Listen Now

An introduction to We Are The Makers, a new series of long-form audio documentaries on Irish artists and their practice. Released today across all the usual platforms, and commissioned by Solas Nua in Washington D.C., first up is photographer Eamonn Doyle who before making a series of groundbreaking photo books of his Dublin street-work, had already made his mark in music with his D1 techno label and the Dublin Electronic Arts Festival. Find the full episode here: https://pod.link/1553840432  

The latest in a series of stunning posthumous Arthur Russell releases, Iowa Dream plays to all of his many strengths. Recorded in The Sugar Club in December, Episode 42 features an illustrated guide to the album by an artist who had an integral role to play in its compilation, editing and mixing, Peter Broderick.   Peter explains how he came to be involved in the production as well as performing a few of his favourite Russell songs, Words of Love, Ely and You Can Make Me Feel Bad.   https://arthurrussell.bandcamp.com/album/iowa-dream   https://peterbroderickmusic.bandcamp.com/music      

Recorded live at The Sugar Club in December, the second in the Make Me an Island live series features Myles Manley on stage together with Solamh Kelly and Chris Barry. They play their brilliant 'Cometh The Softies' record in its entirety from start to finish before retiring for a chat with Dónal about its making.  https://mylesmanley.bandcamp.com/album/cometh-the-softies  

Recorded at The Sugar Club in Dublin in December, the first in a series of Make Me An Island Live shows features the mighty John Francis Flynn. Along with producer Brendan Jenkinson and fiddler Ultan O' Brien, John performs a selection of tunes from his forthcoming debut album I Would Not Live Always before chatting to Dónal about the recording process and the journey so far.

Recorded in The Kino in Cork in December 2020, singular film-maker Pat Collins joins Dónal to discuss three of his films: The definitive sea-nós movie Song of Granite, a forthcoming documentary about the American folklorist Henry Glassie and a work-in-progress documenting the ground-breaking Micheal Keegan-Dolan dance production, Mám. Musical dream topping is provided by special guest Elaine Howley (The Altered Hours, Crevice, Howlbox) https://harvestfilms.ie/  

Fresh from her ground-breaking collaboration with Radie Peat on Nollaig na mBan, Katie Kim joins Dónal to tell the story behind their work together as well as to discuss the making of her new album with producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy. Along the way she makes the case for the genius of Mica Levi as well as discussing the merits of Tirzah, Ursula Bognor and more. Diversions there are many! https://katiekim.bandcamp.com/music    

For the first show of 2021 Dónal is joined by Branwen for an illustrated guide to some inspirational female artists the world over as well as to hear some songs from her masterful solo record Hunted and Haunted.   "As this is being released on Nollaig na mBan, I wanted to say that I think it's fantastic to take a moment to give the airspace to celebrating some amazing female artists and I'm delighted to contribute to it. I hope we can continue to move closer to a place of equality and equilibrium in the music industry for all genders and celebrate them in all genres. As my friend said when people kept telling her she was the best female banjo player they knew, "I'm actually the best banjo player you know". (Which is true!)" Branwen, January 6th 2021.   https://branwen.bandcamp.com/

Radie Peat is the special guest Islander on this Christmas episode.   She talks about her forthcoming collaboration with Katie Kim and Ellie Myler of Percolator as well as guiding us through a selection box of musical wonders.   https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/katie-kim-and-radie-peat-tickets-131859488279        

Sansbut is the first release on David Kitt's new Awayday label.   At the heart of the record are a series of powerful collaborations with Saxophonist Catherine Sikora that happened spontaneously at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris during lockdown this summer.   In this Episode #35 of Make Me An island, Dónal Dineen gets both sides of the story.   https://sansbut.bandcamp.com/album/vol-1   https://catherinesikora.bandcamp.com/   https://davidkitt.bandcamp.com/    

Recorded at The Kino in Washington Street, Cork, Donal Dineen presents an introduction to the fiddle-playing magic of Julia Clifford and a rough guide to the music of Sliabh Luachra. Musician, soldier-on-the-ground and longtime advocate of the Sliabh Luachra sound, Eoin Stan O' Sullivan, is our guide and illustrator. https://sliabhluachra.bandcamp.com/releases http://kinocork.com/  

