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Clare FM - Sounds Like You

  1. The Kates - Irish Artist Of The Week

    7H AGO

    The Kates - Irish Artist Of The Week

    Several years ago, Paula K had the original idea to set up the all women rock band, specifically for a fundraiser for ovarian cancer charity OvaCare. Paula explains, "The fundraiser was in memory of my mother Catherine who passed away from ovarian cancer, and she inspired the name. She was a feminist who loved to lift other women up. The Kates have been going ever since!” The premise behind forming The Kates back in 2017 was to showcase the depth and variety of songs by women featuring covers by artists like Sharon Van Etten, Orla Gartland, Angel Olsen, Lucy Dacus, Patty Smith, The Staves, and Haim. The Kates comprises of Eve Clague, Liz Clark, Mary Beth O Mahony, Míde Houlihan and Paula K. All five members have played, sang and written their own music for years, each releasing albums of original work. Their debut EP Pictures Here Of Dreams features a track written by each member of The Kates. Speaking about the upcoming album Paula K says, “We have spent the last year gigging and writing. The upcoming album is a collection of songs that happened between takes of our work and family lives. Naming that space as a creative outlet, where ideas were born and we found out more about ourselves as a band. Our Kates space.” New single ‘You Don’t See It’, sees Mary Beth O’Mahony take lead vocal on a song that features the writing talents of all five members of The Kates. They continue to lean into their rock background while the harmonies that brought them acclaim on their debut EP sound more dynamic and confident, finding comparison to contemporary peers like Pillow Queens and Little Green Cars. Once again we see The Kates talk about life as women and the unwanted pressure and attention often felt. Míde Houlihan’s percussion cheekily taps into the concept and lyric of “Time keeps ticking”. The band are declaring time is up on these old fashioned ideals. The Kates are writing their own story and walking their own path. Since the release of their debut EP Pictures Here of Dreams in 2024 Cork band The Kates have gone from strength to strength. The Kates entered 2026 with the announcement of their debut album later this year with new single ‘You Don’t See It’. Following the release of their debut EP The Kates went on to perform at Other Voices, Electric Picnic, and Clonakilty International Guitar Festival. The Kates also just performed at this year’s Your Roots Are Showing conference in January 2026. In 2025 they toured both Ireland and Wales selling out DeBarras and Connolly’s of Leap.

    6 min
4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

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