The Point of Everything

This special episode of The Point of Everything pays tribute to the late Eoin French aka Talos, who passed away in August 2024 at the age of 36. A brilliant musician, Talos released three albums - Wild Alee in 2017, Far Out Dust in 2019, and Dear Chaos in 2022 - as well as a posthumous EP with Atli Orvarsson called Sun Divider and posthumous album with Olafur Arnalds, entitled A Dawning. He was also part of the Sounds from a Safe Harbour team. At this year’s festival, the opening concert Remembering Talos brought friends, collaborators, and family together at Cork Opera House. In this episode, you’ll hear memories of Eoin and reflections on his artistry from Loah, Christof Van Der Ven, Sam McNicholl, Ye Vagabonds, Nick Raynor, and Brian Dillon. Recorded backstage during rehearsals and in conversation afterwards, these stories capture the impact of Talos’ music and the deep connections he created. Cover pic by Bríd O'Donovan

Eoghan and Cíara talk about Sounds from a Safe Harbour, which took place in Cork over the weekend, preview new albums coming out of Ireland over the new few weeks, plus new track recommendations

Ronan Kealy aka Junior Brother, returns to The Point of Everything to talk about his extraordinary third album The End, released September 5 on Pete Doherty’s Strap Originals label. The album was recorded almost entirely solo, with only a guest appearance from Lankum’s Ian Lynch on Uilleann pipes, but its sound is expansive and band-like, rooted in Irish tradition while reaching into something stranger and more contemporary. In this conversation, Junior Brother reflects on his time in Dublin’s music scene, how folklore and storytelling seep into his songwriting, and the role of collaboration in shaping his work. He also touches on themes of love and life, the visual worlds of his music videos, and the childhood stories that continue to fire his imagination. The result is an album that connects the past and present, the personal and the mythical, into something both timeless and unsettlingly current. The End is available now at juniorbrother.com Junior Brother tour dates: Friday, September 12 – The Pav, Cork (Sounds from a Safe Harbour, Album Launch) Saturday, September 13 – The Grand Social, Dublin (Album Launch) Sunday, September 14 – The Grand Social, Dublin (Album Launch) Saturday, September 21 – Vantastival Festival, Drogheda Friday, October 10 – LASTA Festival, Síamsa Tíre, Tralee Sunday, November 9 – DeBarras Samhain Festival, Clonakilty Thursday, November 14 – Róisín Dubh, Galway Friday, November 15 – Upstairs at Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick Friday, November 21 – Sandinos, Derry Saturday, November 22 – Open House Festival, Bangor Sunday, November 23 – Spirit Store, Dundalk

TRM (formerly known as The Redneck Manifesto) release their sixth album Grushy via Dublin's Ten Spot Records on Friday, September 5. Comprising seven tracks, they say they found a new creative surge - a different pulse yet from the same wellspring - when making the album. Currently a three piece (though swelling to six when playing live), Niall Byrne, Matty Bolger and Richie Egan have been playing together for nearly 30 years. On the TPOE podcast, Matty and Richie talk about how TRM startted, what the scene in Dublin was like back then, the ideas behind the new album and lots more. Richie and Matty also play in Jape, who is part of the Landmarks series at the NCH on Sunday, September 14, where they will perform in full two albums: The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me (2004) and Ritual (2008), a Choice Prize-winning album. We talk about those two albums, their influence, Floating, and always looking forward even when you're looking back. Buy Grushy: https://www.tenspotrecords.com/tenspotreleases // https://theredneckmanifesto.bandcamp.com/album/grushy-2 TRM live at Button Factory, Saturday, September 6: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/artist/947174?venueId=198299&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAactxpTMF7l3t-Fx7NJCPLkrC9wOBxK2XJgFfbpG_LFvOUpc6HU_XaQ_ph7Kzw_aem_gdt9d2rmjPluUIbibNWTOA Jape at NCH: Landmarks, Sunday, September 14: https://www.nch.ie/all-events-listing/nch-landmarks-jape-sep25/

Throwing Shapes are Méabh McKenna, Ross Chaney, and Gareth Quinn Redmond who release their self-titled debut album on WRWTFWW on September 5 - a hypnotic, texturally rich exploration in sound. Led by the striking timbre of the Irish wire strung harp, the album weaves intricate instrumental tapestries with ambitious electronic synthesis and arrangements. Eoghan talked to the three members of Throwing Shapes at Another Love Story, discussing ambient music, how they got together, recording the album, the importance of the Irish harp and so much more. Buy the album: https://garethquinnredmond.bandcamp.com/album/throwing-shapes

