• RHA Annual Exhibition Announced

    January 27, 2017 - By 

    Details for this year’s RHA Annual Exhibition have been announced by the Dublin gallery. With last year’s showcase moved forward to accommodate centenary celebrations for The Rising, this year it will return to its traditional summer slot – running from May 23rd to August 12th. Applications for this the 187th edition of Ireland’s largest and oldest open submission exhibition are due to close on March 23rd, with full details on submissions and forms available here. As well as providing an unrivaled opportunity to view and purchase works by artists emerging and established, it also provides a timely cross-section or current…

  • Baring Her Soul: An Interview With Dublin’s Samantha Kay AKA Soulé

    January 26, 2017 - By 

    Last year was momentous for Dublin urban-electronic singer Samantha Kay AKA Soulé. She released her debut single ‘Love No More’ which featured regularly on national airwaves, played her first headline show in Dublin’s Workman’s Club, all this while concurrently working on her debut album under the guidance of Diffusion Lab. She ignites an innovation within the Irish music R’n’B scene, one that is becoming as prominent amongst a dominance of guitar lead indie and rock bands. Ahead of performing alongside Booka Brass and BARQ at Jameson’s Bow St. Session at Dublin’s The Sugar Club tonight, Zara Hedderman talks to Kay about…

  • Watch: Participant – Your Better

    January 25, 2017 - By 

    Dublin’s Stephen Tiernan AKA Participant has been riding a well-deserved wave of momentum recently, cropping up on end of year and “ones to watch” lists left, right and centre. Capitalising on that drive, new single  ‘Your Better’ is a real statement of intent, conjuring the hushed intimacy of Sparklehorse with a sparse delicacy all his own. Taken from his second EP, Content, the single is masterfully propelled by Bob Gallagher’s video, an accompaniment that highlights its darker undertones with a powerful narrative metaphor. Tiernan said,”‘Your Better’ was one of those songs that seemed complete from the moment I uttered the first lyric over the…

  • Stream: Documenta – Word Song (Yucatan Cover)

    January 26, 2017 - By 

    Belfast drone pop outfit Documenta release a split CD through Tim Burgess’ OGenesis Recordings, tying in with a short Independent Venue Week tour alongside the collaborating bands. The EP consists of an original song by each of the three acts, as well as a cover of one of the other band’s songs. The cosmically-inclined trio of Documenta, Welsh dream-pop act Yucatan, and Manchester’s glistening, kaleidoscopic Horsebeach all met while playing Tim Peaks Diner in Manchester over the summer. They eventually decided to collaborate on this Independent Venue Week UK mini-tour, which kicks off at Belfast’s Voodoo tomorrow night – Friday, January 27 – with Documenta headlining, followed by Welsh &…

  • Inbound: MUNKY

    January 25, 2017 - By 

    If you’re becoming slightly jaded with run of the mill music and want to expand your ear to something different, MUNKY are the antidote. Today, the Dublin quartet released the video for their new single ‘Hunter Gatherer Blues’, four minutes of infectious disco-infused rock. Zara Hedderman spoke to their frontman, Zac Stephenson about the video, their influences and their forthcoming debut headline gig in Whelan’s on February 1. Who are MUNKY? MUNKY are Zac Stephenson (lead vocals, guitar),  Sam Russell (drums), Conor Lawlor (lead guitar) Niall Donnelly (bass). What brought you guys together to form the band? Zac: I met Conor…

  • Stream: Eoin Dolan – I Can Make You Hurt at Will

    January 25, 2017 - By 

    An unused track from his 2016 self-titled debut album, ‘I Can Make You Hurt at Will’ by Galway singer-songwriter Eoin Dolan is a subtle, masterfully sombre surf-folk single touching on nocturnalism, the long winter and the hidden laws of love. Released in association with Citóg Records, the track – featuring Patrick O’Toole on lead guitar and Robin Van Der Klooster on bass – is short but sweet testament to the fact Dolan is a master craftsman of tales that confront the innate fragility of relationships and personal becoming. I CAN MAKE YOU HURT AT WILL by Eoin Dolan

  • Wanda: Feminism and Moving Image

    January 25, 2017 - By 

    A four-day feminism and moving image event and the first of its kind in Belfast, Wanda will take place in various venues across the city from February 9-12. Featuring film screenings, talks, performances and panel discussions on subjects relating to feminist moving image practice and how feminism continues to inform and inspire moving image works of many forms, the mini-festival will include screenings of feature films such as Riddles of the Sphinx (still, above) at Beanbag Cinema and Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles at Queen’s Film Theatre, as well as shorts including Niamh McKenna’s Chasing the Birds and…

  • Stream: Kid Karate – No Way

    January 25, 2017 - By 

    Describing themselves as “Mike Tyson serenading his wife with a heavy metal cover of Abba’s ‘Waterloo'” (hey, why not?) Dublin trio Kid Karate evolved many moons ago from a two-piece jam in a Crumlin shed. Ever since, the band – comprised of Kevin Breen, Steven Gannon and Ian McFarlane – have grown into a formidable beast with their earworming, slightly left-of-centre craft. Having had their heads down creating some new sounds, the trio have unveiled their single, ‘No Way’, a four-minute alt-pop anthem set for official release on February 20 that’ll be lingering in your inner ear for hours. Don’t believe…

  • AVA Festival 2017 Line-Up Announced

    January 25, 2017 - By 

    Returning for its third annual outing, grassroots Audio Visual Arts festival and conference AVA will return to Belfast’s iconic T13 for an expanded two-day line-up on June 2-3. Set to feature the UK and Irish debut of Jeff Mills and Guillaume Marmin’s collaboration, Marcel Dettman, Bicep, Ben UFO, Fatima Yamaha, Midland, Rebekah, Job Jobse, Denis Sulta, Or:La, Hammer, Saoirse, The Cyclist, Ryan Vail, Jordan, JMX and much more, tickets for the festival are available to buy here priced £50. The festival says, “Alongside a solid roster of incredible artists playing across the two days, there’s an emerging DJ and Producer…

  • Line-Up For Choice Music Prize Revealed

    January 25, 2017 - By 

    With the shortlist for this year’s prize announced earlier this month, it’s been revealed that nominees Rusangano Family, Overhead, The Albatross, Katie Kim, All Tvvins, Bantum, Wallis Bird and We Cut Corners will perform at this year’s RTE Choice Muic Prize at Dublin’s Vicar Street on Thursday, March 9. Presented in association with IMRO and IRMA, the follow ten albums will vie for the coveted annual prize on the night. All Tvvins – IIVV (Warner Music) Bantum – Move (Self Released) Wallis Bird – Home (Mount Silver / Caroline International) The Divine Comedy – Foreverland (Divine Comedy Records) Lisa Hannigan…