Brú Sounds

Khidyie

Episode four is here — after a little hiatus for a house move and some unwelcome illness, we're back! This episode is a big one. We're shining a light on Khidyie, an Irish-Hong Kong singer-songwriter from Drogheda whose debut EP Tales from the rabbit hole is something really special.  Her dreamy blend of folk and indie dream-pop draws on the worlds of Norah Jones, Alice Phoebe Lou, and Jeff Buckley, while lyrically she's as influenced by the magical realism of Haruki Murakami and Salman Rushdie as by her own deeply personal experiences. We play three tracks back to back — Have We Met Before, Your Way and Cardboard Box — and we'd encourage you to find a quiet corner and give them the close listen they deserve. We also have a gig review of Girlfriend at The Watchtower in Drogheda, a brilliant night that felt like a real statement for the local DIY scene, plus new Irish music recommendations and a gig guide for what's coming up in the area. New music featured: Khidyie · Have We Met Before · Your Way  · Cardboard Box  New music recommended: Cable Boy · Mischa and the Bear · Varo · Chalk · Joshua Burnside · Seamus Fogarty Gig guide: Rithim Na Boinne (July 4th) · Blas006 — telekura & Khidyie (May 2nd) · The Elephant Room presents Peer Pressure & Ethel's Odyssey (May 16th) · Soundtown · Global Jam

hotgirl

Welcome back to Brú Sounds, a podcast celebrating music, gigs, and grassroots culture from Drogheda and beyond. In this episode, we spotlight hotgirl, one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the Drogheda and Dublin indie scenes in recent years. What began in 2021 as a lo-fi bedroom project from singer and songwriter Ashley Abbedeen has grown into a full-bodied, noisy and melodic indie rock outfit, blending grunge, post-punk and a distinctly DIY spirit. We hear On The Brink, with its sharp guitar hooks and cathartic, grungy chorus, and Sisyphus, a groove-led track anchored by a bassline you can really sink into. I also share a gig review from my first show of the year, seeing 'They Are Gutting a Body of Water' at Whelan's. There’s a look at some standout new releases this week, including: * Ye Vagabonds — All Tied Together * Searows — Death in the Business of Whaling * Jana Horn — Jana Horn * Stella Donnelly — Love and Fortune Plus, I highlight BLAB, a new Drogheda-based Irish music quarterly founded by Barry Landy (formerly of Love Is The Drog). BLAB brings together a limited edition cassette, a 24-page print magazine, and live showcases. To close out the episode, I run through the Drogheda Gig & Culture Guide, featuring: * Sleetwalls & Cowboy Builder — Feb 28th * Bleaks, Poser, Eskrima & Bile — March 14th * Girlfriend — March 28th * Gig for Gaza — Feb 20th * Drogheda Songwriting Festival monthly club at Bare Food * Nightmoves (Feb 27th) — live music across town cafés, plus Boyne Sounds trad sessions at the Marcy Hotel Tracklist: hotgirl — On The Brink hotgirl — Sisyphus

Nixer and Peadar Connolly

Welcome back to Brú Sounds, a podcast celebrating music, gigs, and grassroots culture from Drogheda and beyond. In this episode, we hear tunes from Nixer, the project of Seán Keenan (Drogheda-born, now London-based). Formed during lockdown, Nixer blend dancefloor-ready electro synth wave with sharp pop instincts and a distinctly Irish voice. We also hear from Peadar Connolly and his haunting rendition of “Codhlaím Go Suan”. Sung in Irish and led by voice and autoharp, the song draws on medieval poetry and themes of sleep, shelter, and presence through the night. I also round off my favourite albums of 2025, and there’s a look at a standout new release from This Is Lorelei, plus a few things currently on repeat. To close out the episode, I run through the Drogheda Gig Guide, featuring: * A special night at The Watchtower with Eugene S. Robinson in conversation with Róisín Barrett * Drogheda Zine Fair * Coffee & Clay — a Bridget’s Day / Imbolc pottery workshop celebrating the return of the light Tracklist: Nixer - Magnolia Mouth (2025) Nixer - Gentrification Peadar Connolly - Codhlaím Go Suan

David San Clair and CABL

Welcome to Brú Sounds, a new podcast celebrating music, gigs, and grassroots culture from Drogheda and beyond. In our very first episode, you’ll hear tracks from David San Clair and CABL, two of my favourite artists right now, alongside a rundown of some of the great albums of 2025. I also hit the road with gig reviews from recent live shows by David San Clair, Hotgirl and Nixer, all at The Watchtower at McHughs. To round things off, there’s a Drogheda Gig Guide and new music recommendations. Whether you’re plugged into the local scene or just curious about what’s bubbling up along the Boyne, this is your place to listen in. New sounds. Local voices. This is Brú Sounds. Tracklist: David San Clair - Round The Bend David San Clair - Juni CABL - See You In a Year and a Half CABL - uh oh