RTÉ 2XM - Ireland's New Music Alternativ

Cian and Phil McCarthy get the week going on RTÉ 2XM tonight at 8pm on Needs More Cowbell as they celebrate the release of Frightened Rabbit's new album The Winter of Mixed Drinks by listening back to the interview and session Scott from the band did for the show before Christmas. There'll also be music from Choice Music Prize winner Adrian Crowley, a classic Guilty Pleasure song from Judas Priest and music from the Spanish and Latvian indie scene. Repeated on Sunday at 3pm.

Rachel Jordan follows at 10pm with D.I.Y. Records, bringing you a great mix of tracks released on independent record labels. Included this week will be new music from Glasser, Pictureplane, Archie Bronson Outfit, Tanlines and Dosh plus loads of other greater tracks. Also, this week Underwater Peoples will be under the Independent Label Spotlight. Repeated on Friday at 3pm.

From 3pm this Thursday Steven Battle will be spinning new tunes from Warp records' latest gems GonjaSufi. Dublin native James Vincent McMorrow also features with a track from his powerful debut album Early In The Morning and Broken Bells also feature in this week's fresh mix of alternative music. Tune in to Sabotage from 3pm Thursday and Monday at 8pm and check out 2xmsabotage.blogspot.com for more on the show.

At 7pm the Wired For Sound team talk to Richard Boardman from rising stars Delphic. After a hugely successful gig in The Academy the Manchester outfit are readying themselves for a trip stateside, which will include a performance at Coachella. Tune in and find out all about it. Repeated on Saturday at 6pm.

Jack Fox wraps up the week on 2XM with Synths Vs Strings at 10pm on Saturday where he features a mix from L.A's Computer Club. His music is loud, aggressive and spattered with grimy funk with a tendency toward the heavy, distortion-tinged sound of electro house but is well balanced with his penchant for funk-laden interludes amongst the banger blitz. Check it out! Repeated on Friday at 5pm.

For the best new music and interviews tune to RTÉ 2XM

Cian and Phil McCarthy start the week on RTÉ 2XM tonight, Tuesday 8 March, at 8pm with Needs More Cowbell where they'll be joined by Readers Wives. Cian and Phil went to the band’s studio to talk to them about the recording of their new EP Victors Mother Juliet which is out on 15 March. You'll also hear a live song recorded by the band exclusively for the show. There’ll be brand new music from We Were Promised Jetpacks new EP The Last Place You'll Look as well as the Guilty Pleasure Song and a spotlight on music from Scotland. Repeated on Sunday at 3pm.

At 7pm Robotnik's Random Rampage talks about movies, touching on the subject of movie money with Judy Garland getting only paid $35 an hour and Marlon Brando getting paid $4 million for ten minutes work. While things get seriously interesting on the screen, Chris Morrin somehow manages to play some tunes off screen from the likes of Joy Division, Public Enemy, Daft Punk and much much more. Chris finally gives us an exclusive listen to one of Robotnik's new tunes from his brand new European EP release that happens over the next few weeks. Repeated on Friday at 6pm.

On Wednesday at 11pm Ciarán Ryan will be playing a few Sparklehorse tunes to mark the sad passing of Mark Linkous over the weekend as well as tracks from Dublin Guitar Quartet, Lift To Experience, Trans Am and Mice Parade. Make sure to become a fan of Inches on Facebook! Repeated on Friday at 9pm.

On Sweet Oblivion this Thursday from 5pm, to celebrate the launch of a new book about the life of Arthur Russell, Aoife will play tracks from the cult musician's amazing back catalogue, touching on his disco and experimental sides. Also featuring on the new show will be tracks by Irish musicians Goatboy, Miriam Ingram and Colin J Morris, music from the brand new Besnard Lakes album and news on the latest gigs around Ireland. Repeated on Sunday at 10am.

On Thursday at 7pm the Wired For Sound crew talk to singer songwriter Fionn Regan. Following his Mercury nominated The End of History Fionn has gone on to release a critically acclaimed second album and draw comparisons to Bob Dylan and Neil Diamond. See what he makes of it all in this in-depth interview. Repeated on Saturday at 6pm.

