• the arts column: December 2020

    December 17, 2020 - By 

    With 2020 drawing to close (thankfully) we round-up arts-related events on both sides of Christmas in the last edition of the arts column. If you have got an event, talk, exhibition, etc. taking place in the New Year please do get in touch via aidan[at]thethinair[dot]net. And as always: Stay safe, support the arts and look after yourself x Online Exhibition | Pallas Projects + Studios This year marks the 10th iteration of Pallas Project + Studios annual Periodical Review, which while on first glance looks like a traditional group exhibition is instead a cross-section of trends, topics, movements and discussions taking…

  • Facilitating Connection: An Interview With Fears

    December 15, 2020 - By 

    We can almost count on one hands the acts who’ve truly pushed against boundaries and thrived in the most challenging year for creatives in modern history. One such person is Constance Keane, who – aside from recently reuniting feminist punk act M(h)aol – has started her own record label (TULLE), made some of the most interactive underground radio shows in Ireland, performed several live sets, released single ‘two_’ with top-notch remixes, and today she rounds her year out with the release of ‘tonnta’. The song and video have already started to gain global traction, with plays on KCRW and NTS, and had a bespoke Dublin-wide scavenger hunt for a PR campaign, complete…

  • Compilation Premiere: The Space Between – First

    December 16, 2020 - By 

    Something you might have noticed from our end-of-year lists is that one of the biggest trends of 2020’s imposed isolation has been the willingness of Irish artists to to come together remotely. Be it for a cause or for the sake of maintaining some sense of artistic worth, or simply born out of malaise – it’s that which comes out of the undergrowth that generally leads to the most fascinating results, and indeed, this year has landed us with a wealth of phenomenal compilations and collaborations across the island, giving a pre-built sense of community when things get back to normality. Today, we’re pleased to give you a first…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – December 11th

    December 11, 2020 - By 

    We’re a whisper away from Christmas, and Ireland’s creative community is showing no signs of slowing as we gather our End-Of-Year Lists™. This week sees a selection of new singles, seasonal covers, remixes and live sessions from the likes of Bicurious, Kneecap, Mark Loughrey, Citrus Fresh, Kojaque, Aislinn Logan, Joel Harkin, Conchúr White, SON, 1000 Beasts and Pollena. Kneecap – MAM Citrus Fresh – Dustpan Kojaque – Coming Up Aislinn Logan – Never Stay Low Joel Harkin – Christmas Conchúr White – Lungs Bicurious – B-Sides and Bangers (Live Session) Mark Loughrey – The Snake With A Tale For A Mouth On Through the…

  • Katie Kim & Radie Peat Set For Nollaig na mBan Collaboration

    December 21, 2020 - By 

    On January 6th, Katie Kim and Radie Peat of Lankum will come together for a special one-off event. An audio-visual collaboration to mark Nollaig Na Mban – otherwise known as Women’s Christmas or Little Christmas – the stream will also feature three TTA favourites: drummer/singer of Percolator, Eleanor Myler, Lankum producer John Spud Murphy and multi-disciplinary artist Vicky Langan. Comprising new arrangements of original material, folk songs and reimagined contemporary songs, it’s set to be an unmissable event from two of the island’s most distinctive artists. It kicks off at 8pm and tickets are on sale now.

  • Video Premiere: Songs of Green Pheasant – Lucy Says

    December 8, 2020 - By 

    Over the years Galway imprint Rusted Rail have specialised in putting out a mottled array of homespun sounds. Their latest release is a textbook case in point.  Eight years on from his debut release on the label, Soft Wounds, When The Weather Clears by Duncan Sumpner aka Songs of Green Pheasant is another batch of wonderfully nocturnal paeans that double as a perfect soundtrack to taking cosy refuge from the growing winter cold. Evoking And Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out-era Yo La Tengo, ‘Lucy Says’ is but one highlight here. Have a first look at the video for it below.

  • EP Premiere: Mark Loughrey – On Through The Veil Anew

    December 10, 2020 - By 

    On Through The Veil Anew is the new five-track EP from experimental folk artist Mark Loughrey, born near the border town of Strabane, and currently based in Berlin. His first major release since the 2017 release of debut album, Treppenwitz, it’s both sonically and thematically a marked progression towards more ambitious arrangements and experimental storytelling. Drawing from the kind of subtly subversive contemporary Northern Folk tradition carried out by the likes of Arborist & Joshua Burnside, it’s steeped in roots, but subtly subversive of genre convention. Its expansive, yet intricate, organically arranged compositions at varying points call to mind the earthly etherealism of Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird…

  • Various Artists – A Litany of Failures Vol. III

    December 8, 2020 - By 

    All the way back in 2016, cassette label Little L Records put out a nice little four way split cassette featuring four of the best DIY bands from right across Ireland – Shrug Life and That Snaake from Dublin, Junk Drawer from Belfast and Oh Boland from Galway. Self-deprecatingly titled ‘A Litany of Failures’, what could have been a fairly low key release gained what felt like a higher level of importance thanks to a series of launch gigs in each band’s home city. Two years later, those involved decided to up the ante considerably – ‘A Litany of Failures…

  • Album Stream: Tandem Felix – Tapley Sings​.​.​. The Hits! And Other Favourites

    December 7, 2020 - By 

    If you’re familiar with the lifestyle choices of Dublin songsmith extraordinaire David Tapley aka Tandem Felix, you’ll probably know that he’s partial to the occasional flagon or two of coffee. And it checks out. Off the back of his stellar latest single ‘The Assassination‘, he’s somehow managed to put together a thirty-track covers album to mark his 30th birthday today. Highlights abound. From opener, a take on Tammy Wynette’s ‘Stand By Your Man’ and Madonna’s ‘Ray of Light’, to Sparklehorse, Celine Dion, Broadcast, ABBA and beyond, it’s a genre-spanning triumph, doubly confirming Tapley to be maestro like few others. “Today, on…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – December 4th

    December 4, 2020 - By 

    It’s the first Friday of the month, which can only mean one thing: it’s Bandcamp Friday. If you’re going to pick up some great new Irish music, best make it today. Here’s our round-up of the best of this week, including Loah x Bantum, Flowers at Night, Saint Sister x Lisa Hannigan, Bleeding Heart Pigeons, Swimmers Jackson, Problem Patterns among others. Loah & Bantum – NGLA /////// [seacht line] – Hawk On The Cliff hawk on the cliff EP by /////// Bleeding Heart Pigeons – Real Connection (Arvo Party Remix) Real Connection Remixes by Bleeding Heart Pigeons Saint Sister x Lisa…