• Richard Dawson at Empire Music Hall

    May 23, 2023 - By 

    Alright, here’s the craic: Richard Dawson isn’t just in a league of his own when it comes to trend-flattening experimental folk: he is easily one of the greatest living musical artists. He first confirmed that fact with the release of Nothing Important back in 2014, and to the contrary, it felt very important; seismic even. On that album and follow-ups Peasant and 2020, the Newcastle artist took the imprint of everything from Kenyan folk traditions and Captain Beefheart, to Sun Ra and Sufi devotional music to fathom a careening, unfuckwithable folk genius all his own. See also: last year’s sprawling opus The Ruby Cord. During that time, Dawson had few more…

  • Festival Preview: Beyond The Pale 2023

    May 24, 2023 - By 

    As expertly-curated boutique music festivals go, Beyond the Pale takes some beating. Returning for three days of top-tier sounds, art and food at Glendalough Estate in Co. Wicklow across 16th-18th June, the festival is well and truly doubling down on last year’s stellar first outing. Better said, it’s this year’s most unmissable Irish summer festival. First, and of course foremost, Beyond The Pale sets itself apart with its first-rate musical curation. Where last year more than delivered on a wonderfully diverse, genre-spanning bill, this year’s edition comfortably inhabits a space that can’t be rivalled on these shores. As well as era-crossing, genre-distilling world-beaters in the form of this…

  • Autechre Set For Dublin Return

    May 22, 2023 - By 

    Autechre have announced their first Dublin show in half a decade. The English electronic innovators, comprised of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, will play Vicar Street on 29th October. Presented by Foggy Notions in association with u:mack, the show comes five years after the duo play the National Concert Hall. Tickets for the show cost €40.00 and go on sale this Friday, 26th May at 10am.

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 19th May

    May 19, 2023 - By 

    It’s been another stacked seven days on the new Irish music front. Here’s the best tracks and releases of the week, from Elaine Howley, Roger Doyle, Shiv, Swimmers Jackson & more Elaine Howley – Live As I Saw It Roger Doyle – Skin Care Swimmers Jackson – Borrow Sorrow Shiv – Heavy Water Anna’s Anchor – Hotel Dom Pancho Anderson Nightmare – Sleep Exhalers – Meat Clown MEAT CLOWN by Exhalers Drew Makes Noise – Hey Christian Cohle – Wetlands WETLANDS by Christian Cohle Stik Figa & The Expert – The Green Monster Stephen Shannon – Fathoms Sasha Samara –…

  • Omni Selassi Weekender at Anseo

    May 19, 2023 - By 

    This weekend, Dublin’s soundest independent imprint and promoters Little Gem host the debut Irish shows by Swiss trio Omni Selassi. Taking over Anseo on Camden Street from Saturday 20th to Monday 22nd May, expect three evenings of top-tier experimental sounds including Little Gem Band on Saturday, Neitherman on Sunday and Feral Kittenz on Monday — plus special guests. Very accurately described by Little Gem “as Björk meets Beefheart on a NEU! trip,” delve into Omni Selassi’s catalog here and pop by Anseo this weekend. Doors are at 8pm each evening with a suggested donation of €10. What We Talk About: Omni Selassi by…