The District Music Podcast

The Irish Traditional Music Revival: Why Is Everyone Playing Trad Again?

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Trad is everywhere right now. Young people are packing sessions, folk artists are selling out venues, and Irish traditional music is finding new life through indie, hip hop, electronic music, and social media. But why now? In this episode, Rachel Mae Hannon and Dray Morgan unpack the cultural, historical, and social forces behind Ireland's trad revival, from post-pandemic community and national identity to artists redefining what Irish music sounds like in 2026.

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Vinyl to Virality, Radio to AI: What Shapes Music Now?

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This week, Rachel and Dray catch up after a busy weekend before Rachel chats to music content creator and former broadcaster Joe Donnelly. From vinyl collecting and radio to AI and music discovery, Joe shares his thoughts on how the industry has changed and where it's heading next.

Plus, Rachel and Dray round off the episode with their Tracks of the Week.

Listen along with our new Tracks of the Week playlist on District Music's Spotify.

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Festival Fever

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Fresh from Forbidden Fruit and Beyond The Pale, Rachel and Dray break down the best sets, biggest surprises and most talked-about moments of festival season. They also take a journey through the history of Irish festivals, tracing the path from ancient Celtic gatherings and Fleadh Cheoil to Féile, Oxegen and Electric Picnic, exploring how Irish festival culture became what it is today. Plus, dream festival lineups, new music recommendations, and your chance to win The Cranberries' complete back catalogue on vinyl.

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Trailer

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:57:09 GMT

Why are we starting The Distrist Music Podcast? Who are Rachel Mae Hannon and Dray Morgan? Let's get in to it. From this week on, we will be encompassing contemporary music culture in Ireland and beyond. From legendary albums and iconic music moments, to breakthrough artists, deep dives, interviews, festival chaos and everything in between.

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