• Output Belfast Announces 50 Conversations About Music

    October 19, 2020 - By 

    Having established itself as the island’s largest music conference and showcasing event over the last six years, Output Belfast will return early next year in the form of a unique networking and mentoring scheme. With the physical conference for 2021 set aside as a result of the continuing threat posed to the industry by Covid-19, organisers have announced 50 Conversations about Music, an scheme they say will offer a “new way of communicating, connecting and talking about music created that will serve to create networks and relationships between emerging creative and business talent in Northern Ireland and their national and international counterparts.”…

  • Album Stream: The Zang – The Zang

    October 16, 2020 - By 

    Belfast-based musician Chris Molloy aka the Zang has unveiled his long-awaited self-titled debut album. Having won acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music for singles including ‘Drugs’, ‘Drinking With You’ and ‘Football Sundays’, Molloy’s first first-length – which was recorded at Oiltape Studios in Belfast – underscores his growing reputation as one of the country’s finest alternative pop propositions. From the slow-burning indie balladry of ‘Sick Fantasy’ to the breezy alt-folk of closer ‘Time’, it’s a carefully-crafted, genre-spanning release from an artist on the rise. Stream the album in full below.

  • Moving On Music Set To Hold Online Concert Event ‘All The Noels’

    October 20, 2020 - By 

    Belfast-based tastemakers par excellence Moving on Music are set to hold unique online live music experience held throughout the Black Box, Belfast, titled All The Noels. The 30-odd-minute single shot, walk-through experience is set to showcase different music taking place across the various spaces of the venue. The video – recorded across one day by a team of audio-visual professionals – attempts to capture the feeling of being in possibly our favourite Belfast venue for live music. Performances come from some of TTA faves, experimental rock quartet Blue Whale, traditional Irish vocal quartet Landless, Irish jazz pianist Scott Flanigan‘s Trio, jazz drummer Steve Davis, folk duo Laytha and traditional flute & whistle player Martha Guiney with Shane McCartan. Speaking of the project, Mick Bonner of Moving on Music said “it was…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – October 16th

    October 16, 2020 - By 

    It’s safe to say it’s been another stacked week for world-beating Irish music. Here’s the very best of the lot, featuring tracks from Rejjie Snow, Caoilian Sherlock, Paddy Hanna, Arborist, Tebi Rex and many more. Photo by Lloyd Pursall Rejjie Snow w/ Snoh Aelagra and Cam O’bi – Mirrors Paddy Hanna – Jog On Shall We The Hill by Paddy Hanna Comrade Hat – Cracking The Code Caoilian Sherlock – Sucker For Love Arborist – The Mountain Will Come To You Tebi Rex & Awkward Z – Aaaagh Ten Past Seven – Turf War IN-IS – Dark Light feat. Tom Adams…

  • Monday Mixtape: Son Zept

    October 19, 2020 - By 

    Recently championed and playlisted by the likes of by ourselves, The Quietus, DJ Mag and leftfield DJ par excellence Avalon Emerson, “Northern Ireland’s resident electronic compositional polymath” Liam McCartan, AKA Son Zept has just released his second mini-album of 2020, B. Today, he gives us an uncharacteristically abridged mixtape of some current favourite tracks. I tried to keep this as just a stream of thought and not cram in stuff that I’d end rambling about daft things like cheeky hauntological anti-memory sound (*ahem*). Excluded tunes from Aphex Twin + Aphex covers, Mal Waldron, Oneohtrix Point Never, Eprom, Lyra Pramuk, Pinch & Mumdance, Holly Herndon, Chassol,…

  • Dublin DIY Punk Space the Karate Klub Needs Our Help

    October 14, 2020 - By 

    A vital hub within Dublin’s DIY music community, Dublin’s collectively-run punk practice space the Karate Klub is battling for survival. Having existed for 13 years, the member-ran and funded creative space has provided an important HQ for punks and like-minded musicians and artists. Now, facing a 50% rent increase during the pandemic, a GoFundMe fundraiser has been created to raise 8,000 to ensure its doors stay open. “Creative community space is important, now more than ever, as we face a future of ongoing uncertainty and austerity,” organisers said. “Like many spaces during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, our space has struggled to bring money into…

  • Win Tickets to Deftones @ 3Arena

    October 14, 2020 - By 

    If things go ahead as hoped, Deftones at Dublin’s 3Arena next summer is sure to go down as one of the shows of the year. To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the show, which takes place on June 6th and features Gojira in support, simply Like our Facebook page here and send your answer to the following question to info@thethinair.net: Which Duran Duran song did Deftones cover for their 2005 compilation B-Sides & Rarities?

  • Premiere: Ten Past Seven – Turf War

    October 15, 2020 - By 

    Since 2002, Kerry trio Ten Past Seven have peddled a singular brand of instrumentalism, striking an equal parts nuanced and face-melting midpoint between alternative, math rock and self-proclaimed “bog prog”. On November 27th, the band – comprising Rory O’Brien on guitar, Matt Shallow on bass and drummer Ger Mangan – will release their second full-length LP, Long Live the Bogwalrus, via pre-eminent Irish indie imprint Art for Blind Records. Recorded by two-thirds of TTA favourites Percolator, John “Spud” Murphy and Ian Chestnutt, at Guerilla Studios in Dublin, the album features guest vocals by Landless, fiddle by Lankum’s Cormac MacDiarmada and various other notable guest…

  • Róisín Murphy – Róisín Machine

    October 13, 2020 - By 

    Much of the monotonous conversation surrounding dance albums released during lockdown – be it by Lady Gaga or Disclosure – dwell on not being able to hear it in a club. While it is frustrating to not be able to go out dancing, the music is not made for just one setting. Ultimately, many will spend more time listening to dance music while going about our daily lives than at raves anyway. Róisín Murphy understands better than anyone that, with the right mindset, you can turn anywhere into a makeshift dancefloor.  Over the past few months, Murphy has shared a series…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – October 9th

    October 9, 2020 - By 

    It’s only right that a week that gave us innumerable incredible performances at Ireland Music Week would also deliver on the releases front. We’re here with some of the best, including Loah & Bantum, Erica Cody, Tau, Ross Hamer’s Safe Neighbourhood, the returning M(h)aol, Nealo, Eve Belle, Lucy Gaffney, a kraut-punk Organs & Mike Watt collaboration, R.S.A.G., B.K. Pepper, Tolü Makay, and Owen Lamont. Tau – All That Is ft. Deirdre Mulrooney Safe Neighbourhood – Big Decisions In the Heart of the Heart of The by Safe Neighbourhood Loah & Bantum – NGLA M(h)aol – Laundries Erica Cody – Calculated feat. Hare Squead…