• Causeway @ Ulster Hall

    On Wednesday, March 26, Belfast’s historical Ulster Hall will play host to the premiere of Causeway, a special orchestra-electronic tribute to the Northern Irish coastline. The third commission undertaken by Ulster Orchestra and Associate Composer Ian Wilson, the production is “firmly rooted in the mythos and history of Northern Ireland, in this instance taking its inspiration from the formation of the Giant’s Causeway.” Speaking of the event, the Ulster Orchestra said, “In order to depict the three geological processes which helped form the Causeway – shifting tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes – Ian, for the first time in his work, has combined…

  • The Complete Guide To Therapy?: Part 1

    Your writer would have been six years old when, at the end of The Den, the video for Nowhere came on. It was unlike anything. From the kaleidoscopic visual onslaught, to the menace of frontman Andy Cairns and his bob ‘n’ goatee combo behind his black Gibson SG, to the wailing police-siren lead that overlays its rollicking chorus. There are times when you can’t explain what makes sense, but it just does, especially at that age. And it stayed with me, lying dormant through childish flights of fancy through Britpop, nu-metal, assorted electronic pop and whatever else was handy to…

  • Starred Up

    Muscular and raw, Starred Up is a film with teeth- both dramatically and literally, as one scene in particular bears out. Director David Mackenzie pulls no punches and produces a film laden with atmosphere that reeks of intimidation, violence and stale prison air. Starred Up is a story of father and son, with Eric (O’Connell) finally reunited with his long absent father, Neville (Mendelsohn). The difference between this and other family dramas is that this one takes place behind bars. From the first shot to the last, the audience never leaves the prison grounds. The film begins with the arrival…

  • Watch: Fight Like Apes – Crouching Bees

    With their forthcoming new EP, the altogether interestingly-titled Whigfield Sextape set for release on May 12, Dublin electro-pop four-piece Fight Like Apes have unveiled the video to their  new single, ‘Crouching Bees’. Directed by Grey Sun, the video shadows a disenchanted and onesied urban flâneur on a bicycle-based, sea-sprayed mystical adventure featuring the band’s frontwoman May Kay. Check out the artwork for Whigfield Sextape (created by none other than our photo/visual editor Loreana Rushe) and the video for ‘Crouching Bees’ below.

  • Video exclusive: C-BEAMS – Tannhauser

    Ahead of its general release later in the week, we’re happy to present an exclusive first look at the new electronic audio/visual project by Belfast-based artists Paul Shevlin and Richard Butler AKA C-BEAMS. Featuring music by Shevlin (also of alt-pop band Hologram) and film by Butler, the pair’s somnambulant debut offering, ‘Tannhauser’, is the first song to be taken from their debut four-track EP, Scars. Speaking of the project, Shevlin (pictured above) said, “The project started when Richard and I started spitballing ideas to work on together. We both have similar tastes when it comes to music/film and the idea of working on…

  • Inbound: Extra Fox

    Right now, The Cast Of Cheers camp – with their wonderfully productive love-in with the boys from Adebisi Shank and solo experiments – is one beautiful, hot mess. With Conor Adams’ projects taking in garage rock (Charmers) and electronic tweakery (TVVINS), brother Neil is also ready to step out, but he’ll be doing so as a solo artist under the name ‘Extra Fox’ (formerly, briefly, Kuma Hana), a bedroom electronic project all set to hit the city. With The Cast Of Cheers taking a break from the public eye, the experimentation is clearly oozing freely from a few pores. For…

  • Darling Announce Dublin Show

    Having impressed when supporting White Lies last week, Dublin’s indie rockstars Darling have announced a headline show at Whelans on Friday May 23rd. Tickets for the upcoming band are a measly €11 and are on sale now.