Jack Fox wraps up the week on Saturday at 10pm with Synths Vs Strings where he features a guest mix from up and coming indie electro DJ Edwin Van Cleef. Coming out of Leeds, England Edwin has grown a huge online following with his mixes featuring heavily on The Hype Machine. Repeated on Friday at 5pm.

For the best new music and interviews tune to RTÉ 2XM

Robotnik gets the week going on RTÉ 2XM tonight, Tuesday at 7pm with Robotnik's Random Rampage where he talks about sleep. Tonight he touches on issues such as what it would be like to not sleep for 18 days and how important clean bed sheets are to having wild dreams. While things get seriously sleepy, Robotnik somehow manages to play some tunes from the likes of Scott Walker, The Clash, Philip Glass and much much more. Finally, Chris will be broadcasting part three of four discussions with Niall Holohan from Dublin band Readers Wives. Repeated on Friday at 6pm.

Following at 10pm Rachel Jordan presents D.I.Y. Records, once again bringing you a great mix of tracks released on independent record labels. Included will be new music from recent Rough Trade signees The Morning Benders, brilliant new Warp artist Gonjasufi and something from White Hinterland's forthcoming album. Also, this week Marriage Records will be under the Independent Label Spotlight. Repeated on Friday at 3pm.

Onto Thursday at 3pm and this week's Sabotage with Steven Battle features tracks from brand spanking new albums by Denmark's Efterklang ,Beach House, and Caribou - who's latest album Swim is a welcomed step into unchartered territory for him. Stephen also has our very own Super Extra Bonus Party who played a blinder at Andrew's Lane Theatre last Friday. Keep up to speed with all the latest on the show at http://2xmsabotage.blogspot.com

The Wired for Sound crew wrap up Thursday evening at 7pm with an interview with Jesca Hoop. It has been quite a year for Jesca Hoop thus far. Tipped by a diverse range of UK publications from Uncut, Time Out, OMM, The Sun, Esquire, Music Week and a two page feature in The Times on the back of one limited self-released UK debut EP. Repeated on Saturday at 6pm.

For the best new music and interviews tune to RTÉ 2XM

Tonight, Tuesday 16 February, at 7pm Robotnik's Random Rampage talks about the universe, avoiding black holes at all times and trying to figure out what the hell it's all about by tackling stringy subjects (including a man on the Sun who weighs 2 tons and mysterious traffic cones that orbit the Earth). While things get seriously spiny, Chris Morrin AKA Robotnik somehow manages to play some of the latest tunes from the likes of Santigold, The Bloody Beetroots, Radiohead and much much more. Finally, Chris will be broadcasting part 1 of 4 discussions with Niall Holohan from Readers Wives. Repeated on Friday at 6pm.

Cian and Phil McCarthy follow at 8pm with Needs More Cowbell where they'll be putting Fionn Regan's new album Shadow of an Empire under the spotlight, is it a potential classic or a just a poor mans rip off of Bob Dylan? Cian and Phil will also be doing a special focus on Welsh music and playing some of our favourite tracks from Welsh bands. The Guilty Pleasure song this week is a classic rock anthem chosen by one of our listeners. On top of all that we'll have great music from the likes of Frightened Rabbit, Pearse McGloughlin, Glasvegas, Cat Power and many more! Repeated on Sunday at 3pm.

At 10pm Rachel Jordan presents D.I.Y. Records, playing a selection of tracks from local and international independent record labels. Covering a broad range of genres, this week features new music from Mux Mool, Lali Puna and Son Lux along with lots of other great tracks, and the Independent Label Spotlight this week focuses on Conor Oberst's Team Love. Repeated on Friday at 3pm.

On Wednesday night from 10pm Dudley Colley has new music on this week's Click Clack from forthcoming albums by Field Music, Lali Puna and Ted Leo, with something from the archives by Captain Beefheart. Repeated on Saturday at 3pm.

At 3pm this Thursday Sabotage! features stomping new tunes from the latest Gil Scott Heron album, I'm New Here, his first in 13 years. Massive Attack are back with a terrific album Heligoland and the show features the debut single it's Splitting the Atom.Texan cabaret rockers Spoon feature alongside Charlotte Gainsberg - The Antichrist star's latest album IRM is dark and moody documenting her recovery from a brain hemorrhage. While Rain Machine, the debut solo offering from TV on the Radio's Kyp Mallone will also feature in your weekly alternative mix with Steven Battle.

