Some losses feel personal. I was in Dublin last Wednesday and got a call from my good friend Philip asking if I heard the news about Glen Hansard!! The news was devastating. Glen Hansard had been killed in a motorbike…

There are certain moments in music that stay with you forever.

Not the big headline moments or the streaming numbers people obsess over online, but the quiet personal ones — the moments where it suddenly hits you that the songs…

Michael Cunningham - U2 Tribute Band Elevation 2014

There are certain sentences in life that stop you in your tracks—not because they are profound or poetic, but because they are so unexpected that your brain needs a moment to catch…

At 60, Northern Ireland gives you a travel pass.
Freedom. Buses. Trains. A small plastic card that says, you’ve earned a sit-down.

There’s just one catch: you need a photo.

My birthday is in March, which—at the time of writing—is…

As a Belfast musician, I still play regularly at the Harp Bar. I’ve been involved in music for decades — from busking on Belfast’s streets during the turbulence of the 1980s to recording with great musicians in studios. Music technology…

In the golden age of vinyl, artists like Michael Cunningham could earn a tangible living from record sales. The rise of CDs in the '80s and '90s continued to support musicians’ livelihoods. Fast forward to the 21st century, and we…

Balancing art and business can be challenging, especially for independent singer-songwriters like Michael Cunningham, an independent singer-songwriter from Belfast, who is navigating the vibrant yet demanding music scene of Belfast, Northern Ireland. For part-time musicians striving to sustain…

“That’s Michael Cunningham the singer, not the American who wrote The Hours.”

I’ve said some version of that sentence more times than I expected to in one lifetime.

In a mostly-online world, names travel faster than people. They show…

Loss is a terrible thing. Devastating really if it’s someone we truly love. Jim formed a friendship with an amazing girl while recovering in a  Belfast clinic.

Gigi (we will call her that) was a mother, teacher, musician, dancer and…

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few months, you will already know about the hype around artificial intelligence.  It's been with us for years, but now any average Joe can get access to amazingly powerful…

"You boys need a name for the board" The guy running the songwriter night in The Duke Of York bar in Belfast was used to acts not having a clue what to call themselves. Although Jim and I had been…

We've all been there: belting out our favourite song at the top of our lungs, only to realise halfway through that the words we've been singing aren't quite right. Whether it's a simple slip of the tongue or a full-blown…

The first weekend of June 1985 was a scorcher. I was 19, just finished school and had my first real band. We had written a few songs and wanted a cheap and easy way to make a demo. This is…

As an independent musician, live performances play a crucial role in my career. Not only do they allow me to connect with my audience and share my music in a more intimate and interactive setting, but they also provide a…

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, and one way that many people enjoy the season is by listening to festive music. One popular subgenre of Christmas music is Christmas pop, which combines the joy and cheer of the…

Your Secret Heart is one of the most heartfelt songs on my album Hidden Treasure. Over the years, people have often asked me what inspired it — and the real story is probably not what you’d expect.

In 1991…

Creativity and the troubles in Northern Ireland are intertwined in many ways. The ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland often referred to as "the troubles," has had a profound impact on the creative expression of those living there.

For many artists…

Hearing the sad news of John Lennon's shooting was a shocking and devastating moment for fans and music lovers around the world. Lennon, a founding member of the Beatles and one of the most influential musicians of all time, was…

Being an independent music artist can be incredibly challenging. One of the biggest challenges is the financial aspect of it. As an independent artist, you are responsible for funding your own music and projects, which can be difficult if you…

                                                                         Margaret Gilmore

                                                       John Lennon by Yoko Ono's hospital bed

I’m the youngest of 8 children and have 7 amazing brothers and sisters. This had a massive influence on me as I grew up in Belfast in the 1970s and…