Our Music Scene - Cardinals - Cork - Best of Ireland

A great thing about being in Cork is that it’s very open-minded about music. It’s not dogmatic about a certain genre, so it’s hard to pin down sonically. Sometimes it feels more like a community than a scene; very supportive, DIY, vibrant and constantly blossoming.

Everyone’s willing to see something new and form their own opinions of it. The people are excited and enthusiastic about up and coming acts. There’s always something new around town, either artists doing various projects, or someone putting on a special one-off show of their own making. Everyone’s looking to be inspired.

Cardinals. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Cork is small, so it’s almost out of necessity to try new things, or check out a new act. There’s a lot packed into such a tight space. The scene was, and still is, constantly changing and growing post-Covid. Since then, lots of venues shut down or some changed their business model entirely, and aren’t the rock-n-roll hubs they used to be. The pandemic forced artists to take matters into their own hands.

Live at St Lukes

The Cork live scene always leaned into that home-made spin, but Covid certainly increased not only its presence – because venues closed down – but also amplified the demand for it. Most bands and musicians are putting the gigs on themselves, from back-gardens to pubs and cafes. The shows are usually promoted on socials like Instagram or through the grapevine, but word gets around fast. Everyone’s very supportive, from musicians and business owners to regulars and newcomers.

The Friary

Back when we started out, we had promoted a single launch party and scrambled to find a place on short notice. At the last minute, we approached the owner at a local pub, The Friary, and he let us book the gig a day before. So, DIY has become a huge part of the current ethos of the Cork music scene. You can see how venues are being repurposed, too, at spots like Live at St. Luke’s. It’s a unique spot with a lot of innovation and vibrance.

• Cardinals is out now.