• BARE in the Woods

    April 17, 2015 - By 

    June is traditionally a stacked month in terms of live excursions around the country, but following its acclaimed debut last year, one-day festival B.A.R.E. in the Woods looks set to stake its place in the Irish festival calendar with an-already impressive line-out of music, and a brand-new comedy stage in the woods of Garrynahinch, Co. Laois. The music line-up is an exciting one to say the least, headlined by returning UK hip-hop legend Roots Manuva. The brutally-honest South Londoner is renowned for his multi-layered lyrics and rich vein of cultural references throughout his music, delivered in his inimitable style, a…

  • Festival Preview: Belfast Film Festival 2015

    April 12, 2015 - By 

    Time to dig out your best sitting-down trousers, as the Belfast Film Festival returns for its fifteenth year. With over one hundred films in ten days, it’s part celebration, part endurance test. Opening night duties fall to local legend Mark Cousins (pictured), premiering his I Am Belfast, a dream-like exploration of the city’s identity and history that promises to go beyond across-the-barricade clichés (Cousins’ meditation on D. H. Lawrence, 6 Desires, is also being screened). At the tail-end of the programme is Stephen Fingleton’s post-collapse drama The Survivalist, with Martin McCann as a loner living off the land amongst the…

  • Festival Preview: Folkfest

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    Last month saw the announcement of Folkfest, a brand-new festival out of Killarney boasting a varied line-up of contemporary, traditional and alternative folk, happening in the INEC from July 24th to 26th. Hitting a cross-section between modern, “destination” festival and folk weekender, the INEC plays host to four stages over the course of three days, and Folkfest boasts a hugely diverse line-up to satisfy the most eclectic of folk connoisseurs. On top of a Main Stage and a Ballroom stage that will house the headliners and old faves, the Acoustic Club stage plays host to intimate, contemporary performances from, among…

  • Vantastival @ Bellurgan Park, Co. Louth

    April 3, 2015 - By 

    When they say Vantastival is one of the Irish festival circuit’s best-kept secrets, it’s not some line they’re feeding you. A family-run event, over the past six years, Bellurgan Park, Co.Louth-based fest has been built up completely from scratch, “a totally unique, brazenly independent event and the only one of its kind in Ireland”, and its sixth annual instalment, running from May 1st to 3rd, is looking like a cracker. Headlined this year by reunited Welsh rap-rockers Goldie Lookin’ Chain, and Irish indie-pop veterans Delorentos, the multiple-award nominated fest also places the spotlight on a diverse range of Irish bands…

  • Distorted Perspectives Festival

    March 25, 2015 - By 

    An altogether stellar celebration of modern experimental psych music, art and film, Distorted Perspectives will return to Letterkenny’s Regional Culture Centre this Spring with a thoroughly impressive line-up. Set to take place across Thursday April 30-Sunday May 3, the festival will boast established acts including Ulrich Schanuss and Moon Duo (above), as well as some of the country’s finest psych, electronic, noise-pop and acoustic acts including Autumns, Clanns, Documenta, Nyt Bloomer and Robyn G Shiels. Check out the poster below for full line-up and where to buy tickets.

  • Forbidden Fruit 2015

    March 25, 2015 - By 

    Probably the finest hip-hop and electronic-oriented festival bill we’ll see on the island this year, Forbidden Fruit returns to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on the weekend from Friday, May 29 – Sunday, May 31. Some of the highlights announced thus far are: Friday – The hugely successful Fatboy Slim, the immensely talented The Wire & Luther actor Idris Elba, who’s been carving out a credible name for himself as an electronic & hip-hop artist between and during jobs, incredibly talented American-Chilean musician Nicolas Jaar & Disciples Saturday – seminal NYC hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, Jamie XX, Earl Sweatshirt, a three-hour set from Mr Scruff, Mount Kimbie, a DJ set from Groove Armada, Joey Bada$$, Tensnake, Ejeca, Damian Lazarus and the Booka Brass Band. Sunday…

  • The Thin Air Stage @ Sunflowerfest

    March 18, 2015 - By 

    We are extremely pleased to announce we’ll be curating the scenic Barn stage on Saturday, August 1 at this year’s rebranded Sunflowerfest. Expect further details from us shortly about the stage, which is set to feature an eclectic mix of some of our favourite bands – both established and hotly-tipped – from across the entirety of the island; some of whom will be making their first Northern appearance. Sunflowerfest runs at Tubby’s Farm in Hillsborough – 20 miles from Belfast – during the weekend of Friday, July 31 until Sunday, August 2. With the line-up for our stage TBA, this year’s festival promises the likes of reggae/dub act Dreadzone, up-and-coming folk…

  • First acts announced for Body & Soul 2015

    March 11, 2015 - By 

    Delivering one seriously impressive opening line-up announcement, Body & Soul have unveiled the first acts set to play this Summer’s Festival. Taking place, as per usual, during the Summer solstice weekend of June 19-21 at Ballinlough Castle, Dan Deacon, Goat, Savages (pictured), Clark and Matthew E White and more are amongst the first wave of acts set to play the annual festival at Clonmellon, Co. Meath. With many more acts yet to be announced, check out the full line-up below and go here to buy tickets. Savages photo by Misha Vladimirskiy.  

  • Brilliant Corners Festival 2015

    March 9, 2015 - By 

    Presented by Moving On Music, Belfast’s Brilliant Corners jazz festival returns with an eclectic and comprehensively impressive bill from March 25 to March 28. Now in its third outing, the four-day festival will see local talent and international contemporaries including Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, Get The Blessing, Fred Firth and experimental guitar circle Sixes play in various Belfast venues such as The Mac, Crescent Arts Centre and the Black Box. Check out the poster and trailer for this year’s festival below and go here to buy tickets. You can also watch our very recent interview with Moving on Music founder Brian…

  • Belfast Film Festival 2015

    March 9, 2015 - By 

    Although the majority of the programme is yet to be revealed, the first few announcements for the forthcoming fifteenth Belfast Film Festival hints at yet another extremely promising festival in the making. Following a handful of great line-up events and screenings including Metropolis – Live at the Ulster Hall on Saturday, March 21 and Yann Demange’s ‘71 at the Movie House on Thursday, March 5, a live soundtracked screening of David Lynch’s landmark Eraserhead at The Mac on Wednesday, April 22 and a Blazing Saddles Night on Saturday on Saturday, April 18 stand out amongst the first few announcements. Check back for more screening announcements. In the…