From rebel ballads to queer anthems, Irish folk and protest music are being reborn for a new generation. In this episode, we explore how artists like Lankum, Lisa O’Neill, Pillow Queens, the Mary Wallopers, Kneecap, Bambi Thug, and more are reclaiming Irish identity from right-wing ideology, rewriting what Irishness sounds and looks like. ANSEO, here, in the present tense.We trace the roots of modern protest music, look at the immigrant and LGBTQ+ voices redefining tradition, and ask: in an age of rising fascism, who gets to call themselves Irish?00:00 Intro00:25 Seamus Heaney 01:16 ANSEO 02:32 Fighting the Far-Right03:10 New Voices 04:18 Skinty Fia 05:06 All Voices 06:30 Why?13:01 Defining Modern Ireland14:16 The Count of Monte Playlisto’s Irish Music Picks21:37 Outro
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22:19
Kneecap, Glastonbury & the Cost of Speaking Out
Kneecap are facing calls to be dropped from Glastonbury Festival after backlash over controversial past performances. In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, I explore the deeper implications of this moment not just for Kneecap, but for the future of protest in music.Using comedian Josh Johnson’s quote “Everything you thought was revolutionary was approved by a corporate lawyer” we look at how true rebellion is often punished once it slips past the gatekeepers.00:00 Intro00:25 Josh Johnson 01:17 The Story so far…04:18 Provoking Art06:41 Glastonbury 07:58 Why this matters?17:04 What happens next17:59 Outro
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18:41
Kneecap, Coachella, and Speaking Truth - Why Protest Music Still Matters
Kneecap’s explosive Coachella performance wasn’t just a set — it was a protest.When the Belfast rap group called out genocide and colonial violence from one of music’s biggest stages, the backlash was immediate: investigations, media smears, and coordinated attempts to silence them.In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, Stephen White breaks down why Kneecap’s protest matters, why real resistance still scares people, and how the music industry loves rebellion — but only when it’s safe and sanitised.Because protest music doesn’t live in nostalgia — it lives in the now.00:00 Intro00:25 James Baldwin 00:58 Kneecap’s Message02:04 The Backlash03:00 Kneecap’s Response04:38 The Festival Facade 05:05 Ireland and Palestine 05:50 Protest 14:25 Art, the communicator 15:45 The Count of Monte Playlisto’s New Irish Music23:39 Outro
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24:20
Escaping the Dream: Lana Del Rey’s Henry, Come On & Bluebird Explained
Lana Del Rey has just quietly dropped two haunting new singles: Henry, Come On and Bluebird. In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, Stephen White explores the dreamlike mood, stripped-back sound, and emotional undercurrents of these tracks and what they reveal about the next chapter in Lana’s evolution.From the hushed reverb-drenched acoustics to the unraveling of the American myth she’s long been obsessed with, these songs mark a powerful moment of reflection and release. Are Henry and Bluebird her most personal songs yet? Or are they something even deeper, like a gentle goodbye to the past?00:00 Intro 00:25 Jack Kerouac 01:43 Lana Del Rey02:38 Who’s Henry?03:09 Bluebird fly… 04:01 Henry, Come On & Bluebird Reaction09:47 Lana’s American Dream10:38 Lana On The Road11:01 The Count of Monte Playlisto’s Irish Music Reviews19:54 OutroIf you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share—it really helps the channel grow.
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20:30
Bon Iver’s SABLE, fABLE: A Beautiful Epilogue in Sound
Bon Iver’s new album SABLE, fABLE feels like a closing chapter—part epilogue, part rebirth. In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, I explore how Justin Vernon blends folk, R&B, ambient, and pop into something both deeply personal and genre-defying.From the quiet intimacy of the Sable EP tracks to the lush pop clarity of Everything Is Peaceful Love, this is Bon Iver’s most emotionally resonant and sonically accessible album in years.I also reflect on my personal connection to Bon Iver’s music—from For Emma, Forever Ago soundtracking heartbreak in Dublin, to the hope and peace found in this new release.00:00 Intro 00:25 Claude Debussy01:31 Finding Bon Iver02:10 The Shape of SABLE, fABLE03:38 Hope in Epilogue 04:26 The Hero’s Journey 10:24 The Count of Monte Playlisto’s Irish Music Reviews17:58 Outro
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