David O'Reilly

May 29, 2024 | pewtrusts.org | David O'Reilly

Austin Vivolo doesn’t recall what grade he was in when his parents stopped going to church, only that he and his older brother were delighted. “We thought, ‘Oh, we don’t have to go to that boring place anymore where we always have to be quiet.’”

Mar 17, 2024 | belfastlive.co.uk | David O'Reilly

We've witnessed the best of Irish music this week, with some of the finest new acts on this island prioritising their principles over their ambition. All because of a music industry event called SXSW which takes place in Texas every March. For a few days, Austin becomes music industry HQ, with new bands performing a series of shows knowing that management, A&R, record labels and the likes are all knocking about. Deals are done and hype is created.

Feb 25, 2024 | belfastlive.co.uk | David O'Reilly

In the 80s, Nick Cave successfully transitioned out of the Birthday Party's fragmented punk toward a more urbane, theatrical brand of rock. In the roaring 2020s, David McCrum is having his own reincarnation. As the frontman, principal songwriter and poster boy for Lisburn garage rock bottle rockets The Couth, it fell to him to constantly navigate the rigmarole of keeping the band alive.

Feb 11, 2024 | belfastlive.co.uk | David O'Reilly

I was mindlessly scrolling my life away recently, when I came across a new musical scheme that would have left an 18-year-old me in raptures. Cursing my luck at the passage of time, I read about “Uncharted Sounds” a scholarship programme for emerging, unsigned artists from Northern Ireland – based in the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast. The principle was beautifully simple.

Feb 4, 2024 | belfastlive.co.uk | David O'Reilly

Conchur White always had it. The sublime voice, the effortless cool, the onstage charm. And, most importantly of all, a creative ability so significant he shone through and stood out in a part of the world awash with songwriting talent. Crucially, Conchur also had something many before him have lacked – patience. It’s been 10 years since Santa Cruz – the debut release from his original band – Silences.