• Festival Mixtape: Another Love Story 2017

    June 20, 2017 - By 

    Another Love Story returns to Killyon Manor for its fourth Summer Festival outing this August 18-20. Organised by Happenings and Homebeat the almost otherworldly festival promises terrific Irish and International live music and DJ sets (including a set by yours truly), colourful instalments and plenty of room to explore. Ahead of what’s set to be another unforgettable weekend, stream our fifteen track ALS Festival Mixtape, featuring the likes of Katie Kim, Bantum, Tomorrows, ELLLL, Replete, Beach, I Am The Cosmos, Hilary Woods and Overhead, The Albatross. Go here to buy tickets to Another Love Story 2017.

  • Elaine Mai – The Colour Of The Night

    June 19, 2017 - By 

    The Colour of the Night is the latest extended-play from Mayo native, Dublin based electronic mastermind, Elaine Mai. It’s snappy, intoxicating and beautifully unique. Most of all, it demonstrates Elaine’s confidence and progression as a solo artist. It’s been three years since the release of her last EP Known/Unknown. And her growth since then has been phenomenal. The Colour of the Night sees Mai cleverly weave authentic human emotions with electronic and mechanical soundscapes to craft beautiful tracks that uncover touching stories. She transcends boundaries with layers and textures that form a sound that’s honest and thought-provoking. ‘Enniscrone’ serves as…

  • Palehound – A Place I’ll Always Go

    June 19, 2017 - By 

    Difficult experiences can be a source of great inspiration and a catalyst behind profound art. Palehound’s sophomore release, A Place I’ll Always Go is testament to just that as vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Ellen Kempner adds to the band’s repertoire with a host of touching songs informed by her experience dealing with the unexpected loss of a close friend. The resulting songwriting is deeply honest and personal; trading the guitar hooks of 2015’s Dry Food for more meaningful lyrical content. Although still drawing on the stylings of bands like Pavement and Modest Mouse, Palehound’s sound developes on this album into…

  • Watch: SlowPlaceLikeHome – When I See You… Ice Cream

    June 19, 2017 - By 

    Having graced the cover of the fifteenth issue of our soon-to-return physical magazine, Keith Mannion’s SlowPlaceLikeHome have long been one of our favourite Irish acts. The follow-up to 2016 single ‘Tiger Lilly’, new track ‘When I See You…Ice Cream’ is a playful burst of electro-pop betraying SPLH’s signature brand of somnambulant wonder but with an evolutionary twist. Released today via Strange Brew Rekkids, the single was written between Knather Woods, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, and the Algarve in Portugal. It was recorded and produced in its entirety by in Keith’s bedroom studio in Donegal and mastered by Antony Ryan (Morr Music label)…

  • Premiere: Aislinn Logan – So Loud/Dance With Demons

    June 19, 2017 - By 

    Having released her promising debut EP, Lost or Gone, last year, London-based, Belfast-born multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist Aislinn Logan is primed to release its highly-anticipated follow-up at some point in the coming months. Bolstered by an equalling compelling b-side in the form of ‘Dance With Demods’, new single ‘So Loud’ suggests some great things in the making. A wonderfully skeletal release that sees Logan’s knack for a burrowing melody and cutting refrain take centre-stage, it presents the artist as a real contender, with a voice and deep yet understated emotive flair all her own. Speaking about the single, Logan said, “So Loud…

  • Whitney: Can I Be Me

    June 18, 2017 - By 

    Whitney Houston’s much-publicised rise, fall and subsequent death is a tale of an exceptional talent that was surely wasted. If like me, you knew little about her life bar the mud-slinging from the mainstream media, then British docu-filmmaker Nick Broomfield (Biggie and Tupac) and longtime associate of Whitney, Rudi Dolezal’s depiction of the troubled star, will be a refreshing take that sensitively and respectfully delves into the causes and effects of her tragic downfall. They most certainly don’t have all the answers that some people may be after but this is an essential watch for anyone with any sort of…

  • Paramore @ Olympia Theatre, Dublin

    June 16, 2017 - By 

    It’s been a long time since Tennessee natives, Paramore, last brought their show to Irish shores and by the look of the massive queue outside the Olympia two hours before open doors, Ireland has certainly missed them. Opening act, California’s Bleached, set the pace with a raucous set of female-led punk rock. Bringing to mind 90s riot grrrl with a touch of surf rock, they play an uncompromising set of punk rock anthems. Whilst the music is a small bit lost on a large majority of the crowd, they’re a promising act and, as an opening act, send out a…

  • Irish Tour: Clutch

    June 16, 2017 - By 

    Maryland hard rock masters Clutch, live at Belfast’s Limelight 1 and Dublin’s Academy. Photos by Liam Kielt and Pedro Giaquinto. Limelight 1, Belfast Photos by Liam Kielt The Academy, Dublin Photos by Pedro Giaquinto

  • EP Premiere: RMCK – RMCK

    June 16, 2017 - By 

    Belfast-based booking agent and record label Solid Choice Industries have been knocking it out of the park recently. As well as putting out Witch Hunt, the blistering debut album from hardcore metal quartet Hornets, they have also lined up with shows from Zu, Lemuria, Sunn O))) and the mighty Boris over the next few months. Today we’re pleased to exclusively unveil their latest release, the self-titled debut EP by anonymous artist RMCK. Featuring five tracks of equal parts squalling and meditatively cyclical instrumentalism recorded by Rocky O’Reilly at Belfast’s Start Together Studios, SC’s own blurb on the EP – which…