The Point of Everything

The Scratch return to the TPOE podcast for the third time to chat about their third album Pull Like a Dog, released on March 13 on Sony Music. Gaz and Cathal talk lineup changes, world tours, politics, getting heavy on the new album as well as introspective, the amazing story behind record closer Ringsend and lots more.

The Scratch play Momentum Festival in Oranmore, Co Galway, on Monday, May 4, with Cliffords and Madra Salach, plus special guests Groev and TaLLLon. Tickets available at https://www.momentumfestival.ie/

Buy Pull Like a Dog: https://www.thescratch.ie/collections/store

Kenmare/Cork artist Laurie Shaw released his latest record Felted Fruit VI on April 3. Felted Fruit VI is the latest installment of the Felted Fruit canon sprinkled across recent years. Here's the idea behind it: "Felted Fruit has moved to a New Town. With an efficient train service that gets you to and from the city every day. The neighbours have “It All”. But what is “It All” and why do they feel like they’re missing something? What lurks beneath the suburban linoleum?"

Buy the album: https://laurieshawofficial.bandcamp.com/album/felted-fruit-vi

Laurie Shaw plays The Listening Project #7 at the Town Hall in Skibbereen, West Cork, with the Whooper Swans and Phil Langero on Saturday, May 16. Tickets: https://ie.powertik.com/en/events/listening-project-7-laurie-shaw-special-guest-tba

David Kitt released The Big Romance (KIttser's Version) on April 8 via All City's Alchival label. The original record, which has featured in a number of ‘greatest Irish albums’ lists, marks its 25th anniversary this year, having been released on June 18, 2001.

Following his home-recorded debut Small Moments, 2001’s The Big Romance marked Kittser’s first experience working in a professional studio.

“The bulk of the original album was recorded at Pulse Studios off Camden St. with producer Ken McHugh - owner of many of the synths and samplers and drum machines I dreamt of owning back then. It was such an exciting time to have access to this dream palette of sounds and Ken's skill and talent as a producer/programmer. I was bringing in records from underground electronica and hip hop as references for the sound I was going for and the results were a fusion of more traditional acoustic and electric instruments with electronic sounds and hip-hop flavours that was pretty fresh for the time. It felt like a distillation of all the things I was a fan of. It's a sound I feel I've been honing and crafting ever since.”

The record - featuring the singles 'Song From Hope St. (Brooklyn, NY)' and 'You Know What I Wanna Know' - sold 60,000 copies in Ireland alone and marked a major shift in Kitt’s life as a musician and performer.

Originally released on Warner Music, Kitt says: “The contract I signed back then means they own the rights to the album 'for the universe forever', apparently. Great! I approached them about a vinyl reissue for the 10th and 20th anniversaries and got nowhere. So, for the 25th anniversary, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make a version of the album that I own myself and I'm free to press on vinyl.”

The new release features all ten tracks of the original album along with three new tracks and b-side and fan favourite 'Saturdays' - all lovingly and faithfully remade in Ballinskelligs, at Kitt’s home studio, with the invaluable help of Ken McHugh and drawing on his 25 years’ experience of making records with synths and samplers.

“I feel I've landed on a document that has the sonic and emotional DNA of the original - and at times improves on it, a record that will be cherished by fans of the original and would get the seal of approval from my 25-year-old self.”

David Kitt will perform The Big Romance in full across two special shows at the National Concert Hall this week (Friday and Saturday, April 10-11), joined by an all-star band featuring Dylan Lynch, Rachael Lavelle, Katie Kim, Ryan Hargadon, Paul G. Smyth, Eamon Brady and Gareth Averill.

Buy The Big Romance (Kittser's Version): https://davidkitt.bandcamp.com/album/the-big-romance-kittsers-version

Belfast singer songwriter Joshua Burnside released his sixth studio album It's Not Going To Be Okay via Nettwork Music Group on March 20. This is a record born out of loss and the fragile act of continuing. Written and recorded in the wake of the death of Joshua’s close friend Dean Jendoubi, the album is his most stripped-back and unguarded work to date. “It’s a grief record but also a love record for Dean, for my family, for being alive at all," he says.

On this episode of the TPOE podcast, Joshua Burnside talks about touring the US with Ye Vagabonds; getting nominated for the Choice Prize for 2025 album Teeth of TIme; embracing traditional Irish music; grief, the creative process and paying tribute to his friend Dean; the direct nature and homour in the songs; and his family's reaction to the record.

Buy the album: https://joshuaburnside.bandcamp.com/album/its-not-going-to-be-okay

Joshua Burnside tour dates:
Friday, May 1: Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Saturday, May 2: Button Factory, Dublin
Wednesday, May 6: Oran Mor, Glasgow
Thursday, May 7: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
Saturday, May 9: Prince Albert, Stroud (two shows (2pm, 9pm)
Sunday, May 10: EartH Theatre, London
Monday, May 11: Beacon, Bristol
Wednesday, June 17: Cornish Bank, Falmouth
Thursday, June 18: Barrel House, Totnes
Friday, June 19: The Tree House, Frome
Saturday, June 20: Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
Sunday, June 21: Beverley Folk Festival, Beverley
Saturday, August 15: Custom House Square, Belfast (supporting Foy Vance)

Cork artist Pat Carey calls himself the creative director of How I Became a Wave, who release their self-titled debut album on Friday, March 27. Lush in strings and pedal steel, the nine-track album features contributions from some of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians and featuring string and piano arrangements by Cormac McCarthy (RTÉ Concert Orchestra). Carey says: “I have sat with these songs, pulled and pushed at them for what seems like a decade now. It's taken that long to come to a place where I can sit comfortably with my own voice, where I can embrace both the vulnerability and strength of authentic self expression.”

Buy the album: https://howibecameawave.bandcamp.com/

How I Became a Wave tour dates:
Sunday, March 29: Whelan’s, Dublin (supporting Joan Shelley)
Sunday, April 12 - afternoon and evening shows at Coughlans, Cork
Friday, April 17: Unitarian Church, Dublin
Sunday, April 19: Prim’s Bookshop, Kinsale
Thursday, April 30: The Ghostlight Sessions, Balor Arts Centre, Donegal
Saturday, May 16: Levis' of Ballydehob