Keywest

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Keywest
Keywest busking on Grafton Street, Dublin, 2014
Keywest busking on Grafton Street, Dublin, 2014
Background information
OriginDublin, Ireland and London, England
GenresPop-folk
Years active2010-present
MembersAndrew Kavanagh
Andrew Glover
Luke Murphy
Conor Ray
Past membersSam Marder
Jimi Lock
Harry Sullivan
Websitehttps://www.keywestofficial.com

Keywest is an Irish pop-folk band formed in Dublin.[1] The band has released several commercially successful albums in Ireland, some of which have been awarded platinum status.[2]

History of the group

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2010: Formation

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The band was initially formed as a duo by founding members Andrew Kavanagh and Andrew Glover, who were childhood friends in Artane, Dublin.[3] They began street performances (also known as busking) in Galway,[4] before relocating to Dublin to perform on Grafton Street, a location known for its street performers.[5]

2012: The Message

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Their debut album, The Message, was released in 2012 via Alphastar Records. It peaked at number 15 on the Irish charts and number 2 on the Irish iTunes chart. The album was self-produced, with engineering by Mark Needham, who has worked with The Killers, Katy Perry, Fleetwood Mac, Neon Trees, and Dan Frampton (The Script).[6] The album was released as a double CD, with the first disc containing the main album and second disc being the Undelivered EP.

The band was described as Ireland's most-played Irish independent artist of 2012.[7] The Message has since been certified triple-platinum in Ireland.[8] [citation needed]

In 2012, Keywest was nominated for Best New Act at the Meteor Awards, and The Message was nominated for Best Debut Album in the Hot Press Hotties Awards.[9]

The band also signed a worldwide publishing deal with Peermusic in Los Angeles in 2012.[10]

2013: Electric Love EP

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The band followed their debut album with the Electric Love EP, which featured the title track and lead single, "Electric Love". The single reached number one on the Irish charts and was released independently through the band's label, Sonic Realm Records.[11]

2015: Joyland

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In 2014, the band won Best Street Artist/Busker at the Hot Press Awards.[12] In 2015, the band was fined for exceeding noise levels under Dublin's busking by-law.[13]

Keywest released their second album, Joyland, in September 2015, and it debuted at number 2 position on the Official Irish Chart, the album reached number one the following week.

In 2014 and 2015, the band won the 98FM award for Dublin's best street artist. In 2015, the band was voted Most Promising Artist in Hot Press.[14]

2016: This Summer EP

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In 2016, Keywest released the This Summer EP, featuring the lead track of the same name. The EP was independently released through the band's label, Sonic Realm Records.[15]

2018: True North

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The band's third album, True North, was released on 30 March 2018.[citation needed] It entered the Irish charts at number 3, reaching number 1 on the Independent Music Chart.[16] Keywest received three nominations at the 2018 Irish Post Music Awards: Best Song, Best Album, and Best Band.[17]

2019: Ordinary Superhero

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In November 2018, Keywest signed to Marshall Records.[18] Their fourth album, Ordinary Superhero, was released on 18 October 2019 and reached number 8 on the official Irish Album Chart. The song "I'm Not Me Without You" features Irish singer Una Healy.[19]

The title track, "Ordinary Superhero," was released at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in conjunction with Irish and UK charities supplying PPE to front-line workers. The music video for the song depicted front-line workers during the pandemic.[20]

As of 2025, the band operates independently, funding its activities through direct sales and platforms like Patreon.[21]

Members

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Current members

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Former members

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[22]

Awards and nominations

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  • Best New Act – Meteor Awards 2012 (nominated)
  • Best Debut Album – Hot Press Hotties Awards, 2012 (nominated)
  • Best Street Act – 98FM Best Of Dublin Awards 2014 (winner)
  • Best Street Act – 98FM Best Of Dublin Awards 2015 (winner)
  • Most Promising Artist – Hot Press Hotties Awards 2015 (winner)
  • Best Song – Irish Post Music Awards 2018 (nominated)
  • Best Album – Irish Post Music Awards 2018 (nominated)
  • Best Act – Irish Post Music Awards 2018 (nominated)

Discography

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Keywest discography
Studio albums4

Studio albums

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Year Album details Peak chart positions
IRL
[23]
2012 The Message
  • Released: 24 February 2012
  • Formats: CD, download
 15
2015 Joyland
  • Released: 25 September 2015
  • Formats: CD, download
 1
2018 True North
  • Released: 30 March 2018
  • Formats: CD, download
 3
[24]
2019 Ordinary Superhero
  • Released: 11 October 2019
  • Formats: CD, download
 8
[25]
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.

Singles

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Year Title Peak chart positions Album
IRL
[23]
2009 "Miss You Most" 6
2011 "Back into Your Arms" 25 The Message
2012 "Feels So Cruel" —
"In the Fight For Love" —
2013 "Electric Love" 55
2015 "All My Mistakes" — Joyland
"Carousel" 84
"This Is Heartbreak" —
2016 "This Summer" True North
2017 "The Little Things"
"Cold Hands"
2018 "Something Beautiful"
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Writer, Staff (18 January 2023). "IMRO Award Presented to Keywest". IMRO. Irish Music Rights Organisation.
  2. ^ "KEYWEST". www.breakingtunes.com. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Keywest: 'busking shaped us'". www.farmersjournal.ie. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Keywest interview - Andrew Kavanagh and Andrew Glover (2019)". YouTube. 7 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Keywest Interview". hotpress.com. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Mark Needham Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor..." AllMusic. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  7. ^ Lynch, Richard (11 November 2016). "Irish Band Keywest come to Dolans this November 26". I Love Limerick. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  8. ^ Officer, Press (29 March 2016). "Press Officer, Author at IMRO - Page 97 of 179". IMRO. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Keywest, Galway Arts Festival 2012 | Galway International Arts Festival". www.giaf.ie. 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  10. ^ Banks, Breffni (12 July 2011). "Dublin Band Keywest Sign Exclusive Songwriting and Co-Publishing Deal". IMRO. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Sonic Realm Records Discography". Discogs. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Keywest triumph at 98fm Awards".
  13. ^ Dhillon, Fiona (5 October 2015). "Busking appeals falling on deaf ears as Keywest pays decibel fine". Dublin Evening Herald. p. 11. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Inside the new issue – the Hot Press Hotties".
  15. ^ "Sonic Realm Records Discography". Discogs.
  16. ^ "Music gigs and concerts in Ireland this March". Official Charts.
  17. ^ "Irish Post Music Awards 2018".
  18. ^ "Keywest - a Marshall Records alumni band". marshall.com. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  19. ^ O'Connor, Sorcha (25 April 2019). "Una teams up with Keywest for new single after going solo". Dublin Evening Herald. p. 22. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Official Charts - Ordinary Superhero". hotpress.com. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  21. ^ "Get more from KEYWESTOFFICIAL on Patreon". Patreon. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  22. ^ McEneff, Karissa (15 December 2015). "Five Key Facts You Need To Know About Keywest | Ticketmaster IE Blog". Ticketmaster IE. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  23. ^ a b Steffen Hung. "Discography Keywest". irishcharts.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 6 April 2018". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 6 April 2018". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
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