Dónal Dineen takes a deep dive through all the new music released by Irish artists since the summer. Patrick Kelleher joins him in the second half to talk about his comeback EP Stereolith forthcoming on Remote Town records. https://patrick-kelleher.bandcamp.com/  

Dónal Dineen pays tribute to the Scottish maverick genius Ivor Cutler and his album Privilege.   Hilary Woods then joins Dónal for a deep dive into her last two records, Colt and Birthmarks, as well as a trip through some her favourite tunes from Sybille Baier to Eartha Kitt.   https://hilarywoodsmusic.bandcamp.com/

In an extended Lockdown Episode #31, Dónal introduces some new music from Loraine James and Star Feminine Band before checking in with two leading Irish lights stateside.   First up is acclaimed author and all-round total legend, Maeve Higgins, who discusses post-election relief on the ground in Brooklyn as well as her sterling work for the New York Times and other publications.   Then it's onto Los Angeles to check back in with B+. As well as making art and films and writing and lecturing, B+ remains a committed vinyl digger and here he puts together four short sets of 'Digs from the Floor' especially for us.   As well as being a significant player, he also talks a good game and the chats in-between sets are lengthy and strong. 

To celebrate the release of their debut album Solas An Lae and to mark the 30th episode of Make Me An Island, Eoghan and Ultan join Dónal for an extended birthday edition. In between a feast of live music they discuss the provenance of the songs and the making of the record in Scotland. https://eoghanultan.bandcamp.com/album/solas-an-lae-the-light-of-the-day

For the second show of the Lockdown #2 series, Dónal Dineen is joined by the concertina master from West Kerry, Cormac Begley.  There’s a handful of live tunes as well as discussions on subjects ranging from the origins of his sound, inspiration, and his role in the acclaimed dance production Mám by Michael Keegan-Dolan.   https://cormacbegley.bandcamp.com/    

Dónal Dineen takes a trip back in time to the High Andean city of Ayacucho in Peru to marvel at the field recordings made by David Lewiston in 1967 at the annual carnival. He explores the roots of Huayno music which evolved around ritual celebrations during the Inca Empire.  The temperature drops in the second half with special guest Linda Buckley discussing how inspiration for her album From Ocean’s Floor emerged from the cold seas. https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/composers/linda-buckley          

In Episode #27 Dónal Dineen pays tribute to the legendary Simeon Cox whose band Silver Apples were responsible for electronic music’s Big Bang in 1969. Special guest is Jonny Dillon. He plays a selection of tunes from the LP ‘Songs for a One-String Guitar’ and introduces tracks from the Automatic Tasty record A Farewell to Reason, as well as discussing some influences and his work at the National Folklore Collection.

On this episode, Dónal Dineen talks seasonal anthems and the magic of Johnathan Richman’s ‘That Summer Feeling’ before heading back to the Georgia Sea Islands for another look at the Get In Union collection of songs from Bessie Jones and friends. Niwel Tsumbu is the special guest and he presents an illustrated guide to the roots of Congolese dance music as well as an alternative theory on the origin of the blues.

For this Bank Holiday special edition Dónal Dineen returns to the theme of the singer and the song, beginning this stretch of the journey in the Georgia Sea Islands off the southeastern United States. We encounter Bessie Jones and hear the magical Margret Barry courtesy of Alan Lomax.   Eithne Ní Catháin (Inni-K) joins Dónal for an illustrated guide to the Sean-nós singing traditions in Connemara and Cúil Aodha in the second half of the show.

Made in conjunction with Cairde Festival, this Make Me An Island Special comes from Sligo. It's destination Model Niland Gallery for an in-depth look at fiddle music in the company of Steve Wickham. Donal also pays a visit en route to Kevin Barry's Ballinafad writing shed. https://cairdefestival.com/ https://www.themodel.ie/ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/143091/kevin-barry