Niall Byrne: The taste maker

With a portfolio of careers in his pocket, blogger and promoter Nialler9 has quietly become one of the most influential figures in Irish music

Niall Byrne: ‘The key thing is, the song has to be good’ Pic: Fergal Phillips

‘From Darkness to Light,” the email notification reads. “A secret line-up, BYOB gig.” The venue for the show is a cool spot near Dublin’s Five Lamps. The artists will be up-and-coming, and handpicked by Nialler9. Interest piqued? How could it not be?

That’s Nialler9’s style: go in stealthily and surprise everyone with shows that are a little out of the ordinary. It’s a tactic that has seen the Dublin promoter, blogger, DJ and ...