ShareFresh off a sold-out North American tour, Irish duo 49th & Main continue their streak of successes with the announcement of their debut album. Happy Tears was released via digital and vinyl on June 13th via Counter Records (Ninja Tune) and is led by new single Mr Rain which is out now.
With over 200 million streams, 2.2 million monthly Spotify listeners, multiple BBC Radio 1 backed releases and listed in the NME 100, the pair have become one of the most popular acts in music coming from Ireland and sit at the forefront of indie-electronic music globally. But this is only a fraction of their story…
From self-releasing tracks in Kilkenny to selling out international tours, 49th & Main have built a sound that fuses UK garage, jazz-infused house, and emotionally charged indie-pop. Defying the traditional industry blueprint, they’ve evolved from TikTok buzz to securing major festival slots at Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, and The Great Escape. Along the way, they’ve signed with Counter Records (Ninja Tune), landed a spot on the EA FC soundtrack, and earned a BBC Radio 1 Future Artist slot, further cementing their global rise.
Beyond their growing accolades, 49th & Main’s journey has been one of perseverance. Producer Ben O’Sullivan’s battle with aplastic anaemia forced him off the road, but rather than halting their momentum, the challenge fuelled their creativity. Exploring new sonic directions that have led them to this point, they continued their craft with tracks like Catching Eyes, Self Sabotage and also Hold On with fellow Irish talent SHEE.
Beyond their extensive catalog, 49th & Main are a band built for the stage. Moving from their production duo to a four piece band, their live shows have quickly become the stuff of legend. Almost every show sells out, and for good reason. They bring the energy of a warehouse rave, the intimacy of a house party, and the polish of top-tier musicianship. Whether crowd-surfing, diving into mosh pits, or leading mass sing alongs with fans who know every word, they make each performance feel like a once-in-a-lifetime.
“Lately I’ve been attempting to realise that I will 100% look back upon this present time in my life and want it back. In actively doing this I have been brought to tears a few times. Happy tears. Just from trying to appreciate where I am. Yeah so that’s basically the idea I’d like to embody with this project. Finding beauty in the small details of life. Coming to terms with the fact that the operatively named ‘present’ is the most valuable and important thing there is. We are currently in the ‘good old days’. (Ben)”
TOUR DATES 2025
September
| Date | Venue |
|---|---|
| Tue 2nd | King Tut’s Glasgow |
| Thu 4th | Belgrave Music Hall Leeds |
| Fri 5th | Band On The Wall Manchester |
| Sun 7th | Arts Club Liverpool |
| Tue 9th | Rescue Rooms Nottingham |
| Wed 10th | The Castle & Falcon Birmingham |
| Thu 11th | Thekla Bristol |
| Sat 13th | O2 Forum Kentish Town London |
Tickets are now on sale