• Watch: Ciaran Lavery – Left For America

    May 15, 2014 - By 

    Taken from his forthcoming EP, Kosher, Northern Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery has unveiled the video for his wonderful new single, ‘Left For America’. Having first caught a visual glimpse of the song in a BalconyTV session last year, we’re very impressed (and rather charmed) by the accompanying visuals for the single, filmed by ROC and stars Ro Graham. Lavery launches Kosher at the Belfast’s Black Box on Thursday, June 19 as part of this year’s Open House Festival. Go here to buy tickets.  

  • Final acts announced for Forbidden Fruit 2014

    May 14, 2014 - By 

    And So I Watch You From Afar, Girls Names (pictured) and Lisa O’Neill are amongst twenty-one final acts announced to play this year’s Forbidden Fruit festival in Dublin. Also the likes of The Flaming Lips, Flying Lotus and 2manyDJS at the annual Summer festival at Dublin’s Rotal Hospital Kilmainham include Erol Alkan, dOP, Detroit Swindle, Gavin James and more. Check out the full festival poster below. Forbidden Fruit 2014 takes place on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. Go here to buy tickets and watch the video for ‘The New Life’ by Girls Names below.  

  • Stream: Solar Bears – Last To Leave Morning Dawn

    May 14, 2014 - By 

    Dublin electronic two -piece Solar Bearshave released ‘Last To Leave Morning Dawn’, a brand new track taken that might well feature on their forthcoming third studio album. Titled from cult 1973 surf film called Crystal Voyager, the three minute track shows a definite progression in the duo’s approach, melding samples with bobbing bass work, shimmering synth arpeggios and splatterings of cymbals. Emerging from a brooding, Broadcast-esque intro, the song surges forth for three minutes, fading out and leaving the listener wondering if it will find its place on the forthcoming full-length, which is still being recorded in The Meadow, located…

  • Stream: Sleep Thieves – You Want The Night

    May 14, 2014 - By 

    Taken from the band’s highly-anticipated second studio album, You Want The Night, Dublin electro-pop three-piece Sleep Thieves have really delivered on the release’s title track. With Sorcha Brennan’s entrancing vocals taking centre-stage, Keith Byrne and Wayne Fahy weave a spectral, nocturnal web around the song’s forward-moving rhythms. Sitting side-to-side with the band’s previous single, ‘City of Hearts’, it makes for extremely encouraging stuff. You Want The Night will be released via Minty Fresh records on June 17. Stream the title track from the album below.

  • Forfey Festival announces first twelve acts

    May 14, 2014 - By 

    Now in its ninth year – the year “of the Rex”, no less – Forfey Festival have announced the first dozen acts to play the festival this Summer. With many acts yet to be announced, the first twelve acts confirm to play are The Emerald Armada, Skeletons, Rupture Dogs, RAMS’ Pocket Radio, More Than Conquerors, Joshua Burnside, Hornets, Go Wolf, Ciaran Lavery, Carriages, Bee Mick See and Affleck. Forfey 2014 takes place from Friday, August 1 to Sunday, August 3. Tickets will be available to purchase soon.  

  • Stream: UNKNWN – BBY

    May 14, 2014 - By 

    Having performed at The Great Escape festival last week, electronic duo Chris Hanna and Gemma Dunleavy AKA UNKNWN have released a stream of a transfixing new track, ‘BBY’. The first track to be taken from the double A sided Devil/BBY, the release is available in a limited run of 300 hand stamped 140g blue vinyl which can be ordered here via Champion Sound. Stream ‘BBY’ via Soundcloud below.

  • EP Stream: Astralnaut – Thieves, Beggars and Swine

    May 14, 2014 - By 

    The follow-up to their strong second EP, In The Gaze of the Gods, Nothern Irish stoner rock five-piece Astralnaut are streaming the behemothic triumph that is its follow-up, Thieves, Beggars and Swine. Evoking everyone from Orange Goblin, Fu Manchu and Electric Wizard, the five-track release – driven by blistering riffs, grooves and Pearse Donnelly’s pronouncements – was largely recorded by Alan Hanlon at Hi-Tone Studios and Clark Phillips (Great Northern Productions). It was mixed and mastered by the band and Clark Phillips over the last four months. Stream the EP in full via Soundcloud below.

  • Stream: Enemies – Embrace, Embark remix EP

    May 13, 2014 - By 

    Kilcoole math-rock three-piece Enemies have released a remix EP of tracks taken from their second full length studio album, Embrace, Embark. Released by Heavyweight Records, it features six rather tidy re-imaginings of the likes of ‘Love Unlimited’ and ‘Nighthawks’ by Eoin Whitfield AKA SIATS and James Eager AKA itsallwaves. The original album – the follow-up to the band’s debut album, We’ve Been Talking – was released in May last year. Speaking about the release, Lewis Jackson from the band said, “We wanted to find a way of celebrating the year anniversary of Embark, Embrace. That might come across as a little self indulgent but we all…

  • First Aid Kit Announce Dublin Show

    May 13, 2014 - By 

    Indie-folk stars First Aid Kit have confirmed a return to Dublin this autumn for a show in the Olympia Theatre. The band will be releasing their third full length album, Stay Gold, on June 10. Tickets for the Swedish duo – performing on September 18 – will cost €25 and go on sale this Friday, May 16 at 9am.

  • More acts announced for Electric Picnic 2014

    May 13, 2014 - By 

    Twenty-one new acts including Blondie and Scottish post-rock band Mogwai (pictured) have been announced to played this year’s Electric Picnic festival. Amongst the other new additions set to play at the annual Stradbally Estate festival from Friday, July 29 to August 31 are Sinead O’Connor, James Murphy, Kelis, Neneh Cherry, The Horrors, Duke Dumont, Twin Shadow, Ham Sandwich, Clean Bandit, Drenge, The Orwells, Glass Animals, Wolf Alice, The Districts, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Vaults, Benjamin Booker and Moko. With more acts still to be announced, check out the current Electric Picnic 2014 poster below and buy tickets here.