• Kneecap Launch Fundraiser Following Cancelled U.S. Tour

    Like musicians, promoters, crew and venue owners right across the world, the Irish music industry is being hit hard by the global spread and broader ramifications of COVID-19. One such act is fast-rising Belfast Hip-Hop threesome Kneecap. Thrown into the deep-end following several US dates falling through, the group have launched a fundraiser on PayPal to cover a whole host of costs incurred by the forced cancellations. In a statement, the trio said, “A chairde. Like everyone else we are struggling quite a lot now, financially and mentally. In the absence of a record label we had self financed a US Tour,…

  • Arcade Fire announce 2018 UK and Ireland tour

    Arcade Fire have announced a short string of headline dates in the UK and Ireland for 2018 with each show set to be performed “In The Round”. Though it may feel like they only just left, having won hearts in Belfast and Dublin in June (read our report here), the Montreal troupe will be returning to Dublin on April 6 to play in centre of the 3 Arena. Tickets go on sale on Friday July 28 at 9am. To get a taste of what such a show might look like, take a peek at the video below of their “In The Round”…

  • FEAST present: Alright the Captain, Steve Strong, A Werewolf – Irish Tour

    For the past year or so, the dedicated team of Galway’s FEAST organisers have been hosting some of the most interesting acts that fit the spectrum of what one supposes could be called the more “colourful” side of metal. Having put on bands such as Math Rock heavyweights Alpha Male Tea Party and Roisin Dubh locals Race the Flux as well as more sludgy outfits such as Torche and Bitch Falcon, FEAST’s place has been to promote acts who, for reasons unknown, may go unnoticed outside of the niche in Ireland otherwise. Next week sees the first FEAST tour taking…

  • Dott’s USA Tour Diary: Part 2

    In the second of a three part diary entry, our favourite Galway garage pop quartet Dott have high tailed it out of Texas and kick off this leg of the tour with Night School, bringing them from Oklahoma City all the way West to Reno, Nevada. Dott and Night School (from California) are releasing a split record called Carousel on Graveface Records especially for Record Store Day, April 18. Read Part 1 of the band’s USA Tour Diary here. March 23rd. Capital City Bicycle Company, Oklahoma City. We started our short stay in OKC in the best little old school diner called the Hungry Frog.…

  • Dott’s USA Tour Diary: Part 1

    In the first of a three part diary entry, our favourite Galway garage pop quartet Dott are currently on tour in America, after taking in SXSW and all of what Texas has to offer. Join them as they spin you a tale of four plucky musicians and their loyal friend/merch monkey as they traverse the American Plains and play some gigs on the way. The Crown and Harp, Dallas TX. March 17 Our first show of the tour happened on St. Patrick’s Day in, you guessed it, an Irish Bar. Actually no, it was an Irish AND English bar under…

  • Villagers announce European tour

    Ahead of the release of the highly anticipated third album, Darling Arithmetic, Villagers have announced a run of dates across Ireland this May. Starting in Rotterdam on Saturday, April 11, the tour will conclude at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on Monday, May 25. Check out the full dates below. Sat 11 Apr ROTTERDAM Motel Mozaique Tue 14 Apr BRISTOL St Georges Wed 15 Apr FALMOUTH Pavilions Thu 16 Apr EXETER Phoenix Fri 17 Apr BRIGHTON The Old Market Sun 19 Apr LIVERPOOL Epstein Theatre Mon 20 Apr MANCHESTER Concert Hall Tue 21 Apr LEEDS City Varieties Thu 23 Apr PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood…

  • The Magic Numbers Irish Tour

    Pop-rock juggernauts The Magic Numbers were in Ireland this week, for a tour rescheduled from September after an ill-timed throat issue afflicted vocalist Romeo Stodart. Undaunted, they traversed the country, with The Thin Air in tow at various tour stops. With fourth album ‘Alias’ in the can, and on the home stretch for pre-Xmas touring, the band were in rare form, and we were there for all of it with access-all-areas photography, and our thoughts from each night. MONDAY DEC. 1ST – GALWAY @ THE ROISÍN DUBH: Not Faemous took to the stage to a small crowd, and played quite pleasing…

  • Jape announce Spring 2015 tour

    With his new album, The Chemical Sea, set for release on January 23, Jape AKA Richie Egan & Friends have announced a forthcoming European tour. Kicking off in Lilla Hotelbaren in Stockholm, Sweden on January 28, the tour will conclude in Barcelona’s Razzamatazz on March 6, taking in Dublin’s Academy, Galway’s Roisin Dubh, Limerick’s The Kasbah Social Club and Cork’s Cyprus Avenue along the way. The announcement coincides with the reveal that ‘Séance of Light’ will be the second single to be taken from The Chemical Sea. Make sure to check out the January issue of our magazine to read Richie’s…

  • Watch: Steve Strong – Contort/Retreat (Live)

    Arriving in Ireland last night for a tour from the 12th to the 23rd, Plymouth-based one-man post-rock show Steve Strong heads for Cork this weekend, with Galway, Portrush and Dublin following next week, as part of his Agila November ’14 tour. The man is quite a sight to behold live, dextrously manipulating tones and textures with one hand while keeping a tight and tense percussion underneath with the other. From the tour blurb: Steve Strong is a one-man arsenal of beats, tapped guitar and lush, textural melodies. His music is as withheld as it is grandiose, as skeletal as it…