IT’S been another bumper week of releases and news over at Northern Winds HQ, with over 60 new songs dropping this week alone, as well as live news from some of Ireland's cultural mainstays. Luckily your trusty columnist is here to help you discern the best of the best. Fresh off a very successful cultural exchange in Cardigan, Wales, the Irish festival Other Voices will return to its home this December. Dingle, County Kerry will once again play host to the festival and over 50 native acts from December 2 to 4.For those not in the know, Other Voices operates thus: take over an entire town and turn every possible private space into a venue. Now in its 21st year of continuous performance (including some spirit saving live-streams mid-Covid), organisers announced the full roster of acts as well as the headliners for their fabled IMRO Other Room sessions, which will be professionally filmed. Representing the North is an absolute deluge of talent across a broad spectrum of genres. Derry producer and DJ Cartin, Belfast rapper Emby, Newcastle based indie-psych songwriter Lemonade Shoelace and post-punk/jazz outfit Robocobra Quartet are just some of the names that will carry the torch this festive season. The IMRO Other Room meanwhile is equally laden with talent. Atlantic Records-signed act Selló will bring his Gaelic-themed drill sound to the St James’ church alongside the grunge pop of songwriter Kynsy. However, it’s hip hop/jazz group Bricknasty who have most of my attention. We've covered them extensively over the past year, but after an ecstatic performance at Ireland Music Week this year, the Dublin group are absolutely on fire. One to watch going forward. News also broke this week of the programing for next year’s TradFest in Dublin's Temple Bar. Taking place at the end of January and with tickets on sale now, the festival aims to celebrate Mná na hÉireann, featuring a number of female-led and curated trad and folk performances.