The A New Local Hero winner will receive €5,000 in prize money; €5,000 worth of recording, mixing and mastering time at the renowned Camden Recording Studios; and the chance to release a song through the independent Irish label Rubyworks...
The 2024 edition of the A New Local Hero talent search provided a crucial platform for a thrillingly eclectic selection of acts from right across the country – all hoping to claim that prestigious title. Now, following tonight's phenomenal live final event at The Academy in Dublin, we can finally reveal our overall winner: Calum Agnew!
As part of his prize, Calum, representing LMFM, will receive €5,000 in prize money, as well as €5,000 worth of recording, mixing and mastering time at the renowned Camden Recording Studios. He’ll also have his song released through the independent Irish record label Rubyworks – whose roster includes the legendary likes of Hozier...
Over the course of the evening, fans, friends, family and representatives from across the Irish music industry watched six of Ireland's most promising stars-in-the-making showcasing their talents – with performances from Calum Agnew (LMFM), Bobbi Arlo (FM104), Asophonics (KCLR FM), Mia Black (Shannonside / Northern Sound), Jessica Brett (Tipp FM) and Projective (Cork's 96FM).
The acts, who hail from across the country, each brought their own unique sounds and styles to the show – resulting in a brilliantly diverse celebration of the best of emerging homegrown music.
Despite fantastic performances from all of the acts, there could only be one winner – with Calum ultimately winning over the judging panel.
Already well familiar to the tastemakers at Hot Press HQ as a rising soul-popper, Agnew has consolidated his position within the local scene superbly, his tunes are characterised by a balanced musical ecosystem of flickering percussion, technicolour soul, R&B layerings and smooth-as-butter vocals. The Dublin-based artist had his first sold-out headline show in The Beehive in London in 2021, and has since performed in numerous venues across his native country, including an impressive set in Whelan’s Main Room in March.
In addition to music from all six of the national finalists, the night also featured a special guest performance from Tolü Makay.
A New Local Hero is a key part of Irish Music Month – an initiative of Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, which is funded by Coimisiún na Meán. All-in, the value of Irish Music Month for Irish artists is in excess of €100,000.
