Winner Announced For New Local Hero Award As Part Of Irish Music Month

Calum Agnew has been announced as the overall winner of A New Local Hero at a live finale event in Dublin.

The A New Local Hero winner will receive €5,000 in prize money; €5,000 worth of recording, mixing and mastering time at the renowned Camden Recording Studios; and the chance to release a song through the independent Irish label Rubyworks...

The 2024 edition of the A New Local Hero talent search provided a crucial platform for a thrillingly eclectic selection of acts from right across the country – all hoping to claim that prestigious title. Now, following tonight's phenomenal live final event at The Academy in Dublin, we can finally reveal our overall winner: Calum Agnew!

As part of his prize, Calum, representing LMFM, will receive €5,000 in prize money, as well as €5,000 worth of recording, mixing and mastering time at the renowned Camden Recording Studios. He’ll also have his song released through the independent Irish record label Rubyworks – whose roster includes the legendary likes of Hozier...

Over the course of the evening, fans, friends, family and representatives from across the Irish music industry watched six of Ireland's most promising stars-in-the-making showcasing their talents – with performances from  Calum Agnew (LMFM), Bobbi Arlo (FM104), Asophonics (KCLR FM), Mia Black (Shannonside / Northern Sound), Jessica Brett (Tipp FM) and Projective (Cork's 96FM).

The acts, who hail from across the country, each brought their own unique sounds and styles to the show – resulting in a brilliantly diverse celebration of the best of emerging homegrown music.

Despite fantastic performances from all of the acts, there could only be one winner – with Calum ultimately winning over the judging panel.

Here's the winning moment;

President Michael D Higgins has congratulated Callum on his win.

In a statement the President noted his success.

"I want to extend the warmest congratulations to Calum Agnew, who was announced last night as the recipient of the A New Local Hero Award 2024, which is part of the Irish Music Month initiative, organised by Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, and funded from the Sound & Vision fund, by Coimisiún na Meán," the President said.

"There is so much extraordinary musical talent in Ireland right now, as was confirmed so emphatically, when independent radio stations all over Ireland chose their own Local Hero, as part of Irish Music Month.

“The judges must have had an exceptionally difficult job selecting a shortlist of six from those uniquely talented artists – and so, in addition to Calum Agnew, Bobbi Arlo, Asophonics, Mia Black, Jessica Brett and Projective all deserve our most sincere congratulations.

"We are in a very special moment here in Ireland, with brilliant young, creative artists like all six finalists delivering works of remarkable imagination, quality and strength.

“Calum Agnew is one of those admirable talents. A truly committed musician who has been writing songs ever since he was a young child.

“He really has enormous potential – so it is marvellous to see him being recognised in this powerful way by a panel of judges from across the music industry – including experienced and highly successful artists of the calibre of Ruth-Anne Cunningham and Róisín O.

 "The prize is a very valuable one – but most of all, the title of A New Local Hero 2024, which has been conferred on Calum Agnew – and the support from Irish local radio that it guarantees – will I'm sure open the way for him to move on with confidence to the next level, in what should be a wonderfully productive, long-term career.

 "Well done, Calum Agnew. I wish you a hugely successful career as an artist, a songwriter, a performer and a singer."