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Bleeding Heart Pigeons
Friday, Body & Soul Main Stage, 11pm
A young Limerick band who despite the major label backing, are resisting the path to a larger audience, and are instead exploring an artistic side of indie-rock that has lead to them addressing the Columbine school shootings and abstract theories. Teen artistic angst.
Booka Brass Band
Friday, Other Voices, 5pm
We know from the frequency of visits from New Orleans-style brass bands to these shores that the Irish can't get enough of the stuff. So the rise of Booka Brass, seven native Dubliners playing original music and covers of Beyonce’s ‘Crazy In Love’ and Jason Derulo’s ‘Talk Dirty’ is an easy sell and a perfect festival act.
See also: Stomptown Brass at Body & Soul: Earthship stage, Saturday.
Joni
Friday, Body & Soul main stage – 5.15pm
Saturday, Little Big Tent – 2:30pm
There's always been a small niche Irish audience interested in the kinds of “urban” music popular in the UK like garage, bass music and dubstep. Even rarer are singers who are familiar with such scenes and who mine them for their own music. Wicklow singer and violinist Joni, along with her production partner Richie Kaboogie, have concocted an underground electronic style, inspired by Burial and Paul Woolford.
Somerville
Saturday, Other Voices, 4pm
Galway lady Maria Somerville makes slow, moving music with the barest of instruments and the most delicate of touch. But if you want to experience her music, you'll have to see her live, as she's proceeding with caution on the recording front. Make the effort and you'll be rewarded with music that draws from folk, soul and electronic music.
EMBRZ
Saturday, Body & Soul Main Stage, 1:50am
The young Kildare producer Jack Casey has established himself through a wildly popular Ellie Goulding remix and a starry-eyed production sound that while is EDM-friendly in labelling, is infinitely more sensual and softer than that tag. His 2am Body & Soul main stage slot could be the making of him.
Bitch Falcon
Saturday, Body & Soul Main Stage, 5pm
No-one is bringing grunge rock back in Ireland more than the powerhouse Dublin trio who find their way through the music with screeching vocals, power chords, low-slung bass riffs and pounding drums. Get ready to get shredded.
Girl Band
Sunday, Cosby Stage, 9:30pm
For further evidence of a blistering garage-rock, you could look at Girl Band as an example but in truth, the Dublin band, who are about to release their debut album on Rough Trade, are a visceral mix of rock music inspired by industrial techno and Dara Kiely's stream-of-consciousness wild vocals. A contender for the best band in Ireland right now.
Buffalo Woman
Sunday, Body & Soul Main Stage, 9pm
The pairing of seasoned musician and DJ Tim O' Donovan and theatrical performer Neil Watkins gels for this project because the glue that binds them is a pop take on electro with lyrics about identity, acceptance and love.
Hare Squead
Saturday, Body & Soul Main Stage, 3am
Tallaght and Blanchardstown are where Jessy Rose, Tony Konstone and E-Knock hail and their exuberant take on rap, R&B and pop has a youthful energy to it that's infectious. The teenagers are no slouches in the live department either, taking a full band on stage with them. If you're still going at 3am on Sunday morning, you can bop with them.
Rosie Carney
Sunday, Body & Soul Main Stage, 2pm
Fans of SOAK will be interested in the nascent talents of this young Donegal singer-songwriter. At just 18, she's displaying a melodic identity that's approaching the appeal that has made Bridie Monds-Watson an international concern.
