• Hozier @ The Olympia Theatre, Dublin

    December 5, 2014 - By 

    Hozier returns to his hometown crowd for the first time since things have really blown up for him. The pride and excitement in The Olympia is palpable. What makes this pride stand out even more is that all of tonight’s acts are homegrown talent. Alana Henderson opens with her cello and piano-driven set. Next up are Wyvern Lingo, who are incredibly impressive, the three piece putting on a show that raises the standard for the night in a way that a support does not often do. With their harmonies, unique sound and stage present, the girls put on a very…

  • Block T Christmas Party: Squarehead, Bantum, Bad Santa Screening, Live Visuals & more

    December 5, 2014 - By 

    The Sugar Club hosts the Block T Christmas Party on December 13 which looks to be an attack on the senses. On the night, they combine visuals and audio, with a screening of Billy Bob Thornton black comedy Bad Santa, performances from Dublin lo-fi garage pop Squarehead, Irish DJ/producer Ruairi Lynch aka Bantum – accompanied by a live visual mapping show from Slipdraft –  some Block T DJ’s and a night-closing DJ set from Donal Dineen of 2fm. The plethora of activities doesn’t stop there though, folks, as video intervals come from Darklight, there’s a Print Your Own Christmas T-shirt workshop by Damn Fine Pint. Tickets are available from the Sugar Club for €12, or €10…

  • The Magic Numbers Irish Tour

    December 5, 2014 - By 

    Pop-rock juggernauts The Magic Numbers were in Ireland this week, for a tour rescheduled from September after an ill-timed throat issue afflicted vocalist Romeo Stodart. Undaunted, they traversed the country, with The Thin Air in tow at various tour stops. With fourth album ‘Alias’ in the can, and on the home stretch for pre-Xmas touring, the band were in rare form, and we were there for all of it with access-all-areas photography, and our thoughts from each night. MONDAY DEC. 1ST – GALWAY @ THE ROISÍN DUBH: Not Faemous took to the stage to a small crowd, and played quite pleasing…

  • Ken & Ryu – Fantasy Ink

    December 5, 2014 - By 

    Space and electronic music are seemingly intrinsically linked. It’s understandable; the initial development of electronic instrumentation happened when the Space Race was in full swing. The sounds themselves feel otherworldly and wondrous and though synthy space music is by now a path well-trodden it’s far from an exhausted source of interesting sounds and good vibes. This is none more evident than on Fantasy Ink, a solid record of stellar funk from Belfast’s James McConville, aka Ken & Ryu. Clocking in at just over fifteen minutes, the EP treats us to a short and sweet galactic trip. Opener ‘Backbone of the…