Far from sitting on the proverbial Marriage Equality fence, Dublin lo-fi trio Fierce Mild play a ridiculously endearing brand of lo-fi punk, inflected with little flourishes of danceable beats and a general sense of celebration. “Celebration of what,” you ask? “Equality, in all its forms” we reply. Watch the video for their single ‘Equal People’, taken from their debut EP, Yes N Yes N Yes, below.
In the latest installment of Front of House, Brian Coney chats to Louise McElvanna, Event Manager at the likes of Open House Festival, Belfast Festival at Queens and the recent Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Photos by Sara Marsden. Hi Louise. You’ve just finished working at this year’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. First off, any highlights? Hello The Thin Air. It’s always a mad 11-day whirlwind. There were so many highlights for me, but The Staves show was amazing, I just love them. I’m considering applying for the position of fourth Stave, but I’m not actually sure there’s a vacancy going! It was also…
In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, Derry musician Christian Donaghey – best known for his noise-pop project Autumns – selects and talks about some of his all-time favourite songs, featuring the likes of The Telescopes, Psychic Tv and Medicine. Autumns support Blue Whale at our BYOB, filmed show at Belfast’s The Loft this Saturday night (May 23). They will also support The KVB in Berlin on June 17. James Chance and The Blacks – Contort Yourself There’s two versions of this song, the other is by James Chance and The Contortions. I love this version a lot more because they made guitars…
Shaping up to be one of the festivals of the Irish summer, Forbidden Fruit have announced a handful of next acts to its 2015 bill. Joining the likes of Wu Tang Clan, Nicolas Jaar and Jamie XX to the line-up – taking place at Dublin’s Royal Hospital Kilmainham from May 29-31 – are East India Youth, Kowton, Lorenzo Senni, Tei Shi and U.S. electronic maestro Will Wiesenfield AKA Baths (pictured). Check out the full line-up below and go here to buy tickets to the festival.
Having first caught our attention back in October, 2013 with the delicate, confessional folk of her wonderfully understated EP, Last Train, New York-based Dublin songstress Sorcha Richardson has just released a new track, ‘Petrol Station’. A simmering, nocturnal slice of electro-pop which sees Richardson’s lyrical gymnastic take centre-stage, the track was recorded by Gian Stone. Stream it below.
Jape, Slow Skies, I Have A Tribe, Elephant and The Man Whom are amongst the acts set to play the inaugural Hollow Sounds festival at the scenic Ballykeeffe Ampitheatre in Co. Kilkenny this Summer. Set to take place across the weekend of July 3-4, the festival – presented by KPB and Homebeat – promises to bring together a line-up of forward-thinking Irish music and classic cinema to the Kilkenny countryside venue. On the Friday, Happenings will be making their Kilkenny debut by screening The Goonies (we’re sold!). Sounds like a really cool and intimate event in the making. Snap up tickets for the festival – which go on…
In the very first installment of Belfast Forward, a new regular feature looking at some of the city’s most intriguing small businesses, organisations and individuals, Laura Carland spoke to Ten Foundations founder, Ian Campbell, about an inspiring organisation. Nestled on the busy Lisburn Road in Belfast, you can find one part coffee shop one part charity thrift store, Ten Foundations. Promoting a genuinely warm, welcoming and positive atmosphere, you relax with a hot drink, plug in and work or browse and shop safe in the knowledge that 100% of the proceeds will be used to help those living in poverty in Philippines. Photos…
Having successfully completed a Pledge campaign to ensure its release, Belfast singer-songwriter Rory Nellis has released his long-awaited debut solo album, Ready For You Now. Last month we said Nellis’ music “betrays an increasingly tangible sense of conviction and candor. Where no lyric or phrase feels throwaway, no chord progression or melodic flourish seems kneejerk or unconsidered. This almost meditative attention to detail is something that has often set his music apart from many of his peers, something that’s more than evident on his forthcoming debut album, Ready For You Now.” A few weeks later, those words ring louder than…
Having received quite the response for their album, Rhythm of Dawn, Dublin alt-pop brother duo Richie and James Martin AKA Cry Monster Cry have an uncanny knack for melding superb vocals harmonies with simple yet burrowing and quite brilliant alt-pop melodies. The second track to be taken from their aforementioned debut album, ‘Atlas’ is a song almost definitely written for the radio. Combining two-part harmonies with a bewitching mishmash of organs, piano, drums and mandolins, the single was recorded and produced in Dublin by Keith Lawless and mixed by Guy Massey, who has worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Manic Street Preachers and some dude called Paul McCartney. Cry Monster Cry…
Ahead of its launch on at TenterHooks Gigspace on Sunday, June 28, we catch up with Dublin lo-fi three-piece band Sissy to discuss the writing and recording of their forthcoming 7″, as well as the reception to their music to date. Photos by Carlos Daly. Hi guys. What’s been the general reaction to the first EP, and ‘Sail & Rail’ particularly, given the subject matter and events over the past year? Leigh (Guitar/Vocals): ‘Sail and Rail’ has become our most popular song. The response to that has been tremendous. It feels like shouting about abortion, when there can be such…