• Belfast Musicians Set for UNESCO City of Music Initiative

    July 6, 2023 - By 

    Two fast-rising Belfast singer-songwriters have been selected for a new UNESCO City of Music Initiative. Off the back of Belfast being awarded prestigious status in late 2021, Niall McDowell and Ciara O’Neill will travel to fellow UNESCO City of Music London, in Ontario, Canada, to perform as part of the Home County Music and Art Festival. Arranged through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which brings cities together to share skills and develop networks between musicians, the trip will also see McDowell and O’Neill taking part in co-writing sessions with other artists and get the chance to work with world-class producers…

  • Video Premiere: Krisdeberg – HHH

    July 6, 2023 - By 

    After a long period locked away in the recording studio, Dublin-based electronic quartet Krisdeberg (not to be confused with the Irish prince of power ballads, Chris de Burgh) return with their new single HHH ahead of releasing their self-recorded and self-produced work that draws from a well of diverse influences such as new wave, noise rock, acid house and indie electro. We’re delighted to bring you an exclusive first look at HHH, which visualises the communication breakdown between people through a Beckett-esque theatre setting of humour, isolation and horror.  The video features members of the band and an omnious bottle of wine, while uniquely exploring how disparate two perceptions…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 23rd June

    June 23, 2023 - By 

    It’s been another stellar week for Irish music. Here’s the very best tracks and releases from Gemma Hayes, Midnight Wayne, Saint Sister, Tandem Felix, Sister Fenix, Search Results, Proper Mirco NV, Mik Pyro & May Kay, Autre Monde and more. Gemma Hayes – High and Low Midnight Wayne – Get What You Got Saint Sister – Where I Shound End Remixes Tandem Felix – There’s a New Sheriff in Town Search Results – Flower Rock Rain Proper Micro NV – Never Go On Sister Fenix – Gentle Life EP Autre Monde – Sensitive Assignment, Parts 1-4 Sensitive Assignment, Parts 1-4…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 16th June

    June 16, 2023 - By 

    It’s Friday again so that means another very excellent week of new releases from the likes of Aoife Wolf, Slouch, Maija Sofia, Pat Lagoon, Finnian, Paddy Hanna and more Aoife Wolf – A Ringing in the Ear Slouch – I Got This Job Because I’m Too Stupid To Steal I GOT THIS JOB BECAUSE I'M TOO STUPID TO STEAL by SLOUCH Paddy Hanna – Nightmares Maija Sofia – Four Winters Thom Southern – Let Someone Else In Caoilian Sherlock – The Wheels Come Off Teenage Jesus Album by Caoilian Sherlock Pat Lagoon – Carousel Connor McCann – Lady Rest Jake…

  • Christy Dignam Has Died

    June 13, 2023 - By 

    Christy Dignam has died following a prolonged battle with illness. He was 63. According to the family of the legendary frontman of trailblazing Irish band Aslan, Dignam passed away at home this afternoon (13th June.) On Facebook, Dignam’s daughter Kiera posted a statement, stating that the much-loved Dublin singer and musician died  “peacefully” after a “courageously long-fought battle, surrounded by his family”. The statement read: “On behalf of my family, it is with a broken heart that we convey the news of my father’s passing, Christy Dignam. Dad peacefully left us where he wanted to, at home today 4pm Tuesday,…

  • Maija Sofia Announces Second Album and Irish Dates, Releases ‘Four Winters’

    June 13, 2023 - By 

    It feels like a small lifetime ago Galway artist Maija Sofia released her Choice Prize-nominated debut album Bath Time. As Dominic Edge precisely put it in his TTA review at the time: “It’s incredible that such diligence and exquisite craft arrive on a debut, and it’s a fact you have to constantly remind yourself throughout Bath Time. Timeless, poignant and evocative, this is an incredible breakthrough moment.” Fast-forward to mid-2023 and Maija has, blessedly, lifted the veil on its long-awaited follow-up. Set for release via TULLE Collective on 1st September, the ten-track True Love features, beyond Maija herself, some familiar names, including Chris Barry and Solamh…

  • Video Premiere: HAVVK – Daylight Robbery

    June 13, 2023 - By 

    Irish alt-rock trio HAVVK return with the video for their current single ‘Daylight Robbery,’ directed by frontperson Julie Hawk and shot by Tim Shearwood entirely in black and white. Evoking a silent-era, insomnia-filled sense of dread, the video explores themes of expectation and infringement of safety, particularly for women and gender non-conforming people – it was important for the video to convey these feelings. Here’s what Julie had to say about the concept behind the video. “It’s about a girl who’s living the same day (or nightmare) over and over again. We’ve been writing a lot about the topic of…

  • Video Premiere: Slouch – I Get What’s Mine

    June 7, 2023 - By 

    Rising tides, self-help gurus, pricey new age answers to the unanswerable, unfettered capitalism, shitposting, a new video from Slouch; these are the harbingers of end times. Out today – and directed by Hugh Cannon – the video for their odyssey on the alpha male phenomenon, ‘I Get What’s Mine’ is a maelstrom of all of the above and more. It channels the likes of Ween and Brainiac, condensed into the kind of omni-layered satirical slacker noise they’ve near enough mastered. Long one of the most interesting bands operating in the Irish indie rock sphere, Dublin quartet Slouch have been working away behind closed doors on new material,…

  • PJ Harvey Set For Dublin Return

    June 7, 2023 - By 

    PJ Harvey is set to make her long-awaited return to Dublin. On 22nd and 23rd of September, the English artist will play two shows at 3Olympia Theatre. It marks Harvey’s first headliner in the city since 2007, which also took place at the Olympia, having previously performed there in 2004, 1998 and 1995. Tickets for the shows are priced from €70  and go on sale next Friday, 16th June at 10am. Accompanying the news is the release of ‘I Inside The Old I Dying,’ the latest track to be taken from Harvey’s upcoming tenth studio album of the same name.…

  • Pixies Announce Three-Night Dublin Residency

    June 6, 2023 - By 

    Pixies have announced a three-night Dublin residency. The Boston alt-rock legends will return to the 3Olympia Theatre on 8th, 9th and 10th March for a three-night run. Talking place as part of a residency tour across Europe, the shows will see the band play – for the first time ever – their classic 4AD albums Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde in full, as well as other songs from their catalogue. Tickets for the shows are priced at €62 including booking fees and go on sale this Friday, 9th June at 9AM.