That New Band Smell: Forrests

So, Glasgowbury is over and what a send-off it was. Expanding to a two-day event for the first time in its glorious thirteen year history, the absolute cream of the Northern Irish music crop ascended Eagles Rock in the expansive and beautiful Sperrins to play their respective hearts out and give the country’s finest homegrown musical festival a truly unforgettable farewell party. Whilst we’re down an institution, there are still many like it around. Here’s my pick of three (or indeed four) fresh bands who have and will hopefully continue to grace stages across the country for years to come. Watch this space.

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The Hot Sprockets – Honey Skippin

Having just played the aforementioned music festival at the weekend, Dublin band The Hot Sprockets’ zealous hybrid of garage, country and blues is as infectious as it is memorable (that is, quite a bit). With a sound calling to mind many of their main influences - everyone from MC5 to Seasick Steve - the band have supported the likes of the Zutons, Divine Comedy and many more besides. Taken from their debut album of the same name, Honey Skippin' is a stand-out track that distils the band’s so-called “country dirt” sound.

The Greased Palm and the Orchid Collective - Potshots

A truly superb introductory track for two bands, ‘Potshots’ is a collaborative effort from the equally excellent The Greased Palm and the Orchid Collective, the former act a rock n' roll five-piece fronted by Junior Johnson, the latter a Dublin-based alt-folk seven-piece fronted David O’Shea. With both bands also having played Glasgowbury at the weekend, the track in question was recorded for the Nerve Centre’s Resonate Project last week and brilliantly conveys both band’s potential.

Forrests – Billions

One of the most interesting Irish electronic duos around, Forrests’ sweeping, decidedly wistful brand of post-rock inflected electronica has seen the duo play, amongst other shows, last year’s Electric Picnic and – only last week – Body & Soul Festival. The music-making moniker of Paul O'Reilly and Owen O'Mahony, the twosome released their debut EP, Wilder, at the start of this month. 'Billions' – arguably the release’s finest track – is a sublime slab of sun-kissed, summery goodness.