• 19 for ’19: Strange New Places

    February 18, 2019 - By 

    We continue 19 for ‘19 – our feature looking at nineteen Irish acts that we’re convinced are going places in 2019 – with fast-rising Belfast queerpunk five-piece Strange New Places. Photo by Niall Fegan One of several fast-rising Northern Irish acts that have been propelled by the Scratch My Progress initiative at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Music Centre, Strange New Places spent 2018 steadily emerging as one of the country’s most promising bands. On full display at Outburst’s Youth Take Over Day, Atlantic Sessions, Women’s Work festival and elsewhere throughout the year was the band’s equal parts forward-pushing and ear-worming brand of queerpunk. Striking strong…

  • Watch: Rachael Boyd – Blind Spot

    February 18, 2019 - By 

    Having released a string of shorter releases over the years – as well as been the violinist with Irish artists including Joshua Burnside, Ciaran Lavery, Malojian and Overhead the Albatross – Rachael Boyd’s eclectic and intricately-woven craft is laid bare on her debut, Weave. Across twelve tracks, the album (which is set for release this Wednesday) is the pure-cut distillation of the Dublin-based Belfast artist’s singular craft. Having already received support from BBC Radio 1, Clash, TheLineOfBestFit and elsewhere, lead single ‘Blind Spot’ is a masterfully bewitching case in point. Check out its lyric video below.

  • First Acts Announced for Knockanstockan

    February 18, 2019 - By 

    Knockanstockan have revealed the first acts set to play this year’s festival. With many more yet to be announced, TTA favourites Just Mustard, Bicurious, Punk Podge & The Technohippies, Hot Cops, Lemoncello, Joshua Burnside, Cherym, Bouts, The Pale, Kitt Philippa, Powpig, Shookrah, Luka Palm, THUMPER, Silverbacks, Farah Elle, Junior Brother and The Scratch are among those announced. Check out the (very nice) line-up announcement below. Returning to Blessington Lake in Co. Wicklow across July 19-21, tickets for the festival can be bought here.

  • EP Premiere: May Rosa – Waxwork Sweetheart

    February 14, 2019 - By 

    Having confidently marked her arrival with debut single ‘Dancing in the Debris’ back in 2017, Belfast artist May Rosa establishes her as a fully-formed alt-pop contender on Waxwork Sweetheart. Across four tracks – from slow-burning lead single ‘All The Ways’ to the release’s Julee Cruise-summoning title track, it sees the London-based chanteuse’s finely-woven and phantasmal craft refined to seventeen all-too-fleeting minutes. Have a first listen to the EP – and a first look at the video for ‘All The Ways’ – below.

  • 19 for ’19: Proper Micro NV

    February 13, 2019 - By 

    We continue 19 for ‘19 – our feature looking at nineteen Irish acts that we’re convinced are going places in 2019 – with Limerick songwriter and producer Proper Micro NV. Photo by Moira Reilly Late last year, Limerick producer, singer and songwriter Rory Hall aka Proper Micro NV marked his arrival via the masterfully mottled Dormant Boy. Spanning experimental electronica and downtempo electro-pop jams, it proved a cohesive, gem-heavy twelve-tracker from an artist who has rightfully garnered comparisons to the likes of James Blake and Mount Kimbie from the off. Hall has packed a lot into his three years as an active proposition. From signing…

  • 19 for ’19: Lemoncello

    February 12, 2019 - By 

    We continue 19 for ‘19 – our feature looking at nineteen Irish acts that we’re convinced are going places in 2019 – with Maynooth alternative folk duo Lemoncello. Photo by Joe Laverty A duo who formed while studying music and languages in Maynooth University, Laura Quirke and Claire Kinsella aka Lemoncello have carved out a unique, increasingly compelling niche in Irish alternative folk over the last five years. As well as helping to found the Common Grounds Collective – a group dedicated to building a network of musicians of all disciplines and giving them “a platform to create and showcase…

  • Lauryn Hill Set For Cork Show

    February 12, 2019 - By 

    Ms. Lauryn Hill is the latest act announced to play an open air show at Cork’s Irish Independent Park on June 26. The multi-Grammy award winning artist will perform music from her seminal debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and more. Tickets are priced at €49.90 and go on sale at 8.30am on Friday, February 15.

  • Mini Mansions Announce Dublin Show

    February 12, 2019 - By 

    L.A. trio Mini Mansions have announced a show in Dublin. The band, comprised of Michael Shuman, Zach Dawes and Tyler Parkford, will play Whelan’s on Wednesday, May 8th. Marking their first show in the city since 2015, it will take place as part of a UK and Irish tour to coincide with their forthcoming third album, Guy Walks Into A Bar… Tickets cost €18.45 and go on sale on Thursday, February 21 at 9am.

  • Liam Gallagher Set For Cork

    February 12, 2019 - By 

    Liam Gallagher will play Cork in the summer. The Oasis frontman and solo artist will play an open air performance at Irish Independent Park on Sunday, June 23. Tickets for the show are priced at €49.90 and go on sale this Friday (February 15) at 8.30am.