Singular Artists proudly presents
COLA,
M(H)AOL
& JUNK DRAWER
Whelan’s Main Venue • Wed 4th June 2025
COLA
With roots in Montreal, the band Cola was formed by ex-Ought members Tim Darcy and Ben Stidworthy. Evan Cartwright, an in-demand session musician and collaborator in Toronto’s vibrant jazz/experimental scene with acts such as U.S. Girls and Brodie West, joined after their first practice in 2019. From their inception, they’ve expanded on the d.i.y. ethic of the Dischord and SST eras, creating potent sounds from a minimal palette of drums/bass/guitar and lacing their songs with winsome one-liners and societal commentary. What’s another word for commentary? Gloss, apparently.
The Gloss is the second album from Cola. From their inception Cola have expanded on the d.i.y. ethic of the Dischord and SST eras, creating potent sounds from a minimal palette of drums/bass/guitar and lacing their songs with winsome one-liners and societal commentary. What’s another word for commentary? Gloss, apparently. Never basic, the lyrics reward repeated listening for deeper meanings. David Berman’s poetry-via-garage light pennings are an inspiration, as equally so are the lighter side of UK first-wave New Wave and the Dunedin sound.
M(H)AOL
Based in Dublin, Belfast, and London, Irish intersectional feminist firebrands M(h)aol — Constance Keane (She/Her), Jamie Hyland (She/Her), and Sean Nolan (He/Him) — have built a reputation for thrilling live performances, fostering an atmosphere that encourages community and catharsis regardless of where they play. Signed to Merge after an electric SXSW set, the unit follows the North American reissue of Attachment Styles and February single “Pursuit” with “Snare”, a noisy and driving song that springs loose from gender expectations with sneering wit.
M(h)aol’s acclaimed full-length debut Attachment Styles is about social connection, queerness and healing. Upon its release, Attachment Styles received 4* reviews from both Arena on RTÉ Radio 1 and The Guardian, was profiled by Rolling Stone UK, received 8/10 from Hot Press, and the band were featured on the cover of The Thin Air.
JUNK DRAWER
Incorporating the imprint of Krautrock, post-punk, and psychedelia, Belfast’s Junk Drawer’s intuitively loose and idiosyncratic brand of indie rock mines anthems from their crate-digging tendencies. Featuring four multi-instrumentalists fluid in their roles, they cast a singular shadow, inspired by Ulster’s many lost futures, and the harmony and discordance of a sibling creative partnership.
Junk Drawer played SXSW 2023 and supported Superchunk across their 2023 UK Tour, and have shared stages with acts like Built To Spill, Suuns, Temples, Mclusky & Jeffrey Lewis. They have been positively reviewed and featured in The Quietus, Stereogum, Bandcamp, Paste, Clash, and Brooklyn Vegan, and have been played by the likes of KEXP, BBC Radio 1 & BBC 6Music. They’re soon set to release their second LP produced in the Meadow, Wicklow, with Chris Ryan (Just Mustard, Robocobra Quartet, NewDad).
TICKETS
€20.50 available online from Whelan’s – €1 per ticket service charge applies.
Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required
AFTER THE GIG
Whelan’s Silent Disco from 10:30pm – 2 DJs, just pick the one you like best (€5 cover charge), plus Late Bar