Hilary Woods: Irish musician and visual artist releases new album Night CRIÚ
On October 31, 2025, Hilary Woods, a Dublin-based musician and visual artist from Ireland, unveiled her album Night CRIÚ through Sacred Bones. Previously, she played bass for JJ72 between 1996 and 2003, during which the band released two albums that reached the Top 20. After taking time off for family and education, she re-emerged in 2013 under the name The River Cry, putting out the EPs Night in 2014 and Heartbox in 2016. Woods’ artistic style incorporates elements of experimental noise, folk, and digital art. In 2024, she worked with Jozef Van Wissem on The Night Dwells in the Day and toured Europe. Her endeavors have been backed by Culture Ireland and recognized by the Arts Council of Ireland, including the Film Project Award in 2023. The recording of Night CRIÚ took place from 2023 to January 2025 at various sites.
Key facts
- Hilary Woods is an Irish musician, composer, and visual artist.
- She was bassist for JJ72 from 1996 to 2003.
- JJ72 released two Top20 albums in UK and Ireland.
- She took a decade-long hiatus for family and studies.
- She returned in 2013 as The River Cry.
- Her solo EPs Night (2014) and Heartbox (2016) followed.
- She signed with Sacred Bones and released albums Colt (2018), Birthmarks (2020), Feral Hymns EP (2021), Acts of Light (2023), and Night CRIÚ (2025).
- Isolation Tank (2020) was released on Boomkat Editions.
- She collaborated with Jozef Van Wissem on The Night Dwells in the Day (2024).
- She received the Film Project Award 2023, Music Project Award 2024, and John Killeen Medal 2008 from the Arts Council of Ireland.
- Night CRIÚ was recorded between 2023 and January 2025 in multiple locations.
- She performed at Pioneer Works (New York), Le Guess Who? (Netherlands), Cafe OTO (London), and Transmissions Festival 2025 (Ravenna, Italy).
- She cites experimental films by Richard Tuohy and Dianna Barrie as recent inspiration.
Entities
Artists
- Hilary Woods
- Jozef Van Wissem
- Richard Tuohy
- Dianna Barrie
- Wanda Jackson
Institutions
- JJ72
- Sacred Bones
- Boomkat Editions
- Culture Ireland
- Arts Council of Ireland
- Galway City Chamber Choir
- Palestrina Boys Choir of Dublin
- Pioneer Works
- Public Records
- Le Guess Who?
- Cafe OTO
- Transmissions Festival
Locations
- Dublin
- Ireland
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- London
- Latvia
- Richmond
- Virginia
- New York
- Ravenna
- Italy
- Wicklow