This platinum-selling four-piece have established themselves as the current biggest-selling independent group in Ireland. Following a sell-out UK tour earlier this year, The Coronas went on to secure spots at the UK’s biggest festivals including Bestival and T?In The Park and are set to return to the UK this November for a national tour in support of their Tony Hoffer-produced new album, Closer To You.

A pop-rock band founded by Gary Harding and Jim McGuire in early 2012, the pair from Dublin compose songs that are direct, gutsy and always grab attention. Prior to Darling they came from a background where the attitude and image stylings of indie post-punk took centre stage. Now the song is the star and the duo have been laser focused on harnessing a pop discipline and writing music for the masses. Earlier this year the band worked with renowned producer Stephen Lipson (Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Ultravox, Pet Shop Boys) at his base in London. Available for recording, publishing and sync.

Hailed by BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms as “a real London anthem”, Highgate Hill is the kind of unique track that few songwriters have the fortune to stumble upon. In addition to consistent support this summer from Elms, ambient electrofolk duo Electric Penguins count BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, Gideon Coe and Tom Robinson among their spot plays. The Dublin duo are also increasingly sought after as a producer outfit with a solid background in composing for TV and film and for adding their Eno-esque soundscapes to various rock projects. Available for recording, publishing and sync.

Irish roots-folk band Tupelo have launched themselves firmly into the spotlight of the UK folk scene following a rapturous reception at their recent Deer Shed Festival appearance. Support for the band has come from BBC Radio 2’s Mike Harding with plays of their single Firefly, taken from their debut album Dirty Money, which has also received glowing reviews from the Daily Mirror plus many folk and roots blogs. Working as hard as ever the band are currently touring Denmark and Sweden with many EU dates booked in for 2013. The all-acoustic four-piece will soon begin recording their second album with producer Joe Chester. Available for licensing, sub-publishing and sync.

Singer-songwriter Niall Boyle creates guitar-driven rock pop of the highest order. A Place In The Sun, the title track of Niall’s latest album, brings his ear for a catchy melody and powerful chorus to the fore. A writer of true depth, Niall is as comfortable composing for his original musical productions for theatre as he is in the studio working on new material. While clocking up 60,000 YouTube views for a specially commissioned animated video for recent single Walk Together, Niall has gained universally positive reviews for his craft in the Irish press. Available for licensing, sub-publishing and sync outside Ireland.

dREA is the new musical offering from Limerick’s Damien Drea. His initial interest has developed into a lifelong career that has seen him work with a multitude of talented musicians. His love of performing is matched by his passion for songwriting and has led to a number of successes including the Hot Press song of the year award, Top 30 success and a licensing deal with major American TV network CBS. Damien is currently focusing on putting the final touches to the debut album, which is due for release in early 2013. Giuliano Baglioni, who has worked on various projects with the legendary Daniel Lanois, is producing the record.

Formed in a festival tent in 2010 Dublin- based four-piece band Raglans launched the same year. Raglans are Stephen Kelly, Ros Horan, Conn ORunaidh and Liam Morrow. Raglans blaze a trail of muscular new-wave guitars, gritty pop melodies and uplifting indie folk arrangements that hop, skip and jump with a skill and confidence far beyond their short lifespan. The band have been touring since the release appearing at all the major Irish festivals including Westport, Sea Sessions, Indiependence, The Volvo Ocean Race, No Place Like Dome, Knockanstockan, Festival of Fires to name a few. Raglans are heading over for their first UK tour in October 2012 before returning for more Irish dates.

Formed by brothers Steve and Joe Wall in Dublin, The Walls have just released their third album Stop The Lights on their own imprint. It hit Top 20 in Ireland on the back of three strong singles and good airplay. The Walls have supported U2, Bob Dylan, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and in 2007 Crowded House brought them to Australia as support on their massive reunion gigs. In the US, renowned tastemaker Nic Harcourt invited them to perform live on his legendary KCRW show Morning Becomes Eclectic. The band are currently planning their first ever visit to the UK.

Ultra-hooky, dramatic vocal harmony-drenched tunes. Echoes of The Beatles, Harry Nilsson, the Beach Boys, and Phil Spector are everywhere. HAL go beyond imitation and use their influences, as a good band should, as guides and not blueprints. The Dublin three-piece formed in 2003 and were signed by Geoff Travis to Rough Trade Records in 2004. Their eponymous debut album was produced by Tears for Fears? Ian Stanley, and released to critical acclaim in 2005, producing two UK and Irish Top 40 chart hits and selling 68,000 copies in the process. HAL make a stunning return with second album The Time The Hour, out now.

Waterford five-piece The Dead Heavys burst onto the Irish music scene from seemingly nowhere in 2012 armed with a set full of modern-day anthems set to a pyschedelic groove. Tipped by John Robb (Louder Than War) with a strong marketable sound that could easily grab a whole stadium full of post-Oasis fans, their debut (The Lazarus EP) was quickly snapped up and playlisted on Irish daytime radio. With a successful run of summer gigs, including spots at some of the major Irish festivals, The Dead Heavys look set to make a big impression in 2013. 

Dublin four-piece Delorentos are currently being hailed as one of Ireland’s best and most imaginative bands. Their recent, self-released (and third Top 20) album, Little Sparks, saw them set up one-day pop-up shops in disused spaces to promote the record and play to all comers, on top of having produced a full-colour magazine to package a four-track EP that preceded the album. Similarly their live shows (both electric and acoustic) have seen them thrill crowds in Ireland and Spain, in particular, with headline shows and festival appearances alike (including Electric Picnic, Benecassim, SOS 4.8, Santander, San Sebastian).

Combining the parochial storytelling style of Bruce Springsteen with the pop song sensibilities of Sam Cooke, Strange Boats deliver their music with the intent of The Clash... Yet still the band who hail from the rural town of Tuam in the west of Ireland do all this in their own accents and in their own small town way, maintaining credibility through the passion and heart-wrenching honesty in their big yet simple rock music. Having only just released their debut single, Strange Boats have made a major impact since exploding on to the Irish music scene earlier this year.

Hailing from the east of Ireland, Soldiers Can’t Dance debuted across the Irish festival circuit in the summer of 2012. Armed with a distinctly vibrant sound and a growing reputation for energetic and downright loud live performances, this three piece have made a name for themselves as one of the most promising young indie acts in the country. Their latest offering to an ever growing fan base, a second EP ‘Me and My Ghost’, confirms their well earned billing as ones to most certainly watch.