Irish Beats with Rob O'Connor

Despite playing a festival in Longford the night before, Paul Savage of O Emperor managed to find time to drop in Irish Beats to chat about their new album Vitreous, how the band built and then nearly destroyed their own studio and he dishes dirt on their dummer's fashion sense. Paul also performed an acoustic version of 'This Is It' from the album.

Ellie and Louise Macnamara, better known as Heathers dropped by the Beat studios and had a chat with Rob about their critically acclaimed album Kingdom, working with David Guetta and hinted at writing songs for a new Disney project. Busy people indeed! If that's not enough, they performed gorgeous acoustic versions of 'Circular Road' and 'Gather up.' Get listening!

Ahead of their first gig for 2013, Aley and Mark of King Kong Company stopped by the Beat studios for a chinwag. This also includes a sort-of bluesy acoustic performance of a dance tune ... using Ableton Live. Anyway, 'Bagpuss' sounds great. Check 'em out on facebook.com/kingkongcompany

Having just released their latest album 'I Am Not The Crow', Windings dropped by the Beat studios to have a chat about touring in Canada, recording in the Arcade Fire's studio and generally making good music. They also brought the crappest drum machine speaker Rob has ever seen, but the sound was magical - so looks can be deceiving!

Wexford songsmith and string-noodler Joey Ryan popped into Irish Beats as he gears up for his new album release 'Morning Will Come Soon.' Joey financed the recording of the album through a FundIt campaign, which we promoted on Irish Beats, so it's great to hear the fruits of the effort.

The podcast includes a haunting version of Springsteen's "I'm On Fire" accompanied by Clodagh Kearney.

Rob spoke with Beat Fleeter Darragh O'Keeffe, who along with Conor Murphy is cycling 1800km around Ireland in aid of the CRYFoundation, which assist families who've suffered a loss through Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

When Rob spoke with Darragh, he'd just finished a gruelling 185km session ...

To help celebrate the memory of Thomastown's most famous adopted son, one of the musicians performing at The John Martyn Tribute concert dropped into the Beat studios. Kevin Power and Rov chatted about John's music, the folk scene and the legacy Martyn left behind. Includes some infectious finger noodling on the acoustic guitar.

The surprisingly spiffy Dirty Epics were in with Rob to discuss their new single, forthcoming second album and gigging, as well as the usual "life, the universe and everything" meanderings from the host.

In Rob's opinion (which doesn't count for much), Mark Geary is the finest singer/songwriter currently working today, so he was delighted when Mark dropped by to chat about his most recent album "Songs About Love, Songs ABout Leaving", his upcoming performance at the Gealach Gorm festival and treat us to no less than THREE acoustic tunes. Also, find out about Mark's brush with Christopher Walken in a sexy low-budget horror shlock film. The man's a legend.

An Irish indie band without a guitarist?! What what what!!! Check out this interview with Swords to learn if such a thing is possible

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