• Video Premiere: Boris – The Power (Live)

    Japanese experimental rock heroes Boris kick off their 25th Anniversary European tour in Moscow tomorrow night, a twenty-date traipse that concludes at shows in Dublin’s Whelan’s on August 20, Cork’s Cyprus Avenue on August 21, Belfast’s Limelight on August 23, before finishing in Helsinki two nights later. Ahead of what’s set to be a blitzing tour from the low-end merchants, comprised of Atsuo, Takeshi and Wata, we’re pleased to present a first look at a new live video of ‘The Power’, a pummelling, seven-minute, doom-drenched highlight from the band’s new – twenty-third – studio album, Dear. Check that and the band’s full…

  • Stream: Elephant – Mirrors

    Dundalk-based artist Elephant has shared ‘Mirrors’, the third single to be taken from his forthcoming second album. Following 2015’s promising debut Hypergiant and the subsequent singles ‘Stay With Me’ and ‘Waiting Game’, the project, lead by Shane Clarke, continues to move away from its indie-folk origins and ventures further into a more ornate, full-band sound. Where Hypergiant was a feat in atmospheric acoustics and tempered vocals, ‘Stay With Me’ saw Clarke veer down the same R&B infused path as James Vincent McMorrow. ‘Waiting Game’ then, from May of this year, was a full bodied, indie-rock masterstroke complete with a woodwind interlude, chunky guitars and textured vocals. Now,…

  • Stream: Autumns – Female Model/No More Luxury

    Having first featured the project back in February of 2014, the music of Derry’s Christian Donaghey AKA Autumns has steadily mutated from shoegaze-inflected, willfully acerbic noise rock into a much darker, beat-orientated and industrially-inclined proposition. Following a string of single and EP releases, Donaghey is set to cement that gestation by unveiling his debut album, Suffocating Brothers, via Glasgow imprint Clan Destine Records on September 23. To accompany the new singles, two new tracks ‘Female Model’ and ‘No More Luxury’ are equally emphatic fist-clenched efforts that aim straight for the jugular. Featuring suitably stellar artwork from Belfast artist Claire Miskimmin (also of Girls Names/Cruising/New…

  • Watch: This Ain’t No Disco Episode 3

    With episode one having landed like an early Christmas present back in December, This Ain’t No Disco is an Irish alternative music program hosted by the tireless Donal Dineen and directed by Myles O’Reilly of Arbutus Yarns. Marrying music, visuals, discussion and collaboration over 50 minutes, episode three of the series – produced with no budget or sponsorship, and is “powered only out of passion, musicians and crew who worked […] voluntarily” –  features TTA favourites Rusangano Family, RSAG, Lisa O’Neill and Lankum’s Radie Peat and Darragh Lynch, as well as Bridget Mae Power, David Allred and Peter Broderick, and Stephen…

  • New Acts Set for Other Voices at Electric Picnic

    Set to return to the heartland of the festival’s woodland area, Other Voices have announced thirteen new acts set to perform at their stage at Electric Picnic. With Saint Sister, Odetta Hartman, Soulé, Loah, Charlie Cunningham, Jafaris and Katie Laffan already announced, the following acts have been added: Talos (pictured) / New Jackson / Booka Brass / Tom Adams / PIXX / Jack O’Rourke with special guest Hattie Webb / Stephen James Smith / Jealous Of The Birds / Bitch Falcon / Ailbhe Reddy / Slow Riot / Super Silly / Pillow Queens Other Voices will announce more acts over the…

  • Premiere: Ryan Kelly – G.O.N.E.

    Dublin’s Ryan Kelly set out his singer-songwriter stall earlier this year with the piano-driven ‘City Views’, a track which married his recognisable influences with a refreshingly stripped-back take on youth and becoming. New single ‘G.O.N.E.’ goes one step further. An easy-listening ballad, it is simultaneously an effort that is endearingly simple in its composition and tone, as well as one of that’s unashamedly pop at its very core. Sometimes, that’s more than enough. Have a first look at the beat-up VHSesque visuals for the single below.

  • Watch: Sleep Thieves – Is This Ready?

    Having released one of the Irish albums of 2014 in the form of You Want The Night, Dublin-based synth-pop trio Sorcha Brennan, Wayne Fahy, and Keith Byrne AKA Sleep Thieves has spent the last couple of years concocting a strong return. Bolstered by a sublime short film accompaniment courtesy of Spiceburger, new single ‘Is This Ready?’ exceeds expectations. A simmering, four-minute burst of darkly electro-pop, it sees the band’s sorcerous brand of sonic nocturnalism as potent as ever. Speaking of the track, the band said it was “the sonic realization of memories, visions, emotions, and experiences, set to a backdrop of the…

  • Stream: Ciaran Lavery – Everything Is Made To Last

    If you’ve been in any familiar with what we’ve done over the last few years, you’ll know that we have a lot of time for Aghagallon’s Ciaran Lavery. A rare breed of artist who navigates sorrow, wanderlust, love and the borderline mystical hidden spaces that both join and keep us apart, his music comes from a place of a potent grasp of the human condition. Having been zig-zagging around the continent playing shows over the last few months, his new single ‘Everything Is Made To Last’ is a four-minute distillation of what has made all previous efforts so profoundly listenable. Triumphant…

  • Body & Soul Reveal Electric Picnic Line-Up

    Always something of a hugely reliable draw at the annual Stradbally Festival, Body & Soul have revealed the acts set to play its area at Electric Picnic across September 1-3. With Public Service Broadcasting, New Jackson, Donal Dineen’s This Ain’t No Disco, ELLLL (pictured above), Oh Boland, Shookrah, Soulè, Everything Shook and SlowPlaceLikeHome instantly grabbing our eye, here’s the full line-up: The acts will perform at various stages in the Body & Soul village, including the Body & Soul stage, the Peace Pagoda, The Bandstand and The Haunt. Plan ahead below. Body&Soul Stage Line-up Public Service Broadcasting / Moses Sumney / Aldous Harding…

  • Help Musicians NI Partner with Stendhal Festival for Henry McCullough Stage, Announce New Acts

    To honour the life and career of outstanding guitarist Henry McCullough, who sadly passed away last year, Limavady’s Stendhal Festival – August 11th & 12th – have announced a Henry McCullough Stage, and new partnership charity Help Musicians Northern Ireland. HMNI curate the stage on Friday night, as well as the Oh Yeah Centre stage, and have announced the first wave of acts for their bill. As well as a distinguished solo career, McCullough was best-known for his time with Wings, and was famously the only Irishman to play Woodstock, where he played with Joe Cocker in one of the all-time great live performances.…