10 Irish artists you need to know
Discover the fresh voices and fearless sounds redefining Ireland’s vibrant music landscape.
Ireland’s music scene has long been thriving, but in 2025 it feels more era-defining than ever. You already know the big names – Fontaines D.C., CMAT, Inhaler, Kneecap – but there’s a new wave of artists fast on their heels, ready to break boundaries and push music into bold new places. From poetic post-punk to scuffed-up shoegaze and infectious indie pop, these ten Irish acts need to be on your radar now – before everyone else inevitably catches up.
1. Cardinals
Photo: Emilyn Cardona
Cork’s Cardinals are fast becoming Ireland’s next great guitar band. Blending scuzzy punk with pop hooks and folk textures, the five-piece have already made their mark on Ireland’s music landscape. With their latest single Big Empty Heart channelling their signature poetry-soaked punk and swirling, grungy sound in just under three minutes of alt-rock bliss, it’s hard to ignore that big things are on the horizon for this ferocious guitar band.
2. NewDad
Photo: Peter Eason Daniels
Galway’s NewDad have been spellbinding crowds with their charging intensity and scuffed-up shoegaze sound since making their debut in 2020. With a full-length album already behind them, 2025 has seen them stake their claim as ones to watch with Safe, an EP that blends their signature mix of beauty and bite. With their highly anticipated second album Altar dropping September 19th, NewDad are entering an era that’s more self-assured, more fearless, and more hypnotic than ever.
3. Gurriers
Photo: Joshua Mulholland
Embodying the raw, uncompromising spirit of post-punk and noise rock, Gurriers demand attention with their razor-sharp sound and biting lyricism. Their songs bristle with an urgency and attitude that can’t be ignored, and their debut album Come and See is a firm must-listen.
4. Basht.
Photo: Frazer McGoldrick
Renowned for their raw honesty and riotous live shows, Basht. quickly turned heads with their explosive debut EP Dirty White Lies and its grittier follow-up Bitter & Twisted. Diving into the messier side of being human with unflinching lyricism and massive hooks, the Dublin-based band have built a reputation for fearless, emotionally charged anthems that demand to be heard.
5. Florence Road
Photo: Jan Philipzen
Emerging from County Wicklow, Florence Road are an Irish quartet blending rock, indie and pop into a sound that’s both enigmatic and addictive. Fronted by the captivating Lily Aron, whose emotive vocals shine over Emma Brandon’s intricate guitar work, Ailbhe Barry’s melodic basslines, and Hannah Kelly’s dynamic drumming, the promising new band create music that pulses with energy, honesty and authenticity. After building a huge following with viral covers on TikTok, Florence Road are proving they’re far more than a viral moment. With a debut EP and an opening slot for Olivia Rodrigo already under their belts, they’re ready to take the world by storm.
6. Cliffords
Photo: Press
Cork-based Cliffords may only be two EPs in but they’re already grabbing attention with their soaring indie rock soundscapes that echo the spirit of Wolf Alice and The Cranberries. Having played standout shows across Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Cork, the rising band are a live force not to be overlooked.
7. milk.
Photo: Gerry Balfe Smyth
Dublin-based quartet milk. have been crafting emotionally rich alt-pop soundscapes since their 2019 debut. Reminiscent of The 1975, their sound weaves dreamy, guitar-laced backdrops with nuanced electronic production, striking a perfect balance between intimacy and polish. With tracks like You’re So and A Little More racking up millions of streams, milk. have quietly become one of Ireland’s most compelling pop acts.
8. Kissing on Camera
An emotive force formed in Dublin and now rooted in London’s alt-rock scene, Kissing on Camera blend fuzzed-out emo, indie and alt-rock into a sound that’s raw, nostalgic and unapologetically heartfelt. Made up of Josh Rosney, Sam Cheesmore, Morgan Beausang and Sebastian Bluestone, the band channel the chaos and energy of their move to the UK into cathartic tracks driven by angular guitars and heart-on-sleeve vocals that echo the ache of youth in motion.
9. M(h)aol
Photo: Cait Fahey
Irish post-punk powerhouse M(h)aol pull no punches, sonically or thematically. Their second album Something Soft is a ferocious and cathartic force that takes aim at everything from intersectional feminism to consumerism and emotional isolation. Powered by blistering distortion, emotional intensity and righteous rage, M(h)aol offer release through radical openness and the sheer force of noise.
10. The Academic
Photo: Press
The Academic are known for their infectious hooks, high-energy live shows and anthemic indie choruses. Whether leaning into shimmering guitar pop or more introspective moments, the Mullingar four-piece have a keen ear for radio-ready indie rock, effortlessly blending youthful spirit with mature, thoughtful songwriting.