• New Ancestors – Annabelle EP

    Newly-expanded quartet New Ancestors, having just relocated from Glasgow back to Belfast, have announced details of their first EP as a four piece, Annabelle. Formerly a duo – called the 1930s – the core of the band are singer-guitarist Jonny Solari and drummer & singer Andrew Cameron, have now added Adam Booth and Glenn Kennedy to their ranks. The expansion has signalled a change to a more pop-rock sound, moving away from their previous folk-pop roots. The EP is released on April 13. Check out the video for the title track & single:

  • Premiere: Autumns – Blonde EP

    Fronted by Christian Donaghey, Derry noise-pop trio Autumns are easily one of our favourite live acts from Northern Ireland. Their shows are generally compact, explosive affairs; whirlwinds of feedback-soaked noise and jangling gusto. Released via Belfast’s CF Records, the band’s new four-track EP, Blonde, manages to contain the fervent, kinetic essence of their live show, bursting out of the traps on ‘Je Vous Être’ and crashing back down to earth on ‘You’re Not Tough Enough’. The follow-up up to their Downwards-released debut mini album, the EP was recorded in a single day at their first ever studio recording at Belfast’s Start Together. Blonde…

  • Monday Mixtape: Ciaran Smith (Crayonsmith)

    Following in the footsteps of the likes of Ciaran Lavery and Claire Miskimmin from Girls Names, Ciaran Smith (pictured, left) from Dublin band Crayonsmith selects his all-time favourite tracks – Fog, Rhye, Viet Cong etc. – for this week’s Monday Mixtape. Crayonsmith are currently recording an EP and playThe Horse and Stables, London, on March 17

  • Front of House: Ber Quinn

    In our fifth installment of Front of House, we chat to Cork native Ber Quinn about his life as a sound engineer in Dublin and his current work with Villagers. Photos by Brid O’Donovan. Hey Ber! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Hi! I’m a Cork man living in Dublin on and off for the last 7 or so years. As a live engineer, I mix front of house sound for Villagers, The Magic Numbers, Cathy Davey, Wallis Bird, Duke Special and a German classical ensemble called Stargaze. I’m also a studio engineer fighting the tide of click tracks and…