The Wired for Sound crew are up next at 7pm as they talk to The Low Anthem. Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, The Low Anthem have introduced the world of Folk Rock to many a music fan around the world. With two album in the Bag and a re-release of Oh My God, Charlie Darwin in 2009, these guys have a big future ahead of them. Repeated on Saturday at 6pm.

For the best new music and interviews tune to RTÉ 2XM

The week gets started on RTÉ 2XM at 7pm on Tuesday with Robotnik's Random Rampage as Chris talks all about sex this week. swirling in, out and around certain shocking random facts on the classic hot topic! While things get down and dirty, Chris Morrin AKA Robotnik somehow manages to play some of the latest tunes from the likes of The XX, Caribou, Moderat and much much more. Repeated on Friday at 6pm.

Cian McCarthy follows at 8pm with Needs More Cowbell where he's joined by Keith Husker again. Phil will also be talking live on the show from Yellow Stone National Park telling the lads about his Guilty Pleasure Song. On top of that there'll be great music from Animal Collective, Sex Pistols, Blur and many more. Repeated on Friday at 9pm.

Rachel Jordan is up next tonight as she presents D.I.Y. Records at 10pm, where she will be playing tracks released exclusively on independent record labels. Among these tracks will be new music from Pill Wonder, Phantogram and Samamidon, and The Independent Label Spotlight this week focuses on Ghostly International. Repeated on Friday at 3pm.

On Inches on Wednesday at 11pm, Ciarán Ryan will be dusting off a whole heap of vinyl that he has been hitherto unable to play on the show. That means a whole bunch of cracking tunes from the likes of Big Black, Bill Callahan, Sea Dog, Cannibal Ox and many more. Repeated on Friday at 9pm.

Steven Battle gets a busy Thursday going from 3pm as he takes you full circle around the alternative side of music on Sabotage! with tunes from Flying Lotus, Dan Deacon, Death From Above 1979, Refused, Joy Division to name just a few.

The Wired for Sound crew follow at 7pm as they speak to Ellen from Los Campesinos about their new album Romance is Boring. This should be an interesting one: "It is a record about the death and decay of the human body, sex, lost love, mental breakdown, football and, ultimately, that there probably isn't a light at the end of the tunnel." Repeated on Saturday at 6pm.

Miss Paula Flynn takes 2XM into next week on Monday 15 February at 10pm on The 'C' Word as she interviews legendary Texan songwriter Kimmie Rhodes, who has written and recorded with the likes of Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson (who lives on the ranch next door to her Austin home). In the rest of the show she'll be playing her usual mixture of old time country, gospel and the best of modern alternative country while Greg McAteer will, as usual, talk about one of the songs that shaped the face of country music.

For the best new music and interviews tune to RTÉ 2XM

Robotnik kicks off a busy Tuesday night on RTÉ 2XM at 7pm with a special show from Berlin, celebrating the fact that he is hosting and performing a live musical event, Robotnik's Random Rampage, at the Arena Glashaus in the heart of the German capital. Along with the odd and weird facts from life, Robotnik will also feature tracks from the likes of Deadmau5, Philip Glass and Beethoven. Repeated on Friday at 6pm.

Needs More Cowbell is up next at 8pm as DJ Keith Husker joins Cian as special guest presenter. There'll be great music from the likes of Delorentos, The National, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Ryan Adams and many more as well as this week’s Guilty Pleasure Song and Unlikely Famous Fans segment merging into one when the lads reveal Robert Mugabe's bizarre adoration of Cliff Richard! Repeated on Sunday at 3pm.

Rachel Jordan follows at 10pm with D.I.Y. Records, where she will be playing an eclectic mix of tracks from local and international indie labels. The Independent Label Spotlight this week focuses on Hometapes, a home to musical and visual artists. There will also be new music from the likes of Freelance Whales, White Hinterland, Lonelady and something from the brand new album by Irish artist At Last An Atlas. Repeated on Friday at 3pm. 

After a very brief hiatus last week, Inches with Ciarán Ryan returns this Wednesday night at 11pm, with the likes of Cadence Weapon, Liars, At Last An Atlas and Don Caballero on the menu. Saucy! Repeated on Friday at 9pm. 

