Black Country, New Road (Sounds From A Safe Harbour Festival)
Sun 14 Sep 2025
9pm
€30
There are few contemporary bands who can do musical reinvention quite as consistently as Black Country, New Road. From their Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut For the First Time, which touched upon everything from jazz to post-rock via klezmer music, to the art-rock meets chamber pop follow up Ants From Up There (both top 5 charting albums). Black Country, New Road have just announced their headline show in the Cyprus Avenue as part of Sounds From A Safe Harbour 2025.
When singer Isaac Wood amicably left, Black Country, New Road wrote an entire set of new songs to tour which ended up on Live at Bush Hall, an album The Guardian claimed was a “magical resurgence” in a triumphant five-star review. Now, on studio album three, the band are once again building from the ground up in yet another miraculous musical transformation.
"Bush Hall was a really fun project for us," says Charlie Wayne. "But after touring it extensively, we were ready for something new." The band, now a six-piece with vocal duties shared
among Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery, and May Kershaw, is excited about their latest album, which reflects their growth and perspective.
Their close-knit friendship and musical adaptability remain key to their success. They've been praised as "the best band in the world" by The Quietus, even without conventional tours. Their live album captures the profound friendships that have shaped their journey.
Produced by James Ford, their new record showcases a bold range of styles, from folk to prog, while maintaining a unique sound. The album's opening track, ‘Besties,’ celebrates female friendships in creative spaces, leading into the easy-going ‘The Big Spin.’
With each member contributing individual songs, a collaborative songwriting process emerged, where ideas influenced one another seamlessly. For example, ‘Happy Birthday,’ inspired by ‘Besties,’ addresses generational differences while retaining its own distinct identity. Overall, the album is a cohesive blend of varied influences, reflecting both contemporary and timeless themes.
