Best Cavan music of 2020

Zen Arcade: Don't Say a Word

'Don't Say A Word' is a blistering declaration of pop-punk intent by Zen Arcade. For the uninitiated the Arcade has three former Strypes – Pete, Ross, and Evan – and a revolving door of talented friends pitching in with contributions.

After a brief Diamond Dogs-esque intro the high octane tune that emerges has a latter-day Stiff Little Fingers feel to it with machine gun drumming and organ. An encouraging opening gambit by Zen Arcade, can't wait to hear what's in store next – spread the word!

Spiritual Leaders: Picture on the Wall

There's something reassuring about the Spiritual Leaders' resurrection earlier this year. While David Reilly's (guitar, vocals) relocation to England almost a decade brought the Leaders to a premature halt as soon as they launched their debut album, they had a few unrecorded tunes squirrelled away. A birthday present of a recording session saw Reilly dust off the tracks, and invite Fergus Brady (lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards), and Cathal Brady (drums and percussion) over. Appearing on their Albania Away EP, 'Picture on the Wall' was the first sample of the rebooted Leaders and it was worth the wait. There's a classic Irish indie feel about it, with a catchy chorus and a fabulous crescendo.

Josh McClorey, 'Everything Was Easy'

It's easy to get caught-out humming the foul-mouthed hook of one of the best tracks released by a local act in 2020. But solely lose focus on the catchy chorus would be to deal Josh McClorey an great injustice. Because 'Everything is Easy' is more than just the sum of its individual and collective parts. It is, for all intents and purposes, a triumphant arrival to the solo-music scene by a fabulous musical mind.

Stripped back, comfortable in his own skin, and doing things is own way, McClorey has embraced a definitive alt-pop sound as carriage to his creative waywardness.

Shane Codd: Get Out Of My Head

Shane Codd's absolute banger “Get Out Of My Head” is a lockdown penned piece of pop perfection that has gained the Bailieborough music creator a lot of attention. From MTV to the BBC the certified floor filler, from a time when there are no floors to be filled, has catapulted him to the forefront of the Irish dance music scene.

Signed to Polydor Record “Get Out Of My Head” had attracted a buzz of interest from major labels.

Citing '90s and '00s house and trance music as his main influence it's easy to see the imprint they made on “Get Out Of My Head”: “That was the music I was first introduced to as a kid. I still love 90s trance and the dance music of the early 00s. I'm 23 now, so I was very young at the time,” he laughs.

Elena Duff: Sailing on the Sea of Love

Few things sound less promising than a love song played on the ukulele, so it was with a sense of duty rather than optimism that the Celt clicked on 'Sailing on the Sea of Love' by Elena Duff. Happily the tune by the Bailieborough visual artist turned out to be a delicate thing of quiet beauty.

Elena accurately describes it as a "lullaby for adults", and the plinking xylophone and ukulele plucking hang together as loosely as a child's mobile. A degree of maturity is brought by the brush drums and double bass, but what really elevates the song is Elena's voice and its natural soulful tone.

Sons of Southern Ulster: For the Birds

Its difficult to pick a single track from an album that could be considered one of the best Irish releases of 2020. But 'For the Birds' off 'Sinners and Lost Souls' stands out for a band that are renowned for specialising in recounting stories from small town Ireland that speak to anyone anywhere in the world.

Fuelled by screeching guitars and well-placed anger, SOSU have emerged as spiritual fathers to Dogrel, a niche cultural sound once scoffed at for being perhaps 'too culchie'.

'For the Birds', and like the band itself, is deeply rooted in a sense of both time and place.