• Watch: The Vals – Quiet Part of Town

    June 25, 2014 - By 

    The full band medium of Belfast-based singer-songwriter Paul Doherty, The Vals have unveiled the video to their new single, ‘Quiet Part of Town’. A wonderfully crafted effort, the song channels a timeless, psychedelic-tinged sound, broad, serene guitar chords marrying delicate keyboard lines, shuffling rhythms and sweetly-placed strings, not to mention Doherty’s vocals – a real centre-piece. Directed by Thomas McKeown and Daryl Randal, the video proves a suitably hazy, nostalgic accompaniment. ‘Quiet Part of Town’ will feature on The Vals’ forthcoming album, Wildflower May. Stream the video via Vimeo below.  

  • Stream: Courageous Endeavors – Prototype

    June 25, 2014 - By 

    Jazz is great. Isn’t jazz great? The genre seems to be enjoying a resurgence, fronted by Toronto trio BADBADNOTGOOD, who recently dropped a rather sublime record as well as collaborations with the likes of Danny Brown and Earl Sweatshirt. The newest release in this new wave of modern jazz comes from a quartet called Courageous Endeavours. Hailing from Minneapolis, their debut album, Prototype, is an enthralling and vital addition to the rejuvenated movement; it’s brilliant, and absolutely worth listening to. In particular, check out ‘Habits Of Entitlement’ and ‘Second Hand.’ You can listen to Prototype below, and watch the music video for…

  • Stream: Spies – Moosehead

    June 24, 2014 - By 

    Bursting straight out of the traps, ‘Moosehead’ by Dublin five-piece Spies is nothing if not a sonic statement of intent from a band tipped to go far over the next few months. A gazey post-punk effort brimming with confidence and purpose, the track – produced by Rian Trench of Solar Bears – sees subtly soaring guitar textures, propulsive rhythms and Matthew Broderick’s sublime vocals merge to form one of the most impressive songs from an Irish band we’ve heard this year so far. Check out Spies’ forthcoming gig dates and the video for ‘Moosehead’ below. July 26: The Old Blue Last, London July 28: The Sebright Arms,…

  • Robert Plant and the Sensational Shape Shifters announce Dublin and Belfast Shows

    June 24, 2014 - By 

    Legendary former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant has announced a new UK/Ireland tour with his band the Shape Shifters. The group will be paying visits to both Belfast and Dublin during the tour. The dates are November 23 in Belfast’s Ulster Hall, and November 24 for the Olympia Theatre in Dublin. Tickets are £49 in Belfast and €60.45. The band will be releasing a new album lullaby and…The Ceaseless Roar on September  8, but in the meantime check out this live version of ‘Black Dog’ [/video  

  • Watch: BeeMickSee – Belfast Slang

    June 24, 2014 - By 

    Belfast-based rapped Brendan Seamus AKA BeeMickSee have unveiled the video to his new single, ‘Belfast Slang’. Created by Philip Mateer and Tristan Crowe of Red Mist Productions, the video features Seamus – introducing the uninitiated with various Northern Irishisms such as “scundered” – and actress Cara Cowan. ‘Belfast Slang’ – featuring a beat by Thrash Hat AKA Rory Friers of And So I Watch You From Afar – is the third single from BeeMickSee’s forthcoming album, The Belfast Yank. The album is launched at Bar Sub at QUBSU, featuring support by Aggressors BC, the Late Twos and TBC. Watch the video for ‘Belfast…

  • Watch: FLAWS – Feels Like Home

    June 23, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of their debut EP launch on Wednesday night, Belfast-based three-pieceFLAWS have released their video for their first single, ‘Feels Like Home’. Evoking the stadium-worthy melodic rock of In Case of Fire – a band that two thirds of FLAWS, Steven Robinson and Thomas Camblin, were once members – the track is an infectious three-and-a-half minutes of melodic alt-rock, redolent of a certain increasingly bygone sound of in Northern Irish music, Indeed, according to the band’s label, OLD FANG, FLAWS “pack a welcome punch not seen in Belfast this side of the late-noughties banjo haze”. A battle cry in favour of…

  • The Frames announce one-off Dublin Show

    June 23, 2014 - By 

    Well, now here’s an exciting piece of news: The Frames are getting back together for a one-off show at Whelan’s next week. The legendary indie-folk rock outfit will be assembling themselves for a show next Monday, June 30. Whelan’s will be celebrating their 25th birthday this year, and this gig is part of the celebrations. Tickets will cost €20 and go on-sale tomorrow, Tuesday June 24 at 2pm.

  • Watch: The Wonder Villains – Zola

    June 23, 2014 - By 

    Featuring Italian footballing legend Gianfranco Zola himself (actually), Derry pop quartet the Wonder Villains have unveiled the video for the typically starry-eyed new single, ‘Zola’. Filmed in London, the video was produced by Bradley Quinn and directed by Robin Morgan of Little Giant Films. The track is taken from the band’s debut album, Rocky, released via No Dancing/Third Bar. Watch the video below.  

  • Stream: Shabazz Palaces – #CAKE

    June 23, 2014 - By 

    A second single has been revealed from next month’s Lese Majesty, the much-anticipated new release from hip-hop experimentalists SHABAZZ PALACES. It’s as avant garde and genre-bending as we have come to expect from the Seattle based duo. It’s called ‘#CAKE,’ and follows the previously released single ‘They Come In Gold.’ The beat slowly pierces through the twitchy instrumental, which is a layered and jazzy affair. Unpredictable, eccentric and undeniably unique, Shabazz Palaces seem on par to match their lauded 2011 debut album Black Up. Listen to ‘#CAKE’ below. Lese Majesty comes out July 29th on Sub Pop.

  • The Minutes reschedule Dublin show

    June 21, 2014 - By 

    Dublin band The Minutes, who were scheduled to play at Whelan’s last Friday, have set a new date for the show. The group will now play on August 9 in the same venue. Tickets for the previous date, cancelled due to illness, remain valid and tickets can still be bought for €15. The band’s new album  Live Well, Change Often is out now, and you can check out ‘Cherry Bomb,’ the lead single from the album below.