A round-up of recent releases, including Catriona McKay and Alistair MacDonald, Jörg Widmann and the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Sankhara, and Graham Sweeney. To submit your music for inclusion, please email newreleases@journalofmusic.com.

Influential Clare musician passes away aged 95.

Former managing director of RTÉ Radio Clare Duignan to chair taskforce; full membership yet to be announced.

Aoife Nessa Frances, Bleeding Heart Pigeons, God Knows, Fia Moon, Reevah and Tebi Rex also among the fifty acts announced.

A new documentary on the history of Irish hip hop explores the views of current artists such as Denise Chaila, Costello, Ophelia, Kojaque and Mango X Mathman. Is the genre becoming an agent of change in Ireland? Andrea Cleary reviews.

Commercial promoters can apply for up to €800k to support live music events; artists can apply for grants for songwriting, recording and PR.

First concert takes place this Friday live from the National Concert Hall; upcoming concerts feature work by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Bartók, Mozart, Ó Súilleabháin, John Kinsella and Neil Martin.

A round-up of recent music and arts appointments and awards in Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland Opera, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Music Network, Mermaid Arts Centre, Tyrone Guthrie Centre, English Folk Song and Dance Society, and BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales. To send us your news, email editor@journalofmusic.com.

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Ahead of their 9-date Music Network tour with concertina player Cormac Begley, Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn of Ye Vagabonds spoke to the Journal of Music about the last six months during the pandemic and their material for upcoming concerts.

Tional virtual Gaelic festival will feature concerts, workshops and cèilidh sessions.

This week's digital and live concerts from Monday to Sunday. To have your digital concert included next week (7–13 September), please add it to our listings.