Recorded live at Love is a Stranger at Ballyvolane House, Co Cork, Eoghan and Cíara induct the first four Irish albums into the TPOE hall of fame. 01:20 Sinéad O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got 08:20: Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History 15:10: Gilla Band - Holding Hands with Jamie 23:50: Villagers - Darling Arithmetic

Recorded live at Cork Opera House to mark 30 years since the untimely death of Rory Gallagher, this special episode features Gerry McAvoy — Rory’s longtime bassist and musical companion. Gerry played alongside Rory for 20 incredible years, from the early 70s through to 1991, bringing Irish rock to international stages and sharing bills with the likes of Rush, ZZ Top, and Fleetwood Mac. We trace Rory’s journey from the Belfast music scene to becoming one of Ireland’s most celebrated rock musicians, hear stories from life on the road, and get an intimate, behind-the-scenes portrait of the man behind the music. Packed with memories, humour, and the heart of a partnership that defined an era, this is a must-listen for Rory Gallagher fans and lovers of rock history alike. Thanks to Cork's Feedback Promotions for asking me to do the interview. The Point of Everything will be doing a live show on Sunday morning of Love is a Stranger festival in Ballyvolane House, North Cork, this weekend, August 15-17. Tickets/info: https://anotherlovestory.ie/

Eoghan and Cíara talk about their experience at All Together Now 2025, and two incredible performances by CMAT and Fontaines DC.

Eoghan and Ciara celebrate the 10-year anniversary of The Point of Everything podcast, reflecting on its evolution and some of Eoghan's favourite interviews. Then then preview All Together Now 2025, talking about Fontaines DC and CMAT headlining, plus the emerging Irish acts to look out for, the worst clashes and the best of the rest. Cíara then talks about seeing Billie Eilish headline 3Arena and they finish with tracks of the week. TPOE will be at Love is a Stranger festival on August. 16-17. Tickets/info: https://anotherlovestory.ie/liasbv/

Poor Creature aka Ruth Clinton (Landless), Cormac MacDiarmada (Lankum) and John Dermody (The Jimmy Cake) released their debut album All Smiles Tonight via River Lea Records on July 11. They talk about their 'other' bands before discussing how Poor Creature started, how some of the songs on the record developed (Willie-O, The Whole Town Knows), working with producer John 'Spud' Murphy, supporting/playing with Lisa O'Neill, plus lots more. Poor Creature tour dates: September 12: The Duncairn, Belfast September 16: The Attic, Leeds September 17: The Portland Arms, Cambridge September 18: The Larder House, Southbourne September 19: Strange Brew, Brisol September 20: Subterranean Festival in the Royal Festival Hall, London September 21: Yes, Manchester November 27: Button Factory, Dublin Buy Poor Creature - All Smiles Tonight: https://riverlea.bandcamp.com/track/the-whole-town-knows All Smiles Tonight music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV8YtKabvpM&ab_channel=PoorCreature

Cíara and Eoghan discuss new albums by Poor Creature - All Smiles Tonight, Olafur Arnalds & Talos - A Dawning, and Wet Leg - Moisturizer. Plus music chat and new track recommendations

Aaron Smyth aka A Smyth released his second album Hello Goliath via Lover Records on June 13. He joins to talk about previous band Vann Music and feeling "blacklisted" in the music industry. From there, we talk about A Smyth's journey, with a deep focus on songwriting and simply just trying to get better at it. Working with producer Darragh Nolan was key and he also became a dad - how did that affect him personally and musically; he also explains how his son should have a co-writing credit on the opening track on Hello Goliath. We discuss releasing debut album Last Animals in 2021 and talk through some of the deep tracks on Hello Goliath. Buy A Smyth - Hello Goliath: https://asmyth.bandcamp.com/album/hello-goliath A Smyth album release party at Annesley House, August 23: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/a-smyth-hello-goliath-album-launch-the-annesley-house-tickets-1429020261069 Vann Music - Electro Shock Dreams: https://soundcloud.com/vannmusic/sets/electro-shock-dreams

Cíara Byrne joins to talk about Glastonbury 2025, in particular CMAT, Bob Vylan and Kneecap, favourite albums of the year (so far), album news, new track recommendations, gig news and more. Preorder For Those I Love - Carving the Stone: https://forthoseilove.terrible.group/ Pot-Pot - Warsaw 480km - https://potpot.bandcamp.com/album/warsaw-480km Throwing Shapes - Throwing Shapes - https://garethquinnredmond.bandcamp.com/album/throwing-shapes Jameson x Mo Chara tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/jameson-connects-presents-sean-mckenna-dug-asha-ari-tickets-1441559426049

