The District Music Podcast

This week on the District Music Podcast, Rachel and Dray get stuck into the latest happenings in Irish music and beyond.Fontaines D.C. have released their fifth album, Dopamine Chamber, but Liam Gallagher isn't exactly singing their praises. We unpack the new record, the Oasis frontman's latest comments and the bigger question: is guitar music looking to the past or pushing towards the future?Elsewhere, Other Voices has unveiled its 25th anniversary Church and Music Trail lineups, and we're taking a closer look at the next generation of Irish artists making serious noise underground.From Dingle's intimate stages to Ireland's emerging rap scene, we're asking what's next for Irish music, and whether the industry is doing enough to support the talent coming through.

How did five lads from Dublin become one of the biggest bands in the world? This week on the District Music Podcast, Rachel and Dray chat about the Fontaines D.C. Dopamine Chamber listening party hosted by District, and also trace five defining moments in the band's extraordinary rise. From Mercury Prize nominations and the cultural impact of Skinty Fia to the reinvention of ‘Starburster’, sold-out arenas and their upcoming Slane Castle headline show, we explore how Fontaines D.C. have conquered international stages without compromising their Irish identity.

Rachel and Dray pick five acts capturing a changing idea of Irish identity. From sean-nós and ancient keening to internet rap, electronic experimentation and massive trad sessions, these artists prove there’s no single way to sound Irish anymore. The common thread? Taking where we’ve come from and making it feel completely of the moment.

This week, Rachel, Dray and Criag unpack the biggest stories in music. Did the VMAs finally feel culturally relevant again? They get into Madonna’s huge night, Taylor Swift making VMA history, RAYE’s standout performance and the moments everyone’s talking about. Closer to home, U2 bring things full circle with Mount Temple, the Dublin school where it all began. Plus, with Oasis heading for Slane, the question nobody wants to ask: are we about to relive the Ticketmaster chaos all over again?

Gurriers are back with Nobody’s Coming to Save You, out this Friday, September 25. Dan Hoff joins us to talk about making the record, where the band are at now and what comes next

Thin Lizzy, Bowie, Queen, Springsteen, Oasis, Madonna, U2 and more. Rachel, Dray and Craig take turns drafting artists from Slane Castle history to create their dream bill, with plenty of questionable picks, stolen favourites and arguments along the way.