• Chic announced for Belsonic

    June 16, 2014 - By 

    Having had quite a remarkable rebirth over the last couple of years, funk/disco legends Chic have been announced to play Belsonic festival on Tuesday, August 19. With several other shows from the likes of Queens of the Stone Age and Biffy Clyro set to place at the annual Belfast festival in mid-August, Chic’s performance will be their only Northern Irish show of 2014. The Nile Rodgers-fronted band last played Belfast at the Waterfront Hall last October. Tickets for the show go on sale at Friday, June 20 at 9am via Ticketmaster.  

  • ASIWYFA, General Fiasco and more for Rock Against Racism show

    June 13, 2014 - By 

    Belfast venue The Limelight have announced a hugely impressive Rock Against Racism line-up for Friday, June 20. Set to play on the night is the veritable cream of the crop of Northern Irish music: North Coast post rock quartet And So I Watch You From Afar, rockers The Answer (Acoustic), General Fiasco (also acoustic; a rare appearance from a band on hiatus), Lisburn alt-rock masters Mojo Fury, Belfast-based prog-rock band Kasper Rosa, alt-punk four-piece Empty Lungs and more acts yet to be announced. According to the organisers, the special fundraiser – presented for The Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minoriries…

  • Stream: Dear Desert – Give It Up

    June 13, 2014 - By 

    Comprised of Richie Fenon, James O’Donnell of Hush War Cry and Brendan Millar of Futures Apart, the band , new-fangled Dublin electro/indie-pop trio Dear Desert have unveiled their debut offering, ‘Give It Up’ – and what a resounding first offering it is. Conjuring the likes of Belfast band Go Wolf and The Radio Dept., the track betrays a real confidence and command that is often lacking from debut singles, the track’s lush amalgam of balmy synth lines, echoing beats and soulful vocals melding to deliver a subtly spellbinding four-minute track. Stream the track – produced by Darragh Nolan – via Soundcloud below.

  • Festival Mixtape: Body & Soul 2014

    June 13, 2014 - By 

    Boasting one of the strongest festival line-ups this summer, Body and Soul returns to the labyrinthine and picturesque Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath from June 20-22. Closely connected to the tradition of the Summer Solstice –  a thousand year old celebration to honour the sun – the festival has struck a fantastic balance between the very best acts in electronica (and elsewhere) and visual/performance art over the last few years, increasingly establishing itself as an annual showcase with its very own unique draw and charm. With exactly one week to go to the festival, we have compiled a fifteen-track Body & Soul…

  • Stream: J Mascis – Every Morning

    June 11, 2014 - By 

    Dinosaur Jr. frontman and bona fide axe-wielding demigod (check that – God) J Mascis is streaming a new track, ‘Every Morning’. Taken from his forthcoming second solo album, Tied To A Star, the track is pretty much an alchemical blueprint of Mascis’ songwriting style – unmistakably languid vocals, masterfully simple lyrics (“Won’t you see me?”, evocative of “You won’t see me…” from Dinosaur Jr.’s ‘The Wagon‘) and his classically melodic, Neil Young-influenced lead lines. Tied To A Star is released on August 25. Stream ‘Every Morning’ below.

  • Watch: Go Swim – Animal

    June 11, 2014 - By 

    The follow-up to their February single, ‘Call Sign’, Belfast-based indie pop five-piece Go Swim have released the video to ‘Animal’. Filmed in Belfast’s Belvoir forest, the video – featuring Jennifer Marshall and Dan Cullen – was directed by Darren Lee of Maverick Renegade. The concept of the video – which we shan’t ruin for you – was created by the band’s singer, Steve Smith. The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming EP of the same, set for release at White’s Tavern, Belfast on Friday, June 27. Go here to buy tickets and watch the video below.

  • Stream: Adebisi Shank – Big Unit

    June 11, 2014 - By 

    Dublin instrumental rock trio Adebisi Shank are streaming a victorious new track, ‘Big Unit’, via the Sargent House Soundcloud page. Taken from the band’s forthcoming third album – the naturally talented This is the Third Album of a band called Adebisi Shank (artwork above) – it is nigh on four minutes of the band’s increasingly inimitable, dazzlingly unravelling, meticulously imaginative post-rock. Stream ‘Big Unit’ below and keep an eye out for our upcoming Inbound piece with the band – coming soon.

  • Watch: Making Monsters – Nosebleed

    June 9, 2014 - By 

    Taken from their forthcoming EP, Attention, Derry alt/metal band Making Monsters have unveiled the video for their new single, ‘Nosebleed’. Directed by Darren Lee of Maverick Renegade Productions, the video – a very well shot and edited visual accompaniment to the track features Dee Kivelehan from Sandstone. The single will be released via Death By Records on June 16. Making Monsters will kick off a UK and Irish tour one June 13. Check out the poster for all the date and watch the video for ‘Nosebleed’ below.

  • Stream: Princess – Neverlook

    June 6, 2014 - By 

    A year on from enamouring us with their debut EP, Black Cat, Dublin three-piece Princess seem to have fully arrived with their new single, ‘Neverlook’. Balanced very nicely between with glacial indie tangents and rampant noise pop, the track boasts a distinctive, compelling surge; splatterings of rhythm morphing with gaze-y guitar patterns and bobbing bass lines. Stream the track via Soundcloud below and keep an eye out for our Inbound interview feature with the guys next week.

  • Album stream: Oh Boland/Me and My Dog – Delpi

    June 6, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of its official launch tomorrow night, Popical Island are streaming the brand new split between Galway’s Oh Boland and Mayo’s Me and My Dog. Featuring five tracks by each band, the album will be released as a pro-dubbed pale blue cassette tape, each hand-titled by the band. Musically, the split is a rather typically (in the best way possible, that is) collection of starry-eyed jangle-pop, indie rock and surf from two of Popical Island’s finest acts. The split is released at Dublin’s The Pop Inn tomorrow night (Saturday, June 7). Go here for the show’s Facebook event page and stream the…