• The Thin Air Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2014 (100-75)

    Twelve months, a billion tracks (probably) and a ridiculously impressive crop of new, emerging musical talent the island of Ireland over: yes, 2014 was been very generous indeed on the ol’ new music front. In a year when (the altogether sonically disparate) Girl Band and SOAK signed with Rough Trade, Adebisi Shank broke hearts in parting ways and Hozier “did a Kodaline” by going positively stratospheric – more on that later – innumerable lesser-known acts have also been slogging away in the garage, creating some of the very best sounds here or anywhere else on the face on the planet. In the first of a two-part feature,…

  • Watch: The Wood Burning Savages – Boom

    The follow-up to their breakthrough single, ‘America’, Derry quartet The Wood Burning Savages have only gone and released a video for ‘Boom’ – and what an skilfully urgent effort it is. Shot and edited by Fiachra O’Longain at Derry’s Playhouse, the video nicely mirrors the song’s lyrical content, not least via black-and-white archive footage of the Troubles. The song itself is a surging, Motorik-driven live favourite, and the title track of the band’s forthcoming EP, also released today. Stream Boom in full and watch the video for the single below. Boom EP by The Wood Burning Savages  

  • Stream: The Wood Burning Savages – Boom

    Ahead of setting off on their first UK at the end of the week, Derry quartet The Wood Burning Savages are streaming their brilliantly urgent new single ‘Boom’. Something of a stand-out from their live shows, the Motorik-driven release is a heady three-minutes, evoking the likes of Patti Smith, Can and Mission of Burma, whilst retaining the band’s own increasingly-distinctive brand of alt-rock.  See below for the band’s forthcoming UK dates and a stream of ‘Boom’, officially released on September 29.

  • Festival Mixtape: Stendhal Festival of Art

    Headlined by Derry punk pioneers The Undertones and Scottish indie-rock quartet Frightened Rabbit (above), Stendhal Festival of Art returns to the wonderfully scenic Roe Valley this weekend for two days of music, art, theatre, comedy and poetry. With tickets still available to purchase via the official website here, we’ve compiled a ten-track playlist featuring some our must-see acts to catch at the festival – everyone from Malojian and Go Wolf to Making Monsters and Ciaran Lavery.

  • TTA TV: The Wood Burning Savages

    Currently en route to perform at this year’s Glastonbury – an extraordinary feat for such a relatively new act – Derry quartet The Wood Burning Savagespopped into Belfast’s Voodoo last week for a quick interview and live session. Filmed and edited by photographer and filmmaker Colm Laverty, Paul, Dan, Shea and Aaron perform a couple of songs and talk about forming, recording and playing the greatest festival around.  

  • Inbound: The Wood Burning Savages

    In the latest installment of Inbound, we chat to Paul Connolly and Dan Acheson from hotly-tipped Derry alt-rock quartet The Wood Burning Savages. Having just released their debut video for their wonderful new single ‘America’ following a hugely impressive headline performance at Belfast’s Radar, the pair talk about the band’s stance on being “old school” in the modern age, their stance on the imprint of last year’s City of Culture and having two albums worth of material waiting in the wings. Hi guys, you have just released the video for your new single, ‘America’. Can you tell us more about…

  • Watch: The Wood Burning Savages – America

    Having becoming highly evolved over the last couple of months, Derry alt-rock quartet The Wood Burning Savages have unveiled their first music video, for their single ‘America’. Shot on zero budget and featuring some masterfully-compiled stock footage, the video was created and edited by Chris McAlinden. Additional footage was supplied by Fiachra O’ Longain and Lisa Byrne. The single is officially release on March 18, and will be available from iTunes and all other major online retailers. Watch the video below.

  • Stream: The Wood Burning Savages – Flu Season

    Having just announced that they’ve been selected to play at the Derry Music Trail as part of Other Voices in February, Derry four-piece The Wood Burning Savages have released a wonderfully understated new track titled ‘Flu Season’. Written only two days ago, the song – propelled by fingerpicked guitar shapes, frontman Paul Connolly’s increasingly earnest delivery and impressively unravelling vocal harmonies – was recorded in the band’s wood shed just yesterday. Stream/download the track (for free) via Soundcloud below.

  • Gig of the Week: Two Glass Eyes, Safe Ships, The Wood Burning Savages @ Radar

    One of their final line-ups before Christmas, our gig of the week this week is the latest installment of Radar at Belfast’s QUBSU Speakeasy on Thursday, November 28. Headlined by alt-rock three-piece Two Glass Eyes, the bill will also feature performances from equally excellent Belfast-based punk band Safe Ships (above) and hugely promising Derry quartet The Wood Burning Savages. Check out the typically gleaming poster for the show: As you can see above, doors are at 9pm and admission is free. Stream ‘Fighting Fit’ and ‘Safest of Ships’ by Safe Ships below.

  • In Photos: The Thin Air Showcase feat. Our Krypton Son, Arborist, The Wood Burning Savages & Rory Nellis

    Belfast-based photographer Diarmuid Kennedy was in attendance to capture our showcase at The Pavilion, Belfast as part of this year’s Belfast Music Week. Performing on the night were Rory Nellis, a fast-rising singer-songwriter – also frontman with Belfast-based indie pop four-piece Seven Summits – impressively progressing Derry-based quartet The Wood Burning Savages, the wonderfully Autumnal song of Belfast band Arborist and the ever magnificent Our Krypton Son AKA Derry singer-songwriter Chris McConaghy. Check out Diarmuid’s photos from the night below.