

In true Rocky Horror style give yourself over to absolute pleasure, brush up on your Timewarp moves and come join us for a great night at Galway’s spookiest venue, DeBurgos!

When: 28 October Info: Facebook @ClubDeBurgosGalway

Mundy “Jelly Legs 21” Tour One of Ireland’s most popular singer-songwriters is on tour and coming to Monroe’s to celebrate 21 years since the release of his album ‘Jelly Legs’.

See him live with his original bandmates for that original sound.

When: 27 October Info: Monroes.ie

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OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS Carnevil Are you feeling brave? Are you feeling nervous? Test your limits as you creep through the depths of this evil carnival, infested by all the worst demons and creatures Galway has… This walk-through scare attraction will have you screaming for the exits.

When: 11 – 31 October Info at: Carnevil.ie

´ International Arts Festival for Children Baboro This annual festival hosts shows, workshops and events for children of all ages throughout the city. Age-appropriate theatre, dance, puppet shows and music are on the agenda. Kids can get their hands messy too with creative labs throughout the festival.

When: 16 – 22 October Info at: Baboro.ie

Macnas Parade The pinnacle of Oiche Samhain celebrations in Galway is, of course, the Macnas parade! Magical and mysterious creatures and beasts of all kinds will be parading from Fishery’s Field to Eyre Square of Galway under the cover of night, for an evening of mayhem and mischief.

When: Sunday, 29 October Info at: Macnas.com

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