The Point of Everything

Belfast singer songwriter Joshua Burnside released his sixth studio album It's Not Going To Be Okay via Nettwork Music Group on March 20. This is a record born out of loss and the fragile act of continuing. Written and recorded in the wake of the death of Joshua’s close friend Dean Jendoubi, the album is his most stripped-back and unguarded work to date. “It’s a grief record but also a love record for Dean, for my family, for being alive at all," he says.

On this episode of the TPOE podcast, Joshua Burnside talks about touring the US with Ye Vagabonds; getting nominated for the Choice Prize for 2025 album Teeth of TIme; embracing traditional Irish music; grief, the creative process and paying tribute to his friend Dean; the direct nature and homour in the songs; and his family's reaction to the record.

Buy the album: https://joshuaburnside.bandcamp.com/album/its-not-going-to-be-okay

Joshua Burnside tour dates:
Friday, May 1: Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Saturday, May 2: Button Factory, Dublin
Wednesday, May 6: Oran Mor, Glasgow
Thursday, May 7: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
Saturday, May 9: Prince Albert, Stroud (two shows (2pm, 9pm)
Sunday, May 10: EartH Theatre, London
Monday, May 11: Beacon, Bristol
Wednesday, June 17: Cornish Bank, Falmouth
Thursday, June 18: Barrel House, Totnes
Friday, June 19: The Tree House, Frome
Saturday, June 20: Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
Sunday, June 21: Beverley Folk Festival, Beverley
Saturday, August 15: Custom House Square, Belfast (supporting Foy Vance)

Cork artist Pat Carey calls himself the creative director of How I Became a Wave, who release their self-titled debut album on Friday, March 27. Lush in strings and pedal steel, the nine-track album features contributions from some of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians and featuring string and piano arrangements by Cormac McCarthy (RTÉ Concert Orchestra). Carey says: “I have sat with these songs, pulled and pushed at them for what seems like a decade now. It's taken that long to come to a place where I can sit comfortably with my own voice, where I can embrace both the vulnerability and strength of authentic self expression.”

Buy the album: https://howibecameawave.bandcamp.com/

How I Became a Wave tour dates:
Sunday, March 29: Whelan’s, Dublin (supporting Joan Shelley)
Sunday, April 12 - afternoon and evening shows at Coughlans, Cork
Friday, April 17: Unitarian Church, Dublin
Sunday, April 19: Prim’s Bookshop, Kinsale
Thursday, April 30: The Ghostlight Sessions, Balor Arts Centre, Donegal
Saturday, May 16: Levis' of Ballydehob

Dublin four piece Big Sleep (Rónán Connolly, Matteo Poli, Aidan Gray, Naiara Clarke LaFuente) released their debut album Holy Show on February 20 via LAB Records. They say it's an album about transience; the messiness of love, the beauty in impermanence, and the constant transformation that occurs as we stumble through connection, heartbreak, and growth.

On this episode of the TPOE podcast, Ronán and Naiara talk about the music scene in Dublin and the importance of local venues, the community of artists they are part of, the journey of the band, and the creative process behind their album.

Buy Holy Show: https://labrecords.bandcamp.com/album/holy-show
Big Sleep Online Store: https://bigsleep.tmstor.es/

Big Sleep tour dates:
April 15: Wavelength, Cork
April 16: Dolan's Upstairs, Limerick
April 17: Mike the Pies, Listowel
April 24: Cleere's, Kilkenny
April 25: Connolly's of Leap
April 28 Roisin Dubh, Galway

Dani Larkin is a songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Belfast who released her second album Next of Kin on January 30. Co-produced with Ruth O’Mahony Brady, Dani says it's intended as a companion throughout the different stages of life from birth. On this episode of the TPOE podcast, we talk about touring, sustainability, burnout, building a studio, the creative process, influences including Tracy Chapman and Wallis Bird, traditional music and lots more.

Buy the album: https://danilarkin.bandcamp.com/album/next-of-kin

Dani Larkin tour dates:
Friday, March 20: Coughlan’s, Cork
Saturday, March 21: Levis’s of Ballydehob
Sunday, March 22: Cleere’s, Kilkenny
Thursday, March 26: Roisin Dubh, Galway
Friday, March 27: Rosemary St., Belfast
Saturday, March 28: St Augustine’s, Derry
Thursday, April 2: The Grand Social, Dublin
Saturday, April 4: Dolan’s, Limerick
Thursday, April 9: Cafe9, Sheffield
Friday, April 10: Hug & Pint, Glasgow
Saturday, April 11: Cumberland Arms, Newcastle
Sunday, April 12: Grove, Nottingham
Wednesday, April 15: Folklore Rooms, Brighton
Thursday, April 16: Wight Bear, Bournemouth
Sunday, April 19: Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham

Irish/Portuguese Kraut/psych rock band pôt-pot released debut album Warsaw 480km in September 2025. It's nominated for Irish album of the year at the Choice Music Prize which takes place at Vicar Street tomorrow, Thursday March 5.

In this episode of the TPOE podcast, Mark Waldron-Hyden, the brainchild of pôt-pot, talks about his journey from Cork to Lisbon, the creative process behind the band, and the personal stories that influence the music - and what it was like to get the news - and the recognition - of the Choice nomination.

pôt-pot tour dates:
May 21: The Workman's Club, Dublin (presented by Enthusiastic Eunach)
May 22: Luca, Waterford
May 23: The Kino, Cork (presented by DOSE)

Buy Warsaw 480km: https://potpot.bandcamp.com/album/warsaw-480km