Weekly News Update
- Sophie Lee
- Nov 24, 2025
- 3 min read
An Seomra Ceol
By Sophie Lee . Founder . 24/11/25
This week was full of movement across the Irish and global indie scenes, alongside some major announcements from established Irish acts. Here’s what caught our eye.
Soda Blonde Announce Orchestral Live Album — Out 12 December
Soda Blonde will release Dream Big (Live with The National Symphony Orchestra) on 12 December.Seeing an Irish alt-pop band experiment their sound with a full symphony is a testament to how ambitious the Irish scene has become. We’re excited for this one.
Westlife Mark 25 Years With New Album & Global Tour
Irish pop icons Westlife continue their 25-year celebration with 25 – The Ultimate Collection, followed by a world tour into 2026.While ASC gravitates toward the indie world, we still love moments like this, reminders of Irish acts who built global foundations long before this new wave started.
Kodaline Confirm Split After Final Album
After more than a decade together, Kodaline announced they will part ways following their fifth and final studio album. It’s a moment that closes a chapter for Irish pop-rock, just as so many newer indie voices step into their own space. These shifts shape the musical landscape you see on ASC every week.
This Week in Irish Indie
NewDad Begin Teasing New 2026 Music
Galway indie band NewDad are already hinting at their next era — sharing studio clips and teasing that fresh music is coming next year. After a huge 2025 touring run, they continue their slow but steady global ascent.
Sprints Build International Buzz After Sold-Out European Dates
Dublin’s Sprints keep gaining momentum following a string of sold-out European shows. With multiple international outlets highlighting Ireland as an alternative hotspot, Sprints are one of the key bands.
CMAT’s “Euro Country” Continues to Pick Up Global Praise
CMAT’s latest single and album cycle remain a talking point across music publications. Her ability to blend pop, indie, and country storytelling is pushing Irish songwriting into new, genre-blurring territory.
Global Highlights
The Weeknd’s Tour Breaks $1 Billion — A Live Music Milestone
The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour has crossed the $1 billion threshold, selling more than 7.5 million tickets. For artists, this is a reminder of the scale of the global touring economy, the machine they enter, resist, or rewrite.
UK Moves to Ban Ticket Resale Above Face Value
The UK government is moving to outlaw ticket resales for profit, aiming to curb scalping and make gigs more accessible. With Ireland’s live scene so interconnected with the UK, this policy shift could spark similar conversations here.
Basement Jaxx Announce Early 2026 UK Dates
The electronic duo have added Glasgow and Edinburgh shows for March 2026, evidence that legacy electronic and indie-adjacent acts are gearing up for a big touring year ahead.
Indie Rumours: Boygenius Hints & Beabadoobee 2026 Demos
Boygenius collaborators have been subtly teasing each other online again, prompting talk of new 2026 material.Meanwhile, Beabadoobee has shared early demo snippets, also pointing to a busy year ahead.
Recommended Listening This Week
Revisit Dream Big ahead of Soda Blonde’s orchestral release
NewDad’s discography — prepping for their next chapter
Sprints’ latest live session recordings
CMAT’s “Euro Country” — still a standout
Anything from the rising Irish alt wave spotlighted internationally
Upcoming Gigs & Events
Neil Young & Elvis Costello — Musgrave Park, Cork (1 July 2026)
General sale opens 28 November.
Watch for early 2026 indie tour announcements — many artists are holding dates quietly before end-of-year reveals.
Quick Takeaways
Irish indie is entering a confident new phase, with acts like NewDad, CMAT and Sprints shaping the landscape.
Global touring is shifting, policy changes, mega-tours and industry decisions will influence Irish fans and artists alike.
We’re in a moment where Irish legacy acts and emerging indie acts are moving in parallel, and ASC sits right in the middle of that conversation.
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