A timeline of Northern Ireland's biggest names in music

Check out the artists EVERYONE needs to know 👇

Author: Lily McVeighPublished 5th Jan 2022
Last updated 5th Jan 2022

Get Your Apple music, Spotify, and YouTube to the ready. This our guide to Northern Ireland's top musical must haves. If you don’t know, get you know.

Check out some of the local artists that have made it big in the music world 👇

Van Morrison

We've got to start with the classics. Dropping hits since 1958, Bloomfield's George Ivan Morrison, aka Van the man, has become a musical legend in these parts.

Taking home two Grammys and several top hits, it's safe to say whether he's singing, playing the guitar, harmonica, sax, keys, or drums to name a few, we've all had a boogie to a bit of Morrison.

Our top three tracks:

1. Brown Eyed Girl
2. Moondance
3. Domino

The Undertones

If you fancy a bit of classic punk rock, then look no further, the Undertones are here. Formed in Derry in 1974, the band has seen its fair share of changing members (7 to be exact) and is famous for their tunes inspired by Adolescence, teenage angst, and heartbreak, offering their original audience a release from the political climate they were surrounded by in the height of their popularity during the troubles.

Our top three tracks:

1. Teenage Kicks
2. Here Comes The Summer
3. Boys Will Be Boys

Stiff Little Fingers

A bit more punk rock next as we celebrate Belfast's Stiff Little Fingers. With a staggering 11 members past and present, the band started out as a schoolboy band covering classic rock songs in 1977 during the height of the troubles, before discovering a love for punk rock, soon becoming the first band to land an independent LP in the UK top 20.

Our top three tracks:

1. Alternative Ulster
2. Gotta Getaway
3. Piccadilly Circus

Therapy?

Another token Northern Irish Rock band comes by the name of Therapy? Formed in Ballyclare in 1989, this now three-piece band developed a strong underground following across the north and south of Ireland for their legendary nineties' gigs, dropping hit after hit as the years have gone on.

Our top three tracks:

1. Screamager
2. Nowhere
3. Diane

Ash

Next up is Ash, yet another classic Northern Irish rock band. Formed in Downpatrick in 1989, this three-piece band has had its fare share of hits, with their album trailer sneaking itself into NMEs top 500 albums of all time.

Our top three tracks:

1. Girl From Mars
2. Burn Baby Burn
3. Shining Light

The Divine Comedy

Pop group The Divine Comedy are up next. Formed in 1989 by its only continuing member and fronter, Neil Hannon from Enniskillen, The Divine Comedy have released twelve studio albums, with nine singles making the UK top 40, and we must say, they're all pretty fab.


Our top three tracks:

1. National Express
2. The Best Mistakes
3. A Lady of a Certain Age

David Holmes

If you like to groove to electronic music, then give David Holmes a listen (You're welcome). Born in County Antrim, Holmes released several solo albums that rocked the mid to late nineties before moving to score composing and joining the band Unloved, whose music has been used extensively in the BBC series Killing Eve. Have a listen out next time you give it a watch (and if you haven't watched it. Have you been living under a rock?)

Our top three tracks:

1. Rodney Yates
2. $160 Million Chinese Man
3. Don't Die Just Yes

Brian Kennedy

The man, the myth, the Irish legend. Brian Kennedy. Born in Belfast in 1966, Kennedy has scored several hit singles across the UK and Ireland after making his musical debut in 1988 as one of Van Morrison's backing singers. He also represented Ireland in the 2006's Eurovision Song contest (Don't lie we all know you love a bit of Eurovision), finishing in third place.

Our top three tracks:

1. Crazy Love
2. Carrickfergus
3. For One Kiss

Snow Patrol

Now although this band were formed in Dundee, Scotland, more than half of them are from here in NI. With a total of 8 members over the years, the band were formed in 1994, but rose to fame in the early/mid 2000s for their part in the post-Britpop movement. They've their fair share of popular hits and I can guarantee you know and love at least one, and if not, take a listen to:

Our top three tracks:

1. Chasing Cars
2. Just Say Yes
3. Run

Two Door Cinema Club

Correct me if I'm wrong but you just can't NOT like Two Door Cinema Club, at least one of their tunes has got to put a spring in your step and get you jumping up and down on the dance floor. Formed in 2007, this trio have hit the globe by storm, debuting on Annie Mack's Hottest Records, being selected for the Irish album of the year, and headlining festivals like Leeds, Reading and Glastonbury.

Our top three tracks:

1. Undercover Martyn
2. Something Good Can Work
3. Sun

Bicep

If you haven't experienced Bicep live, you're really missing out. This dynamic duo first hit the electronic scene back in 2009, they have grown into one of the UK's biggest dance acts. They were nominated for two BRIT awards in 2021 - Breakthrough Artist & British Group, now that's some going 👏

Our top three tracks:

1. Glue
2. Apricots
3. Opal

Foy Vance

Born and bred in Bangor, Foy Vance certainly knows how to rock a guitar and a moustache. Having years of experience writing music inspired by the deep south of America, Foy continues to charm us with his unique sound.

Our top three tracks:

1. She Burns
2. Guiding Light
3. Sapling

Ryan McMullan

And last, but certainly not least, we're celebrating Portaferry's Ryan McMullan. Set to release his new EP, Debut Mix Tape early this year, Ryan has toured with some of the UK's biggest artists, including Snow Patrol and Ed Sheeran. We can't wait to hear what's coming next...so watch this space!

Our top three tracks:

1. Belfast City
2. Bowie on the Radio
3. If This Is The End

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How to listen to Cool FM:

Tune into Northern Ireland’s number 1 for music, Cool FM on 97.4FM, online, on our Rayo app, your DAB radio, or say ‘Play Cool FM’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the biggest hits from the world’s hottest artists, from Pete Snodden in the morning to the NI Hit 40.