Rotterdam’s Left of the Dial festival has now completed the line-up for its 2025 edition. The festival takes place from 23 to 26 October with 150 artists participating across 25 stages throughout the city. The good people of this festival do everything possible to make it one of the most enjoyable multi-venue festivals in Europe including encouraging all artists to perform at least once, making the journey worthwhile for them and assisting festival attendees with their schedule planning. With the high calibre of new and emerging artists participating in a number of genres, The Decibel Decoder is previewing some of the highlights with two main caveats:
1. These previews lean into the noisier and more danceable end of the music spectrum.
2. With 150 artists performing, these previews are a snapshot within a category.
Part 1 focuses on the island of Ireland which continues to provide a number of quality emerging artists.
All bios provided by the artists to Left of the Dial.
Bleech 9:3 (IRL)
Dublin born, Streatham living Bleech 9:3 play a 90’s infused heavy alt-grunge. Their music is catalysed by a longing which transcends the material realm, a fixation upon negative space, and the desire for complete erasure. Having already earned a reputation for their fierce live performances on the Dublin and London scenes without yet releasing a single note of music, the time to catch Bleech 9:3 is now.
Croíthe (IRL)
Croíthe is an Irish indie post-punk band known for their dark, introspective soundscapes and poetic storytelling. Inspired by genre legends like Joy Division and contemporary innovators such as The Murder Capital, the band delivers a raw, atmospheric take on modern post-punk. Their music explores themes of identity, alienation, and resilience, connecting deeply with audiences. So Young Magazine praised Croíthe for their “earnest lyrics” and noted that they have ‘shown their potential’ in Ireland’s thriving post-punk scene. With powerful live performances and a growing reputation, Croíthe is carving out a unique space in the indie music landscape.
Delivery Service (IRL)
Delivery Service is an alternative rock band from Dublin that draws inspiration from 90s female-fronted bands like The Breeders, The Sundays & Le Tigre. The band blends punchy bass lines, distorted guitars, and sweet vocal harmonies to create a sound that’s both unique and nostalgic.
After watching a documentary about Bikini Kill, singer and bassist Becca Daly posted an Instagram story expressing interest in starting a girl band, bringing on board guitarist/keyboardist Ciara O’Neill and guitarist/vocalist Ashley Abbedeen (hotgirl), and the trio quickly formed a connection. Drummer Niall Thornton later joined, completing the lineup and solidifying their sound.
Since forming, the band have cultivated a buzz, starting 2025 off strong, playing with the likes of Dublin’s Skinner, Belfast’s Problem Patterns, and playing to a packed out room at Whelan’s Ones To Watch. The band released their debut single ‘Ghost’ in March 2025. The track was featured in several spotify editorial playlists such as ‘Hot New Bands’ and ‘New Noise’ as well as being featured in The Goo Magazine & Nialler9. Of late, Delivery Service have been hard at work in the studio with plans to release their first EP in late 2025.
I Dreamed I Dream (IRL)
I Dreamed I Dream are a four-piece from Cork, known for their unapologetic mix of noise, chaos, and raw energy. Blending post-punk, dream-pop, sean-nós, and 60s girl groups with a distinct Corkonian edge, the band has quickly made a name for themselves as one of Ireland’s most exciting live acts. I Dreamed I Dream have built a reputation for their high-octane, unpredictable performances that blur the line between gig and theatrical exorcism. Think noise, catharsis, and a communal toast of tonic wine – it’s a visceral experience that grabs audiences’ attention and keeps them on their toes.
The band’s debut EP, Why Say A Lot? (released in October 2023), received rave reviews for its unique blend of noise-rock, shoegaze, and sardonic humour. Nialler9 described it as “a challenge to every teenage girl in Ireland: I dare you to start a band”. They have spent the past year solidifying their place in the Irish music scene, with festival appearances at Other Voices, MusicTown, Cork Midsummer Festival, and Féile na Gréine, as well as support slots for M(h)aol, Pillow Queens, and The Frank and Walters.
Their second EP, BOYOPOISONING, was released in April 2025. Described as ‘a raw, unfiltered dive into the chaos of your twenties,’ BOYOPOISONING combines traditional sounds that have long haunted their live sets with their experimental edge. The EP is ‘a coming-of-age story, if coming of age means realising you have zero tolerance for bullshit,’ according to the band. I Dreamed I Dream have refined their style further, channelling the raw intensity and emotional depth of their live performances into the studio with greater precision and bold experimentation.
Madra Salach (IRL)
Madra Salach are a five piece folk band from Dublin. Originally meeting whilst playing in various outfits on the city’s indie scene, their shared love of the Irish traditional canon led to Paul Banks, Adam Cullen, Jack Martin and Dara Duffy quickly forming a bond playing impromptu sessions in pubs around the Northside.
Taking inspiration from the growing experimental folk scene in Ireland, Madra Salach began focusing on original writing and composition, utilising electronic equipment. At this time Maxime Arnold joined their ranks to play the harmonium. These songs, while strikingly modern thematically, are written with a voice that could have emerged at any point throughout the last century, and sit proudly alongside a thoughtfully curated collection of folk standards.
Makeshift Art Bar (NI)
Makeshift Art Bar, the rising sonic powerhouse hailing from Belfast, released their highly anticipated debut EP, Lackluster Writing Makes Fundamental Reading, on 3 January 2025. This EP solidifies their place as one of the most innovative voices in the underground music scene. The four-track record captures the raw intensity and unapologetic experimentalism that have made Makeshift Art Bar a must-see act on stages across Europe. Each track on Lackluster Writing Makes Fundamental Reading takes listeners on a journey through jagged guitar riffs, pulsating rhythms, and lyrics that oscillate between the poetic and the provocative. Their unique sound hurled them into the spotlight achieving a Radio 6 live session and playlisting, multiple festival slots including Borderline, Ypsingrock and All Together Now and sold out support slots with Chalk across the UK.
For more information on Left of the Dial including artist, venue, playlists and schedule details as well as all the extras taking place during Left Of The Dial please check the website.