Steven Battle keeps thing going on Thursday at 3pm with this weeks Sabotage! where he features tracks from new albums by Owen Pallett  and Vampire Weekend. Some of the best releases of the last year including The Cave Singers and The Antlers will feature alongside some classics in your weekly mix bag of alternative, electronic and rock n roll. It’s not to be missed.

Wired for Sound follows at 7pm where the crew will be talking to Michael McClatchy from Moshi Moshi Records. This, along with all the best new music. Repeated on Saturday at 6pm.

Cian and Phil McCarthy kick off this week on RTÉ 2XM tonight, Tuesday at 8pm, on Needs More Cowbell with exclusive new tracks from Dublin band Reader's Wives forthcoming EP Victor's Mother Juliet - the band will be doing a session for Needs More Cowbell in the coming weeks. Cian and Phil will also be playing their recommended new singles from Choice Music Prize nominated band CODES and Scottish band Frightened Rabbit. On top of that they'll have music from their favourite movie soundtracks and be speaking to a listener on the show about their Guilty Pleasure Song.

At 10pm Rachel Jordan presents D.I.Y. Records, playing an eclectic mix of tracks from local and international indie labels. The Independent Label Spotlight this week focuses on Berlin based Morr Music, with music from Lali Puna, Sin Fang Bous and something new from The Go Find. There will also be music from a couple of artists soon to be playing gigs in Dublin, Tune-Yards and Antipop Consortium.

On Wednesday night at 10pm Dudley Colley wheels out the fireworks and celebrates the 33rd edition of Click Clack with tracks from the Beach House LP that everyone's raving about and the stunning new Owen Pallet album.

Following at 11pm Ciaran Ryan brings you Inches with the promise of a smattering of tunes from 2010, including new Yeasayer, Liars, Owen Pallett and many more.

Moving on to Thursday night and at 5pm Aoife Barry presents Sweet Oblivion where she'll have info on a fundraiser for Haiti that she's organising which will take place on Thursday 4 February in the Twisted Pepper with bands performing include Groom, Hunter-Gatherer and Bats. Tune in as there'll also be tracks from the new Beach House and Midlake albums.

Jan Ní Fhlanagáin, Barry Bracken and Lauren Murphy are up next at 7pm with Wired for Sound where they talk to Saso about their upcoming sessions at Rua Red. Saso are to up residence for one week in the white cube Gallery 1space in Rua Red where the public will be allowed access to the gallery and will be given a unique insight into the process of how Saso's music is made. The week long session will culminate in a live performance in the gallery on 22 January 2010. The intention of the artist in residence project is to give the public a unique opportunity to observe the workings of a music group and how they create, prepare and perform live music.

Jack Fox rounds off the week on RTÉ 2XM on Saturday at 10pm with the indie-electro crossover show Synths Vs String, where he features a mix from New York's Skitsnygg whose been nothing short of an online revelation over the past 12 months.

On December 15th a special interview & live session with Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit will air on 'Needs More Cowbell'. Following on the success of their second album 'The Midnight Organ Fight' the band are now preparing to release their 3rd album 'The Winter of Mixed Drinks' in March 2010. Like their second album 'The Winter of Mixed Drinks' has been produced by Peter Katis (Interpol, The National)

Cian caught up with Scott when the band were in Dublin supporting Modest Mouse. They talked among other things about the new album and bizarrely being referred to as a 'emo' band by pitchfork.com!

Dance Monkey Dance returns to RTÉ 2XM for a new series this Wednesday 2 December at 8.00pm with guest hosts O Emperor presenting alongside Paddy McKenna.

Throughout the show they talk about gigging around Ireland and the recent success at Hard Working Class Heroes Festival, whether they think they've "made it" or not and what the future holds for them.

During the show they play a version of The Teddy Bears Picnic for the Nursery Rhyme Redux which encapsulates their American harmonic sound.

Every week on Dance Monkey Dance, Paddy McKenna co-presents an hour of alternative music with an act that he has invited into the studio to choose a selection of music that has influenced them through the years and to perform. Since the show began on RTÉ 2XM various artists have appeared on the show including the likes of Delorentos, Heathers, Heritage Centre and Dark Room Notes. Upcoming acts appearing on Dance Monkey Dance this December include We Cut Corners (JD Set winners), Reader's Wives and The Vibes.