News: Power of Dreams Return With a Bang on “Somebody Somewhere”
…out 6th November
From a fan’s point of view, it is sheer joy to have Dublin alternative rock stalwarts Power of Dreams back, releasing new music and performing live once again. Having seen them on numerous tours throughout the 1990s, sharing stages with the likes of The Mission, New Model Army and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, I’ve developed a deep love and respect for this brilliant, hugely underrated Irish band.
The band built a reputation that stretched far beyond Ireland, signing to Polydor and touring extensively across Europe, North America and Japan. Their standing within the era’s vibrant alternative rock scene was further cemented in 1993 when they performed at New York’s legendary Sin-é café during the CMJ Music Festival, supported by a then-emerging Jeff Buckley.
Fast-forward to July this year, and Power of Dreams returned to the Irish stage at Forest Fest, marking their first performance in Ireland with the original line-up since 2010. Now, the quartet are celebrating this long-awaited reunion with the release of their new single, ‘Somebody Somewhere’, on Friday, 6 November.
The self-produced track is the first single since 2010 to feature all four original members, and it certainly feels like a statement of intent. There is a wonderful sense of familiarity running through the song, taking those of us who have followed the band over the years right back to the days when their infectious melodies, driving rhythms and Craig Walker’s unmistakable vocals first grabbed our attention.
Yet this is no mere exercise in nostalgia. Older and wiser, the four musicians have allowed their sound to mature without losing any of its original energy or impact. “Somebody Somewhere” captures the essence of Power of Dreams while embracing the excitement of a new chapter in their story.
Craig Walker explained that the reception to their Forest Fest appearance was incredible, with encouragement from fellow Irish musicians, including Morty McCarthy of The Sultans of Ping, reinforcing the feeling that the band still had plenty to offer. He also revealed that the new single was written with the fans firmly in mind.
The band wanted to mark the return of the original four-piece “with a bang”, creating a song that carried the essence of who they have always been while sounding fresh and exhilarated. With almost 40 years of making music together on and off, there is a tremendous amount of love and history behind Power of Dreams, and Craig believes the song encapsulates it all in just three minutes.
The reunion is made all the more special by the return of bassist Mick Lennox, bringing the original rhythm section back together. Keith Walker spoke of his excitement at recording with Mick again, explaining that the pair have been playing together since their teenage years. Mick sat out the band’s 2021 album Ausländer, making this latest recording a particularly meaningful reunion for the long-standing musical partnership.
The single was recorded across Dublin, Florida and Arizona, with an impressive team of collaborators helping bring the track to life. Grammy Award-winning engineer Jeremy Parker, whose credits include Evanescence, Slipknot, Mudvayne and Godsmack, worked alongside long-time Power of Dreams collaborator and live and studio engineer Joey Kenny.
Adding another important link to the band’s history, producer Jessica Corcoran returned to work with Power of Dreams for the first time in more than 30 years. Corcoran previously worked on the band’s third album, *Positivity*, making her involvement another welcome connection to the group’s musical past.
Lyrically, ‘Somebody Somewhere’ finds Craig reflecting on the past with the perspective that only time can bring. Drawing inspiration from the spirit of earlier Power of Dreams favourites such as ‘100 Ways to Kill a Love’ and ‘Stay’, Walker wanted to recapture something of that familiar vocal character without simply repeating the past.
The song reaches beyond the idea of a lost relationship, becoming a reflection on the people, experiences and moments we look back on as the years pass. Growing older brings a greater empathy for those losses, and rather than bitterness or regret, the song carries admiration for a free spirit that has been lost, alongside a sense of understanding and love for the younger selves we once were.
It is this combination of musical familiarity and emotional maturity that makes “Somebody Somewhere” such a fitting return for Power of Dreams. The years may have passed, but the chemistry remains, and there is a genuine warmth in hearing these musicians reconnect with the sound and spirit that first captured the hearts of their fans.
The band will be taking their music back on the road in November, with dates in Ireland and the UK, including a particularly fitting appearance supporting The Mission in London.
5 November – Mike the Pies, Listowel, Co. Kerry
6 November – Opium, Dublin
7 November – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, supporting The Mission – **SOLD OUT**
12 November – O2 Academy Islington, London
13 November – Shiiine On Weekender, Butlin’s, Minehead – **SOLD OUT**
Tickets for the remaining shows are on sale now.
Formed by brothers Craig and Keith Walker alongside childhood friends Mick Lennox and Ian Olney, Power of Dreams emerged as one of the defining voices of a new generation of Irish guitar bands.
Their 1990 debut album, Immigrants, Emigrants and Me, was a critical triumph on release and remains widely celebrated as one of Ireland’s great debut records. Its youthful honesty, melodic intensity and lyrical heart helped propel the band onto the international stage, establishing a sound that would resonate with alternative music fans well beyond their homeland.
Their most recent album, Ausländer, released in 2021, reaffirmed their distinctive sound, while its vinyl reissue earlier this year has sparked renewed appreciation among long-time fans and collectors alike.
For those of us who have cherished this band since their heyday, seeing Power of Dreams back together is about far more than nostalgia. It is about reconnecting with the music, the memories and the moments that have stayed with us through the years.
There is a particular magic in seeing musicians reconnect with their roots, rediscover their chemistry and remind the world why they mattered in the first place.
Power of Dreams are back, and Somebody Somewhere is a welcome reminder that great music never loses its power. For this fan, the return of the original four-piece is something to celebrate — and if you get the chance to see them live this November, I’d suggest grabbing it with both hands.
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