• Nothing Happens in a Vacuum: An Interview with Amanda Palmer

    May 24, 2018 - By 

    Amanda Palmer chats with Rebecca Kennedy about her upcoming Dublin show, the Irish 8th Amendment Referendum and more Amanda Fucking Palmer has never shied from creating music and art that challenges pervasive structures of gender roles, identity, insecurity and self – actualization. Cutting her teeth as a performance artist- the musician spent her early 20’s posing as an eight-foot-tall “living statue”, dressed as in a thrift store bridal gown, blowing kisses or handing out roses for dollars – Palmer learnt crucial lessons on the role of the artist, the music business and pre- Kickstarter crowd sourcing. As one half of The…

  • Beck & Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ 3Arena, Dublin

    May 24, 2018 - By 

    Both the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Beck have crafted careers built on distinct sonic styles. Their music captured time and place; Beck encapsulates an era within the 90s pushing towards innovation by blending genres within one record, whilst Yeah Yeah Yeahs defined the New York dance-punk sound of the early 2000s. Their cult statuses, born from albums like Odelay and Fever To Tell, respectively, gives them mass-appeal to a myriad of music fans. The pairing of these artists for this one off joint headline arena gig, then, feels appropriate given the impact their music has made on an incalculable number…

  • Primavera 2018 Preview: A Vibe Guide

    May 24, 2018 - By 

    Another year has come around and despite the weather we’ve been having, the growing thirst for a sunny escape is very much due a quenching. That perennial indicator of what’s both cool and good, Primavera Sound, has rolled around and with it comes that old safety net of acceptability over post-sunrise sleeping hours. We’ve kindly put together a little Spotify playlist of some of our favourites to accompany your preparation. (Heads up – those record stalls can hold onto your purchases until you’re leaving) Thanks to First Contact Music, this year will see five deserving independent Irish acts on the Day Pro…

  • Stream: Patrick Kelleher and his Cold Dead Hands – The Sea

    May 24, 2018 - By 

    Patrick Kelleher and his Cold Dead Hands have released a new song in support of the campaign to Repeal the 8th amendment and the Yes side of Friday’s referendum. The band, now a duo of Patrick Kelleher and esoteric experimental artist Brian Conniffe, have stated the following: “We unreservedly assert and support the rights of all women to total bodily autonomy. We stand in complete and active opposition to any and all institutions and legislation which oppress women, including those which curtail freedom of reproductive healthcare choices. Ireland, 25 May 2018: Vote Yes. Repeal the 8th.” An unravelling patchwork of…

  • Mac DeMarco Set For Belfast Show

    May 24, 2018 - By 

    Canadian indie rock hero Mac DeMarco will play Belfast’s Limelight 1 on Monday, October 29. Having played Dublin’s Vicar Street back in November last year, it will double up as DeMarco’s debut show in the city. Tickets for the show – which is hosted by Strange Victory – are priced £24.50 and go on sale on Tuesday, October 29. Doors are at 6.30pm.

  • Parquet Courts – Wide Awake!

    May 24, 2018 - By 

    Parquet Courts’ latest is a petrochemical explosion of fiery politics and sprawling creativity. Building upon their established art-punk sound, the Texan outfit’s experimentation with technicolour keyboard textures, funk grooves and Latin rhythms makes for their most immediate and stylistically diverse release to date. Aptly titled Wide Awake!,  the album is an unapologetically political outing, showcasing A. Savage’s lyrics which seethe with rage and indignation, his thoughts seemingly drawn into sharper focus by the U.S.A’s ongoing political calamity. Crunchy garage rock opener ‘Total Football’ indulges the bands more mercurial instincts with elastic time signatures and a jerkily danceable bassline, providing the…

  • Watch: Our Krypton Son – Falling In Love Is A Suicide Mission

    May 23, 2018 - By 

    Quite possibly the island of Ireland’s finest songwriter, Chris McConaghy AKA Our Krypton Son has returned with new single ‘Falling In Love Is A Suicide Mission’. A carefully-crafted, elegiac peak from his critically-devoured second album Fleas & Diamonds, the single is accompanied with wonderfully minimalist visuals courtesy of Tristian Crowe. Watch the video and have read of an exclusive written accompaniment to the track titled ‘The Old Plymouth’ by McConaghy below. The Old Plymouth Harry Dean Stanton lights a cigarette and stands at the water’s edge. The flickering lights of Dupont tremble in a graveyard of stars. He snorts at…

  • Carol Keogh: Walking In Her Shoes to the Polling Station

    May 23, 2018 - By 

    This week, In Her Shoes founder, Erin Darcy, outed herself on the Facebook page, having been its anonymous primary moderator since January of this year. Erin is a young mother of three who gave birth to and is raising her children in Ireland but as an immigrant has no voting rights herself in the forthcoming referendum. This extraordinary page, recounting the individual stories of women who have travelled for terminations, has been her contribution to the Repeal campaign. Knowing this drives home the fact that so many women without electoral influence (and their families) are nonetheless affected by the Eighth…

  • Kurt Vile & The Violators Set For Belfast Show

    May 23, 2018 - By 

    In addition to his previously-announced Vicar Street show, one of indie rock’s finest and most understated guitarists and songwriters – not to mention chill dude – Kurt Vile brings The Violators to Belfast’s Limelight 1 on November 15. He’s released seven acclaimed albums, the most recent being his the wonderful collaboration with Courtney Barnett, Lotta Sea Lice, as well as working with J Mascis, Kim Gordon, John Prine, John Cale and Warpaint as the respect he commands increases exponentially. Tickets go on sale this Friday May 25 at 9am from Ticketmaster, priced at £21 + booking fee.