During lockdown, ex Revelino guitarist and Vicar Street promoter Bren Berry oversaw the re-release of the band's debut album on vinyl. Their songs were written by Brendan Tallon. With the encouragement of his best mate (and also Brendan's brother) Ciarán, he has stepped up to the microphone with an album of his own songs 'IN HOPE OUR STARS ALIGN'.

In this episode we play several songs from the album and chat to Bren about what inspired him to start writing songs and what fires his lyrical concerns. As he says, he views these tracks as protest songs wrapped in love letters post marked Dublin City.

The 12 songs cover personal reflections on family, friendship, home, resilience, music & creativity, and address some of the social & political crises that we are living through in these troubled times. The album title comes from 'Fire Drill' and is inspired by Seamus Heaney’s 'The Cure At Troy'.

Album on Spotify

Buy vinyl on Bandcamp

Bren Berry Instagram

Tracks Played

1. Come Alive
2. Black Satellite
3. Winter Song
4. Neon Lights
5. Fire Drill

To mark the announcement of the inaugural West x Sound West Blowtorch Records showcase, Michael Smyth from Old Crows Promotions and Belfast shoegaze band Virgins turned the tables and made me a guest on our own podcast.

West by Sound West (WxSW) is on May 1 2025 and features 8 bands across 2 floors of Galway's Róisín Dubh. Virgins and Adore are co-headliners and joined by Nerves, Nixer, iNNUENDO, Some Remain, The Savage Hearts and Scattered Ashes. Rob Smith from Swedish Railway Orchestra finishes the night with one of his legendary DJ sets.

WxSW tickets (early bird €10)

It is a joint promotion between Blowtorch Records, A Modern Movement and Old Crows Promotions

"It's just a punk record with me shouting my head off"

Meryl Streek understates his impact as his outspoken oratory, delivered over a mix of melodic electronica and punk, blasts his chosen targets - the catholic church, cover-up culprits and capitalism. His new album Songs For The Deceased hits just as hard as 2022 debut 796 and is earning him swathes of new fans as well as critical acclaim and radio play.

He's on great form as we sit down before his upcoming UK tour and discuss what inspires him and makes him angry, and why he chose to perform using only a laptop, a microphone and a torch. We also discover he has never liked his voice and that 796 originally wasn't meant to have any vocals on it. Listen in for more great stories from the man behind the contact lenses as he completes his third album.

You will find Meryl Streek mostly on Instagram and you can find all album and gig information via his Linktree

Songs played

Gambling Death
Full Of Grace
Counting Sheep
Dogs
Dear James by Burnt Out - check it out on YouTube