One of my proudest achievements on the blog this year, or any year for that matter, is the release of GruffWuff; a 19 track compilation of new, previously unreleased and exclusive recordings from some of my very favourite acts over the past 5 years of blogging.

It was a truly fantastic way to mark 5 years of BarryGruff and I am incredibly grateful to everyone involved and the overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic response. As 2015 draws to a close, I have enlisted help from people who made the compilation what it was, to chat about their favourite moments and sounds from year, and up next, Stephen Connelly.

As was the case with any amount of gigs and whatnot, Stevie was my right hand man on GruffWuff and it wouldn’t have happened without him (or if it did, it wouldn’t have been half as good). His artwork was the final piece of the jigsaw, and it’s fuckin’ great (even if everyone on Broadsheet didn’t agree – the internet is a cruel mistress). A pleasure to work with as always, I’d like to thank him for all his work and enthusiasm toward GruffWuff, cheers buddy. When he’s not being hassled into doing stuff with me, among other things, he plays in Knoxville Morning, makes excellent video’s for bands and tries his best at 5-a-side. Now, time to take a look at his 2015 sound selections….

What was your personal high point of this year, musical and/or otherwise?

Three events stand out:

1. Really enjoyed working so close on the Gruffwuff compilation. Great to see so many bands getting behind the blog and also the great feedback we received.

2. It’s only really hitting me now that I got make the video for A Lazarus Soul’s latest single, ‘Mercury Hit a High’. I fucking love that band and to be able to contribute to one of my favourite albums was an incredible feeling.

3. Gig of the year has to go to Lynched in The Crane Bar in Galway. I was an emotional wreck by the end of the show, spent the week wrecking friends heads about how good it was going to be and they didn’t disappoint. Hadn’t got a buzz off Irish folk music since L.A.P.D. played the Electric Picnic a few years back.

Favourite album of 2015?

After listening to every album ever released this year ever in prep for this question I narrowed it done to two very different albums.

Thee Oh Sees – ‘Mutilator Defeated At Last’

I think this is there 69892758th album but they are one of those bands that never let up, great thrashy garage record. I always enjoy frontman John Dwyer’s strange monster like vocals over the fast distorted guitars. Production on this record is much better than any of their previous releases. As much as I enjoy the crappy lo-fi sound, it’s good hearing such a talented band with a tiny bit more clarity in the recordings.

Anderson – ‘Patterns’

Patterns is such a well crafted debut album from start to finish. ‘Cecilia’s Sister’ is one of those songs that flows seamlessly, every word placed perfectly in the melody. Actually, can pretty much make this statement about every song on the record.

Favourite new act discovered in 2015?

Me Auld Flower played in a coffee shop one shitty, rainy Friday night in Galway and blow my tiny little mind. Their 3 recordings online have been soothing hangovers ever since.

Favourite song?

Impossible to pick just one…

New Pope – ‘Christopher’

Disconcerting P – ‘Treated You Rough’

Paddy Hanna – ‘Austria’

The Arcs – ‘Put A Flower In Your Pocket’ (Great video for this jam)

What are you plans for the new year? What can we expect from you?

New Knoxville Morning record is coming together nicely, we’ll be boxing that off shortly. Finished the video for Oh Bolands debut single so looking forward to see what people make of that.

Hoping to sink my teeth into a documentary I’ve been playing around with the last few months that gives a bit of insight into our little hometown of Newbridge and wonderful music it produces.

Also myself and Ciaran Dwyer have taken on a new venture in living room shows that launches next month. Near impossible to run a gig in the town without having to deal with a load of crap so we’ve decided to take matters into our own hands. Announcing the first batch of shows over the next few weeks.