Cicada, RuntheRed & KING CARA [BIMM Showcase]

at Teeling Whiskey Distillery

Experience the next wave of Irish music as part of Culture Date with Dublin 8’s Late in D8 programme, with a special BIMM showcase taking over Teeling Whiskey Distillery on Friday 8 May. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of one of Dublin 8’s most iconic spaces, this live event brings together three standout emerging acts from BIMM Dublin, each carving out a distinctive voice within Ireland’s evolving music scene.

Headlining the night are Cicada, a five-piece folk rock band whose harmony-led songwriting moves seamlessly between intimate, stripped-back moments and expansive, textured soundscapes. Recently named a Hot Press “Hot For ’26” A&R Pick, their debut EP Isla’s House explores themes of generational trauma, faith, and inherited silence, with a live performance that draws audiences deep into their carefully constructed world.

Also taking to the stage are RuntheRed, an indie-alternative band blending emotional storytelling with an atmospheric edge. With influences ranging from The Cranberries to The Frames, their sound balances vulnerability and energy, earning them recognition as an RTÉ Track of the Week and a place among RTÉ’s 10 Rising Acts for 2026.

Opening the night, KING CARA deliver a punchier, high-voltage set of alternative rock. Known for their sharp, socially conscious lyrics and driving, fuzz-infused sound, the band channel the frustrations and realities of contemporary Dublin life, building a reputation through standout live shows across the country.

With doors at 7.30pm, this is a chance to discover bold new voices shaping the future of Irish music, right in the heart of Dublin 8.

Dé hAoine 8 Bealtaine Doors 7.30pm

Free Event, No Booking Required

Cicada are a five-piece folk rock band based in Dublin, made up of Chiara Giannini, Steven Lothian, Ali Carney, Harvey McNevin and Christopher Mason. Their work is centred on harmony led songwriting and carefully structured arrangements, moving between sparse folk passages and more expansive alternative textures.

In January of 2026, the band were named as Hot Press “Hot For ’26” A&R Pick, recognising them as one of Ireland’s emerging acts to watch.

Their debut EP, Isla’s House (due early Autumn), examines Irish generational trauma, faith and inherited silence. The record focuses on what is carried within families (emotionally and culturally) and how that shapes identity. The first single “voicebox” will be released on March 27th. It introduces the thematic core of the EP and the difficulty of speaking openly.

Cicada’s live show reflects the same emphasis on control and cohesion, prioritising vocal blend and immersion into their world.

https://www.instagram.com/cicada_dublin/

RuntheRed are an Irish indie-alternative band whose sound blends intimate storytelling with atmospheric edge. Formed organically in 2024, the band grew from shared conversations about music into a fully collaborative project where ideas and roles remain fluid and collective.

Drawing influence from acts such as The Cranberries, The Frames, and Cliffords, RuntheRed craft songs rooted in love, loss, and the uncertainty of growing up - balancing vulnerability with raw energy. Their track “Indigo” was selected as RTÉ Track of the Week, marking a key moment in the band’s early journey. They have just recently been announced as one of RTE’s 10 Rising Acts for 2026 and are excited to discover what this year holds for them. With growing radio support and live shows on the horizon, RuntheRed are a band moving with intention - grounded, authentic, and steadily carving out their place in Ireland’s indie Scene.

https://www.instagram.com/runtheredmusic/

KING CARA are an alternative rock band formed in Dublin in 2022. The group consists of Jimmie Byrne (guitar, vocals), Eoin Kinahan (bass, vocals), and Mel Mehigan (drums, vocals). The quartet met while at college at BIMM Dublin, and they slam down acerbic lyrics and fuzz-flavoured chainsaw riffs with a frustrated energy spawned out years of enduring expensive pints, soaring rents, and a terrible public transport system. They take from influences as diverse as Queens of the Stone Age, Royal Blood, Sprints, and the Murder Capital.

After the release of their single 'Eden Quay' in April 2024, KING CARA marked this with a string of gigs in venues across the country, including in Galway, Drogheda, Dundalk, and a headline gig in the Main Room of Dublin's Workmans Club. In April 2025 they released 'Favourite Crusade', celebrating with a headline gig in Anseo Bar and also their first Cork gig the month after.

'Éire Über Alles' released on the 2nd July 2025. It was slight departure from the band, swapping the fuzz pedal for an overdrive and with more socially conscious lyrics about an Ireland where the main import is tourists and the main export is young people.

'Aon Scéal', their latest single, was released on the 28th January 2026.

https://www.instagram.com/wearekingcara/