Damien McKenna / Presenter

Damien McKenna presents The First Cut on Dundalk FM 97.7, the station’s dedicated programme for new, emerging, and independent music that airs every Friday from 6pm to 7pm with a repeat on Saturday at 10pm.

The show exists because Damien believes that the most interesting music being made right now is almost never the music being played on mainstream radio. New artists, independent releases, underground scenes, and the emerging sounds that will define the next chapter of popular music are what The First Cut is built around. Every episode is an exercise in discovery.

Damien is also the frontman of Dundalk band Orwells ’84, which gives him an insider’s understanding of what it means to be a new or emerging act trying to find an audience. He knows the effort that goes into creating original music and the frustration of having it ignored by broadcasters who stick safely to established names. The First Cut is his answer to that frustration, a programme that makes space for the music that deserves a hearing.

The show’s Facebook page maintains a community of listeners who share Damien’s enthusiasm for new music, and regular updates there keep followers connected to the artists and releases that feature on air. Connect via the First Cut Facebook page.