• Holy Fuck @ Cyprus Avenue, Cork

    August 17, 2017 - By 

    The hipster set of Cork descend on Cyprus Avenue for a midweek dalliance with Canadian indie electronica outsiders Holy Fuck. After an opening slot from Limerick locals Van Panther who speed through a promising set of Smashing Pumpkins-esque rockers, the visually unassuming Holy Fuck take to the stage. It’s clear from the hesitance of the crowd that much of this audience aren’t quite sure what to expect from this live performance but that doesn’t stop Holy Fuck from blasting the half-filled room with the energy of an act performing a venue much larger. Holy Fuck’s set gives us an insight…

  • Stream: Rory Nellis – Gas & Air

    August 14, 2017 - By 

    Two years on from the release of his well-received 2015 debut solo album, Ready For You Now, Belfast singer-songwriter Rory Nellis will release its follow-up, There Are Enough Songs In The World, at the MAC on November 11. Having already released a string of singles from the release, new track ‘Gas & Air’ is a resounding alt-pop effort reflecting on the private thoughts and moments that accompany big life changes. Bolstered by Nellis’ all-star band of Phil d’Alton on keys, Herb Magee on bass and Peter J. McCauley on drums, it’s a wonderfully-crafted single whose harmonic tangents and wholehearted lyrical turns…

  • Hard Working Class Heroes Reveal Line-Up and Venues

    August 14, 2017 - By 

    Having made its annual call for bands to apply back in June, Hard Working Class Heroes have revealed the 50 acts set to play the festival when it returns to Dublin across September 28-30.  The following bands and solo artists will play The Workman’s Club, The Grand Social, Tramline, The Underground and The Tara Building: On Thursday, September 28 – the opening night – a targeted networking social event will take place in the Chocolate Factory where all the international delegates will have the chance to meet with their Irish counterparts and artists attending the HWCH conference. The conference is…

  • The Menzingers Set For Irish Dates

    August 14, 2017 - By 

    Pennsylvanian punk rock quartet The Menzingers will kick off a European tour in the New Year with a brace of Irish dates. Culminating in Amsterdam in mid-February, the tour – which will feature support from PUP and Cayetana – will see the foursome play Dublin’s Whelan’s on January 28 and Belfast’s Limelight 2 the following night, January 29. Tickets for the shows go on sale this Friday at 9am. The Menzingers released their fifth studio album, After the Party, at the start of the year. Stream it below.

  • NEOMADiC – The NEOMADiC Tape

    August 14, 2017 - By 

    As sub-genres go, Irish hip hop may have once sounded like a wilfully obscure one. In the past two or three years however it has grown to become a scene that is healthier and stronger than ever before, making it impossible to ignore. Rejjie Snow is a legitimate global star in the making, if his Joey Bada$$ featuring mixtape The Moon & You is anything to go by, with fellow Dub Damola not far behind. Limerick’s Runsangano Family are fast becoming one of Ireland’s most celebrated domestic acts. Dublin duo NEOMADiC then drift comfortably into this vibrant and diverse scene, forming when MC…

  • Land of Mine

    August 11, 2017 - By 

    World War 2 films could be seen to have been at saturation point for quite some time but writer/director Martin Zandvliet’s (The Model) new drama Land Of Mine proves that there is still plenty of mileage in the genre, with a tale that sheds light on a very controversial time period in Denmark’s history, while also dealing with age old themes of revenge and forgiveness with stark authenticity. Set just after WW2, Land Of Mine tells the story of a group of surrendered German soldiers, all of whom are young boys from the Hitler Youth, who are ordered to demine the…

  • Randy Newman – Dark Matter

    August 11, 2017 - By 

    For over fifty years now, Randy Newman has been a mainstay of the American music industry, as a songwriter, a performer and a film composer. His songs have been covered by dozens of famous artists, several of his albums have met with critical acclaim, and he has made a comfortable living as the composer of choice for the likes of Pixar (to date he has composed the soundtracks of seven Pixar films). So he is that rare beast, both critically rated and ridiculously successful. Dark Matter, Newman’s 12th album proper, covers a lot of ground in its nine songs, using…