• 15 For ’15: Speed of Snakes

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January magazine, we continue 15 for ’15, a feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re absolutely convinced are going places in 2015. Over the first two weeks of January, we’ll be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph by our wonderful team of photographers. Next up: Dublin duo Speed of Snakes. Photo by Alessio Michelini. 2014 saw the end of a band called Adebisi Shank, but this year the vibrations of the two remaining hatchlings of the snakes whose trails are the cosmos will reverberate along your consciousness like never before.…

  • 15 For ’15: Axis Of

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January magazine, we continue 15 for ’15, a feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re absolutely convinced are going places in 2015. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll going to be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph by our wonderful team of photographers. Next up: Belfast-based three-piece Axis Of. Photo by Tom McGeehan. 2015 looks all set for take-off for the North Antrim act dubbed by Rocksound “the most exciting band to come out of Northern Ireland, possibly ever”. Axis Of launch into the New Year…

  • Watch: Women’s Christmas – Thumbs Up To The World

    You know when you watch a new music video, only to immediately think, “This looked so much fun to make”? Well, Dublin indie rock band Women’s Christmas have just unveiled one of those videos for their single ‘Thumbs Up To The World’. Directed by DADDY and Charlie Doran, the video – fittingly shoddy, in the best possible sense – had us in absolute and utter stitches at the end. In fact, were going on the line here: if you’re not amused by dodgily-rendered floating band members – having the absolute craic in the process – then you are probably dead inside.…

  • EP Download: Winterlude – Four Songs

    An unexpected start-of-year surprise, Belfast-based musician Neil Brogan has released Four Songs, a wonderfully stripped-back EP as Winterlude. Whilst certainly redolent of certain aspects of Sea Pinks – the Brogan-fronted trio who have have recently released the stellar Dreaming Tracks – the EP is underpinned with more touches of Americana, country and jangle-noir. Download the EP for free via Bandcamp below. Four Songs by Winterlude

  • The Thin Air Tuesday Throwdown @ Laverys, Belfast

    A weekly night in the Back Bar of Laverys Belfast, The Thin Air Tuesday Throwdown will feature guest DJs, live performances and the very best in new and old indie rock, psych, electronica, noise, post-punk and experimental. Expect the likes of: Dinosaur Jr, Yo La Tengo, Can, Built To Spill, Deerhoof, Mac Demarco, The Fall, Grandaddy, Trans Am, My Bloody Valentine, Ty Segall, Do Make Say Think, Sparklehorse, Mclusky, Swans, Thee Oh Sees, Quasi, Stereolab, Jesus and Mary Chain and Neu! Starts Tuesday, January 6. Free entry. Kicks off at 9.30pm.

  • Watch: Ham Sandwich – Apollo

    Having featured in our Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2014,Ham Sandwich have unveiled the rather ambitious video for ‘Apollo’. The second single to be taken from the band’s forthcoming third studio album – set for release in April – the (let’s face it, equal parts fun and frightening) video for ‘Apollo’ stars Peter McGlynn and was produced and directed by BQ&Chrome

  • 15 For ’15: Sissy

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January magazine, we continue 15 for ’15, a feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re absolutely convinced are going places in 2015. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll going to be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph by our wonderful team of photographers. Next up is  Dublin lo-fi three-piece Sissy. Photo by Carlos Daly. Boy meets girls. Protest punk meets loud lo-fi garage. A three-piece band is born. Traversing the jagged topography of social commentary, sexual politics and gender inequality, streaked through with black humour and sonic…

  • 15 For ’15: Oh Boland

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January magazine, we continue 15 for ’15, a feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re absolutely convinced are going places in 2015. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll going to be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph by our wonderful team of photographers. Next up is Galway garage-pop trio Oh Boland. Photo by Sean McCormack. What with ‘garage rock/pop’ being one of the three/four musical styles currently en vogue, Tuam’s Oh Boland are likely to leap on most of these ‘to watch’ lists as a matter…

  • 15 For ’15: Elastic Sleep

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January magazine, we continue 15 for ’15, a feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re absolutely convinced are going places in 2015. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll going to be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph by our wonderful team of photographers. Next up is Cork dream-pop band Elastic Sleep. Photo by Brid O’Donovan. There is much to be said for patience. After well-loved Cork pop combo Terror Pop abruptly bid adieu in mid-2012, the band’s core membership took their time about regrouping. Quietly and…

  • 15 For ’15: Alana Henderson

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January magazine, we’re pleased to present 15 for ’15, a handpicked selection of Irish acts we’re absolutely convinced are going places in 2015. Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going to be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph by our wonderful team of photographers. First up is Belfast-based songstress Alana Henderson. Photo by Joe Laverty. End of year lists are a funny thing. Every year the music industry churns these things out and every year the same names appear top of the…