Tom Coll, drummer for chart-topping art-punk band Fontaines D.C., has teamed up with industry veterans Michael Roe (Adebisi Shank, Richter Collective) and Ken Allen (Faction Records) to launch Inis Records. Dedicated exclusively to Irish music, the new independent record label and online store will specialize in landmark reissues, hidden gems, and new releases from both emerging and established Irish acts.
Alongside its own imprint, the Inis store will stock releases across every era and genre of Irish music. The platform also aims to support independent artists who lack distribution, while offering backend services to small domestic labels to help strengthen Ireland's physical music infrastructure.
The idea stemmed from a shared passion for Ireland’s rich musical heritage, particularly the influential independent releases spanning from the 1960s through to the 2000s. Human curation serves as the project's core, focusing on overlooked, out-of-print albums that deserve renewed attention alongside modern releases.
Tom Coll highlighted that Inis Records aims to provide a dedicated physical platform for Irish music to grow, creating special vinyl runs, reissuing older classics, and nurturing the next wave of talent. Michael Roe noted that while Ireland boasts an incredible musical history, artists have relied heavily on overseas infrastructure for decades, expressing hope that Inis will empower artists to grow their careers locally while reaching global audiences. Ken Allen added that the timing is ideal to spotlight forgotten treasures while championing Ireland's most exciting modern acts.
The label launches with pre-orders for Against Nature, the currently out-of-print album by cult 1980s art-rock group Fatima Mansions. Inis Records has laid out an ambitious release schedule for the coming months, which includes a traditional music compilation curated by Coll, an Irish Showband compilation put together by Charles Hendy of The Mary Wallopers, and several key album reissues.