Texas-born, Laois-raised, London-based artist Kean Kavanagh returns to talk about his debut album The County Star. An introspective work, it finds him examining all those sides of his being: USA, Ireland, and London as he adopts the dual persona of a cowboy county star/GAA county star. Kean, who many will know as a close collaborator of Kojaque (they co-founded Soft Boy Records) released his debut project Dog Person in 2020. He suffered a vocal injury on tour with Kojaque in 2022 and had to undergo vocal therapy and relearning how to sing. It's something he examined on the 2023 EP Wrestling Music. It is also inherent on this album. We talk about all this and more in a 40-minute chat. We talk about community, traditional music and GAA, making videos with Kojaque starring comedian Peter McGann, collaborating with Karma Kid and Baz Kaye in making the record, and why he's not counting Dog Person as his debut release. Buy The County Star: https://heaven-sent.ochre.store/ Kean on TPOE 192: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DaEf882Y1VjoWBQVeuTOP?si=ecbf6ddd8c2046bb

Eoghan and Cíara chat about their weekend at Beyond the Pale and the difficulties the music festival faced in the week preceding it. There's also music news, review of Kean Kavanagh's debut album The County Star, and new track recommendations. 0:00 Intro and Beyond the Pale review 18:51 Music News 21:00 TPOE Album Club: Kean Kavanagh - The County Star 27:48 New track recommendations Links for music discussed Kean Kavanagh - The County Star: https://heaven-sent.ochre.store/ Kez - In The Arms https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kez11/in-the-arms-2 Laurie Shaw - Please Can You Cut That Out (And Stick It In My Almanac) https://laurieshawofficial.bandcamp.com/album/magnetosphere

Eoghan is joined by Stevie and Jake Lennox of Belfast’s Junk Drawer, who released their second album Days of Heaven on June 6 via Pizza Pizza Records. Formed in 2015 alongside Brian Coney and Rory Dee, Junk Drawer blend Weezer-esque riffs, shoegaze and indie rock. Fresh off an eight-date tour of Ireland with Cola and M(h)aol, the brothers reflect on the DIY logistics of putting it all together, the origins of the band and the evolution of their sound, working with producer Chris Ryan, what it means to make "weird, cosmic Ulster music", playing SXSW, the Belfast music scene and lots more. Buy Days of Heaven: junkdrawerbelfast.bandcamp.com.

Eoghan and Cíara return to chat about the music news, including new albums by Altered Hours, Big Thief and Cate Le Bon, discuss Pulp and Iggy Pop coming to Dublin, dive into our first TPOE Album Club with post-punk band M(h)aol's second album Something Soft, discuss new albums coming out this week, and finish with two track recommendations. 04:34: Music News and Upcoming Releases 14:39: TPOE Album Club: M(h)aol - Something Soft 31:06: Recommendations and closing thoughts

Cíara Byrne (Golden Plec, The Thin Air, Irish Examiner) joins to run through music news (Grizzly Bear are back, Basic Income for the Arts, Sufjan Stevens), recent gigs by Morgana and CMAT, new releases and our favourite Irish festival sets as festival szn 2025 kicks off

Limerick artist Laura Duff released her debut album Sea Legs on May 23. A meditation on grief, it sees her confront the death of her father and the fallout in the following months and years. “I was setting out to write Sea Legs in my dad’s memory,” she says. “It was very intentional in that way. All of the lyrical context is based around that, and his life, as well as trying to maintain some level of communication. Sea Legs is inspired by my experience of navigating everything that comes with losing a parent; dealing with grief as time passes, family relationships and the physicality of death.” Sea Legs was recorded, produced and mixed by Mícheál Keating in Knockaderry, Co Limerick, with the band featuring Keating, JJ Lee and Christopher O'Sullivan. Buy the album: https://lauraduff.bandcamp.com/

Dublin-based traditional Irish duo Varo (Lucie Azconaga and Consuelo Nerea Breschi) released their second album The World That I Knew on May 9. A collaborative album produced by John 'Spud' Murphy (Lankum), it features some of the most acclaimed names in the Irish folk music world in 2025: Ruth Clinton (Landless, Poor Creature), Cormac Mac Diarmada (Lankum, Poor Creature), Alannah Thornburgh, Inni-K, John Francis Flynn, Anna Mieke, Niamh Bury, Lemoncello, Junior Brother, Ian Lynch (Lankum), Branwen (Rufous Nightjar), and Slow Moving Clouds, among many other musicians too. Five years in the making, The World That I Knew began a month into lockdown. Lucie and Consuelo began working on a meaningful project related to the challenging and historical times the world was experiencing, selecting 10 songs, written between 30 and 300 years ago, that speak powerfully to our present moment.“Through the passage of time, political, social and cultural contexts vary, but the core of people’s experiences remain the same,” say Varo. “Themes like loneliness, heartbreak, racism, homesickness, and human connection are universal. These songs still speak truth.” Buy The World That I Knew: https://varodublin.bandcamp.com/