Blue Fish Diamond performing at Tradfest 2026

Blue Fish Diamond have released their third studio album ‘Radio Silence’ and will be performing at TradFest 2026.

Blue Fish Diamond are playing two gigs at TradFest this year. The first gig is Thursday January 22nd at 6 p.m, this is a solo performance with lead singer Jim Murphy in the Fleet Hotel Temple Bar. The second gig is Saturday January 24th at 4pm. It will be taking place in The Morgan Hotel as a two-piece, Jim Murphy and Laura Ryder, the pianist in the band.

The band’s idiosyncratic name came about when a friend asked the band members favourite colour and food; blue and fish pie. Since Blue Fish Pie would have been a terrible band name, pie was swapped for diamond, and Blue Fish Diamond was born.

The band’s name is emblematic of their style. This is especially relevant for their latest album Radio Silence, where they explore many themes and topics that all tie together with the overarching message of simply caring; caring about the world, people, politics and loved ones.

Forming in 2016 the band recorded their first album a year later and released From Dark to Light in 2018, but Jim Murphy’s journey with music began two years previous in 2014.

Murphy left the insurance business after 25 years because of the gravitational pull he felt towards music.

“It was a magnetic draw I had, when I first said it to my wife I was surprised by her response- she said, ‘well, why don’t you just do it?’” said Murphy.

Murphy said it took him years to break down the mental barriers he had and the lists of reasons why he shouldn’t pursue music.

“It took the next couple of years to break down the barriers I had of why I couldn’t do it,” Murphy said.

Ultimately his reason for leaving the insurance sector was because he didn’t want to see himself in 10 years looking back and wishing he had done it.

“There were many times I said to myself, ‘What am I doing? What have I done?’ But that was a little over 10 years ago now, and I am so happy I did it, it’s been just phenomenal,” Murphy said.

Blue Fish Diamond on their third studio album Radio Silence and playing Tradfest 2026

Radio Silence is a record reflective of the loneliness people can feel in a world of chaos and loss. The opening track ‘Servants to the Hand’ is a political track co-written by Jim Murphy and Mark Keogh. Mark Keogh is Murphy’s fellow mature student whom he met when completing his musical degree in BIMM.

“Servants to the Hand is a political song that was intentionally chosen as the opening track, the song reflects the rise of right-wing extremism here in Ireland, you know when the riots happened in Dublin I was totally shocked that it was happening on our door step,” Murphy said.

Themes of isolation, climate change and the issues young people face today can be seen in tracks such as Radio Silence, Planet Blue and Fallen Angel. However, a softness and deep emotions are also prominent in this album.

1980 is a track that deals with loss intimately, “it’s about wanting to go back in time to be with loved ones who have passed but as the song evolves you ultimately accept that it’s not possible,” Murphy said.

Radio Silence is an album that has something for everyone; incredibly personable lyrics, driving rhythms, soft piano ballads and important messaging. Blue Fish Diamond has encapsulated what it feels like to exist in a complex world full of love, hate, heated intensity, great joy and loving stillness.

Inspirations such as Tom Petty, Paul Simon, Big Thief, Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen and The Beatles echo around the album musically and lyrically.

Blue Fish Diamond are really excited to play at Tradfest this year, “it’s fantastic, I think it’s great, festivals like these are amazing, the opportunities that it gives for musicians to get out there and showcase their music,” Murphy said.

Murphy commends the underground art scene in Dublin as being greatly inspiring with such incredible talent. Blue Fish Diamond are a unique band full of vibrance and great music.

Both gigs on the 22nd and 24th are free and taking place in the city centre be sure to visit Blue Fish Diamonds website for more information on the band. Visit TradFest website to find more information where they’re playing and the rest of the lineup for Tradfest.

Photographs by Jason Ennis and Paul McGee