We Are in the Good Old Days” - 49th & Main Announce Debut Album ‘Happy Tears,’ Capturing the Rush of Young Adulthood 

From Kilkenny Dreams to International Sold-Out Tours, the Duo Channel Their Live Magic & Emotive Musicianship

Irish duo 49th & Main continue their streak of successes with the announcement of their debut album. Happy Tears is set for release via digital and vinyl on June 13th via Counter Records (Ninja Tune) & is led by new single Mr Rain out now. 

With over 200 million streams, 2.2 million monthly Spotify listeners, multiple BBC Radio 1 - backed releases & 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...  

"With kaleidoscopic, adventurous energy and the pop sensibilities of something more likely to trouble the top of the charts, they've hit upon a brilliant hybrid"

NME

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.

New single, Mr Rain, captures their ability to blend nostalgia with innovation and it's already had a first spin on BBC Radio 1.

“You’re gonna love the vibes of this track.. a duo from Kilkenny – who are beloved across Radio 1, a previous next wave too, they are 49th & Main. The track.. is the start of what I imagine will be a very big year for them!”  

Radio 1 / Future Artists w/ Sian Eleri

That said, Mr Rain is a snapshot of what makes 49th & Main unique - a fusion of past and present, tradition and reinvention.

"This song has been through it over the years! (Paddy) My Dad had been at me to take one of his songs he wrote 36 years ago and let me and Ben do what we do. The first 4 lines are 36 years old and the rest I thought didn’t feel like I could relate so I started from there. It feels like a song about regret but in a fun bouncy way."

That constant duality - looking back while pushing forward - is at the heart of Happy Tears: the feeling of embracing the moment even as it slips away. Across 21 tracks, the album moves between euphoric highs and introspective lows, reflecting every facet of their sound. Capturing the rush of youth and the bittersweet awareness that nothing lasts forever, Happy Tears serves as a coming-of-age soundtrack - balancing reckless abandon with the quiet realisation that these are the moments we’ll one day long for.

"I’ve always been plagued by nostalgia my whole life… 

... At any one time, no matter how good things are going, I’ve always looked towards the past with envy. Even some of the worst times in my history I will look back upon fondly. I was watching the US Office recently, as one often does and a quote from Andy stuck with me. ..“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” We can all relate to this sentiment." (Ben)

Their last single, Distractions, released in February, will also be part of the album, offering an early glimpse into its emotional depth. The track resonates as a reflection of life’s dualities - the push and pull of home and adventure. Setting the pace for what’s to come, it has already earned multiple BBC Radio 1 spins. Previous singles Self Sabotage, Hold On and Can’t Walk Away will also be featured, already generating millions of streams.  

Beyond their growing accolades, 49th & Main’s journey has been one of perseverance. Producer Ben O’Sullivan’s battle with aplastic anemia forced him off the road, but rather than halting their momentum, the challenge fueled 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. 

"49th & Main are among the hottest prospects Ireland has produced in years. They more than lived up to their reputation as brilliant performers...confirming exactly why they are real contenders for global mega-success." 

Hot Press

Beyond their extensive catalog, 49th & Main are a band built for the stage. Moving from their production duo to a 4 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 singalongs with fans who know every word, they make each performance feel like a once-in-a-lifetime.

"49th & Main may have exactly what you're after. Boosted by a live saxophone, the group have the crowd in the palm of their hand, blasting out euphoric bangers punctuated with snippets of huge floor-filling dance tracks. Think Boiler Room if it took place on a kid's TV show."

Dork

However, Happy Tears is set to be their defining statement - a record that distills everything 49th & Main represent across 21 tracks. It captures the rush of live music and the catharsis of songwriting, channeling everything from the messy beauty of a night out to the pang of nostalgia in a familiar melody or the fleeting clarity of a sunrise after no sleep. Happy Tears is about chasing those moments and bottling them in music.

"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)"

49th & Main have crafted an album that captures the pulse of indie-electronic music while crossing over into their plethora of sonic elements, writing their own playbook on success through artistic authenticity. From their audacious rise from Kilkenny to international acclaim, the duo has carved out an unconventional and inspiring path. Their blend of critically acclaimed live performances, specialist media support, viral streaming success, and a deep connection to the emotional currents of today’s youth has positioned them as a cultural phenomenon. 49th & Main are a story that demands the attention they are deservedly getting.

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