• Irish Tracks of The Week: 25th March

    Here’s the very best Irish tracks to drop this week, featuring Ciaran Lavery, Axis Of, Niamh Regan, Buí, EFÉ, Fontaines D.C, April, The Wicc, Stomptown Brass, Laytha and more Ciaran Lavery – I Am Old Enough To Know What Love Is Axis Of – Blackcomber EFÉ – KIWI ​​ Buí – Walls Stomptown Brass – Let Me Stay The Wicc – Wolf Fontaines D.C – Skinty Fia Niamh Regan – Late Nights Zaska w/ Jess Kav – Calm Down Laytha – Wavey Gamey Fizzy Orange – Oh Carling! Zapho – Tell Your Mother April – When It Comes To You…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – February 11th

    It’s been another great week for new releases in every corner of the island. Delve into the best of the lot, featuring NewDad, Junior Brother, Pillow Queens, Frank and Beans, Axis Of, Melts and more. NewDad – Banshee Pillow Queens – Hearts & Minds Junior Brother – No Country For Young Men Frank and Beans – Slán Axis Of – Beach Light Melts – Outlier Qwerty Mick – Google Your Symptoms Pauline Scanlon – The Bird In The Bush Cat Dowling – All That I Can Do

  • Front of House: Brian Collins

    In the latest installment of our regular feature, Front of House, photographer Tom McGeehan shoots and talks with Belfast-based sound engineer Brian Collins about his background in the industry, his day-to-day working life and what 2015 holds in store for him. Hi there. Can you tell us about yourself? Hi! My name is Brian Collins and I am a Freelance Sound Engineer. I am originally from Galway but I lived in Donegal for years before settling in Belfast where I am currently based. How did you become a sound engineer and how long have you been involved in it?  I have been involved…

  • 15 For ’15: Axis Of

    Set to feature in physical form in our forthcoming January magazine, we continue 15 for ’15, a feature looking at fifteen Irish acts we’re absolutely convinced are going places in 2015. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll going to be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph by our wonderful team of photographers. Next up: Belfast-based three-piece Axis Of. Photo by Tom McGeehan. 2015 looks all set for take-off for the North Antrim act dubbed by Rocksound “the most exciting band to come out of Northern Ireland, possibly ever”. Axis Of launch into the New Year…

  • Watch: Axis Of – Wetsuit

    North coast erstwhile punk trio Axis Of have unveiled the video for ‘Wetsuit’ – the first single off their second album, The Mid Brae Inn – which sees them take off in a decidedly more indie, pop-rock direction, a huge departure from the band’s early brand of frantic hardcore; although, in saying that, they’ve been known to have an ear for a hook since the sludge-pop of ‘Lifehammer‘ from their debut LP, 2012’s Finding St. Kilda. The Mid Brae Inn gets its launch through Smalltown America on New Year’s Eve at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall, with ‘Wetsuit’ available from November 26 from Independent Music, with the b-side being…

  • Axis Of – The Mid Brae Inn

    Punk-cum-pop trio Axis Of release the their second album, The Mid Brae Inn, on New Year’s Eve through Smalltown America. The three – comprising Ewen Friers, Niall Lawler & Ethan Harman – launched their debut album Finding St. Kilda in the same venue over two years ago, an altogether more punk affair. ‘Wetsuit’ – the first track to get airplay from The Mid Brae Inn – hints at a much more indie-pop direction for the band who were out-and-out hardcore no more than five years ago. Time will tell whether or not it’s a complete revamp for the outfit, but it’ll be interesting to see how…

  • AAA: Sons of Burlap @ The Bar With No Name, Belfast

    In this Halloween special of AAA (Access All Areas) we spent the scariest evening of the year with Sons of Burlap as they performed in front of a packed out crowd  at The Bar With No Name in Belfast. Our photographer Tom McGeehan captured the sons, comprised of members of ASIWYFA, Axis Of and family,  in the dressing room back stage as they turned each other into zombies (see what we did there?) They soon went on to play for over 40 minutes, and even included a trad-punk-experimental-instrumental-ridiculous cover of the Tetris theme tune. Click the gallery below for more photos of the night.