Tandem Felix & Naima Bock

The first of the Dún Laoghaire Festival Sessions features a brilliant double-header with Dublin's Tandem Felix & London's Naima Bock.

Since Tandem Felix re-emerged in 2017 with 'Were You There (When They Crucified The Birthday Boy)?' – nominated for the Choice Music Prize Song of the Year – the band opened for Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks in Dublin's Vicar Street, joined Saint Sister on their Irish tour and released long-awaited debut album, Rom-Com.

The album was recorded in the now defunct Lamplight Studios and mixed in The Snug at Sonic Studios by engineer Stephen Dunne. Finishing touches are being put onto Tandem Felix's second LP.

"These are classy, country-tinged songs about affairs of the heart, music for grownups, for divorcees, for people who have lived. Tandem Felix rarely break a sweat, let alone rock out or boogie. Maybe that's why they called themselves that. They weren't being ironic – they have found their perfect pace, their perfect mood, and for many of you it will be perfect, too."– THE GUARDIAN

The roots of Naima Bock’s music are far reaching. Born in Glastonbury to a Brazilian father and a Greek mother, Naima spent her early childhood in Brazil before eventually returning to England and various homes in South-East London. This heritage combines with more recent pursuits in Naima’s music; from the Brazilian standards that the family would listen to driving to the beach, to the European folk traditions she tapped into on her own, and the pursuits that interest her today – studies in archaeology, work as a gardener, and walking the world’s great trails – Naima’s music draws from family, the earth and the handing down of music through generations.

Naima’s debut album Giant Palm is undoubtedly infused with the Brazilian music of her youth and regular family visits. She found inspiration in “the percussion, the melodies, chords - and particularly the poetic juxtaposition of tragedy and beauty held within the lyrics”. By the age of 15 Naima was embedded in the music scene of South-East London, slotting into a group of like-minded friends writing and playing music. This led to the creation of Goat Girl, the band she toured the world with playing bass and singing alongside her school friends. After six years, Naima decided to leave Goat Girl to try something new.