Ruth Mac (IE)

Ruth Mac a singer-songwriter and musician hailing from the west coast of Ireland, now based in Berlin. Drawing influence in equal measure from the folkstresses of the seventies (Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Karen Dalton) and contemporary indie-rock (Alice Phoebe-Lou, Courtney Barnett, Angel Olsen), Mac’s arresting and soulful vocals lie gracefully on top of catchy hooks and lush textured guitars.

Not quite rock, not quite soul nor folk, Mac finds her own sound somewhere at the intersection. There, she combines effortlessly delivered melodies with lyrics steeped in sentimentality. On stage, she’s a captivating performer breathing new life into the music - be it in her stripped-back solo set up or with her full band.

Mac’s debut EP “Living Room” was released in October 2021 on Beth Shalom Records. A four-track piece detailing a move from Ireland to Berlin, Living Room sold-out its limited pressing of 10” lathe vinyls and was accompanied by a tour in the UK, Ireland and Germany.

Mac continues to gig consistently, most notable show of late being a support slot for English synth-pop legends Hot Chip on the Berlin date of their recent Freakout/Release tour and Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds.

“Living Room won us over the moment we heard Mac’s idiosyncratic soul-infused pop-folk. Mac's music feels vital and unmissable - she's one of the best new acts we've heard in the last few years!” - The Folkroom, London

“An artist of texture and melody effortlessly moving between indie-rock, alt-soul and dream pop with a vocal style that draws on the best of 70s folk.⁠ Ruth's 'Living Room' EP has been on heavy rotation in The Black Gate office since its release - Mac most definitely has a big future in Irish indie music.” - The Black Gate, Galway