• Electric Picnic Reveal Hazel Wood Area

    August 1, 2016 - By 

    The constant evolution and expansion of Electric Picnic has long been one of the annual Laois festival’s biggest draws. Set to return to Stradbally Estate from September 2-4, organisers have revealed its latest extension: a new area called Hazel Wood that offers “mesmerising storytelling through interactive theatre, immersive hauntings, shadow puppetry, visual displays, commedia dell’arte workshops, visual art and much, much more”. And to mark the new area’s debut outing, festival-goers will be given the opportunity to hear Cathy Davey’s forthcoming new album live and in full on the Friday night. Davey said, “Because this album was written in the forest I had fairly…

  • EP Stream: Remains of Youth – There is Hope Without Progress

    July 29, 2016 - By 

    Bringing together new material with complete re-workings of older songs, There is Hope With Progress is an EP that marks the return of rejuvenated Belfast post-hardcore/alternative quartet Remains of Youth. With key influences in the likes of Idlewild, At The Drive-In and Derry’s Jetplane Landing (acts always proudly worn on their sleeve without ever feeling overbearing) the Adam Shirlow fronted-band have forged a five-track release that, largely ruminating on the passing of time – often in relation to the band’s own extended hiatus – brims with carefully-considered musicianship, strong sense of urgency and deft vitality. Stream the EP – recorded by Rocky O’Reilly…

  • Ash To Be Awarded Oh Yeah Legend Award

    July 21, 2016 - By 

    With previous recipients including Therapy? and The Divine Comedy, it’s been revealed that Northern Irish alt-rock trio Ash will be awarded this year’s Oh Yeah Legend Award at a special presentation at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on November 11. Followed by a live performance of their classic debut album 1977, the event will be preceded by another award, the NI Music Prize, which aims to celebrate the very best Northern Irish album of the year previous, as selected by an academy of local media and music industry professionals. Charlotte Dryden, CEO the Oh Yeah Music Centre says: “Ash have played a major…

  • Watch: Hilary Woods – Sabbath

    July 14, 2016 - By 

    Back in May, ex-JJ72 bassist and solo artist Hilary Woods released easily one of our favourite Irish of the tracks of the year in the form of ‘Bathing‘. Following on in perfectly sanguine repose, ‘Sabbath’ – the second track taken from her forthcoming Heartbox EP – is a masterfully meditative six-minute effort from the Dublin musician, melding sparse rhythms with a serene fog of softly swirling piano lines, synth and more. Accompanied by wonderful visuals courtesy of Joshua Wright, it’s a spectral combo that burrows deep. Heartbox is released on 7″ vinyl on Monday, July 18. Pre-order here.

  • Watch: Talos – Your Love Is An Island

    July 14, 2016 - By 

    After a weekend that saw Cork’s Eoin French AKA Talos perform with his band in the unique and magnificent concert setting of the Mitchelstown Caves, the Feel Good Lost artist has just revealed the video for brand new track ‘Your Love is an Island’. The song, a ballad which follows the trajectory Talos has been on since his 2014 debut ‘Tethered Bones’, features subtle, crisp acoustic guitars, warm keys and plenty of ambient backdrops for French’s brittle, captivating vocals.  There are elements that seem cut from the same ambient cloth as MMOTHS Luneworks and Sigur Rós‘ Valtari, but there remains a folk sensibility to it that keep French’s lyrics and…

  • Another Love Story Reveal Final Line-up

    July 13, 2016 - By 

    Easily our favourite small Irish summer festival, Another Love Story returns to the sublime Killyon Manor in Co. Meath from August 19-21. With just over a month to go until this year’s outing, organisers Happenings and Homebeat have revealed their final line-up, including their first ever international act, Sweden’s Badlands. With a host of live acts and DJs including Talos, Slow Skies, SlowPlaceLikeHome, Lastertom, Somadrone, Carriages and Ships set to make an appearance, the return of The Library and a veritable cornucopia of theatrical and artistic happenings (see full line-up poster below) will take place over the weekend. Tickets are priced…

  • Premiere: Guilty Optics – The Kayapo Ghosts

    July 13, 2016 - By 

    Since featuring as an Inbound act in the sixth issue of our magazine last year, Dublin’s Guilty Optics have been a little on the quiet side. That said, with their Ben Moore-produced debut album set to drop at the end of the year, the punk trio of Al Finnerty, Lewis Hedigan and Richie O’Reilly are back with an emphatic teaser of what lies in store in the form of ‘The Kayapo Ghosts’, a virulent post-punk throwdown that lyrically tackles the destruction of Amazonian rainforests and the forced removal of indigenous Kayapo tribes. Have an exclusive first listen below.

  • We Are Scientists Announce Irish Dates

    July 12, 2016 - By 

    Having released their fifth studio album, Helter Seltzer, back in April, We Are Scientists are returning for three Irish shows in October as part of their latest UK and Irish tour. The New York-based duo – who burst onto the scene back in 2005 with their major label classic With Love and Squalor – play Dublin’s Opium Rooms on October 20, Galway’s Roisin Dubh on October 21 and Belfast’s Limelight 2 on October 23. Tickets on sale this Friday at 9am.

  • Stream: Life Goals – Wreck Less Nature / / Between the Lines

    July 8, 2016 - By 

    Comprising former & current members of Belfast-based punk & alt. rock bands Gascan Ruckus, Empty Lungs and Two Glass Eyes, brand new indie punk trio Life Goals have just put out their debut two-track release, Wreck Less Nature / / Between The Lines. US contemporaries like Menzingers, PUP & Modern Baseball are clearly a shared influence amongst the band, from their gritty, modern emo-tinged guitar lines to frontman Decky McBride’s heartfelt, hook-laden vocals. Having spent most of the year writing and rehearsing, their release was recorded in March at Start Together Studios with Niall Doran. Life Goals played their first show in Belfast’s new, intimate The Barracks, last Saturday. They play…

  • Final Acts Added to Longitude 2016 Bill

    July 7, 2016 - By 

    With just over one week to go, Rusangano Family (above), Wyvern Lingo and Daithí are amongst a string of homegrown acts making up the final line-up announcement for this year’s Longitude, which is set to take place at Dublin’s Marlay Park next weekend. Also set to join the likes of Run The Jewels, Father John Misty, Roisin Murphy, Jamie XX and headliners Kendrick Lamar, Major Lazer and The National are HamsandwicH, We Cut Corners, Cork singer-songwriter Brian Deady and District 8 DJs. A limited number of 2 day and 3 day weekend festival tickets are on sale now. Check out the…