• Watch: Junior Brother – No Country For Young Men

    February 9, 2022 - By 

    Ronan Kealy’s evolution as an artist has been a rare delight to behold. The Co. Kerry singer-songwriter known as Junior Brother has all but single-handedly upended the (granted, somewhat kneejerk) conception of experimental folk on these shores. It’s a trajectory, the power of which shines searingly through new single ‘No Country For Young Men’. The follow-up to last October’s inspired ‘Life’s New Haircut’, it’s a masterfully mesmeric effort that explores the culture shock – and straight-up experiential doom – of Kealy’s relocation to the capital. “I wrote this song in response to the tangible feeling of dread and anxiety I…

  • Synthesize_Her_

    February 7, 2022 - By 

    Synthesize_Her_ is a new, collaborative experience and workshop that explores noise-making technology. Presented and facilitated by producer, DJ and engineer, Viva Dean aka Bé the two-day event – which takes place at Dublin Modular, at 5 James Joyce Street in Dublin across March 5-6th – will also include a historical overview of the role of women and gender minorities in sound production by DJ and writer Kate Butler. Synthesize_Her_ sets out to interrogate our understanding of who is encouraged to create and innovate our technology, and to make space for those who are not. Participants will be guided through discussion and experimentation,…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 4th February

    February 4, 2022 - By 

    On this, the first Bandcamp Friday of 2022, delve into the very best Irish releases of the week, featuring Whozyerman?, The Bonk, Howlbux/Muireann Levis, Hannah Peel, Jane Deasy, No Monster Club, Wild Rocket, Laurie Shaw and more. Whozyerman? – Blink Blink by Whozyerman? The Bonk – Songs For The Mean Time Vol. 2 Songs For The Mean Time Vol. 2 by The Bonk Howlbux/Muireann Levis – Signs of Life: Part 1 Signs of Life: Part 1 by Howlbux/Muireann Levis Hannah Peel & Paraorchestra – The Unfolding Jane Deasy – Mouth of the Sound Mouth of the Sound by Jane Deasy No…

  • Naoise Roo Set To Perform Debut LP Lilith in Dublin

    February 2, 2022 - By 

    Naoise Roo is set for a special, one-off performance next month. Currently based in Belfast, the Dublin artist will perform her acclaimed debut album, Lilith – hands down one of our favourite Irish albums of 2015 no less – at the recently-launched Workman’s Cellar in Dublin on Thursday, 10th March. As well as performing the album in its entirety, accompanied by a full band for the first time since the album’s original tour, she will be supported by fellow Belfast-based songwriters Aoife Wolf and Clara Tracey on the night. Ahead of what’s expected to be a seismic year of new music and…

  • Open Ear To Return in Summer

    January 31, 2022 - By 

    A few stout in the Jolly Roger? Praise be: Open Ear is returning this summer. The country’s leading electronic/experimental festival will once again take over Sherkin Island off Cork across June 3-5th. Line-up and tickets will be revealed soon. Never been? Check out Eoin Murray’s review of the festival’s unforgettable 2019 outing here.

  • Tyler, The Creator, Megan Thee Stallion & More for Longitude

    January 31, 2022 - By 

    Longitude has revealed the first acts set to perform this summer. When it returns to Marlay Park in Dublin across July 1st-3rd, the festival will host headliners Tyler, The Creator, Dave, Megan Thee Stallion, A$AP Rocky, Doja Cat and The Kid Laroi among others. Check out the full first line-up announcement below. Priced at €99.50 for day passes and €239.50 for the weekend, tickets for Longitude 2022 go on sale this Friday, 4th February at 9am.

  • Full Line-Up Announced for AVA Festival

    January 26, 2022 - By 

    The full line-up has been revealed for this year’s AVA Festival. Taking over the Titanic Slipways in Belfast across June 3-4, the festival has announced that Overmono, LSDXOXO, ELLLL, Jon Hopkins, Gemma Dunleavy, Ross From Friends and many more will join previously announced acts including Bicep, VTSS and I Hate Models. Check out the full line-up below. Go here to buy tickets.

  • SOAK Announces New Album, Irish Shows

    January 25, 2022 - By 

    SOAK has announced details of a new album, as well as Irish dates later in the year. The Derry singer-songwriter, born Bridie Monds-Watson, will release their third album, If I Never Know You Like This Again, via Rough Trade Records on 20th May. The follow-up to 2019’s Grim Town, the album is made up of what Monds-Watson describes as “song-memories”. It was co-written with long-time collaborator Tommy McLaughlin and recorded at Donegal’s Attica Studios. Accompanying the announcement is news of upcoming Irish dates in February and May. See below for those, as well as the the lead single from If I…

  • Tony Hawk Set For Dublin Q+A

    January 25, 2022 - By 

    The man, the myth, the skateboarding legend Tony Hawk is set for a Q+A in Dublin. Taking place at Citywest in Dublin on 29th July, An Evening With Tony Hawk will explore the Californian’s “lifetime of pushing boundaries”. If the poster artwork is anything to go by, we’re in for a wild ride. Tickets are priced from €33.50 and go on sale on Friday, 28th February at 9am. VIP packages are also available including the opportunity for a meet and greet with Hawk and a limited-edition signed Birdhouse skate deck

  • Stream: CMAT – Lonely

    January 12, 2022 - By 

    CMAT has returned with a stellar new single, ‘Lonely’. Taken from her forthcoming (and massively anticipated) debut album If My Wife New I’d Be Dead, it’s another wonderfully-woven country-pop gem from the Meath sensation otherwise known as Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson. “It took me years to finish this song because I couldn’t figure out the point of it,” CMAT said. “Then the pandemic happened, and suddenly I realised that everybody was in the boat that I had been long accustomed to (my sea legs are beefy in this regard). I realised that the point of isolation is maybe to learn to…