• little xs for eyes w/ Paddy Hanna @ Whelan’s, Dublin

    May 6, 2015 - By 

    Kicking things off nicely is Paddy Hanna with his introspective, delicate folk. His greatest, and most striking strength is his voice, reminiscent of BBC’s Jack Steadman, Alt-J’s Joe Newman and even our own Conor O’Brien. His mellow, gossamer guitar playing may be lost on the early crowd who are yet to break from their tight circles and shadowy corners. But in Paddy, though no stage master, there’s clearly something to like for lovers of the genre. The crowd begins to grow. Mid week gigs are all the thing it seems. But then again, who wouldn’t want to get out of…

  • Watch: Arborist – Twisted Arrow

    May 6, 2015 - By 

    Released as a stream back in March, Belfast-based folk songsmith Mark McCambridge AKA Arborist has unveiled the video for his new single, ‘Twisted Arrow’, featuring guest vocals from none other than Kim Deal. Directed by Stephen Agnew, it’s a suitably mellow accompaniment to the Americana-tinged single, which was officially released on Monday. Watch the video below.

  • Stream: Rams Pocket Radio – Resevoir

    May 6, 2015 - By 

    Having laid low for a few months, Lisburn singer-songwriter Peter McAuley AKA Rams Pocket Radio has re-emerged with ‘Resevoir’, a strong, electronica-infused effort hinting at some very promising things in the making. Driven by McAuley’s immediately recognisable vocals and a wonderful string trio, the track was mixed and engineered by Rocky O’Reilly at Belfast’s Start Together Studio. Stream/download ‘Reservoir’ below. Reservoir by RAMS’ Pocket Radio

  • Stendhal Festival Make First Announcement

    May 6, 2015 - By 

    With many more acts yet to be announced, legendary English folk singer-songwriter Donovan and Kerbdog will play Ireland’s “Best Small Festival” Stendhal Festival in Limavady across August 7-8. With Donovan headlining the Friday night, DJ Format, Televisor, Kila, Ciaran Lavery, Robyn G Shiels and Ryan Vail are also amongst the first acts announced. Check out the current line-up below and go here to buy tickets.

  • More Acts Set for Valentia Isle Festival

    May 6, 2015 - By 

    A self-proclaimed “incredible party on the edge of the world”, Valentia Isle has unveiled a second wave of acts set to play the festival in July. With musician, DJ, broadcaster and founding member of Big Audio Dynamite, Don Letts topping the latest announcement, Dublin’s The Hot Sprockets, New Zealand indie pop musician Pikachunes and Cork dream-pop band Elastic Sleep also feature. A string of other Irish acts make up the remainder of the latest announcement: Dirty Dubsters, New Secret Weapon, Fox Jaw, Sounds of System Breakdown, Toy Soldier, Karma Parking, Mongoose, Collie Hz U, Strange Attractor, Markas Carcas, Cal Folger…

  • Beats Rhymes and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest @ Black Box, Belfast

    May 5, 2015 - By 

    On Friday, May 8, the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival will host a free early evening screening of Beats Rhymes and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest at Belfast’s Black Box. Having forged a 20-year run as one of the most innovative and influential hip hop bands of all time, the Queens NY collective have kept a generation hungry for more of their groundbreaking music since their much publicized breakup in 1998. Beats, Rhymes & Life (also the title of the band’s 1996 record) balances brutal honesty with a heartfelt devotion as it tracks A Tribe Called Quest’s mid-1980’s formation in…

  • Bookmark: Una Mullally

    May 6, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Bookmark we spend some time with Una Mullally, a journalist with The Irish Times and a recently published author, while she discusses her favourite and most influential books. Photos by Abigail Denniston. Tales Of The City – Armistead Maupin I don’t read much fiction, but these books had a big impact on me and on my aspirations to explore writing fiction. They’re so smart and nifty and more-ish. Fun Home – Alison Bechdel This is a work of genius. The ground Bechdel breaks with Fun Home is monumental, both with the form she pioneers and the subject…

  • New Acts Announced for Electric Picnic 2015

    May 5, 2015 - By 

    As we posted about last week, Blur are amongst several new acts set to play this year’s Electric Picnic. Also confirmed to play the annual Co. Laois festival – set to take place from September 4-6 – are Interpol, FKA Twigs, Grace Jones, Mac DeMarco, Sam Smith, Despacio, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), MK, Gavin James, Printer Clips, Julio Bashmore, Paul Kalkbrenner, The Riptide Movement, The 2 Bears, SOAK, Viet Cong, Fickle Friends, Kwamie Liv, Honne, Fat White Family, Dawes and Benjamin Clementine. Blur and Sam Smith join Florence and the Machine as the festival’s headliners. With many more acts to be announced,…

  • New Acts Announced For Body & Soul 2015

    May 1, 2015 - By 

    Having announced their return back in February, Super Furry Animals are amongst several new acts announced to play this year’s Body & Soul festival. Set to take place at Co. Westmeath’s Ballinlough Castle from June 19-21, the festival has also revealed that Tiga, Kuenta i Tambu, Kiasmos, SOAK, Cu, Vin Gordon and the Real Rock Band, Cloud Castle Lake, Planet Parade and Bleeding Heart will also perform. With many more acts set to be confirmed, check out the current line-up for the festival below and go here to buy tickets.

  • Festival of Fools 2015

    May 1, 2015 - By 

    Nothing short of an annual Belfast Bank Holiday institution, Festival of Fools returns this weekend with 120 free comedy street shows, including clowns from Spain, acrobats from Australia and Tanzania, not to mention a whole array of Northern Irish performers. Running from Friday, May 1 until Monday, May 4, approximately 40 acts per day will speckle the streets with an array of the brilliant and bizarre performances. Go here to check out the full schedule for the festival.