Niall McDowell

Niall McDowell is a queer folk and alt-country singer/songwriter from Belfast, Northern Ireland, known for blending folk and country influences into emotionally honest and often witty music. Describing their sound as “somewhere between a choirboy and a cowboy,” Niall's songs mix vulnerability with humor and a bit of cynicism, often delivering what they call “a sucker punch in the lyrics.” Since starting to release music around 2017, they've built a reputation for compelling songwriting with standout singles like "I Have Given Up," which was shortlisted for Single of the Year at the NI Music Prize.

Their debut album *Put Your Hands Where I Can See Them* (2025), produced by Chris W. Ryan and released on the Irish label TULLE, showcases Niall’s evolving style and includes tracks like “I Know A Woman,” a song dedicated to the queer women in their life that reimagines traditional folk through a queer lens. Niall McDowell has quickly become a must-watch artist with sold-out shows and international festival appearances, notable for their unique voice that shifts across genres and moods while avoiding being pigeonholed.