Emerging local talent back at Laois festival

In a county renowned for great festivals, the organiser of Forest Fest are going to lengths to support that music tradition in Laois.    

As part of their ‘Best Festival’ mission at Forest Fest HQ,  one of their ambitions is to provide a platform and opportunity for the best emerging local talent.

So once again this year they have partnered with their talented friends at the Port’ Art Collective and their Battle of the Bands event at The Anvil.

The Port’ Battle of the Bands is fast becoming a launching pad for some of the hottest and dedicated acts on the block, as can be testified by the progress of Dopamine, Motion Sickness and Ares Redemption, who were among those to feature prominently last year. They all went on to pull off head turning sets at the first ever Forest Fest.  

This year’s Battle of the Bands talent pool has yielded up another enticing and exciting trio of acts - Alright Then, Houston Death Ray and Thanks Mom.

“One of the most enjoyable aspects of programming Forest Fest is spotting and encouraging exciting new emerging talent. I always look forward to adjudicating the Battle of the Bands in Port’ as part of that process and once again we’ve come away with three knock-out acts who are going to make their mark on the Perfect Day stage at Forest Fest this summer,” enthused festival promoter Philip Meagher.

Alright Then is a flux of lazy folk-rock and indie music.  Their sound is sympathetic to the subconscious of the genre, with influences such as Kurt Vile, Julia Jacklin, and Kevin Morby inspiring their debut single 'Colouring House' - a song which binds simplicity, vocal gravitas, and lyrical integrity to convey themes of disbelief in the current cost of living crisis. 

The band consists of a three-piece from Laois: Conor McLoughlin (vocal/guitar), Colm Geraghty (drums) and Cillian Deegan (bass).

Thanks Mom are Erica on (vocals, lead guitar), Grace (vocals, rhythm guitar), Amelie (bass) and Cillian (drums) a lofi indie rock band from Kildare. Heavily influenced by acts like Car Seat Headrest, Neutral Milk Hotel, Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers & Black Country, New Road you’ll hear sprinklings of those influences in their music. Thanks Mom are an authentic DIY bedroom band with a plethora of singles and two albums under their belt. Thanks Mom are currently working on new material which will be released later this year. “Thanks Mom are a lofi indie rock Wet Leg or Beabadobee & maybe a little cooler” - L’islet Records.

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As for Houston Death Ray, well they’re an other-worldly experience and it’s best let them explain it in their own words. 

‘In the earth's mid-20th Century, a space craft crash landed on the planet. Officials recovered the wreckage and what they believed to be all occupants. However, three souls escaped and when they recovered from their injuries, they merged into society unnoticed.

The officials harnessed the new found Alien technology, speeding industrial and military revolution beyond control. While much good came from this so too did much bad. Without need, they developed a weapon capable of use both within and beyond the planet. Built in the city of Houston this Death Ray poses grave danger to the earthlings. The Houston Death Ray has been moved constantly since to avoid capture. It has been the mission of those three souls to recover this device and save humanity.  Austin Houston (named after a road sign he saw), Dr Lemmington Steele (medical and science officer with a liking for lemon soda and 80s detective shows) and Mr Skipp Vynal (communications officer who loves the crackling of an old record player) tour the world playing music as a way of keeping track of the Death Day. With energetic anthems designed to make the crowds move you can't afford to miss the Houston Death Ray......your life and that of your planet depends on it’. Houston Death Ray are - Austin Houston (guitar/vocals), Dr. Lemmington Steele (bass/vocals) Skipp Vynal (drums/vocals)